"EVERLASTING SHAME AND CONTEMPT!"--By Dad        DO 2842  11/92

         1. I think there are lots of born-again Christians who fight us, because they have been lied to and deceived and they don't know the truth. A lot of people joined in crying for Jesus to be crucified because some well-paid rabble-rousers called "sons of Belial" and whatnot in the Bible were paid by the priesthood to start yelling, "Crucify Him!" And you know how crowds are, the mob spirit; people start yelling just because everybody else is yelling. And in a way, a lot of the Christians have done that when it comes to us. They've started yelling at us and criticizing us just because that's all they've ever heard or read. They don't really know anything about us firsthand, and have never really met us or known us.
         2. However, there are some bitter enemies who in the past have known us and lived for years with the Family, of whom the Lord says, "If these shall fall away, it shall be impossible to renew them to repentance." (See Heb.6:4-10.) The Holiness people believe that means they've been saved, but then they've gotten lost and will go to Hell. We cannot accept this, since we believe that the Bible clearly states that once we become the Lord's child, we will always remain His child. "I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved" (Jn.10:28; 6:37; 1Cor.3:15).
         3. Therefore, I have taken this scripture in Hebrews 6:4-10 to mean that if they were truly saved and knew the truth and yet went back, fell away--and the Lord says in the Last Days there shall come a great falling away (2Th.2:3; 1Tim.4:1-3)--they're still saved, but "shall suffer loss." They were really Christians, but misled, deceived or offended. Something caused them to be offended and they turned against us bitterly, like Deb and some of our enemies now. And they're in such a blind, bitter rage against us that the Devil has almost possessed them.
         4. Even if they were actually saved, they have just become terribly deceived and perverted, and that fulfills that scripture there in the 6th chapter of Hebrews. They've known and they've seen and they've even tasted of the Spirit, and if these shall fall away, it shall be impossible to renew them again to repentance.
         5. What does repentance mean?--Change of mind. Metanoia is the word, literally. They've gone so far that they can't change their minds, they can't change their way, they can't return to their former state of faith, dedication or helpfulness to others. So all God can do is just let them die or destroy them.
         6. And He says "some shall be raised to shame and everlasting contempt!" (Dan.12:2). Think of it! That is perdition and punishment enough for a formerly dedicated Christian--or one who once had faith--to find that he has forever transgressed to where it is impossible to make him change his mind and renew him to repentance, so that God has to let him go on his way till death. His cup of iniquity was full, so God took him, or he dies or is destroyed in order to stop him or her.
         7. God says they can be saved. But they can't be renewed, they can't be changed, they'll never be brought back to the former state. They will have lost their reward; they will have lost all claim on many of the promises, etc. (Eze.3:20; Rev.3:11), and they will live in a constant state of shame and contempt. (See also Isa.66:5; 1Jn.2:28.)
         8. As I used to say, they'll probably be down in the basement of Heaven shining shoes! Imagine! Heaven would almost be Hell to those people, to have to live with God and God's people after what they've done to Him and to them! It would almost be torment! That's punishment enough to realize what they missed, what they did, and how they are now the lowest of the low in the Heavenly City.
         9. God's Word doesn't say the backsliders are lost. In fact, He even says, "I am married to the backslider" (Jer.3:14). It's like a wife who has deserted her husband. They have deserted the Lord! They've known Him and believed in Him, but they have deserted Him and His work and His people, and even fought against us. But the Lord says, "I'm married to the backslider. She's a bad woman, she's sinned against Me, she's lied about Me, she's worked against Me. But because she at one time received Me, I'm married to her and I'll have to save her and not send her to Hell." But she's going to have some pretty unhappy times in Heaven, considering the shame and the reproach and the contempt she will have to suffer.
         10. I just don't know what the state of those people is. Only God knows! Right now it's almost hard to believe that they were ever saved, and they're fighting the Devil's own battle against us, and being used by the Devil. But it certainly seemed as though they knew the Lord and had received Jesus when they were with us, so maybe one of these days they'll wake up in everlasting shame and contempt and realize how wrong they were.--And then when they have to live with us in Heaven, they'd almost rather be in Hell! Heaven will be Hell for some people to have to be that close to God and His people.--Like the old joke when the guy said, "Heaven sounds great, but when it comes to old pals, there's nothing like the other place!"--Ha!
         11. So we don't know now, but one of these days we'll know, "even as also we are known" (1Cor.13:12). Praise the Lord! Thank You Lord!


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