The Restitution Of All Things A.K.A. Universalism

[FineLinen]

Hey, that's a Chris Tomlin song! (sweet) Whom Shall I Fear?

Dear Steve: what an asset you are becoming.

F.L. is glad Hillsage saw the potential, the faith of the Son of God dwells in him!

I learned something new again today. Poor F.L. is so out of the loop I did not know Chris Tomlin sings of the Lord's angel armies. The copy cat got it from the Scriptures.

"Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite."

"God-of-the-Angel-Armies, listen:
O God of Jacob, open your ears—I’m praying!
Look at our shields, glistening in the sun,
our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.

One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,
beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God
than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.
All sunshine and sovereign is God,
generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.
It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies. -The Message-



Let's hear it Chris

 

[FineLinen]

What is the meaning of ta panta?

https://www.kingdomandglory.com/allinall/all05.pdf

ALEXANDER THOMSON: The Meaning of Ta Panta

 

[Saint Steven]

What is the meaning of ta panta?

https://www.kingdomandglory.com/allinall/all05.pdf

ALEXANDER THOMSON: The Meaning of Ta Panta

Good timing.
My waking thoughts were asking what this means.

The administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things [ta panta, the all]…. (Ephesians 3:9 NASB)

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things [ta panta, the all] is God. (Hebrews 3:4 NASB)

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things [ta panta, the all], and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NASB)

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things [ta panta, the all]…. (1 Timothy 6:13 NASB)

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things [ta panta, the all], and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things [ta panta, the all], and we through Him. (1 Corinthians 8:6 HCSB)

 

[FineLinen]

Good timing.
My waking thoughts were asking what this means.

The administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things [ta panta, the all]…. (Ephesians 3:9 NASB)

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things [ta panta, the all] is God. (Hebrews 3:4 NASB)

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things [ta panta, the all], and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NASB)

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things [ta panta, the all]…. (1 Timothy 6:13 NASB)

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things [ta panta, the all], and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things [ta panta, the all], and we through Him. (1 Corinthians 8:6 HCSB)

Dear Steve: The deep probings of our Father lead us into bursting springs of Living Water. Each of us as unique beings of His birthing, are on different stages of a journey whose beginning and ending is Him!

 

[FineLinen]

Testimony of Roger Tutt

I would like to tell you about both the negative and positive sides of my testimony in case it might be a help to other members, or surfers, or lurkers, of this forum who have, or are experiencing what I went through for similar reasons.

I'm 78 years old, and had I known that evidence existed that a correctly (literally, not interpretively) translated Bible does not teach that anyone will suffer forever I never would have had a horrific twelve year nervous breakdown (1966-78) over my inability to love an endless-hell god.

The negative side of my testimony

From my earliest memories of my childhood I was taught by my parents and Sunday School teachers and pastors that if I didn't believe the Bible is the word of God then God will throw me into hell fire after I died where I would suffer forever. These were the people on whom I relied to tell me the truth, and I was afraid not to believe them. If I had not been taught that about the Bible I am sure that I would have chosen to live out my life as an agnostic, rather than put my trust in a book that taught that there is a god who is going to sustain people alive in an inescapable state of suffering forever.

I think that probably most of the agnosticism in this world is caused by people choosing to live out their lives as agnostics, rather than put their trust in a book that teaches such a god as the ETers (eternal tomentors) claim to love and worship.

Many agnostics are decent people who try their best to be as good as they can be simply because they want to treat other people with love and respect, the same way that they would like to be treated too. But they would rather live out their life and die in the hope that they will find out that God is not like the eternal tormentors claim He is.

This has become my attitude too. Were it not for the fact that I have discovered evidence that the Bible does not teach an ET god, then I too would rather live out my life as an agnostic and hope for the best after I die, rather than pretend to love and respect an eternal hell god.

When I was seven my stepmother lit a fire in a beaker and said to me, "If you don't open your heart's door to Jesus and invite Him in, God is going to put you into a fire much bigger and hotter than that after you die and He will never ever let you get out of it.”

So in my heart I prayed the way she said that I had to.

Awhile later she said it's obvious that you still are not saved because you are still such a bad boy.
At that point in time I felt totally hopeless, and I was sure that God had given up on me.
My Dad used to beat me with a bamboo cane repeatedly shouting "In Jesus Name, in Jesus Name," until on one occasion the welts on my legs bled. He told me that it was easy to tell at an early age that I was going to go to hell.

Then they both sent me away to a foster home because they could no longer cope with my bad behaviour. My real mother had died giving birth to me. My Dad's second wife had died at child birth too but the child did not live either.

So at the age of seven I became convinced that everyone had given up on me, including God.

Later, at the age of 28 (I'm 78 now) I began a twelve year nervous breakdown over my inability to successfully emotionally cope with the idea that God lets any creature suffer forever. I was only able to recover by learning that there are no verses in the Bible that teach endless suffering in hell for anyone. See
BIBLE THREATENINGS EXPLAINED – John Wesley Hanson
Bible Threatenings Explained

The Positive side of my testimony

Now I’m a Christian Biblical Universal Transformationist.

Before you brush off my assertion by saying “there is no such a thing,” think about the following.

MY TRIBUTE TO RAY PRINZING

Ray Prinzing is my hero and mentor. His many writings can be Googled up and read online. Just type in Ray Prinzing.

During my twelve year nervous breakdown (1966-78) caused by my inability to emotionally cope with the idea that God lets any creature suffer forever in hell, every morning, as I washed my family’s dishes and before I went to sleep I would listen to one of Ray Prinzing’s many tapes.

I have listened to 178 of them once, and 23 of them several times.

In addition to these tapes, I always read every issue of his periodical GOSPEL ECHOES which he later renamed LETTERS OF TRUTH and gleaned many pages of his writings into my personal journal.

Many people have a hero, someone in their life that made a contribution to their welfare so significant that it is far above the influence that anyone else has had.
Ray Prinzing is that hero to me.

For several years my 104 year old dad called me from his nursing home each evening.

Each time he called I read a portion of my over four thousand page journal to him, and many of these readings are the gleanings that I wrote from Ray Prinzing’s writings and tapes. Many nights my dad fell asleep listening to one of Ray’s tapes.

As I listened to Ray’s tapes during my nervous breakdown (1966-78) I gradually became more and more sure that I was going to recover. The contents of his tapes gave me the courage, in 1978, to take a public stand that I believe that the Bible teaches universal transformation, not endless suffering in hell, or even annihilation.

My panic attacks completely stopped.

And now I spend most of my time offering people, in various ways, the information that helped me recover and helps me stayed recovered, and I am pleased to report that I have a lot of evidence that the info I post has helped, and is helping many other people in the same way that it helped me.

Ray Prinzing has now passed on, but his influence is so wide spread that he will not be forgotten on this earth for many, many years, if ever. And that is a very good thing!

J. Preston Eby was a good friend of Ray Prinzing. They frequently quoted each other in their writings. Read what J. Preston Eby wrote about this subject. Copy and paste into Google

WILL JESUS TORTURE BILLIONS FOREVER? or click on

The Law of Circularity: Will Jesus Torture Billions Forever? How Men Are Saved
The Law of Circularity: Will Jesus Torture Billions Forever? How Men Are Saved

The entire series of sixteen chapters by J. Preston Eby on this subject can be accessed at
Savior of the World Series

http://www.godfire.net/eby/saviour_of_the_world.html[/url His writing specifically on universal transformation is at The Restitution of All Things http://www.godfire.net/eby/restitut...ve; Love Your Enemies! Knowing The Real Jesus

Here's another testimony (by Charles Slagle) that was a huge help to me because the thought processes that took him into, through, and out of his breakdown were the same as mine.
Copy and paste the links into your browser.

ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE IN JESUS CHRIST
absolute assurance in Jesus Christ or Absolute Assurance

The second link is his own personal website.

I am very happy to report that mostly due to the influence of the audio tapes and writings of Ray Prinzing, both of my parents changed their thinking later in life.

The theme of universal salvation is prominent in all of Ray’s writings, but his book REDEMPTION ALL IN ALL is especially good.

 

[Saint Steven]

Dear Steve: The deep probings of our Father lead us into bursting springs of Living Water. Each of us as unique beings of His birthing, are on different stages of a journey whose beginning and ending is Him!

Agreed.

What resonates seems to be deeply personal.

Initially I was "naturally" resistant to the message. But there were things here and there that resonated somehow, despite my discomfort with "the whole".

This reminds me of a natural phenomenon called sympathetic vibrations.

As a guitarist I can demonstrate this phenomenon easily by playing a note that corresponds to the pitch of an open (unfretted) string on my instrument. The open string will vibrate in response to the corresponding plucked note and will continue to ring even after the fretted note is muted.

In similar fashion, something read will "ring" true with me. Resonating in response to the "pitch" already determined. From these "notes" chords begin to form; from those "chords" progressions take form; verses and chorus and bridges begin to define the song structure. Melodies and then harmonies appear to complete the composition.

The song seems to "write" itself, but the master conductor is directing. The song is seen from a different perspective by each of the players in the orchestra. The cellist will focus on that part and the oboe on that part. Each instrument contributing to the whole.

What resonates seems to be deeply personal. Each individual formed, as it were, to receive that for which they were individually created.

 

[FineLinen]

Agreed.

What resonates seems to be deeply personal.

Initially I was "naturally" resistant to the message. But there were things here and there that resonated somehow, despite my discomfort with "the whole".

This reminds me of a natural phenomenon called sympathetic vibrations.

As a guitarist I can demonstrate this phenomenon easily by playing a note that corresponds to the pitch of an open (unfretted) string on my instrument. The open string will vibrate in response to the corresponding plucked note and will continue to ring even after the fretted note is muted.

In similar fashion, something read will "ring" true with me. Resonating in response to the "pitch" already determined. From these "notes" chords begin to form; from those "chords" progressions take form; verses and chorus and bridges begin to define the song structure. Melodies and then harmonies appear to complete the composition.

The song seems to "write" itself, but the master conductor is directing. The song is seen from a different perspective by each of the players in the orchestra. The cellist will focus on that part and the oboe on that part. Each instrument contributing to the whole.

What resonates seems to be deeply personal. Each individual formed, as it were, to receive that for which they were individually created.

Dear Steve: That is incredible and encapsulates in a nutshell what our Father is doing in His reach for us. Harmonic Vibrations

The Law of Attraction and Vibration |

 

[FineLinen]

Agreed.

What resonates seems to be deeply personal.

Initially I was "naturally" resistant to the message. But there were things here and there that resonated somehow, despite my discomfort with "the whole".

This reminds me of a natural phenomenon called sympathetic vibrations.

As a guitarist I can demonstrate this phenomenon easily by playing a note that corresponds to the pitch of an open (unfretted) string on my instrument. The open string will vibrate in response to the corresponding plucked note and will continue to ring even after the fretted note is muted.

In similar fashion, something read will "ring" true with me. Resonating in response to the "pitch" already determined. From these "notes" chords begin to form; from those "chords" progressions take form; verses and chorus and bridges begin to define the song structure. Melodies and then harmonies appear to complete the composition.

The song seems to "write" itself, but the master conductor is directing. The song is seen from a different perspective by each of the players in the orchestra. The cellist will focus on that part and the oboe on that part. Each instrument contributing to the whole.

What resonates seems to be deeply personal. Each individual formed, as it were, to receive that for which they were individually created.

Your post has quickened me this morning, Saint Steve. One of the hundreds of songs born in our fellowship many moons ago, was the following>>>

He's coming to us as the dawning,
The Daystar arises again,
Revealing Emmanuel's glory,
The union of God and man,
He wakens us morning by morning,
He opens our ears to His word,
And we see the glory and majesty,
Of Jesus, the Christ and Lord.

Deep calleth unto deep in the Christ,
Love calleth unto love,
Searching for treasure that's hidden in sons,
This is the pearl of great price.

 

[FineLinen]

Concerning Aion and Aionios

The most commonly used Greek-English lexicons used today by Christians are those by Thayer (1886) and by Arndt and Gingrich (1957). The definitions given for the noun, aion, and the adjective, aionios, are widely accepted as authoritative and determinative for the teaching of everlasting punishment. This becomes for many believers a strong bulwark against taking scriptural passages such as John 12:32; Romans 5:18,19; 11:32-36; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 1:10,11; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:20; 1 Timothy 2:4; 4:9,10; and 1 John 2:2, at face value. What is claimed for Matthew 25:46 or 2 Thessalonians 1:9, for example, is seen as limiting the meaning of the former passages.

Concerning the noun, aion, however, both lexicons (and all other such works) allow for an interpretation that would harmonize with the teaching of eventual, universal salvation.

Thayer’s lexicon gives as its first definition of aion the sense of “age.” This is the second definition (of four) given in the more recent lexicon edited by Arndt and Gingrich. Hence a passage such as Matthew 12:32 could be understood as referring to the present age and the age to come, which would not, in itself, keep us from taking Romans 3:21-24 and 5:12-19 in reference to universal justification.

But in both of these lexicons, the adjective, aionios, is presented as having three meanings, in none of which the limiting sense of “age” is carried over from the noun. The adjective, it is claimed, means: (1) without beginning; or (2) without end; or (3) without beginning or end.

This may strike others, as it does me, as a rather dubious development of an adjective’s meaning in relation to its noun form. But apart from that, this threefold definition simply does not work in several New Testament passages (and many other passages in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, called the Septuagint).

The usages of aionios in Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2; and Philemon 15, seem especially puzzling in view of the claims of these two lexicons.

It certainly is difficult to understand how the keeping of a secret can have no beginning, and indeed if the secret is revealed, we must assume its being kept as a secret has come to an end. No wonder the KJV of Romans 16:25 reads “since the world began,” even though the Greek speaks of “times” described as aionios. The RV is more faithful to the threefold definition, referring to a mystery kept “through times eternal” but now manifested, but that has the great disadvantage of making no sense whatever if these times are to be understood as either without beginning or without end, or, even more puzzling, without beginning and end.

In such cases, Bible commentators generally ignore the threefold definition given in the lexicons and make their own for these particular passages. In the NICNT volume on Romans, John Murray explains that “times eternal” refers “to the earlier ages of this world’s history” (THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS, vol.2, p.241). Such ages would obviously have both a beginning and end.

Notice how A. T. Robertson handles the adjective in his WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. In commenting on Matthew 25:46 he follows the threefold definition given above, writing: “The word aionios . . . means either without beginning or without end or both” (vol.1, p.202). But in commenting on Titus 1:2 he insists that the words “before times eternal” refer “Not to God’s purpose before time began . . . but to definite promises (Rom.9:4) made in time.” Here he explains Paul’s words as signifying “Long ages ago” (vol.4, p.597). Some other commentators may try to explain that Paul is referring to something that God promised in “eternity past” but for most of us it does seem difficult to grasp any meaning in the idea of a promise being made and kept without any beginning of its being made.
In the multi volume THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (begun in German under the editorship of Gerhard Kittel) Hermann Sasse admits, “The concept of eternity [in aionios] is weakened” in Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 1:9 and Titus 1:2 (vol.1. p.209). He explains that these passages use “the eternity formulae” which he had previously explained as “the course of the world” perceived as “a series of smaller aiones” (p.203). Sasse also refers to the use of aionios in Philemon 15, which he feels “reminds us of the non-biblical usage” of this word, which he had earlier found to signify “lifelong” or “enduring” (p.208).

This is not to suggest any particular agreement with all these various attempts to define aion and aionios. In fact, the confusion created by these attempts to preserve some sense of everlastingness in these terms makes the attempts rather suspicious. Putting all the evidence of the usage of these terms in the New Testament together, it seems to me that the threefold definition of aionios as signifying without beginning, or without end, or without beginning and end, must be dismissed as inadequate at the very least. Furthermore, to add further definitions that are not at all clear in themselves, as Sasse does, only adds to the confusion.

Of all widely used, modern attempts to define these terms, I have found the concluding definition given in THE VOCABULARY OF THE GREEK TESTAMENT (edited by James Hope Moulton and George Milligan) most helpful. Concerning aionios we read, “In general, the word depicts that of which the horizon is not in view . . .” (p.16). If the horizon of the extermination spoken of by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 is simply not in view, then we can see that what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:22 can truly occur. The same all who are dying in Adam, which includes some who incur eonian extermination, can indeed eventually be vivified in Christ. The Bible, in fact, does not speak of judgment and condemnation, death and destruction, hades and Gehenna, or any of these serious consequences of sin, as unending. It may refer to them as not having the end in view, but none of these fearful works of God can keep Him from achieving His will (1Tim.2:4); reconciling all through the blood of Christ’s cross (Col.1:20, and becoming All in all (1 Cor.15:28). -Dean Hough-

Louis Abbott

Abbott, Louis - Analytical Study Of Words

 

[FineLinen]

I love Universalism, it helped me find my way to the truth...

Dear Northsouth: I love the God whose plan from day 1 is the Restitution of the all. His chords are breaking in upon us as we are tuned to His spontaneous vibrations.

 

[FineLinen]

 

[Saint Steven]

Dear Northsouth: I love the God whose plan from day 1 is the Restitution of the all. His chords are breaking in upon us as we are tuned to His spontaneous vibrations.

What can separate us from the love of God?
"... neither death nor life... neither the present nor the future... nor anything else in all creation..."

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[FineLinen]

What can separate us from the love of God?
"... neither death nor life... neither the present nor the future... nor anything else in all creation..."

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear Steve:

NOTHING>>>NOTHING>>>NOTHING!

“Believers may not often realize it, but even as believers we are either centered in man, or centered in God. There is no alternative. Either God is the center of our universe and we have become rightly adjusted to Him, or we have made ourselves the center and are attempting to make all else orbit around us and for us. When the truth dawns, we are amazed to discover how the snare of making all things to revolve around man has been the bane of most of our preaching and teaching. This is true even of the area of teaching which is considered to be of the deeper life emphasis. As long as men are victims of this wrong philosophy and approach to truth, they cannot avoid reckoning from a self-center. When the center is wrong, then everything in our reckoning is wrong.” -Devern Fromke (The Ultimate Intention)”

 

[FineLinen]

"I know the Bible never uses the term 'hopeless punishment'. I use it to signify eternal torment or annihilationism. While Hebrews does not explicitly teach hopeless punishment, it certainly seems to imply it."

My friend: you can search the entire Canon for “hopeless” and find nada. Perhaps you should do a word study on “hope” and the God who manifests Himself when hope seems hopeless.

Our Father has a Plan whose beginning is the end! He is the Source, the Guide, the Goal of the all: the ta panta

“so abundant was God’s grace, the grace which He, the possessor of all wisdom and understanding, lavished upon us, when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God’s merciful purpose for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it—the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him. And you…”

 

[FineLinen]

Phil Henry 5 minute message>>>>

FIVE MINUTE POWER MESSAGE #87: Disagreeing with C.S. Lewis – Phil Henry Power Gospel

 

[BNR32FAN]

Preston Eby explains in better than I can.

The noun AION nowhere means eternal. Its simple meaning is an age. In its plural form it means ages. We have unquestionably and incontrovertibly demonstrated this fact from numerous New Testament passages. Now once we understand that AIONIOS is the adjective form of the noun AION, a simple little sixth-grade grammar lesson should once and for all establish the exact meaning of AIONIOS.

And yet men who should know better tell us that the Greek noun AION means an age, or ages, which is TIME, and then proceed to ridiculously explain that the adjective form of the same word means exactly the opposite - unending, everlasting, ETERNAL!

Source:
www.kingdombiblestudies.org/savior/SOW1.htm

The term “the ages” means forever which also means eternal. The definition of eternal not only means without beginning or end it can also mean without end. I already showed you examples in the scriptures that both forms of the word can mean eternal, everlasting, or forever. Aion does not typically imply a temporary situation.

 

[FineLinen]

The term “the ages” means forever which also means eternal. The definition of eternal not only means without beginning or end it can also mean without end. I already showed you examples in the scriptures that both forms of the word can mean eternal, everlasting, or forever. Aion does not typically imply a temporary situation.

Dear BNR: Welcome back, You have a serious comprehension problem. Coupled with that is deaf ears and blind eyes.

But fear not!

The Master of Reconciliation still specializes in healing blind eyes and healing deaf ears. Further, He is the One who eats death!

I am He that lives and was dead & have the keys of dead & hell.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Dear BNR: Welcome back, You have a serious comprehension problem. Coupled with that is deaf ears and blind eyes.

But fear not!

The Master of Reconciliation still specializes in healing blind eyes and healing deaf ears. Further, He is the One who eats death!

I am He that lives and was dead & have the keys of dead & hell.

Insults really aren’t necessary to make a point friend. The passage you quoted is inconclusive as evidence of universalism. Nowhere does it specifically state that everyone will receive Christ’s atonement and enter heaven. However, Luke 12:10, Mark3:29, and Matthew 12:31 all specifically state that not everyone will receive His atonement and Matthew 7:21 does specifically state that not everyone will enter heaven. Your using vague passages of scripture then drawing your own conclusions as to their meaning and at the same time you conclusions are contradictory to other verses that plainly and specifically state. Take for example the passage you just mentioned Revelation 1:18

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:17-20‬ ‭NASB‬‬

When you examine the surrounding context it makes absolutely no reference to universalism at all. Now compared to the passages I provided they are specifically talking about whether or not a person will be forgiven of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and whether or not everyone will enter heaven or not. Your drawing a conclusion based on taking a verse out of its intended context and I’m simply stating the scriptures in their proper context. The verses I provided don’t require any sort of interpretation because they are plainly and clearly stated.

 

[FineLinen]

Insults really aren’t necessary to make a point friend. The passage you quoted is inconclusive as evidence of universalism. Nowhere does it specifically state that everyone will receive Christ’s atonement and enter heaven. However, Luke 12:10, Mark3:29, and Matthew 12:31 all specifically state that not everyone will receive His atonement and Matthew 7:21 does specifically state that not everyone will enter heaven. Your using vague passages of scripture then drawing your own conclusions as to their meaning and at the same time you conclusions are contradictory to other verses that plainly and specifically state. Take for example the passage you just mentioned Revelation 1:18

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:17-20‬ ‭NASB‬‬

When you examine the surrounding context it makes absolutely no reference to universalism at all. Now compared to the passages I provided they are specifically talking about whether or not a person will be forgiven of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and whether or not everyone will enter heaven or not. Your drawing a conclusion based on taking a verse out of its intended context and I’m simply stating the scriptures in their proper context. The verses I provided don’t require any sort of interpretation because they are plainly and clearly stated.

Dear BNR: I have zero interest in insulting you. The fact remains the Healer of blind eyes and deaf ears is still the One who specializes in both! Yes, even those who find the Scriptures "plain and clearly stated"!

"Opened" = ἀνοίγω/ anoigo

Then opened He their minds that they might understand the Scriptures.

 

[Hillsage]

Dear BNR: I have zero interest in insulting you. The fact remains the Healer of blind eyes and deaf ears is still the One who specializes in both! Yes, even those who find the Scriptures "plain and clearly stated"!

"Opened" = ἀνοίγω/ anoigo

Then opened He their minds that they might understand the Scriptures.

Since you acknowledged my 'insight' on Steve's potential , let me share with you my 'feeling' once again. You are right, a 'touch' from the teacher is needed. And for me personally, I see no reason to continue when I feel there's an unteachable spirit at work. More than enough has been given. There are those who have been indoctrinated to believe that yielding an inch on any doctrine is 'forsaking the faith' (though no such verse exists). Therefore they cling so tightly to the 'shouted lie' that they can never hear the Spirit as He 'whispers the truth'.