Page 59 - Gods Plan of the Ages

The attitude of the elder son is detestable. He is angry because his father is merciful.
So too were the Jews incensed at the idea that the nations should be reconciled to God. They
wanted to be exclusive. Their hearts were selfish. They did not share the burden that the
Father has for the prodigal nations. Contrast the attitude of the elder son with that of the
father.

Luke 15:20-24
"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw
him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son
said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best
robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the
fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has
come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate."

How remarkable is the love of God! He does not delight in the death of the wicked. He
desires repentance and restoration. Reconciliation is what He takes pleasure in. What the
natural seed has done in showing scorn at the mercy of Yahweh toward the nations, the
church has also done. There are multitudes within the body of Christ who are offended
when they hear it declared that the goal of Yahshua's reign is to reconcile all creation back
to the Father. This reconciliation includes both the living and the dead.
There is an interesting passage found in Paul's letter to the church in Philippi.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Yahshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of
those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that
Yahshua Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Who are those "under the earth"? Is it not the dead? Christ testified plainly that those
who were in the grave would hear His voice. The father's words to the elder son in the
parable of the prodigal form a parallel to the words Yahweh spoke to Jonah.

Luke 15:32
"But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to
live, and was lost and has been found."

Jonah 4:11
"Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than
120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well
as many animals?"

Yahweh is ever having to defend His mercy to mankind, for man is far less merciful
that his Creator. When David was given a choice between falling into the hands of men, or
into the hands of God for judgment, he wisely chose God.

II Samuel 24:14
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of Yahweh
for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man."