Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 12

This is the twelfth 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 second of which is b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead. (see a previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here).

Under the b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead heading Dr Arnold claims that the unbelieving dead are seen in a fixed state that cannot be altered and then quotes numerous punishment and judgement texts from the New Testament hoping to illustrate his assertion.

My discussion in Parts 7 - 11 demonstrates that the punishment and judgement verses he quotes, correctly translated, say nothing about fixed states.
And how could they?
If God's plan is to save His creation and bring unity to all under the headship of Christ, these punishment states cannot possibly be "fixed".

(God) intends all human beings to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 4  DBH]
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 8 - 10  NIV]

Indeed the Bible says that God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. [Hebrews 12 : 11  NIV],

confirming the purifying purpose of the lake of fire for those whose names are not in the Book of Life at the final judgement.

Logic alone tells us that these punishments must just be temporary "stopping-off" places on the journey to God's final result, as all correctly-motivated punishments should be.

Also, how could they be more than temporary when ...

the Son of God appeared to destroy the devil’s work
[see 1 John 3 : 8b],
Christ appeared at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself
[see Hebrews 9 : 26],
and Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
[see 1 Corinthians 15 : 25 - 26]

The only fixed state I can see in Scripture is represented by

God becoming everything to everyone (all in all).
[1 Corinthians 15 : 28]

Let's recall the underlying theme of God's creation, of which we are the highlight:

Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him.
Praise the Lord forever! Amen.
[Romans 11 : 36  CEV]

Blessings, Barry