Snippets from the hard copy Universal Reconciliation library of rodger

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A snippet from Whatever Became of Melanie? (2005), pages 138-139, by Allan Ernest Chevrier:

(Romans 5:18-21)

“Now what was the result of Adam’s transgression? It was universal condemnation of all, without first consulting them or asking for their contribution. The result of Adam’s disobedience was complete and universal in its scope and consequence, plunging each and every member of his race into sin and spiritual separation from God.

Now, just as Adam’s sin had a direct, powerful, irresistible effect on the whole for evil, so the righteous act of Christ has a direct, powerful, irresistible effect on the whole for good. Just as one sin resulted in universal, real, actual condemnation, so the one act of righteousness performed by Christ, the second Adam, results in universal, real, actual justification, not just an opportunity to cast your lot in with Jesus, not just the offer of life, but the real, actual, powerful impartation of life! The real actual, powerful communication of righteousness! The plain language of the text allows for nothing less!”

So, does God condemn to mortality and a "body of humiliation" without asking any of us who are descendants of Adam if that's OK, but then saves us only if and when, now that we are alienated, we give the Infinite One permission to save us?

Does God save us by grace or does it depend, in the final analysis, on us, as to whether or not we will be saved?

If we are saved by grace, and we are, then, since God is infinite, and wills all to be saved, how can we imagine that He won't save all? He is the Savior of all mankind, not just of those who receive the gift of faith before a certain deadline.

How can death be abolished and yet continue forever? How can death be nullified, and yet many remain dead? How can mankind become exempt from death, while the second death continues to hold even one soul?

How come a man will look for his lost sheep (a mere animal)"till he find it', yet God will only seek us (created in His image) for a while, and then annihilate those of us He couldn't save?

Is God omnipotent, or not? Who will have the final say, us or God? "Not stronger than He are we".

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#40 - GRACIOUS GOSPEL BOOK FOUR – SHERWOOD MICHAEL

“From the beginning God was and always will be a God of all grace. He purposes to be All in all of His creation; but every man in his own foreordained and previously marked out order. No doctrine is of God that does not include, ‘Having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His own benevolent design, which He previously purposed in Himself: that in the fullness of the ages He will gather together in one all in Christ, both those who are in the heavens and those who are on earth, even in Him.’

It is wrong to teach that this age of grace will soon end. In our redeemed bodies we will be righteous, and in the ages to come we will be teaching the grace of God to others.”

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A snippet from Universalism the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years, by J. W. Hanson, 1899:

At this time Alexandria was the second city in the world, with a population of 600,000; its great library contained from 400,000 to 700,000 volumes; at one time 14,000 students are said to have been assembled; and it was the center of the world's learning, culture, thought; the seekers for truth and knowledge from all climes sought inspiration at its shrines, and it was most of all in its interest to us, not only the radiating center of Christian influence, but its teachers and school made universal salvation the theme of Christian teaching.

"To those old Christians, a being who was not seeking after every single creature, and trying to raise him, could not be a being of absolute righteousness, power, love; could not be a being worthy of respect or admiration, even of philosophic speculation. The Alexandrian Christians expounded and corroborated Christianity, and adapted it to all classes and conditions of men, and made the best, perhaps the only, attempt yet made by man to proclaim a true world-philosophy * * * embracing the whole phenomena of humanity, capable of being understood and appreciated by every human being from the highest to the lowest." The result was, "they were enabled to produce, in the lives of millions, generation after generation, a more immense moral improvement than the world had ever seen before. Their disciples did actually become righteous and good men, just in proportion as they were true to the lessons they learnt. They did for centuries work a distinct and palpable deliverance on the earth."

Is the subjection of all described in Philippians 2:9-11 a forced acclamation? http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/QuestionsAndAnswers/Q&AIndex3.html#69a

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The foundations of annihilationism

The proponents of annihilationism appeal to the idea that a belief in eternal hellfire is an affront to God’s mercy and goodness. With this point I cannot disagree. The claim by annihilationists that the acceptance of the teaching of universal reconciliation will lead to a disregard for holy living is flawed. That this reasoning is misguided is apparent, because essentially the same argument is advanced by the defenders of “eternal torment” against annihilationism! In the final analysis, annihilationists would doubtless claim the Bible as the principal foundation of their belief.

Annihilationists are quick to point out that the defenders of “eternal torment” rely heavily on mistranslations to support their false teachings. Nevertheless, annihilationists are often guilty of using essentially identical tactics to support their theory. These tactics include relying on “prooftexts” taken out of context, jumping to unwarranted conclusions without considering the abundant evidence for universal reconciliation, and appealing to verses describing temporary conditions as though they were referring to that which is permanent and “eternal”. One can find “support” for many contradictory teachings in the Bible. The true teaching is that which takes into account all texts relating to a given subject. All the evidence must be reconciled, and all texts must be translated in a consistent way which will allow the meaning of any word to correspond with all of its scriptural uses. The attempt to make “eonian” mean “endless” is an example of ignoring these safeguards. The Greek word apollumi (FROM-WHOLE-LOOSE, lose, destroy, perish) appears about 90 times in the New Testament. There’s a complete list of these texts at http://www.lighthouselibrary.com/read.php?sel=2586&searchfor= , almost halfway down, in red and green. The meaning of apollumi is the opposite of find and save. The concept of finality is by no means inherent in apollumi. Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Mankind came to seek and to save the apollumi”. Romans 9:21, 18: “Or has not the potter the right over the clay, out of the same kneading to make one vessel, indeed, for honor, yet one for dishonor? Consequently, then, to whom He will, He is merciful, yet whom He will, He is hardening.” This differentiation is only eonian, which is to say temporary. (God is eonian, but is not limited to the eons. God created the eons, and after they have run their course, He will be “All in all”.) If we look at 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, we find the word all twelve times. All means every one of the subject at hand (in this case, humanity, human sovereignty and authority, as well as God’s enemies, the last one being death). In verse 27, Paul mentions the one exception to the universality of the word all in these texts: the Father does not subject Himself to Christ (just as He never calls the Son “My God”, as Christ does of His Father). So eonian salvation is for some of mankind, while “eternal salvation” is for all mankind, and will one day be enjoyed by all mankind. There is no convincing support in Scripture, nor in the annals of history, for the doctrine of “eternal damnation” or “eternal destruction”. Romans 9:16.

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#41 - HOW TO KEEP 0N LIVING – DUSEAN BERKICH

“Christian tradition overlooks a key text that clearly quantifies the meaning of aion.

In 1Corinthians 15:24, Paul tells us that Jesus will be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father. That’s not an eternal reign in any possible context. The clear statement that Christ ‘gives up’ the kingdom defines what the Greek noun aion must mean. Jesus is God’s mediator with mankind Who reigns only until He gets the job done. That job is winning our conciliation with God.

Paul referred to Jesus as the eonian, not eternal God, and gave Jesus reign over specific time periods leading up to the conclusion of His reign. Clearly there is a progression of eons that have beginnings and endings. All eons end when Christ’s reign ends, after which what is eternal begins.”

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A snippet from The Outcome of Infinite Grace By Dr. Loyal Hurley

http://www.tentmaker.org/books/infinitegrace.htm

“The Hebrew word olam and the Greek word aion both mean "age" or "eon." For evidence of this refer to Young's Analytical Concordance, or any similar concordance. Incidentally, Robert Young in his "Literal Translation of the Bible" always translates these words by "age" and never once as "ever," "everlasting," or "eternal." The Hebrew "olam" comes from a root meaning "hidden." The word therefore means a period of time, but a period of unknown or hidden length. The word was often used to mean a man's lifetime because it was an unknown period. The adjective aionios is often translated "age-lasting" or "age-during," but would be more properly translated "pertaining to the ages," that is, something that occurs within the ages, but not necessarily lasting even throughout one entire age.

We have already spoken of "for ever" in connection with Jonah in the belly of the fish; of a Hebrew slave serving his master "for ever"; and of the Lord accepting Solomon's temple, "to put My name there for ever." Another illustration is the Aaronic priesthood. According to the King James version, Aaron and his sons were anointed as priests "forever," It says, "Their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations" (Ex.40:15). Yet we read in Hebrews 7:11,12 that the Aaronic priesthood is changed to that of Melchisedec. There would be no contradiction if the statement in Exodus were translated, as it should be, "to the age, throughout their generations." That is, throughout their generations as long as that age lasted. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures which Jesus and His disciples used, the Greek word aion was the word used for the Hebrew word olam. According to Hebrew and Greek usage, therefore, these words mean a period of time, a period of unspecified length, the duration of which is determined by the fact or condition or person to which the term is applied.”

What did Christ mean when He said, “And I, if I should be exalted out of the earth, shall be drawing all to Myself.”? http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/QuestionsAndAnswers/Q&AIndex5.html#115a

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#42 - THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL – PAUL SIEGVOLCK

“Col. 1: 16-20 teaches us the extent of the reconciliation made by Christ, namely, that it extends itself over the whole creation. Therefore the fallen angels must also necessarily have their share in it, for they do incontestably belong to the invisible things created by Christ, and consequently to all things including the things in the heavens.

‘Jehovah is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.’ Psalm 145:9

In this passage we are plainly told that the mercy of God, or His tender love, does not only extend itself to men, but universally towards all creatures that have their being and stand in need of mercy; and consequently also towards the fallen angels; which tender love of God must necessarily at last effect or bring about the restoration of all corrupt creatures, for it is not a weak or faint, but an almighty love.”

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A snippet from The Everlasting Gospel (1753), by Paul Seigvolck:

“If but one soul were to remain in the power of the devil, death, or hell, to all endless eternity, then the devil, death, and hell would have something to boast of against God. Thus death would not be entirely swallowed up in victory, but always keep something of his sting, and hell would ever more be able to make a scorn of those who would say, “O hell, where is, your victory?””

“…with God all is possible.” Matt. 19:26. See also Hebrews 2:14

http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/universalism-is-not-in-the-bible.htm

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Temporary vs. Permanent

One of the main sources of misinterpretation concerning Bible truths is the confusion of that which is (or will be) temporary with that which is (or will be) permanent. I would like to present some examples of this sort.

Temporary: Romans 9:21, 18: “Or has not the potter the right over the clay, out of the same kneading to make one vessel, indeed, for honor, yet one for dishonor? Consequently, then, to whom He will, He is merciful, yet whom He will, He is hardening.” These verses refer to the eons, during which time sin/death and stubbornness/hardening have a place in God’s plan.

Permanent: Romans 11:32: “For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all.” God’s mercy is the “end”, the permanent characteristic of His kingdom.

Temporary: 2 Thes. 3:2: “…not for all is the faith."

Permanent: 1 Cor. 15:28: “Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.”

Temporary: Rev. 21:8: “Yet the timid, and unbelievers, and the abominable, and murderers, and paramours, and enchanters, and idolaters, and all the false- their part is in the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."

Permanent: 1 Cor 15:22, 26: “For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified. The last enemy is being abolished: death." The last enemy is the second death. Once death is abolished, mortality and sin will be things of the past.

Temporary: Romans 2:8, 9: “yet to those of faction and stubborn, indeed, as to the truth, yet persuaded to injustice, indignation and fury, affliction and distress, on every human soul which is effecting evil, both of the Jew first and of the Greek”

Permanent: Col. 1:20: “and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens."

Temporary: 1 Cor. 12:3: “…And no one is able to say "Lord is Jesus except by holy spirit." Many people never say anything of the sort during this life. In fact, millions perish without ever hearing His name.

Permanent: Phil. 2:9-11: “Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." The day will come when God will work mightily upon the hearts of all.

Temporary: Rev. 14:9-11: “And another, a third messenger, follows them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone is worshiping the wild beast and its image, and is getting an emblem on his forehead or on his hand, he, also, is drinking of the wine of the fury of God, blended undiluted in the cup of His indignation, and he shall be tormented in fire and sulphur in the sight of the holy messengers and in the sight of the Lambkin. And the fumes of their torment are ascending for the eons of the eons. And they are having no rest day and night, those worshiping the wild beast and its image, and if anyone is getting the emblem of its name." The punishment awaiting this group is severe, yet it will last, at most, for the eons of the eons, which are the last two eons, referred to as the eons of the eons for they are the greatest of the eons. Similar phrases include King of kings (Rev. 17:14) and holy of holies (Heb. 9:3). Although those worshipping the wild beast will apparently suffer the most severe punishment of any group of people, their punishment will end.

Permanent: 1 Tim. 4:10, 11: “…we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers…” While God is now, and in the eons of the eons, the Savior of believers especially, He is also, permanently, the Savior of all mankind. This will manifest at the end of the eons, when God becomes All in all.

Temporary: Romans 5:18: “Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation…”

Permanent: “…thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying."

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#43 - THE CHRISTIAN AGNOSTIC – LESLIE D. WEATHERHEAD

The following is my all-time favorite quote. I’ve had it memorized for many years and I quote it frequently. As a staunch universalist, Leslie Weatherhead meant it to include everyone without exception, after everyone who needs it experiences kolasis aionion, or age-during corrective chastisement.

“God’s purposes are so vast and glorious, beyond all guessing now, that when they are achieved and consummated, all our sufferings and sorrows of today, even the agonies that nearly break our faith, the disasters that well nigh overwhelm us, shall, seen from that fair country where God’s age long dreams come true, bulk as little as bulk now the pieces of a broken toy upon a nursery floor, over which, thinking that all our little world was in ruins, we cried ourselves to sleep.”

Dr. Leslie Weatherhead

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A snippet from ALL IN ALL by ADOLPH E. KNOCH

http://www.lighthouselibrary.com/read.php?sel=2586&searchfor=

“The true formula of God's method of salvation and the justification of life is given us in the fifth chapter of Romans. It may be arranged in a variety of ways, thus:

Adam's act is to Christ's act as Adam's effects are to Christ's effects.

Adam's act's is to Adam's effects as Christ's act is to Christ's effects.

Christ's effects are to Christ's act as Adam's effects are to Adam's act.

This formula, for it is really only one, is worthy of our most earnest meditation. Our minds are unable to compute the staggering total of human woe. The fruit of Christ's travail is the unknown quantity which we wish to apprehend. How shall we attain a true estimate of the effects of the sufferings of Christ? By comparing them with the pleasure of Adam. The eating of the forbidden fruit gave Adam a micrometric measure of agreeable sensations. Compare this with the sufferings of the cross, physical torment for three long hours, spiritual agony due to God's withdrawal all raised to the highest degree by the exquisite sensibilities of the Victim and His previous experience of divine glory and pleasure.

As much more as Christ's sacrifice surpasses Adam's act in its quantitative values, so much more will be the measure of its effects over those of Adam's sin. As a result human sin dwindles down into a trivial affair compared to the blessings, which are due from the cross of Christ. Let no one misunderstand me. I have suffered agonies in the last few years. As I write I am in pain. I do not minimize human sin or the suffering, which it entails. But I do magnify the work of our Saviour. There is not much danger that my readers would believe me if I should say that, in the absolute sense, sin's effects are trivial. Not many are really deluded as to that. But great as sin's havoc is, the happiness to come will dwarf it into insignificance.”

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#44 - TIME, ETERNITY AND GOD – REDEMPTION’S GLORY – RAY PRINZING

“Modern theology has so long circumvented our thinking and teaching to the biased idea that God will save only part of His creation and so limited His redemptive powers that we have forgotten that with God all things are possible and shall be wrought out in due time. God has a definite schedule for saving His creatures, and there is nothing that can withstand His purpose.

Sin was allowed for wise ends, and only after these have been secured will sin cease to exist. It is all a part of God’s purpose of the ages and redemption’s glory will only shine out the more after the plan’s execution. God never allows sin to go beyond His transforming power. God always has everything under perfect control.”

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A snippet from Universalism the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years, by J. W. Hanson, 1899:

“Hippolytus (about A.D. 220) enumerates and comments on thirty-two heresies, but universal restoration is not named among them. And yet, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen- then living- were everywhere regarded as the great teachers of the church, and their view of man’s future destiny was generally prevalent, according to Augustine, Jerome and others. It could not then have been regarded as a “heresy” or Hippolytus would have named it. What a force there is in fact that not one of those who wrote against the heresies of their times ever named universal salvation as one of them! Hippolytus mentions thirty-two. Epiphanius wrote his Panarion and epitomizes it in his Anacephal’osis or Recapitulation, but not one of the heresy-hunters includes our faith in his maledictions. Could there be stronger evidence than this fact that the doctrine was not then heretical?”

http://www.truth.info/future/universalism.htm

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#45 - THE MAGNITUDE OF REDEMPTION – RAY PRINZING

“ ‘And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.” 1John 4:14.

‘Who will have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come into a knowledge of the truth’ 1Tim. 2:4.

This is not a pitting of man’s will against the will of God as some try to teach, with man’s will able to resist and hold out until God cannot change him, but must throw him into some eternal cesspool to be tormented. NAY – for we read that ‘He is working out all things after the counsel of His own will,’ and man cannot disannul that which HE has willed. It is God’s will that all shall come to Christ. He is the propitiation for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD. Why then shall we be so foolish as to dispute the immutability of His truth?”

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A snippet from The Really Bad Thing About Free Will (2006), pages 66-67, by Martin Zender

“God is now conciliated to all mankind (II Corinthians 5:19). This blessing has come to us through the blood of Christ’s cross (Colossians 1:20). God no longer holds men’s offenses against them (II Corinthians 5:19). This same blood will reconcile all to Himself, both that in the heavens and that on earth (Colossians 1:20).

The cross saves everyone, but not all at once (I Corinthians 15:22-23). Jesus Christ is a ransom for all, but the testimony of it will not be seen until the eras designated to show it (I Timothy 2:6). God will one day be all and in all (I Corinthians 15:28). How can He be that if billions of the all remain dead or tortured?

Paul speaks of a time called the consummation, when death is to be abolished (I Corinthians 15:26; II Timothy 1:10). If there will one day be no more death, then the time is coming when even the second death will cease to be. At this time, those formerly captured by it will be delivered into the life won for them by Christ on the cross. With no more death, nothing remains but life. Some come to Christ sooner, some come later. But eventually, all come.”

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This Man sinners is receiving

Now all the tribute collectors and sinners were coming near Him to be hearing Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying that "This man sinners is receiving, and is eating with them!" –Luke 15:1, 2. Then Jesus told them a parable: a three-in-one parable. First He mentioned the one lost sheep which the shepherd seeks until he finds it. Part two of the parable refers to a woman who loses a coin. She also looks for it until she finds it. Part three refers to the son of a certain man who foolishly “…travels into a far country and there dissipates his estate, living profligately." Yet the day comes when he comes to himself, and returns to his father, exclaiming, “Father, I sinned against heaven…” As with the sheep and the coin, the “prodigal son” was lost and was found. (Luke 15:32) He was found when he came to himself. Romans 3:11. In each of the three chapters of the parable, there is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents- verses 7, 10, 32. Another common theme in each of the three parts of Jesus’s parable is that every one which was lost is found. There is no mention of any being lost but not recovered. In fact, in the case of the son, he is said to have been dead and to have been restored to life. Returning to Romans 3, we read in verses 22-24: “…a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus". Why is God’s righteousness for all? Because there is no distinction, for we all sinned and are wanting of God’s glory. Why is God’s righteousness on all who are believing? Because “…to whom He will, He is merciful, yet whom He will, He is hardening.” Romans 9:18. God’s righteousness is for all, for He is the Savior of all, but is now on those who believe, because He is especially our Savior. 1 Timothy 4:10. “These things command and teach.”

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Justified gratuitously in His grace

“Grace” is “char’is” in Greek, meaning “joy”. It is something which brings happiness, sometimes better rendered “favor” in English. Jesus received God’s grace- Lk. 2:40. However, it is evident from the many verses relating to mankind as presently constituted (sinners), that grace is an undeserved benefit in our case. Romans 11:6 shows a clear distinction: “Now if it is in grace, it is no longer out of works, else the grace is coming to be no longer grace. Now, if it is out of works, it is no longer grace, else the work is no longer work.” Nothing is received by sinful man based on both our acts and grace- it has to ultimately be based on one or the other, because it is impossible for something to be based on both. Even the rewards spoken of for faithfulness, are based on grace, for we can not even so much as seek God of ourselves, much less do truly righteous deeds. Ro. 3:11, 12; Eph. 2:8-10. “Now to the worker, the wage is not reckoned as a favor (grace), but as a debt. Yet to him who is not working, yet is believing on Him Who is justifying the irreverent, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.” “Therefore it is of faith that it may accord with grace...” Ro. 4:4,16. It is ideal to believe what God says, but to make faith spiritual currency with which we obtain His favor is to pervert the truth that we are “being justified gratuitously in His grace” Ro. 3:24. Here Paul is putting additional emphasis on the fact that our salvation is based solely on God’s choice. Ro. 11:5; 9:11,12; 2Thes. 2:13. The definition of “gratuitously” is “without a cause”, or “undeservedly”. “I am not repudiating the grace of God, for if righteousness is through law [or any human action or response], consequently Christ died gratuitously.” Gal. 2:21. Jesus said, “…Yet now they have seen also, and they have hated Me as well as My Father, but it is that the word written in their law may be fulfilled, that they hate Me gratuitously.” Jn. 15:24, 25.

Luke 6:32-35 is another wonderful example of char’is (thanks or grace)- grace is not given in response to human cooperation; grace brings about a response on the part of the recipient, but the grace saves, not the response. God saves us freely, for the gratuity in grace to all mankind superabounds! Romans 5:15.

Phillipians 2:13: “for it is God Who is operating in you to will as well as to work for the sake of His delight.” When we compare this verse with Romans 3:21, we see that “Consequently, then, it is not of him who is willing, nor of him who is racing, but of God, the Merciful." Romans 9:16. This harmonizes perfectly with the fact that God’s righteousness, through Jesus Christ's faith, is “…for all, … for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus" Romans 3:22-24.

“Or has not the potter the right over the clay, out of the same kneading to make one vessel, indeed, for honor, yet one for dishonor?” Romans 9:21. This explains why there are two groups in 1 Timothy 4:10; We who believe are especially blessed by God, experiencing the fullness of His grace before the remainder of humanity. Since we have received the gift of faith, God’s righteousness is now on all of us who are believing, for not for all is the faith. Romans 3:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:2.

Jesus clearly stated, “And I, if I should be exalted out of the earth, shall be drawing all to Myself.” Jn. 12:32. There was no doubt He would be lifted up in crucifixion, so neither is there any doubt that He will draw all to Himself. Millions if not billions of those who have died never once heard of His death on their behalf. These are amongst those who have yet to be drawn to Christ. Because He died for all, all were justified. 2Cor. 5:14,15; Ro. 4:25. All humanity was in Adam’s loins when he was created. It is equally true that all humanity was in Christ, far before the earth came into being. So we can say that for God, Who sees the end from the beginning, mankind was redeemed before we were lost.

The Hypocrisy of False Expressions http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/hypocrisy.html

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#46 - THE INTERPLAY OF GOOD AND EVIL – RAY PRINZING

“God is sovereign, and He controls all the interaction of evil and good, and causes all to redound to His own glory. It is not – what was lost by the fall was to be regained by redemption, BUT by the interaction of FALL AND REDEMPTION, God achieves greater, wiser, nobler, and higher goals than by the Adamic race remaining in its pristine state.

Evil and good are synchronized to accomplish God’s will and purpose, so that the ultimate goal shall reveal all evil transformed back into good, and all negation cancelled out by GOOD. Evil is allowed for wise ends, and when these are secured it must cease to exist, for God will restore all things into good. HE controls all the interaction between evil and good until His purpose of the ages is fulfilled. Then shall God be All in all.”

[dialoguewithus]

Snippets from Eternal Death (Conditional Immortality, Annihilation): One Step Out of Hell; One Step Short of Glory By Gary Amirault http://www.tentmaker.org/books/EternalDeath.html “Let us return to the subject of "aion." Many Bible scholars today are willing to concede that the noun "aion" means an age as opposed to forever or eternal, but they are not willing to concede that its adjective "aionios" means pertaining to an age, age-abiding, age-during or something like that. They say this word must mean "eternal," everlasting," etc. In doing so, they make themselves look very foolish. They break a rule in grammar found in every language of the world. An adjective must get its force from the noun from which it is derived. It cannot take on a stronger force. For example, hourly cannot pertain to a year, or month, or eternity; it pertains to the noun from which it came, that is, an hour. To say that "aion" means an "age," and then turn around and say its adjective means "everlasting," "eternal," forever and ever" is breaking all the rules of language. Why would they do this? If they stay within the rules of grammar, they would have to concede there is no such thing as "eternal" punishment or "everlasting" death. Religious man usually will go into their graves before admitting their errors. After all, huge empires are built upon these two false doctrines. This noun "aion" occurs in the plural and the singular about 127 times. The plural form occurs over 60 times in the Greek text. May I remind you at this time that if the singular form means endlessness, absolute eternity, time without an end, forever, everlasting, then what on earth does the plural form mean?” “In 1 Corinthians 15:25, we have a very interesting verse. In fact, this whole context from verse 22 through 28 is very interesting. Verse 25 says, "For He must reign till He has put all His enemies under His feet." This passage is speaking about Christ Jesus. The word "till" has the same meaning as "until." The word "until: in the English and Greek means, "to the time of, up to, as far as, etc." It definitely limits the reigning of Jesus Christ until He puts every enemies under His feet. It tells us the last enemy to be put under His feet is death. This passage speaks of the end of "death." If there is a second "death," (Lake of fire) there is still death. Please note the scripture does not speak of "soul death," or "spiritual death," or "Adamic death." It simply states that death is an enemy of God which will one day be destroyed. Very simple. Let us keep it that way. One day there will be no more death. Then Jesus Himself becomes subjected that God may be all in all. The passage speaks of an end of Christ's reign. But in Revelation Chapter 11:15 we read, "And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign 'forever and ever.'" This passage clearly contradicts 1 Corinthians 15:25 in the KJV. Which will He do, reign "until" or reign "forever and ever?"”

[rodgertutt]

#47 - DIVINE INWORKINGS – ALL IN ALL – RAY PRINZING

“We would not minimize the judgments of God, but the more the spirit of revelation unfolds the truth, the more we see God’s judgments in proper perspective, that they are remedial, corrective in their nature and used to bring forth a state of righteousness. They shall not be executed in unholy vengeance, for MERCY shall balance the score. God’s judgments are ever tempered with mercy, and when they have fulfilled their purpose, the judgments end. Mercy will outlast all the judgments, and will rejoice in the ultimate restoration of all that was perverted, corrupt, and evil.

Mercy can operate on the basis of justice because Christ has gathered the whole into His own heart, and suffered to reconcile all to Himself.”

[dialoguewithus]

“But it is further objected, that this doctrine gives up God's justice; for if all are saved, there will be no difference between St. Peter and Nero, virgins and harlots, saints and sinners.

This again is misapprehension or worse. God's justice is given up, because He saves by judgment. The conclusion is absurd; but it arises from the common notion, that we are saved by Christ from death, instead of by it and out of it. What Scripture teaches is, that man is saved through death; that the elect, being first quickened by the word, and then judging themselves or being judged in this world, (1 Cor. 11:31-32) by a death to sin are freed from Satan; that others, not so dying to sin, remain in the life and therefore under the curse and power of the dark world, and are therefore delivered to Satan to be punished, to know, since they will not believe, their fall, and their need of God's salvation. But all this simply asserts the justice of God, that if men will not be judged here, they must be in the coming world.

For the rest, the statement that according to this view no distinction is made between St. Peter and Nero, virgins and harlots, saints and sinners, is not only untrue,--for is there no distinction between reigning with Christ and being [dead] ?--but is too like the murmur of the Elder Son at his brother's return, (Like 15:29-30) to need any answer with those who know their own hearts. It is the old objection of the Pharisee and Jew, who thought God's truth would fail if sinners of the Gentiles shared their good things; an objection deeply rooted in the natural heart, which is slow to believe that an outwardly pure and blameless life needs as much the blood of the cross as the most depraved and open sinner. The objection only shows where they are who urge it; and whatever support it may seem to have from a part of God's Word,--as a part of God's Word, taken against the rest, seemed to justify the Jew, and was indeed the very ground on which he rejected the call of the Gentiles,--more light will show that it rests on partial views, and on a systematic disregard of all those truths of Scripture, which are beyond the dispensation. Some day we shall see, that "all have come short," (Rom. 3:23) that as to sin and failure "there is no difference between the Jew and Greek," (Rom. 10:12) that the elect are "by nature children of wrath, even as others," (Eph. 2:3) that if saved at all, first or last we must be "saved by grace;" (Eph. 2:8) and this truth will justify all God's ways, "who hath concluded all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all.'' (Rom. 11:32)”

A snippet from The Restitution of All Things by Andrew Jukes - 1867

http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/jukes.html#contents

[dialoguewithus]

“…they will be turning their hearing away from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths." 2 Tim. 4:4

Scripture: “…we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching. 1 Timothy 4:10, 11.

Myth: “We rely on the living God, Who offers salvation to all mankind, but only saves those who believe before they die. Teach the people to secure their own salvation or face the eternal consequences.”

Scripture: “and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens. And you, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension, by wicked acts, yet now He reconciles" Colossians 1:20, 21.

Myth: “God wishes He could reconcile all the estranged on earth and in the heavens, but He has to have cooperation from those on earth; He can’t do it alone. As for those in the heavens, they’re hopeless.”

Scripture: “Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.” Phil 2:9-11.

Myth: “They won’t all mean it, or if they do it will be too late anyway.”

Scripture: “For the Son of Mankind came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19: 10.

Myth: “The Son of Mankind came to make a great offer; please don’t pass it up!”

Scripture: “For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.” 1 Cor. 15:22.

Myth: “For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, all those who are in Christ shall be vivified. The second Adam came to give us all a chance to remedy the mess the first Adam left us.”

Scripture: “Being, then, justified by faith, we may be having peace toward God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ” “Consequently, faith is out of tidings, yet the tidings through a declaration of Christ." Romans 5:1; 10:17.

Myth: “Even if you die without hearing of Christ, you can be saved when He returns. It just depends on whether you lived up to the light you had.”

Scripture: “…Not one is seeking out God. All avoid Him…” “Consequently, then, it is not of him who is willing, nor of him who is racing, but of God, the Merciful." Romans 3:11, 12; 9:16.

Myth: “Seek God and you’ll be saved. Your salvation depends on how you exercise your free will. If you’re lost, it will be your own fault.”

Scripture: “For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all.” Romans 11:32.

Myth: “It was Lucifer’s doing, and Adam’s. God is merciful to all us humans because He gives us a chance to escape the consequences of their sins.”

Scripture: “The last enemy is being abolished: death.” 1 Corinthians 15:26.

Myth: “The last enemy is the first death; the second death will be eternal; it won’t be abolished.”

[dialoguewithus]

“…they will be turning their hearing away from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths." 2 Tim. 4:4

Scripture: “Not concerning all of you am I speaking, for I am aware whom I choose, but that the scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who is masticating bread with Me lifts up his heel against Me.' Henceforth I am speaking to you before it is occurring, that you should be believing, whenever it may be occurring, that I am." John 14:18, 19.

Myth: “Judas didn’t have to betray Christ.”

Scripture: “Who will transfigure the body of our humilation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself." Phil. 3:21.

Myth: “The subjection of all to Christ will, in many cases, involve compulsion, rather than the reception of a body of glory.”

Scripture: “But not as the offense, thus also the grace. For if, by the offense of the one, the many died, much rather the grace of God and the gratuity in grace, which is of the One Man, Jesus Christ, to the many superabounds." Romans 5:15.

Myth: “Paul is playing word games- the two “manys” aren’t the same group of people. And the fact that “gratuity” means “undeserved favor”, well, we better not dwell on that, because some must deserve salvation more than others, because we have free will, right? As for the word “superabounds”, don’t dwell on that either, because so many more were lost through Adam’s sin than will be saved through Christ’s sacrifice.”

Scripture: “Face to Me and be saved, all the limits of the earth, for I am El, and there is none else. By Myself I swear. From My mouth fares forth righteousness, and My word shall not be recalled. For to Me shall bow every knee, and every tongue shall acclaim to Elohim. Yea, in Yahweh, He says to me, is righteousness and strength. Unto Him shall come all ashamed, who are hot against Him. In Yahweh shall they be just…” Is. 45:22-25.

Myth: “Those who were hot against God and who will be just come from all the earth, but they are just some of humanity; every knee of theirs will bow, and every tongue of that group only will acclaim to God.”

Scripture: “Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying. For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just.” Romans 5:18, 19.

Myth: “All mankind is condemned in Adam, but only some of them will receive justification in Christ. In verse 19, the two “manys” are different groups of people, because Adam’s disobedience is more powerful than Christ’s obedience.”

Scripture: “Who saves us and calls us with a holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before times eonian, yet now is being manifested through the advent of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, Who, indeed, abolishes death, yet illuminates life and incorruption through the evangel” 2 Tim. 1:9, 10.

Myth: “Christ abolishes the first death; the second death is permanent, He won’t abolish that.”

[dialoguewithus]

“…they will be turning their hearing away from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths." 2 Tim. 4:4

Scripture: “And if you are loving those loving you, what thanks [grace] is it to you? For sinners also are loving those loving them. And if you should be doing good to those doing good to you, what thanks [grace] is it to you? For sinners also are doing the same. And if you should ever be lending to those from whom you are expecting to get back, what thanks [grace] is it to you? For sinners also are lending to sinners, that they may get back the equivalent. Moreover, be loving your enemies, and be doing good, and be lending, expecting nothing from them, and your wages will be vast in the heavens, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Luke 6:32-35.

Myth: “God expects something from us (to exercise our free will) before His grace will be of any benefit to us. God loves His enemies, and will give the most ungrateful and wicked among them the wages of sin (death) forever.”

Scripture: “For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Romans 8:20, 21.

Myth: “Satan and Adam subjected the creation to vanity. The creation will be freed from the slavery of corruption by the Almighty, by granting incoruptibility to a few, and annihilating the rest.”

Scripture: “which we have as an anchor of the soul, both secure and confirmed, and entering into the interior beyond the curtain, where the Forerunner, Jesus, entered for our sakes, becoming Chief Priest according to the order of Melchizedek for the eon.” “And a temple I did not perceive in [the new earth], for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, and the Lambkin.” Heb. 6:19, 20; Rev. 21:22.

Myth: “Christ will be our Chief Priest forever.”

Scripture: “For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified. Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence; thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power. For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.” 1 Cor. 15:22-25.

Myth: “There are only two classes to be vivified; Christ and those who are His when He returns. These verses are mainly poetic. Christ will reign forever.”

Scripture: “Now we ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, seeing that God prefers you from the beginning for salvation …” “…for not for all is the faith.” “Consequently, then, to whom He will, He is merciful, yet whom He will, He is hardening.” “Or has not the potter the right over the clay, out of the same kneading to make one vessel, indeed, for honor, yet one for dishonor?” 2 Thes. 2:13, 3:2; Rom. 9:18, 21.

Myth: “Paul’s poetic language is so beautiful! But of course, we have free will, so predestination can’t be true.”

Scripture: “Therefore they could not believe, seeing that Isaiah said again that He has blinded their eyes and callouses their heart, lest they may be perceiving with their eyes, and should be apprehending with their heart, and may be turning about, and I shall be healing them.” “Now on hearing this, the nations rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and they believe, whoever were set for life eonian.” John 12:39, 40; Acts 13:48.

Myth: “John and Luke use the same kind of poetic language! Of course, we can’t take these things literally; everything depends on the proper exercise of our free will.”

Scripture: “Now, whenever the Son of Mankind may be coming in His glory, and all the holy messengers with Him, then shall He be seated on the throne of His glory, and in front of Him shall be gathered all the nations. And He shall be severing them from one another even as a shepherd is severing the sheep from the kids.” “And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian.”Matt. 25:31, 32, 46.

Myth: “This doesn’t refer to the Second Coming, but to 1,000 years later. “Chastening” can’t be right, because those people will be incorrigible; it means punishment, but the punishment is death. We will live forever, so “eonian” has to mean “endless”, even if “eon” means “age”. We have to assume that the adjective means something completely different from the noun from which it was derived.”

[rodgertutt]

#48 - THE UNENDING TRIUMPH OF JESUS CHRIST – ED GREGORY

“Today every warden in the U.S. endorses the ideal of rehabilitation. Shall we say then that God is less reasonable than His creatures? No! God’s punishments exist not for vindictive suffering, but rather for remedy! Praise His Holy Name!

God works with a glorious end in view. We have viewed the judgments of God against sin and unrighteousness as the end, when in reality they are only a means to an end. The revelation of scriptural truth does not view God’s judgments in the ages to come as vindictive, as if to say that God is vengeful, implacable, and hateful against men (as all too often those who profess His Name appear to be!), This insight into God’s purposes in judgment rather declares that these judgments are remedial, that they exist to effect a positive divine end for everyone.

Christ died “to reconcile all unto Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross” Colossians 1:20. The all saving Cross of Christ will never give up its redeeming power till sin and sinner have no more a name among the creatures of God.”