Larry Berlin
3 min readSep 16, 2024

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Ok Dan, I have to comment again after seeing Steve Foss' point about your comment. I read your article too quickly, seeing it as commentary on historical events, but your support of this idea is pretty strong here. Just as with the mistaken notion of hell your article addresses, this is another "tradition" of error in the early church. Nowhere in the Bible does it suggest everyone gets saved! That's not even logical.

Look at the case of Lucifer and his supporting angels. Their chance to reverse their situation came before they were kicked out of heaven. By that point they were cemented in wrong thinking and were fighting against God. They will not be "saved" later because they could never be happy in God's perfect universe.

For any humans on this earth who turn against God, they are giving way to deceptions from Satan, and they will end up in the same permanent destruction at the end.

Consider these references...

Matthew 25:41

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:46

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

This one makes pretty clear that only those who accept Jesus Christ will be "passed from death unto life"

John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

You're right that love conquers all, but God's principle standard is that each individual has the right of choice. God can save anyone who accepts to be saved, but He won't be saving anyone against their wishes!

Here's a powerful prophecy about the end results.

Romans 14:11

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

This is not about saving even Lucifer or any of the truly wicked of this earth who love not God, but it prophecies that even the lost, including Satan, will at the end bow to God, and declare that His judgment against them is correct, just, and true. God will not destroy the wicked at the end, until even they have seen the reason they are not saved.

Revelation 21:7, 8

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

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: which is the second death.

Revelation 20:10, 14, 15

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The reference here to "for ever and ever" is that they are consumed away by the fire, to never come back into being forever. Verse 15 clearly states that all who are not written in the book of life, are consumed away along with the Devil and his angels.

God will cleanse the universe of sin and all traces thereof. Even death will die, and never be seen again because all who remain alive, have seen the truly terrible nature of sin, they've witnessed the devastation of Satan's ways, and made their choice to stick with God's way forever.

Our destination is formed by our attitudes, beliefs, choices, and actions while we are alive. Once we die our ability to choose is ended. God's judgment is not only Just, it is fair and merciful. The wicked who turn away from God's holy character would not be happy, attempting to live where sin and evil no longer can exist.

The point God makes is that He is the source of life, and unless we seek to know His Truth and to follow Him with love in our hearts, we cannot make it into heaven. Many people who hate God, would not be happy being saved to live in heaven! We must cultivate a positive relationship with God here and now, before we lose our ability to make choices.

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Larry Berlin

A world traveler, fascinated with the Universe, a follower of the Creator. Writing about Bible based mysteries, treasures, patterns, symbols, and prophecy.