WILL GOD’S MERCY REALLY ENDURE FOREVER?
In the Bible we often find certain thoughts or ideas being expressed repetitively. As I have pointed out in other articles, God always confirms His Word in the mouths of two or three witnesses in order to lend credence to what is being said. So when we find a certain phrase or idea being expressed a multitude of times, then we should be able to assume that there must be some special significance that is being attached to that idea. Or in other words, God is trying to get our attention; He is trying to drive home a very important point. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to try and find out the importance of what the Spirit is trying say to us.
The short phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever" can be found in the King James version of the Old testament a total of 36 times! And this same idea is expressed at least a dozen more times than that using a slightly different arrangement of words. So it is obvious that God is trying get our attention concerning this idea of His mercy enduring forever.
According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word olam (H#5769) was rendered by the two-letter phrase for ever (KJV) to represent one of the following ideas:
- Concealed
- Vanishing point
- Time out of mind
- Eternity
- Always
- Continuance
- Eternal
- Everlasting
- Long time
- Perpetual
- At any time
- World without end
Now those who wish to promote the doctrine of endless punishment will have a hard time explaining how God’s mercy can endure "forever" while at the same time teaching that there will come a time when God’s mercy toward the unrepentant sinner will cease. It appears as though we have a contradiction. But wait a minute! Don’t fundamentalists also teach that God’s Word does NOT contradict? Here are just a few statements that I was able to find by doing an online search:
- "We believe the Bible is inspired by God and that His Spirit directed men to write His words, therefore, we believe that it contains no errors." (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21) Statement of Faith; Northview Christian Life Church; Carmel, Indiana
- "First, we believe in the authority of Scripture, which is another way of saying that the Bible is God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word. It's the ultimate source for knowledge about God, as well as the definitive guide for our daily lives." – The Christian Research Institute
- The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association believes: "The Bible to be the infallible Word of God, that it is His Holy and inspired Word, and that it is of supreme and final authority."
- The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to mankind, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (2 Timothy 3:15-16; 1 Peter 2:2) -- Benny Hinn Ministries
- "I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word without error in the original manuscripts." – Doctrinal Statement, Les Feldick Ministries
I applaud Benny Hinn’s statement that God’s Word should not be contrary to reason! However, Hinn’s followers are so mesmerized by his theatrics that very few, if any, actually take the time to really think about what they believe.
Les Feldick, who hosts the popular Christian television program Through the Bible with Les Feldick, actually does much better than his peers by making the distinction between today’s modern versions as opposed to the original manuscripts. Sadly, Feldick proves that his "theology" is just as bankrupt as his peers when he proceeds to assert the following:
"I believe that at the Great White Throne, every single lost person will have his or her moment before the Judge, the Lord Jesus Himself, and then receive their just reward - the Lake of Fire." – Doctrinal Statement, Les Feldick Ministries
I have watched Feldick’s television program and have read some of what he has to say on this subject, and I can assure you that his version of the Lake of Fire serves no useful purpose other than to torment the unrepentant sinner endlessly, without mercy, forever and ever.
Fundamental Christianity would actually do much better in their attempt to promote this heinous doctrine by rendering the Hebrew word olam the way Young’s Concordance does, as "age-lasting." This way they can at least try to make you believe that God’s mercy (or kindness) toward the unrepentant sinner will only last for an age (or an indeterminate period of time). This would better match their belief that at the point of death (or the end of the "age" of that person) God’s mercy comes to an end.
Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible renders the phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever" as follows:
"Give ye thanks to the God of the heavens, For to the age [is] His kindness!" (Psalm 136:26)
By doing this, however, another problem arises; namely, the concept of "eternal" punishment. Rendering the word olam as "age-abiding" now clearly tells us that God’s "punishment" must also cease at the end of the ages. Once again, we have another contradiction of ideas. So how do we resolve these difficulties? There must be a logical and reasonable explanation, according to Benny Hinn’s own statement of faith; otherwise God’s Word contradicts itself and there is no longer any good reason to believe any of it! If God really IS who He SAYS that He is, then He WILL be true to His Word!
MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL
The key to understanding the Truth of this matter can be found in the apostle Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthian church [unless noted otherwise, all quotations will be taken from the New King James Version]:
I Corinthians 15:20 "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (or died)."
I Corinthians 15:21 "For since by man (Adam) came death, by Man (Christ Jesus) also came the resurrection of the dead."
I Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
Now the modern, fundamentalist view of being "in Christ" is translated as someone who has recited a (magical formula) sinner’s prayer, been baptized into a local church, and perhaps has shown the "evidence" of the Holy Spirit by speaking in "tongues." Does this mean that only those who are, according to the fundamentalist’s teaching, "in Christ" shall be made alive? We shall see.
I Corinthians 15:23 "But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming."
Those who belong to Christ at His coming are the elect of God, His chosen group of "overcomers" who will have their place in the first resurrection, and will rule and reign with Him. They will fulfill Christ’s promise that "the meek shall inherit the earth." [For more on this be sure to read the section starting with The Final Judgment in the article Hell: Biblical Truth or Pagan Myth?]
I Corinthians 15:24 "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts and end to all rule and all authority and power."
In Matthew’s gospel Jesus tells His disciples that "All authority (or power – KJV) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." But Paul, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, sees ahead to a time when the reign of Christ will come to an end. When will this take place?
I Corinthians 15:25 "For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet."
Christ will rule and reign with a rod of iron until He has reconciled ALL things to Himself, "whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." (Colossians 1:20)
I Corinthians 15:26 "The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."
Death is the great enemy of mankind. For years men have involved themselves in futile attempts to find the secret of attaining to eternal life through various research projects, most recently: the space program, the human genome project, cloning, etc. But God in His Word declares that there IS hope beyond the grave, despite man’s many failed attempts.
In Revelation 20:14 the lake of fire is referred to as the "second death." Revelation 21:4 triumphantly declares that "there shall be no more death!" This "lake of fire," upon which fundamentalist Christianity builds so much, CANNOT be an eternal place of punishment, for God’s Word emphatically declares that ALL "death" will come to an end!
I Corinthians 15:27 "For ‘He has put all things under His feet.’ But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted."
"For by Him [Christ] were ALL THINGS created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. ALL THINGS were created BY Him, and FOR him." (Colossians 1:16 – KJV) And Psalm 150 declares: "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD."
There may be a lot of indifference in the world right now, but there will come a time when every living, breathing thing will confess and praise the Lord Jesus, to the glory of God the Father! (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10)
I Corinthians 15:28 "Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him [the Father] who put all things under Him [the Son], that God may be all in all."
"The reign of Christ is so beneficient, it brings mankind to such a state of perfection, that all further need of the restraints of government vanishes. Rule implies insubordination, and is unnecessary where there is perfect subjection. Rule is a temporary expedient to cope with evil. When evil is banished rule also retires. The effects of evil for mankind are concentrated in death. When the universe has been purged of all other evil, then death itself becomes inoperative and yields up its victims. Not till then is it true that all are made alive in Christ." -- Concordant Commentary on the New Testament
Once again, this idea of a little corner of the universe called "hell," which means "eternal" separation from God, clearly contradicts the clear meaning of the Holy Scriptures, which victoriously declare to us that God will be in all, and that all will be in God. Blessed be the Name of the LORD!
I often hear the fundamentalist’s argument that God wants people to serve Him and to worship Him of their own "free will." Otherwise, they protest that we would all be like robots that have been pre-programmed to function in God’s best interests. But I will challenge you right now to go back through the Scriptures we have just examined and show me just one instance where man’s "free will" comes into play. No, quite to the contrary, the Scriptures declare that ALL THINGS were created BY HIM, and FOR HIM. And like the simple peasant who walks into the King’s court and bows the knee in subjection, so all of God’s creation will do likewise. But unlike the lowly peasant who may grudgingly bow the knee for fear of his life, all of God’s creation will bow the knee out of a deep heart-felt love for their heavenly Father. And contrary to the popular teaching that this would be robot-like and would not bring any glory to God, the Scriptures declare just the opposite: "To the GLORY of God the Father!"
CONCLUSION
Now once it is understood that ALL THINGS will be reconciled back to God at the time of the consummation, there is really no problem of trying to resolve the question of God’s mercy enduring only "for the ages." According to my dictionary, the word mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it; for example: {threw himself on the mercy of the court}.
If the Scriptures are true, and I wholeheartedly believe that they are, then you can take this to the bank: There will come a time at the end of the ages when all of God’s once indifferent and rebellious creatures will throw themselves at the mercy of their Creator. In fact, when all are able to see God as He really is, not one soul will be able to resist! The Love of God will consume everything that separates the unrepentant sinner from his Maker. And since all of God’s creatures will be brought into a right relationship with their Creator, then there will no longer be any need for God’s mercy. As it was so eloquently pointed out by A.E. Knoch in his Concordant Commentary on the New Testament, the need for mercy, just like the need for rule, implies insubordination, and is also unnecessary where there is perfect subjection. God’s "punishment" will also come to an end, for the debt will have been fully paid, and God will be all in all. This, my friends, is the only logical and reasonable explanation of why God’s punishment AND His mercy BOTH cease at the end of the ages, while at the same time allowing for God’s will to "have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth!" (I Timothy 2:4 - KJV)
God by His precious Holy Spirit has born witness to me that this is the Truth of what the Holy Scriptures really teach. I pray that He will also give you the eyes to see and the ears to hear these wonderful truths.