the problem with universalism is the doctrine that "all dogs go to heaven"... there is no hell / eternal punsihment ... when Jesus said that there is 1 life , then judgement ...and when God spoke to John about the lake of fire, the beast, fasle prophet and his followers being thrown into the lake of fire ...
scripture supports neither purgatory or parole for the damned ...
Hello Plmarquette,
Most of my misunderstanding of the scripture seems to come from a bad translation of the greek word aionios. It seems that the most appropriate translation should be "of the world to come" rather than the inappropriate word eternal. Therefore, in the sentence of our Saviour on the judgment-day, the word aionios means pertaining to the world to come, and not eternal and everlasting, as it has been badly translated. [There is an excellent treatise on the word aionios included in a work by Edward Beecher, D.D called History of Opinion on the Scriptural Doctrine of Retribution ----that I found remarkable. ]
The question then seems to be.
What is the punishment of the world to come? Is the ultimate of the world to come to be --annihilation after just punishment, or final restoration after severe remedial punishment, or endless suffering?”
It wasn't until the sixth century when Justinian forced a ruling against univesalism as heresy. During third century and up then most theological schools supported some sort of universal restoration of man.
It has been shown through historical research that annihilation, eternal torment and universal restoration were common ideologies among the Jews in the centuries just prior to Christ.
The fact that these three views were still prevalent, especially through the third century AD tells you that scripture did not demand or even persuade one particular belief. Why did the church through Justinian force ET doctrine? My guess is to impart fear as a political device to gain control, solidarity and converts.afraid of going to hell.
Where does this leave us. Well, for me, I have found no conclusive literally translated scriptural support for eternal torture of humans. Can you draw an inference of it. Yes. There are lots of passages that might suggest it but not to outright say it.
I once believed in annihilation because the thought of eternal torture just seemed totally uncharacteristic of a God of love and mercy to show after 80 years of sinning in an imperfect body flawed to gravitate to sinning. The gospels are supposed to be good news. Whats is the good news if not that its not all hopeless. The clincher for me was the following scripture:
Rotherham) 1cor 15:28 But whensoever have been put into subjection, unto him, the all things, then, the Son himself, also shall be put in subjection unto him who put in subjection, unto him, the all things,—that, God, may be, all things in all.
As Christ submits Himself to the Father then
all things would be submitted to Christ just like He submits Himself to the Father To me how can God be All in All any other way that final restoration to
all things being holy.
That's just very briefly some of what I got to from scripture with a greek literal translation significantly different from my old King James stand by. I hope I wasn't too brief such that the thoughts seem curt and unclear.
I would like to hear your thoughts or anyone else on this.
