The Restoration of All Things

THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS

The “restoration of all things” doctrine is centered in Acts 3:21.  There are several translations of the phrase including but not limited to:  all things are restored; and restitution of all things.

Acts 3:20-21 KJV  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  (21)  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

“all things are restored”       NET

“restoration of all things”     Green’s Literal, ASV, CLT, KJ3

There are many ways the Restoration of All Things is taught in the Scriptures.

(1)   There is the law of Jubilee, which cancels all debt (sin) at the end of the time of judgment.

(2)   There is God’s vow in Num. 14: 21 to fill the whole earth with His glory. 

(3)   Jesus says that if He were “lifted up” (crucified), He would draw [literally, “drag”] ALL MEN unto Himself.

(4)   Paul quotes Isaiah in Phil. 2: 10, 11 that “every knee” will bow and “every tongue” will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

(5)   Paul quotes Psalm 8 in many places to show that “the all” will be subjected to Christ in the end. The only reason people find Paul’s teaching offensive is because they really do not want all sinners to be saved.

The deliverance or redemption of the natural creation is connected with that of the children of God. It is when the sons of God are revealed (Romans 8:19) that the creation itself will experience its redemption. The creation is personified as waiting “with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”

Will All Be Restored?

In my opinion (and several others as well) this restoration will not only include the creation but all individuals ever born, still born, or aborted.  Many do not agree with this principle and the most common argument is “scripture says that people will burn in hell forever”.  These people may give their money and labor to the Church for the purpose of “saving souls” that they have never met, but they do not want certain ones to be saved, because they feel that they “deserve” to be punished forever.

The disagreement or opposition to the principle of “everyone will be ultimately redeemed” comes down to three primary objections.

(1)  The belief that some people are such huge sinners that their debt to the law exceeds the value or worthiness of the blood of Christ. It says that Christ's blood was insufficient or not shed to pay for the sin of the whole world.

(2)  The second objection says that Christ paid for the sin of the whole world, but that most of it was undeliverable, due to the will of man. This was the scenario presented by Moses in Numbers 14. God’s answer was that the whole earth will be filled with His glory, and not just Israel as a nation.

(3)  The third objection says that God does not love the world enough to actually purchase all of creation by His blood. This is the idea of limited atonement. It says that God elected only a few to be saved, and decided by His own sovereign will to cast away all others. But Jesus said in John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world.”

It has been proposed that those who do not want to see all mankind saved are those who do not yet have the mind of Christ. Those who harbor grudges in their hearts against those who have abused them or wronged them in the past are those who do not know the love of Christ. But those who have come to know the God of the Bible and to know the love of Christ which passes all understanding are the ones that God is training to reign with Him both now and in the Age to come.

The sin of Adam was imputed to all, thus the penalty of death was given to all.  Sin came first and then death.  Newborns without recognizable sin have the death penalty.  Death due to the sin of Adam is a sentence of punishment given to the children because of the transgression of the father.  To correct this seemingly unfair penalty the Son of God was made manifest to correct this supposed injustice.  Through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, the perfect, unblemished, and spotless offering of God, perfect justice was restored for all people of all time regardless of their knowledge or lack of knowledge concerning God the Father and God the Son.

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 KJV  (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  (23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Each in Their Own Order

Not all will receive immortality at the same time. Jesus established the fact of universal reconciliation, but the timing is determined by our will and actions. The overcomers will receive aionian (an age of time, not eternal or forever) life in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6) and they will reign with Him during the thousand-year Millennium or Tabernacles Age.

John 5:24 LITV-TSP  Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes the One who has sent Me, has everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

The rest of the believers will be given life (immortality) at the general resurrection which occurs at the end of the thousand years. At this time ALL who yet remain in the tombs “shall hear His voice and shall come forth” (John 5: 28-29). This will include both unbelievers and the rest of the believers who missed the first resurrection. Those who refused Christ during their life time on earth, along with the great majority of mankind who never had opportunity to hear of Him in their life time, will confess Jesus as Lord at the Great White Throne judgment.

Acts 24:15 LITV-TSP  having hope toward God, which these themselves also admit, of a resurrection being about to be of the dead, both of just and unjust ones.

All at the White Throne will be judged according to their works (Revelation 20: 13). Because all sin is reckoned as a debt, the great Judge will reckon each man’s “debt” according to his sin and according to his level of knowledge (Luke 12: 48) and then sentence him to be “sold” according to the law in Exodus 22: 3. The purchaser will be an overcomer, one with the character of Jesus Christ, who will be given authority and responsibility to teach them righteousness by personal example. This judgment could endure until the Creation Jubilee.

The certainty of final judgment is also affirmed by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:10, where he states that “all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ”.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 KJV  (9)  Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.  (10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Murray Harris has pointed out that wherever Paul speaks of the recompense, according to works, of all mankind (such as in Romans 2:6), “there is found a description of two

mutually exclusive categories of people (Romans 2:7–10), not a depiction of two types of action i.e. good or evil, which may be declared for all people.”

Romans 2:6-9 LITV-TSP  He "will give to each according to his works:"  (7)  everlasting life truly to those who with patience in good work are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility;  (8)  but to those even disobeying the truth, out of self interest, and obeying unrighteousness, will be anger and wrath, (i.e. judgment)  (9)  trouble and pain on every soul of man that works out evil…..

Eternal life is not an issue in this judgment (White Throne); eternal reward is . This judgment is not designed to determine entrance into the Kingdom of God but blessing, status, and authority within the Kingdom. The evidence suggests that it happens in two instances:  (1) at the second coming of Christ (2) at the close of the Millennial Age and will include all unrighteous believers and all unbelievers known as the great White Throne Judgment.

Paul clearly emphasizes the individuality (each one) of the final judgment. As important as it is to stress the corporate and communal nature of our life as the body of Christ, each person will be judged individually and no doubt partly concerning how faithful each person was to their unified responsibilities in the body of the Church.

Romans 14:12 LITV-TSP  So then each one of us will give account concerning himself to God.

As for the manner of this judgment, we do not merely “show up” but are laid bare before him. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:5, the Lord “will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.”  Murray Harris stated that “not merely an appearance or self-revelation, but, more significantly, a divine scrutiny and disclosure, is the necessary prelude to the receiving of appropriate recompense.”

John 5:28-29 LITV-TSP  Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear His voice.  (29)  And they will come out, the ones having done good into a resurrection of life; and the ones having practiced evil into a resurrection of judgment.

Paul is slightly more specific in 1 Corinthians 3:14–15. There he writes, “If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

The fire is the Word of God, including the “fiery law” (Deuteronomy 33: 2). It is the manifestation of the righteous character of God Himself, for He manifested Himself to Israel only as fire. He is a “consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4: 24).  When He comes in a baptism of fire, its purpose is to destroy “the flesh” and quicken our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). The fire is the glory of God as well, which will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

Deuteronomy 33:2 NET  He said: The LORD came from Sinai and revealed himself to Israel from Seir. He appeared in splendor from Mount Paran, and came forth with ten thousand holy ones. With his right hand he gave a fiery law to them.

Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

We must not fear that regret and remorse will spoil the bliss of heaven, considering the exposure and evaluation of our life and actions.  If there be tears of grief for opportunities squandered, or tears of shame for sins committed, the Lord will wipe them away.

Revelation 21:4 KJV  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Some ideas and concepts were borrowed from The Restoration of All Things by Sam Storms (available as a PDF from Amazon) and Christ the Mediator by Stephen Jones (available as a Kindle book from Amazon).

The First & The Second Adam

THE FIRST AND THE SECOND ADAM

1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NET  (45)  So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living person"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  (46)  However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.

The sin of Adam was imputed to all individuals. This resulted in the death penalty being imposed upon all individuals as if they had committed the sin.  This also means we are mortal (destined to die) from the moment of conception before we are given an opportunity to sin.  Mortality is the cause of sin.  Our state of impending death causes us to personally sin because it (death) is a weakness or disease (since all die then all sin).

Romans 5:12 KJV  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:12 LITV-TSP  Because of this, even as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death passed to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

Several theologians and Bible teachers disagree with Paul’s statement.  It is said they disagree with Paul that an individual must pay the penalty for a sin (Adam’s sin) that was not personally committed by that person.  However, it is a fact one’s mortality did not precede their first committed sin.  People are mortal from birth, actually from conception, and we are paying for the sin of Adam.

Romans 5:15 YLT  But, not as the offence so also is the free gift; for if by the offence of the one the many did die, much more did the grace of God, and the free gift in grace of the one man Jesus Christ, abound to the many;

All will be Given Eternal Life

All pay the penalty of death due to the sin of Adam and death is the cause of a sinful nature.  It may be considered unfair that God made all people pay the penalty for the sin of Adam but the Son of God, Jesus Christ, gave all people the free gift of eternal life.  It will be disagreed by some but Adam caused everyone to die and the gift of Jesus Christ causes all to live.  Paul states there are two Adams:  the first brought death to all; and the second brought life to all.  All individuals will be resurrected:  some at the return of Christ and the remainder at the Great White Throne judgment at the end of the Millennium.  1 Corinthians 15:23 states, “Every man in his own order”.  Not “some people” but “every person”.

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 KJV  (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  (23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Not every person will receive immortality at the same time.  Although Jesus established the fact of universal reconciliation, the timing is determined by our will and actions.  The overcomers will receive aionian (of the age) life in the first resurrection i.e. the Millennium and they will reign with the Lord during the Millennium where there will be survivors.  The rest of the believers will be given life (immortality) when the thousand years is finished. This is the time of the general resurrection, when ALL who yet remain in the tombs “shall hear His voice and shall come forth” (John 5: 28, 29). This will include both unbelievers and the rest of the believers who missed the first resurrection. Those who refused Christ during their life time on earth, along with the great majority of mankind who never had opportunity to hear of Him in their life time, will confess Him as Lord at the Great White Throne.

All will be judged according to their works (Revelation 20: 13).  Because all sin is reckoned as a debt, the great Judge will reckon each man’s “debt” according to his sin and according to his level of knowledge (Luke 12: 48) and then sentence him to be “sold” according to the law in Exodus 22: 3. The purchaser will be an overcomer, one with the character of Jesus Christ, who will be given authority and responsibility to teach them righteousness by personal example and by force if necessary. This judgment will endure until the Creation Jubilee.

Due to the seeming injustice of imputing the sin of Adam to all individuals, God is justified by reversing the injustice and imputing the righteousness of Jesus Christ to all people of all times.  The inherent injustice of mortality to all people prior to any sin is made right by sending the Son of God to ascribe immortality to all people.  This does not expunge Divine judgment which is the premise of the Great White Throne judgment and the Lake of Fire.  God appears as fire in the Old Testament; God is fire; the judgment of God is fire; the Lake of Fire is the judgment of God.

No one will be tortured, for torture is not a judgment in biblical law, nor is it one of the fruits of the Spirit, nor is it consistent with the character of God as revealed in Christ. Some may receive 40 lashes with a whip, according to the law mentioned in Jesus’ parable in Luke 12: 48, but that, Jesus called a “fire” in verse 49.

Luke 12:48-49 KJV  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  (49)  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

The fire is the Word of God, including the “fiery law” (Deut. 33: 2). It is the manifestation of the righteous character of God Himself, for He manifested Himself to Israel only as fire. He is a “consuming fire” (Deut. 4: 24). When He comes in a baptism of fire, its purpose is to destroy “the flesh” and quicken our mortal bodies (Rom. 8: 11). The fire is the glory of God as well, which will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. The waters cover 100 percent of the sea; so also His glory will cover 100 percent of the earth.

The Soul That Sins

In Ezekiel 18:4, God proclaims, “The soul that sins, will die”.  Of course, everyone dies, and the sinner will face judgment.  However, on a deeper theological level it can be said that the guilt of sin is attributed to the soul of a person rather than the spirit or body.  In other words, it is the soul that dies.  Unlike the spirit the soul is not immortal, it will die.

Ezekiel 18:4 LITV-TSP  Behold, they are all My souls. As the soul of the father, also the soul of the son, they are Mine. The soul that sins, it shall die.

The soul received its mortal state from Adam and that mortal state has been inherited by every person since.  Some theologians will conclude that the soul in sinful by it very nature, but this is not what is said by Ezekiel.  It is true that all souls commit sin but this is because all souls are mortal and destined for death.  All mortal souls commit sin.

Adam was created as a living soul and if he (and Eve) had not sinned then all future children would inherit the same type of soul.  After the sin of Adam, his soul was given mortality according to the judgment of God and his children from that point onward would inherit a mortal soul.  It can be scripturally seen that our mortality can be attributed to Adam and not Eve.  The mortal soul of every person comes from the father and not the mother.

Jesus was/is the product of a mother (Mary) and the Holy Spirit of God.  As already stated, the mother is not the progenitor of a mortal soul.  Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and not from an earthly father.  Therefore, we can conclude that Jesus did not have a mortal soul.

From Immortal to Mortal

It has been said that Jesus exchanged His immortal soul for a mortal one beginning at His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It was necessary so that His blood (soul) would become the ultimate sin offering as the Lamb of God.

Isaiah 53:12 says He (Jesus) will pour out His soul unto death.

Isaiah 53:10-12 KJV 

(10)  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 

(11)  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 

(12)  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Likewise, Luke 22:44 states:  “And being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly:  and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” 

Sweat appears to be part of Adam’s curse from God:  Genesis: 3:19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground”.  This is reinforced by Isaiah 53:12:  “He hath poured out His soul unto death”.

Matthew 26:38-39 states:  Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.  (39)  And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.  It has been said the ground (or the earth itself) was cursed along with Adam.  At this instance, Jesus may have imputed His own righteousness to the earth while taking the curse of death from the earth onto Himself.

The blood of Jesus had to be sinless and spotless.  He took upon Himself the curse and sins of creation including all individuals and thereby reversing the curse bestowed upon Adam and the earth and imputing His righteousness to all human beings as well as all creation because He is the headship of all by the Law of Headship.