Hope for the World

[Gary Amirault]

I have been planning for a long time, but have never quite found the words, to write a short tract that I can post or give out about the Victorious Gospel. The tract would be an apology to the world on behalf of Christians; how the church has misrepresented Jesus Christ and His Victorious Gospel; an apology to the world for the suffering misguided Christians have heaped upon the world. A brief explanation of what happened, how the church steered in the wrong direction. A brief explanation of the Victorious Gospel using a string of Scriptures. A brief explanation how our Bibles have been corrupted. A brief explanation of why Jesus chose to hide the truly good news through this church age and how it's now time to reveal the full gospel of peace to all nations. And an invitation to those who are hungry for the Kingdom of Jesus. I have a friend who now wants to go into the hi-ways and byways to give food and a short tract to those he meets. He wants to give them hope. I've been wanting just the right tract myself to give to people in our community who are falling through the cracks during this time of recession in Missouri. We have a lot of hurting people here. So does every community.

I hope those of you who feel you have a writing gift to take a crack at producing a short tract like this. Perhaps some of you who have graphics, printing, web skills may offer some help. And those of you who have time may find ways to get this tract and others out there into discussion board, blogs, youtube, facebook etc. I think it's time.

[CHB]

Gary wrote: I think it's time.

I do too Gary! Thanks for this idea.

CHB

[eaglesway]

I have played around with the track idea for awhile. I found it difficult to write something short and concise, yet comprehensive enough to make a clear impact. My efforts evolved into a series of tracks, each focusing on a particular aspect of UR, one on the translation of hell/gehenna/sheol; one on Jesus' words about the salvation of all; one on Paul's teachings, etc.

I'll drag them out of the archives and touch them up a bit and post them for constructive criticism.

[Dandelion]

It might take me a while, but I will try to put a track together, as well.

Looking forward to seeing yours, EW.

Thank you, Gary.

For such a time as this..........     :dsunny:

D.

[eaglesway]

God's Ultimate Intention.


Eph 1:8-11 In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of ALL THINGS in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

God's purpose is His kind intention, executed through the completion of time- to sum up ALL THINGS IN CHRIST


Col 1:19-22 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,  yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death

The means by which all are reconciled is the blood of Christ crucified.

John 12:32 "If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw ALL MEN unto me"

This is Christ's own testimony, His gospel.


Phil 2:8-11   Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. This means all will be subjected to Him, for He must reign until all are subjected.

1Cor 15:22-25  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ ALL will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When ALL THINGS are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected ALL THINGS to Him, so that God may be ALL IN ALL.

The purpose of the subjection is reconciliation- so that God will be all in all(everything in everyone), including those who were once adversaries, even as we were once adversaries.

This is also the testimony of the Lord Jesus.

Rev 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making ALL THINGS new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

The kingdom of God has been planted in the earth, and will eventually fill all things.

Luke13:20,21 And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was ALL leavened."

The whole creation will be set free from futility into the glorious liberty of the children of God

Romans 8:19-22 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope  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.  For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

God set this plan in motion before the foundation of the world. It is too high and wide to fully comprehend, but it is fully testified to in the Bible in the scriptures of the prophets and apostles. Peter preached it on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 3:18-21 But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His [h]Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,  whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of ALL THINGS about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

There are ages yet to come.

Eph 2:3-8 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

There will be an age(a set period of time) for the judgment and correction of the wicked. It cannot last forever or all the scriptures above are untrue. That age will end when the last knee bows, the last tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord, in heaven, on earth and under the earth. When the last adversary is subjected and God has become all in all, death will be abolished, leaving only- life in God and Christ.

The "hell" in the original scriptures is translated from "sheol" around 50 times and "gehenna" 13 times. There is no word equivalent to "hell" in the greek or the hebrew scriptures.

Sheol means "unknown" or "unseen" and refers to the state of the dead.

Gehenna was a garbage dump outside of Jerusalem and symbolizes the burning up of empty works of "Pharisee type" religion.

The lake of fire does not last forever, but "for the age" (greek-aion). As Paul states in Ephesians 1, Gods purpose for the ages (fulness of time) is to sum up all things in Christ. He states in 1 Corinthians 15 that once the adversaries are subjected, death will be abolished, so if there is no more death, and God is all in all..... the second death cannot last forever.

Our God is a consuming fire. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Light is fire to darkness. In the lake of fire the light will penetrate the hearts of the wicked until they are subjected to the love of God. God is love. When God is all in all, all will be in the love of God. This is the kingdom of God.

If the lake of fire, or "second death"(Rev 21:8) lasted forever, how could death be abolished, or God become all in all. Why would Jesus say just three verses before(rev 21:5), "Behold I am making all things new."

This is the full plan of God who created all things and is redeeming all things through Jesus Christ, as he intended from the beginning.

Romans 11:32-36 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?  Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.


This is the gospel(euaggelion) which means Good News, or Glad Tidings that Jesus, Peter, Paul and John proclaimed, even as did the angels before Christ's birth.

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings(euaggelion- gospel) of great joy, which shall be to all people.







This was originally longer, but I shortened the commentary to let the scriptures speak as loudly as possible.

[sheila]

wonderful post EW....

   Gary....Daniel prophesied that the 'saints' or church would be overcome...just as Israel was.......I feel this is all part of binding

  all in disobedience..to show mercy upon all[let he who thinks he is standing..beware,lest he fall] thus saint and sinner alike all

partake of His mercy and grace..and no flesh boast or inherits..but we all inherit through the promised seed/Grace and mercy

through Christ.

    the saints overcome;and when the power of the holy people is dashed...the court sit and the kingdom was 'given' unto the saints.

  it is our 'helpen with a little help"...nothing will seperate the saints or sinners[all men] from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.

   the heralds announced...Good news of Great joy unto all men..at His birth


   Have no fear 'little flock'/church...for I have overcome the world.  I have come to the conclusion that the overcoming of the world

is a gift of God through Christ... to His  overcome church.....for greater is He that is in you..than he that is in the world.


   The Father's undeserved kindness,love,mercy and grace as shown in the Son for the whole creation..in making all things new.....

  So Gary..yes the church apologizes for it's failure...but even 'the dashing of the power of the saints" was part of His divine plan.


    The gates of hell will not prevail....His spirit of life shall/has entered the dead church......and they shall stand erect...and

  the call to 'Come up here" will be seen. And great fear shall fall upon those who rejoiced at the putting to death of the Gospel

of Jesus Christ.  The two wittness's  Spirit of LOVE and TRUTH shall rise victorious..and all things shall be put into subjection

of Him who is FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

   love to you all.... :HeartThrob:

   

 

[Dandelion]

Magnificent, EW!

What will you call it?

I would love to see the version with the commentaries, as well.

I was thinking to focus mine on the theme of His everlasting Love for us, and the contradiction between The concept of Hell and a love that never fails.

Sheila....I do believe most who promote Hell have good intentions, but for those who delight in the thought of others burning forever, because of different theologies, or whatever, I would ask, how can God's message of Love translate into that?

D.                      :thumbsup:

[sheila]

it doesn't,Dandelion.  And when such  as them that rejoice with glee....at the destruction/torture of the 'wicked' meet their maker....

   they shall be greatly humbled...and never boast in their flesh again. I imagine they shall be very very glad to accept the free

  gift of undeserved kindness grace and life through Jesus...and their former objections of 'sinner men' all being saved fall by the wayside

  when they find themselves as some of the worst of sinner men.[teaching blasphemy and lies as the word of God/find they have

  been false prophets/teacher's as such receiving a heavier judgement]

[marie glen]

I have been seriously thinking of a tract like this too.. something short and sweet as they say.. a summary.. an urge to get things as short and as clear as possible..
    :Pray:

(side note, also thinking about one for a clear 'last' days, fall of man's world, tract, summary for clear guidance)

tracts for printing which are also summaries for posting in online venues..

when we want to write, it's like a paragraph/pile of words atop ones head.. prayer, and the Spirit, sifting, sifting.. putting the words and thoughts in order..

    :Pray:

  .....EW

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: VERY :goodpost:

[marie glen]

my 2¢ -

How The Gospel Message Has Lost Some Of Its Glory!

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. ..And man, male and female, in His own image.
And every thing was very good" [from Genesis 1:1, 27 and 31].  And God himself, surely? Is both Life (itself) and Perfection (without flaw or weakness).

"..The Lord God breathed into his nostrils (the) breath of life, and the man became a living creature" [Genesis 2:7].

But in their heart, mankind has wandered away from perfection and God who is life. (A possibility and side effect of thinking ability?) "For all have sinned" (in the original language - missed the mark) "and come short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23]. And "the wages" (result) "of sin" (imperfection) "is death" [Romans 6:23]. Imperfection, being the opposite of Life.

"But! The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus!" [Romans 6:23]. "Which works" (the rescue) "was finished from the foundation/creation of the world" [Hebrews 4:3].

Jesus said, "If I be lifted up from the earth" (on the cross?) "I will draw all men to me" [John 12:32]. Another translation puts it like this - "And I" said Jesus, "when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

1 Timothy 4:10 says "we trust in the living God! Who is the Savior of all men! Especially of those who believe." Another version says "who is Saviour of all men -- especially of those believing." God, our Father, is the savior of all. Perfect (surely?) makes no mistakes. Can lose nothing.

"...He made known to us the mystery of his will, that when the times reach their fulfillment He might gather together all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth" [Ephesians 1:9,10]. "And through Jesus to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven.." [Colossians 1:20].

"Behold," the Book of Revelation says "I make all things new.. the river of life from the throne, as clear as crystal.."

"He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes between nations. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, with none troubling, for the Lord Almighty has spoken" [Micah 4:3,4]. "The cow and the bear shall graze, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox" [Isaiah 11:7].

Christianity has been made up of human beings, and the gospel message has been passed down through human hands, for nearly two thousand years. That the message has lost some of its glory, and picked up some baggage along the way, is not surprising. As the Gospel (Greek for "good news") has come to be preached and taught, it would seem one of two impossibilities would be true. God is not perfect, certainly not all powerful. Or, God is not all good. But some darkness resides within Him. (And thus He too misses the mark, and can only fade?)

Is it possible we have come to greatly underestimate Him? And His great plan (intent) of salvation and reconciliation (perfection)? "The grave" has been translated to read "hell". Which, surely, casts a great shadow upon His character. And contradicts both the good news and the Holy Bible. The "lower part of the earth" and "the place of the dead" is still the grave.

"Preaching via the Spirit to those awaiting the ark and flood", was in that day, not in a mythical, all hope is lost 'hell'. "These will be coming into eonian (agelasting) chastening/curtailing" has been translated into "these will go away into eternal punishment" [Matthew 25:46 ]. And the phrase "in the deepest depths of darkness, locked into judgment" also, does not equate to 'hell'! A closer translation for judgment, would be "decision" (from the Greek word "krisis"). Even "Gehenna" the city dump has been translated to read 'hell'!

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee" Psalm 22:27.

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" [Isaiah 55:11]. "I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and it turns not back, that to Me, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear" [Isaiah 45:23].

"'As surely as I live' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me, every tongue will acknowledge God'" [Romans 14:11]. Ultimately, all humans will repent.. there may even "be weeping and gnashing of teeth" in "outer darkness" but if God says all will bend the knee and all families of the nations will worship (rejoice) before Him, who are we to contradict His Word. His Promise.

In 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, it says, "In Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order - Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then (also) -- the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having abolished all rule, authority and power.. and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.. all things having been subdued unto him, that He may be (the) all in all".

From Revelation 21:1,4,5 - "There will be new heavens and a new Earth.. God shall wipe away all tears ...there shall be no more death. Behold, I make all things new."

"..Though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.." [Psalm 46:2]. Even if man's world were to crash in an hour and fall in a day, "HIS kingdom will never end!" [Luke 1:33].

"We will not fear, for God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" [Psalm 46:1].

Jesus said "Abide in me" [John 15:4] and "if you abide in My word, truly my disciples ye are, and ye shall know the truth" [John 8:31].

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.. We may come near, then, with freedom, to the throne of grace, that we may receive kindness, and find grace -- for seasonable help" [James 4:8; Hebrews 4;16] ..for the help and ongoing transformation we need.

"We shall be like Him" [1 John 3:2].

"For the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (gentleness), faithfulness, humility, and self-control (temperance)" [Galatians 5:22,23].

"God is love" [1 John 4:8].
 

============================================

Side note/not part of the above:
Psalm 46:1-2 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

46 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. `For the Virgins.' -- A song.
God [is] to us a refuge and strength, A help in adversities found most surely.
2 Therefore we fear not in the changing of earth, Even in the slipping of mountains Into the heart of the seas.
-------------------------------------------------------

I think graphics.. images can be very powerful and I've been planning to work on some for verses such as these.. I haven't thought of a tract but of two or three sheets rolled up in a roll and tied, or with a rubber band.. for the printouts, for friends, acquaintances and whatnot.. I want a shorter version of these verses to put with an image for facebook and to link to for twitter, etc. If you have a facebook account, in your name or website name, you can post these - the image with some text - as long, pretty much as you want.. Or "create a page" and post them there.. and repost them from time to time.. and on your facebook timeline (home page). Then others can share/repost them.. Both on facebook and twitter.. and in forums wherever one finds them.. I signed up for another large social website a while back, but the name escapes me right now.. And I don't think facebook has a ur (discussion) group..

[Patinak]

Marie Glen,

Excellent and concise, you have covered all bases!   :thumbsup:

Pat

[eaglesway]

 :iagree:

[Ross]

Brilliant Marie

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" [Isaiah 55:11].

"I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and it turns not back, that to Me, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear" [Isaiah 45:23].

In 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, it says, "In Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order - Christ the first-fruit, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then (also) -- the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having abolished all rule, authority and power.. and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.. all things having been subdued unto him, that He may be (the) all in all".

From Revelation 21:1,4,5 - "There will be new heavens and a new Earth.. God shall wipe away all tears ...there shall be no more death. Behold, I make all things new."

"We shall be like Him" [1 John 3:2].

"God is love" [1 John 4:8].
 

* Some of my favourite verses, among many.
The word lives and the truth is mind-boggling.
True freedom is indescribable.

Have A Great Day.

[Rhodes]

Gary, I am a big believer in personal testimonies being used as tracts. As you would know the following is from Hannah Whital Smith. I don't know about anyone else, or those in Missouri, but a bunch of scriptures might be fine for church people but not the majority of lost souls.
IMO the best writings on this website and forum are the personal testimonies that many have written, how they came out of darkness into the light of seeing the wonder of His all saving love.


Look at all the lonely people

"In every human face I saw, there seemed to be unveiled before me the story of the misery and anguish caused by the entrance of sin into the world. I knew that God must see this with far clearer eyes than mine, and therefore I felt sure that the sufferings of this sight to Him must be infinitely beyond what it was to me, almost unbearable as that seemed. And I began to understand how it was that the least He could do would be to embrace with untold gladness anything that would help to deliver the being He had created for such awful misery.

It was a never-to-be-forgotten insight into the world's anguish because of sin. How long it lasted I cannot remember, but, while it lasted, it almost crushed me. And as it always came afresh at the sight of a strange face, I found myself obliged to wear a thick veil whenever I went into the streets, in order that I might spare myself the awful realization.

One day I was riding on a tram-car along Market Street, Philadelphia, when I saw two men come in and seat themselves opposite to me. I saw them dimly through in veil, but congratulated myself that it was only dimly, as I was thus spared the wave of anguish that had so often swept over me at the full sight of a strange face. The conductor came for his fare, and I was obliged to raise my veil in order to count it out.

As I raised it I got a sight of the faces of those two men, and with an overwhelming flood of anguish, I seemed to catch a fresh and clearer revelation of the depth of the misery that had been caused to human beings by sin. It was more than I could bear. I clenched my hands and cried out in my soul,

"O, God, how canst thou bear it? Thou mightest have prevented it, but didst not. Thou mightest even now change it, but Thou dost not. I do not see how Thou canst go on living, and endure it."

I upbraided God. And I felt I was justified in doing so. Then suddenly God seemed to answer me.

An inward voice said, in tones of infinite love and tenderness, "He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.""Satisfied!" I cried in my heart, "Christ is to be satisfied! He will be able to look at the world's misery, and then at the travail through which He has passed because of it, and will be satisfied with the result; If I were Christ, nothing could satisfy me but that every human being should in the end be saved, and therefore I am sure that nothing less will satisfy Him."

And with this a veil seemed to be withdrawn from before the plans of the universe, and I saw that it was true, as the Bible says, that "as in Adam all die-even so in Christ should all be made alive." As was the first, even so was the second. The "all" in one case could not in fairness mean less than the "all" in the other. I saw therefore that the remedy must necessarily be equal to the disease, the salvation must be as universal as the fall.

I saw all this that day on the tram-car on Market street, Philadelphia –not only thought it, or hoped it, or even believed it–but knew it. It was a Divine fact. And from that moment I have never had one questioning thought as to the final destiny of the human race.

God is the Creator of every human being, therefore He is the Father of each one, and they are all His children; and Christ died for every one, and is declared to be "the propitiation not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). However great the ignorance therefore, or however grievous the sin, the promise of salvation is positive and without limitations. If it is true that "by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation," it is equally true that "by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." To limit the last "all men" is also to limit the first. The salvation is absolutely equal to the fall. There is to be a final "restitution of all things," when "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." Every knee, every tongue-words could not be more embracing.

The how and the when I could not see; but the one essential fact was all I needed-somewhere and somehow God was going to make every thing right for all the creatures He had created. My heart was at rest about it forever."

[sheila]

  I love her testimony...TY

[marie glen]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: I never heard that before! I have a book around here somewhere by her! Now I'm interested! ...Very beautiful!! :smile:

[GodIsLove]

Hello! Marie mentioned Facebook and got me thinking! Tentmaker needs a Facebook page, and then verses, testimonies, links to TM articles can all be posted daily. Anyone who is into marketing uses Facebook to promote their business, so this would be the fastest and easiest way to promote UR. I'm from a catholic background (and I'm gathering I'm somewhat younger than most of you all) and we don't have "tracts" so my only experience with getting handed a pamphlet is to be suspicious/wary and throw it away. Just my opinion :)

[GodIsLove]

I also agree with Rhodes that bible verses can be used for people who are already Christian but everyone else likely will not care that we are quoting "2000 year old letters" so a different approach may be warranted. I have many atheist and agnostic friends and they are just happy I don't think they will burn in hell for eternity, but their interest in UR really stops there. It's the old "ears to hear" thing again :)

[GodIsLove]

Short and sweet:

All from KJV

God is love (1 John 3:8)
Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

[Rhodes]

Marie Glen

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: I never heard that before! I have a book around here somewhere by her! Now I'm interested! ...Very beautiful!! :smile:

Gary has Hannah Whital Smith's missing chapters posted on this site somewhere...ahh, here it is- http://www.tentmaker.org/testimonials/ThirdEpochInMyLife.html
Her autobiography is called The Unselfishness of God...and she even named a chapter by that title as well. It is her crowning chapter which contains the testimony above, but the Publishers have decided in their "unbiased" opinion that the unselfishness of God is not something we want people to know about....so they leave out 3 chapters of her autobiography when they publish her book.
I hunted an original first edition(containing all her chapters) down and paid $500USD for it gladly..actually I paid it as a  protest against the spirit of selfishness that pervades the Church.

[Rhodes]

[This is my opinion only] :winkgrin:
Personally I do not think we need to apologise to the world. God has used the fear of Hell for a purpose. He always sets up or "allows" to be set up, opposites. There is still a judgement to come that people need to be warned about. No it is not eternal burnings in a literal hell....nor in a literal lake of fire.
And we know that it is God who draws us and God who grants repentance unto life. It is God who ordains each one of us to come to Jesus in His timing...which of course includes our will/choice.
We also know that the god of this world blinds the minds of those who are perishing. 2 Cor 4
We know that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe. 1Cor 1
And we know that they will not believe unless someone goes to them with the gospel. Rom 10
We know that God has blinded the eyes and deafened the ears until He chooses to do otherwise...nevertheless we still preach because there may be one soul who He grants repentance to in a crowd of blind people.
We know he has allowed the tares from Augustine to be planted and to prosper for 1500 years now...He could have stopped it right there in 500AD...but instead HE allows the contrary thing to grow up with the wheat.....meanwhile men grope in the darkness trying to find meaning and life.
The Good news to all people of a Saviour and Lord being born this day in Bethlehem who is Christ the Lord falls on deaf ears unless He is bringing that one to Himself now.
Suffering people in Missouri and everywhere because they are out of work and in debt to the slave masters(bankers) is all a part of God bringing people to HImself.
Many will suicide and take drugs etc to try to escape the torment of anxiety and depression that they labour under daily. What can we do?
A tract? Yes..it is a handy tool for some.
The Pharisees were angry with Peter and John  because " they preached in Jesus the resurrection of the dead."
Peter preached remission of sins through faith in Jesus Christ when at Cornelius' house.
Paul preached at Athens the God Who made all things, Who appointed a day when He will judge the living and dead by the Man who died for all sinners and was raised from death. Paul preached repentance and faith toward Jesus.
None of them preached about UR when speaking to unbelievers.
Christ crucified and risen from the grave is the good news that "reconciled -to -God-people" need to hear in order to receive the conciliation.
Apologising and preaching about the error of ET to lost sinners is to me, not the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation. Of course it will be good news to those who were raised in some form of Christianity and have figured out that that god is a monster that needs to be kept away from.
As long as the main thrust of the message is Jesus giving His life as a ransom for lost sinners so they can be forgiven all their sins, then the UR message on the end may be a bonus....or it may just get in the way of them repenting.
Paul reasoned with Agrippa about self control, righteousness and the judgement to come.....he did not let him off the hook with, 'you will get saved anyway one day'. And even then Agrippa only said, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian".
We are to " always be ready to give an answer for the hope we have to those who ask " ---what is our hope? 

[jabcat]

I could see offering a sort of "apology" or explanation, but then I very much like the rest of your post Rhodes.  AMEN!

I don't tire of saying;  the heart of the Gospel is Jesus, crucified and risen again - believe on Him!  Again, Amen!

[Ross]

Indeed the heart is what Paul said about not needing any special words, other than the fact that Christ died and rose again. A problem for the dedicated Jews. A major problem for the mental reasoning and knowledge seeking Greeks.
Resurrection is a dirty word to many- however; I.M.O in their current state of ignorance they protect themselves from the unknown.
The truth will liberate mankind for ever.

[Aerex]

My concern is that people already preach this. The only difference is that people believe that the wicked will be resurrected to be tortured forever. You are right that UR is not the gospel persay it is the mystery of the gospel. The final goal of everything. I think we should at enforce God's intention which many paint God as a vindictive monster.

[eaglesway]

IMO, the gospel of Jesus Christ includes the salvation of all. That is why it is good news. The mystery of the gospel IS the gospel, and it includes several different things, including the etrnal destiny of Israel(Rom 11:25&Eph 3:1-6); the salvation of all(Eph 1:9-11); Christ in you the hope of glory(Col 1:26,27), the mystery of the brise(Eph 5;Rev 19:7 Rev 21:2; Heb 12:18-29)

Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him -- to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27 NIV)


Paul clearly writes His gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ are according to the mystery.

Jesus taught this as well, preaching the gospel as mysteries of the kingdom in parables, "That seeing they might not perceive and hearing they might not understand".

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

'You will keep on hearing, [g]but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.'
16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

What did they desire to see that we see and they didnt? The resolution of the whole thing, the gospel of the kingdom of God and the redemption of the whole creation.

I think a lot of the problem with false doctrine is the attempt to remove the mystery from the gospel and to break it down and package it up in systematic theology......Like making a statue of God and working the jaws like a puppet, the organizations of men create abominations that make desolate.

The salvation of all is the milk of the word. It is a basic foundation of the gospel. It is impossible to go on into maturity without it, but understanding it does not mean someone is mature.

It is milk.

A deeper mystery is the mystery of the Bride, the wedding supper and union with Christ-  the marriage in which we all become one- no longer carnal and divided, and that is a problem that it is clearly apparent, the salvation of all does not fix, again- because it is milk.

In Hebrews chapter 6 Paul outlines 7 basic foundations of the oracles of Christ without which a believer cannot go on into maturity....

He is not saying a believer cannot be mature in love without them- He IS saying they cannot be mature in the priesthood of Christ and His gospel without them.

The 6th and 7th- resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment involve the salvation of all, 1 Cor 15 being the most complete exposition on them in the scriptures.

The first, and central one is the doctrine of Christ. It is the central and core truth of the gospel and involves who Jesus is(Son, Savior, Lord, Messiah) and what He died for(the redemption of the creation, many sons unto glory, the salvation of each and all, reconciliation by grace through the blood of His cross), and how that effects each of us as disciples.

None of the other 6 branches of the lampstand can be rightly related unless that central one remains the core and most important one, but imo, no one can go on into maturity as a minister of Christ until all six are in their proper place.