Excerpt: Old Testament Passages on Universal Restoration
From my recent book: "Until the Last One's Found: An Introduction to Universal Reconciliation and Restoration"
We’ve already seen there are no passages in Scripture that explicitly describe hell as eternal with no chance of restoration. But are there passages that show restoration after God’s final judgment? We’ll look closely at the New Testament in the next chapter, but there are some passages in the Old Testament we need to consider.
Other Passages
For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone. (Lam 3:31-33)
It’s hard to imagine a more clear statement than this: No one is cast off by the Lord forever (or indefinitely). Why not? We’re told the reason why not: “so great is his unfailing love.” God doesn’t enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow. Jonah tells us God is eager to turn back from destroying people because he is filled with unfailing love. Here Jeremiah tells us no one will remain abandoned by God. And they both ground this in the character of God. So, God has a necessary purpose in bringing judgment, a purpose that is in harmony with his love, and this necessary judgment does not mean irrevocable abandonment with no ultimate restoration.
In light of this, consider what Jeremiah writes in other places:
The anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart. (Jer 23:20)
The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart. (Jer 30:24)
It’s not ultimately about God’s anger, and God’s anger is not unending; this is about God’s anger fulfilling his purpose, accomplishing what God intends. And underlying all of this is the love of God. We get this from these Old Testament prophets. And then we compare this realization to passages such as this one:
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Ps 30:5)
Now, take some time and consider what we see described in the following passages:
All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him. (Ps 22:27)
It’s hard to deny that this at least sounds like God ultimately reconciling everyone to himself.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name. (Ps 66:4)
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name. (Ps 86:9)
Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.
They will say of me, “In the LORD alone
are deliverance and strength.”
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame. (Isa 45:22-24)
How certain can we be this will happen? Notice what God says in this passage from Isa 45: “By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” And he tells us what everyone will say: “In the LORD alone are deliverance and strength.” It even says, “All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.” Who is that, if not lost, rebellious humanity? Does this not sound like repentance and confession? Of everyone?
As you consider these passages, ask yourself: Is there anyplace in Scripture where God demands—or even accepts—worship that is not sincere, from the heart? Isn’t that specifically what God rejects in passages such as Isa 29:13 and 1:11-18? Do verses such as Ps 66:4 (which we just read) sound like the forcibly imposed “worship” of God through clenched teeth by those who remain defiant and rebellious? Or does it sound like the exuberant praise and adoration of those who have been freed from their bondage to sin and enmity against God, and now pour out heartfelt worship and praise to God because “so great is his unfailing love,” a God who—through his love—turns his enemies into his friends and even adopts them as his children?!
I am, admittedly, now drawing from the New Testament, and that’s where we need to begin looking. The pattern and passages we’ve seen in the Old Testament are surprisingly clear and compelling on their own. In the Old Testament we find a pattern of God’s judgment always being followed by his restoration. We’ve read in these Old Testament passages that no one will remain abandoned by God, but that everyone he created will eventually come to worship him, giving him their allegiance. And we’ve seen that the Old Testament prophets grounded these truths in the character of God, particularly his love. But we expect the New Testament to be even more clear and explicit, so let’s turn there now to see what it has to say about these things.
From chapter eight, “Is There A Biblical Case for Universal Reconciliation and Restoration?: The Old Testament” in Until the Last One’s Found: An Introduction to Universal Reconciliation and Restoration by Curt Parton.