According to the New World Encyclopedia, the world’s oldest extant census data comes from China during the Han (rhymes with con) dynasty. It was taken in the year 2 A.D., hence at the time Jesus was still just a little boy. (A.D. is from the Latin “anno domini” and means “in the year of” our Lord” not “after death” as some believe). It is considered by scholars to be quite accurate. At that time there were 59.6 million people living in the Han dynasty, the world’s largest population. And, of course, at that same time there were tens of millions of people living in widely scattered nations all over the world, in Japan, Korea, the Americas, Europe, etc. They had no prophets, no Bibles, no knowledge whatsoever of a nation of people called Israelites. They looked for no Messiah, or Savior, or Son of God to appear. They would have had no idea that the prospect of eternal life would be available to human beings. Death was a glaring fact in all their lives. None had seen the dead come back to life to live again. So, have you ever wondered what was their eternal fate. Do you suppose it was their fate to live out a brief human life span, then to die and then experience oblivion? Or, worse yet, was it their inescapable fate to die and then have an immortal soul to plunge into hell fire and then burn for ever and ever? Are all such in a place called hell right now consciously enduring the torment of unquenchable fire?
Some argue, “Well, if they lived up to the light they were given, then they are saved and in heaven right now, walking up and down the golden streets and enjoying life more abundant amid unending splendors.” What “light,” friend? What light did a Chinese peasant have afforded him, or her, who lived before Jesus Christ even began His ministry and died before Jesus died or shortly thereafter?
I learned a long, long time ago that most believers, even their learned preachers don’t think too deeply. Instead of thumping their Bibles they need to thump their brains and THINK, THINK, THINK!
Name me a Chinese prophet. How about one that was Japanese? Surely you can name one or two who were Apaches, Mohawks, or Shawnee. You can’t? Do you know why? THERE WERE NONE!
If you will stay tuned and read what the Lord has graciously shared with me on this topic of which I now speak, then you will be given some light and understanding concerning this matter. You will come to see the grand mercy and goodness of God like you have never seen it before. You will stand in awe of your Creator and realize that when scripture says God is not willing that ANY should perish, it means that. (See 2 Peter 3:9). When scripture says Jesus tasted death for EVERY man, it means that. (See Hebrews 2:9). When it says that God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, it means that. (See John 3:16). (Oh, you might have to temporarily set aside some of your erroneous thinking while considering what God’s infallible Word reveals. I hope you can do that).
To be continued……
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley