Exploring the Doctrine of Hell and Universal Salvation

Well folks, we are going to get back to some new passages in our verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. study of Hebrews beginning in chapter 2 . . . (beat) . . . But first I want to present a conclusion to our little side sojourn on the topic of hell, "Lake of Fire suffering" and "universal salvation – if there is such a thing."

Biblical Examination of "Age" and Translation Variances

Let me remind you all we are exploring and seeking and I am presenting things emphatically to see what . . . sticks, what remains, and what is biblically sound. I have had a number of you supply me (ever so graciously) with refutation information. Two of you presented me with the same internet articles that counter my presentation of the Greek words for age. I’ve read them, even examined them closely and they have merit. The points presented added gray to my otherwise black and white arguments that “age” can only be defined as a limited period of time. However . . . ? differences and difficulties regarding word translation are only ONE reason for my leaning toward ultimate universalism (which has to be the end result if the second deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. in the Lake of Fire is not eternal).

So allow me to touch on a few final factors that push me over (like the leaning tower of Pizza) toward the idea that the second death is somehow of a limited duration.

God's Will and Human Salvation

First, we have to ask ourselves “if God will always have His will done.” You can answer that question yourselves – as I supplied plenty of passages two weeks ago that tell us what the Bible has to say. Secondly, we have to ask ourselves, “What is His will relative to humankind?” This is an interesting question because it comes out in different ways depending on an individual's perspective.

To ardent five-point Calvinists His will translates to an almost wholesale indifference to certain individuals He has literally created for hell and for those more tender-hearted (so it seems) His will is that none should ever be lost. I would suggest we answer this query with a number of passages employed by both sides of the coin. You decide what.

2nd Peter 3:9 means when it says:
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Isaiah 45:23-24
“I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.”

1st John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1st Timothy 2:3-4
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

1st Timothy 4:10
For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

And check out Isaiah 46:8-11 where God says:

8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Justice of God and the Existence of Hell

Third, we have to ask, “Is God just?” As Christian’s we have to admit that if He is to be considered a God that can be trusted, He must be completely just. And then, if or since He is just, we ask the fourth question, “Is there a hell and/or place of punishment?” for those who reject His will? To this any Christian must manifestly state that yes, there is both a hell and what is called the second death – the first being a dark and dreaded holding tank (of sorts) for the unbelieving and the second being a place that was created for Satan and

The Fate of the Unbelievers

The discussion revolves around the eternal fate of those not written in the Book of Life. Initially, one might ask, “Is hell eternal?” Biblically speaking, according to Revelation 20:13, hell is not eternal as it gives up its dead at the Great White Throne judgment.

This leads to the subsequent question of the lake of fire: “Is it eternal?” Considering this occurs after the Great White Throne judgment, it appears those in the lake of fire will remain there indefinitely. Denying this could lead towards universalism. However, accepting eternal punishment raises questions: Will those in the lake of fire suffer eternal agonies or ultimately be annihilated? Alternatively, might they endure suffering for purification purposes, eventually finding redemption?

Understanding God's Nature

Rejecting the existence of hell contradicts scripture, but pondering these options, the narrative suggests a depiction of God presented in scripture:

1. God is omniscient, from beginning to end. In 1 Corinthians 15:28, it is described that Jesus hands over the kingdom to the Father once death is destroyed, and God becomes "all in all."

2. Contrary to Calvinism, God is presented as one of freedom and free will, creating the universe under a rule of love, not predestination. All things are governed by His foreknowledge, and within this, some people and nations are predestined to fulfill His ultimate will–absolute redemption.

3. Redemption will come to individuals through various avenues: faith through law, grace through faith, and faith through sorrow. Ultimately, God’s plan entails the redemption of mankind.

The Concept of the Lake of Fire

The Meaning of Fire and Brimstone

The term “fire,” particularly related to the Lake of Fire, is associated with "the second death" in the Book of Revelation—mentioned only in this book while being tied to brimstone. Revelation 14:10, 19:20, 20:10, and 21:8 reference brimstone, translated from the Greek “theion,” a term connected to God (Theos) and divine (THEIOS). In Vines Expository Dictionary, brimstone is deemed a heavenly fire used for purification, reflected in Strong’s Concordance—brimstone expresses God’s power to purify rather than punish.

Thus, posed questions persist: is the fire for punishment or purification, torture or trying, cruelty or correction? Interestingly, Revelation 14 potentially reveals surprising insights into the location and presence surrounding the Lake of Fire.

Understanding the Lake of Fire

"Followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

From these passages we can see that those tormented in fire and brimstone are “in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb!” We know from scripture that God does not take pleasure in this type of death – in any death of the sinner and wicked.

God’s View on the Death of the Wicked

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

2nd Samuel 14:14 says something interesting, in my opinion alluding to God and His ways of redemption, saying: “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.”

From all these passages and the information they provide it seems we see the lake as having a few different elements present than what we might have thought were there before. I had been taught from almost every faction of modern Christianity that the Lake of Fire is God tormenting evil men for the sake of cruel punishment.

Listen – this assessment is absolutely correct . . . IF the fire is literal and unending. It couldn’t be LOVE that exposes most of the world to the flame IF they never get out. Get it? But we can say it is love if they do and will.

The Process of Refine and Purge

In other words, if those who do not receive Christ shed blood in this life – those who die unsaved – are banished to torments and fires forever, the torments MUST . . . MUST be based in cruelty and torture . . . because they have no redemptive value.

So let’s take a look at that word “tormented” in Revelation 14:10 – the passage that says they will be tormented by fire and brimstone in the Holy Angels and Lamb's presence. Ready for this? The word translated tormented in Strongs, Vines, and Thayers is “basinizo.” And it comes from the Greek word that literally means “to put to the test by rubbing on the touchstone.” Touchstones are pieces of rock or flint that are used to grind off elements or particles in the processing of alloys or other metals. From this definition we can see that the process in the Lake is not one of a mindless, endless torture for the sake of cruelty but one of refining, purging, rubbing off the rough edges, so to speak.

I find this interesting because in it we discover real meaning – loving meaning – in something Jesus says in Matthew 21:44. Jesus had just given the parable of the wicked husbandman to the scribes and Pharisees. He ends the parable by telling these religious leaders

(Matthew 21:43) “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” They had the True Messiah come and they rejected Him and therefore, Jesus tells them, the Kingdom is going to be taken from them and given to another nation (the Gentiles) which would bring forth fruit.

The Touchstone Concept

Then he says something interesting and relative to this touchstone concept in the very next verse: “whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” The nation refused to fall upon Him the Rock or stone and humbly receive Him. Therefore, He says, the other option is He will fall on them and grind them to powder.

I would suggest, in light of the meaning Torments found in Revelation 14, and the fact that those in the Lake of Fire will be subject to brimstone and fire in the presence of the Holy Angels and the Lamb that again, we are talking

Painful Refinement and God's Will

about painful mandatory refinement – grinding down upon the willful – a grinding that, producing friction simultaneously produces heat or fire. Some things to think about.

Additionally, the wrath of God is to come. And it will be poured out on those who reject His Son. Revelation speaks of His wrath, and fierce anger being contained in a cup – a container of limited dimensions. A loving, forgiving, longsuffering God would not have wrath that runs like a river forever. It is limited, justly appropriate to the crime, and delivered in appropriate amounts – like stripes that come to some as a few, and to others as many.

I’d like to stop here . . . but I can’t! There are three more concepts that must be addressed in this matter to help round it all out.

Greek Words for God's Will

There are two basic Greek words for the will of God – THELEMA and BOULEMA. Thelema is essentially defined as “God’s gracious design and it is indicative of His desires. His desired will. In this word we see connections to the Greek word Theos or God.

The second word, Boulema, is His deliberate design or His purposed will. Themema his desired will. Boulema his purposed will – what will not be altered.

If we look at 1st Timothy 2:3-4 we will read:

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

The English word “will” here is taken from the Greek Thelo – He desires that all men to be saved. Now, if eternal punishment is a reality, God will not have His desires accomplished for all men will not be saved – in fact, only a few. This is the standard rationale of most Christians – God is love and He desires all to be saved, but His desires (due to the free will of man) will not be met. Does this response differ from your earlier view that God will have all His desires accomplished?

God's Sovereignty and Free Will

But let’s get a little more emphatic here. Go back to II Peter 3:9. It says:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Where it says that God is NOT WILLING that ANY should perish, are we talking Thelema again, “that He does not desire that any should perish?” No. The Greek word is Boulamai – His purposes and expressed will shall be done. He has not purposed that ANY should perish.

From these two passages we see that it is both God’s desire and His purpose that none should perish, but all should come to repentance and be saved.

From these passages and passages like these we are confronted with a serious breach if intellectual, biblical, and spiritual integrity is not maintained. What is the breach? That a sovereign God, who knew and knows all things from the beginning to the end, and by and through foreknowledge of all things WILL NOT see His loving and good desires and purposes fulfilled! This is an impossible contradiction.

Calvinists meet it by saying this Sovereign God’s desires and purposes are accomplished in that He has predestined some to burn in hell forever, ignoring the fact that He is love and mercy. But the Bible suggests otherwise through what we have discussed on the matter. In and through this beautiful approach, God maintains LOVE, SOVEREIGNTY, A RESPECT for FREE WILL, and JUSTICE while having his pleasure and desires completely and fully met.

Understanding the Term Lost

Another point to consider. In light of all we have talked about I find new meaning in the term lost. Since Jesus paid for all the sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. of the world, paying the debt and redeeming all, we are dealing with people who are blinded by the prince of this world who seeks to have them suffer.

Seeing the redemptive work of our King in this manner enables us to see those who have yet to believe as lost and sinful due to unbelief or a lack of faith, not sinful in the sense of numbered and categorized sin. This is important because when we as believers start looking out at the world as “the sinful” and ourselves as “the worthy” it is easy to forget that our righteousness has come by faith, and abides in the flesh we call home. If we are able to see the rest of the world as failing in faith and therefore lost due to their blindness, it enables us to retain a

The Search for the Lost Sheep

A modicum of humility and gratitude for Him who redeemed us RATHER than looking down our noses at those who have YET . . . to be found. In other words, if a person is a lost sinner, it merely means they are temporarily separated from the Good Shepherd who owns Him. And if Jesus redeemed the world, there are those who are “always with Him and who have been His from the beginning (The Bride of Christ),” but there also remain those needing to be found. And here’s the key – a Good Shepherd would never abandon the search and return of those who are His.

In Luke 15:4 Jesus said:

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Interpretation of Parables

That last passage used to frustrate me to no end. Who needs no repentance? Jesus here paradoxically says the ninety and nine. I would strongly suggest that this parable speak NOT only to

The house of Israel and them being the lost sheep. The church and those who backslide, but also to the whole of humankind.

See, there are words used in the King James especially that have been assigned to the wicked of this world. Lost, Perish, and Destroy.

In Luke 13:3 Jesus says (KJV) “ . . . except ye repent, ye shall all likewise “perish.”

2nd Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.”

And James 4:12 says:

James 4:12 “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.”

These words sound definite and complete, don’t they?

But all of these words come from the Greek word, apollumi. (apoolomee) Unfortunately, some have assigned meaning to this Greek term that is not consistently applied. For example in my Powerbible software it suggests that apololamee means to obliterate. In a sense it does because the better definitions mean “ruin,” and “loss,” but not total extinction.

I can prove this through other passages of scripture. For example in the story of the Lost Sheep Jesus tells, the Greek word for lost is apoloomai. In the story of the prodigal son the word is “apollomai,” and in Luke 19:10, where Jesus says:

“For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,” the word is the same. It obviously does NOT mean totally destroyed or completely perished, but suffering loss.

Reflections from the Psalms

Two more things and I guess we’ll open it up to questions and comments. The first is the Psalms. When I read them I am able to hear the heart of God shining through. Admittedly, I have come across a number of them that give me pause. In light of all we have talked about over these past few weeks, let me share a few with you – see if they hit you in a similar way?

Psalm 2:7-8 “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”

Psalm 22:27-28 “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.”

Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Psalm 65:2 “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.”

Psalm 68:18 “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.”

Psalm 89:11 “The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.”

Psalm 86:8-10 “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and…

Perspectives on Eternal Punishment

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.”

And of course,

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

Didn’t Paul say love never fails? If God is love, can He, will He, ever fail to bring about His Good will and pleasure? Doesn’t the Word say that Death will be swallowed up in victory? Does some death escape victory of Christ on the cross?

As I’ve talked on this topic over the last few weeks with others I’ve had people say, in their efforts to establish eternal punishment as a fact: “God is Just, God is Just!” He certainly is. And because He is just He sent His Son, a Son who not only saved all men, He is a Son before whom “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.”

Justice and Mercy

Do you know what James, Jesus' brother said about Mercy and Justice? James 2:13 says, “Mercy Triumphs over Judgment.”

Before going to questions, prayer, and song, I want to bring in a few quotes from people that loved the Lord and His word from long ago relative to this subject. They are just humans – like you and I – but I am bringing their thoughts to the table to show you just how long these ideas have been around. We call these men the Early Church Fathers. Now, admittedly, they made some mistakes – this may (MAY) be one of them. But they were willing to voice their opinions on the topic and were not castigated as heretical when they did.

I would suggest, prior to reading them, that the doctrine of endless eternal punishment was a rarity among believers in the earliest centuries of the church and it was the Roman and Greek traditions that helped bring the ideas to the church in time. Augustine (in 354 -430 AD) was one of the first to truly popularize the teaching of eternal punishment. Proving the teaching was still around in the church when Augustine was alive let’s first hear a quote from him, which says:

“And now I see I must have a gentle disputation with certain tender hearts of our own religion, who are unwilling to believe that everlasting punishment will be inflicted, either on all those whom the just Judge shall condemn to the pains of hell or even on some of them.”

Augustine aside, the earliest church fathers tended to believe that the torments were purposeful, and aimed at purging and cleansing rather than cruelty and suffering for suffering's sake. These thoughts all fell under what was known as “the restitution of all things” (which, interestingly enough, Paul refers to frequently but never mentions hell). It wasn’t until 533 AD that an official attempt was made to rid the world of the “restitution of all things idea.” By this time, most of the men who dominated Christianity couldn’t even read Greek.

Early Church Fathers on Reconciliation

Irenaeus (130-200AD), who wrote intimately of Polycarp who was a close friend of the Apostle John, reveals through his writings a belief in “an ultimate reconciliation of all things back to God.”

Clement of Alexandria (185AD – 254) wrote: “The Lord is a propitiation not for our sins only, that is, of the faithful, but also for the whole world. Therefore He indeed saves all universally; but some as converted by punishments, others by voluntary submission, thus obtaining honor and dignity, that “to Him every knee will bow, of things in heaven, of things in earth, and things under the earth, that is to say angels, and men, and souls who departed this life before His coming into the world.”

ORIGEN (185-254AD) wrote: “He that despises the purification of the Word of God, the doctrine of the Gospel only keeps himself for dreadful and penal purifications afterwards; that so the fire of hell may purge him in torments whom neither apostolical doctrine nor gospel preaching has cleansed, according to that which is written of being “purified by fire.” But how long this purification which is wrought out by penal fire shall endure, or for how many periods or ages it shall torment sinners,"

Judgment and Faith

He only knows to whom all judgment is committed by the Father.

I could write on and on, adding a dozen or more to the list, but let me conclude this whole thing with the words of Luther, that if uttered today, would certainly cause many to scream HERESY.

Luther's Reflection

This is what the Father of the Reformation said in a letter written in 1522:

“God forbid that I should limit the time of acquiring faith to the present life. In the depth of the Divine mercy there may be opportunity to win it in the future.”