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Berean Expositor Volume 4 & 5
The reconciliation of all things.
Foreword.
pp. 132-142
Readers of this Magazine may remember that we gave a series of papers under the
heading The Wages of Sin, wherein every word used in the Old or New Testaments
relative to the subject was analyzed, and its meaning ascertained. During the writing of
the last few papers we were continually receiving letters urging us to take up the subject
of Universal Reconciliation, some writers not refraining from a little intimidation by
suggesting that we were afraid to express our convictions on the subject. We continued
however the course before us and concluded the subject of The Wages of Sin, but the
review of the booklet All in All plunged us into a controversy regarding details and side
issues before we were able to take up the subject of the reconciliation of all things as a
subject for positive teaching. The questions with regard to the true interpretation of
I Cor. 15: have arisen out of this controversy, and we feel that the time has come to drop
these side issues, which have thrust themselves so prominently into notice, and to take up
the subject of the teaching of Scripture regarding the reconciliation of all things itself.
We feel this will be more profitable, and probably many will realize, by the time we
finish the series, that there will be no need to return to I Cor. 15:, for they may then be
able to see that that chapter has nothing whatever to do with the subject.
Seeing that we have, whether we desired it or no, taken notice of existing teaching
regarding the reconciliation, we feel that in this foreword we ought to give up some space
in order to exhibit its scope, at least in outline. The one great conception which has
dominated the whole teaching referred to, is that the goal of the universe is "THE
FUTURE UNIVERSAL RECONCILIATION." Reconciliation
"will be extended to the whole universe. That which has been destroyed during
the eons is not annihilated, but will be raised and reconciled at the
consummation" (U.R. Vol. 4:, No. 3, "In Defence").
Believing that Scripture teaches future universal reconciliation they
"long for that climax of the Ages when the last enemy, Death, shall be
conquered and destroyed, when the victims of its rule shall come forth"
(U.R. Vol. 3:, No. 2, p. 23).
By their own confession, the belief in the future universal reconciliation not only
impelled them to believe that those who were cast into the second death shall be
ultimately revived and take their place among the reconciled ones, but the stern logic of
their doctrine made them write:--