Do We All Worship The Same God?

The United States is fast becoming a multi-religious culture reflecting many of the religions in the world. Hindu temples and mosques of Islam dot the landscapes in many cities. Contrary to popular Christian thought, the Christian religion is only 33% (2 billion) of the world’s population. Each world religion; Christian, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shinto, Islam, etc. has its own Bible describing its God or Gods. Each of these "Bibles" contains a system of faith by which the believer supposedly establishes a relationship with his God(s).

This presents a challenge! How do we know which bible is the authentic Word of the true God or gods? At the close of this newsletter, a free booklet is offered that proves beyond a doubt by prophecy, history and science that only the Christian Bible reveals the true God of the universe.

These non-Christians live in your neighborhood. You see them at children’s sports leagues, piano recitals, the workplace, store and parks. At first, perhaps they seemed so different. But then, you began to realize they are often very friendly, morally upright, hard working and community-minded.

The question naturally arises—do we all worship the same God? Are these various religions just different roads to the same God or are their adherents, and the vast non-Christian majority of earth’s people, in jeopardy of being eternally lost? When the influx of non-Christian immigration to the US began, most Bible-believing Christians viewed them as eternally lost unless they accept Jesus as their savior.

However, several decades of interaction with these non-Christians, had an incredible effect as revealed in the Pew Forum Survey in 2008. Now over 47% of Born-Again Christians believe that non-Christian religions can lead to eternal life without accepting Jesus. What a flip-flop! But over 50% of Born-Again Christians still believe that these non-Christians are dammed eternally unless they accept Jesus. Why? Acts 4:12 ISV. "There is no salvation by anyone else, for there is no other name [Jesus] under heaven given among people by which we must be saved."

Two Time Periods For Salvation

But a topical study of the Bible, reveals that there are not just one but two different time periods in God’s Plan during which mankind will be able to accept Jesus. Speaking of Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) reads, "Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." If Jesus died for ALL, then ALL must have an opportunity for salvation, and this opportunity for ALL will be "testified in due time." The NAS and other translations read "due times"—plural. These plural times are also confirmed in Bible Greek Lexicons like Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon.

After preaching Christ to the Jews, Peter in Acts 15:14-17 states "how God at the first [through Peter] did visit the Gentiles [the call and salvation of the Church of Christ], to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, after this I will return [Second Advent], and will build again the tabernacle of David [the Kingdom of God], …and I will set it up: that the residue of men [all who are not in the Church of Christ] might seek after the Lord [the second time period for salvation], and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called [even those who already have heard the Lord’s name], saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."

Notice, God does not immediately attempt to convert all the Gentiles, but first selects a small group. This is the Church of Christ that Jesus calls a "Little Flock," Luke 12:32. "A people for his name" is first selected out of the Jews and Gentiles. Then the tabernacle of David, which was an Old Testament type or illustration of the Kingdom of Christ, is set up. Why is the Church first called? And why is the "tabernacle of David" (Kingdom of God) then set up? Peter said, "that the residue [all that remain] of men might seek after the Lord..." First, the Church of Christ is called out of the nations so that afterwards, by the Church united with Christ, the remainder of men—the vast majority—may "seek after the Lord."

Remember 1 Timothy 2:6, speaking of Jesus, says, "Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due times." The "due time" for the true Church to learn of the ransom [Jesus death for ALL] is now during the Christian age, but the "due time" for the rest of mankind to understand the ransom is future.

Future Trial-time

Since the vast majority of the human race died without hearing or understanding the "ransom for all," the Kingdom will require the raising of the dead that they might hear. This is just what Jesus tells us in John 5:28 RSV. "Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, to a resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment."

Notice that the "all" who will be raised from the dead are divided into two classes. One, "they that have done good"—this refers to the true Church. During Christ’s return they will be raised and united with their heavenly Lord. Two, then will follow the resurrection of the "evil class"—all the remainder of men. This includes all the Hindus, Buddhists, Confucians, Shintoists, Muslims, Jews, etc. who have died without accepting Christ—even Christians in name only. This "evil class" will come forth to a "resurrection of judgment." The King James Bible translated in AD 1611 grossly mistranslated the word "judgment" with the word "damnation." The American Revised Version in AD 1881 used the word "judgment" and no translation since then has used the word "damnation."

The Greek word for judgment in the text is "krisis" and it means trial—a resurrection of trial. The Greek word is a source of our English word "crisis" and it has the same meaning. A doctor might say, "The patient will reach his crisis in the morning." This does not mean that the patient might die tomorrow morning, but rather, a crisis of an illness is that period when the patient will take a turn for the better or the worse.

The "krisis" or trial-time for the Church is in this present life, but the "krisis" or trial-time for the remainder of mankind will be the resurrection in the Kingdom. Billions of mankind before and after Jesus’ earthly ministry died without receiving enlightenment about Jesus. Yet John 1:9 states that Jesus is the light that "lightens every man that comes into the world." What a clear scriptural confirmation, that for most, truth enlightenment will require an awakening from the dead! But some counter with 2 Corinthians 6:2, "Now is the day of salvation." But the Greek text reads, "Now is a day of salvation," because Paul is quoting from Isaiah 49:8, which reads "a day of salvation."

The Church Is Called First

Why is the Church first selected to share with Christ in the Kingdom work (Revelation 20:6; 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3) of blessing mankind? One reason can be illustrated by the noble work of Alcoholics Anonymous. An essential step in AA therapy is to assign a former alcoholic to each alcoholic that comes for help. The victim driven by alcoholism will not accept help or advice from just anyone. How could anyone know his agony, his depression, his desperation unless they also shared the same experience? But the alcoholic will accept help from a former alcoholic because he knows this person can understand his agony. And this former alcoholic stands ready at any time to come to his side to plead and reason with him. It requires a former alcoholic to rehabilitate an alcoholic.

When mankind—Hindus, Buddhists, Confucians, Shintoists, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, etc.—come forth from the grave in Christ’s Kingdom, they will be informed that they have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and they will be made aware of the fact that they are now under the reign of Jesus Christ and his Church. Revelation 20: 6. What confidence they will have that the Church will know just how to enter into their problems! Why? Because the Church was also once sinners. This plan for rehabilitation will work! The majority will gladly receive the instruction, the disciplining and the nurturing necessary to pass their trial for eternal life.

The Justice, Love, Wisdom and Power of God

If the period between the First and Second Advents of Jesus was the only time of salvation for any of humankind to accept Jesus, do you realize the adverse reflection this would have on God? The Bible portrays God as a God of justice, love, wisdom and power.

Eons ago when God was formulating His plan for mankind, in His wisdom God knew that due to lack of experience in knowing the consequences of disobeying, man would sin and need a redeemer. Thus 1 Peter 1:18-20 speaks of Jesus dying before the foundation of the earth—before the creation of the earth. When created, Adam was warned that if he disobeyed God, he would die—"dying thou shalt die," Genesis 2:17. Adam disobeyed and died with the human race yet in his loins.

As recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:20,22, "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Consequently, all were born in sin. All were in need of the redemption God foreordained in Jesus’ death. Meanwhile, all are learning the bitter fruits of sin—sickness, suffering, man’s inhumanity to man and death. By contrast, what a joy it will be for most in the Kingdom to accept redemption in Christ and the blessings of his righteous rule.

A Basic Question

There is only one name, Jesus, under heaven whereby we can be saved. Why did God wait approximately 4,000 years after Adam sinned, during which millions lived and died, before sending Jesus to "taste death for every man"? Hebrews 2: 9. These millions lived before they could hear the name of Jesus as their Savior. Further, if the period between the First and Second Advents was the only day of salvation, it would simply not be true that "Jesus tasted death for every man."

Because God is just and loving, these millions who lived and died before "Jesus tasted death for every man" will have an opportunity to hear the name of Jesus. How? We saw in John 5:28,29 that "all that are in their graves…shall come forth," and they will be part of the—"they that have done evil" class. And they will come forth to a resurrection of judgment [Greek, krisis or trial].

Remember, 1 Timothy 2:6: The "ransom for all" will be "testified [proclaimed] in due times"—plural. The millions who lived before Jesus died will have the opportunity to hear the name of Jesus in the future Kingdom of God.

Another Basic Issue

Notwithstanding the missionary efforts since the First Advent, tens of millions lived during this period of approximately 2,000 years that 2 Corinthians 6:2 calls "a day of salvation" and they died never hearing the only name by which we are saved. Since they died in their sins, they also will be a part of "all who are in their graves…who have done evil," John 5:28,29. And they will come forth in the "resurrection of [krisis]" during the Kingdom of God to hear for the first time the only name, Jesus, whereby they can be saved.

But many of our Hindu, Buddhist, Confucians, Shintoist and Muslim neighbors have heard about Jesus and did not accept him as their Savior. Mark 4:12 reveals Jesus purposely spoke in parables and dark sayings so many would not understand "lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven them." Notice Jesus purposely did not want them to believe. Why? Remember the period between the First and Second Advents is only "a day of salvation" for the call of a "Little Flock" to be the Church of Christ who will bless all the world of mankind.

Remember (John 5: 28,29) speaks of the raising of the evil, those not saved in Christ, from their graves to their "crisis" or trial. Revelation 22:17 describes how the church at that time as the bride of Christ will help the "evil" during their trial-time for salvation in the Kingdom.

Revelation 22:17 KJV "And the Spirit [Christ] and the bride [Church] say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Send for the free booklet "Do We All Worship The Same God." It proves beyond a doubt from numerous fulfilled prophecies, ancient historic documentation and miraculous scientific discoveries that only the Christian Bible is the inspired Word of the one and only true God. And it shows the Scriptural opportunity for salvation for the tens of millions since Adam who never heard the name of Christ whereby they can be saved.