The Restoration of All Things

@natalie, these are great questions. This is a common set of questions that I hear often.

Cause it’s great news!
Why would we preach the good news?      So that people know. So that people can be set free from the life of destruction and hopelessness. We preach the gospel so that people can live in peace and hope and love. We preach the gospel so that people can know God and what He has done.  We can't help but share this great joyful news to everyone.

Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Salvation starts now - not after we die. Now is the day of salvation.

If we really ponder this, would we really say, “Well they are all going to end up in the same place eventually. Let’s let them live in destruction for now.”  I hope not - we’d want to shout the truth from the mountains!


Cause we are told to:
We also share the gospel because we were instructed to, so we are simply obeying our Lord's command.  

Even in ET Christianity, we are commanded to make disciples.  Do we ever ask why?  If people get saved then they are going to go to heaven when they die, what difference does it make to teach them how to follow Jesus.  They're going to end up in heaven anyway? I mean, they could just pretend to be muslim and not have to leave their families, right?  They could believe in Jesus but continue their Muslim lifestyle and practices.  We are saved by grace, so it doesn't matter what they do?

See how it doesn't really work that way?  In our hearts, we know that people need to be progressing toward something - they must run the race - they must fight the good fight - they must work out their salvation with fear and trembling.  But why?  If salvation is by grace.  Because being saved is not the end of the story.  Christ is not just the author of our faith - he is also the finisher.  There is a higher calling than just getting to heaven - and ironically - that is the whole point!  It is not me getting to heaven - it's about everyone becoming one with God.


This one we have not covered yet, but:
There is an advantage to believing while we have not yet seen.  This is advanced Restoration and will take me awhile to get to this.  


The deeper question:
Please, anybody reading this, don't take this personally.  I am not addressing this to any one person or group.  This counts for me just as much as anyone else.  It is hard to hear, but I am not here to tickle ears.

If ET or Annilism is real, then why aren’t we dedicating every moment of every day to sharing the gospel. Why do we do anything other than share the gospel and make just enough money to survive. Why play games, watch tv, be part of this forum, have thanksgiving meals, get our hair done, work out, have a family? All of these things are taking time away from sharing the gospel - and therefore, literally by the second, sending people to endless torment or permanent destruction - while we watch the next episode of - whatever it is that we like to watch.


As a side note:
The world hates other religions as well. As Christians we notice more when the attacks are against Christians. But we are not the only group that has been martyred and persecuted. Today, being in one variant of Islam can also get you killed by the other variants. Being a jew in various places and times meant being persecuted and killed.  Other religions have had purges as well.  Everybody is suffering. Christianity does not have a lock on this. But only Christianity has the solution - and it is contained in the gospel.  We must share it.

* * * 

In regard to your understanding of the wide and narrow paths and gates, I think that is a valid view of those passages.  But that does not change the primary point - those passages do not prove or even seem to cover Endless Torment.

These thoughts touched my heart so much Natalie.  This is the heart that God is calling us to - and as I read what you just wrote - I heard the word of God in you!

Can I get the cliff notes version when you're done SK?

@silentknight 😀 when I wrote that my thought was (or in my minds eye) sharing Christ with someone and how wonderfully awesome our God is! So a quick ref guide of a few key scriptures in their proper context would be quite useful.

I 'get' the general concept but need to go through the thread and study (Bible) as I do. So a guide (few bullets) would be awesome. Maybe I'll gather one as I go and submit it for approval 😉

Who Is God?

I am very close to launching into the scriptural evidence for restoration.  But I would like those who are following this thread to bathe themselves in a waterfall of scripture before I do.  To let you in on my process a little you should be aware that each section that I am providing is something I hold up to the Father.  If the Father does not feed me, I wait until He does.  But I am reminded what a massive difference what I am teaching makes.  Some think it is a minor issue.  Some say it is not a core doctrine.  However, in my mind, it shapes our entire view of who God is.  It shapes how we believe He reacts to us and how we react to others.   Who do we really worship?  Is most of Christianity worshiping a god who is almost the opposite of who God really is.

So before I simply start of on proving the specifics.  Let take a look at some generalities and see if we can begin to shape our hearts and minds around a different God than we may have been allowed to believe in.

Note: I have learned long ago that I cannot convince anyone - the Spirit must allow us to see God. But when He does, oh brother and sister, I guarantee it will be the best day of your Christian life.
Note: I am including a lot of scripture in this post but will not be pasting all the actual text.  This means, you will need to open your bible and read.  If you don't do that, you will be missing out on a blessing.  Some verses may not immediately speak to you.  Others may be much more obvious.  Please, don't get hung up on the ones that aren't obvious.  Over time, we may come back to some of those.  
Note: These verses do not specifically prove anything nor do they exhaust all references I could have included, but I have to stop somewhere.  They are meant to prepare our hearts and minds for the next few lessons.


Who is God?

I have always been struck by Paul’s “another Jesus”(2Co 11:4) and “another Gospel”(Gal 1:6) discussions. Isn’t there only one Gospel? Only one Jesus? Well yes! But each man has his own relationship with God and his own understanding of “truth.” As was the case in these passages, we as men are always trying to take credit and responsibility away from God and place it squarely back on the shoulders of men. Typically, we look at Galatians 1 and say, “Well Paul was upset that they were allowing themselves to be put back under the law.”

We look at 2 Corinthians 11 and say, “Well Paul was upset that they were confusing the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” We are correct, but then we proceed to confuse and obligate along with those that Paul was criticizing; we just confuse in our way, and obligate people to our law. In the end the answer to one question sums up all our confusion: Who is God? There are sub-questions that spawn from this: Why did he make us? What does he expect from us? What will he do? What can we do? But all of these come back to the original question: Who is God?

Throughout scripture people have been asking this question and misunderstanding the answer. From Pharaoh’s “Who is the Lord?(Ex 5:2)” to Peter’s exclamation “I don’t know the man!”(Mat 26:72) to Mary’s inability to recognize the risen Lord (Joh 19:41), we have a constant pattern of God being unknowable. We only see what God has allowed us to see. He will show himself in his way and in his time. So, what Jesus do we believe in? What Gospel reigns true in our heart? Who is God, to us?

Blindness in Part

Israel believed in God. They worshipped him. They followed his instructions. They prophesied in his name. They worked miracles. And they did not know God completely. They believed they were the only chosen people. He blinded them so that we (gentiles) could receive the gospel.(Rom 11:25). But he will grant them their sight once the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.

We do not have to fully understand why the blindness of the Israelites brought salvation to the gentiles. We simply need to recognize that scripture claims this. The Gospel that Christ and the apostles taught was not different then the Old Testament Gospel, it was just different then what the Jews had been taught was in the Old Testament Gospel. Time after time Jesus tried to illustrate this to people, “you say this... but I say that...”. You see, most people, even religious, God fearing people, did not know who God was.

Christianity believes they have it all figured out. God revealed himself completely in Jesus and now we have the answers, but a simple count of Christian denominations should illustrate the falsehood of that statement. So now, we have Christianity; they believed in God. They worshipped him. They followed his instructions. They prophesied in his name. They worked miracles. And they did not know God completely. They believed they were the only chosen people(“believe what I believe or go to Hell”). Only, they had an example in Israel, they should know that they are blind, but they don’t.

Christianity is not responsible for it’s blindness any more than Israel was, it was God’s plan.  God has not changed, but man’s perception of God warps over time, until God steps in and opens our eyes. You see, Israel’s blindness expanded the Gospel to a wider audience – the gentiles. Christianity’s blindness will expand the Gospel to an even wider audience – All creation. 

I have outlined some scriptures and indicated some headings that might help us "find God":

God is Love
♦  Mat 5:43-48, Luk 6:35-36, Luk 10:37 {jews/Samaritans were virtual enemies}
♦  Luk 23:34, Rom 12:20-21,Rom 13:10, 2Sa 14:14
♦  Rom 5:6,8,10, Eph 2:4-6, 1Jo 4:10, 1Jo 4:14,16, Rom 8:38-39 


God is Just
♦ Rev 15:3, Isa 45:21-23

A reading of the law written out by Moses brings out the character of God. I’ll point out a few characteristics of the laws(Deut, Lev, Exo 22): 
♦  Crimes are to be repaid to the victim and worked off by the criminal

♦  Punishment is geared toward restoring the victim’s loss and the criminals correction 

♦  Punishment is limited (Duet 25:1-3) and relative to the crime 

♦  Sins of the Father cannot be held against the Child.

♦  The whole point of the law is to illustrate forgiveness – the whole point is love (Gal 5:14) 


God is a Savior
♦ Isa 45:21-25, Joh 4:42

God is Omniscient
♦ Psa 104:24, Act 15:18, Psa 147:5, Job 36 4, Isa 46:10, Pro 15:3

God is Omnipotent
♦ Rev 19:6-7, Dan 4: 35, Pro 19:21, Job 23:13, Eph 1:11


God does what he wants and reveals his plan in his time; His ways are Perfect and Just
♦  Job 23:13, Rom 9, Isa 46:9-13, Dan 4:35, Mat 6:10, 1Co 12:3, 2Ti 1:9-10

♦  Jam 1:18, Rev 4:11, 1Co 15:21-28, Eph 1:9-14, Col 1:26-28

♦  Gen 1:31, Isa 45:7, Eze 14:9, 1Ki 22:23, Deu 32:4 

♦  Pro 19:21, Job 23:13 


God is Creator 

♦ Gen 1:1, Col 1:16

God is Father

♦ Mal 2:10, Mat 23:9, Eph 4:6

God’s Anger is short, he punishes for sin, Pardons Sin and Saves from Sin - His Mercy is Greatest – He is our Father
♦  Psa 30:5, Psa 89:30-34,Psa 99:8, Psa 103:8-11, Psa 107:1, Psa 136 

♦  Psa 145:8-9, Isa 40:1-5, Isa 54:7-8, Hos 6:1-3, Isa 57:15-18

♦  Mic 7:18-19, Psa 72:14{whole chapter}

♦  Isa 55:7-13(10-11){Tree symbolize nations and people - "I see men as trees walking..."} 

♦  Jer 31:33-34, Lam 3:31-33, Tit 2:11-14, Heb 8:12, Mal 2:10, Mat 23:9

♦  Mat 7:11, Mat 18:11-14, Luk 15:32, Joh 10:14-16{one flock}, Heb 12:5-11

♦  Luk 15:4, Luk 15:8, Mat 5:48 


Now, that is not to say that there aren’t scriptures that would, on the surface, contradict some of these scriptures. But God wants us to seek him. Surface readers will get what those got who heard the parables of Christ – stories. Truth often lies deeper than the surface. Now, what is the point of all this new found knowledge of who God is? Well, the God defined above desires to save, loves his enemies, judges justly, does not hold Children accountable for there father's sin, has more mercy then judgment, is in charge of everything, and has the power and the motivation to do what he wants. That leads us to the next question; what does God want? 


What does God want?
Some of the preceding scriptures help this conclusion come naturally. God’s entire plan can be summed up in one idea, he wants to be in everything, and everything in him. You may think he already is – but obviously something is still missing. He may be in all, but all are not in him.
♦  Gen 2:23-25, Exo 26:6, 11, Eze 37:19, Zec 14:9, Mat 19:3-6, Joh 10:16

♦  Joh 17:20-23, Eph 1:17-23, Eph 5:30-32, 1Co 15:28 


How will God accomplish his Desire?
Answer: 
Clean & Restore his Creation (Eph 5:24-28) 

        
Everything belongs to Christ, His Purpose is to Save All, He will Achieve his Purpose, and will be Satsified

♦ Psa 2:7-8, Psa 89:29, Dan 7:14,. Mat 28:18, Joh 3:35, Joh 17:2, Eph 4:6, Eph 1:22-23, Heb 2:8- 10, Isa 53:11{whole chapter}, Mat 1:21, Luk 19:10, Luk 20:38, Joh 1:29, Joh 3:16-17, Joh 4:34, Joh 4:42, Joh 6:37-40,44, Joh 19:30, 2Co 5:14-15, 1Ti 2:3-6, 1Jo 4:14, Psa 22:27-31, Psa 65:2, Psa 67:6-7 {whole chapter}, Psa 86:9, Isa 45:20-25, Mat 13:33, 1Co 12:3, Rev 5:13, Luk 2:10-11, Luk 2:14, Luk 2:30-32, Luk 3:6, Joh 12:32, Rom 11:32, 1Co 15:21-22, Eph 1:9-10, Eph 4:6, Col 1:14-20, 1Ti 2:3-6, 1Ti 4:4-5, Heb 2:8-10, 1Jo 2:1-2, Rom 8:19-23, Rom 8:38-39, Rom 11:25-36, 1Ti 4:9-11 


God’s promise through Abraham and his Seed:

♦ Gen 12:3, Gen 18:18, Gen 22:17-18, Gen 26:4, Gen 28:14, Psa 89:29, Heb 2:15-16, Gen 28:15, Num 23:19, Isa 55:10-11, Mic 7:20 Act 26:6 


God Wins; Death Looses:
♦ 
Isa 25:7-8, Dan 7:14, Hos 13:14, Rev 21:3-4 


Life for all comes from Death

♦ Act 3:20-21, Act 24:15, Rom 11:25-36(32), 2Co 1:6, 2Co 5:14-15, Heb 2:9-10, 1Pe 3:18, Rom 5:15, Rom 5:18, Rom 5:19, 1Co 15:21-22 


Paul’s Mission Our Mission

♦ 2Co 5:18-21, Rom 10:15, Job 22:21-22 


Misc 

♦ Mat 11:27, Mat 13:33, Mat 23:39{implication - they will eventually say "Blessed is he that ..."},
♦ Act 3:26, , 2Ti 1:10-12{What was it that Paul had committed unto God?},
♦ 1Pe 4:5-6, Ecc 12:7, 2Sa 13:39, 1Co 5:5, 1Ki 8:39-43, Psa 62:12, Rom 14:9-12, 1Co 3:13-15, 2Co 5:10

Peace be with each of you as you immerse yourself in His Word....

enjoy mike ! And to everyone, please remember the scriptures in the Who is God post are merely a foundation for seeing God - not necessarily a proof of restoration.  But, this foundation is very helpful in a shaping a view of God that is known to Christians, but not often considered, and tends to be forgotten in light of ET.

I will start the Restoration arguments soon, where I will use more particular scriptures to demonstrate restoration.

I often will take people through Romans 3-12:1. Anyone truly interested in understanding these things may want to read through this passage on your own. This "understanding restoration" could take months at the speed we are going. My plan is to do an overview and then take the details as they come.

I hope to get to more today. I will be driving most of the day Saturday and will not be able to post during that time.

Restoration 101-a

I”m going to switch directions now and begin to start digging into restoration. Please don’t stop going through the verses in the “Who is God” post. It may take you awhile to get through them, but they are a great foundation.

It should be noted, that we have commented on three different passages that are typically used as “evidence” of a ET and shown how they don’t even come close to teaching such a thing. The same could be true for many other passages that people think teach ET. At some point, I will take those passages on, one by one, and show how they don’t verify ET. I don’t mind dealing with these as people bring them up. For now, I’ll start showing how scripture teaches restoration.


Passing Children through Fire:


Jer 32:33  And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
Jer 32:34  But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.
Jer 32:35  And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Here we have the people refusing to listen to the voice of God. They have set up idols (abominations) and doctrines that defile the name of God.  These idols keep them from hearing the true voice of God. So they see God as a monster - someone who likes to burn children. But God makes a very clear statement, this idea of making children pass through the fire - that is not from God. As a matter of fact, IT NEVER ENTERED HIS MIND. No. That idea is from another spirit. That is something only corruption could come up with.


Pentecost - Sword of the Flesh vs Sword of the Spirit:
When Israel rejected the hearing of the Word of God at Mount Sinai during the first Pentecost - they set a pattern. They created an idol(the golden calf) instead of hearing God. And the consequences were many - one of which was this:

Exo 32:28  And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

The death of 3000.

That is not the the way God operates - that is the result of man’s concept of God’s justice. So God demonstrated His method 1480 years later - In the upper room in Jerusalem - again, on the day of Pentecost. God sends His Spirit upon those in the upper room - the fire consumed their idols(represented by flames upon their head) - and they began to hear God correctly. The sword of the spirit came from their mouth as they repeated what they heard. Speaking through them, the people all heard the voice of God in their own language and many were added to the list of believers that day. As a matter of fact….

Act 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The life of 3000.

In these two Pentecost passages, God shows the difference between those who reject hearing God and use the sword of the flesh to destroy and those that hear God and use the sword of the spirit to bring life.  They also show the difference between the fire of the flesh - and the fire of the spirit.  Both destroy - one for death, and one for life.

We see that Peter explains all this(I won't put the whole passage here, but you can read it for your own edification in Acts 2), but just a few months earlier the disciples had not learned that lesson yet. They were still walking in an old belief system where God destroys His enemies. This generation thought it was perfectly fine to hate their enemies. The lesson of “love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you”, had not yet been accepted.

The Jews were looking for a Messiah who would vanquish and destroy their enemies. They wanted a King who would throw off the Romans by force. They simply could not see the Messiah in Jesus because of their perspective, their beliefs, and their doctrines. Jesus came as the Prince of Peace. He used a different kind of sword. That just did not line up with their expectations and therefore they refused to hear Him.  When men reject the sword of the spirit and refuse to hear God(which allows them to walk in the authority of their faith), they instead, resort to the sword of the flesh. They may even be trying to accomplish what they believe to be the will of God.  

We see this here:

Luk 9:51  And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Luk 9:52  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
Luk 9:53  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Luk 9:54  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

The Samaritans, the enemy of the jews, would not let Jesus and his disciples stay in the village, so James and John ask Jesus if they can call down fire on the village and consume the people. That is what we do, right? That is the way of God, right? He destroys those who do not accept Him. He burns or kills those who don’t invite Him in. Right?

Luk 9:55  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luk 9:56  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

The people of the Old Testament Israel did not understand the fire of God. God said, this never entered my mind.
The people of the first Pentecost did not understand the fire and spirit of God.  God said, come hear my voice and receive my instruction.  
The disciples of Jesus himself did not understand the fire and spirit of God. Jesus said, this is from another spirit.

So now we see this picture …

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

... but we are enlightened, right?  We live after the resurrection.  We know Jesus!  Right?  Wrong! We still don’t understand the fire, the spirit, the sword, and the character of God. So what do we say, “Come quickly Lord Jesus and burn, destroy, or torture your enemies - forever! I mean, we don't really want that - but that is our full expectation.  That is what we teach each other and the world.  That is who we claim Jesus is! This is the God we worship, sing to, and lift up our hand toward - He is still saying to us - You are listening to another spirit. Such a thing never entered my mind. But will we receive His instruction? Will we listen to His voice? Will we destroy the abominable idols of Annihilation and Endless Torment and see God for who He really is?

Luk 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

This concept is repeated in scripture over and over and over.  You will find it as you read through the verses I listed in the Who is God post.  But I would be happy to paste the text of it all in this thread at some point to save you the effort of having to look up each passage.

I trust God.  He Is, and He Is, who He says He Is!  I believe God accomplishes His goal.  I believe He is powerful enough.  Loving enough.  Wise enough.  To accomplish what only He can.  I don't believe He will fail at what He claims he came to do.  I long for the day when His Name is lifted up and glorified and the world can know Him for who He really is.

Father - lift the name of Jesus high! Open our eyes so we can see Him and by seeing Him, see you. Rain down upon us, your spirit, and open our ears and teach us what it means to really love. 

Amen!