Trilogy

by D. Scott Reichard

 

The following list (1) identifies the key topics and themes that are important to a firm Biblical foundation in the Blessed Hope.

– God’s ownership as Creator
– The success or failure of unconditional love
– The nature of God’s kingdom during the reign of Jesus on earth
– The nature of “eternal” judgment
– The definition and nature of hell
– The origin and purpose of evil
– The liability for the fall of man
– Man’s freedom of will
– God’s sovereignty and will
– Definition of aion
– Predestination, election, foreknowledge
– Relevance of Old Testament laws

 

FREE WILL, SOVEREIGNTY, OWNERSHIP, EVIL

Although most Christians believe God is sovereign, their theology seems to deny it when questioned on details. They assume He has put aside His sovereignty to allow man to have free will. This is usually done with the intention of explaining evil in the world.

How free is our will? Since we are told to choose what is right and shun what is wrong, it is clear that we have a will. It is commonly believed that if we have a will at all, then it must be “totally” free. There are several scriptures, however, which would tend to say otherwise. For example, Jn. 6:44 says, “No man can come to me except the Father draw (lit. “drag”) him. The same Greek word for drag is used in Jn. 21:6 where the disciples drag fish into their nets and in Ja.2:6 where the rich drag us to court. Jesus uses the same word in Jn. 12:32, “If I be lifted up, I will drag all men unto me.” So these being “dragged” appear to be having their “free will” overruled by a higher will. Jn. 6:37, “All that the Father gives me shall come to me.” In other words, those who decide to come to Christ by their own “free will” are the people whom the Father has given Him already. Jeremiah says in 31:18-19, 17:14 that essentially none of us will be saved unless God initiates it. If God does not turn us, we simply will not come to Him. John tells us that we are not born of our will but of God’s (Jn.1:13). God does all according to His own will (Ep.1:11). There is someone behind the scenes who calls us and our response is, “I think I want to come to Christ.” We think it is all by our own will, yet God has played a hidden role. He has chosen us so we in turn choose Him, “seemingly” of our own will. We may tend to hold this illusion in our immaturity. But the more we come to know Him, the more sovereign He seems to become.

Paul, who knew God more deeply than most, powerfully describes His Sovereignty in Romans 9 where he quotes Isaiah. After saying that it is God who creates both the good guys and the bad guys (and that the clay has no right to question the Potter), he says plainly (v. 19) that no one can resist the boulema will (ultimate plan) of God. This is a stronger use of the Greek term for “will” than thelema which is used in other passages where it is clear that man is definitely resisting God’s will. Other examples of our inability to resist God’s highest intention include Joseph and his brothers, Pharaoh, God loving Jacob over Esau, Isaiah’s description of Cyrus, and Nebuchadnezzar as God’s tool. All these point to God’s ability to control people in spite of “free will.” If Paul says no one can resist the boulema will of God, then how much “total” free will do we really have? Does no one mean no one? Why do we question God’s sovereignty? Could it be because we need to explain the existence of evil in the world in a way that does not make Him liable? Theologians have proposed two solutions: one says we do not understand any purpose for evil, but know God will work all things for good. The other says God is not responsible; it is caused by people and the Devil who inspires them. But to absolve God of any responsibility for evil, Christians take back most of His sovereignty. Free-will taken to its conclusion removes all sovereignty from God. It leaves Him impotent, on the sidelines unable to do anything.

Who is really sovereign on earth? Has God abdicated His throne? If we leave “total” free will intact, we are left with a very scary world. If God cannot override man’s will, then He can no longer direct history—have a timetable. How much “free will” did Paul have when God threw him on his back and told him, “you will follow me?” God overruled his will. Can He not do it with everyone? Since He demonstrated His ability to turn the chief of sinners around, we know He can do it for all. Now if He can, but chooses not to, who is really liable for lost souls?

How is the question of evil resolved? It is not resolved by removing sovereignty from God, but by understanding why God does what He does. We must understand that in His sight sin is reckoned as debt. When we sin we become debtors to the law. When Adam sinned, all that he owned was sold to sin and sin held the debt note until Christ paid it off. We need to know that we have limited authority over ourselves and that the Jubilee ends all debt (Lev. 25).

Is it really a question of free-will versus sovereignty or is it a question of ownership? From a legal standpoint, the question of free-will is only a side bar. The issue is resolved when we understand that God, as Creator, owns all He has made (Ge.1:1; Ez.18:4). If man was formed from the dust of the earth (Ge.2:7) and all the earth is God’s (Le.25:23) and the land, under law, must always be redeemed we understand the right of ownership. God always claims right of eminent domain. Man has delegated authority, but God retains sovereignty! In explaining evil, the ownership issue is crucial. We must look at evil in light of the liability laws.

Liability is based on ownership (Ex. 21:33-4). If a man digs a pit and does not take the necessary steps to cover it, and an ox comes along (of his own free will) and falls in the pit, the man is liable. He must buy the dead ox. Other liability laws which say the same thing are De.22:8 and Ex. 22:5-6. Consider the Garden of Eden. Back in the garden, God dug a pit. He did not cover it up and man fell in. The pit was complete with a couple of temptation trees and a tempter. God was fully aware what decision Adam would make. Yet God did not cover the pit. He could have prevented Adam from sinning by not planting the trees and placing the tempter in another universe. But God dug that pit and purposely left it uncovered. He had a plan. The plan called for man to fall. By God’s own liability laws, He made Himself responsible. He purposely obligated Himself to take care of the situation. He sent His Son to pay the price. All creation became subject to death through Adam’s fall. God bought the dead ox and owns it. He fulfilled the terms of redemption – bought all who fell. In doing so, He fulfilled the law. This is the Good News! Christ’s blood redeemed the whole world (1Jn. 2:2; 1Ti. 2:6)!

In conclusion, according to these laws, the insistence that we have free-will may reduce God’s liability, but not eliminate it altogether. In God’s court, free-will is not a factor. God wrote the law of liability so we would understand His obligation to purchase the whole world. Though we do not have an explanation for each piece of the puzzle about evil, we know God is sovereign. This may not be much comfort for those going through horrible situations, but at least we can rest assured He works all things for our good. Every injustice will be rectified. In the end, we will look back on all that has happened and say, “God was justified in all He has done.” (2)

 

CHURCH FATHERS AND FIRE

The majority of Church leaders of the early centuries believed in an end to God’s punishments, either through annihilation or ultimate reconciliation. They understood that olam and aion often pertained to the age to come (pages 29-30), and did not mean “eternal” like many claim. They understood the symbolic nature of fire in the Scriptures and viewed God’s judgment “fires” as something very positive. Fire was an element of life (Is.4:5), of purification (Mal.3:3), of transformation (2 Pe.3:10) and never of preservation alive for purposes of anguish. To them, fire was the sign of God’s being, not His wrath. God is a consuming fire (He.12:29). Christ’s eyes are a flame of fire (Re.1:14). The seven lamps of fire are the seven spirits of God (Re.4:5). His throne is a fiery flame and its wheels a burning fire (Da.7:9, 10). God’s ministers are a flame of fire (He.1:7). He is like a refiner’s fire (Mal.3:2). God answers Gideon (Jud. 6:21), David (1Chr. 21:26), Elijah and Elisha by fire. God gave His law in fire (De. 33:2) and the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost in fire.(Ac. 2:3) Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt. 3:11). Fire tries everyone’s work (1Co. 3:13) and saves us “as by fire” (1Co. 3:15) not tortures in fire. The fires of Gehenna are kindled for purification. “Everyone will be purified by fire” (Mk. 9:49 GNT). Note that this fire is in the same context as Gehenna fire (v.47)! As Jerome says, “fire is God’s last medicine for the sinner.” (3) See Appendix IV for quotes from the Fathers.

 

SCRIPTURES IN PERSPECTIVE

A belief in eternal torment carries with it many other intermeshing doctrines and assumptions. It implies a yielding of God’s sovereignty to man’s free-will, a semi-sovereign devil, a denial of God’s infinite knowledge, a conditional love on the part of God, no legal and lawful liability for the fall of man on the part of God, and among many other things, an inability on God’s part to control the affairs of men. The following Scriptures tend to say otherwise. They show a God and Father who is in ultimate control of His universe especially the affairs of men, judges lawfully, and is steadfast in His unconditional love of man. Let’s take a look:

GENESIS: In Abraham shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 12:3; God saw all that He had made and it was very good. 1:31; You meant it for evil but God meant it for good. 50:20

EXODUS: Who made man’s mouth? Who makes him dumb or deaf? Is it not I? 4:11; God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Was this fair unless God had a plan? 10:1-2; Liability laws – owner liable for actions of his possession. 21:28-31; Liability laws – owner is the one responsible. 21:33-34; 22:5; Liability laws – owner is liable even though not the cause. Dt. 22:8

LEVITICUS: Law of Jubilee – sunset provision on all debt (sin is reckoned as a debt). 25:8-13; Lawful right of Redemption – Kinsman redeemer has lawful right. 25:23-28

NUMBERS: All the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. 14:20-21

DEUTERONOMY: God has chosen you. 7:6; The Lord has not given certain ones a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. 29:4-6; God puts to death and it is God who wounds. 32:39

I SAMUEL: The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. 2:6-7; God sent Saul an evil spirit 16:14 KJV

II SAMUEL: God moved Satan to tempt David to number Israel. 24:1; 1Chr. 21:1

I KINGS: God sent a deceiving spirit to entice Ahab to fall in battle. 22:19-22

I CHRONICLES: Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. 21:1; Why?

II CHRONICLES: No one can stand against Thee. 20:6

JOB God uses Satan. to tempt Job. 1:8-12; Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil also. 2:10 KJV; God performs what is appointed for. Job 23:13-14; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent. 26:13 KJV; No purpose of God’s can be thwarted. 42:2 NIV

PSALMS: The control of God. 33:8-11; God fashions the hearts of all men. 33:15; To Thee all men come. 65:2; All the earth will worship Thee. 66:4; God blesses us that all the ends of the earth may fear Him. 67:2,7; His Sovereignty rules over all. 103:19; God does whatever He pleases. 115:3; Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth. 135:6; Days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. 139:16; The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. 145:9

PROVERBS: Lord made everything for His purpose, even the wicked for day of evil. 16:4 KJV; A man’s heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps. 16:9;The lot is cast but its every decision is from the Lord. 16:33; The Lord turns the king’s heart wherever He wishes. 21:1

ISAIAH: Is it the axe or the One who wields it who is in control? 10:15; Earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover sea. 11:9; Just as I have intended it and just as I have planned it so it shall stand. 14:24; Who can frustrate what God has planned? 14:27; Him who planned it long ago. 22:11; The Lord of hosts has planned it. 23:9; When the earth experiences judgments, inhabitants learn righteousness. 26:9; God forms light and creates darkness, makes peace and creates evil. 45:7 KJV; God declares the end from the beginning and does His good pleasure. 46:10; I have planned it and surely I will do it. 46:11; I created the smith who blows the fire and the destroyer to ruin. 54:16 NAS; All flesh shall worship before God 66:23

JEREMIAH: Before you were born I knew you. 1:5; A man’s way is not in himself. 10:23; Purpose and goal for use of evil by God. 18:11 KJV; I will give them a heart to know Me. 24:7; I shall correct you properly and by no means leave you unpunished. 46:28

LAMENTATIONS: Both good and evil go forth from the mouth of God. 3:38 KJV

DANIEL: God does according to His will and no one can ward off His hand. 4:35; That which is decreed will be done. (Is there any doubt?) 11:36

AMOS: If evil is in a city, has the Lord not done it. 3:6-8 KJV

MICAH: God does not retain His anger forever because He delights in mercy. 7:18-20

HABAKKUK: Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as waters cover sea. 2:14

ZEPHANIAH: The earth will be burned by the fire of God’s jealousy for then He gives them a pure language. 3:8-9

HAGGAI: Going to shake the heavens and earth and I will fill this house with glory. 2:6-7

ZECHARIAH: The Lord will be King over all the earth. 14:9.(4)

MATTHEW: The Spirit drove Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 4:1; Law won’t pass away until all is accomplished. 5:18; No one knows the Father except who the Son wills to reveal Him. 11:27; Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it is given. 19:11

LUKE: To you it has been granted, to the rest it is in parables so they can’t see. 8:10

JOHN: Born not of the will of the flesh or man, but of the will of God. 1:12-13; The Son gives life to whom He wills. 5:21; No one comes to the Son unless the Father draws him. 6:44; No one can come to Jesus unless it has been granted by the Father. 6:65; If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. 12:32; You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you. 15:16

ACTS: Christ crucified by the predestined plan of God. (Can God control?) 2:23; Heaven must receive Christ until the period of the restoration of all things. 3:21; To do whatever Thy hand and thy purpose has predestined to occur. 4:28; As many as had been ordained to eternal (aionian) life believed. 13:48; And the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 16:14; Having determined their appointed times and boundaries, in Him we live. 17:26-28; The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will. 22:14

ROMANS: God subjected creation to futility by His will and not by the will of man. 8:20-21; All those condemned in Adam were justified in Christ. 5:18; The wages of sin is death (not eternal torment). 6:23; For whom He foreknew, He also predestined. 8:29; God’s choice according to His purpose. 9:11; It does not depend on man’s will but God’s mercy 9:16; God has mercy on whom He desires and hardens whom He desires. 9:18; Who can resist the will of God? 9:19; Who are you, O man to answer God? The clay will not question God. 9:20; The Potter has the right over the clay since He owns it. 9:21; According to the election of grace. Who is really in control? 11:5; All Israel will be saved. 11:26; God has shut up all men in disobedience that He might have mercy on all. 11:32; From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. All things? 11:36

I CORINTHIANS: By His doing you are in Christ. Who is in charge? 1:30; All things originate from God. (i.e., all is of God) 11:12; Spirit distributes as He wills. (Who is in charge?) 12:11; As in Adam all die so also in Christ shall all be made alive (vivified). 15:22; He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. 15:25-26

II CORINTHIANS: All is of God and God is in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. 5:18-19

EPHESIANS: He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. 1:4; He predestined us to adoption as sons according to His will. 1:5-6; Predestined according to His purpose who works all things after His will. 1:11; Saved by grace not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not result of works. 2:8-9; Our good works prepared by God beforehand. (Is God omniscient?) 2:10; In accordance with the purpose of the ages. 3:11; Father of all who is over all, through all and in all. 4:6

PHILIPPIANS: Every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord. 2:9-11; God works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. 2:12-13

COLOSSIANS: In Him were all things created and He holds all things together.1:16-18; Through Christ the Father reconciles all unto Himself. 1:19-20

II THESSALONIANS: God has chosen you from the beginning. 2:13

I TIMOTHY: Paul is the example of salvation (God draws men when He wants) 1:16; Paul delivers them over to Satan so they can be taught not to blaspheme. 1:20; Who will have all men to be saved. (Can God accomplish His will?) 2:4; God is the savior of all men, especially of believers. 4:10

II TIMOTHY: Saved us not according to our works but according to His purpose. 1:9; God grants repentance. 2:25

TITUS: The grace of God has brought salvation to all men. 2:11; Saved us not by our deeds but according to His mercy. 3:5

HEBREWS: God has put all things in subjection, nothing is left. 2:8; All shall know me from the least to the greatest. 8:8-12

I PETER: To those who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. 1:1-2; Gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead. 4:5-6

II PETER: Make certain His calling and choosing you. 1:10

I JOHN: He is the propitiation for our sins: and also for the whole world. 2:2; God knows all things. 3:20; Jesus is the savior of the world (whole world?). 4:14;

REVELATION: All nations will come and worship before thee when judgments come. 15:4; God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose 17:17; God releases Satan for a short time at the end of the Millennium. 20:3; I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. 22:13.

 

Judgment Views Compared

Eternal Torment – (Augustinian Tradition)

  1. Admits God is sovereign, all powerful, and all knowing; yet He really can’t be due to the greater power of man’s free will over God’s will.
  2. God assumes no legal liability for the fall of man though God placed Adam in the garden with a tempter, a temptation, and created him with the ability to be tempted. It is totally Adam’s fault. He and his seed must bear the consequences throughout all eternity. (Just try to imagine “forever.”)
  3. Adam’s sin was imputed to all, resulting in death and hell. Unlike Adam’s sin, Christ’s death was not imputed to all. The act of the first Adam was far more devastating than the benefits achieved by the last (1 Co.15:45) Adam.
  4. Due to Adam’s sin, all men die and are born going to hell.
  5. Hell is eternal conscious punishment in body, mind and spirit. The Lake of Fire is believed by many to be a literal fire. Hell was an intrusion into God’s plan. He did not want to create it but had to due to Satan’s rebellion and man’s fall.
  6. Satan and God have been at war since the rebellion in heaven when a third of the angels rebelled with him. The former good angels became demons. Though Satan has free-will, he cannot do all he wants (see Job). Satan and God will always be enemies since hell is forever and Satan is in hell tormenting the lost.
  7. This tradition assumes the eternal torture of the wicked has always been the majority opinion of the church.
  8. It believes the Greek aionios always means eternal.
  9. An eternal hell means sin and evil exist forever. All sinners will exist in torment throughout eternity with Satan and his demons.
  10. Christ will not draw all men to Himself as He said in Jn. 12:32. He will fail in being the Savior of the world as proclaimed in Jn. 4:42; 1 Jn 4:14.
  11. The “elect” are those chosen by God to be saved from hell. Although they have free-will, God works out the circumstances in their lives so that they are assured salvation. He could have done this for all people but chose not to. (This is a Calvinist / Reformed belief. Most Christians reject it.)
  12. There is no possibility of salvation after death.
  13. All sin is essentially judged the same: The teenager killed in a wreck, the billions who have not heard the Gospel, and Hitler, all go to hell forever. Although Jesus fulfilled all the Law and is the Kinsman Redeemer, He does not receive all He redeemed. The laws of redemption and the Jubilee (Le. 25) are not fulfilled. The laws of proper restitution for sin (Ex.21 -23) are not followed. If the only sin a person committed was stealing a loaf of bread, he will get the same punishment as Satan and all sinners—hell forever. The law of first fruits is not followed. We as first fruits do not sanctify the whole harvest (only a part gets saved). The Noahic, Abrahamic, and Mosaic Covenants which define the particulars of the Kingdom relative to scope and establishment are not fulfilled.
  14. All the saved go to heaven at death and the unsaved to an eternal hell. There is no continuing work of Christ on earth to save all men (He. 13:8). His millennial reign is made up of only the saved, as all the unsaved are in hell. There are no subjects for the now kings and priests to reign over and serve in humility. All who are left on earth are Christians during the Kingdom reign. The result of history is two opposing empires destined for the same duration. Satan wins the largest kingdom with the billions who never heard of Christ (Muslims, Hindus, Chinese, etc). God is ultimately denied His ownership of all as Creator (Ez. 18:4). Every knee does not bow in saving adoration. Jesus fails to bring all enemies into subjection (1Co. 15:25). God does not love His enemies as He told us to. He loves them only until death. The clay defies the Potter. God does not become “all in all” (1Co.15:28). Sin and death are never abolished. Man’s free will can and does override God’s ultimate plan and desire to save all. All things are not restored (Ac. 3:21). Salvation was an offer, not a fact. The path of history is determined by man. It ends in final chaos with horrendous human suffering existing forever. What happened to Ge. 1:31; Lu. 2:10; Re. 5:13, etc.?

Blessed Hope

  1. God is sovereign, all powerful, and all knowing, and has the power to control man and earthly events.
  2. Per His liability laws (Ex. 21 and 22; Lev. 25 ; De. 22:8) God assumes legal liability for the fall (though man acted freely) as Creator and owner of all He creates. His obligation to save is imbedded in His law.
  3. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to all humanity. All will become righteous as they come to know Him, but each in his own order. See Romans five and I Corinthians 15:23. See “Due Time” chapter 5.
  4. Due to Adam’s sin, all do die and are judged (as defined next).
  5. “Hell” is an old English word meaning to cover. The KJV translators unfortunately used it when translating Hades, Sheol and Gehenna. Hades and Sheol actually mean the grave, and Gehenna is linked to the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. The Lake of Fire is a “consuming fire,” the application of God’s divine law and judgments (Dt.33:2,3, Is 33:14, Jer. 23:29, Mt. 3:11, 12, Dan. 7:9, 10 etc.). It is the Refiner’s great fire (Mal. 3:2) and His ministers are a flame of fire (Heb. 1:7). God gave His law in fire (Dt.33:2), the Holy Spirit comes in fire, and Jesus baptizes with fire. This “Fire” tries everyone’s work. Everyone is purified with fire (Mk.9:49 GNT). We “will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1Co. 3:15), not tortured by it for eternity. As Jerome (Appendix IV) says, the “fire” is God’s last medicine for the sinner. Although this fire has eternal results, it does not need to be eternal in its application. It is age-lasting (eonian) and lasts as long as it needs to exist for the purification of sinners. Each person’s sin will be judged fairly by the application of God’s law. The aborted baby, the high school student who died in an accident, the billions who have not heard the Gospel and Hitler will all be judged fairly. They will not all receive the same judgment for sin (eternal torture). The judgment will be pure and righteous. The penalty will fit the crime. Eternal torture for all levels of sin is unlawful judgment and violates not only the laws of God, but His nature and the conscience of man. It is illegal.
  6. Satan is ultimately a tool of God. He cannot do all the damage he wants. God has limits on his activities and he needs permission to do his work (Job). Whether he rebelled or was created in his current state by God, he was no surprise. He is used by God to ultimately fulfill His purposes and plan. Satan and God will not always be enemies as the Lake of Fire is not eternal and Satan will one day cease to be.
  7. The Blessed Hope was the majority view of the Church for the first 500 years of Church history. Eternal Torment dominated after Augustine.
  8. Aion and aionios have been defined as “age-abiding,” “of God,” and “of the world or age to come.” None of these definitions state, imply, or require infinite duration. See “Aion” chapter 1.
  9. Sin and evil do not exist forever, but evidently for the purposes of contrasts, are part of God’s plan during the ages. The fire of hell is the corrective application of God’s laws and judgments. The law is the tutor which leads us to Christ.
  10. Jesus Christ will draw all men to Himself (Jn.12:32). He is the Kinsman Redeemer and according to the Laws of Redemption (Lev. 25), has full legal claim to all He has redeemed.
  11. The “Elect” are chosen by God to be a blessing to all (Ge. 12:2). If they are found worthy, they will rule and reign with Christ in the age to come (Mt.19:28; Lu.12:43-44, 20:35, 22:28-30, 19:17-19; 1Co.6:2-3, 9:24-27, 16:15-16; Ph.3:12-14; 2Ti. 2:12; Re.1:6, 3:21, 14:4-5, 20:6). See “Purpose of Election” chap.5.
  12. Is there a Scripture that says there is no hope for salvation after death? No! Death is no obstacle to God. “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to Him” (Lu. 20:38). If all the dead live to Him, then there is hope in death unless there is no hope in God Himself! See p.65.
  13. The restoration of all begins with the covenants: the Noahic (Ge. 9) defines its scope; the Abrahamic defines through whom (Gen. 12); the Mosaic establishes the judgments of God upon the disobedient and the New is ratified with the blood of Christ. Our decision to follow Christ determines the timing, not the fact of salvation. The question is when, in what order, and by what judgments we are resurrected. The Biblical law mandates the restoration of all (by laws of redemption and Jubilee in Lev. 25).
  14. The continuing work of Christ includes the millennial reign on earth where He rules with His saints to bring all humanity into subjection to Himself. See “Last Things” chap 5. Man’s free-will is subordinate to God’ sovereignty and ultimate plan. The result of history is one eternal Kingdom with the Father and the Son as gloriously triumphant. Jesus, with His ruling saints, judges the world with righteous judgment. He drags all peoples to Himself. He brings all things into subjection. Every knee ultimately bows in adoration to Christ. In this the earth rejoices. Sin and death are abolished. History culminates in the glorious fulfillment of God becoming all in all. All God’s glorious restoration promises from Genesis through Revelation are fulfilled! “All the ends of the world shall…turn to the Lord and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” “To You all flesh will come…You will provide atonement.” “He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Ps. 22:27; 65:2-3; 107:1; etc). Please meditate on Appendix I.

 

WHAT A GOD!

We are born outside of our will and imputed with the sin of Adam into an evil world ordained by God. Sin, death, evil and Satan are all part of the plan, not surprise intrusions. God gave man authority but never relinquished His Sovereignty. As Creator He is executing His preordained plan on schedule. The experience of evil we all face, is in His wisdom, required to fulfill His ultimate purpose in us. All creation will be brought into subjection to Himself. God authored the tension and takes full responsibility for the result in accordance with His law. Man will be held accountable to the extent of his authority and will be judged accordingly for the evil he caused. In every age, experience has shown that it is not the magnitude of the penalty that deters people from sin, but its reasonableness and certainty of infliction. Justice is served according to God’s law (not man’s) and the unconditional love of God in the form of mercy ultimately triumphs over judgment.

The Father is very patient with a long term plan that brings infinite glory to His name. Love and forgiveness, with righteous judgment, will bring all creation in subjection to Him. All will bow and confess, “Jesus is Lord.” He has paid the full price of redemption and has the legal right to all whom were lost in Adam. The death of Christ is the greatest and most powerful act in all of human history. Jesus will indeed draw all men to Himself in the fullness of time (Jn.12:32); He is indeed the Savior of the world and all will come to know Him from the least to the greatest (Jn.4:42, He. 8:11); but each in his own order (1Co.15:23). All are ultimately made alive in Him (1Co.15:22); Christ finishes and completes His work (Jn. 17:4, 19:30); He restores all things (Acts 3:21); there is no more curse (Re. 22:2); every knee bows to Him (Ph. 2:10-11); creation is delivered from the bondage of corruption (Ro.8:21); every creature joins the song of praise (Re. 5:13); and so comes the end when He delivers up the Kingdom to His Father and God becomes all in all (1 Co. 15:27-28). (1)

 

(1) From Hope Beyond Hell pages 241-250 (Revised 2016 Edition)