In this episode we are exploring the concept of Hell as a place of torment for eternal punishment. Is there really a lake of fire? TruthSeekah and Tom Shannon talk about Universal Reconciliation and explain how the concept of burning in Hell for all eternity is something adopted later by early church fathers and not a concept that Jesus taught at all. No matter how hard to look you cannot find Hell mentioned of in the Old Testament of the Bible as a place or eternal condemnation but rather a state of consciousness and mindstate that one can be in on the earth. Some of christendom have accepted this notition after the popularization of Dante’s Inferno of The Divine Comedy written in the year 1321. This writing is errierly similar to the writings in a book attributed to the Apostle Peter called The Apocalypse of Peter which details what happens to a wicked person when their years on earth have ended. The text talk about the same wickedness that the person committed such would be attributed back upon him by demons in the underworld. The texts goes on to say that the same way that he may have sinned or abused people the demons would torment him in like manner but his too was only for a period of time and not eternity as in the way we understand the word today. The word eternity is very similar to the hebrew term for “A Thousand” as in A day is as a thousand years, or the devil will be loosed to rule for a thousand years. The term simply means a long time. It does not mean exactly a thousand year. The same is said with the term in Islam as those who are martyred as to receive seventy two virgins, in similar manner the term means a lot and not the exact number as we know it. So with that beings said there is some contemplation of a punishment or learning ground after death that people may pass through but it is God will that none shall perish but receive everlasting life through the work that Jesus has purchased for everyone upon the cross of calvary. Fot it is written that while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us and this gace is a grace that is given freely for all and unto all.
Below are some scriptures that Tom Shannon has marked down about how God would draw all creation unto Himself.
It’s amazing how many cars there are out there just like yours. You just never realized it until you bought your vehicle.
We are very aware of what we already know and what we are looking for. I never saw universal reconciliation (UR) in Scripture or the reason to question the concept of hell. Over thirty years of being a Christian, being raised in church all my life, and four years of Bible College, and over 20 years in ministry firmly engrained my religious world view. I knew what I knew.
I was exposed to UR and teaching against hell in 2015, and possibly sooner, but out rightly rejected it with my years of intense Bible study, Bible College training, and being a Christian for some time. After all, I knew Jesus, and God can’t save all and has to send the rebellious to hell. That’s just the way it is. Then it happened.
In 2015 I began to seriously study UR, and later hell. Diving into Scripture and studying the Greek and Hebrew, I came to accept the reality of UR and rejected the concept of hell. When I first embraced grace, I came to realize biblical repentance does not mean “turn from sin,” but rather to “change one’s mind,” behavior modification vs. heart transformation. One is works based and the other grace based. The same is true with the typical words we associate with the punishment we deem worthy for the “wicked.” Judgment, damnation, punishment, wrath, fire and the like show there true meaning in the original languages.
Simply put, judgment refers to a decision, a separation of evil from that which is good. The word damnation does not exist in the Greek, it is merely a form of the word judgment having the same meaning. Punishment, kolozo/koliasis, refers to pruning to better the offender. Wrath (????) is desire mixed with grief. Fire so often in Scripture refers to purification rather than destruction, and God is revealed as a consuming fire of love.
Yes, Scripture does speak of the destruction of the wicked, but I have learned it is not as I perceived, and many others continue to believe. The destruction has always been of the chaff which covers the wheat, the treasure God placed within. It is the chaff which is destroyed, never the wheat. It is the false identity of the first Adam which is destroyed, revealing the fruit of the Last Adam, whom God created us as, in His image, in His likeness, which has always been there, though hidden.
Why do I believe in UR? Because it is found in Scripture and more importantly it is God’s heart.
Some Scripture to consider…
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away THE SIN OF THE WORLD! (John 1:29)
For God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but TO SAVE THE WORLD through him. (John 3:16-17)
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.” (John 4:42)
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL PEOPLE to myself.” (John 12:32)
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins OF THE WHOLE WORLD. (1 John 2:2)
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. (1 John 4:14)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:3-4)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom FOR ALL PEOPLE. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. (1 Tim. 2:5-6)
That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is THE SAVIOR OF ALL PEOPLE, and especially of those who believe. (1 Tim. 4:10)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9)
For God was in Christ, RECONCILING THE WORLD to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. (2 Cor. 5:19)
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col. 1:19-20)
At the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY TONGUE acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:10-11)
Then I heard EVERY CREATURE in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13)
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life FOR ALL MEN. (Rom. 5:18)
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE. (1 Cor. 15:21-22)
For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may HAVE MERCY ON THEM ALL. (Romans 11:32)
Romans 5:10 (NKJV), “For if when we were enemies [present tense] we were reconciled [aorist participle-past action] to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled [aorist participle-past action], we shall be saved by His life.”
2 Corinthians 5:19 (NKJV), “ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” [Preaching what He has already done on the cross]
1 Timothy 2:3-6 (NKJV), For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV), 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
