I was reading an anti-Christian article, and one of the main points he had was that 99% of people are doomed to Hell, and most of his ancestors and friends and family would be aswell, and he couldn’t believe that.
Because of this heresy, he believed that God was unjust and that there was no good reason to follow Christ. Let me clear this up.
First, lets make it clear, that there is no other name other than Jesus Christ by which man can be saved. (Acts 4:12) But God is just and merciful. I know that not everybody who didn’t hear the gospel on Earth is going to Hell.
But how could this be?
First of all, even though not everybody gets the chance to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ on Earth, you have a chance to receive it after death. You would think the Bible would be more clear on this, if there is a chance for this after death, right?
The truth is, if you have the chance to receive the truth of the gospel in its fulness on Earth, and you take it, happy day. You get to live your live with faith, which leads to hope, which leads to charity. You get to be an instrument in the hands of God and do good works, build up treasures in heaven, and be saved.
If you reject the gospel on Earth when given the chance, the testimony of the one who preached the gospel to you will stand as a witness against you, condemning you at the last day, and sending you to go to Hell.
If you have no chance to receive the gospel on Earth, you do not go straightway to Hell. You also don’t go straightway to heaven. I’ll explain this to you.
The only people who go to Hell are those who willingly reject the gospel of Jesus Christ, or received it and then turned from it.
You might remember the man on the cross next to Jesus, in Luke 23: 42–43, saying:
“42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Jesus says that the man will be with Him in paradise. Wait, that’s a contradiction right? 1 Peter 3:18–20 says that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison after he died. So Jesus isn’t going to Heaven necessarily, but to preach to other spirits. These are the ones who did not hear the gospel on Earth.
Jesus also cannot be telling the man that he will be in heaven because that man has not been baptized, well he may have been but it makes no mention of it and he is a criminal, I’m not saying it’s impossible but rather incredibly unlikely.
But Jesus says that a man must be born again and baptized to be saved in the kingdom of heaven.
So what ties this all together? There is a doctrine called baptism for the dead, which Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:29. It is done today in temples for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. According to this doctrine, men (women aswell) can be baptized, having already been baptized, by a priesthood holder (I can elaborate on this either but it is mentioned in the Bible very many times) As another person must read off their name and recite a couple of lines. It goes like this, and brother can be replaced with sister:
“Brother _________, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you for and in behalf of _________, who is dead, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
After this act is complete and a confirmation done (All baptisms must be completely immersed in the water) the man/woman, or rather their spirit, no longer on Earth, has a chance to accept this baptism.
This is also the authority to bind/loose on Earth and it shall be done in heaven mentioned in the Bible.
This is essential to God’s plan, hence the verses 2 Peter 3:9:
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
or 2nd Nephi 26:33:
“For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”
All have a chance. God is no respecter of persons, and the chance is given to EVERY person whether they want to be saved or not.
2nd Nephi 2:27:
“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”
Wait, so there’s like a period of limbo after death before resurrection? Read this: Alma chapter 40, verses 1–26 (The whole thing)
“1 Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead.
2 Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection — or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption — until after the coming of Christ.
3 Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know — that is concerning the resurrection.
4 Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.
5 Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case — that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead.
6 Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.
7 And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?
8 Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.
9 Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know.
10 And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man.
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection — Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil — for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house — and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.
15 Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken.
16 And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
17 Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection, which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth.
18 Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body, of those from the days of Adam down to the resurrection of Christ.
19 Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom has been spoken shall all be reunited at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice, that I say that they all come forth; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ.
20 Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven.
21 But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.
22 Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets.
23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
24 And now, my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets —
25 And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.
26 But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup.”
If you want to learn more, read Alma chapter 41
So, you have nothing at all to lose by believing in Jesus Christ the Lord. In fact, through it, you gain everything, literally. Hence the verses:
Mark 9:23:
“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Phillipians 4:13:
“ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
There is no other way to come unto God and be saved in His kingdom, except through Jesus Christ the Lord, God’s Only Begotten Son.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I settled here as I realized that other Christian doctrines didn’t make sense to me.
Other denominational beliefs just made me miserable, thinking that 99% of all people would be destined to burn in Hell. So here I am.
I have had many personal, spiritual experiences that have verified to me that I am in the right place. I have felt the Holy Spirit. I have prayed and received answers, and seen miraculous unexplainable miracles. I have come to know the truth of the scriptures and have learned a lot about them. I have become far more happy, having a real hope.
I wish only the same things upon you, the joy I’ve found. If you want to learn more about my religion, feel free to ask any questions by commenting on the parts which are confusing, and I will clarify.
