Every knee shall bow being forced or free will?

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Philip. 2:9-11

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. SOME Christians love to say that God can ONLY get perfect praise when people freely CHOOSE to praise Him. IF people do NOT choose to praise God then such praise is NOT perfect praise. Praise of God must NOT be coerced out of people OTHERWISE if it IS coerced then it is NOT perfect praise.

However, many Christians when shown PHILIPPIANS 2:11 which states that EVERY tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord makes some of these Christians abandon this whole idea that God wants free praise that is not coerced.

And they postulate

2. That the phrase in Philippians 2:11 which speaks of EVERY tongue shall confess Jesus Christ to be Lord means that everyone who is not "saved" will be COERCED by God [made to say "uncle" so to speak] when Christ is victorious over all of the earth.

If one holds that the "every" in every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord is every person who has ever lived then one must either argue that God either DOES GET perfect praise from people who are forced to praise him OR one must conclude that God likes praise that is LESS than perfect sometimes and does NOT require perfect praise all the time.

To those who would argue that PHILLIPPIANS 2:9-11 involves a future where God will force the UNsaved to praise him and yet this forced praise will not save the UNsaved, then I must ask why would God need such [if we accept such premise] forced praise out of the mouths of the UNsaved?

A response from an Eternal Torturing Advocate is:

A Scriptural and reasonable response to the above:

According to Webster's Dictionary, the word "should" is the past tense of "shall." Now that is a much stronger term, isn't it? "Every tongue SHALL confess...." Much stronger in this form. However, it is true, in the English language, we do use the word "should" in a weaken form, that is to say, sometimes we use it as a substitute for the word "ought." "I really ought to buy a new pair of shoes, but I think I will wait."

So then, in what manner should we take this construction? Considering that the Bible declares the outcome of this passage, the answer is quite clear. In Revelation 5 we see a picture of the outcome of Jesus' work on earth:

Rev. 5:11-13

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; [12] Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. [13] And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Please note, this Scripture is taken from the King James Bible, which of all translations, gives LEAST glory to Jesus Christ. And even in this translation, it is made quite plain EVERY creature in heaven, on earth, AND UNDER the earth was praising Jesus. We don't find the dishonoring forced knee bending some Hell-fire advocates inject into the picture nor the falling down like dead men as our Eternal Torture advocate would have us believe. We find adoration from every creature in the universe. The elders ALSO fell down and it wasn't as in Revelation 1:17. They were WORSHIPPING!

Rev. 5:14

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

The Scriptures declare that no one can say, "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:3) The above Scriptures simply attest to the plain statement found in 1 Cor. 15:22 "In Adam, all died, in Christ SHALL all be made alive." The same all who died in Adam (which is all of us) SHALL be made alive in Christ. And when anyone is made alive in Christ, they can't help but worship Him.

The above Scriptures are very positive statements the strength of which the planter of doubts wishes to weaken to rob us of our faith. There are just simply too many Scriptural proofs that make it plain that Jesus is Savior of the whole world, not just a piece of it for Satan to destroy the faith of those who truly DO have the faith OF Jesus. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." (Heb. 12:2) If it is YOUR faith in Jesus on which you stand, the accuser surely has grounds on which to defeat you. If it is the faith OF Jesus from which the reader was born, then Satan may weaken your faith in the following Scriptures for a season, but eventually the Holy Spirit will draw you back onto solid ground...the faith OF Jesus, and away from your own faith which is but sinking sand.

DO YOU BELIEVE ALL IN THE BIBLE?

The early Christians of the first few centuries knew what the Greek word "ta panta" meant. It meant "all." They took Scriptures listed below and believed what they said. To the early Christians, "all" meant "all." This Greek word "ta panta" meant "all" in the Greek and it means "all" in the English. Unfortunately, we live in a time when man calls good, evil and evil, good. To the modern church, "all" does not mean "all." As a matter of fact, "all" in many evangelical churches means "some" or "very few." Below are listed a few of the many plain scriptures which no longer mean what they say. Should you decide to believe these plain Scriptures, you will find yourself among the "remnant." The majority of the church has long since abandoned the simplicity and power of the "Original Good News." The remnant will embrace perfect love and cast out fear and live in a new world. Now study these Scriptures in their proper context and see the full salvation of our wonderful Father. We realize a Scripture referring to all trees cannot be meant to imply all human beings. But if the Greek for all things includes both trees and human beings, we must then include human beings. Look at the following Scriptures through all of our Heavenly Father's attributes, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Justice beautifully and harmoniously clothe His nature which is Love. Then rejoice!

1) 1Tim 2:4 God will have all to be saved. (KJV) Can His will be thwarted?

2) 1Tim 2:4 God desires all to come to the knowledge of truth Will His desire come to pass?

3) 1Tim 2:6 Salvation of all is testified in due time Are we judging God before due time?

4) Jn 12:47 Jesus came to save all Will He succeed?

5) Eph 1:11 God works all after the counsel of His will Can your will overcome His?

6) Jn 4:42 Jesus is Savior of the world Can He be Savior of all without saving all?

7) 1Jn 4:14 Jesus is Savior of the world Why don't we believe it?

8) Jn 12:32 Jesus will draw all mankind unto Himself To roast or to love?

9) Col 1:16 By Him all were created Will He lose a part of His creation?

10) Rm 5:15-21 In Adam all condemned, in Christ all live The same all?

11) 1Cor 15:22 In Adam all die, in Christ all live Again, the same all?

12) Eph 1:10 All come into Him at the fulness of times Are you getting tired of seeing the word, all?

13) Phl 2:9-11 Every tongue shall confess Jesus is Lord Will the Holy Spirit be given to everyone?

14) 1 Cor 12:3 Cannot confess except by Holy Spirit See what I mean?

15) Rm 11:26 All Israel will be saved But most Jews don't believe yet!

16) Acts 3:20,21 Restitution of all How plain can you get?

17) Luke 2:10 Jesus will be joy to all people Is there joy is "hell"?

18) Heb 8:11,12 All will know God How long, O Lord?

19) Eph 2:7 His grace shown in the ages to come Have we judged Him before the time?

20) Titus 2:11 Grace has appeared to all Experientially or prophetically?

21) Rm 8:19-21 Creation set at liberty How much of creation?

22) Col 1:20 All reconciled unto God There's that word "all" again.

23) 1Cor 4:5 All will have praise of God What for?

24) Jms 5:11 End of the Lord is full of mercy Is "hell" mercy?

25) Rev 15:4 All nations worship when God's judgments are seen Could His judgment be mercy?

26) Rm 11:32 All subject to unbelief, mercy on all All?

27) Rm 11:36 All out of, through, and into Him All into Him?

28) Eph 4:10 Jesus will fill all things Including "hell?"

29) Rev 5:13 All creation seen praising God Including Satan?

30) 1Cor 15:28 God will be all in all What does that mean?

31) Rev 21:4,5 No more tears, all things made new "All" made new?

32) Jn 5:25 All dead who hear will live How many will hear?

33) Jn 5:28 All in the grave will hear & come forth How will the "righteous" judge?

34) 1 Cor 3:15 All saved, so as by fire How can fire save you?

35) Mk 9:49 Everyone shall be salted with fire Including you?

36) Rm 11:15 Reconciliation of the world Will fire save the world instead of destroy it?

37) 2Cor 5:15 Jesus died for all Did He die in vain?

38) Jn 8:29 Jesus always does what pleases His Father What pleases the Father? (1Tim 2:4)

39) Heb 1:2 Jesus is Heir of all things Does "things" include people?

40) Jn 17:2 Jesus gives eternal life to all that His Father gave Him How many did the Father give Him?

41) Jn 3:35 The Father gave Him all things (Repeated for emphasis) Study the word "things" in the Greek.

42) 1 Tim 4:9-11 Jesus is Savior of all! Jesus is Savior of all! Can't seem to get away from that word "all."

43) Heb. 7:25 Jesus is able to save to the uttermost How far is "uttermost?"

44) 1Cor 15:26 Last enemy, death, will be destroyed Including "lake of fire" which is "second death?"

45) Is 46:10 God will do all His pleasure Does Old Testament agree with the New?

46) Gen 12:3 All families of the earth will be blessed Here comes that word "all" again.

47) Dan 4:35 God's will done in heaven and earth What can defeat His will?

48) Ps 66:3,4 Enemies will submit to God Can any stay rebellious in "hell?"

49) Ps 90:3 God turns man to destruction, then says return How can one return from "destruction?"

50) Is 25:7 Will destroy veil spread over all nations All nations?

51) Deut 32:39 He kills and makes alive Kills to bring life?

52) Ps 33:15 God fashions all hearts "All" hearts, including men like "Hitler?"

53) Prv 16:9 Man devises, God directs his steps What about "free will?"

54) Prv 19:21 Man devises, but God's counsel stands So much for "free will."

55) La 3:31,32 God will not cast off forever Why does He cast off in the first place? (1 Cor 11)

56) Is 2:2 All nations shall flow to the Lord's house "All" nations?

57) Ps 86:9 All nations will worship Him "All" nations!

58) Is 45:23 All descendants of Israel justified Including the wicked ones?

59) Ps 138:4 All kings will praise God Are you catching on?

60) Ps 65:2-4 All flesh will come to God That sounds wondrous.

61) Ps 72:18 God only does wondrous things I wish we would believe that.

62) Is 19:14,15 Egypt & Assyria will be restored Really?

63) Ezk 16:55 Sodom will be restored to former estate Sounds impossible.

64) Jer 32:17 Nothing is too difficult for Him Nothing? No, nothing!

65) Ps 22:27 All ends of the earth will turn to Him For what purpose?

66) Ps 22:27 All families will worship before Him Praise His name!

67) Ps 145:9 He is good to all Including your worst enemies.

68) Ps 145:9 His mercies are over all his works Let's start believing that.

69) Ps 145:14 He raises all who fall Who hasn't fallen in sin?

70) Ps 145:10 All His works will praise Him For "eternal torment?"

71) Is 25:6 Lord makes a feast for all people And you are invited.

72) Jer 32:35 Never entered His mind to eternally torture his children with fire Came from man's mind.

73) Jn 6:44 No one can come to Him unless He draws them You can't "chose" to follow Him.

74) Jn 12:32 I will draw all mankind unto Myself Amen!!!

75) Ps 135:6 God does what pleases Him. If it pleases Him to save all that He might be in all, are you upset?

WHAT PLEASES OUR FATHER?

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires ("will have" in some translations) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time . . . (1 Tim 2:3-6). 1 John 4:14 tells us that the Father sent the Son to be Savior of the world. John 3:35 tells us that the Father has given all into Jesus' hands. If it is the desire of the Father to save all and He has given Jesus all power and authority to do His will, why don't we believe Him? "This is the will of the Father Who sent Me, that of all He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but raise it up at the last day." (John 6:39) The Father has given all into His hands. (John 3:35)

The above Scriptures speak very plainly of the salvation of everyone born under the sun. So why doesn't everyone simply believe these Scriptures and rejoice? There are three main reasons why. First, most people are vengeful. They do not want all to receive forgiveness. As racists always need someone to look down on, so also, some Christians cannot enjoy their salvation apart from seeing others being denied theirs. They do not want anyone hired at the last hour of the day receiving the same wages as themselves. They do not think this is fair. Second, and this is why it took me so long to clearly see this wonderful truth, is that many Bibles have been tainted with the pagan doctrines of the dark ages. Roman Catholicism absorbed every dark thought it came in contact with. The early reformators, who first brought the scriptures into everyday languages, were still deeply entrenched with the false doctrines of the dark ages. These doctrines found their way into the early Bibles which still have a strong effect on leading modern Bibles. As a result, there are still a few lingering passages grossly mistranslated in our Bibles. And last, but perhaps most important, power hungry leaders have found the doctrine of eternal torment most effective in holding the masses under their control. It was effective for ancient monarchs who held their kingdoms together with fear, and it is effective even today for modern tyrants, whether they be political, business, or religious. Many leading English Bibles actually teach all three main concepts of salvation, that is, eternal torment for many, annihilation for many, and the salvation of all mankind. All three cannot be true. Write for the booklets The Early Christian View of the Savior, The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail, the audio tapes entitled Power of a Four Letter Word (Aion), the Origin of the Word "Eternal," and "Is the King James Bible Inerrant? This information will make it clear that when the Scriptures declare that "Love never fails" (1Cor 13), you can be assured His love will never fail anyone born under the sun.

When John and James wanted to bring fire down on the heads of the Samaritans for not believing the Gospel, Jesus' words to them are still appropriate for many church members: "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Are these the words you will hear one day? There is still time to study, pray, and repent. (Luke 9:54-56)

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