One type of unversalist viewpoint would follow along these lines:
An interesting verse is He 9:27 in context,
He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
The scriptures mention at least three occurrencies of people who would of had to die
twice! Lazurus was dead, but raised back to life, there were those after the crucifixion and the child Elijah was used to raise back to life.
It can be implied that people are able to physically die more than once,
live out the remainder of the fleshly life, then the judgement. What does that do to the deaths mentioned in Re 20:13-15?
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The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."
That the first death is the physical death, it can happen more than once. The second death is that which only ever happens "
once".
Peter makes an interesting statement,
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For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Pe 4:17-18)
A common doctrine is "
To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" are the elect today, His church is the firstfruits. "
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (Jm 1:18) And that there is an order of resurrection, "
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." (1 Cor 15:23)
So as Peter asked, "
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" At the Great White Throne Judgement?
The question is how long is that Judgement of resurrected fleshly men? A quick lineup with someone's thumb jesturing left and right? Or a universalist would argue it is the time when all those who never heard the gospel, didn't even know there was a bible and even those who were deceived by a false gospel. That'll be the
first time salvation is offered to them with their eyes finally opened, ears to hear and plainly understand the good news.
That the following is not an allegory but a prophesy,
"
'Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it," says the Lord.' " (Ez 37:12-14)
And do you think that the Hitlers, Pol Pots, Stalins, Genghis Khans, Ivan the Terribles and Vlad the Impalers of this world, should be allowed their preferences? Or do you think that it would be justice if they were forced to face the truth about God, the world, and themselves?
It would be a rather rude awakening for the Hitlers, Pol Pots, Stalins, Genghis Khans, Ivan the Terribles and Vlad the Impalers of this world, having to see the millions they murdered face to face.
That is extremely horrifying for some people today to accept, how hard would it also be for those who actually were brutally murdered? Will a person be able to follow Jesus own example?
Then Jesus said, "
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Lu 23:34)
King David ultimately knew Who he sinned against after he used his authority to snuff out the life of a man.
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Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge." (Ps 51:4)
But when all is said and done, everyone will have plainly understood His truth, there won't be this divided Christianity. A world with it's multitude of religions and their conflicting doctrines and the following will remain true,
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I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Re 21:6-8)
Not all types of universalism offer a cart blanche to sin.