Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 1

This is the first in a mini-series of posts responding to the arguments offered by Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) against God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation.

His arguments against Universal Reconciliation (UR) are offered under five headings, the first of which is a. The Scriptures Used. (see previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here)

Under the a. The Scriptures Used heading Dr Arnold quotes five (carefully chosen) texts that he claims teachers use to try to prove the truth of a second probation, as Dr Arnold calls it.
Before I address these five passages of Scripture, it is worth mentioning that there are many, many more [and more emphatic] passages that demonstrate God's intention to save all His creation, as a quick scan through this BLOG site will reveal.

He says, Basically they point to five passages of Scripture. The first is Acts 3 : 21, which speaks of the times of restoration of all things.

Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. [NIV]

Dr Arnold's objection is that the "all things" is limited to that which was spoken by the prophets, and that did not include any kind of universalism, limited or unlimited.
 
Well, I wonder what Isaiah and Malachi, for example, might say about that.
Although the Old Testament prophets were usually focused on contemporary Israel for their near-future insights and the Messianic Kingdom age for their far-future insights, their writings did occasionally give a strong hint of God's bigger picture.

Isaiah prophesies that all people will worship God ...

“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.
[Isaiah 45 : 22 - 24  NIV]

and that all nations will feast at the table of the Lord

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
[Isaiah 2 : 2  NIV]
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.
[Isaiah 25 : 6 - 8  NIV]

Malachi also mentions that all nations will worship, and bring offerings to the Lord.

"My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.
[Malachi 1 : 11  NIV]

David's description of God's character would back these hints from the prophets.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow in anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
[Psalm 145 : 8 - 9  NIV]
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
[Psalm 107 : 1  NIV]

Although Acts 3 : 21 is not a verse that I personally use to "prove" the truth of UR, it cannot be dismissed as being antagonistic to the Biblical theme of UR, as Dr Arnold suggests.

For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.
[Romans 11 : 36  GNB]

Blessings, Barry