The Restoration of All Things
By Gary Amirault
“And He shall send Jesus Christ, which beforehand was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution (restoration, reconciliation) of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” King James Versio
“When God restores, it is always in greater quality or quantity or both.” Joseph Prince.
While prosperity preachers like Joseph Prince are quick to promise their followers divine health and wealth, they are not so quick to teach “the restoration of all things as spoken by the mouth of all his Holy prophets since the world began.” These prosperity preachers seem to fall short (sin, miss the mark) when it comes to bringing full glory to our Father and the Savior of the whole world, Jesus, the Chosen One.
The Scriptures and Jesus have made it plain that God’s own people are always slow to believe what the prophets have spoken (Luke 24:25-27). Therefore, while the scriptures plainly declare Jesus Christ, Savior of the world (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14), the majority of God’s people have never believed Him. But He has always had a “little flock,” a “remnant” who have remained true to the truth. (Luke 12:32; 1 Kings 19:18) The early believers believed quite differently from modern day believers. The early believers believed in the bold promises and statements found in the Scriptures. Modern believers have been seduced by two thousand years of “traditions of men which make the word of God of no effect.” (See Matt. 15:6-9) Let’s look and what the early believers saw in the Scriptures and then discover the state of unbelief the church-at-large is presently in.
Christ, to whom, in whom, and for whom are all things will reconcile all things unto God (Colossians 1:15-20). He makes all things new. (Rev. 21:5) Hence His work is the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21); He is Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2); in Him not only all nations will be blessed (Galatians 3:8), but even every family of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:32; 28:14); for the Father has given Him authority over all flesh, to give to whosoever was given to Him eternal life (John 17:2); and so all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:6) since the Father has given all things into His hands. (John 3:35) Therefore, contrary to popular Christian opinion, we do not find billions in a Hell cursing God but we find every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and UNDER the earth saying blessing and honour and glory and power be unto Him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb (Rev. 5:13). We find every knee of things in heaven and earth, and under the earth, bends to Him and every tongue confesses Him as their Lord (Philippians 2:10) and we know that no one can confess Jesus as Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3).
For God, Whose counsel is immutable (Hebrews 6:17), Whose attitude towards His enemies is love unchanging (Luke 6:27-35), will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 2:4, KJV); and all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); and has shut all up unto unbelief, in order that he may show mercy upon all (Romans 11:32); for (out) of Him, as Source, and unto (or into) Him, as End, are all things whatsoever (Romans 11:36); and He has, therefore, put all things into subjection under Christ’s feet (Ephesians 1:22).
And so we are assured that God will gather into one all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10); and His grace comes upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:18). So Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands (John 13:3), promises by His Cross to draw (drag in the Greek) all men unto Himself (John 12:32). For having, as stated, received all things from the Father (John 3:35), all that was given come to Him shall come to Him and He will lose absolutely no one (John 6:37-39); but if any stray, He goes after that which is lost till He find it (Luke 15:4). Despite the fact that many of God’s chosen and elect believe God’s hand is too short to save (Isaiah 50:2) God’s hand is not too short to save (Isaiah 59:1; 63:5).
He comes in order that all men may believe (John 1:17); that the world, through Him, may be saved (John 3:17); His grace brings salvation to all men (Titus 2:11); for He takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29); gives His flesh for it’s Life (John 6:51); and, because the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance (Romans 9:29), He gives life to the world (John 6:33); is the light of the world (John 8:12); is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2); is the Savior of all men (1Timothy 4:10); destroys the works of the devil, not some of them only (1John 3:8); abolishes death (2Timothy 1:10); puts all His enemies under His feet including death (1 Cor. 15:26), is manifest to put away sin (Hebrews 9:26); and thus subduing all things unto Himself (Philippians 3:21; the context clearly shows this subjection to be conformity to Himself); does not forget the dead, but takes the gospel to Hades (1Peter 3:19); of which He holds the keys (Revelation 1:18); for He is the same (Savior) for ever (Hebrews 13:8); thus even the dead are evangelized (1Peter 4:6).
Thus all are made alive in Him (1Corinthians 15:22); for Christ finishes, completes His work (John 17:4; 19:30): restores all things (Acts 3:21); and there is no more curse (Revelation 22:2-3); for the creation is delivered from the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21); and so comes the end when Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God, Who is then All in All because ALL God’s enemies are defeated, the last enemy being death, NOT eternally alive being endlessly punished. (1Corinthians 15:24-28).
Salvation is a gift from God, it is not of works lest anyone be found boasting (Eph 2:8) and that gift has been given to all men despite the fact that some of God’s own people don’t like such generous grace. ( Rom. 5:8; Matt. 5:1-16)
We can be assured of all these wonderful and glorious things because nothing is too difficult for Him (Luke 1:37) and while many things are impossible with man, nothing is impossible with God. (Matt. 19:26) Furthermore, God is love (1 John 4:8), a love that love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8), a love that lays down His life for not only His own, but His enemies as well and commands His disciples to do likewise.. (Matt. 5:38-48) Therefore, for God to endlessly punish His enemies would make Him a hypocrite commanding less powerful and less loving human beings to do what He is not willing to do. (Matt. 23)
There is nothing that can withstand His will and no plan of His can be thwarted. (Job 4:42) The Son came to save the world and not condemn it (Luke 5:59). Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him (all of us) (Luke 23:34) The Father has laid the iniquity of us all upon the Lamb of God (Isaiah 53:6). Jesus died for all of us. (John 1:29) To punish us now would be double jeopardy. Indeed, we can enter into His peace, believing that it is indeed finished! (John 19:30) The gift of life has been given to everyone. ( Rom. 5:18)
In conclusion, once again, “Love Never Fails,” “nothing is impossible with God” — surely His arm is not too short to save, restore, reconcile all. But men’s thinking, even prosperity preachers who believe in divine health and wealth fall short in believing that our heavenly Father and His Son have the wisdom, power and love to set all of creation free from its bondage to futility. But our Father is raising up believers who are not in unbelief regarding universal salvation – they believe Jesus, the Chosen One is, indeed, the savior of the whole world and much more! Are you one? (By the way, a “son” in the body of Christ can be a female as well as a male. “There is neither male nor female.”
10 thoughts on “The Restoration of All Things”
This is such a treat to a religious soul that knows what love is. I think we all know it, but we can forget it and then such awful nonsense like eternal torment teachings crop up. It’s very good to know that the bible does not teach this. I think we have been there once already, after the war, when many christians really started to embrace the love of God. It’s good to know that God follows through with his love and doesn’t let things slide. But why could we expect something different from God, we of little faith!
Thanks for a fantastic study on the restoration of all things. But…I do wonder about the use of 1 Peter 4:6 for Jesus having preached to the dead. Should not it have been translated “that it was preached to them that are now dead”? I noticed this statement in my Bible’s footnote.
Hi Gary
Several years ago I began to question hell and prayed for God to reveal His word, His will to me on the subject of hell. Through prayer and bible study I have been brought to a certain knowledge hell does not exist and the concept is an abomination. I had, more or less, accepted annihilation for some time and I now fully embrace Christian Universalism.
I belong to a small (300 members) evangelical bible church that embraces hell. I have voiced my opinion that hell does not exist and declared a Christian Universalist position. This has caused a rift between me and my beloved church family. I have looked around my rather small rural community. There appears that the only universalist church is a Unitarian Universalist church which I cannot and will not embrace.
My wife and I love the people in our church but cannot in good conscience fully participate church discussions which isolates us spiritually. I am experiencing a growing frustration and recognize that other Christians have gone through this same experience. I want to spread the true gospel but am isolated and becoming frustrated.
Just venting
God Bless
Jim
Excellent ! Great work bringing together all these scriptures to present Universal Reconciliation very clearly ! It’s so exciting to find all the pieces to the puzzle ; and they’re all there for those who , guided by His Spirit , search for answers in His Word ! I often rationalized that if Jesus always taught FORGIVENESS and expects it of all his followers and prominently included it in the prayer He taught His disciples to pray , how could He do less Himself ! I realize that Divine justice is extremely important as well , but the greatest of God’s attributes is LOVE ! I do believe there will be some sort of punishment system but something much different than what we may understand with our earthly minds for ” His thoughts are not our thoughts ” ! We are going to be very surprised about the meaning of justice , punishment , as well as forgiveness , when we join Jesus in Heaven !!!!!!!
God bless this site! one of the few that proclaims the goodnews of universalism and not the bad news of partialism.
Mr. Amirault:
I’ve just discovered Universalism as a brand of theology by way of your website but I have unwittingly agreed with its tenets for many many years.
My only complaint is that you all seem to confuse my understanding that; 1) God’s love is unconditional, and, 2) Salvation is conditional.
God did not cause Adam to sin.
Man chose to disobey and now it is a part of our nature, as gods knowing good and evil.
Ultimately; you, I, Gandhi, Hitler and the rest, will all be judged, fairly, by a loving God who will afford non-Christians with an opportunity for redemption, postmortem.
However, the outcome of that encounter is not knowable, to you or anyone else, as only the Judge and the individual can know, and only when that time comes.
That is, they may prefer a second death; not eternal torment, but the end of being.
A loving God may find that just, and quite sad.
Enjoy your website!
Cheers!
Thank you, Daniel for your comments. “Mercy shall triumph over judgment.” James 2:13 Love NEVER fails. Some people people are law centered, some just TRUST in His promises. I’m one of those who has been given faith to believe what man thinks is impossible. The salvation of all mankind for fallen man’s mind is impossible. But all things are possible for our Father and the Savior of the World, Jesus, the Chosen One. I believe. May my Father and yours also give you faith to believe. Til then, peace to you, Gary
Hi Gary. Thanks for helping me in my journey towards God. God has done some amazing things in my life in the last three months. I used to be KJVO for thirty years, but God has shown me the error of my way. I was an ardent believer in “unending conscious torment” for the wicked. I changed my way of thinking and became an annihilationist after reading “The fire that consumes” by Edward Fudge. I came across your articles, but at first I was apprehensive to read any of your articles as I was afraid. Afraid that I will be opening myself up to deception and lies. Well I took the plunge and started feasting on some of your articles. Well, I can now tell you that I believe that God will restore all things to Himself. I have been set free, praise God! Hallelujah! My mother together with my brother died in 1973 in a motor vehicle accident. I have always believed that I would see my brother again as he had not reached the “age of accountability” (whatever age that might be.) However, I have always believed that my mother went straight to burn in the flames, as she was Catholic. I really believed that she was writhing and screaming from pain every second of the day. I tried to love God but found it increasingly difficult, knowing what God was doing to my mother. One morning while reading “the myth of hell” I cried uncontrollably as God set me free from lies and deception. Thank you once again for your help.
Regards
Ken Groenewald.
Thank you Ken for your testimony. It brings joy to my heart!!!
I have put together many bible studies for several small groups of people in my life. I do my best to stay on point and not get onto too many “rabbit trails” as the inevitable questions arise.
This is the most wonderfully thought out and succinct gathering of scriptures and thoughts in a very readable format. I love it!
I am going to turn this into a study for my friends and family (credit, of course will go to you.)
Again, thank you for clearly speaking the very thoughts that are in my own heart.