We must remember that all sins call for the death penalty – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” – Romans 6:23. It does not matter whether it is a “white lie” or the heinous act of child molestation. I John 1:9 states: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Hebrews 8:12 states: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” And Psalms 103:8 – 12 states: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” It is important to clarify that these verses on forgiveness refer only to believers. No matter what sin has been committed, if a believer confesses it to God and seeks His forgiveness, it will be given.

We can never talk enough about forgiveness or be too thankful for it. We need also to be reminded constantly what it cost the Saviour—His death on the Cross—to make forgiveness possible. Actually, we need forgiveness more than we need breathe. Forgiveness makes the difference between a lost and a saved eternity.

To be forgiven by God is to experience one of His greatest favors. Forgiveness triggers a wonderful liberation from a defeated past and the beginning of a new start in life. Forgiveness will greatly enhance the ecstasies of heaven. If feelings of guilt were to be carried through a long eternity, it would greatly dampen the joys of the redeemed. But no! Forgiveness crosses out the past, buries it forever in God’s forgetfulness (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 10:17).

From Scripture we know that forgiveness is not a way, it is the way. It is the only way for the Lord or for us to deal with a sinful past. The old sage was right: “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, moves on”. No tears can erase history or change the writing. Only forgiveness can deal effectively with this record.

Forgiveness is treating the wrongdoer is if he had never committed the wrong. It is the eradication of the red ink from the record. This is the way God’s forgiveness operates toward us; and it is the way He wants ours to work toward others.

The question that you have posed is not a new one.  It has been asked by many people for a great number of years.  There does appear to be a contradiction, although upon closer observation one can readily see the answer.

We must read carefully what Genesis 4:16, 17 actually says.  The Bible says that Cain knew his wife.  It does not at any point show that Cain became acquainted with his wife in the land of Nod.  It does show by using the Biblical word “knew” as found in Genesis 4:1, Judges 11:39, I Samuel 1:19 and Matthew 1:25 that Cain was acquainted with his wife prior to moving to the land of Nod.  The term “knew” has the connotation of procreation of the race and not merely an “acquaintance with.”

Who was Cain’s wife? It is obvious that she was one of the many sons and daughters that Adam and Eve were blessed with in Adam’s long life of 930 years.  This was a necessity at the time and should not be misconstrued as to endorse incestuous marriage or relationships.

The second death is mentioned several times in the book of Revelation and it refers to the lake of fire.  It is called the second death because it follows physical death.

Revelation 2:11 states: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”  So the “overcomer” does not have to fear the second death.  Who is an “overcomer”? – “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” – I John 5:4 – 5.  So Christians do not have to fear the second death.

Revelation 20:6 states: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” These are people who died for their faith in the Tribulation and are resurrected to enter into the Millennium.

Revelation 20:11 – 15 also mention the second death: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 21:7 & 8 states: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

The second death refers to the Lake of Fire where those who are separated from God by their sin will be for all eternity.  No “overcomer” will have a part in the second death.

Currently Lucifer does have restricted access to Heaven. In Job 1:6 we read: “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.” The “sons of God” or angels were summoned by God to appear before Him, and Satan was among them. Satan was bringing accusations against Job, stating that he only worshiped God because God blessed him with wealth, and when Job refused to curse God after his wealth was taken, Satan again appeared before God and stated that is was only because Job had his health that he worshiped God. Satan continues to accuse the brethren up to this day, and until the mid-point of the Tribulation where we read in Revelation 12:10: “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” At that point his access to heaven will be ended, and after the Tribulation he will be bound in the abyss for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3) and then cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity (Revelation 20:10).

Matthew 24:37 states: But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Noah’s era was also one of corruption: “Every imagination of the thoughts of [mankind’s] heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). The result: “The earth also was corrupt before God” (Genesis 6:11). It takes no stretch of a person’s imagination to see a world of men filled with vile imaginations.

While we remain on planet earth, you and I must heed the apostle’s words, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). This bombardment of continual wickedness, implanting so much filth and false values in our collective minds, is presently reaping an abundant har¬vest morally, spiritually, and socially. Just as the degenerated values of society in Noah’s day filled the world with violence, so sin, crime, and fear stalk humanity today.

I’m confident this situation will continue to deteriorate because the sign will break forth in all its debauchery during the Tribulation Hour. We are already observing the preview of coming events. Life will not be worth living during the Tribulation, because Satan will be cast out of the heavens and will be enthroned upon the earth. Because he knows that he has only a short time to perform his heinous acts, and because of his impending imprisonment for one thousand years (Revelation 20:3), he will unleash all of his brutality and uncleanness upon earth’s millions. That is why Revelation 12:12 states, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

Remember that Noah’s day was also one of violence (Genesis 6:11). Any person who watches television news today surely realizes that we are going through a period of unprecedented violence and terrorism throughout the world. But we’ve seen nothing yet. Violence will rear its ugly head in monstrous proportions as terrorists prepare for germ and biological warfare to hold major cities captive. Soon millions will die. When it does occur, could it be the beginning of the Tribulation Hour? But fear not, Jesus said in Luke 21:9, “When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come” and then adds in verse 31, “When ye do see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom [return to earth] of God is nigh at hand [near].”

Romans 8:21-23 states: Because the creature, (that’s talking about animals and humans) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation, (animal and human) groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Not only they, but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves, groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies.

Currently the whole creation, animals included, groan and travail in pain waiting for the redemption – the salvation of their bodies and that’s when he says in Revelation 4 verse 1, “Come up hither!” Now we believe that’s the Rapture,

Dr. E. D. Buckner who wrote the book The Immortality of Animals in 1903 – He also identified many well-known theologians who believed and recognized the immortality of animals. He taught the following:

St. Paul gives us to understand that this suffering of animals shall not be hopeless, but that they shall be delivered together with man from the bondage of corruption.

Dr. William L. Pettingill said: “Animals generally, are now suffering in the bondage of corruption, but in that day their deliverance will come.”

He’s talking about the coming of the Lord because he uses in context here, I Corinthians 15:51-54, “Behold I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep [all be dead] but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we the living shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal, the living, must put on immortality.”

Since these scholars say that these animals are going to be delivered from the bondage of corruption and he says that all that are in corruption are coming forth, that means that they believe that animals are coming out at the rapture, and so they’re using as his proof text, the text I’ve used so often just for the believers – the dead in Christ first and then the living. But these men are taking in the animals as well. This means that you don’t have to worry if the rapture occurs, because your animal’s going up with you.

Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo wrote an article entitled “Anatomy of a Fetus: The Placenta” at: https://www.babble.com/pregnancy/anatomy-fetus-placenta/

In this article he states:

“The placenta is part of the communication between the fetus and the expectant mother. Most people tend to think of this communication as the route of exchange where the mother’s blood and the fetus’s blood mix and exchange, but this is a myth. The fetal blood and maternal blood do not mix. In fact, if this were to be the case, there would be such immunological protest from the mother that she would soon make enough antibodies to the baby’s blood to destroy the pregnancy. So what exactly is meant by communication between the fetus and mother? And if no blood is exchanged, how do oxygen and nutrition get passed on to the developing baby?”

Later in the article he states:

Another thing that helps is the complete separation of the maternal and fetal circulation. As stated above, there is no direct connection between the fetal bloodstream and the maternal bloodstream. The placenta grows into the maternal uterine lining, but no blood vessels connect up to the mother’s, as was once thought. Instead, the fetal red blood cells end their journey in a U-turn in very vascular capillaries; these capillaries sit in puddles, so to speak, called intervillous spaces. These are puddles of maternal blood that bathe the lining of the placental capillaries. The fetal tissue, thus bathed, takes the developing baby’s needs out of the maternal blood, leaving the rest for the mother.”

As a result, Mary’s human blood did not mix with the pure blood of Jesus.

We know that all those who have trusted Christ to forgive them of their sins and give them eternal life are saved. Faith in Jesus Christ is what saves us. Although we may sin, we know that we can still have forgiveness. Christ died that we might know and have assurance of eternal life with Him. Revelation 3:5 is a verse of tremendous joy because we realize that it means we who have trusted Jesus Christ will be confessed before our Father. We will not be blotted out of the book but we will enjoy a precious place in it because we know the Lord. I John 4:15 tells us: “whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” As long as we are in God and He in us, then we are forever and eternally saved. If God has said that He will forgive you, you should not doubt because God does not lie. If He makes a promise to you, you can count on it to be true for He has said He will never fail you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

We also have the precious promise of the Word that “whosoever will may come.” Jesus said in John 6, verse 37: “all that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:44 says that “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” These are all precious promises from God’s Word that we have our eternal Father with us. John 1:12 says that we are now children of God. We know that the Father will often chastise us for our disobedience to Him. This is a testimony that we are His children. Please read Hebrews chapter 12, verses 5-8. These will show you that our chastisement is from our Father who is in Heaven.

I am glad that you have come to the Lord and He has forgiven you of your sins. If you have confessed them and forsaken them, then God has taken them out of your life. He has made you a new creature in Him. You no longer have to be afraid or doubt about your life. You may not know that which is in the future but you know the One who holds the future. I suggest that you study the entire book of I John. I am sure it will be very helpful.

God is willing to forgive every sin of the truly repentant heart and believer in Christ Jesus.

No matter how bad our sin is, God still forgives.

God loves us so much that He sent His only son to suffer and to die that we might not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

It is important to realize that even after we become new creatures in Christ we still must face up to the consequences and results of our past sins. In doing so we can rejoice that not only are we forgiven and cleansed (I John 1:9) but we also are given the promise of God’s strength and provision as we depend on Him.

All are guilty of sin (Romans 3:23) and deserve eternal damnation (Romans 6:23). Jesus died for the payment of our sins (Romans 5:8).

Anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Savior is forgiven regardless of the sin one has committed (Romans 6:24).

Leviticus 16:1-34 gives the law concerning the Day of Atonement. In verses 21 and 22 it states: And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.”

This indicates that the sins that they had committed since the previous Day of Atonement were covered until the next Day of Atonement.

Fred H. Wight, in his book Manners and Customs of Bible Lands states: “The horse has usually symbolized times of war, but the donkey, times of peace. In Old Testament times this was especially true from the days of King Solomon.” So if a king rode a horse it symbolized that he was riding to war, but if he rode a donkey it symbolized peace.

Zechariah 9:9 states: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” This was fulfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday – Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28 – 44; and John 12:12-19.

Zechariah 9:10 states: “And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.” This prophecy will be fulfilled at His Second Coming when He sets up His kingdom on earth.