Universalism has been characterized in ways that completely miss the mark and I don’t know if the people I’ve been reading are intellectually lazy or deliberately misleading. One thing is for sure, it is one or the other.

A case in point is contained in an article posted to the CrossExamined.org website entitled, Wouldn’t a Loving God Make Sure Everyone Gets to Heaven? In the article, the author said that there are those who would “seek to avoid the problem [that hell is daunting for many Christians] by:

Offering a second chance to those who reject God’s gift of forgiveness:

First, there is evidence that Universalism was the prevailing doctrine for the first 500 years of the early church, so, those that believed in the Apokatastasis then and those who embrace Universalism today are not offering any kind of second chance. It has always been God’s purpose to reconcile all things unto Himself (Colossians 1:15-20) at the consummation, when God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28). The grave has no power to stop God in accomplishing His purpose. We’re still on Plan A!

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,…yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:9-10, 11b)

I have sworn [an oath] by Myself, The word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear [allegiance]. (Isaiah 45:23 AMP)

Universal salvation has been God’s purpose since before the ages began and every man is resurrected in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:22-24) Some are resurrected at the catching away of the church, some at the resurrection of the last day when everyone who has ever lived stands before God at the Great White Throne.

A Compulsory Heaven Would Eradicate “Free Will”

Those that object to Universalism on the grounds that it represents a violation of individual free will, cannot reconcile the salvation of all of humanity with the possibility that no one compromises free volition to act as they choose.

Let’s look at volition every step of the way: Christ as the firstfruits chose freely to suffer the death of the cross (Hebrews 5:7-8), then they that are Christ’s at His coming, both dead and alive, have chosen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Next there are those that hold true during the Great Tribulation, refusing the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:15; 20:4) and, finally, all the Old Testament righteous are found to be worthy of life at the Great White Throne because they chose righteousness by faith. All of these chose righteousness freely, or so it seems.

The rest of humanity, whose names are not found in the Lamb’s book of life, being cast into the lake of fire, suffer torment, or testing (Greek: basanizo) unto the age of ages (Greek: eis aionas aionon). I believe this is until they come to a knowledge of and embrace the truth, repent, and are saved. (See Refiner’s Fire for a closer look at this subject). There is strong evidence that it is NOT forever. (Please see the post The Mishandling of the Ages on this site for a deeper discussion of this subject.)

Thinking of my own salvation experience as well as the experience of many others who “suffered” the pressing of the Spirit of God upon their hearts, many who were stiff-necked, holding out until they were incarcerated, in the hospital, or in some other manner in dire straits. I think of others who lost everything before surrendering to the heavy influence of our loving God.

It has long been called the “paradox” of free will because, while it seems we are indued with our own volition, it seems that we are not. We are and we are not in Romans 9:

One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:19-21 NIV)

And then Paul said, “For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” (Romans 11:32 NIV)

Most that would read this are not prepared for a meaningful discussion of free will and I don’t know that I am. However, employing the same argument that many apologists have for the problem of evil, that there may be a good reason for horrible things happening, but we do not necessarily know what that reason is. But to say that just because we cannot think of one, that means there isn’t one, would be arrogant for us to conclude.

In the same way, I may not be able to reconcile the salvation of all without the violation of free will, I can conclude that God is able to accomplish it. As a matter of fact, it was in response to a question on this very same subject that Jesus answered the disciples and gave us our answer, as well. To the statement that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven, they asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied that with humans it would be impossible, but with God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

So, I can conclude that, even though the scriptures have much to say about our free will to choose, they also have much to say about our lack of free will. Is free will an illusion as many philosophers argue? Is it a paradox or do we exercise it in deciding for Christ? Even though He Himself, said that no one comes to Him except by the drawing of the Father (John 6:44-51), and that, if He would be lifted up, He would draw (drag) all men to Himself (John 12:32), there still seems to be a shred, anyway, left of our own volition. However, to construct an argument against Universalism based on free will seems intellectually lazy and that the argument is being made from predisposition.

A Compulsory Heaven Would Embrace the “Unsuited”

For the life of me I cannot fathom why, but the arguer assumes that all those who would be excluded from heaven under a system of hellish eternal conscious torment, but included under an all-inclusive Universalist system, would be forever unrepented and sinful as they walk down the streets of gold.

“A compulsory Heaven, including the most vile and dangerous people from history, is not likely what skeptics have in mind when they argue for an all-inclusive final destination.” But that is what they would get, is that what you’re saying?

Do we honestly believe that, He who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; He for whom all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth; the creator of all things visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; He who has created all things, is before all things, and by Whom all things consist; the Head of the body, the church, and He who over all things has the preeminence is unable to keep Hitler from walking down Glory Boulevard? The One with Whom the Father is pleased, in Whom He should dwell with ALL His fulness – is He too weak and impudent to keep the most vile and dangerous people of history from eating freely of the tree of life?

The opponents of Universalism, how do they think this unfolds? Have they thought one iota about what this whole thing looks like? At some point after the Great Tribulation and the Great White Throne, God just says, “Okay, I’m done.” Has God just had enough and is He tired of fighting the fight? “Let down the draw bridge and open the gates! Property values are going to bottom out, but what the heck.”

The author wrote an entire paragraph about “unsuitable” people in heaven! This man never thought anything through. That is why I said that most of the opponents of Universalism online are intellectually lazy or disingenuous. There was no research, no effort to understand why intelligent, knowledgeable scholars embrace Universalism. Why? Because they find hell offensive? Come on brothers and sisters, you that occupy positions that influence Christians and those seeking. It is SIN to do something without putting everything into it. The author of this article missed the mark.