7. IT IS NOT JUST HEAVEN OR THE LAKE OF FIRE, THERE IS A CONTINUUM
As mentioned above, it is not simply a question of EITHER Heaven or the lake of
fire.
There is a continuum between the "outer darkness" at the very fringes of Heaven
where the "foolish virgins" will weep and wail and gnash their teeth and there are
high thrones with Yahooshua for those who overcome in this life.
Consider Matthew 8:11-12
"11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and
shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (KJV)
So there is a place of outer darkness, seemingly for believers, where there will
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Consider also the parable of the "foolish virgins" in Matthew 25:10-13:
"10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were
ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son
of man cometh." (KJV)
Here believers are rejected on the basis of their conduct.
Consider also Matthew 7:13-24:
"13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs
of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will
liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" (KJV)
The way to destruction is large and the way to salvation is straight (constrained,
tight, difficult) and the gate is narrow.
Those which do not bring forth good fruit are cast into the fire.
Many will call on Yah the eternally self existing and on Yahooshua and do many
mighty works in the name of Yahooshua and yet the Almighty and Yahooshua will
declare "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Iniquity is lawlessness, failure to keep the commandments.
So, one can call on the Name of Yah, pray in the Name of Yahooshua and yet not
keep the commandments and on the Day of Judgment one can be told "I never
knew you, depart from me".
It appears from "The Final Quest" that such people may STILL qualify to enter
Heaven but will be in the outer darkness, the location furthest from the throne.
There is much that is not entirely clear.
However, it is clear that there is a broad continuum between those who truly
please the Almighty and who sit on a high throne to those with whom He is
greatly displeased but who may exercise just sufficient faith to scrape into
Heaven,
It is my understanding that there is a similar continuum in the lake of fire,
between those who lived "good" lives but did not keep the commandments of the
Almighty and those who energetically served Satan who will reside for eternity
in the most tormented part of the lake of fire, close to Satan. Further discussion
of this aspect is not relevant, this document is directed at those who choose to
seek to spend eternity in Heaven.
For an indication of this continuum in Heaven consider 1 Corinthians 3:12-15:
"12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work
of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall
be saved; yet so as by fire." (KJV)
This passage confirms that our works in this life (what we do) will be tried by
FIRE and that which endures the fire shall result in a reward.
So, it is possible to live life in some form of service to the Almighty and yet lose
EVERYTHING one has worked for on the Day of Judgment and STILL be saved.
Consider also Jude 1:23 "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;
hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (KJV)
Carnality, the flesh, is something that will be destroyed in the fire.
The works of our own strength, our own intellect, our own comfort, our own will,
etc - those things that we do that the Almighty did NOT tell us to do, will be
destroyed in the fire and we may be saved with nothing to show for our lives.
Consider also 1 Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more
precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Yahooshua the anointed of
Yah {Jesus Christ}:" (KJV, adjusted)
Consider also John 15:6 "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch,
and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are
burned." (KJV)
If we do not live life the way the Almighty wants us to live it and abide in Him
through Yahooshua, we can be cast forth and burned.
The book, "The Final Quest", provides considerably more insight into this and
some extracts are presented later in this document.
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