The Great Deception of the Ultimate Reconciliation Doctrine

by Sergio Valori

n His discourse with His disciples in Matthew 24, Jesus responded to their question about His coming and the end of the world. It is important for us to note that the first sign that would point to the end of this present order was the sign of deception. (Verses 4,5,11,24) To be deceived is to be led astray or to believe a lie. Jesus indicated that many false prophets would arise and that many would be deceived. Obviously, this applies to those who at one time believed the truth but will forsake it to believe a lie. [Satan's method is exactly the same as that used to deceive Eve in the first place. She allowed satan to replace God's truth with his lie.]

It is a sad commentary to the discernment of believers that satan can come (as an angel of light) into our churches and pulpits and use false prophets and teachers to spread his deadly deception. These false teachers gain acceptance mainly because they come in Jesus' name. They also come with a highly intellectual approach entwined with much human reasoning. They proclaim "new revelation" and fresh understanding "from the Lord". The many who are deceived are either ignorant of both the letter and spirit of the scripture or are bent on feeding their own intellects with new and exotic doctrines. I have also observed that the deceived are intellectually inclined "loners" without the covering of a pastor or church. They equate progress in God with learning new and exotic things..Their pride has such a firm hold upon them that they will not accept correction.

What Is the Ultimate Reconciliation Doctrine?

The doctrine of the "Ultimate Reconciliation of all Things" is today circulating in "deeper life and kingdom" circles and causing many to be deceived. In this short writing, we cannot get into a full-scale exposure of this teaching, but hope to inform the reader enough to create a WARNING and ALARM. We pray the Lord may use this writing to speak to some who may be tempted to embrace this error.

What is this U.R. doctrine? Among hundreds of perversions of scripture, it teaches the following errors:

• All men will ultimately be saved; in fact, even the devil and all fallen angels will, at some future time, be restored.
  
  
• The words eternal, everlasting and forever really do not mean "endless or perpetual", but mean "lasting for an age"- thus, the phrases "eternal life" and "eternal judgment" must be re-defined.
  
  
• Those who are not saved by repentance and faith in Christ's atoning work will ultimately be put through a process to change them so they become fit to dwell in the same dimension as "the saved". Thus, they will be able to bypass the straight and narrow way of repentance, faith and the blood and "enter in" some other way.
  
  
• The "fires of hell" are not really punitive, but redemptive in nature, having the ultimate effect of transforming those who are exposed. One writer suggests that in the "aions to come" God has a program that will ultimately "develop" his creation. (meaning all will become conformed to the image of Christ and stand in the same likeness).
  
  
• Because "God is love" He would not eternally punish anyone.
  
  
• God would suffer a terrible embarrassment if all men were not ultimately saved.
  
  

It should be obvious to any one possessing the spirit of truth that the above sampling of this teaching is gravely contrary to both the LETTER and SPIRIT of God's word, the Bible.

Some Grave Contradictions of Scripture

All true and proper doctrine must not negate or contradict any portion of Holy Scripture. To test the validity of any teaching, we must answer the question: "Is it scriptural and does it blend with all other scriptures on the same subject?" The U.R. doctrine is totally and thoroughly unscriptural, diametrically opposing and negating many portions of the Holy Word. If we accept the U.R. doctrine, the following is just a sampling of the many false and unscriptural conclusions that would be established:

• Jesus teaching about 2 divergent ways - the "narrow" and the "broad" - would be a false teaching, since both ways ultimately bring one to the same destination. The broad way would not really lead to destruction, as the Bible says, but to ultimate salvation.
  
  
• In Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Lu.16), a "great gulf' was fixed between hell and Abraham's bosom and it was declared that those that would pass from one dimension to the other could not. The U.R. doctrine tells us that at some point in time this gulf will be bridged and those in hell will be able to pass into God's presence.
  
  
• Jesus taught men to "fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell". (Ma.10:28) If the fires of hell are redemptive, then - contrary to Jesus' teaching - no one need fear.
  
  
• In Jesus' four references to hell in Mark 9:43-48, He stated that the fire of hell "never shall be quenched". The U.R. doctrine brazenly refutes this. According to this doctrine "never" doesn't really mean "never" and "forever" doesn't really mean "forever"!!
  
  
• The "second death" or lake of fire (Revelation 20) is not so bad after all and it is not really "forever". All those who are cast into it - the beast, false prophet, devil and whosoever was not found written in the book of life - will be transformed and made fit to live in God's presence along with the righteous.
  
  

The Twisted Scriptures

It has been said that almost anything can be "proven" by scripture. I have seen this done over and over again in my lifetime. Since the satanic weapon of deception is in full use in these days, the twisting and perverting of scripture is at an all-time high. Obviously, the proponents of this doctrine claim a scriptural base for all they teach. Let us consider several of their main perverted scriptures which form the basis of this doctrine:

1. 1 Corinthians 15:22 - "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made "alive." The conclusion given by the U.R. people is that all will come into Christ and therefore be made alive. But this verse does not say this. It says: "All who are or remain in Adam, die; all who are in Christ, live." Or, it could be said, "There is death to all who are in Adam and life to all who are in Christ.
   
   
2. Romans 5:15-19 From this context the U.R. people focus on verse 18b: "...by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men..." They conclude that since Christ died for all men, all men are saved. THIS IS TRUE ONLY PROVISIONALLY AND LEGALLY. Yes, the death of Jesus made atonement for the sins of all men and "legally" all men are indeed saved, but ALL THAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS MUST BE APPROPRIATED BY FAITH AND REPENTANCE. Throughout the New Testament, the necessity of believing (or obeying) the gospel is strongly set forth as the basis for salvation. Also, the very important verse 17 is overlooked by the U.R. proponents: "...they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life..." Grace and righteousness are offered to all men, but all men do not receive them. As the word states, "All men have not faith."
   
   
3. Philippians 2:10,11 "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." Indeed, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ, but this is not equivalent with everyone being saved. All shall bow and confess because, when exposed to His awesome presence and glory, they shall be totally subdued before Him. This work of subduing (along with transformation) is the experience of those who become saved and truly come under His Lordship. When the age of grace ends and the kingdom is introduced, Christ will subdue every element of His creation under Him, but the essential composition of the wicked will remain unaltered. (See Rev.22:11) This work, described in 1 Corinthians 15:25-28, will be performed on the enemies of Christ, i.e., those who have resisted His Lordship and Kingship. [I repeat, to be subdued by Christ is not the same as being saved. Pharaoh was subdued but not changed; many bowed to Solomon but were not made Israelites, etc.."
   
   
4. Ephesians 1:10 "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ..." This passage does not mean that all will be saved as men experience salvation today, but rather has to do with every element in the universe ultimately coming under His headship. (As described in the previous paragraph.) Christ will govern, world without end, because He has been seated at the Father's right hand far above all else. (See Eph. 1:20-23)
   
   
5. John 12:32 "...if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me..." The conclusion we draw here is not that all men will be saved, but that the means God uses to draw all men is Christ's work on the cross. If we conclude that all men will respond to this drawing, we are guilty of adding to the scripture. In fact, in Revelation 9, we see that many will not even respond when God's plagues of judgment are in the earth. (See verses 20 & 21)
   
   
6. Acts 3:21 "...until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." The U.R. proponents usually put a period after the word "things", ignoring the vital remainder of this verse. Nowhere in scripture do we find God's prophets speaking about the devil and his angels being restored or that all the wicked will ultimately be saved. This whole category of fallen and unrepentant beings is referred to in the epistle of Jude and of them it is said: "...to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever..." (Jude 13)
   
   

U.R. Doctrine's Foundations Demolished

In addition to exposing the U.R. doctrine's subtle perversion of the scripture verses discussed above, let us present two areas of truth and fact which totally demolish its false foundations.

(1) Meaning of the Greek term "AIONIOS". Those embracing the doctrine of Ultimate Reconciliation attempt to redefine such words as eternal, everlasting and forever. These amateur "scholars" say that the Greek word aionios, from which these words are translated, does not mean "without end" but means "lasting for an age". Thus, if this be so, "eternal fire, eternal damnation, eternal judgment, and even eternal life" will be of limited duration. Then, in their reasoning process, the fires of hell (or the lake of fire) must be remedial, representing a process that will positively transform all evil and wicked creatures!

But, these are the facts, as drawn from two of the most reliable and widely used reference sources, Strong's Concordance and W.E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words:

In Strong's, the word aionios (G 166) is defined as perpetual, eternal, forever, everlasting. There should be no disputing what is meant by this definition. In Vine's Dictionary, we are told the word aionios appears 70 times in the New Testament and in 67 of those instances, the word is used "of persons and things which are in their nature endless. (Quote from Vine's, page 43) Examples of such things are: God, his power, his glory, Holy Spirit, life of Christ, redemption, salvation, future rule of Christ, fires of judgment and others. Only three times in the entire N.T. is the Greek word aionios used to mean "a period of time", these being Romans 16:25, 2 Timothy 1:17 and Titus 1:2. In each of these three passages, the phrase "times eternal" is used, meaning "a period of time extending into eternity past".

Thus, by using reliable sources of information and not following cunningly devised doctrines of men, the terms eternal life, everlasting life, eternal judgment, eternal fire, all mean without end or perpetual. Thank God, His gift to us through Christ is eternal life (meaning both a quality and quantity of life)! And if we have a problem with the concept of eternal judgment, may we acknowledge and confess that our God is just and true and will be vindicated in all He does! His purpose of "filling the whole earth with his glory" will not be at all hindered by His judgment of the wicked.

(2) The Final Picture As we have noted, the U.R. doctrine says that the fires of hell are remedial and that finally, all men will be saved. They cannot accept that the wicked will be forever banished from His presence. In their presentations, the concept of "hell" is wrestled with and redefined to fit into their scheme of somehow getting all men saved. One person recently concluded that the Catholics are right after all in teaching the concept of purgatory.

But what is really the final picture presented in Scripture? We believe that the final picture is given us in the final chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22. If this is not the final scenario, then the Bible is an incomplete book.

Though the 22 chapters of the book of Revelation do no follow each other in perfect chronological order, upon reading them, one senses a progression from present events to future events. In Rev. 4:1, God spoke to John and said, "Come up hither and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."

After God's throne comes into central focus, we see the release of God's wrath and judgments to the earth. The seven seals are opened, the seven trumpets sound and the seven last plagues are released. The entire Babylonish anti-christ system is thoroughly judged and ultimately the picture of a new order emerges. The coming to earth of the Holy City is the catalyst that establishes a new order in both heaven and earth. Thus, in chapters 20-22, we have a great sense of FINALITY. This is the way things end. God's glory fills His city and His city becomes the light of the earth. God's kingdom, by now, has already been established. There is no more judgment, conflict or conquest of rebels. GOD'S FINAL AND GLORIOUS OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN REACHED!

But, in this FINAL SCENARIO, we have the following verses: Rev.21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone..." [The lake of fire is still in this final scenario and the wicked are found having their part in it!!]

Also, in Rev.21:27 - "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." [It is quite evident that unregenerate creatures are still around, but they have no part in the city of God.]

Furthermore, in Rev. 22:15: "For without (outside the city) are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whatsoever loveth and maketh a lie." [In this FINAL BIBLICAL PICTURE, THERE IS STILL AN "OUTSIDE" AND AN "INSIDE" RELATIVE TO THE CITY OF GOD!]

Then comes the warning! Rev.22:18,19: "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city..."

It is clear. How can anyone doubt? How can anyone be moved from such powerful evidence? Yet, I say sorrowfully, many allow strong spirits of deception to work and lend their mind to the reasonings of men.

We commit ourselves "...unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 24)