THE FALSE TEACHINGS OF UNIVERSALISM - BEWARE!

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

The Rich man experienced Torment and Agony and was talking while In The Fire of Hades.


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[ClementofA]

You Shall Make Them As A Fiery Oven In The time Of Your Anger; The LORD Shall Swallow Them Up in His Wrath, And The Fire Shall Devour Them.

• Psalm 21:9


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So says David who commited premeditated adultery & murder even after all that God had shown him & done for him, making him king, etc.

Psa.21:9 recalls Sodom which shall be restored (see Ezekiel) & saved:

Rom 5:18 Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for ALL MANKIND for condemnation, thus also it is through one just act for ALL MANKIND for life's justifying."

Rom 5:19 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."

1 Cor.15:22 AS in Adam ALL die SO ALSO in Christ shall ALL be made alive.

1 Cor.15:28 And when ALL shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put ALL under him, that God may be all in ALL.

Col.1:16 For by Him ***ALL*** was created that are in HEAVEN and that are on EARTH, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All was created through Him and for Him.
20 and by Him to reconcile ***ALL*** to Himself, by Him, whether on EARTH or in HEAVEN, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

• Saint Hippolytus of Rome - Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus - Part II.-Dogmatical and Historical - Against Plato, on the Cause of the Universe - 3.
(170–235 A.D.)

ANF5 Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus. Part II


3.
..... "And To The Lovers Of Iniquity Shall Be Given Eternal Punishment. And The Fire which is Un-quenchable and Without End Awaits These Latter, and a certain Fiery Worm which dieth not, and which does not waste the body, but continues bursting forth from The Body With Unending Pain. No sleep will give them rest; no night will soothe them; no death will deliver them from Punishment; no voice of interceding friends will profit them."

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[ClementofA]

In the early church universalism was the orthodox (biblical) view & may have been the orthodox (majority) view for centuries (see urls below) prior to the dark ages. It may also be today, or be on the way to becoming, the majority Christian view (see urls below):

Early Church Writings Fathers:
Church Fathers & Universalism since Early Church times
Indeed Very Many: Universalism in the Early Church
Early church writings re final destiny (paradise, Gospel, incarnation, Jehovah) - Christianity -  - City-Data Forum
Articles on the history of Christian Universalism throughout the centuries
https://s3.amazonaws.com/unsearchab.../©CPC+The+Ancient+History+of+Universalism.pdf
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Prevailing.shtml
Lawrence R. Farley

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

In the early church universalism was the orthodox (biblical) view & may have been the orthodox (majority) view for centuries (see urls below) prior to the dark ages. It may also be today, or be on the way to becoming, the majority Christian view (see urls below):

Early Church Writings Fathers:
Church Fathers & Universalism since Early Church times
Indeed Very Many: Universalism in the Early Church
Early church writings re final destiny (paradise, Gospel, incarnation, Jehovah) - Christianity - - City-Data Forum
Articles on the history of Christian Universalism throughout the centuries
https://s3.amazonaws.com/unsearchablerich/booksonwebsite/©CPC+The+Ancient+History+of+Universalism.pdf
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Prevailing.shtml
Lawrence R. Farley

Nope.

Universalism was Defeated and Condemned more than a 1,000 years ago,
at The 5th Ecumenical Council (553 A.D.) and the gates of Hades still hasn't prevailed against The Church.

NPNF2-14

NPNF2-14 The Anathemas Against Origen.

NPNF2-14 Emperor Justinian Against Origen.


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[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, Let Him Be Anathema
• 1 Corinthians 16:22



• The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Constantinople
(553 A.D.)

NPNF2-14 Emperor Justinian Against Origen.


• The Anathematisms of the Emperor Justinian Against Origen.
____________________________________________________________________________

9.

"If Anyone Says Or Thinks that The Punishment of demons And Of Impious Men Is Only Temporary, And Will One Day Have An End, and that a restoration (apokatastasij) will take place of demons and of impious men, Let Him Be Anathema.

Anathema to Origen and to that Adamantius, who set forth these opinions together with his nefarious and execrable and wicked doctrine and to whomsoever there is who thinks thus, Or Defends These Oinions, or in any way hereafter at any time shall presume to protect them."

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[ClementofA]

Universalism was Defeated and Condemned more than a 1,000 years ago,
at The 5th Ecumenical Council (553 A.D.) and the gates of Hades still hasn't prevailed against The Church.



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And the Dark Ages followed. Crusades, Inquisitional torture chambers, etc.

Believe in an endless hell, or else!

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

And the Dark Ages followed. Crusades, Inquisitional torture chambers, etc.

Believe in an endless hell, or else!

That stuff happened After The Great Schism of 1,054 A.D.

Great Schism - OrthodoxWiki

Timeline of Church History (Post-Roman Schism (1054-1453)) - OrthodoxWiki


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[agapelove]

Universalism was Defeated and Condemned more than a 1,000 years ago,
at The 5th Ecumenical Council (553 A.D.)

False. Emperor Justinian and his theological advisors gravely misunderstood and misrepresented the authentic views of Origen on universal reconciliation and falsified the integrity/authenticity of the fifteen anathemas. Many editions of the decrees no longer include the text of the anathemas against Origen since they cannot be officially attributed to the council.

Legally, universalism is not heresy and never was.

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

False. Emperor Justinian and his theological advisors gravely misunderstood and misrepresented the authentic views of Origen on universal reconciliation and falsified the integrity/authenticity of the fifteen anathemas. Many editions of the decrees no longer include the text of the anathemas against Origen since they cannot be officially attributed to the council.

Legally, universalism is not heresy and never was.

"The Decisions Of Ecumenical Councils Have Universal Authority In The Orthodox Church."

Apocatastasis - OrthodoxWiki



"The Canons and Decrees of The Ecumenical Councils Are Infallible."

Fr. John Whiteford. Are Ecumenical Councils Infallible?



And

The gates of Hades still have Not prevailed against The Church.


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[agapelove]

"The Decisions Of Ecumenical Councils Have Universal Authority In The Orthodox Church."

Apocatastasis - OrthodoxWiki



"The Canons and Decrees of The Ecumenical Councils Are Infallible."

Fr. John Whiteford. Are Ecumenical Councils Infallible?



And

The gates of Hades still have Not prevailed against The Church.


.

Sorry, the only thing I consider infallible and universally authoritative is the Word of God.

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

Sorry, the only thing I consider to be infallible and universally authoritative is the Word of God.

Yes, And The Word of God says :



Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,

"If Anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of The Wrath Of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He Shall Be Tormented With Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

And the smoke Of Their Torment ascends Forever and Ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

• Revelation 14:9-11


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[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

The Pastoral Malpractice of Preaching Universalism – Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy


Hell (Unfortunately) Yes: Why I Can't Be a Universalist – Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy

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[FineLinen]

The Beautiful Heresy

The Beautiful Heresy- Christian Universalism: The Early Church

The First 500 Years

Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years

The Earliest Creeds 5

II Early Christianity a Cheerful Religion 17

III Origin of Endless Punishment 36

IV Doctrines of Mitigation and Reserve 53

V Two Kindred Topics 61

VI The Apostles' Immediate Successors 70

VII The Gnostic Sects

The Beautiful Heresy- Christian Universalism: The Early Church

The History of Universalism (Part Two) | Christian Universalist Association

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

The Pastoral Malpractice of Preaching Universalism – Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy


"In the end, even if universalism might be true (which I believe it is not), it is still wrong to preach it. Why? If universalism is true, yet the preaching is against it, then no harm is ultimately done, even if preaching against it may be needlessly painful for some in this life. Everyone will still be saved.

But if universalism is not true, yet one preaches in favor of it, then one has just opened the gateway to Hell even wider.

Let’s not do that. Let’s continue to preach: Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand."


– Dr. Andrew Stephen Damick


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[FineLinen]

False. Emperor Justinian and his theological advisors gravely misunderstood and misrepresented the authentic views of Origen on universal reconciliation and falsified the integrity/authenticity of the fifteen anathemas. Many editions of the decrees no longer include the text of the anathemas against Origen since they cannot be officially attributed to the council.

Legally, universalism is not heresy and never was.

Dear AgapeLove: The stupidity that prevails in our world continues.

However, when darkness covers the earth & gross darkness the people, it is a ripe occasion for the Living One to arise.

The Beautiful Heresy

The Beautiful Heresy- Christian Universalism: The Early Church

The First 500 Years

Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years

The Earliest Creeds 5

II Early Christianity a Cheerful Religion 17

III Origin of Endless Punishment 36

IV Doctrines of Mitigation and Reserve 53

V Two Kindred Topics 61

VI The Apostles' Immediate Successors 70

VII The Gnostic Sects

The Beautiful Heresy- Christian Universalism: The Early Church

The History of Universalism (Part Two) | Christian Universalist Association

"FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST." (Luke 19:10)

From the Master's own parables & His essential nature, so long as anything is lost, Jesus Christ will go on seeking and saving; for He is always the same? (Heb. 13:8). "The lost" are His charge, and not some of the lost!

Or are we to read this verse ? ?

He came to save the lost but those in the fullest sense lost He will never save?

 

[FineLinen]

"In the end, even if universalism might be true (which I believe it is not), it is still wrong to preach it. Why? If universalism is true, yet the preaching is against it, then no harm is ultimately done, even if preaching against it may be needlessly painful for some in this life. Everyone will still be saved."

Dear Saint Paul: Please be advised your directive to Timothy needs revision (lol).

"God IS the Saviour of ALL mankind, especially those who believe. This command & teach...."

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

Hell (Unfortunately) Yes: Why I Can't Be a Universalist – Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy


"It is readily apparent that the sort of naked Universalism popular in the Protestant world, the simple denial of any real judgment or condemnation of anyone in the world in any age by Christ, Is Incompatible With The Teachings Of The Orthodox Faith."

- Fr. Stephen De Young


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[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

"God IS the Saviour of ALL mankind, especially those who believe. This command & teach...."

Do you not know that The Unrighteous WILL NOT Inherit The Kingdom Of God ? Do Not Be Deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

• 1 Corinthians 6:9-10


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[ClementofA]

Yes, And The Word of God says :



Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,

"If Anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of The Wrath Of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He Shall Be Tormented With Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

And the smoke Of Their Torment ascends Forever and Ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

• Revelation 14:9-11


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There's no endless tortures for anyone there or anywhere else in the Scriptures, properly translated without an Endless Tormenter bias. More honest accurate and literal translations are like this:

Berean Literal Bible
And the smoke of their torment goes up to ages of ages; and those worshiping the beast and its image have no rest day and night, and if anyone receives the mark of its name."

Darby Bible Translation
And the smoke of their torment goes up to ages of ages, and they have no respite day and night who do homage to the beast and to its image, and if any one receive the mark of its name.

Weymouth New Testament
And the smoke of their torment goes up until the Ages of the Ages; and the worshipers of the Wild Beast and his statue have no rest day or night, nor has any one who receives the mark of his name.

Young's Literal Translation
and the smoke of their torment doth go up to ages of ages; and they have no rest day and night, who are bowing before the beast and his image, also if any doth receive the mark of his name.

Greek-English Interlinear says "ages of ages" here:

Revelation 14:11 Interlinear: and the smoke of their torment doth go up to ages of ages; and they have no rest day and night, who are bowing before the beast and his image, also if any doth receive the mark of his name.

The translators biased to the endless hell dogma rendered terms (olam, aion, aionios, etc) that can & do - often - refer to finite durations as "eternal", "forever" & the like in contexts referring to eschatological punishment. Thus, they rendered them according to their theological position. What they should have done is translated them as theologically neutral terms, e.g. eon, eonian, which can refer either to a finite or endless period of time. And left the interpreting up to the readers whether or not, in any given context, the words "eon" & "eonian" refer to a finite or endless "eon" or "eonian" duration. But, instead they injected their opinion, their interpretation, of terms (such as olam, aion & aionion) into the text. Thus you don't have a faithful translation of these words with most English translations, but rather an interpretation, a paraphrase, a theologically driven opinion.

The fair way to translate (olam, aion, aionion, etc) is to use an English word (e.g. eon, eonian) that covers the range of meanings for that term & leave the interpreting up to the readers. Rather than inject one's theological biases into Scripture's ancient language words that have multiple or ambiguous meanings. If an appropriate English word is not available, then there is the option of using the ancient language word, i.e. not translating it, as some versions have done, e.g. using aionion. Or just transliterate it into English, e.g. eonian (or alternately aeonian, agian, etc.).

For 12 arguments re "ages of ages" ending, see posts 130 & 131 @

What is the 2nd Death? (Annihilationsim vs. Eternal Torment)

This includes everyone in the universe, including the dead and demons:

Rev.5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are on the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

John speaks of "every creature" & to emphasize this again he repeats "and all that are in them":

Rev.5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are on the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

This worship (v.13) uses the same worshipful words as the redeemed of vs 9-10 use in v.12:

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

All this being in the context of salvation - "the Lamb that was slain" (v.12 & 13).

Lk.12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

This sounds like just payback, not endless annihilation or tortures:

Rev.18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

10:28 A man that hath set at nought Moses' law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Generally capital punishment under Moses' law was by stoning. Stoning to death is not a very sore or long lasting punishment. People suffered far worse deaths via the torture methods of the eternal hell believing Medieval Inquisitionists and the German Nazis under Hitler.

Therefore, if the writer of Hebrews believed that wicked, rebellious, Christ rejectors would be punished with something so monstrous as being endlessly annihilated or tormented, he would not have chosen to compare their punishment to something so lame as being stoned to death. Clearly he did not believe Love Omnipotent is an unfeeling terminator machine or sadist who abandons forever the beings He created in His own image & likeness so easily.

Mt.18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon...
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Furthermore, the context of Matthew 5:25-26, both before & after those 2 verses, is making references to Gehenna. Verses 21-26 have to do with anger & being reconciled & v.22 warns of Gehenna. In verses 27-30 the subject is adultery & v.30 warns regarding Gehenna.

Matt 5:25-26 Come to terms quickly with your adversary before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.

"They must pay (as GMac says) the uttermost farthing -- which is to say, they must tender the forgiveness of their brethren that is owed, the repentance and sorrow for sin that is owed, etc. Otherwise they do stay in prison with the tormenters. (their guilt? their hate? their own filthiness?) At last resort, if they still refuse to let go that nasty pet they've been stroking, they must even suffer the outer darkness. God will remove Himself from them to the extent that He can do so without causing their existence to cease. As Tom Talbot points out so well, no sane person of free will (and the child must be sane and informed to have freedom) could possibly choose ultimate horror over ultimate delight throughout the unending ages." Why affirm belief in Hell?

Rom 5:18 Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for ALL MANKIND for condemnation, thus also it is through one just act for ALL MANKIND for life's justifying."

Rom 5:19 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."

Paul makes a parallel between "the many" who were condemned & sinners and those who will be justified & constituted just.

“In Romans 5, the justification is co-extensive with the condemnation. Since all share in one, all share in the other. If only a certain portion of the human race had partaken of the sin of Adam, only a certain portion would partake of the justification of Christ. But St. Paul affirms all to have been involved in one, and all to be included in the other.”

Therefore there is salvation after death. And corrective punishment.

https://www.tentmaker.org/books/hope_beyond_hell.pdf

Jesus shall see of the travail of His soul & be satisfied. Not satisfied a little bit, but the vast majority fried alive forever.

"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isa.53:11).

For how "many" (not few) did He "bear their iniquities"? All.

https://www.tentmaker.org/books/hope_beyond_hell.pdf

Unique Proof For Christian, Biblical Universalism

Scholar's Corner: The Center for Bible studies in Christian Universalism