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Does Jehovah want to Save ALL People?

It is in Jehovah’s Character to want to save and bless.  He sent Jonah to preach and spared Nineveh.  The Bible tells us of Jehovah’s desire to save ALL people.

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is … longsuffering …not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  ASV

1 Tim 2:4 – “who [God] desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  NKJV

John 3:17 – “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  NKJV

If God wants to bless Mankind, isn’t he powerful enough to do so?

Isa 14:24; Isa 45:22-23; Jonah 3:10

28 comments to Does Jehovah want to Save ALL People?

  • Richard

    Was discussing the question with a neighbor about God’s kingdom, and that everyone will be given a chance to be saved during the millennium. He said, “then why bother being good. I will be given a second chance”. Did not have an answer

    • zionsherald

      My response to this —

      I would ask them what kind of heart they have? Each person will need to make an account in the judgment period of what they’ve done. The less things you’ve done, the less you’ll need to give account of.

      “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. 33 A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.” (Matthew 12:31-36 NLT)

      The next verse summarizes it nicely.

      “For by your words will your righteousness be seen, and by your words you will be judged.” (Matthew 12:37 BBE)

      • Lincoln

        Dear Zionsherald, (this is only place I can answer you)

        I must say you have many good points. Considering Jesus as created and 2. to God I am sure you will find very much basis in the Bible, the way you see it. I also love all the scriptures you give, but understand differently.

        But we are talking about Spiritual matters, God is Spirit. We are not talking about human body in flesh and blod.

        If we wants to know; ask Jesus. He answered; ”when you see me you see the Father” and “the Father and I are one”.

        It is therefore interesting that JW has this idea and many others and at the same time promis their followers everlasting life on this planet Earth in everlasting youth and perfect conditions and the planet Earth changed into a Paradise.

        But, you do not belileve JW as the only true religion, but falls religion misleading people. But they themselves believe it.

        There is only JW, muslims and yourselves not to believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, (Charles Taze Russell did). So, what can we get from this?

        For myself I don`t know. What happens to me when I believe the opposite of you? What do I get out of it? What is the truth and what is not?

        I must say this; Reading in the Jewish Holy Book we call the Bible, I came to learn about the Jewish God JHVH. Now, on top of this I got the accounts of the life of Jesus Christ and his words.

        So, I came to believe in the Jewish God JHVH. The JW explained everything to me, but I felt lost somehow.

        During my time with the JW I learned about Charles Taze Russell and the Bible Students.

        Then a very strange thing happened after 40 years. I met Jesus personaly. I was not prepared of this and I did not know anytning about the deity of Jesus and The Holy Spirit.
        I thought it would cojoin fine with the JW, but no.

        So, I was left with nothing. All the teachings I had, failed and today I must say I do not trust either. What did I get?

        I got Jesus, only Jesus.

        Then I learned about the Holy Spirit and was baptised in the Holy Spirit and at that point the belief I had in God all of a sudden became real. God became personal to me and I learned I could speak to God and God would answer me.

        I do not think about being in some heavenly government, but just a child of God. I also understand, when I die I will go to heaven and there I shall meet friends and family.

        So, what do the Jewish people think about this? Those who introduced their God to us? It is interesting, that when they hear about and meet Jesus, the same miracle happens to them as to me.

        What happens to the Muslims when they hear about Jesus and begin to focus on him? The same miracle happens to them as to me and to the Jewish Jesus believers.

        So, why does it not happens to you or to the JW?

        When I pray to God, who do I pray to? I pray to JHVH in the name of Jesus. What I know about God and what I like about God, I get from Jesus.

        Millions of muslims and poor people in Africa are at this moment turning to Jesus in prayer and worship. Now, if we call God JHVH or Jesus or Holy Spirit then what? To me it is the same. God holds all of it in his pressens.

        Can I prove it from the Bible? Well, for the one who believe, proof doesn`t matter and for the one who don’t believe no proof is enough. So, where does it bring you and people who believe as you do; JW, Islam, Bible Students?

        As you yourself says; it really dosen`t matter because what ever, you will get life in a new world after harmagedon, even in the resurrection of billions (50 billions until today) of people who have lived and in this new world everything will work out fine.

        While some of you will sit on thrones in heaven and rule over the planet Earth and so do JW believe JW they will.

        Cry to Jesus Draw me.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr6M5P04c20 (Skip the ad).

        I thank you for giving me time to tell you about my faith in Jesus here and I hope we Christians and Bible Students always can talk together.

        God Bless you

        • Zionsberald

          Lincoln,

          I am writing this on my phone this morning as i travel for a visit to the archeology museum in Chicago (Oriental Institute). Since i am in transit i will keep this short.

          I see that you presume to know what Charles Taze Russell believed in much the same way that you have presumed Bible Student AND Jehovahs Witness beliefs. The problem is that your presumptions are usually wrong. This is true of your claim that I and other Bible Students do not believe that Jesus is now Divine after his resurrection. Your assumption is incorrect.

          I do not care for your posts as you have consistently avoided scriptural discussion in favor of your own philosophical reasinings in the nature of god which do not fit directly into a traditional trinitarian or oneness perspective. I soent a great amount of time to look at your copy and pasted scriptures with little or no response from you on the scriotures under discussin. If you really base your opinions on philosophy rather than scrioture thats ok for you but do not presume others will believe anything you have to say since you do not back it up with scripture and are not interested to even discuss the scriotures. As much as you claim you want to have discussions, you do everything you can to avoid them.

          If you want to continue a discussion on scripture then lets do it. I will await a response from you. If you want to continue avoiding scripture and throwing out misunderstandings of Bible Student belief then i can hardly see a willingness on youe part to have a true and honest discussuon.

          It would be nice if you sincerely spent the same time others put in to make an honest response to the scriptural reasoning that has been presented.

          • Lincoln

            Dear Zionsherald.

            I would like to comment this one: “This is true of your claim that I and other Bible Students do not believe that Jesus is now Divine after his resurrection. Your assumption is incorrect”. quote end.

            My comment;

            Well, I do recognise that you do and I have written this and quoted what Charles Taze Russell has written on that subject. So I don’t understand why you say I do not?

            But, as you now confess that the Bible Students believe in the divinity of Jesus, I thank you for that. This is what I have tried to find with you.

            But as I also have said; we Christians do not believe or worship 3 different Gods, but only one God. We have only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

            Is that ok with you?

            • Anon CJ

              Even after Jesus ressurection when he was Spirit it it said “There is ONE GOD THE FATHER one Lord Jesus Christ.” ( 1 Cor 8:6) also “There is one God and one mediator between God an Man” (1 Tim 3:16). So even after the resurrection of Jesus he is still referred not not as God.

              When Jesus said that to see him is to see the the father is is not saying that he is the father. But he was in accord with the fathers will and therefore everything you see Jesus to be is everything God is because Jesus was in the image of God. Jesus aid that he and the father are one. Not one being. Adam and Eve are said to be one flesh but there were not the same person and not the same woman or man.

            • Chuck

              Lincoln,
              I would like to comment here on your discussion with zionsherald.

              First, we obviously have a different understanding of what divine is.

              In my Scripture studies I have come to understand that there are three types of beings, Earthly, Angelic and Divine. Jesus became a Divine being AFTER his resurrection and not before. Else he could not die on the Cross for all of us. Just as two Angelic beings are not considered to be the same being, God YHVH and Jesus being Divine beings are not the same being. This does NOT make him God YHVH. He is inhabiting the same type of “body” now, that of the Divine being, just as God (our Father) does.

              You state over and over that you worship only one God and yet you keep equating our Holy Father, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit (the Fathers power) as entities of some mysterious Godhead. This whole concept was blasphemy to the very early Church. It was not until almost 3 centuries later that some “church fathers” argued about it and came up with the whole Jesus is God theory interjecting philosophy into religion. A majority of Christians at the time did not believe in this concept. (Look into Arius.) Later they added the “Holy Ghost” to the equation trying to bring more pagans into the fold. Most pagan religions had a Triad of Gods so it was easier for them to convert. There is a wonderful book titled “AD 381” by Charles Freeman that looks real close at the history of this argument.

              I have searched far and wide through Scriptures to prove the concept of the Trinity. (I was raised in the belief of it.) It is simply not there. Anyone can take certain verses and use them to make the case, but, when ALL of Scripture is taken seriously, it is a disproven concept. When philosophy was brought into Christianity, the concepts you talk about were formed. Such as all good people going on to live somewhere in the sky. And of course that means all the bad people HAD to go somewhere. A fiery Hell was invented. This is ALL philosophy. This is what zionsherald is talking about.

              I understand your misguided understanding of the Bible Students. The JW’s preached a twisted view of us. Even going so far as to claim the title for themselves at times.

              Take care and God Bless,
              -chuck

          • Anon CJ

            I don’t even think he knows what he believes. I would just ignore him at this point.

            • Lincoln

              Dear AnonCJ,

              I would not way that to you. I would bless you even you do have a faith I don`t know. I am a Christian and believe the Christian Bible, but I also believe the God of the Jews.

              What do you think about Christianity and the different denominations?

              • Chuck

                Lincoln,
                You stated:
                “What do you think about Christianity and the different denominations?”
                My answer.
                Scripture states there is but ONE church. Each denomination has different takes on faith and Scripture. In this sense, only one could truly be correct and the ONE church. Or else, they may ALL have SOME truth but preach untruths also. Each believing they are the RIGHT one. This is why Bible Students are not a denomination and we discuss issue of Scripture that we may disagree on so as to come to an understanding of what is being said.

            • Chuck

              It seems he is happy with his faith and trying to convince himself he is right. When we are faced with something that goes against what we have taken as truth, we get defensive. No one wants to be wrong! I believe it is when we can admit our failings that we are at peace.

              • greg (Bible Student)

                Chuck,

                You wrote: “I believe it is when we can admit our failings that we are at peace.

                I really want to express my agreement with the sentiment expressed you here.

                Thank you!

                While I admit from my own experience that certainty would be most welcome at times (indeed, I often find myself desperately craving it), it is actually my doubt, my uncertainty, my seeking still more answers that helps me learn, discover, grow, and increasingly attain to closer approximations of truth.

                Thank you again for stating what you did. I like the way you said it better than the way I tried. 🙂
                -greg

    • Jacqueline (Bible Student)

      Richard a good question indeed. I have learned that we are in the “Gospel age” that Jesus started and out of it he is taking out ones for heaven and the government of the millennium (including his bride, God is selecting). In other words persons to go to heaven simply put.
      Not many want to led such a life where God can develop this new creature that will be raised to heaven when he dies faithful.
      The benefit of running for this upward call of heaven is the mindblowing life of being a “New Creature” not a human.
      Your neighbor will have many benefits from living a good life now, for one he will stay out of jail because God put and allows governments to make people be good. (:) Second it will make life nicer for him and his family to follow the laws of nature, man and conscience. We are animals without these natural laws.
      Third living on earth will still be attainable for the rest of mankind in the Millennium and that will be everlasting if they choose to build on the personality they already had before Armageddon’s clearance of the old system of things.
      So many don’t want to live righteous now but it will work out perhaps easier to obey if this is who you are, were, before the New World.
      So I would go along those lines. Not all even those that are called will be chosen for the Bride as it is a limited number but there is the un-numbered “Great Multitude” who are washed in the blood of the Lamb and will be in heaven.
      To me there is nothing wrong with a person wanting to live on the earth. All Jews want this and it is natural. To go to heaven is special.
      So in conclusion, his benefit of being a good person now are some of the benefits above.
      AND IT MAKES HIM A HUMAN AND NOT AN ANIMAL. Come back and tell us what he says. Others will probably come in with scriptural support as each of us on here are different in the roles we play on the site.

      PS: We heard about you from Br. Brad and would love to hear your voice and have you join us on Wednesday. We are all like you, came through many struggles in life within the organization. You will be among friends. Take Care, In Christ, Jacqueline

    • greg (Bible Student)

      Richard,

      I must admit that precise thought once came to visit in my mind and I grappled with it for a very long time. What a journey that was! Later, someone else asked me that same question, and I recall the difficulty I had in even trying to reply. What could I really say that might be a satisfying answer–satisfying to the one asking? How could I compress years of learning and searching into an easy-to-understand reply? And so yes, it was a that moment that I realized I needed to revisit the question in my own mind yet again.

      Below is the most satisfying (short) answer I have yet found:

      Human beings are averse to pain.
      It’s really painful to know/learn we’ve caused pain for/in others.

      That’s it. That’s the way God made us.

      How does that land for you?

      Sincerely and warmly,
      -greg

      • just stay sweet and good

        Greg and Richard,

        I also have contempltd this question and my conclusion was……….Living your life as most people live it and living as a true Christian is the difference between a mediocre life and a dynamic life. Getting up each morning and applying the Sermon on the Mount is just one example of the challenges that face a Christian everyday. Its exciting, its refreshing, its motivating, and its a very unsual life and worth every effort to live up to. The effort is never wasted effort because our faith makes us “see” all the angeles in heaven who are witnessing our determination to be overcomers. We are never alone when we choose to be a witness for Jehovah and his designated King Jesus Christ.

        • greg (Bible Student)

          just stay sweet and good,

          Very nicely put. Thank you. 🙂

          Jesus said there was more happiness in giving than in receiving. I’ve learned that the greatest happiness I can experience is contributing to someone else’s enjoyment/betterment of life. To give to someone who is really in need is to know pure joy, peace, meaning, and satisfaction.

          To live otherwise is only to deprive myself of true joy.

          Interestingly, I’ve never known such freedom before coming to understand the Divine Plan and finding the Bible Students. But with such delicious and abundant freedom comes an even greater joy of knowing that I’m still eager to persist in a away of righteousness because I’ve truly come to understand the reality of the things of which you speak.

          1 John 4:8, 18 “The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Put somewhat differently, the person who has yet to get to know God, isn’t really going to experience the true nature and impact of love. I don’t read this as an accusation, but a simple expression of a tragic reality.

          I think of Matthew 22:36. The expression “greatest commandment” seems to me to be less of a dictated order, and more of a statement regarding an “underlying truth about the nature of the universe” and thus the “secret to true happiness.” Kind of like the other things we call “Laws” of nature.

          May peace and joy continue to comfort all who struggle daily to resist the spirit of those in the world who have yet to discover this simple truth.
          -greg

    • Lee Anthony (Brandon)

      Richard,
      During that time: (Hab 2:14)For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea…
      The time we live in from my understanding of scripture is a time when the bride is being called and chosen. Satan has blinded the minds and deluded the hearts of the world to the extent that I feel like calling it a second chance is not entirely accurate as the knowledge of God and of his plan is not clear to many at all, but in the millennial age it will be. I think this will be the real 1st chance. Once a person has a full knowledge there comes responsibility. Of course even then not all will accept. I see the heart as stated by zionsherald as the key, yet more so for those during the 1000 years than now. But both now and in the future this is certainly applicable. (Jer 31:34) and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
      Just my thinkin on the matter…
      Brandon

    • zionsherald

      Richard,

      If you’ve got a couple hours to spare (and who doesn’t, right?), you might want to watch (or listen) to one of the Christian Question radio programs on the subject.

      Watch Hour 1:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koUm5NoIPgk

      Watch Hour 2:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7KldETMm0w

      Listen:
      http://christianquestions.com/doctrine/657-can-one-who-dies-an-unbeliever-still-be-saved/

  • Anonymous

    Peter, you said:

    “Peter K. (admin)

    April 25, 2014 at 6:14 am · Reply

    Domenic,

    Jehovah is more loving, merciful and longsuffering then men can imagaine. YES – ALL will get a full opportunity to be saved. Click here to see supporting scriptures:

    Click here: to see this short Ransom for ALL video so see from the Bible how Jehovah will provide a full opportunity to ALL.”

    Like I have said Peter, I have a simple mind. Why would God bring back those he has destroyed just to judge them again? He condemned Adam, and Eve…he destroyed those at the flood, and when Jesus returns, he is going to destroy many others. Why would God bring those he destroyed back just to judge them a second time? Would that not be like saying, “Maybe god made a mistake when he destroyed these people?”

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Anonymous – Because God is loving, patient and forgiving. Those He punished, if they learned the lesson, he will give them the opportunity to repent and live forever on earth. Wouldn’t you hope God would be so merciful?

      Even the Wicked get an Opportunity to Repent in the Kingdom

      Matt 11:20-24 – it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you… if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day

      Luke 11:32 – The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it. NKJV

      Ezek 16:55, 61,62 – Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state  NKJV

      Isa 60:14 –all those who despised you will bow themselves at the souls of your feet; And they will call you the city of the LORD.  The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. – NASV

      Rev 3:9 – I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan…to come and bow down at your feet”

  • hank

    My first sentence wasn’t a question. My Daddy said always read things first and think, then give a reply.

  • Hank,
    My darling Grandfather instructed me as a boy how to communicate clearly with others. On one occasion he said, “Sonny, (a name he called me) never give reply to someone who answers your questions with a question…it will be like spitting in the wind.” Please read my post again.

  • hank

    I noticed you used a couple of translations. Do you use others to?

  • Hank,
    It sounds like you follow a Catholic Bible. There are many different Bibles people us to learn Gods word. I have always found it best (for my study) to match all scripture to the scrolls…after all, it was the scrolls the Bible was taken from. The only difference there should be is: The scriptures, or books of the scrolls are translated into English, etc, and scriptures are named, and numbered in to Bible which makes finding scriptures an easy task.

  • hank

    The New American Bible Saint Joseph Edition

    “Thus says the LORD: The heavens are my throne, the earth is my footstool. What kind of house can you build for me; What is to be my resting place? My hand made all these things when all of them came to be, says the LORD. This is the one whom I approve: the lowly and afflicted man who trembles at my word. Merely slaughtering an ox is like slaying a man; sacrificing a lamb, like breaking a dog’s neck; Bring a cereal offering, like offering swine’s blood; burning incense, like paying homage to an idol. Since these have chosen their own ways and taken pleasure in their own abominations, I in tern will choose ruthless treatment for them* and bring upon them what they fear. Because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened; Because they did what was evil in my site, and chose what gave me displeasure, Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: Your brethren who, because of my name, hate and reject you, say, “Let the LORD show his glory that we may see your joy”; but they shall be put to shame. A sound of roaring from the city, a sound from the temple, The sound of the LORD repaying his enemies their deserts.”

    footnote* “Worship which is merely external is as evil as though it were idolatry.”

    Ps 91:14-16, “Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and glorify him; with length of days I will gratify him and will show him my salvation.”

  • Does YHWH want to save ALL People?
    Any who have served YHWH has been asked that question many times. Most who ask seem to believe YHWH will save all people. Being human we all feel surly God will save us?

    I like the scriptures posted on this thread. They are clear, and to the point.

    2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is … longsuffering …not wishing that any should perish… but that all should come to repentance. ASV

    “Not wishing that any should perish.” This is not saying none will perish. It is not saying all will be saved. God would like to see all do something that will give him reason to be save them.

    1 Tim 2:4 – “who [God]…desires ALL men to be saved…and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” NKJV

    Again God is saying, “Yes, I would like to save all men.” Again he is not saying all will be saved.

    John 3:17 – “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV

    John 3:17 is very clear. “Might be saved.” In this scripture he is again not saying all will be saved.

    These three scriptures do answer the question; “Does YHWH want to save ALL People?”
    The answer is yes he does. Is he saying he will save all people? No he is not.

    These three scriptures seem to some to condemn all of us to death. I have heard many say, “No, Jesus died for all of us, so we will not be left in death.” When Jesus returns, he will lift his people off the earth, and the rest he will destroy…he will not save all people. That leaves the big question, “Who will YHWH save, and how does he judge us? One thing I do know for sure…”I know how our God, YHWH, and our Lord Jesus judge us.
    This is what is clear to me, God can see into the future…we are judged by God not as we are now, but as we would be in the future. “If Domenic was on a perfect earth, and had a perfect mind, and body like Adam, would he serve me as I want him to?” if the answer is yes, I will have life. If the answer no, I will not have life.
    Will YHWH save all people. No he will not. If he did the earth would be just as it is today.

    So how can we gage were we are? Simple. Do no judge yourself. Many of us are fare behind many others. God does not judge how good we are, he looks at our effort. He knows some have been beaten up more than others. We don’t have to be A+ students. An F- is acceptable to him if that is our best effort. The key word in this classroom is effort. Don’t serve for the reward of life…serve because your heart will let you do no other.

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