Thought I would give my 
on this subject of God reconciling all things.
(Col. 1:16&20) For by him were all things created,.. {I assume that means all things including the bugs}.. that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,.. {doesn't leave anything out}..whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, ALL things were created by him, and for him.
Well my friend, look again at your prooftext to see what it really says. EVERYONE overlooks the key word that serves as a limiting parameter in this passage.
Col 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
This is speaking of the new creation, not the original, because God alone created heaven and earth, Jesus was not there.
Look at two things, Isaiah 44:24 "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens MONOS [alone]; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
That word "monos" is translated "alone." Look at what Jesus says when incorporating this word in describing his relationship with his Father..."Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me monos [alone]: and yet I am ouk monos [not alone], because the Father is with me." [John 16:32] Jesus said that when he and the Father are together, they are "ouk monos;" God said he MONOS [alone] created all things. The creation in which Jesus took part is the NEW CREATION, not the original.
Look at the language used when Holy Spirit discusses the new creation;
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are gegonen [become] new."
And look at the words used in John 1:3 "All things through it ginomai [became]; and without it ginomai [became] not one thing that ginomai [has become].[Grk interlinear.][For "it" instead of "him" see the first several English translations in history;
TYNDALE BIBLE (1525)
John 1:1 In the beginnynge was the worde, and the worde was with God, and the worde was god.
2 The same was in the beginnynge with god.
3 All things were made by it; and without it was made nothinge that was made.
GREAT BIBLE (1539)
1 In the begynnyng was the worde, and the worde was wyth God: and God was the worde. 2 The same was in the begynnyng wyth God. 3 All things were made by it, and wythout it, was made nothyng that was made.
GENEVA BIBLE (1560)
John 1:1 In the beginning was the worde, and the worde was with God, and that worde was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it; and without it was made nothing that was made.
BISHOP'S BIBLE (1568)
John 1:1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and God was that word. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it; and without it was made nothing that was made.
The first English translation to use "him" in place of "it" was the Catholic Duay Rheims:
RHEIMS BIBLE (1582)
John 1:1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and God was the word. 2 This was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was made nothing. That which was made
And the King James followed the Rheims.
KING JAMES BIBLE (1611)
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
As for "ginomai" meaning created, it is never so translated in the new testament, but is used as in Luke 23:12 "And the same day Pilate and Herod ginomai [were made] friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves."
It is the new creation under consideration in col 1:16, and in John 1:3.
Now, back to Col 1:16, "whether they be" is a limiting parameter telling us which specific "all things" are under consideration. "Whether they be" thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers. NOTHING else is under consideration in this passage. When Jesus preached his very famous sermon on the mount, as recorded in Mat chapters 5 through 7, he was laying the foundation for the new earth, "a new and living way." When he entered heaven, at his ascension, all thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers had to move down one position to accomodate his new position in heaven, it constituted a "new heaven." "In Christ All things have become new."
(Isaiah chapter 11) Talks about the cow and the bear feeding together, a child shall play on the hole of the asp and a weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
(Verse 9) "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea".
Even animals are agressive and kill so why wouldn't God reconcile them also?
Because they are not made in his image. [Ecc 3:21] "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"
I do not know answers, only questions, including my own beliefs. I continually read and study to comprehend all that God has revealed, and try to compensate between sometimes seemingly competing concepts. I am not set in stone as to my core believfs, but to change them I need more thn sound bites that I like to hear. And I do like what I am seeing on this board. I just do not change in the blink of an eye. It is too important to me.
