Hey,
In a thread in the COC located here:http://www.thetreeofliberty.com/vb/s...at-Without-God
The conversation kind of devolved in the last couple of pages into a discussion for, and against, universalism.
I presented my side (against) with some help from Forty9er, by quoting some things about the lake of fire and that the Bible stated that it was forever, and ever. Ya know like forever. (Rev. 20)
Then dmatic (for) instead of responding with his opinion on the lake of fire and that it was for ever and ever, changed the subject. Or rather instead of dealing with the term for ever and ever, pointed at another word and said we should study it.
So here we go:Now, I want to type Acts 3:17ff; Peter talking to the 'crowd': "And now brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers. A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you."
We will need to do a study of what that word 'restitution' means. And what the holy prophets have spoken. Until then, peace....
Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
IMHO to understand the phrase of "restitution of all things" we need to understand 3 things: 1) What was it like in the beginning 2) what is it like now 3) How does it get back to that originalRestitution
RESTITU'TION, n. [L. restitutio.]
1. The act of returning or restoring to a person some thing or right of which he has been unjustly deprived; as the restitution of ancient rights to the crown.
Restitution is made by restoring a specific thing taken away or lost.
2. The act of making good, or of giving an equivalent for any loss, damage or injury; indemnification.
He restitution to the value makes.
3. The act of recovering a former state or posture. [Unusual.]
Restitution of all things, the putting the world in a holy and happy state. Acts 3.
In the simplest statement to answer No. 1, IMHO the original condition was: A holy state. Man was holy, the world was not under a curse, and God walked in the garden in the cool of the evening among, and with, His Holy Creation.
To answer the No. 2. The original condition became corrupted, it fell, became unholy. Man and creation came under a curse and thus separated from God.
I really don't think there is a problem with either of those in our discussion. It's the third one that causes problems, or lengthy discussions.
No. 3 how does it get back to the original? "Restitution of all things" How does it get back to being holy?
I think there are 2 ways. One is by cutting the ungodliness out. Based in general on ....if thine eye offend thee cut it out..... Elijah and the 400 prophets of Baal, and some others places. Which in my opinion would include separation from the Holy (background Haggai 2: 10-13)
And in this case would require the lake of fire, a cutting out, and separation to last forever, and ever for those who don't repent in this life time.
OR
A cleansing, by the blood of the Lamb, by those who do repent in this life time.
The argument may go to repentance in a post life time, as in reincarnation, or Purgatory, or universalism and on that we shall see.
However for the restitution of all things topic there are 2 ways to accomplish that, as noted above.