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And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth did pass away, and the sea is not any more;
2 and I, John, saw the holy city -- new Jerusalem -- coming down from God out of the heaven, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband;
3 and I heard a great voice out of the heaven, saying, `Lo, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will tabernacle with them, and they shall be His peoples, and God Himself shall be with them -- their God,
4 and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and the death shall not be any more, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor shall there be any more pain, because the first things did go away.'
5 And He who is sitting upon the throne said, `Lo, new I make all things; and He saith to me, `Write, because these words are true and steadfast;' Rev. 5
This passage is a very clear description of God's plan for the future. He will make all things new. If eternal hell is true, then pain will exist for all of eternity, for those who are finding themselves there but here we see that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. There will be no more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears, no more crying. If eternal death is true, then death will exist forever, however, here we see that there will be no more death. There will trials, tribulations, judgments before this comes, but it is coming. God bless.
Last edited by ShanaBrown; 09-13-2014 at 04:43 PM..
Many considered to be church fathers believed in the eventual restoration of all to God, although some taught eternal hell to the masses. The words of Jerome:
“Christ will, in the ages to come, show not to one, but to the whole number of rational creatures His glory, and the riches of His grace, by means of us [Christians]. The saints are to reign over the fallen angels, and the prince of this world, even to them will be brought blessing.”
• In Eph. ii.7
“In the restitution of all things, when the true physician, Jesus Christ, shall have come to heal the body of the Church, every one shall receive his proper place. What I mean is, the fallen angel will begin to be that [of his original state] which he was created, and man (who was expelled from Paradise) will be once more restored to the tilling of Paradise. These things then will take place universally.”
• In Eph. iv. 16
And importantly, look at Jerome’s comment on Galatians 5:20,
“With God no rational creature perishes eternally. ... For God pities His creatures, and will not suffer those whom He himself has formed to perish eternally, who are sustained by His breath and spirit.”
More from some of those considered to be church fathers:
Mankind, being reclaimed from their sins, are to be subjected to Christ in he fullness of the dispensation instituted for the salvation of all. –Didymus the Blind
The Son “breaking in pieces” His enemies is for the sake of remolding them, as a potter his own work; as Jeremiah 18;6 says: i.e., to restore them once again to their former state. –Eusebius of Caesarea , Bishop of Caesarea
We think, indeed, that the goodness of God, through His Christ, may recall all His creatures to one end, even His enemies being conquered and subdued…. for Christ must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. –Origen (185 to 254 A.D
The mass of men (Christians) say there is to be an end to punishment and to those who are punished.—St. Basil the Great
There are very many in our day, who though not denying the Holy Scriptures, do not believe in endless torments. — Augustine (354-430 A.D.)
This belief is not some new idea but it is a belief that has existed since the very early days of the church, held by many considered to be leaders and teachers in the church. This understanding was based on scriptural teaching. Even though some translations of certain words have caused confusion and incorrect teaching down through the years, the truth has always been there.
In the end and consummation of the Universe all are to be restored into their original harmonious state, and we all shall be made one body and be united once more into a perfect man and the prayer of our Savior shall be fulfilled that all may be one. –St. Jerome, 331-420
For it is evident that God will in truth be all in all when there shall be no evil in existence, when every created being is at harmony with itself and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; when every creature shall have been made one body. –Gregory of Nyssa, 335-390
Earth abides forever - Ecclesiastes 1 v 4 b; 1st Chronicles 16 v 30; Jeremiah 10 vs 11,12; Isaiah 45 v 18; Psalms 78 v 69 b; 93 v 1 b; 96 v 10; 104 v 5
Earth will never end, but all wickedness on earth will end. - Psalms 92 v 7; 104 v 35
Hi Matthew, thanks for sharing. I agree, that all wickedness will end. I believe that the new earth refers to a new condition of the earth . 2 Peter 3 says:
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells
.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
All wickedness will be done away with when this happens and a there will be a new heavens and a new earth. Righteousness will only dwell and that is why it is referred to as a new earth.
The Greek word for "new" in that passage is kainos and it means qualitatively new as opposed to quantitatively new.
I believe that the same thing will happen to people who are unrestored to the Lord at that time. They will undergo destruction. All that is evil in them will be destroyed and they will become new creatures in Christ.
God bless
Last edited by ShanaBrown; 09-13-2014 at 06:45 PM..
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in * hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it."
*hope=elpis=expectation
All of creation is to experience deliverance. All who are in lost, who are not restored yet to the Lord, are in bondage to sin. They are to be delivered and changed into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (believers) God bless.
Last edited by ShanaBrown; 09-13-2014 at 06:44 PM..
Destruction of the old man, the sinful man must take place as God will make all things new. No sin, no wickedness, nothing that is evil, will exist when God makes all things new. God bless.
A passage in 1 Peter 4 speaks to the restoration of all to God.
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
*dead=nekros= lifeless, without breath, deceased also means spiritually dead, given up to trespasses and sins, devoid of a life devoted to God
The gospel is preached to those who are dead, so that that although they are judged in the flesh as men-they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
All of God's judgments have a higher purpose. His goal is to restore all to Himself, and judgment is a part of this process. God bless.
Last edited by ShanaBrown; 09-14-2014 at 08:31 AM..
Universalism is heresy.
The "restoration of all things" is taken way out of context here.
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