Eric W. King ~ TSW, "The Shepherds Way": A response to apokatastasis ~ TSW

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The Ancient Antiochene Church of God

A response to apokatastasis

By presbyter Eric William King (July 26^th 2024)

I shall give a short yet simple article about “universalism” [a.k.a. Greek: apokatastasis]. Those of you who have studied here and have listened to my talks and lectures, read my articles, know that the Ancient Antiochene Church, the “first church”, had (has) its roots in the Antiochene school of theology. It was in ancient Antioch [Syrian Antioch] that we were first called “Christians”.

The other ancient school, the Alexandrian, taught many things that are heresy or at least, borderline heresy. Why? Because they were privy to many scrolls (books) that had been collected in the Alexandrian library which contained information about “pagan” religions. The Stoics that joined the “Christianity” of early Alexandria became influenced by many of these “world religious” views and mixed them into their “Christian” theology. This is not to say that all Alexandrian theology was bad, many good and solid Biblical teachings came out of the Alexandrian school. At the same time, they chose Platonic thought regarding how to process things and this became the norm in the Alexandrian school. This made them much more liberal regarding their approach to salvific and soteriological issues.

Also, they became much more concerned with Christological issues rather than moral issues. The school of Antioch concerned itself more with moral and salvation issues while at the same time approaching their theology from a more Aristotelian perspective. This is an oversimplification, but it is a good way to sum it all up.

Origen (Ad 185 - Ad 254) became a leading representative of the Alexandrian school. He stressed a more allegorical interpretation of Scripture rather than a literal. This extremism led to pulling many texts out of context. Many ministers of Scripture do this even today. The problem with this kind of approach is that you can make the Bible say almost anything you wish. In contrast, the ancient Antiochene school of theology followed “the seven laws of Biblical hermeneutics”. Today, we (The Ancient Antiochene Church of God) still follow these sound laws.

We can truly say that the idea of “universal salvation” is not really original with Origen, there were philosophical and pagan ideas of such a “restoration” of “all things”. He borrowed many philosophical concepts and integrated them into Scripture passages that are really vague and not precise – passages that seem to be unclear in their specific [certain] meaning.

Origen also taught that people existed in Heaven as conscious spirit-beings before they took on Human bodies. Mormons teach this even today though this teaching is not found in Scripture.

St. Peter wrote that Apostle Paul wrote things “hard to be understood” that the unwise “take out of context” to mean something that Apostle Paul never meant them to mean. (2^nd Peter 3:16) This is why a proper hermeneutic is very important. It saddens me to hear what some pastors are teaching today, not even having a basic understanding of their Christian faith and the early history of the Christian Church. Today, many fallen churches are changing Biblical doctrines to appease their listeners and to gain secular approval and acceptance. Apostle Paul warned about this happening, it should not surprise us. (Acts 20:29-31) (Understanding Church History)

Many that teach universal salvation take passages from Scripture which suggest trial, and fiery purification that one may pass through in order to be truly saved. Contextually these passages are correctly applying to one’s current experience of life, which as a true Christian involves correction from God. It is thus not fun to be corrected when one makes a bad decision but sometimes one must pay the price for such bad decisions – in this life.

To accept such trials and corrections is to “make it through” the fire with gained experience that leads to Christian maturity. We read about such experiences in 1^st Peter 1:6-9. Some, unfortunately, will not accept Jesus Christ nor His gospel. What then? If they refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord, King, Savior and God (de incarnatione) and then they die – they will go into eternal justice and for them that will be Hell.

The fallen Human nature does not like this doctrine at all. To the fallen man it seems “so unfair”. We must remember that we serve an Almighty God that has ALL KNOWLEDGE – past, present, future. He knows exactly what is eternally correct and righteous in all that He does – God is TRINITY. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are eternal persons [hypostaseis] and eternally correct and of one substance [ousia].

Another thing to consider is the fact that early Christians, including the beloved Patristic Fathers, did not have all the Truth that we have been blessed to receive today. The Church was very young, the Christian Scriptures had not yet even become canonized, as we have them today. It took counsels of the early Church to form and many theologians to discuss tough issues. The Holy Spirit continues to lead the first church unto this day.

We know of some early patristic fathers that accepted “apokatastasis” and these include St. Origen, St. Gregory of Nyssa and also his brother St. Basil. This is not to say that they did not contribute anything good to the development of early theology, because they did. Even today we can see how far many of us have come over the years in our own personal theological beliefs. Perhaps you have changed some of your older understandings as your Biblical knowledge has grown, I know that I have had to reconsider and change certain beliefs that I once clung to. This is normal in the stages of Christian maturity. A true saint always remains teachable.

Some saints are saved “yet as by fire”, personal purification. God purges us in this life from our carnal nature if we stay close to Him. Daniel and his friends were thrown into the literal fires – recorded in the Old Testament – and “one like the Son of man” was seen standing with them. Of course, we know that this was Jesus the Christ (a Christophany). Is He standing with you today?

To appease those caught in the teaching of “universal salvation”, the Roman Church came up with the doctrine of purgatory to bring a “balance” and “peace” to the consciousness of those who believed that they somehow “earn” their salvation through “good works”. Sadly, many who believe that they are participating in the work of their salvation are caught up in these thinking traps today. Some answer this with the pagan doctrine of reincarnation. Again, all because of a works oriented salvific synergistic belief. The Bible does not teach such rubbish.

Salvation is a complete free gift from God to those who hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, receive Baptism and partake of the Eucharist. True living faith, which is also a gift, performs these acts in the saved Christian.

Universalism teaches that all people, good and evil, will be ultimately saved and accepted into Paradise. Many say things that God never said such as; “God loves everyone.”. Yet, God says before Jacob or Esau were even born; “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Romans 9:11-13) God even tells us why He created the wicked. (Proverbs 16:4) So the answers to our questions are right here in front of us, found in the very Word of God (Sola Scriptura).

God is LOVE and true love has boundaries. So please understand, the doctrine of true purification means that purification begins now, in ones embodied life. It is completed at death. “For it is appointed for man to die once but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) A true Christian becomes “born again” then he or she continues to grow into Christian maturity. The true Christian is in the process of continual healing.

The Old & New Testaments do in fact speak of a “restoration of ALL THINGS”. We can imagine that this will ultimately include creation – animals, plants, trees, etc. (Romans 8:18-22) At the end of the seventh dispensation a new universe and huge planet will be made brand new. All children of God will continue to live in sinless perfection, beauty, and enlightenment. Continuing in a growing relationship with Divine Intelligence – our perfect God [Holy Trinity].

If you are a child of God now, understand that your purpose here is to speak the message of the Gospel to awaken the elect of God. (2^nd Corinthians 5:20) We participate in God’s plan. Don’t you want the rest of your earthly family to be with you in eternal Paradise? It is time to truly understand the seriousness of our mission as Christians.

I hope that this article has helped my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I hope to share even more information about this subject soon.

By Eric William King (July 26^th 2024)