We received this note from a recipient of the introduction letter to The Issues of Life:
Thank you for your email. It was a good, “straight-up” convicting introduction. It was indeed no-nonsense, and I appreciate it. I come to appreciate scathing after it is done if I do not see the good in it immediately. However, I was a bit concerned when I came upon your belief that Yashuah will save all eventually. I understand that in your doctrine there is great suffering involved for those who refuse at first, but the idea that the punishment in the Lake of Fire is not eternal seems to mock the eternity of the Creator. I have heard this doctrine before, and at first I was joyful when I first came upon it. However, when I read the KJV, this hope is quickly dashed.
“9By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
10Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.
11When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.” Isaiah 27:9-11
“21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt 8:21-23
” 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matt 13:50
I really want to believe in the salvation of all, I really do. The other writings on your site are inspiring, and I appreciate your sending me the introduction.
I have to ask: why did you send me the introduction? I appreciate it, but why did you send it?
Thank you and may the Almighty bless you according to his will,
Kate
Victor’s reply:
Greetings in Jesus Christ/Yehoshua, Kate,
I hope to get to your letter soon. In the meantime, have you red the following on our site?: The Good News, The Reconciliation of All Things, and Who Then Can Be Saved?!
If you have opportunity to read, do so, and if you can reply before I write, that would be good as well. That way, I can spend time answering that which might not be clear, instead of saying things that are already in the writings.
Did you not notice that, in all the Scriptures you sent concerning eternal judgment, none of those spoke of “forever” as we use the term? While those are, of course, all true and applicable, for a time, they do not say what we have, in the past, been trained to read into them. The Lord grant you repentance and understanding to do His will.
Your question as to why the introduction letter was sent; perhaps Paul would be the one to answer that. We send it out to lists of email addresses periodically. Paul likely knows where we received your address.
Victor
We received an unsubscribe request from her after sending part 1 of The True Marks of a Cult.
Victor’s reply:
Hi Kate,
I thought that we were in the midst of a conversation, so to speak, and then we found an “unsubscribe” message from you. Did you not say you would like to believe in the reconciliation of all things? Did you read the recommended writings? What is happening? Are you offended? Confused about something? We would appreciate an answer.
Victor
Paul’s reply:
Kate, Paul here. I wondered at this statement you made in your letter to us: “but the idea that the punishment in the Lake of Fire is not eternal seems to mock the eternity of the Creator.”
The Scriptures say that God alone is immortal (I Timothy 6:16). They say that He is the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8). There is much more I could bring up, some of which we present in the writings Victor pointed out to you, but for now I thought I would ask you what you do with the fact that God alone possesses eternal life, and that He is the end of all things? Where are sin and darkness described in Scripture as having eternal properties, as you define them – time without end? If He is victorious over sin, how is it that most of humanity is confined to, not only sin, but horrible torment beyond description, time without end? If that is victory, what do you call defeat?
Why do you find fault with us over this particular matter?