Sheep and Goats ~ From Universalism to Annihilationism

Romans 10: 10-13 ~ for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ ASV

As always, sharing some project fun before getting into today's post. 

I was asked to make a simple and fun summer project.  

I made this for my mom in law.

I was sent the following video on YT for the Universalist/Annihilationist debate...Will Everyone Be Saved? Annihilationist (left) vs. Universalist (right). I didn't even know some had the universal belief, it was great to see. In this video, where I think they both miss the mark, is that they don't understand that there is a difference between the chosen that will be in heaven during Christ's reign ~ the New Heaven and the remaining "chosen" ones ~ the New Earth. (Isaiah 65:17-25, Isaiah 66, Revelation 12)

For those who don't believe, or stopped believing in that, there is a difference from those who will live in heaven and those who will live on earth. Please do the research, maybe start by truly trying to understand the following scripture and what the New Covenant stands for...

Matthew 11:11 ~ Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Jesus Christ is the first of the anointed, the beginning of the New Covenant. First is the New Heaven, after the 1000 year reign and Satan is destroyed, it will be the New Earth. (John 1)

This is where I've seen just one, of many understandings that ex-JW's had known and yet, decided it should be thrown out the window, a teaching that they've learned while being a JW. I understand the resentment and anger that surfaces when being persecuted by this organization, but to throw out all teachings without truly discerning which ones are true, is just silly.

Who are the sheep and who are the goats?

Matthew 25:32, 33, 46 ~ But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. ~ ASV

Isaiah 66:23 ~ And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Jehovah.

The Goats:

The self righteous ones. (Ecclesiastes 5:1, James 1:23, 24)

Without Love, you have nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Those who exalt themselves. (Luke 18:9-14)

Those whom need to prove themselves more intellectual. (Matthew 11:25)

The hypocrites. (Matthew 23:13)

The Sheep:

The Beatitudes ~ The meek to inherit the earth.  (Matthew 5:5) 

Those with hope, the meek, the blessed, the righteous. (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 29) They shall possess it forever. (Isaiah 34:17; 60:21) Chosen to inherit/servants to dwell on the earth. (Isaiah 65:9)  Captives to take possession of the land. (Jeremiah 30:3)

The other sheep. (John 10:16) The great multitude. (Revelation 7:9, 10)

Not a hearer, but a doer of the word. (James 1:25)

Tabernacle spread OVER them and GUIDED to the Springs of water. Revelation 7:15, 17

Although I had lost faith and turned to the world for answers, I'm thankful that I didn't live the last 40 years of my life being programmed by the JW organization. For this reason, when I returned, I could easily keep an open mind when it came to scripture compared to their teachings. I knew from the start of my return in 2019, that many teachings where incorrect, first and foremost, the false teachings of those whom are anointed. Here's two examples, to be clear...the anointed are chosen before they are born ~ Romans 9:11; Ephesians 1:4, 5 and one can receive Holy Spirit before baptism ~ Cornelius in Acts 10.

I've allowed Jehovah to guide me to the proper understanding by giving up my freewill and disowning myself. In time, Jehovah continues to clear things up for me. Slowly, but surely. Remember, no one can get to Jehovah, except through Jesus Christ. (Matthew 11:27) 

From my own observations, monotheists don't put enough emphasis on Christ as being here as Jehovah God and the trinitarians put too much emphasis on Jesus Christ being Jehovah God Himself. Jesus Christ is to be worshipped, he is a deity, a God, he is Jehovah God's representative and begotten son, the "Angel of the Lord" in the OT. When you see this clearly, Hebrews 1 fits perfectly, but as always "man" complicates it.

Jehovah God Himself calls Jesus Christ God. 

Hebrews 1:8, 9 ~ but of the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. ~ ASV

The NWT twists the scripture and takes away the deity of Christ, another aspect making them an Antichrist.

Hebrews 1:8, 9 ~ But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your companions.”

Going back to the debate I watched, I agree with both views, let me explain how...

First, I believe in a universalist view of mankind before the 1000 year reign and the New Earth. The New Heaven began to take place with the arrival of Jesus Christ. The gospels, in particular John 1. This war is a spiritual war. (Ephesians 6:12) If man is destroyed during Armageddon, he will be resurrected. These will be separated by sheep/goats.

All mankind will have a chance to live under Christ' rule without the influence of Satan, that's justice. Some will be sheep...the great multitude, the righteous, and the others will be goats...the unrighteous.

For the righteous...

Revelation 7:15, 17 ~
"and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle OVER them"

"the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall GUIDE them unto fountains of waters of life." ~ ASV

The tabernacle will be OVER the sheep and they will be GUIDED to the fountains of water. This tells me the righteous will not be in, but under the physical heavens and they have yet to arrive, because they will be guided to the waters of life.

Then, here's where my annihilationist view comes in...after the 1000 years and Satan is released, then a very large part of mankind will be destroyed. Hence why many will experience a second death, this is for those who become or remain goats. 

Matthew 25:46 ~ And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

Revelation 20:8 ~ "The number of whom is as the sand of the sea."

Finally...the New Earth, where all will be God's sons, those in Heaven and those on Earth.

Revelation 21:7 ~ He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

One big happy family...the New Heavens and the New Earth.

This brings me to the days of Jonah and Nineveh. Nineveh was given a chance to repent and all were saved, yet later, they returned to their evil ways and were destroyed. We know the only sin that will incur death is blasphemy against the spirit. Matthew 12:31 ~ Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

Unless these are anointed, they have no way of knowing truly what it means to be baptized in Christ' death. I have not met anyone yet, although I've met some who claim to be anointed, and many who claim to be born again, who understands this the same as I do. Not to say they don't understand it, just that, it's not the same as I do.

You have many who are called, but few who are chosen. Having the calling does not guarantee you will be chosen. (Matthew 22:14) The unwanted guest in Matthew 22:13 brings me to Psalm 69:4 handing over what wasn't stolen and the evil slave Matthew 24:51.

We do not know who the lawless one is that is referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, but we do know it's an unclean spirit. That is why we pray for all mankind, because we cannot discern the difference. Jesus Christ will discern that at the time of his coming.

Revelation 16:13, 14 ~ And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs:
for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

Which brings me to...

Ephesians 6:12 ~ For our wrestling is "NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD," but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

It's a spiritual war. One that I personally continue to battle with God's help. I've already explained to some that I was aware of the antichrist, spiritually.

1 Corinthians 12:1-4 ~ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led. Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ~ ASV

Not something that can be explained. I've also known of Christ's presence since the Spring of 2019. It took time for me to discern the difference between the antichrist and Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 24:24 ~ "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."

Jehovah has taught me well and many things have become clear. But there is much I still do not know. It is God's timing, not mine.

Also, we have...

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 ~ I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth), how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." ~ ASV

"Which it is not lawful for a man to utter." This would be "blasphemy" against the spirit and again brings me back to Psalm 69:4.

No one truly understands these scriptures. Many say it pertains to Apostle Paul, but never explain how. It does not pertain to Apostle Paul. I understand this scripture. One of the first I came to understand when I first returned.

See blog post: Prodigal Daughter ~ The Great Awakening

Another scripture very familiar to me...

1 Corinthians 14:2

For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

I was told by Elders of the JW organization, that I as wrong, but instead of using scripture to prove me wrong, they used the false teachings of the Watchtower. The Watchtower indeed is their Bible, as it trumps and takes precedence over the Holy Scriptures. They have made the organization equal to God. One can't speak of Jehovah separately from the organization or you get persecuted. To JW's, it's one and the same, just like the calf was Jehovah, back in the day of the Israelites. Sadly, they don't see it, but the JW Organization is their false god, their idol.

I was told by JW elder that the following scriptures are fulfilled. The Joel prophecy was fulfilled back in the days of Pentecost and would not happen today. The other scripture in Daniel is apparently being fulfilled by JW's, as told to me by the wife of another elder. 

They couldn't be more wrong...

Joel 2:28, 29 ~ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.

Daniel 12:4 ~ But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Either one believes in the Bible, or they say that they do, but really don't...they believe man instead.

1 Timothy 4:1 ~ But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.

Ephesians 5:6 ~ Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.

As shared with me by a fellow believer and companion..."We need to test the 'divine revelations' we receive to see if they concur with the written word, which needs to grow in us by Jehovah's spirit of truth."

I agree. God's timing is very important. We just need to trust in it. 

Also shared with me..."The timing is His. Our's is the faith, patience, endurance and humility along with love of truth even at the cost of our life, because He is the truth. Satan is trying to mislead if possible the chosen ones, but Jesus has supplicated the Father that our faith will not give out. All is well and for our benefit and salvation, Amen."

Amen. 

We just need to encourage one another and maintain faith no matter what. It will get worse, before it gets better.  

Proverbs 3:5, 6 ~ Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

What is Religion?

James 1:26, 27 ~ If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

May Jehovah God through His Son Jesus Christ bring...

~ Peace, Love and Joy ~