It is an absolute necessity to the doctrine of Universal Reconciliation that there shall

be a deliverance from the second death. We look in vain for the slightest hint of such a

deliverance in the only book that specifically deals with it by name (the Revelation), but

we are told that such doctrine is not within its scope. There is however, we are assured,

one passage of Scripture which does definitely teach deliverance from the second death,

and that is I Cor. 15: 26, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death". An

examination of the chapter reveals that the only death that is in view is that brought in by

Adam. This death is destroyed at the resurrection, as the amplification shows that "death

is swallowed up in victory". The new heavens and the new earth follow immediately

upon the casting of death into the lake of fire (Rev. xxi). This same sequence is found in

II Pet. 3: where the new heavens, the new earth, and the day of God follow the burning

up of the earth and its works, and the passing away of the heavens. The end, that God

may be all in all, i.e., "the day of God", follows hard upon the destruction of the last

enemy (I Cor. 15: 24-28). That last enemy is the death which came upon all men through

one man's sin.

There is no room in any of these passages for the resurrection from the lake of fire. If

there be no deliverance from the second death, there can be no such thing as universal

reconciliation. Not one whose name is found written in the book of life enters the second

death. Satan's seed, those who worship the beast and receive his mark, these we are

distinctly told have not their names written in the book of life. Here is the final division

of the two seeds. The "tares" are burned in the fire; the "wheat" are gathered into the

barn. The very order is important. The tares are destroyed first. Those who teach a

resurrection from the lake of fire at long last must either deny this order, teach that the

burning of the tares changes them into wheat, or believe that the manifestation of the sons

of God is indefinitely postponed.

Universal reconciliation is an attractive doctrine. Its attractiveness is its bait and its

snare. The "comfort" some receive from it is no more proof of its truth than is the

"comfort" received from the traditional idea that our loved ones who have died are now

consciously in glory. Doubtless "Christian Science" made the Bible a "new book" to

many, but it is nevertheless a doctrine of demons. We have but one test for truth; it must

stand four square with "all Scripture".

In the pages of this series we have sought to indicate what we believe is the truth of

God. We have no personal quarrel with individuals, and apart from answering any

legitimate questions that may arise out of this treatise we shall take no further notice of

either the erroneous doctrine or any who propagate it. Because this particular error

compromised our own stewardship we felt obliged to deal with it and show our own

position. We trust nevertheless that the truth may be seen all the clearer for the moment

of conflict.