“Foreordained to Eternal Life”

This week I received an email in which the following was written…

Dear Sir/Madam,
With reference to your website I have a question I would like to submit to you.
I always read your website with much pleasure and use it frequently to study the Bible. Although I myself do not believe in election, I am also not yet convinced of the reconciliation of all as presented on your website. A text that troubles me most in this regard is Acts 13:48. Here in Greek the word “tetagmenoi” is used, which means “appointed,” but in the Dutch NBG translation is translated as “destined to.” Eternal life is translated from the words “zoe aionion”, literally “the life of the coming ages.” My question to you is how you see this text in connection with the reconciliation of all and/or election. I would like to hear what you think of this. Furthermore I want to give my compliments for the Bible studies on your site and encourage you to continue making the Bible studies!!

With kind regards,
R.

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank R. for his kind words.

Now to the question. Scripture teaches both “election” and “Reconciliation of All.” Many think that these two concepts are incompatible. That is because people live with the idea of time versus eternity. That is a huge misunderstanding! Scripture does not know an “endless eternity,” but teaches that at the return of Jesus Christ, “the coming eons” will begin. These are world-ages in which God still has much scheduled! First the eon of “the thousand years.” After that “the eon of the eons”: a new heaven and a new earth. In these “coming eons” God will bring His Plan to completion, and Jesus Christ will reign as King (Revelation 11:15). In these “coming eons” the Bible places “the eonian life”…

“and he said to them, Verily I say to you, There is no one who left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the reign of God, who may not receive back manifold more in this time, and IN THE COMING AGE, LIFE AGE-DURING.” (YLT)
Luke 18:29–30

It must be clear that this eonian life (it is called eonian because it is connected with the coming eon) will not be the portion of everyone. The Bible teaches: “he who is believing hath life age-during” (John 6:47). Whoever does not believe will not see this life. R. cites Acts 13:48, and this verse teaches us why the one does believe and the other does not.

“And the nations hearing were glad, and were glorifying the word of the Lord, and did believe — AS MANY AS WERE APPOINTED TO LIFE AGE-DURING;” (YLT)
Acts 13:48

God chooses people out and appoints them beforehand to have part in the life of the coming eon(s). They are the ones who believe in “the word of the Lord.” This foreordination has (among other things) to do with the fact that God will assign these people a royal task. They will reign with Christ Jesus as kings to the ends of the universe (see e.g. 2 Timothy 2:12). Believers are “firstfruits,” the first fruit of the harvest and therefore foreordained to the highest position. This position expressly concerns an elite.

The inheriting of “the eonian life” is therefore destined for a relatively select company. But is this the final destination of God’s Plan?? Certainly not! For God has all mankind in view. Though “each in his own order,” as Paul indicates in 1 Corinthians 15:23. Ultimately all who are mortal in Adam (that is, all humanity) will be vivified in Christ. The finishing touch of Christ’s reign will be that He completely abolishes death…

“for it behoveth him to reign TILL he may have put all the enemies under his feet — the last enemy is done away — the death;” (YLT)
1 Corinthians 15:25–26

Scripture teaches that death (thus also the second death) will be abolished, so that ALL shall LIVE. Live as Christ lives. In incorruption, glory, and power (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:43)!

Summarized: “the eonian life” is destined for everyone who believes (election).
The “incorruptible life” will ultimately be the portion of all mankind (Reconciliation of All).

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