“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring (Jesus) all people on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3:24-26)
“All people on earth will be blessed” because of Jesus; not just those who believe in Him. Those Jews that listened to Peter saw Jesus face to face and heard His words firsthand yet some still had hardened hearts because of their desire for power and money. Later generations, while still on earth, will have other reasons for disbelieving that Jesus is their savior. Those who don’t believe probably will not be blessed by Jesus during their lifetime on earth. So how will all people on earth be blessed?”
The only way all people on earth could be blessed by Jesus is through forgiveness after death. Those who haven’t been forgiven on earth may still be forgiven when they meet Jesus for judgment. John 5:24-29 tells us: “Those who listen to my message and believe in God…will never be condemned…they have already passed from death into life….The dead will hear my voice…and those who listen will live. The time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.”
Judgment will be hellish. Every unforgiven sin will flash before each unbeliever. But since God promised to bless all people who lived on earth, I believe Jesus will give them the choice of having their sin washed away and spending eternity with God or of carrying their guilt for eternity apart from God. I am confident that when unbelievers stand between Jesus and Satan, they will choose to believe Jesus. He will bless each unbeliever by turning them from their wicked ways.
Father God, I praise You for Your mercy and turning all from their wicked ways. We’ll have wonderful reunions with changed family members and others who will now love us. Somehow, we’ll be able to love them too. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen
We have talked about this subject many times. I truly believe that at the end of life the unbeliever will make a choice between Satan and Jesus. “The dead will hear my voice, and those who listen will live.” We both know unbelievers. It is hard to think that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit , in Their love, would not be there at the end of life. I believe they will be there, and the God of second chances will allow one more chance in his love and mercy.
Hey Sis, I hope I don’t talk about it too much. Traditional religions and most Christian churches don’t believe there is another chance after death, and I firmly believe there is, so every time a find a Scripture that points to the possibility I have to talk about it. The God I worship and love is a God of many chances. He loves us so much!