A Reply to Hal Lindsey
After corresponding with well known Bible teacher Hal Lindsey, I sent him the following reply on 30/6/01 to briefly answer some of his objections to Universal Reconciliation.
Dear Hal,
Thank you for your reply. From looking at your questions though, it appears that you didn't read my attached article or if you did, then you misunderstood it's clear teaching. I was saddened by the fact that you wouldn't even consider the possibility that God truly loves all and will therefore save all. Wouldn't you want that if it were possible? Surely you're heart has not hardened that much? That's not the spirit of the Hal Lindsey I've known from your teaching!
I feel constrained to briefly answer your questions. I also had similar questions when I was first confronted with Universal Reconciliation.
You said
: If all will be saved, what is the point of the Cross to begin with?Answer
: As I said in my letter - Without the cross, no one could be saved. With the cross, all will be saved - eventually. It's all or nothing - a simple equation! Through the cross God will draw all to Himself through Christ - John 12:32.You also partially answered this question yourself: Without sin to overcome, there would be no way for the Divine expression of grace to be manifested. Hence the need of the cross - for all.
God locks all in stubborness, that He may be merciful to all - Romans 11:32.
You said
: Why create man with free will?Answer
: He didn't! Yes we have a will, but it is not free. We are slaves of Sin or redeemed by God, which is not of us! WE ARE BUT CLAY! As I said in my letter '...no one is resisting God's intention (Romans 9:19-20), and therefore no one is really free to make their own choice, absolutely speaking...'Free will is not taught in the Scriptures otherwise God is not absolutely Supreme, which is taught in the Scriptures! There is only ONE Almighty will - God's!
http://www.purposeoflife.org.uk/almighty%20doc.htm
You said
: God created Satan. Must He save him as well to be perfect?Answer
: YES! God created him for a purpose - to be His Adversary. Without an enemy God cannot fully show His power - Romans 9:17-18. When Satan's work is done, and His condemnation complete (which is not eternal), He will be reconciled to God, as hard as this may seem - Colossians 1:19-20.You also said:
God granted dominion over the earth to Adam. Adam through his sin, granted legal title to Satan. "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine." Luke 5-7How could Satan tempt Christ with that which was not his to offer?
It was not an error on God's part, neither was it a lack of foresight. It was part of His plan. It takes both positive and negative for there to be power.
Answer
: I totally agree! Concerning God's eonian purpose for the earth, and even the heavens, this is correct. And Christ as the Second Adam has reclaimed the creation from Satan, Sin and Death, and will eventually reverse all its dire consequences! It is God's purpose that ALL creation will become subject to His Son - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:8-12.'For even as, in Adam,
all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified' (or made alive i.e. immortality, life beyond the reach of death) - 1 Corinthians 15:22.'For even as, through the disobedience of the
one man (Adam), the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One (Christ), the many shall be constituted just' - Romans 5:19.
You said:
What is the point of justice if there is no ultimate accountability?Answer
: There is justice and ultimate accountability - for all, within God's purpose of the Ages! This is looked at in some detail in the document 'The Conciliation of the World' which I sent to you with my letter.http://www.purposeoflife.org.uk/conciliation%20doc.htm
You said
: And why trust Christ if it doesn't matter and you will be saved anyway? and If all will be saved, choice is meaningless. Calling upon the Name of the Lord for salvation is valueless. Trusting Christ would be worthless, since even those who do not will be saved.Answer
: Humanly speaking, we do make choices, of which the greatest choice is to trust in Christ. And calling on the Lord is certainly not valueless! But those who are called and believe are already chosen by God! No one can come to the Son unless the Father draws them - John 6:44. We are set for eonian life - Acts 13:48. We were chosen in Christ BEFORE THE DISRUPTION (or creation) OF THE WORLD -Ephesians 1:4.And the faith to believe is NOT OF US - Ephesians 2:8-10. It is due to God's grace and mercy - HIS CHOICE, HIS SPIRIT, HIS WORKMANSHIP!
As I said in my letter: Also, God is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers
But the fundamental question is 'Why are we here? What are we saved for? What is the purpose of life?
(especially not solely). See 1 Tim 4: 9-11. Believers will have a special
place in God's unfolding plan of the eons, and will experience eonian life. But ultimately, God must save all mankind,(at the end of the eons) otherwise He is not the Saviour of all mankind! This applies to every human, including all those who have died!
Answer
: To know God and his Son in every way - this is life! And it's God's will that this reaches ALL eventually - John 17:3 and 1 Timothy 2:3-4. It's not just a matter of being saved and that's it! (I sometimes wonder why some people say they're Christians - because they don't seem to really know themselves!)Ultimately, ALL will know God and His Son, and the meaning of the cross - but there is much that will occur before that glorious consummation.
You also said
: Indeed, if all are to be saved, the Bible is untrustworthy. For it says "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18 If someone does not believe, and is not condemned, then the Scripture is not true.Answer
: Well we know the Bible is not untrustworthy, Hal! But the translations and teaching of men are untrustworthy. There is judgement and condemnation within the ages, in accordance with God's plan, but it doesn't end that way. It's a matter of keeping things in context. Concerning the earthly kingdom promised to Israel, there is much condemnation, especially in the 'Day of the Lord'.The majority of the Scriptures concerns God's earthly plan of the kingdom promised to Israel, INCLUDING THE TEACHING OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES.
ONLY PAUL REVEALS THE HEAVENLY CALLING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST AND GOD'S ULTIMATE PURPOSE FOR ALL CREATION, WHICH GOES BEYOND EVEN THE BOOK OF 'REVELATION'.
Finally, you said:
Hell is non-existent, the Great White Throne would have to be an allegory and the Church as distinguished from the lost would be pointless.Answer
: In the traditional sense of the word, 'Hell' is non-existent!http://www.purposeoflife.org.uk/hell%20doc.htm
The Lake of Fire is called the Second death - and death is death, not hell!
And it lasts for 'the eons of the eons' - not 'forever'.
The Great White Throne is certainly NOT an allegory. ALL unbelievers will be judged and condemned to the second death - but it is eonian and will end, because death has to be abolished!
The 'church' of Israel - the Bride, and the 'ecclesia' of the Body of Christ, are distinct from each other and the rest of creation - DURING THE AGES! But eventually there will be only ONE NEW HUMANITY IN CHRIST, and God will be ALL IN ALL.
http://www.purposeoflife.org.uk/new%20humanity%20doc.htm
If everything is kept in its proper place within God's plan of the ages by 'rightly dividing the word of truth' - and having 'a pattern of sound words' (2 Tim.1:13 & 2:15) then all is clear and there won't be any contradictions.
I am not ashamed of the evangel of Christ.
I hope I have been as clear as I can be concerning what I believe in His precious Word. If you are still a genuine 'truth-seeker' Hal, as I am sure you are, you will take the time to pursue this and check out the articles. Don't let your 'celebrity status and ministry' get in the way of seeking further truth. It is Christ we are serving.
Grace and peace in Him
Gerry