This is the thirteenth in a mini-series of posts responding to the arguments offered by Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) against God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation.
His arguments against Universal Reconciliation (UR) are offered under five headings, the third of which is c. The Basis of the Final Judgement. (see a previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here)
Under the c. The Basis of the Final Judgement heading Dr Arnold states that the third argument is to point out that the final judgement is based on deeds done in the flesh and not on what happens in the intermediate state and then lists several texts from the New Testament he hopes will illustrate his assertion.
The texts are Matthew 7 : 22 - 23; Matthew 10 : 32 - 33; Matthew 25 : 31 - 46; Luke 12 : 46 - 48; 2 Corinthians 5 : 9 - 10; Galatians 6 : 7 - 8; 2 Thessalonians 1 : 7 - 10.
There are three major judgements mentioned in the New Testament.
The first was on Israel and occurred in AD 70.
The second will be on the Gentile nations prior to the Millennium
The third will be on the dead of all ages at the Great White Throne after the Millennium.
Dr Arnold has correctly discovered judgement in the verses he quoted, but incorrectly applied them to the final judgement - the one that best serves his doctrinal position of eternal punishment in hell for all who do not profess Christ during their physical lifetime on the earth - the final Great White Throne judgement in which "the dead are judged according to what they have done". [Revelation 20 : 12]
But as we will see, none of the verses quoted refer to this final judgement at all.
Jesus' teaching recorded in the Gospels was directed only to the kingdom age as this was the only future the Jews knew about. They knew nothing about the church age (the age of grace) and nowhere did He mention the eternal realm, even though most of our popular Bibles insert words like "eternal" and "everlasting" into the English text.
1. Matthew 7 : 21 - 23
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ [NIV]
I have included verse 21, which Dr Arnold omitted, to show that the kingdom was the context of Jesus' remarks.
2. Matthew 10 : 32 - 33
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." [NIV]
If we go to the beginning of this conversation of Jesus and His disciples, we will again see the kingdom context.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
[Matthew 10 : 5 - 7 NIV]
3. Matthew 25 : 31 - 46
I won't quote this many verses here; please read for yourself.
If you are reading one of our popular English Bibles, you will need to make corrections for "eternal" (as literal translations do) to see more clearly that this judgement is not the final one. (verse 41: eternal fire = fire of the Age; verse 46: eternal punishment = the chastisement of that Age; verse 46: eternal life = the life of that Age)
Again, the context is the King nominating those nations who qualify, by their good works, to inherit the kingdom.
Then the king will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take the inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."
[verse 34 NIV]
So the judgement being addressed is that on the nations after the Tribulation and prior to the commencement of the Age of the Messianic Kingdom.
4. Luke 12 : 46 - 48
The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. [NIV]
Prior to this description of punishments, verses 31 and 32 again demonstrate that Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience, which included His disciples, about judgement relating to the kingdom age.
So each of the Gospel texts quoted relates to judgements on Israel or Gentile nations concerning the future Messianic kingdom, which occurs at least 1000 years before the final Great White Throne judgement inferred by Dr Arnold.
5. 2 Corinthians 5 : 9 - 10
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. [NIV]
The context of this chapter is the Church Age Saints, their resurrected bodies and their judgement for rewards at the Rapture.
Paul also wrote to this church in his earlier letter giving a few more details about the process involved. [1 Corinthians 3 : 10 - 15]
Consequently, this judgement is also well before the final judgement and is only for the Body of Christ.
6. Galatians 6 : 7 - 8
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. [NIV]
Once "eternal life" is replaced with the literal "life in the Age" it is clear that this is talking about life in the kingdom and is therefore well before the final judgement which will occur after the kingdom age.
7. 2 Thessalonians 1 : 6 - 10
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.
This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. [NIV]
Several literal translations into English of the underlined words above reveal that the penalty involved is to be totally excluded from the Lord's presence while the Christ's kingdom age is in progress, not for eternity as our popular versions suggest.
Who, indeed, a penalty, shall pay - age-abiding destruction from the face of the Lord ... - Rotherham (REB)
who shall suffer justice - destruction age-during - from the face of the Lord ... - Young (YLT)
Who will pay the just reparation of ruin in the Age, coming from the face of the Lord ... - Hart (DBH)
who a just penalty shall pay, destruction age-lasting, from face to the Lord ... - Diaglott (DNT)
who shall incur the justice of eonian extermination from the face of the Lord ... - Concordant (CLV)
This judgement will occur at the second coming of Christ - when He comes to judge and rule in blazing fire with his powerful angels - described in detail in Revelation 19.
Again, these verses do not refer to the final judgement which will follow the kingdom age.
Once we have clarified which judgement is being discussed, I then agree with the remainder of Dr Arnold's assertion that those judgements are based on deeds done in the flesh.
However, none of these texts refer to the final judgement, but to judgements relevant to participation or otherwise in the millennial kingdom age.
The final judgement at the Great White Throne and subsequent purifying process in the Lake of Fire ensures God will indeed be the Saviour of all and achieve His plan of having everyone know the truth.
... our Savior God, who intends all human beings to be saved and come to a full knowledge of truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 4 DBH]
For we labor and struggle to this end, because we have hoped in a living God who is the savior of all human beings, especially those who have faith.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10 DBH]
Clearly, a proper reading of correctly-translated Scriptures will not support the common church doctrine that most of creation will be eternally lost because ...
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 8 -10 NIV]
For, even as in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.
Yet, each in his own class.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 22 - 23 CLV]
Blessings, Barry
Recently I was asked, "At the Rapture, what happens to children who are too young to have faith in Jesus?"
This is a rarely addressed question as most discussions on the Rapture focus on the different outcomes for those in, or not in, the Body of Christ, and discussions about children usually centre around their eventual heavenly prospects should they have been too young to have heard and responded to the gospel.
Before we begin to discuss this uncommon question, let's remember that everyone gets saved in the end, including young children, at the consummation of the ages.
That is why we labour and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, and especially of those who believe.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10 NIV]
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 22 NIV]
But what about youngsters at the Rapture, which is well before the end of those ages?
At the outset, I need to say that I cannot find anything in the Scriptures that directly addresses this question. (If you can, please show me in the Comments section below.)
So I admit that my answer can best be described as 'informed speculation'.
Do the Hebrew Scriptures throw any light on this question?
God made a distinction between those who rejected Him and their children when announcing who would enter the Promised Land..
In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.
Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.
[Numbers 14 : 29 - 31 NIV]
And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land.
I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.
[Deuteronomy 1 : 39 NIV]
Jesus shines some light on the future of children as well.
He is speaking regarding membership in the Messianic Kingdom, which is to follow a little while after the Rapture.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
[Matthew 18 : 1 - 5 NIV]
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.
But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
[Matthew 19 : 13 -14 NIV]
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
[Matthew 21 :15 - 16 NIV]
Paul's letter to Timothy also encourages me on this question.
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
[1 Timothy 5 : 8 NIV]
I cannot imagine that God would counter His own advice, given through the Apostle Paul, by taking members of the Body of Christ to be with Jesus at the Rapture while requiring them to leave their young children behind to face the challenges of the Tribulation alone.
Can you?
And I think I'll join Abraham who asked God, "Will not the judge of all the earth do right?"
I am sure He will.
So my speculation, informed by these Promised Land and Kingdom Scriptures and reinforced by my belief that 'God is love' and a 'righteous judge', persuades me that children will be taken with the church, transformed into their spiritual bodies, and take their place with Christ in the kingdom - the Magnificent Messianic Millennial kingdom.
Blessings, Barry
Readers of this BLOG and the book "The Really Good News About God" will know that I emphatically believe in the sovereignty of God - I believe He is in control of everything, past, present and future.
I can't always understand why He has done or is doing something, or has allowed or is allowing something, although I do see some general principles at work most of the time.
Because the Bible teaches that the end-result of this life in the space-time realm is the salvation and reconciliation of all creation, then understanding "the bad" in life is much easier.
For example, God uses "bad" people and situations as contrasts for Him, His people and His plans.
In the simplest terms, "the bad" is used to guarantee "the good" will glow.
And, of course, with the correct end-result in mind, "the bad" is clearly only temporary anyway, because God is the Saviour of all humanity [1 Timothy 4 : 10] and God eventually becomes "all in all". [1 Corinthians 15 : 28]
The Message version puts it this way:
When everything and everyone is finally under God’s rule, the Son will step down, taking his place with everyone else, showing that God’s rule is absolutely comprehensive—a perfect ending!
So what about our current COVID-19 situation?
Firstly, let's be assured that Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, is greater than any troubles we face, including this one.
We can trust him for our well-being no matter what form that takes.
Jesus said:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world."
[John 16 : 33 NIV]
Whether he walks through this situation with us or allows us to be taken from it doesn't really matter.
Whatever He decides for me is OK with me. Like Paul:
As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do.
If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I'd choose.
Hard choice!
The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful.
Some days I can think of nothing better.
But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here.
[Philippians 1 : 22 - 24 The Message]
So let's enjoy the peace Jesus gives and be content with whatever outcome He chooses for us.
Secondly, there's much that can be written about the need for contrast when God is achieving His loving purposes for His creation.
But I'll just mention a few examples to illustrate the point.
God used Satan to harass His servant Job in order to perfect and strengthen his faith.
God also used the evil intentions of Joseph's brothers to put Joseph in a position to save the fledgling Israeli nation from starvation and possible extinction.
God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that the extraordinary miracle of the Exodus from Egypt could take place for the people of Israel.
Paul reflects on it in his discussion of 'God's Sovereign Choice' in his letter to the early church in Rome.
For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
[Romans 9 : 17 NIV]
I suggest that God might also be using the coming Tribulation in much the same way, and for Israel particularly to become so desperate for its survival, let alone its peace, that it will nationally call out for its Messiah.
Speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees about their rejection of him as their Messiah and the subsequent postponement of their expected kingdom, Jesus said:
"For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'."
[Matthew 23 : 39 NIV]
And when that happens some time in our future, it will instigate the Magnificent Messianic Millennial Kingdom.
Who knows what part this virus and its consequences might play in achieving God's eventual plan?
We don't - but we can postulate about how it might, especially with all this global talk about vaccines, nano-chip technology and compulsory immunisation.
But we can be sure of one thing - God knows, and is in total control of it all.
So, as those who are in Christ, we can be content in our virus world and where it might be taking us.
People may plan all kinds of things,
but the Lord's will is going to be done.
[Proverbs 19 : 21 GNB]
Blessings, Barry
About three weeks ago I mentioned two questions I had been asked concerning the Corona Virus COVID-19.
With so much reporting and discussion about the need for universal vaccinations and digital records of those receiving them, I have now been asked a further question about the "Mark of the Beast" mentioned in Revelation 13.
Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth...
It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
[Revelation 13 : 11 - 17 NIV]
Scientific R&D in nano technology and the production of invisible inks, often alongside world-wide vaccine research, together with the hugely increased capability of the new 5G internet standard, could easily provide the ingredients for a compulsory system of global control of the distribution of goods and services.
You can read about some of this R&D on sites like www.sciencedirect.com and www.sciencealert.com and news.mit.edu.
Here's one example:
MIT researchers have now developed a novel way to record a patient’s vaccination history: storing the data in a pattern of dye, invisible to the naked eye, that is delivered under the skin at the same time as the vaccine.
[MIT News, December 2019]
So, although we could be swiftly heading towards having suitable technology for mandating such a global scheme, I don't believe its possible implementation as the "mark of the beast" is just around the corner.
Why?
I think the "mark of the beast" is due in the middle of the Tribulation, a 7-year period of conflict and devastation, and to be experienced after the Body of Christ, the universal, invisible church composed of all the true believers in Jesus, has been taken from the earth.
I know the Biblical study of the future, sometimes called eschatology or the study of end times, has produced hundreds of thousands of books, sermons and videos (and almost as many opinions), and my current view might be just one of them.
Nevertheless, my estimate is that the "mark of the beast" is at least 3 1/2 years away, even if the taking of the Body of Christ to be with Jesus happens as you are reading this.
And every day we find ourselves still here, the count for those 3 1/2 years has yet to begin.
So should Christians be concerned if a universal vaccination for flu and other corona viruses with accompanying quantum dot ink or other nano technology registration becomes obligatory and we are still here?
I don't see this as a problem until such an obligation is used as a passport for social/political acceptance or commercial transactions.
And we won't be around to see that!
We'll be gone by then!
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
[1 Thessalonians 4 : 16 - 18 NIV]
But even if my understanding of end times is not correct, I am sure of God's love and protection that doesn't depend on my accurate description of the future.
Check out these promises to God's faithful.
To his Hebrew saints of the Old Testament era:
Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
[Psalm 91 : 14 - 16 NIV]
To his Hebrew saints of the New Testament era:
"I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace.
In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.
But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
[John 16 : 33 MSG]
To his saints in the early New Testament churches.
You obeyed my message and endured.
So I will protect you from the time of testing that everyone in all the world must go through.
[Revelation 3 : 10 CEV]
Summing up:
- God's saints will not be here when the "mark of the beast" is mandated in the world.
- Restrictions or obligations introduced before then will not be the "mark of the beast", but may be used to produce it after we've gone.
- In the meantime, we should live confidently in God's love and providence through Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.
Blessings, Barry
This is the twelfth in a mini-series of posts responding to the arguments offered by Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) against God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation.
His arguments against Universal Reconciliation (UR) are offered under five headings, the second of which is b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead. (see a previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here).
Under the b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead heading Dr Arnold claims that the unbelieving dead are seen in a fixed state that cannot be altered and then quotes numerous punishment and judgement texts from the New Testament hoping to illustrate his assertion.
My discussion in Parts 7 - 11 demonstrates that the punishment and judgement verses he quotes, correctly translated, say nothing about fixed states.
And how could they?
If God's plan is to save His creation and bring unity to all under the headship of Christ, these punishment states cannot possibly be "fixed".
(God) intends all human beings to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 4 DBH]
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 8 - 10 NIV]
Indeed the Bible says that God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. [Hebrews 12 : 11 NIV],
confirming the purifying purpose of the lake of fire for those whose names are not in the Book of Life at the final judgement.
Logic alone tells us that these punishments must just be temporary "stopping-off" places on the journey to God's final result, as all correctly-motivated punishments should be.
Also, how could they be more than temporary when ...
the Son of God appeared to destroy the devil’s work
[see 1 John 3 : 8b],
Christ appeared at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself
[see Hebrews 9 : 26],
and Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
[see 1 Corinthians 15 : 25 - 26]
The only fixed state I can see in Scripture is represented by
God becoming everything to everyone (all in all).
[1 Corinthians 15 : 28]
Let's recall the underlying theme of God's creation, of which we are the highlight:
Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him.
Praise the Lord forever! Amen.
[Romans 11 : 36 CEV]
Blessings, Barry
Several people have been asking questions like:
Are we in the last days?
What is God saying to us through this coronavirus pandemic?
I don't think we are in the last days just yet.
I addressed this question on Tuesday, January 29th 2019 under the heading "Are We in the Last Days?".
You can find that post in the BLOG ARCHIVE.
So, what might God be saying to us right now?
Firstly, he might be reminding us that we are living in an imperfect world that has fallen a long way from God's original design.
Just focusing on Australia and especially the last few months, we have suffered the peak of a prolonged drought, raging floods, fierce bush fires and cyclones, another contagious disease, rampant selfishness and opportunistic crime.
Even though we can't avoid them, we can prepare ourselves to face most of them: we can harvest, store and distribute water, back-burn and clear forest floors, become nationally self-sufficient for essential supplies, and treat each other with respect, love and care.
On a personal level, we can prepare ourselves too: we can rekindle or refresh our relationship to God, our trust in him and our Biblical view of the future - and enjoy the peace this gives us.
I touched on this in connection with the current virus crisis on Tuesday, March 31st 2020 under the heading "COVID-19 Opportunities".
Secondly, he might be reminding us that we are not the big shots we often think we are, but created human beings, fragile, temporary inhabitants of our planet, who must learn how to submit to the Creator and practise being humble to each other.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
[Micah 6 : 8 NIV]
Thirdly, he might be reminding us that we are all equal in his sight - all of equal value and all equally in need of a Saviour.
Rich and poor, white and coloured, male and female, young and old: for everyone the supermarket shelves are empty and the medical services strained. Mercedes and Commodores both stand idle in our garages.
The focus is on survival, regardless of who you are: health has become the main game rather than wanting, competing and possessing.
Within just a few days, the whole world has levelled out considerably - we are getting a glimpse of the social equality the Bible teaches.
Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.
[Proverbs 22 : 2 NIV]
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
[Romans 3 : 23 - 24 NIV]
Fourthly, he might be reminding us to permanently change the way we live: to follow his example of impartiality and his intention to provide for all.
For with God there is no respecting of persons.
Who intends all human beings to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of truth.
[Romans 2 : 11; 1 Timothy 2 : 4 DBH]
Finally, an observation that should make us grateful.
We are so blessed to have a genuine Christian as our current Prime Minister, who regularly prays for the nation and seeks God's guidance as he directs our response to this crisis.
If you missed a recent example, have a look here:
Let's pray and listen carefully to what God might be saying to us - individually and as a nation.
Blessings, Barry
"Every crisis is an opportunity."
I am sometimes asked if I am a universalist. I don't like this word because it has so many different meanings.
Saying "yes" might mean I am agreeing to a meaning that is in the mind of the questioner, with which I might not agree.
So I try not to give a straight "yes" or "no" answer without sounding evasive.
Instead I say something like:
I believe God is the Saviour of the world (1 Timothy 4 : 10)
through Jesus,
who died for the sins of the world (1 John 2 : 2)
meaning that
God is no longer holding our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5 : 19)
Jesus will return when it is time to restore everything (Acts 3 : 21)
by
drawing everyone to himself (John 12 : 32),
destroying his enemies (1 Corinthians 15 : 25),
including death (1 Corinthians 15 : 26),
so that only life will remain (1 Corinthians 15 : 22).
Everyone will eventually honour King Jesus (Philippians 2 : 9 - 11)
who will then hand his kingdom over to God (1 Corinthians 15 : 24).
God having brought unity to everything in heaven and earth (Ephesians 1 : 9 - 10),
thus having established a new heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3 : 13),
becomes everything to everyone (1 Corinthians 15 : 28).
So, am I a universalist?
Only if being a universalist means I believe the Bible teaches the universal reconciliation of all through Jesus. (Colossians 1 : 19 - 20)
And in our current coronavirus-induced climate of uncertainty and fear, that's a comforting position to hold.
Blessings, Barry
