Published 8/22/26
Theory: The Bible was written with seven different audiences in mind. These audiences have lived in the past, are currently alive and will be born over the next thousand years or so.
Everyone grows up being taught traditions that are largely just accepted as the norm, some largely unproveable. Most just go along to get along. They accept what was already there…taught by their parents, teachers and others. When they became aware as a child, they (we) generally accept the environment we were born in to survive and thrive. Their religious philosophy or belief system they learned from what had come before them, from teachers, pastors, philosophers, priests, ….whoever held sway over their “group” learning what was being taught as “true” by teachers “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”. As adults, they begin to question, prove, accept or reject these beliefs. At some point along the way, they are often challenged by trauma, disasters, death of others, etc. that cause them to search for meaning beyond the common daily struggles.
Going from general to specific, let me explain:
The first audience I call the Atheists and Agnostics. These would be people who don’t believe in a God, or gods. They might be the scientists, philosophers, the educated”…those who look for concrete evidence before believing, perhaps following the “scientific method” of this physical existence, not just “superstitious” beliefs based on “faith”.
The second audience is possibly the largest audience: The Survivalists, the “Preppers”, even Doubters and Cowards, though they might not consider themselves that way or even look that way to other people. And they can come from many of the groups listed here…in other words, this audience is not as clear-cut as other categories, but a person might belong to several of them at once, or might “migrate” through them as life happens to them. They accept whatever situation they have existed in as a way to get along in their community, kind of a laizzez faire, ”live and let live” type of philosophy. We who live in the United States have guaranteed religious freedom and have an attitude of letting others believe what they want as long as they don’t force it on me.
The third audience are those that have been deceived by false religions, NOT based on the Holy Bible. These are demon-led religions that the great Adversary has thrown up as counterfeits to the True God. These would include many Eastern religions such as the Hindus, Taoists, even Buddhists and Pantheists and Animists…those who worship animals, man-made fanciful creatures or images, or other men. Islam and Mormonism actually belong in this audience, as they masquerade as worshipping the same God as the Bible, but in fact, do not.
The fourth audience: The Abrahamic religions, based in the Bible and ultimately descendant from Abram. They would include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and by extension Messianics and Mormons. The “Jews” value the Torah, the Old Testament and don’t accept the New. Christians value the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus and de-value the Old Testament, except for the moral stories. Messianics follow both the Old and New Testaments. Islam follows various interpretations of the Quran, believing that their prophet supercedes the prophets of the Old Testament, and THE Prophet of the New Testament. And Mormons add a complete new interpretation that adds to both the Testaments, but distorting who the Christ really was.
The fifth audience are Christians and Protestants. They follow the Bible, especially the New Testament. And many are based in the Roman Catholic Church, especially in Europe. Many would consider 1517 as the beginning of Protestantism, when Martin Luther wrote against the RCC and brought open resistance to the RCC. They worship Jesus as the Savior of mankind; most believe in the Trinity as the Godhead. They realize the inaccuracies in the teachings and practices of the RCC, but still follow many of those inaccuracies. Much Truth interspersed within many false doctrines. Many of these Protestant denominations distinguish themselves from the Catholic Church, and also from each other.
The sixth audience are those churches who recognize that the Truth is contained in the Bible and have separated themselves from the world and know that what they believe is different and opposed to mainstream Christianity. They are called and chosen. Many of them have followed the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong of the 20th century, but have scattered since he died in 1986 into small “home” churches. Denominational differences are less pronounced among the Churches of God, but they have divided over minor doctrinal differences or because they are following a favorite man.
The seventh audience are those who have been called and chosen and additionally, are proving to be faithful. NOT to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, but to the teachings of Jesus, in the Bible, that don’t do away with the Law of the Old Testament, recognizing that the true head of the body of Christ is Jesus, not any human leader.
This website is mainly directed to the latter three of these audiences, as they generally accept Jesus as the Savior of all mankind; as the only way to the Father; as the Way, the Truth, the Life; as the only way to eternal life. They are generally open to wanting to understand what happens after this life. Of course, God has and will call people out of all situations and audiences of this life, as He desires that ALL come to repentance. But each in their own order (1C 15:23)
{I will add Bible references for each of these groups in the coming days…}
Read the article “The Most Overlooked Verse in the Bible” to find out about a second physical life for most of mankind!