Saturday, March 26, 2011

Old Testament Clues to God's Ultimate Purpose

Paul suggested that God's aim to bring unity to all things under Christ was a mystery that had been revealed to him.  It is therefore understandable that most of the biblical support for the view that God will eventually restore everyone to himself comes from Paul's writings in the New Testament. 

Even so, occasionally God let his plan "slip out" before Paul's time.
David let the cat out of the bag with these gems .......

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. Psalm 22 : 27 - 28 TNIV

All the nations that you have created will come and bow down to you; they will praise your greatness.  You are mighty and do wonderful things; you alone are God.  Psalm 86 : 9 - 10 GNB

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145 : 8-9 ESV

And Isaiah added his share with these ......

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.  And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.  He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.  Isaiah 25:6 - 8 ESV

"Turn to me now and be saved, people all over the world! I am the only God there is.  My promise is true, and it will not be changed. I solemnly promise by all that I am: Everyone will come and kneel before me and vow to be loyal to me.  Isaiah 45: 22 - 23 GNB

All mankind will come to worship Me, from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another," says the LORD.   Isaiah 66: 23 HCSB

Maybe this is what God has been up to all the time.  It is not a new idea coming from some heretic Christ-followers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries after all.

Blessings, Barry

2 comments:

  1. And there's more ........

    David speaking of God says ...

    You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. Psalm 65 : 2 TNIV

    All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. Psalm 138 : 4 - 5 ESV

    The prophets also further contribute with .......

    ... the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11 : 9b and Habakkuk 2 : 14 TNIV

    The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52 : 10 NIV

    The people are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. Jeremiah in Lamentations 3 : 31 - 32 TNIV

    As I continued to watch the vision that night, I saw what looked like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven, and he was presented to the Eternal God. He was crowned king and given power and glory, so that all people of every nation and race would serve him. He will rule forever, and his kingdom is eternal, never to be destroyed. Daniel 7 : 13 - 14 CEV

    Blessings, Barry

    ReplyDelete
  2. And there's more !!!!!!
    I have already quoted Psalm 145 : 8 - 9, but if you keep reading this psalm you'll also find .....
    All of your works will thank you, Lord. (v 10)
    When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
    The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. (v 16-17)
    I will praise the Lord, and everyone on earth will bless his holy name forever and forever. (v 21)
    All from NLT.
    Actually this is a psalm worth reading over and over from beginning to end.
    Blessings, Barry

    ReplyDelete

All relevant comments are most welcome. However, please express any disagreement you might have without being disagreeable and with grace towards those who might not hold your point of view.