Bick here for the first time. Arrow, your question was, "Does God really love everybody?" I can only give my views based upon the Bible, not man's logic, for from man's logic one might conclude that God is a hateful, spiteful, fiend.
It's true, from much of the accounts in the Bible, particularly in the OT, God drowned all of the air breathing animals as well as man, who were involved in the flood, except Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives; And God commanded Israel to slaughter those in the cities they conquered, men, women, children and even animals; there are other stories where God, or his angels, did the killing.
Yes, we read many places of His anger being kindled, particularly against a disobedient Israel, yet we also read that His anger is short but His blessings last a life time: here are a few: "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor last a lifetime." Psa. 30:3; "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever." Psa.103:8,9; and Psa.145:8, "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." From the NIV.
It is my belief that John 3:16 is true and expresses God's heart. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." That's how much God loves the world of mankind. Christ willingly gave up his life, shed his blood for the sins of the world. In 2 Cor. 5:19, it says, "..God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And has committed to us the message of reconciliation." NIV.
Since God is love, I understand that the greatest way he reveals his love is to be our Saviour. And mankind needs a Saviour for we are 'lost in sin', we miss the mark of what a true man should be. And this started with Adam who disobeyed God's command to 'not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil'. This is clearly set forth in Romans 5:12-21, that sin entered the world through Adam, and through sin death, and thus death came to all men. And it follows that "the wages of sin is death", Rom. 6:23, but the gift of God is eternal (aionian Gk.) life through Christ Jesus.
It is my belief that although the Bible records many accounts of death and destruction, and speaks of enemies of God both in the heavens and on earth, it also reveals that it is God's plan to someday reconcile the universe to himself: from Col.1:19 & 20, speaking of Christ: "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things, whether things on earth or things in heavens, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. NIV.
During the ages there have been believers and unbelievers. Israel, for much of their history, was nationally in unbelief, even in idolatry. They should have spread the message of the one true God to the other nations, but failed. And they have been scattered among the nations. Oh yes, there is an "Israel" today, but not in true belief. But at the proper time, God will bring believers back to their promised land when Christ Jesus, their Messiah, returns to the earth to inaugurate the Millennial Kingdom.
Today, since the time of Paul 'going to the nations', God is calling out the church, the body of Christ. We are to be his servants now, witnessing to the world, awaiting the catching away of the resurrected "dead in Christ", as well as those still alive who will be changed. See 1 Cor. 15:51-57 and 1 Thes. 4:15-18.
And here is the glorious part, the future of Christ' body, to be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ in the heavenlies. See Eph. 1:3-23. While Satan is not there, there are other spirit beings: called "principalities(rulers), powers, authorities, in the heavenlies, that is, out in the universe, who will be witnessed to, by the church/body, the manifold wisdom and grace of God. Read the first four chapters of Ephesians.
As for unbelievers in ages past and now, there will be a time of judging at the great white throne, when the dead will have been resurrected. Out of this great gathering there will be those deserving of life, and their names will have been written in the book of life; all others, after giving account of their deeds, are cast into the lake of fire, and die again. See Rev. 20
But, that is not their end. Appearing before Christ in all his glory, with myriads of angels, there will be no unbelieving sinner who will not confess that Jesus is Lord. They will die and not be apart of the New Earth, which is the last age in God's great plan. I Cor. 15:20-28 informs us that all in Adam are dying, yet the same all, in Christ will be made alive, but each in his own turn. Christ , the firstfruit; then in his presence those who belong to him; thereafter the end when he hands over the kingdom to God, the Father, after he has nullified all dominion, authority and power.
So, Paul tells us that all will be made alive, that is, without dying again. Also, to confirm this, vs. 25 (CV) says "For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy being abolished is death."
Thus, with death gone there is only life. And you may ask, "what about sin?" Even though Christ died for the sins of the world, there is still sin in the world. There is an answer. Heb. 9:27 in Rotharham N.T., reads, "But now, once for all, upon a conjunction of the ages, for a setting aside of sin, through means of his sacrifice, has he been made manifest." At that time, the end of the ages, sin will be set aside, be repudiated. Then, there will be no death, no sin, and in the whole universe, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil.2:9-11). And with all enemies subject to Christ, Christ himself becomes subject to the God and Father, that God may be All in all
I realize this is long and stretched out, but I just couldn't shorten it much, when setting forth God's love and plan for all His creation.
Bick
