If universal reconciliation is true, and if it is all so clear as I have made it seem in this study, why the resistance? Why are these things not more widely known?

During my own personal pilgrimage I asked these very questions. I had been raised within the church. I had studied my Bible. When I first encountered writings concerning the ultimate reconciliation of all I was very skeptical. The reality of an eternal hell was quite clear in my Bible, and I did not want to be led astray.

I had gone so far as to become an ordained pastor, first within the United Methodist Church where I served two small churches in southern Indiana for 3-1/2 years, and then within the Free Methodist Church where I served a church in central Kentucky for 5 years. As I preached, I continued to study and to ask questions. After much study and deliberation I came to the point where I could see in the Bible that it was possible that God would one day save all mankind, and I prayed that this was true. I continued to study, and to think for myself as I studied. I eventually reached the point where I became totally convinced that universal reconciliation was most definitely true.

At this point I began to search for a successor in the church I was serving, so as to provide a smooth transition. I did not feel it would be proper for me to remain within a church that adhered to a belief in an eternal hell, and I did not feel it would be proper for me to preach against this doctrine as it would create disunity and division. But this was a very difficult move for me. My wife and all of my five children, along with two daughters-in-law, had become a part of the church I served. What a wonderful thing to worship together as a family, and to be a part of the same church family. But it became very difficult to preach and to teach, because the ultimate salvation of all is found throughout all of God's Word if it is translated and interpreted correctly.

Furthermore, I had by this point become very convicted to share the truth of universal reconciliation openly. As the orthodox church proclaims a God of love who is willing to condemn many souls to an eternity in hell, I had come to see that God's character was being slandered. The church, for the most part, had become a false witness concerning God.

It became clear to me that many individuals were driven away from God because of the falsehoods being proclaimed by the church. I think of my late father-in-law, Dr. Howard Maynard, who was a very intelligent man. He stayed out of churches for most of his adult life, unless he was in town for a visit, on which occasions he would attend our church. But I know from some of his questions and observations that he could see some serious problems with the gospel that was being proclaimed by the church. I wish I had been further down this path while he was still alive, so as to share these discussions with him.

When the Bible is translated so haphazardly and inconsistently, God's Word becomes distorted. The church has created a God Who is all wise and all powerful, but Who is forced to condemn most of His creation to an eternity in hell, despite the fact that it is His will that all mankind be saved. We have created a God of infinite love who is quite satisfied to look upon many of His creation burning forever in torment, even though many of these souls lived a better life when they had the chance than some who would be in heaven with Him.

But again, if universal reconciliation is so clearly taught in God's Word, why is it not more commonly proclaimed?

In other words, some would say that we need hell

But look at the world in which we live! The threat of spending an eternity in hell, as it is commonly preached and taught today, has not restrained mankind! It seems that everyone persuades himself that he is not one of the wicked whose fate is hell.

Another problem is that there is such a great disproportion between eternal punishment and temporal human actions, so that few people who really think about the issue of eternal punishment really believe it is true. A punishment that is more proportioned to man's offences would be more believable, and more of a prevention against sin. And this is exactly what the Bible truly teaches ... temporal sin and evil resulting in a temporal suffering/discipline, with the purpose of restoring mankind in accord with the will of God.

Furthermore, the real question is this ...

First, let's not put the cart before the horse. Are we saying that even if universal reconciliation is true, we should preach the falsehood of an eternal torment so we do not adversely affect our missions program? Are we saying that we should perpetuate a falsehood (that God will send souls to hell forever) so that missionaries will have the motivation to carry on?

Missions, like any other type of preaching or teaching, should follow from the truth. Truth should not be altered, biased or suppressed to keep the missions program going.

Are we saying that our only motivation for preaching is to prevent people from going to hell? Paul preached and taught, and he did not ever mention hell. Isn't that interesting?

We proclaim the evangel because God instructs us to do so. We proclaim it because it is a wonderful truth. We proclaim it because we are God's Ambassadors, as if He is pleading through us. We proclaim it because we are dead to ourselves, and it is Christ who lives in us.

Once we come to understand that God is truly the Saviour of all mankind, telling others becomes even more of a joy. What an awesome God, who is wise enough to work through the ages to bring all mankind to the point of acceptance, despite the work of Satan and the evil devices of a rebellious mankind!

This is the standard argument for the necessity of an eternal hell.

But we cannot say that evil must be evil forever. The wicked and rebellious are not incurable! It would be inconsistent with the character and wisdom of God to create a frail mankind with a propensity toward sin which is incurable.

In fact, God reveals to us in His Word the ultimate all mankind at the end of the ages, made possible through the cross of Christ.

First, there is the lake of fire, the second death! Whether this is a very painful process, or simply death for a second time, we should want to spare all mankind from this fate.

Second, the Believer will enjoy life during the final eons when the non-Believer is in the lake of fire. This may be a very long time, and life during this time will be very worth living.

Third, once we become a Believer we enjoy, for the remainder of this lifetime, the expectation of the life to come. Even when we encounter the worst of experiences, our expectation cannot be taken from us.

Fourth, as Believers we are God's chosen witnesses in this lifetime. What a wonderful joy, not only to know God's plan for the ages, but to be able to share it as His Ambassadors.

Nathaniel Scarlett, who studied at Kingsford school under the patronage of John Wesley, and who published an improved translation of the New Testament in 1798, explains as follows:

saved were those who were not to suffer punishment in the future life at

all, while the restored were such as shall be delivered from it, after

receiving judgment according to their works. Hence God is the restorer

of all men, but the Saviour only of the elect, or first fruits, who are

converted to him in this world.

Universalism,

There are many comfortable Christians today who do not want things to change. There are families who have attended the same church for generations. There are individuals whose entire life is participation in a multitude of church activities.

I must be honest. I, too, was quite comfortable within the church. All of my children worshipped together. I was the pastor, and was looked to for leadership. I enjoyed being a part of this church family, doing my best to lead the people into a deeper study of God's Word and encouraging them to live their lives together as a true community, or family, of Believers.

I remember when I first began reading things concerning the ultimate salvation of all. At first I was very intrigued. Many questions began to clear up for me, and God's working through the ages made more sense. But there were times that I purposefully set aside these books, despite the truth that I saw within them, because I was not prepared to make a change. I was happy within the church, and I knew that if I went too far I would create disunity, arguments, and division.

But there came a time when I realized that truth is truth, and it is wrong to remain within a church that taught falsehoods concerning God. God is love. God is wise. God is all-powerful. I saw God's wonderful plan unfold in His Word (when properly translated and interpreted). God is truly in the process of bringing every single part of His creation into a willing subjection to Him. All will be saved at the end of the ages.

But I can sympathize with the many who know there is something to these teachings, but are not yet ready to take a stand, because they know there will be a price to be paid.

I have worked for several large corporations, and it is very difficult to make changes. All possible side-effects must be examined before a move can be made because of the many and far-reaching implications.

If I had begun to preach universal reconciliation while I was still a pastor within the Free Methodist Church, there would have been quite a stir. I believe there are many within the ranks of Free Methodism, and any other mainstream Christian denomination, who either believe in universal reconciliation or who would believe if they heard the arguments and examined the evidence. I believe even some pastors and higher officials within the church believe these things. But if I had begun to preach in this way, pressure would have been exerted upon the officials to remove me. This would be necessary, because some people in the pews would create a stir or even leave the church.

The church has become an institution. We have taken what God's Word has to say about the Body of Christ, and we have turned it into an institution, with many of the same traits as a corporation. If people leave, giving decreases and bills cannot be paid. Churches own buildings with mortgage payments. Pastors must be paid, since for many this is their livelihood. Many pastors are financially precluded from preaching anything which might cost them their position, since they have large student loans to repay to their seminary, and families to support.

I'm not saying that pastors preach only for money, and that churches make their decisions based only on their finances. I am saying that these things exert a strong influence. Charles Pridgeon, founder of the Pittsburgh Bible Institute, writes in

church and his living.

Fortunately I was a bi-vocational pastor, and I did not receive any compensation from the church I had served most recently. As coming to the truth prompted me to leave, finances did not play a part in my decision. But I think of many of my seminary friends now serving churches, and I recognize the cost to them would be much greater.

Those who have been pastors for a significant length of time are looking at the pension they would be forfeiting. For them it would be easier to simply live within the system, and perhaps avoid preaching about hell. I don't believe God gave me that option.

Many pastors, teachers and professors have stood behind the concept of an eternal hell. One man once told me that hell was one of the

If leaders within the church suddenly began to preach and teach about universal reconciliation, there would most certainly be a price to pay. Theologies would need to be re-worked. Books would need to be retracted. Jobs would be lost and pensions forfeited. Attendance would drop, and bills would go unpaid. If the doctrinal apple cart were disrupted, this would be the state of affairs.

I think, though, if the many serious students of Scripture were faithful, orthodoxy could be turned around. Universal reconciliation was once a very popularly held belief in the early church. We've been off track since at least the 5^th century A.D. in terms of the doctrine of hell. But it's not too late to recapture the truth.

Some are simply too lazy to study God's Word in depth. They have been given their theology, either by their parents, teachers, pastors or professors ... and they will go no further.

hearing being tickled, they will heap up for themselves teachers in accord

with their own desires, and, indeed, they will be turning their hearing away

from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths.

Many in the world today are simply too busy to study the truths God has chosen to reveal to mankind. Some may even be busy doing the work of the church; the work they believe God has called them to. Some may even hear that there are biblical arguments supporting Universalism, but they are unwilling to set aside the things that are occupying their time to investigate this most important matter. In the meantime even as the many churches reach out to

Some will hear the basic arguments behind universal reconciliation, but they will simply say,

Much has been written through the years in support of universal reconciliation, but most of what I have seen is very detailed and very scholarly. On the one hand I appreciate this. I can see that many who have preceded me have examined this issue from every possible angle, and they are convinced of the truth of universal reconciliation.

But many of these works are too in-depth and scholarly to be appreciated by the masses. Many will simply throw in the towel and concede defeat, thinking they have no alternative but to go along with the orthodox church, allowing the preachers and teachers to guide them.

I am writing for this very reason! I want to share with you the basic evidence in a simple way. This has not been easy. I want to show you enough of the facts so that you are not having to take my word for it, but I want to keep it simple enough to keep you thinking along with me. I hope I have succeeded. If I have, and if you wish to read more in depth on these things, I refer you to the list of books in the final chapter for further study.

As hard as it is for me to understand, some people actually like the idea of hell. deserve to be there.

Jonathan Edwards and some of the hard core hell-fire preachers were able to convince their congregations that it would add to the pleasure of heaven to see the torment of the wicked. How wonderful to see Adolph Hitler or Osama bin Laden there.

But all of us are sinners! If God is able to take a man like Paul who killed the early Believers and did his best to wipe out the people of God, what are His limits?

And if it is even possible that God is willing and able to work through the ages to break the will of all mankind, reconciling Himself to every single one through the work of the cross, we should be praying our hearts out that this is His plan!

Our religious beliefs become very solidly implanted, and we do not want to be led astray. This has some merit! We do want to stand solidly behind the truth, and want to be sure that we are not led astray.

But consider those of the Muslim faith! They cherish their beliefs. Consider those of the many Christian denominations, all clinging very strongly and faithfully to their beliefs. Consider the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses, who are very much off track in the eyes of most Christians. Consider those who believe that only the King James Version is the Word of God. We take some things very seriously, and we resist change. Sometimes we cannot even explain why we believe what we believe, but we cherish our beliefs nonetheless.

Upon hearing of my belief in universal reconciliation, a good friend told an acquaintance that I did not believe hell was eternal. Without even asking for details this acquaintance simply retorted,

In the first few centuries after Christ's departure we were led astray. Some beliefs were declared heretical, and most of the writings of those who fell into this category were destroyed. But was

After considering the evidence presented in this book, I came to understand that

Some who understand that universal reconciliation is true, purposefully hold back in teaching the doctrine. The feeling is that the average person is not ready to hear these

This is the very reason for the Reformation.

over the souls of men in all matters of faith and dogma...

(From

by Pridgeon.)

Paul uses the Greek word had been kept secret by God in ages past, but were now revealed.

secret is made known to me (according as I write before,

in brief, by which you who are reading are able to apprehend my understanding

in the secret of Christ, which, in other generations, is not made known to the

sons of humanity as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets...

evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations, and to enlighten

all as to what is the administration of the secret, which has been concealed

from the eons in God, Who creates all, that now may be made known to the

sovereignties and the authorities among the celestials, through the ecclesia,

the multifarious wisdom of God, in accord with the purpose of the eons.

So prior to Paul, there had been some things God had concealed, or kept secret, from mankind. But Paul tells us that to him certain secrets had been revealed by God. Once these things were revealed to Paul, he proclaimed them and taught them. Paul saw no need to conceal them.

In

is so astounding, so overwhelming, so glorious, that we cannot contain it; it

must overflow.

This is the only objection raised within this chapter that has real merit. The Bible warns us about false teachings and false prophets. We have been told our entire life that there is an eternal hell, and when we first hear that someone is teaching the salvation of all, we are skeptical. Well we should be! No one should be so easily swayed in his beliefs.

You believe in an eternal hell because you have always been taught this doctrine by those you have trusted. You believe it because you have trusted those who have given you the Bible translation you are using. Now I come along and am asking you to consider something contrary to those beliefs you have held for so long.

Consider the things I have presented in this work, and then search the Word of God for yourself.

As God's Ambassadors we must be faithful! If God has a plan to ultimately save all mankind, we should not be bearing false witness against Him by teaching about an eternal hell.

Hopefully I have caused you to re-think some things. This is a serious enough matter to warrant your study and consideration. It is not too difficult to understand. As you read what I have written, think for yourself. Look up the Scripture references along the way, and think! Don't be content to be trapped forever in your current belief system.