Kimmielittle,
Good morning and have a wonderful and blessed New Year.
Answerplease,
I suppose you realize that the quote you put in your title was from two Catholic writers.
Other readers,
Please be aware of two important concepts:
1–The use of the word “damnation” is based on the following contexts:
Mosiah 16: 11
11 If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation—
John 5: 29
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
3 Ne. 26: 5
5 If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation; being on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began.
To place oneself in the pervasive influence of the devil and the worldliness that Satan showers on the world, is to place oneself out of the pure influence of Christ. Christ suffered the atonement to redeem all mankind who will choose redemption, and to bring “everlasting life” (eternal life with God the Father) to those who choose to allow Christ to change their souls and change their lives through the sanctification and the purification that come to those who sincerely repent throughout their lives. Christ becomes their Shepherd. No one else has that role–only Christ, without a representative to stand in the place of Him.
All mankind will be resurrected. Some will not have chosen to allow Christ to be their Shepherd with all of their heart, loving God with all their heart, might, mind, and strength. They will be resurrected, and many will inherit a condition of “heaven” like the angels, but they will not have placed themselves with all their heart into the shaping influence of Jesus, so they will have limited their own progress which He wished to give them.
- The use of the word “Babylon” is symbolic of the pervasive influence of Satan, who does all he can to interrupt the progress of humankind toward following Christ with all their heart and soul. Readers can read the Book of Revelation to find many references to “Babylon”. See, for example, Revelation 14:8.
Christ wants all of us to change our lives and become changed, sanctified, purified, and fully prepared to stand in the presence of God the Father having been brought into likeness with Jesus Christ because of what He is able to do for those who allow themselves to be changed by Him. He can’t do that ultimately if we try and use the world’s ways to do it. That simply will not work. We have to give Him all of our hearts, and trust Him with our faith and our best effort to “be like Him.”
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Peace to all, and may we all be peace-bringers.