Hi, there…..I had covered this subject briefly under my most recent Post “God’s Eonian Plan and The Present Secret Administration (under Number 6….dealing with the Great White Throne Judgment). I would like to carry its discussion a little further because the most faithful of believers can have a most difficult time justifying why a Totally Loving God can allow such an event to happen.
God, in His infinite and never failing wisdom, oftentimes holds back the reason(s) for the necessity of something happening. Some things we just have to accept on faith, but even here, He gives us good reason to trust Him. For instance, the fact that ALL creation will be saved at the conclusion of the eons (please reference my Posts on this subject) is proof enough of His love for His creation and assures us that all things will come to a wonderful and glorious end, regardless of present conditions and/or appearances.
Concerning the deaths of infants and young children, I believe it is safe for us to reach a few conclusions based on the scriptures. Without a doubt, all those babies and children who died in infancy will be at the Great White Throne Judgment as all who have ever lived will be present there except for God’s saints (please reference the Post on “Who Are Saints”), who already have immortality and are incorruptible.
As mentioned under Number 6 of my most recent Post noted above, this judgment has absolutely NOTHING to do with the issues of faith, justification, righteousness, baptism, callings or any religious matters. It deals SOLELY with an individual’s “acts” and “motives” during their existence as a human being (Romans 2:5-7 and other verses)…that’s it!! And, as mentioned under Number 6, it is quite obvious that these previously deceased babies and young children will be happily ushered into the coming “new heavens and new earth” (“Paradise”) because they cannot be held accountable for any bad acts….based on their ages and experience. (You can refer to the above mentioned Post for more information on life in this “Paradise”).
Parents, relatives, loved ones and even strangers who are so deeply touched by the passing of babies and young children are certainly justified in experiencing the pain of the loss. But, the tears and broken hearts are for us humans, not these children. To the contrary, they did not have to experience (were actually spared, if you will) the very difficult and quite painful journey of being a human in this very corrupt and “WICKED eon” (Galatians 1:4).
Jesus, Himself, referred to this present experience of life as humans on earth as “darkness” (John 1:5), as did Paul (Ephesians 5:8, 6:12). Earth is the land of the dead (those deceased) and the ‘dying’….as soon as we are born, our mortal bodies begin the process of decaying and dying, and are having to be rejuvenated again and again, constantly. These infants and little children were blessed with only having to go through this ‘rotting’ process for a very, very short time. As mentioned by Paul in Philippians 1:21, with these little ones “to die (is) gain”, as it was with Paul. (Please reference the Post on ” “To Live Is Christ….To Die Gain”.
And, although they may have missed out on some humanly limited, and very fleeting happy moments as a human being, it is nothing compared to what it will be like for them at their next awakening moment (from their peaceful “SLEEP” of death) before the Glorious Judge Who will then grant them a joyous life beyond description in “the new heavens and the new earth” (“paradeisos”….. or,Paradise). (Please reference the Post on “Death”.)
As for the suffering of infants and young children who do not die, please reference the Post on “Suffering”.
Until later, all the best in Christ,
Fred
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