For two thousand years most Christians have interpreted certain Scriptures to mean that unbelievers will be tormented by God in a burning hell-fire forever, for eternity. One the main passages for such a view is this one from the Book of Revelation:

 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, ¹⁰ he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 ESV)

Certainly this is a serious warning. If I were tempted to worship the beast and its image or take his mark on my forehead or hand, I would take this passage into consideration first. But, what does this passage really mean? Is it really saying that these particular people will burn in hell forever?

Men continually misinterpret the Scriptures because they focus upon one verse, passage, or ancient doctrine (like burning in hell forever) without making the rest of Scripture part of their interpretation. Many people fall into this trap because they have never read the whole Bible and they have always taken other people’s word for true doctrine. But the Scriptures constantly reaffirm that “God’s Word is Truth,” not man’s. Always remember the following Scripture and you will never go astray: “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” (Psalm 119:160) In mathematics “a sum” is defined as the answer you get when you add two or more numbers together. Psalm 119:160 means that answer you get when you add all of God’s word, all the Scripture, together IS TRUTH! We can never arrive at God’s truth if we continue to subtract part of his word from the equation. Thus the Scripture warns,

Every word of God proves true;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
⁶ Do not add to his words,
    lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules^[a] that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. ² You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2)

 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

EVERY WORD OF GOD PROVES TRUE! WE MUST NOT ADD TO THEM, NOR TAKE AWAY FROM THEM.

Now let’s consider a few verses which appear to be in utter contradiction to Revelation 14:11 which on its face appears to promise eternal punishment to those who worship the Satanic beast.

 In him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight⁹ making known^[c] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:8-10)

Has the fullness of time occurred yet? No, but when it does we can be assured that (assured because every word of God will prove true), God will “unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Doesn’t “all things” include those whom God will punish according to Revelation 14:9-11? Of course it does. They will be on earth if they are still alive and their souls will be in heaven or on earth if they are physically dead. Here’s another verse concerning the reconciliation of all things,

⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him [Jesus Christ] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

How many knees will not bow to Jesus Christ? None. How many tongues will not confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? None. So, after a person’s knee bows to Jesus and that person confesses that Jesus is in fact his Lord, do you then think that Jesus is going to throw him or her into eternal fire and torment? Why would he do that? Does that sound merciful to you? Wouldn’t Jesus then be breaking his own law of love, his law that commands each of us to love even our enemies? Why should I love an ISIS murderer if Jesus Himself will not do that in the fullness of time?

Finally, here is the passage which explicitly states God’s intent to reconcile all things to himself.

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[f]him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

Notice that Paul uses the word “all” seven times in this short passage and uses the word “everything” which is a synonym for “all” once. Seven is the Biblical number of completion and eight is the Biblical number for new beginnings and also for Christ himself. This short passage tells us that the work of Christ has completed a new beginning for all things by reconciling “to himself all things.” Now tell me, what things are NOT INCLUDED in “all things?” No thing, nothing. All things are included. Does that then include these miserable wretches described in Revelation 14:9-11? Of course it does. Remember that “every word of God proves true” and that we must not subtract or add to any of God’s words. Paul explicitly says here that Jesus will “reconcile to himself all things….” This verse is where the title for this post comes from.