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NASB | Revelation 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." |
Bible Question: Will unbelievers who never heard the gospel in their lifetime be raised from Sheol because Jesus ministers to them (because of God's mercy) in Hades/Sheol? |
Bible Answer: We must draw a distinction between "unbelievers" and "those who never heard" of Christ. "Unbeliever" implies those who have heard of Christ and rejected Him. Scripture is clear that these will not inherit the Kingdom. Further, Scripture says, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20) God reveals Himself in some fashion to all people. It is faith in God that save us from our sin, whether we recognize God in Christ or not. Abraham did not know of Jesus Christ in the literal sense, but Romans 4:3 speaks of Abraham being saved by grace (not works, as was commonly thought in OT times)... "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." He trusted God for His salvation. We do not know how God reveals Himself, but we know that He does. We also know that Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) What, therefore, are we to conclude? First, God gives all people an intuitive knowledge of Himself. Second, all people who are saved from human sin are saved only through faith in God's mercy fully the result of Christ's death and resurrection. There is no other means of salvation... Christ paid the price for all sin for all humans who believe and trust in God. God promises that all who believe will be saved. We trust that God's mercy is perfect, and that, just in the case of Abraham, the faith of the believers will be "reckoned to them as righteousness." It is God alone who will determine those humans who are believers. I am reminded of what Jesus said in Mark 10 :25-27... "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." |