Question from a reader:

I’m reading Randy’s book Heaven and in chapter 15, he quotes from Anthony Hoekema about God not destroying the works of his hands, but cleansing them from sin and perfecting them so that they may finally reach the goal for which he created them. So he does not believe in hell and the destruction of those who do not believe?

The chapter goes on to talk about how God will not destroy the work that He’s created, but instead revive it and restore it. This leads me to believe that there can be no hell and that possibly Randy believed in no hell because he says that if any of God’s creation were completely destroyed, then Satan would win.

Answer from Randy Alcorn:

Just as you can take verses out of the Bible and argue for universalism, so you could take various things I say to argue for it, but then you have to look at the whole body of the argumentation. The Bible argues against universalism, and in my books, I offer arguments against it, even though it might appear that when I cite the restoration of “all things” passages, I am saying otherwise.

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as having a proof text and then taking it all the way to its logical conclusions, since the Bible has clear arguments to the contrary elsewhere. Here are some thoughts from online:

You can believe in the final restoration of all things (cosmic eschatology) without being a universalist (personal eschatology) by focusing on the restoration of the created order rather than the salvation of every individual, acknowledging that God’s work of redemption may exclude some human beings.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

• Focus on Cosmic Restoration:

Instead of focusing on the idea that all people will be saved, you can believe that God will ultimately restore and redeem the entire cosmos, including humanity, to its intended purpose. 

• God's Work of “New Creation”:

Some non-universalists believe that God's work of "new creation" (redemption) purposefully excludes some human beings, while still affirming the restoration of the created order. 

• Universalism vs. Conditionalism:

Universalists believe God will eventually redeem every human being, while conditionalists believe God's work of "new creation" may exclude some. 

• Theological Framework:

This perspective allows for a belief in the ultimate triumph of good over evil, the restoration of God's creation, and the possibility of a future where all things are reconciled, without necessarily requiring the belief that everyone will be saved. 

• Examples:

Some Christians who believe in the final restoration of all things, but are not universalists, might point to passages in the Bible that speak of a new heaven and earth, or the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death, as evidence for this belief.

This is an excellent article one of our former EPM staff members wrote on universalism.