Universalism (Christian) versus The Hell Doctrine! (Which Bears Good Fruit?)
Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, Our Father is UNFAILING LOVE!
Tentmaker Visitor Comments and Testimonies
May we add your testimony to our heavenly Father’s faithfulness real soon.
Some excerpts from recent emails we have gotten here at Tentmaker. We share them to encourage others who are on a similar spiritual journey. Please also check our Testimonials Page for more stories and testimonies. Glory to God!
April 22, 2005
The Case Against Hell
Beloved in Christ, I have just stumbled upon “The Case Against Hell” by Mercy Aiken and Gary Amirault. I shudder to even attempt conveying what an impact the subject of “Hell” has had on my life. I’m no Bible scholar, I’m not even a very good Christian as Christians go, but by and by in my Search i’ve come to find some hope here and there, such as in Romans 8:38, 39 “For I am persuaded beyond doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I’m no scholar. I Love God but i’ve always feared Him more than Loved him, which is why if there really IS no Hell, then the Church has been handled even more poorly than I thought, and I thought alot. My faith is more on the mustard seed side, but it’s there. I’ve always believed I was destined for Hell, despite scripture that said I was saved. I’m trying not to digress here, what I’m saying is that I stumbled upon your website much the same way I stumbled on the preceding passage from Romans…I needed to see that Romans passage desperately, and I only saw it a few years ago. Mercy Aiken and Gary Amirault have shown me that I wasn’t the only one wrestling with Jesus over “If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much.” I never heard that view from anyone but myself, tho of course I knew there had to be others. This piece, Ms. Aiken and Mr. Amirault, was Invigorating, nothing short. Riveting. It lifted my spirit so very highly, and I cannot thank you enough. I suspect I’ll still always be looking over my shoulder for Hell, but you do make an excellent case that maybe I can relax a bit. Maybe even relax a lot.
April 21, 2005
Convinced
Gary, have been reading your tentmaker.org site for weeks and am now CONVINCED in universal salvation. Verse after verse prove it. What a burden lifted. Now to get the word out but it’s so hard. Christian minds are PROGRAMMED to believe in eternal torment. Thank God for your site. I believe revival is coming but it won’t happen until the mercy of God is preached, not His wrath.
April 14, 2005
Amazing!
Thank you for reminding me that salvation is a work of God. You know, for many years I was a Calvinist. I found so much evidence in Scripture of people being chosen by God, healed by Jesus through no understanding on their part, others being hardened, etc, that I felt Scripture was completely clear on the point of salvation being of God and not through man’s effort. In fact, “born again” literally means “born from above.” Yet that view always disturbed me. God chooses some for damnation? Once a friend said, “God’s love is so amazing, it’s a miracle that *any* of us make it at all, because none of us should.” That view was completely unsettling, and yet with Calvinism, what other conclusion are you left with? Now that I’ve come into a new understanding about the ultimate salvation of all, it takes the best parts of Calvinism (that salvation is God’s work, not man’s) and combines it with the best possible news–that God’s redemptive work won’t stop until the work is accomplished…. The change in my own life since coming to this new realization has been amazing. The way I interact with others has completely changed, the way I witness and minister has changed . . . it’s all just such good news. God is even bigger and more loving than I ever knew. Praise Him. Thank you so much for your help and the articles you provide.
April 11, 2005
Encouraged
Hello, God has been revealing the full extent of His love for us and the fullness of His salvation for all over the last year, in my quest for truth on these matters your website has been of great encouragement.
April 5, 2005
Daily Blessing
Your site is such a daily blessing in my life. Sometimes I feel on the OUT of mainstream fundamental christianity…. and this site helps me feel not alone.. and hopeful and anxious for the ones yet to open their eyes, Thank You.
March 27, 2005
A new peace
Hi, A while back, I had ordered Gary Amirault’s teaching series on Eternal Torment. I have since converted the tapes to mp3 format so I can listen to the teachings back to back on my mp3 player. I have found such great comfort in those teachings that I often start playing the teachings when I go to bed. Strangely enough, I have often found myself in dreams that appear to start out as nightmares, but always have a victorious ending, and needless to say during this “nightmare,” all fear that I could possibly have has subsided. Could it be that those teachings have a positive effect on the subconcious?…When I was a small child, being raised as a Roman Catholic, I was of course indoctrinated on the “eternal torment” and “hell” theologies. And of course I have often had nightmares that when I woke up, I was glad it was only a dream. But sometimes I was afraid to go to sleep at night for fear that I might have a nightmare.I would definitely recommend your teachings as a great way to help relax somebody or if a person cannot sleep….But anyway, on a day that is traditionally celebrated as the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, I found a strange peace today after listening to your teachings in my sleep (I’m a night owl, so I sleep during the daytime) that was so exciting I found the need to share it with you. Thanks!
March 27, 2005
Tithe
I read your writing EL DIEZMO ESTA ABOLIDO (I dont know how to trnslate in english this title). You wrote about the diezm (tithe). Thanks for that. I have been researching a lot to find something about it. The Lord sent you to clear the mind of so many confused christians. I was going to a church from Brazil and I envolved very deeply with them. My wife and me learned so many things about the Bible. We feel stronger in our faith. But we didnt see very clear the pressure given from the church to the people asking for money money and money every day. Even requesting for God all your savings. all your money. all your assets. cars. home. etc. After read your writing, I found in my heart Peace and knowledge. Thanks, from Brazil
March 18, 2005
Learning more than ever
It was 8 months ago that God finally revealed to me His plan to save all mankind. I’ve learned more in the last 8 months with a Bible and a concordance than I ever have sitting in the pews of a church….
March 12, 2005
Fresh Air
your site is a breath of fresh air. thank you. the various subject is great.
March 7, 2005
From the Philippines
When I visited your website, I was so shocked at first. I can’t believe that this teaching is being taught today and have no idea that this teaching was really taught by other groups in the past. But it keeps on lingering in my mind and heart. My mind somewhat tells me, “it could not be true,” “I will not accept it,” but MY HEART is saying very opposite. My heart keeps on shouting inside: “This is the truth. God is Love. , etc., etc.” So I decided to give myself into it and visited your website many many many times, printed many of your downloadable tracts and articles. But since I have not computer of my own, and since I have only meager income as a nursing attendant, I cannot rent coumputer in Internet caffe very often.
Since the time I found Tentmaker, I came to know and now I firmly believe that God really will save ALL PEOPLE no matter how bad they are in this present life. God can heal their hearts and mind in the future because He can turn the river wherever he wants to turn it. Here in the Philippines I am doing the preaching work by writing tracts about Universal reconcilliation. But since I have only small financial income, I can only print a dozen or a hundred pieces of tract from time to time.
Last Sunday, I presented to the brethren (on our meeting) my understanding regarding the Universal Reconcilliation using the printed materials from Tentmakers website. They accepted it without difficulty. So, whats next? We are planning to preach and teach this truth to whoever that will be willing to hear….From Your brother in the Philippines
March 2, 2005
Worship Leader
God has called me to declare His glory to my generation through music. i long to, through the power of music, help to unveil the reality and wonder and glory that God is. please be praying for me as i will be seeking God in how i should communicate this new found glory and joy of the absolutely triumphant and victorious Christ and the glorious restitution of all things in His sacrifice.
February 25, 2005
Closer to God
I love to read Tentmaker. It makes me feel much closer to God, knowing that ‘ALL’ will be with Him after we leave this planet.
February 25, 2005
A gold mine!
I am a 43 year old woman who has believed that only the ones who “believe in Jesus” would get to heaven, and thus since I was a young child in Catholic school. Then I “got saved” when in the Air Force at age 26 and started in the whole progression of learning the Word through a charismatic non-denominational church. I read the two books by Mulholland and Gulley, “If Grace is True” and “If God is Love” and became convinced. Now I am researching this universal idea daily and found your website! It’s a gold mine!
February 23, 2005
Seeking the truth
I am sending this e-mail to thank you for your website and your informative articles. The words in the Bible now take on a whole new meaning to me. I actually enjoy reading the Bible because I now have so much hope for people in my family and the world, who are not believers…For the past year I have prayed that God would show me the truth if I wasn’t seeing the whole truth yet. I AM SEEKING THE TRUTH. I have had a couple of dreams lately of people who have died that were my friends and grandparents who I had thought before did not make it to heaven. In one dream my friend said “You know what you need to do”, and in the other dream with my grandparents they were happy and beautiful like I had never seen them before when they were on earth. My Grandmother rocked me like a baby and I was so happy. These dreams made me so emotional and I feel that they may have been God’s way of showing me that I do not know all his ways like I thought I did, and I should continue to seek the truth…Thank you so much for all your help.
February 22, 2005
The “real” Good News!
I don’t label myself anything but a true believer of Jesus, so I don’t call myself a universalist, but I do believe that God will save all mankind. Your articles are refreshing and it’s nice to read that there are believers out there who truly understand that God’s love is great enough to save his entire creation. I sometimes get frustrated debating with those who beleive in hell, Lucifer, etc., but I try to remember that their unbelief is all part of God’s plan and in the end the truth will be revealed to all. Hopefully by sharing my opinion I can plant a seed that will grow. Anyway keep up the good work, you are truly spreading “the real good news”.
February 21, 2005
Tithing
The pressure to tithe is enormous. I was so spiritually beaten up by the leadership of a local congregation I was a member of, that my spirit was almost destroyed. Fortunately, as a side effect, this turned out to be a good thing. About a year ago I entered into a search of truth within scriptures due to this very issue and I was amazed at the traditions I held sacred with the only justification being that it was passed down to me. As I began to learn more about the lack of truth in the tithe as taught, I began to see other things that gave me pause. My old spirit was beat down and a new spirit in Yeshua was given birth. As the article said “…but most of the slaves do not realize they are slaves to a system which places burdens upon the backs of God’s people that He never placed upon their backs! Few Christians are aware of how spiritually dead they really are until they come out of the graveyards in which they worship!” How true. I have long since come to a peace through forgiveness of others and the realization of how short we all fall. I was doing some other research when I came upon this article. I have read much off this before, but I wanted to send an email to say in all I have read I have never seen it presented so well. This will definitely go in my favorites folder and I will further explore this site. It is now 12:50 in the morning and in a few short hours I will go to work, but I can truthfully say, thanks for keeping me up.
February 19, 2005
From Norway
I wanted to tell you that there is hope out there…In the ministry of Berg, of which I am a member, I don’t think anyone is a believer of eternal torment or even a firm believer in everlasting destruction. I even know some who believe in the salvation of all mankind. There is a reason why I have been a universalist all my life. A friend of my mother’s have expressed my belief quite clearly: There are two types of people: those who now are Christians, and those who will be. Others have agreed with me that damnation is the long way around. There are very few who now believe in a hell of everlasting torments. Most people either believe that we are not supposed to know how many who will be saved, or in annihilation. There was a time I considered this a possibility, or that the Bible was a lie, until I came across your ministry. I cannot express my gratitude towards you, but perhaps I could help one day. I’m 18 years old and starting this fall I’m going to study theology at the university of Oslo. I know it’s quite far off in the future, but when I’m done I want to write a translation of Bible or at least the New Testament which is free of traditions of men…
February 17, 2005
A Beautiful thing
I have been reading the articles on your site for several months and find them so encouraging. Please let me know if there are others to talk to in Pittsburgh who believe in Universal Reconciliation through Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful thing.
February 16, 2005
Out of darkness
Hi, I’m a new ponderer of the universal salvation of the scriptures and it’s really gotten my attention!!! Do you know of any place in the Denver, CO area that would have study and fellowship with this truth? I will keep looking at your website with great interest! WOW! To get out of the darkness and into the glorious truth!
02/16/05 Less condemnation for self and others
I have not finished reading the info you told me about, but my heart feels full just to see that information there and so I just want to say “Thank you so much” again. (It is as if my spirit is already witnessing to the truth of it all, but I know that I am to always be studying the Scriptures to be sure all doctrines are sound. Also I want to share this information with others and do it right. So far in my life people don’t seem to get mad at what I say about the Word, they just seem to have a “Hmmmm…” attitude toward it. Maybe now with more love and understanding I can witness better!)
You’ve probably heard this before, but I will say it again if so: This is like a 2nd “born again” experience and is very wonderful, a source of joy and greater love, much greater love for the the Father and His children. It is so freeing! I would be embarrassed for anyone to know how many self righteous and condemnatory thoughts and feelings I now see I have been harboring toward people in general. But now that I feel less and less condemnatory of others, I also feel less and less inclined to condemn myself! It’s wonderful.
February 11, 2005
from Ontario, Canada
Just read your web site & testimony and it brought joy to my heart. My wife and I have believed this for about 8 years and have kept it mostly to ourselves and waiting for God to release us. I feel like you now and want to start sharing the Whole Gospel…Thank you for the web sites – this is my first venture on this subject on the internet and can’t beleive all the information…
February 9, 2005
from North Ireland
I find your version of Christianity wonderful and very inspiring. I live in Northern Ireland where there is a lot of the wrong kind of religion. I was brought up a Roman Catholic, which I long ago rejected as being too narrow. I was shocked to discover recently that the Catholic Church still teaches that only Catholics can get to heaven, and that virtually everyone else (including non-Catholic Christians) will go to hell for eternity! (Though I’m sure there are many “ordinary” Catholics who don’t believe that nonsense, at least I hope so.) Protestant fundamentalist “born again” Christians in Norther Ireland preach the doctrine of eternal hell too, and teach that Catholics and all non-Christians will go to hell! There are some more enlightened Christians in Northern Ireland, but I’m not sure which denominations.Could you tell me what denomination of Christianity your wonderful message comes from? Thank you for your web site.
February 9, 2005
A Great Love
I have only recently become aware of the teaching of universal reconciliation and have been doing a great deal of studying on the subject on both this sight and on the kingdom resources site and wanted to thank you for making these writings and teachings available. One the that has struck me while doing my research was the great love believers in UR have for our Father God and for each other. In my reading I have repeatedly seen examples of that love extending unfailingly to those who violently oppose their beliefs and this has spoken volumes to me concerning the truth of UR.I live in anchorage, alaska and was wondering if you know of any churches, groups or even individuals in or around this area who share the belief of Gods plan for universal reconciliation?
February 7, 2005
Changed my way of thinking
I have been reading your fine material on universal salvation! It’s the first of its kind that I’ve ever come across, and it has changed my way of thinking. I used to believe in eternal torment, then later became an annihilationist, but I can now say that I have been blessed by seeing the light. Praise God for that!
February 6, 2005
Now seeking again
Enjoying your site. I am a Christian turned agnostic (mainly because of hell) who’s now seeking again. I would like to know of where I could possibly meet others of your faith here in Michigan.
February 2, 2005
Answers to difficult questions
I used to belong to a fundamentalist church known as the Independent Baptists where I recieved steady diet of hellfire preaching and doom and gloom eschatology. When the love of God was talked about, it was usually conditional. After more than six and a half years I left in the wake of a church split and sought out a new spiritual home in the mainstream church scene, but I could not find anywhere I could fit in. After several years of going to a number of different churches I gave up–but I did not quit believing in God. I still fellowshipped with a few friends who left church also. I managed to cope (from my religious indoctrination of an angry Hellfire God) reasonably well by perfecting the art of mental backfiling. It seemed to work okay as long as I was not exposed to anything that would cause me to think about the negative aspects of my belief system…Then one day as I was riding my bicycle down the street where I live I saw a car parked at the side of the road with a bumper sticker on the back window that read…”ETERNITY: smoking or non smoking “… AAARG! I wished I did not see that–my mental backfile was straining at the seams and I had to go into damage control real quick in order to maintain some form of sanity. I focused on the positive aspects of my belief system as much as I could (making much of the grace and peace God has given me through Christ.) I managed to get back to some semblance of normality until the following year when I was watching a movie on television called “The Devil’s Playground.” It was about a group of teenage boys at a Roman Catholic boarding school. When the priest preached a hellfire sermon in graphic detail it was too much for me to bear. My mental backfile burst open, spilling its poisonous contents throughout my mind, and causing me to nearly have a nervous breakdown. I was more miserable than what I was before I became a Christian! I decided to search for the truth by doing a lot of praying and Bible study and risk stepping outside the bounds of “orthodoxy.” I then spent more than two years searching the Internet, looking at various Christian websites until I found a great site for articles on universalism and Hell. This site has been more help to me than many of the countercult and apologetics sites I have visited. I thank God for the answers I have found to my most difficult questions. God bless you Gary as you proclaim His Infinite Grace. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world!
February 1, 2005
Inspiring
Gary, Thank you, for your wonderful writing. I find hope and love in your words. It is an inspiring work…
January 31, 2005
From an Orthodox (OCA) Believer
Hello–I want to thank you for your wonderful web page. I was under the impression that eternal torment was an almost universal teaching of the church save for a few “malcontents” like Origen. But the more I looked into the subject the more I would find another Church Father (Saint Isaac, Saint Gregory of Nyssa,etc ), or another evidence from scripture that points to universal salvation . I was worried at first that my inclination to support universal salvation might be heretical or opposed to the teachings of my Church. Now however I think belief in eternal suffering itself is a heresy that unfortunately crept into the Church. I’ve found also that many of the great Orthodox theologians of our time are standing up for Universal salvation, Sergius Bulgakov, Paul Evdokimov, Archimandrite Sophroney, and to a certain extent Kalistos Ware, as well.
January 27, 2005
Changed my views of God
Hi, I just came across your website and read with great interest what you had to say about the bible and hell. I am very interested in finding a church that teaches on this subject. I am not a regular church goer…I do believe in God and I believe that Jesus Christ came here to die for me….What I read on your website has changed all of my veiws on God and religion in general….Thank you very much.
January 26, 2005
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Are you guys of Seventh-Day Adventist belief? Regardless, God has really shown your ministries much truth. I am witnessing to somebody who believes in Eternal Damnation, I found your website through google.com, I found what your website had to say was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord…
January 20, 2005
A profound difference
Greetings! I have been reading as much of your material as I can take in. I have received this truth concerning the reconciliation of all, and as you can imagine after believing the traditional eternal torment doctrine all of my considerably long Christian life it has made a profound difference in my understanding of God; it has also caused sharp differences between friends and family..My reason for writing is to see if it were possible for you to produce a one page statement that would arrest the attention of the reader enough to cause him to be interested enough to pursue the matter further….
January 11, 2005
Opened my eyes
Hello, We are a small familly of four stationed in OK., my husband is a seargeant in the US Army…. God has opened my eyes to many things that no one I have ever met physically, seem to recognize or believe. There is no physical church or no person for us… we try to light up the world, however our bulbs shatter in pain because the outlet usually cannot accept the wattage… Please help with a fellowship or a teacher so that we may step out boldly, becomeing the living church to others that our world so desperately needs these last days. I ask God to move and use you powerfully for this work at hand!
January 9, 2005
Christian Motorcycle Chaplain
…I was just sitting in my study thinking all that the Lord has been showing me in the past year since coming to the truth of universal reconciliation. What a Blessed gospel, truly good news! I want to thank you for your work in getting this message out; it was mostly by reading articals and books and tapes from your site that caused me to become certain of the truth of this message. Thank you and God Bless you. Since then I have been devouring everything I can get my hands on from many web sites as well as purchasing and reading books. I have always been a radical in my beliefs, never just went along with the crowd in my thinking. Although I have kept many things to myself over the years, only sharing my thoughts with those closest to me. This was difficult as I served in the ministry preaching and teaching. I usually just stayed with the basics. I have studied very seriously ever since I came into a relationship with the Lord in 1978 almost as if being driven, and I have had many questions. Now praise God I think they are being answered, although there have been some very stressful circumstances since I have begun to come out in the open with this truth. Thats OK–I know what I know and the Lord has confirmed it also. When I shared this truth with my former pastor and partner in ministry I was disfellowshiped and asked not to talk to anyone in his church about this or share this “doctrin of demons”.
Feeling that I needed to share this with another ministry I had been involved with; the Christian Motorcyclist Assc.( I was a Chaplain) this is a world wide motorcyclist ministry with over 100,000 members. I wrote the president of the organization and they kicked me out saying I could not even be a Christian if I believed this “perversion of the gospel” or something like that. (I would have to get the letter out and read it again). Anyway this really lit my spiritual fuse and I answered their response with rather pointed but truthful response. After I sent that; without any explanation, they sent me a letter reinstating me into the organization–an action I did not ask for. I have many friends in that ministry with whom I have shared this truth and it is begining to bear some fruit. If anything the shock of my being kicked out gave me opportunity to share the true gospel with them and like I said it has seemed to be accepted to some degree. My friends want me to continue with them and I told them I might participate in some of thier work but not as a chaplain and that I would be open about what I believe. They didn’t seem to have a problem with that. Who knows this may lead to a bigger opportunity than I think…I also shared this truth with a former associate in ministry where we worked together as associate pastors in a Baptist church of which he is now the senior pastor and his response was silence, I actually think he is really thinking about what I shared with him and cant find a sutable answer, maybe God is speaking to his heart. I hope so… Grace and Peace!
January 6, 2005
From Canada
Thanks so much for Gary for your site and all the work you put in to it. 4 of us here have just come into the revelation of these things and we meet weekly to study and share and it is an awesome time for us right now. We are very appreciative of the materials available. It would be so good to have a meeting with some of you teachers one day and just rejoice in all HE is doing. We are in Canada and do not know how widespread this move is. I recently read a prophecy from 1997 speaking of these very things happening regarding the exposing of error in translations and people being brought out to see GOD’s universal plan.How awesome is our GOD and all the glory truly belongs to HIM Blessings to you Gary and your loved ones as you continue to let HIS light shine. .
December 1, 2004
Pastor from the UK
Hi, I’m a pastor from a church in southern UK and I have been very encouraged just having found your site and the resources it contains. For probably the last 20 years since hearing Roger Forster talk about his objection to ‘eternal conscious torment’ I have been on a journey of discovery, attempting to find answers to questions on hell and others such as ‘if God wants us to forgive others unconditionally surely that means he does the same?’ I find that evangelicals are the worst for tackling a question head on because they do not like the fact that they may come up with an answer that contradicts conventional received wisdom. It seems that beliefs are so deeply ingrained that they are hard to question. So, I am on a journey and the more I discover I feel I like God and believe him to be just and not vengeful, as so many want us to believe…
November 25, 2004
Thanks
Brother Gary, Just dropping you an email to tell you Happy Thanksgiving. I thank God for you, your wife, and all who help you spread the true Good News. You and your web site were there for me when I was in a despair and breakdown three years ago, but that is no longer since I’ve been able to learn so much and be changed inside by the Spirit of God. I have a long way to go but at least I’m not where I used to be.
November 25, 2004
From Sydney
Hi Gary, or another…Thank you for your website, what joy I have in my heart, overflowing. I have read many of your articles with many more to read, devouring them and not fast enough. I am hoping that you might be able to advise me of someone in the Sydney area who has also been blessed with this enlightenment. It is a humanly lonely road I have been placed on and would delight it talking face to face with someone who shares the same joy. Look forward to your soonest reply.
November 8, 2004
Treasures upon treasures
I too have been part of several churches during my 15 years of ministry which all taught hell fire and brimstone, but thankfully i found the primitive baptist universalists of southwest virginia and upper east tennessee. i found them through Dr. Howard Dorgan’s book “In the Hands of a Happy God” thank you for this website, treasures upon treasures cannot begin to measure the worth it has been to me.
November 6, 2004
Thanks
I just saw Gary Amirault on “Faith under Fire”, wow, I really liked what I heard from him. I’ve been wrestling with the concept of hell since I first heard about it as a child. Thank you Gary, for speaking at least to me. I know the commentator took the other side which is, for me awful hard to believe, but a very normal view. Thanks again, you have no idea what this means for me.
November 5, 2004
From a young minister in Australia
Hi Gary, Your site has been of great value in my journey for the truth of God’s word and has truly inspired me to study the word. The great thing is that the home group that I lead is being introduced to the concept of complete reconcilliation etc. It is amazing however the resistance that is met in the face af such a wonderful concept, in that when i presented this to my parents who were pastors for quite some time i have come to the conclusion after much heated debate to let the topic alone for a while. i also preach at my local church regularly and praying for the day that i can start to introduce some of the ideas and conclusions that i have come to through the hebrew and greek (newly discovered though they are to me…ha) and liberate Gods’ people from the condemnation, uncertainty and guilt they are so easily over come with. If you have any sugestions that could aid my quest i would love to know them. I must say that i have done full studies now on all the times that hell and all its varying interpretations are in the NKJV and KJV and all the times and contexts that Aion etc appears and am by absolute conviction am convinced that ‘hell’ does not exist and that Gods ultimate commision to Christ was fulfilled ( into his hands has he commited all things and that he should lose none!) thankyou and God be with you in your home and ministry. —Phil, Queensland, Australia
September 6, 2004
From an atheist
Gary: I found your pages via a Web search for “Universalist” and “Universalist Christian”. I’ve spent much of the last couple days perusing the many articles at your site, as well as other Web resources. Fascinating information with an interesting (and somewhat refreshing) perspective. I’m a former minister (Pentecostal), divorced and gay, and pretty much an atheist/humanist. The god I met in the church was simply impotent to deal with the likes of me. As long as I kept the doctrinal party line, of course, all was well, but when I got naked and alone (figuratively speaking) with god, he ran out of the room. I’ve always been a minister at heart, and will always be strong to serve the world in which I live, but I can’t imagine I would ever be a Christian again; at least, never the kind I was before… Mostly I just wanted to thank you for freely broadcasting the articles on your Web site. I’m not sure what I will do with it, or what is yet to come in my own life because of it, but it is nice to know that the fundamentalist teachings are not the only voice of Christianity in the world today…
August 10, 2004
Truly thankful
Gary, Your work is wonderful, and I could never thank you enough for all the truth you have shown me with the holy spirit of truth telling me of all these things as being truthful, and inspired writings. you have brought my mind out of darkness, and into the light of “the way”. I am truly thankful for your ministry to us; people seeking after the truth, and then being led into it by such a wonderful person as your self. I know that I don’t know you personally, but I’ve read nearly all the things you’ve posted on your sight, and I can’t thank you enough for them. I love Jesus, and I love you also, and pray for your health, and for the continued support in your calling that’s from God him self. I know all of us are called into different things in the spirit, and I’m thankful for you following the call of your father. I will be reading more on your sight, and with your permission I hope that you will let me share these things with others, because I know of many peole already that I’ve shared these things with that are looking into the deeper things of the workings of the spirit. Thank you Gary for all of your efforts, and I know that they aren’t truly your own efforts, but the power of God who is in you showing you the ways, and giving you the power to continue your calling that you were called and set apart for in the earth.
July 5, 2004
Life-changing experience
I just want to let you know that I have been reading your site for days now, and I am finding it to be a life-changing experience. I have been considering for some time now that hell is not the right term used, and have been studying and searching to see what the real answers are in the eternal punishment question…I am convinced now that Jesus is the Savior of the whole world, and not just part. I believe this truth is found in the Bible when searched for without prejudice from past learned beliefs.
May 21, 2004
Inpact!
Do you know the impact your website has had on my life? Years of fear and uncertainty, mistrust, and hopelessness are gone. It was itself, frightening and painful to come to this revelation of God’s love for mankind. Frightening, because the Christian world hates this message, I hinted to my mom what has been revealed to me and she almost started crying, fearing I was abandoning my faith. Painful, because for years I walked around, not wanting to be friendly to people as I had realized that chances are they were hellbound. Thank you.
April 5, 2004
Thank you
A few years back, God’s Univeral Reconciliation was revealed to me. I want to thank you for all the wonderful resources that you have provided. You have been a major source of my understanding.
April 9, 2004
South America
I am from Bolivia, South America. I feel really excited about what I have found in your website. It really sounds like GOOD NEWS !!! I had studied A LOT about the Bible, theology, philosophy, psychology, etc. but I had NEVER found anything like your “stuff” which it certainly seems to be God’s stuff. I always wondered if God was as “bad” as churches showed Him. For some time, I even thought to myself: “this God is either unfair or does not exist not only because of His “exclusive character” (according to the churches) but also because of the non-answered suffering on Earth”. Then, I realized that, according to the four Gospels, Jesus did NOT sound that bad, that exclusive. So, I started my own search of the Truth (guided by the Spirit) and discovered wonderful truths that have been setting me freer and freer. My last discovery has been your great website. please let me know if there are some people in Latin America who share your beliefs. I really appreciate what you are teaching. SOUNDS GREAT!!! SOUNDS LIKE GOD’S WORD!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!!
March 2, 2004
I hope you are right
I happened across your web site doing some research on the doctrine of hell. I had never heard of universalism before that is remarkable I thought I had studied every angle of christianity. Universal salvation WOW! that truly is GOOD NEWS. I have just started studying these materials and I will have to say it is very refreshing and uplifting to my spirit-man. Fits right in with my concept of the creator God of the universe who loved us with an everlasting, unquenchable love ( unquenchable fire huh ?) with His character and atributes. I still have questions but this all sounds so wonderful who wouldn’t want to see this, why would anyone reject this teaching. I have not fully embraced this yet but I am still studying and I hope you are right. I know God has called me to do a work for Him, maybe this is it.
The fruit of Universalism clearly is better than the fruit of the teaching of Hell. Case Closed!