many or few?

[Sue D.]

@PloughBoy -- the way you present yourself and your information is a real turn-off. Your slamming posters is Not needed. And, no, I'm not a moderator -- but a fellow-poster. Your attitude towards others isn't especially Christ-like in nature.

I'll leave this particular thread of conversation.

 

[B-A-C]

Comma placement changes a few things.

Luke 23:43
(AMPC) And He answered him, Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.
(ASV) And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
(BBE) And he said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you will be with me in Paradise.
(CSB) And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(ERV) Then Jesus said to him, "I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise."
(ESV) And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(GNB) Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me."
(GW) Jesus said to him, "I can guarantee this truth: Today you will be with me in paradise."
(HCSB) And He said to him, "I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise."
(ISV) Jesus told him, "I tell you with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise."
(KJV) And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
(KJVA) And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
(MKJV) And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.
(MSG) He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."
(NAS77) And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
(NASB) And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
(NIrV) Jesus answered him, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise."
(NIV) Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
(NKJV) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
(NLT) And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(TPT) Jesus responded, “I promise you—this very day you will enter paradise with me.”
(Greek NT) καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἀμήν λέγω σοί, σήμερον μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ.
(Hebrew NT DD) ויאמר ישוע אליו אמן אמר אני לך כי היום תהיה עמדי בגן־עדן׃

 

[brighthouse98]

1 Peter 3:20 Now as far as I know,this scripture represents the definition of a few. LOL Not many is there!!! It is the only place I know of where the word few is truly represented.

 

[Brightfame52]

Matt 7:13; "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
Matt 7:14; "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

How many is many? I don't know, but it would seem to be more than a few. Many will enter through the gate of destruction, and few will will enter through the gate of life.
It seems the majority of mankind will not be saved.

Are just a few being saved? Someone asked Jesus that very question, what did He say?

Luke 13:23; And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them,
Luke 13:24; "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:25; "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.'
Luke 13:26; "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets';
Luke 13:27; and He will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.'
Luke 13:28; "In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.

Jesus says "many" will try to enter through the narrow door, but will not be able. Obviously not everyone will be saved. It seems the majority will not be.

Rev 7:9; After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

A great multitude.. "which no one could count".. this would seem to be a large number, but if we put this into perspective... the population of the Earth is about 8 billion. Even if 1 or 2 billion of them get saved,
that means 6 or 7 billion will not. Still 2 billion would qualify as a "great number".

Matt 7:21; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matt 7:22; "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23; "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Not everyone who thinks they are saved actually will be. Again we see that "many" will ask Jesus didn't I do things for you? But it seems that "many" will be practicing lawlessness.

Matt 22:14; "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Many are called... Even Judas was chosen by Jesus. But few are actually chosen.

Matt 24:5; "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
Matt 24:11; "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

Mark 13:6; "Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and will mislead many.

Twice within just a few verses Jesus says here.. "many" will be mislead. Why didn't He say "Just a few will be mislead"? It seems many, will be deceived and mislead.

We need to be praying and witnessing to people, sharing the gospel, but despite our best efforts.. "many" will not be saved.

Only God's Elect/Sheep will be saved. He came only to save His people from their sins Matt 1 21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

[Beetow]

Famed rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away recently. He was a Roman
Catholic. It's very difficult to get into heaven via that version of Christianity.

Well; if perchance Eddie failed to make the cut (not saying he didn't; only saying "if
perchance") then he will never again be allowed to even so much as see a guitar let
alone pick one up with his hands.

Can you imagine a talented, pioneering musician like Eddie never again allowed to
do the one thing in life that he loved the most? I mean never again; like as in
permanently.

Hell is bad enough for ordinary folk; it must be doubly miserable for creative
people: the poets, the painters, the sculptors, the architects, the fashion designers,
the authors, the choreographers, the gourmet cooks, the engineers, the scientific
geniuses, the explorers, et al.

And their credits and their accolades? Well; down below those kinds of things mean
nothing. People who were celebrities up here are just another marginalized skull
among the many thousands of others languishing in that world.

UPDATE: 67 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 4,162,308 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.

note: An adult thumb is roughly one inch wide; give or take. If 4,162,308 thumbs
were stood side by side, they would make a picket fence approximately 65.69 miles
long. It would take a vehicle moving at 55 mph roughly one hour and eleven
minutes to go from one end to the other.
_

 

[Sue D.]

However -- only God knows who His sheep are -- We are told to share the Gospel unto salvation with whom ever is willing to listen. When a person is feeling concern for his own eternal destiny, That is the Holy Spirit convicting him/ her of their need for accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. It is Then up to the person to talk to God about it.

It's very easy to make sure that 'I' am one of His elect. Just accept Jesus Christ -- the Son of God -- as the one and only way To salvation. His dying on the cross, being buried and rising again bodily on the 3rd day, as being sufficient for our salvation. His shed blood is sufficient. That nothing "I" do is needed. The cross of Christ + nothing. That's what a person places their trust in. Belief in your heart and confession unto salvation. And thanking God For his salvation. And then comes the inner peace that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings immediately. It's easy and wonderful.

 

[Beetow]

A forgiven sinner is still sinful, and they'll go right on sinning same as before they
were forgiven unless they undergo a radical re-design because human nature is
intrinsically bad.

• Gen 6:5 . .Yhvh saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and
that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

• Gen 8:21 . . Man's thoughts and actions are bent toward evil from childhood.

• Jer 13:23 . . Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may
you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.

• Eph 2:3 . .We were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

• John 3:7 . .You should not be surprised at my saying: you must be born again.

UPDATE: 70 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 4,348,680 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Sue D.]

A forgiven sinner has the Holy Spirit indwelling them. The Holy Spirit's indwelling Does make that re-design take place. We become a new creature in Christ. We will still have some of those old desires because we are still human. But the Holy Spirit puts New, improved desires within us.

And , yes, your last verse -- you must be born again. THAT is what makes the difference. And THAT is what keeps the numbers of new arrivals down to a minimum.

"many or few" -- depends on a person's point of view. A glass half-empty or half-Full.

And 'Today' how many born again believers are Now with Jesus Christ. Compared to Yesterday. A person's actions are reflecting his inner beliefs.

So -- if a person isn't sure if they'll be one of the many or of the few -- take a moment to make sure Now -- simply acknowledge your need Of the SAvior and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. That He is the Son of God and that no good works are needed. The blood of Christ is sufficient. That He died on the cross and rose again bodily on the 3rd day. Belief in your heart and confession unto salvation.

 

[Beetow]

"many or few" -- depends on a person's point of view. A glass half-empty or half
Full.

The terms "many and few" do not speak of equal quantities.

Webster's defines "many" as consisting of, or amounting to, a large but indefinite
number while "few" is defined as consisting of, or amounting to, only a small
number; viz: relative to many, few is the lesser.
_

 

[Sue D.]

The half-empty // half - full /// a pessimist or an optimist. When I look at a group of people -- do I see them as a mission field or numbers of people 'probably' ending up in hell.

The wide gate in Scripture is much easier to find -- the narrow gate is harder to find. A 'few' when talking about millions of people -- are a Lot. And I happen to be one of those 'few' and it's my responsibility to share Christ with others who are willing to listen. And I can with confidence say that I Am one of the 'few' Because I've accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. And there are thousands of other who are Too.

 

[Dave L]

Famed rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away recently. He was a Roman
Catholic. It's very difficult to get into heaven via that version of Christianity.

Well; if perchance Eddie failed to make the cut (not saying he didn't; only saying "if
perchance") then he will never again be allowed to even so much as see a guitar let
alone pick one up with his hands.

Can you imagine a talented, pioneering musician like Eddie never again allowed to
do the one thing in life that he loved the most? I mean never again; like as in
permanently.

Hell is bad enough for ordinary folk; it must be doubly miserable for creative
people: the poets, the painters, the sculptors, the architects, the fashion designers,
the authors, the choreographers, the gourmet cooks, the engineers, the scientific
geniuses, the explorers, et al.

And their credits and their accolades? Well; down below those kinds of things mean
nothing. People who were celebrities up here are just another marginalized skull
among the many thousands of others languishing in that world.

UPDATE: 67 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 4,162,308 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.

note: An adult thumb is roughly one inch wide; give or take. If 4,162,308 thumbs
were stood side by side, they would make a picket fence approximately 65.69 miles
long. It would take a vehicle moving at 55 mph roughly one hour and eleven
minutes to go from one end to the other.
_

I think the isolation caused by Covid is also taking a toll on the morale of pro musicians. It's all they live for and now they have nothing to replace it with.

 

[Sue D.]

The Only way to get into heaven is by accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. So -- no one needs to worry about their 'making the cut' getting into heaven. And a person's life will show if they are a born again believer.

Jesus Christ is preparing a home in heaven that will be more wonderful than anything we can imagine here on earth.

The isolation caused by COVID is affecting Everyone in a negative way. The 'powers that be' are forcing everyone Else to readjust their lives. And Maybe some of our focusing Needs adjusting. We find out what is really important in life.

What Are we focusing on. Life Used to be a continual 'rat race' for lots of people. Maybe slowing down isn't really a Bad thing. Learn more about / appreciate family / friends more.

 

[Beetow]

Probably the first thing that most of us think of when we hear the word "Hell" is
everlasting torture. But the reservoir of burning sulfur depicted at Rev 20:10-15 is
actually not so much a rack as it is a gallows. The reservoir is primarily an
instrument for carrying out death sentences rather than life sentences.

A death sentence-- although a sentence with lasting effects --isn't perpetual; it's
momentary. In other words: criminals are subjected to execution only long enough
to end their lives.

The primary reason we call the second death "eternal" is because it's permanent;
viz: according to Dan 12:2 and John 5:28-29 there's only one resurrection allotted
per person. Therefore nobody is coming back from the second death because they
will have used up their one resurrection in order to face justice at the Great White
Throne event.

note: People walk away alive from the fire spoken of at 1Cor 3:5-15. Nobody walks
away alive from the fire spoken of at Rev 20:10-15.

UPDATE: 73 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 4,535,052 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Sue D.]

@Beetow -- no one likes to think that anyone will suffer forever in lake of fire and brimstone. Like the execution you commented about. A criminal suffers a punishment -- unless it's a life sentence but even That ends at their death. But a gallows / or execution is done in a matter of minutes -- the person is declared dead and it's over with.

Well -- it's Also been said that eternal life in heaven / the New Jerusalem is eternity with God and other born again believers in our eternal home. Why would eternal mean something Else for non-born again people.

Revelation20:12 talks about the dead standing before God and being judged according to their works And the seas gave up the dead who were in them vs 14 "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. vs 15 And anyhone not found written in the Bok of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

Sounds like Death is brought back to life. Since they are people -- and are considered dead -- and brought back to Life -- then the lake of fire and brimstone -- the second death -- well -- the first was brought back to life -- who is to say that the 2nd death isn't death as we know it, either. Maybe that 2nd death includes finding out that it's eternal and the person Wishes he Could die but Can't.

but -- who wants to be in that situation to find out?

 

[Brightfame52]

Matt 7:13; "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
Matt 7:14; "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

How many is many? I don't know, but it would seem to be more than a few. Many will enter through the gate of destruction, and few will will enter through the gate of life.
It seems the majority of mankind will not be saved.

Are just a few being saved? Someone asked Jesus that very question, what did He say?

Luke 13:23; And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them,
Luke 13:24; "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:25; "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.'
Luke 13:26; "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets';
Luke 13:27; and He will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.'
Luke 13:28; "In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.

Jesus says "many" will try to enter through the narrow door, but will not be able. Obviously not everyone will be saved. It seems the majority will not be.

Rev 7:9; After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

A great multitude.. "which no one could count".. this would seem to be a large number, but if we put this into perspective... the population of the Earth is about 8 billion. Even if 1 or 2 billion of them get saved,
that means 6 or 7 billion will not. Still 2 billion would qualify as a "great number".

Matt 7:21; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matt 7:22; "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23; "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Not everyone who thinks they are saved actually will be. Again we see that "many" will ask Jesus didn't I do things for you? But it seems that "many" will be practicing lawlessness.

Matt 22:14; "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Many are called... Even Judas was chosen by Jesus. But few are actually chosen.

Matt 24:5; "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
Matt 24:11; "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

Mark 13:6; "Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and will mislead many.

Twice within just a few verses Jesus says here.. "many" will be mislead. Why didn't He say "Just a few will be mislead"? It seems many, will be deceived and mislead.

We need to be praying and witnessing to people, sharing the gospel, but despite our best efforts.. "many" will not be saved.

Yes few will be saved compared to the many that are lost. Thats Gods doing and will.

 

[Brightfame52]

However -- only God knows who His sheep are -- We are told to share the Gospel unto salvation with whom ever is willing to listen. When a person is feeling concern for his own eternal destiny, That is the Holy Spirit convicting him/ her of their need for accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. It is Then up to the person to talk to God about it.

It's very easy to make sure that 'I' am one of His elect. Just accept Jesus Christ -- the Son of God -- as the one and only way To salvation. His dying on the cross, being buried and rising again bodily on the 3rd day, as being sufficient for our salvation. His shed blood is sufficient. That nothing "I" do is needed. The cross of Christ + nothing. That's what a person places their trust in. Belief in your heart and confession unto salvation. And thanking God For his salvation. And then comes the inner peace that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings immediately. It's easy and wonderful.

Do you witness to them that Christ died for those God the Father Chose in Christ by His Grace ?

 

[Sue D.]

I share the Gospel unto salvation frequently on here. No one but God the Father knows who His chosen are -- so I share with Everyone.

No one is going to get saved by accident or left Out by accident, either.

 

[Brightfame52]

I share the Gospel unto salvation frequently on here. No one but God the Father knows who His chosen are -- so I share with Everyone.

No one is going to get saved by accident or left Out by accident, either.

Did you read post 96?

 

[B-A-C]

Yes few will be saved compared to the many that are lost. Thats Gods doing and will.

It's not God's will.

2Pet 3:9; The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

1Tim 2:3; This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1Tim 2:4; who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God let's us choose. He doesn't send anyone to hell.
But He will let us go if we refuse Him.

 

[B-A-C]

Do you witness to them that Christ died for those God the Father Chose in Christ by His Grace ?

He chose us all.

1Tim 2:4; who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1Tim 2:5; For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Unfortunately we don't all choose Him.