Sermon Tone Analysis

*Does All Mean All?*

"All" in Context \\ Two More Resurrections \\ Three Orders to Immortality \\ More Proofs that All Will Be Saved \\ What is Meant by All? \\ How much forgiveness?

\\ What about forever Punishment? \\ The Contradiction

*14 Abstract*

/This is a follow-up paper to 13 ("All Saved") in which we examine more scripture about all being saved.

We will, in so doing, consider whether or not the Bible really meant to say "all."

Does all mean all?/

*"All" in Context*

This paper is concerned with the word "all" as it appears in scripture.

When God, through the writers of the Bible, uses the word "all," does He mean /all/, or does he exaggerate?

Does God stretch the truth like humans?

This is very important.

There are scriptures in which, if we take the word "all" to mean /all/, we see a different view of scripture than those who think God makes overstatements or exaggerates.

There are psychological and spiritual reasons for some not understanding "all" as meaning /all/ in scripture.

Let us first examine some of the "all" scriptures.

Then we will discuss some of the alleged impossibilities about taking "all" as truly meaning ALL.

From Paul's resurrection chapter we read:

For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive (1Cor 15:22; see Pss 82:7-8; Rom 5:14-18).

In this one sentence we have "all" repeated twice.

Most believe the first "all," that is, because of Adam's sin /all/ die.

Most do /not/ believe the second "all," that is, because of Christ /all/ will be made alive.

Does God, through Paul's writing, use "all" in two different ways in the same sentence?

Is the second "all" ("all be made alive") a hyperbole or just a positive hope?

Is the /all/ powerful God just exaggerating here?

*All Made Alive in Christ*

What is meant in 1Cor 15:22 by "be made alive"?

Does it mean be made alive (resurrected) and thereafter be killed in some kind of hell fire?

In context what does it mean to "be made alive"?

* "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection out of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ /all/ shall be made alive.

But each in his own order" (1Cor 15:21-23, NASB).

*Christ is the First*

Here it speaks of the resurrection of the dead.

All shall be made /alive/, but not at the same time.

There is an /order/ to the "all shall be made alive."

In context this resurrection has something to do with "the resurrection of the dead.":

* "But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at His coming" (1Cor 15:23, NASB).

Who was the first one in this "order" of being made alive or thus being resurrected?

Christ was the first one resurrected from the dead to life (Rom 1:4) (1 Cor 15:12,19; Rev 1:18; etc.).

This resurrection of Christ was not a resurrection like Lazarus or like other resurrections reported in the Bible (Matt 27:52-53; John 11:23-44).

Lazarus was merely resurrected back to physical and mortal life.

But Christ the first of the "order" of the "all shall be made alive," was resurrected to permanent life - to immortal life.

Paul in this very important chapter of 1Corinthians 15, explains what kind of resurrection he had in mind:

* "So also is the resurrection of the dead.

It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body ... for this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1Cor 15:42,53).

So in context of this chapter in Paul's writings, Christ the first of the /order/ was resurrected to immortal life.

* "For as in Adam /all/ die, so also in Christ /all/ shall be made alive.

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at His coming."

After Christ, the first of the order, comes "those who are Christ's at his coming."

After Christ's resurrection to immortal life there is another resurrection at Christ's coming.

*Two More Resurrections*

Scripture speaks of two more great resurrections.

Acts 24:15 speaks of the resurrection of the JUST and UNJUST.

John 5:29 speaks about the good having a "resurrection of life" and those who have done evil having a "resurrection of judgment."

Those doing good, those that come to Christ and eat of the Spiritual manna will be resurrected "at the last day" and live "into the age" (John 6:39-44,58, Greek text).

These are those who are "worthy to obtain that age" - and who "are the children of God, being children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:35-36).

This "last day," this "age" can be ascertained by other scripture and Biblical patterns.

This last day is the 1000 year day (2Pet 3:8; Rev 20:2; see "Thousand Years and Beyond Paper" [ 15]).

Thus, "they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

(But the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished.)

This is the first resurrection" (Rev 20:4-5).

There are two resurrections pictured here.

The first one being those who will reign with Christ for 1000 years (Christians); the others are not resurrected until /after/ the 1000 years.

This first resurrection of Rev 20:4-5 is also the "resurrection of the just," or "the resurrection of life" (John 5:29; Acts 24:15).

These are resurrected to "that age," the "last day," or that is, the 1000 year antitypical Sabbath day - the last day.

The next resurrection after the one at Christ's coming or at the beginning of the "last day," is the resurrection /after/ the 1000 year day (Rev 20:5a).

This is the "resurrection of the unjust," or the "resurrection of judgment," that is, the resurrection of the evil bunch who are to be judged-down for the 1000 years.

"For as in Adam all die, so also /in Christ all shall be made alive/.

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at his coming."

(1Cor 15:22-23)

The first in the "order" to the new life was Christ who was the first to be resurrected from death to immortality.

The second order in the resurrections mentioned in 1Cor 15:22-24 is also the "first resurrection" of Rev 20:4-5, and is the resurrection of the real Christians who will be resurrected to immortality at Christ's coming and will rule with Christ for the 1000 years.

Scripture says "in Christ ALL shall be made alive.

But each in his own order."

If ALL are to be made alive, then most will be resurrected in the third of the "order."

Christ was one person.

Christians are few in number compared to the billions who died without Christ's Spirit.

Thus, the resurrection with the greatest number of persons is the third order of resurrections, which is the resurrection after the 1000 years (Rev 20:4-5).

*/Pattern/*.

As we have seen, these resurrections are resurrections to immortality.

There is a pattern here.

Christ, the first in the order, was the first to be resurrected to immortality.

Christians, the second in the order, will be resurrected to immortality.

The third in the order must /also/ be resurrected to immortality.

Thus, "in Christ ALL shall be made alive" (1Cor 15:22).

They will truly be made alive; they will be given immortality.

By taking these scriptures in context, by taking "all" to mean ALL, then "as in Adam all die, so also in Christ /all/ shall be made alive."

Thus, "so then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to ALL men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to ALL men" (Rom 5:18) Or, "for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead" (1Cor 15:21).

*Three orders to immortality*

 

* "And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in THREE measure of meal, till the whole was leavened" (Luke 13:20-21).

* "For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade [Christ], then the ear [Christians], after that the full corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28).

* "Three times in a year shall your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles" (Deut 16:16).

Christ's resurrection was represented by the waving of the sheaf of the first fruits of Israel's first harvest of the year.

Christians' resurrection was represented by Israel's spring harvest and its feast of weeks.

The resurrection of the final harvest is represented by the final harvest of Israel in its feast of tabernacles (see "God's Appointed Times or Seasons Paper" [ 16]).

Another antitypical pattern is the Biblical Joseph (Christ), Manasseh (Christians), and Ephraim (the resurrection of the multitude of nations) (see "Seed Paper").

Notice:

* "For as in Adam ALL die, so also in Christ ALL shall be made alive.

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at his coming, /then comes the end/" (1Cor 15:22-24).