This is part 2, continued from: Part 1 - MG on ‘Divine Justice’ at the ‘Great White Throne judgment,’ but what about James 2:13?

Now, the permanent second death, is not eternal torturing like many claim. Jesus came so we would not have to PERISH, but have eternal life:
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27)
Jesus did not come so that people would not experience physical death—He came to help prevent the second death (Revelation 20:14).
And since the Apostle Paul was inspired to write that it is appointed for people to die (Hebrews 9:27), the PERISHING in John 3:16 has to do with what happens after the resurrections.
James 5:11 states:
1 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord–that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Permanent torment is not merciful nor very compassionate–but putting the wicked permanently out of their misery is. God is very compassionate and merciful.
Nahum 1:12 teaches:
12 Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more;
Thus, this prophetic book is teaching that there is not a permanent, torturing affliction.
Revelation 21:4 teaches:
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. Thus, there will not be an ever-burning torment and torture of sinners throughout eternity. All things will become new.
Remember that Malachi 4:1-3 teaches that the wicked (those who will not repent) will be burned up and will be ashes (see also Luke 13:1-3; Matthew 10:28). This is not an everlasting torment, but a destruction of those that refuse God.

Fourthly, here is some information on the Great White Throne Judgement from the free e-book Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation:

The Great White Throne Judgment and the One Hundred Year Period
The Bible tells of a time when the saints of the house of God—the Christians—will be resurrected and be part of the Millennium, but that the rest of the dead will be resurrected later:
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
Satan will not be a problem for one thousand years as he will be bound (Revelation 20:1-2). After that thousand years, he will be released for a “little while” (Revelation 20:3,7-10; which could be consistent with the idea of a time gap that Jewish sage Rabbi Joshua ben Levi placed between the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles and the next day in Midrash Pesikta Rabbati 30, Tanchuma, parshat Pinchas). And after the “little while,” but before the second resurrection, Satan will be put into the “lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10).
Those who live during the Millennium will have their opportunity to participate in the salvation process. They will have their opportunity to grow spiritually toward spiritual birth into the God Family.
However, what happens to those who had already died without having truly understood God’s truth?
The Bible then tells of a time called the great white throne judgment, which happens after the second resurrection:
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (Revelation 20:11-12)
So, the Bible tells of judgment for those not judged by God in this life. And that books would be opened. Yes, people will be found guilty of sin (cf. Romans 3:23), but remember, that eternal life will be granted to repentant sinners who accept Jesus (Romans 6:23).
Now, according to David Jeremiah, a well-known evangelical minister, all who come before the white throne judgment are essentially doomed. Here is some of what he wrote:
Revelation 20. The Great White Throne Judgment is an event where those that did not know Jesus as their Savior during their life will come before the Lord and be judged by Christ. …
We see Buddhists and Muslims and Hindus and Protestants and Catholics and Baptists and Presbyterians. … What will happen to these religious people when they stand before God? … Let the Lord Jesus answer that question. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23) …
If we come to the end of our life and we haven’t accepted Him, the Bible says our name is blotted out of the Book of Life … (Jeremiah D. What is the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation? https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-is-the-great-white-throne-judgment-in-revelation/ accessed 06/26/19)
Despite David Jeremiah’s last claim, the Bible does NOT say those who were not called in this age are automatically “blotted out” of the Book of Life. Now it is true that many religious people practice lawlessness. To learn more about that, David Jeremiah (and others) should read our free online book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast.
Sadly, many have been given wrong teachings about the Great White Throne Judgment. Its purpose is not to permanently doom those who had not known the true Christ.
The Bible teaches:
2 … You are a gracious and merciful God (Jonah 4:2)
And that mercy “triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
Now let’s notice something in contrast to David Jeremiah’s view from the old Radio Church of God:
Revelation 20: 11-12 says about this RESURRECTION: “. . . and I saw a great white throne . . , and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God . . .” these people are STANDING-A RESURRECTION–”. . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books.” JUDGMENT! Even the WORST of the sinners who never had a chance will be in this RESURRECTION, for even the inhabitants of SODOM will be there! “When thy daughters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate . . . then thou (Jerusalem) shall return to your former estate.” (Ezekiel 16:55.) Isaiah 65:20 indicates ALL will live to be a hundred years old in this age at this time. (When Will the UNCONVERTED Be Resurrected? Plain Truth, February-March 1954)
And we in the CCOG concur that sinners will get their opportunity during the time of the great white throne judgment. Notice, also what the Apostle Paul wrote related to one who was sexually immoral:
5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:5)
Yes, the Apostle Paul pointed out that sinner—and by implication others—still had an opportunity for salvation.

Furthermore, while some will consider these teachings as “unorthodox,” let me show quotes from their leaders also found in the book Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation:

Notice something from an Eastern Orthodox bishop from the late 20th century:
There is no terrorism in the Orthodox doctrine of God … several of the Fathers have none the less believed that in the end all will be reconciled to God. It is heretical to say that all must be saved, for this is to deny free will; but it is a legitimate hope that all may be saved. Until the Last Day come, we must not despair of anyone’s salvation, but must long and pray for the reconciliation of all without exception (Ware, 262).
So, the belief that the Last Day, which is considered the time of the White Throne Judgment, salvation may still be available is held by at least some of the Eastern Orthodox. The comment about ‘the Fathers’ is referring to the fact that Eastern Orthodox saints and leaders taught it over a thousand years ago.
As far as the timing goes, scripture is clear that the white throne judgment happens after the resurrection of ‘the rest of the dead’:
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. … 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:5, 11)
Thus, at least some of the Eastern Orthodox agree that there is a possibility of salvation after one has died in this age.
Orthodox Archpriest George Florovsky observed:
St. Gregory of Nyssa anticipated a kind of universal conversion of souls in the afterlife, when the Truth of God will be revealed and manifested with compelling evidence …
God respects human freedom, as St. Irenaeus once said … The Last Judgment remains a mystery. (Florovsky G. The last things and the last events. Originally written no later than 1979. Missionary Leaflet # E95h Holy Protection Russian Orthodox Church. Los Angeles. Editor: Bishop Alexander (Mileant) http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/last_events_florovsky_e.htm#n3 viewed 06/07/09).
Orthodox priest Thomas Hopko stated:
There is no clear dogmatic teaching of our Orthodox Church on death and what happens when we die. … Furthermore, there are questions about the soul after death and the intermediate state (i.e. the period between when we die and the world’s end). (Life after death … Mysteries beyond the grave. Transcript of a talk given in Brisbane Australia during October, 1999)
Dr. Amir Azarvan wrote:
The orthodox have little assurance concerning the age to come. They do, however, have a profound hope in the resurrection from the dead … (Azarvan A. Re-Introducing Christianity: An Eastern Apologia for a Western Audience. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2016, p. 185)
Orthodox eschatology (prophetic teachings) remains a mystery to the Orthodox as they tend to admit that they do not understand much of it–but at least some of them do realize that God’s plan of salvation is not limited the way that most Protestants seem to believe that it is.
Now, if the Eastern Orthodox observed all the biblical holy days, including the Last Great Day, God’s plan of salvation would not be such a mystery to them (for some details, check out the free online book: Should You Keep God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?).

God’s plan of salvation does not need to be a mystery to you.

Finally, while the Bible does teach of judgment, it teaches love and mercy.

The Apostle James was inspired to write:

13 … Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)

Oddly, most who profess Christianity seem not to understand what that means–but you can!

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