Restoration and Judgement

“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” — 1 Corinthians 15:24

Day of wrath and doom impending!

Among the many false charicatures of confident universalism is that it denies justice. This is patently false. A confident universalism is the only coherent way to reconcile Divine justice and creaturely failings. For, if one were to be punished endlessly for any act(s) committed on earth, that would not be justice, but some sort of monstrous nightmare that turns God into a character to which even the worst fictional horror stories would pale in comparison. Justice is always proportional, so to punish a finite person with infinite punishment is an absolute afront to Divine justice. Universalists recognize this. We do not deny Divine justice in any way, but say that that justice is proportional. The wicked will indeed go to Gehenna, and may go for quite a while, but not forever.

This view can actually be quite terrifying to some. Under the infernalist view, someone can continue in their rebellion against God eternally. For the universalist, this is impossible. Everyone will have to come to terms with their wickedness and failings and will have to mend their ways. One does not have the opportunity to continue in their ways forever—the old man of Ephesians 4 will be crucified and the new man will triumph. There is no other way; God created you and will not rest until you have union with Him. A helpful analogy might be that of therapy. Instead of allowing some to continue in their sin, the Divine physician will set out a plan to heal all, each in a way proper to him. This experience will be most dreadful for many. As the dies irae states:

Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth, When from heaven the Judge descendeth, On whose sentence all dependeth.

The day of judgement will indeed be a terrible day; each person’s sentence must be served, regardless of whether or not their gnomic will sees its necessity. The purifying fire of Divine love will encounter all, and for many it will be a fearful event. Yet, through that event, the old man will be annihilated and the new man, made in the image of the risen Christ, will rise from the ashes. No one will be left to their eternal demise; there is no will so stubborn that it is beyond the reach of the Good Shepherd. This process will not be easy or pretty, it will be difficult. As anyone with an addiction who has gone to therapy will tell you, it is nearly impossible at first. Yet, for those who have gone through therapy, they will also say that the pain is more than worth it in order to experience the healing freedom that follows.

Things aren’t all rainbows and lollipops on a universalist view. Justice and judgement will be served, and we do not deny that. We only deny that it shall be perpetual, for that would not be a demonstration of justice, but its absurd misuse. Through judgement, we will not be left orphans, but will be saved as through fire. All shall be restored, but not before being cleansed.

Faint and weary, Thou hast sought me,

On the Cross of suffering bought me.

Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Dies Irae recording with English translation