Hello Everyone

[Searching_For_The_Truth]

It is an honor to be a participant of the Tentmaker forums. I have learned about Universal Salvation from this website recently and it has given me a lot of hope and inner peace. Like many of the Tentmaker testimonies, the eternal torment doctrine has been a source of intense anxiety and fear. I used to believe in the mainstream "free will/once saved always saved doctrine" but as one of the tentmaker articles accurately mentions, there is a big if that is involved with the once saved always saved doctrine. Not to mention there are parts of the Bible which imply that we are judged by our works as well. The testimonies and articles on this website perfectly describe how the eternal torment doctrine has negatively affected me.

Words are not enough to describe how Tentmaker has been a blessing to me, how it calmed me down and helped me find some peace.  At the same time, there is still a skeptical side of me that feels like I am running away from the truth because it's too hard for me to endure. Sometimes I wish I was never born in the first place. To me it is better never to exist in the first place than to live life each day with the fear  of going to Hell. I don't even want to have children when I get married because if there is even a 0.000000000000000000005% chance of that child going to Hell, the risk is not worth it.

I know many would say that it is not right for me to question God because he is holy and I am not. However, as many of the tentmaker articles point out, it is difficult to truly love God with the cloud of Hell hanging over your head. I have always wondered how majority of believers can be so good to others and be at peace with the fact that a vast majority of mankind is going to be tormented for eternity. Many of them are sincere, many of them are kind hear-ted. Not all the eternal torment advocates are heartless people. I have reached the conclusion that the eternal torment doctrine is harder to accept for people who are new to the faith or from a different faith than for those who have been taught that their whole lives. I wonder how they respond to situations where one of their closest loved ones (or family members) aren't saved or someone they love dearly. I imagine they would respond by saying whoever loves a family member more then Lord Jesus isn't worthy of him.

I sincerely hope and pray that in the end all souls will be saved. That's what guided me to the doctrine of Universal Salvation. However, I am genuinely worried that many believers of Universal Salvation don't seem to understand the times we are living in. I believe without a shadow of a doubt, we are in the last days. Just read the world news, especially what is going on in Russia and Israel. John Hagee wrote a book called the 4 Blood Moons. The first Blood Moon started on the week of Passover. It has only been 3 months since the Blood Moon and look at how chaotic the world is. Imagine what will happen in the remaining 3 Blood Moons. For now it's safe to assume that John Hagee is correct. If he is correct about the blood moons, how do we know he is not also correct about eternal torment?

In conclusion, I am glad to be a part of this forum. I noticed that all the discussions on the Tentmaker forums are very civil and respectful. It gives me a lot of hope to see a faith forum where we can have an honest discussion about scripture without name calling or belittling each other. That is what inspired me to join the Tentmaker forums. I need help from everyone in fully accepting the Universal Salvation doctrine. As I mentioned before, it gives me a lot of comfort but at the same time I feel like I may be running from the truth. I look forward to being a part of all future discussions we will have.

[rosered]

Welcome searching for truth ,
  It is only the Lord Himself though His powerful Spirit we can rest in His hope and plan for all .. God bless you always in Him

[joeteekay]

Welcome aboard. Let us learn the wonders of God together. 

[ed]

Thanks for posting!

Welcome!

:thumbsup:

[eaglesway]

Your testimony both breaks my heart and binds it up again. The doctrine of eternal torment in hell is a terrible lie with no foundation in the scriptures. The salvation of all is witnessed in so many places that I wonder with all my studying how I could have missed it for so long.

"If anyone has not received our gospel it is because the God of this world has blinded their eyes lest they should see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Cor 4)

It is great to have you here and to know that you have received comfort from the things shared on this site.

"As in Adam all died so also in Christ shall all be made alive" ......YAY GOD!

"Behold I am making all things new"   YAY JESUS!

[marie glen]

Welcome!!  :smile: :hiya:

I'm happy you're here!

"God is the savior of all, especially those which believe" 1 Tim 4:10

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, all families will worship before Him" Ps 22:27

"If I be lifted up from the earth" (on the cross! Jesus said) "I will draw all to me" John 12:32 (Italics in our Bible is added words by the translators.

It's amazing how the Word seems to take on a new slant when once UR is perceived in it!

God bless you!