How Postmillennialists make sense out of the "universalist" passages

On how postmillennialists makes sense (honest and logical sense) out of the universalist passages...

(For a pro-universalist argument that includes TONS of biblical passages - which are problematic for premillers and ammillers - go here: http://www.tentmaker.org/books/everyknee.htm )

NO, this is not pro-universalist. Universalists believe, in one form or another, that ALL men, past, present, and future will be redeemed (no one will suffer for eternity in hell), without reference to their trust (or non-trust) in Christ

I posted this somewhere else in a response to a unique question, so it may sound somewhat pointed, because it is.

What does a passage like this mean with regard to Universalism, "As in Adam all die, in Christ all will be made alive," Or what about, "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  Or, "He desires ALL people to be saved", Or "gave himself as a ransom for ALL", "has consigned ALL to disobedience, that he may have mercy on ALL", Or "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world"...etc...

I'd like to say something regarding "universalism" and "universal" language in scripture - then move onto Israel. There are generally only a few ways to look at it.

Universalists attempt to make sense out of the universal language in scripture by shaping a theology around it which allows for an ultra-literalistic interpretation of the universal language. That is, EVERYONE, past, present and future will be redeemed.

On the other hand there are two kinds of non-universalists, or particularists.

Non-universalists(a), believe that most people will go to hell, and they take a very pessimistic view of eschatology. Premillennialists and Amillennialists fit this category. They make sense out of the universalist language by avoiding it 90% of the time, and by twisting it 10% of the time. Let me explain what I mean by pessimistic. They hold to eschatological views which tend to see the unfolding of human history in very pessimistic colors. For example premillennialists hold that humanity is getting worse and worse, and will one day generally reject Christ in favor of the "anti-Christ". Amillennialists also hold that humanity is getting worse and worse, and that the "narrow" road will remain narrow through out human history. Of course, these eschatologies do not allow for the concept of the salvation of humanity as a whole, or in general terms. They struggle with universal language in scripture. With regard to Romans 11, dispensational premillennialists tend to believe that the nation of Israel will one day (after the premillennial return of Christ) return (in mass) to Christ and will thus "be saved" as a nation. Amillennialists believe that "all Israel will be saved" is speaking of the whole Church, as in: "everyone in the Church will be saved".

The other non-universalists(b):
In my opinion the only view which has no need to avoid the universalist language, and yet does NOT hold to the universalist position, is the only view which actually understands WHY there is universal language in scripture. Which view? The Postmillennialist view. Postmillennialists hold that Christ will return after a long period of great success for the Gospel - the millennium. Premillennialists believe in a great time of success for the Gospel during the literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth in Israel. Postmillennialists agree that the millennial period will be a period of success for the Gospel, but they believe that Christ reigns from HEAVEN during this time, and returns physically after this period. A period of time wherein Christ truly reigns over the nations from his throne in heaven through his people - the Church (who will one day include all of mankind). (Acts 7:46-49  "David found favor in God's sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.  47 "But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.  48 "However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:  49 'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?') During this period of time, according to postmillennialists, the vast majority of mankind will be redeemed. The prophecies of success for the Gospel will be fulfilled during human history, before the physical return of Christ to judge mankind. This view, which I hold, sees the universal language of scripture as speaking of this time to come, not necessarily directly, but in terms of God's overall plan to redeem mankind as a whole. See, it's important that we understand that when ADAM sinned, he sinned as the WHOLE human race, and the whole human race was plunged into sin. Also, we must understand that God has always been concerned for all of humanity. For example, in Old Testament time the nation of Israel was to be a light to the nations in order to turn them to Jehovah. God desired to use Israel to reach the nations. Unfortunately Israel often sinned and fell short of God glory...the glory that they were supposed to extend to the nations by their good works. In Adam all of mankind was covenantally, or federally, condemned. Adam was mankind's covenantal, or federal, head. When Adam sinned we were all condemned. When Adam sinned he also passed on a sinful nature to his posterity. The Covenantal sin and condemnation gave way to a corruption of the nature of ALL of mankind - which gives us a sinful nature which is punished by death. This is what Paul means when he says, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." In the same way that the punishment spread to all mankind generally, so does God's solution. Adam was a "type" of Christ. Adam condemned the world and brought in the sinful nature, Christ redeems the world and brings in the regenerate nature. (this also gets into the use of "regeneration" language in scripture - another interesting topic). The universal language refers to God's great plan to redeem all mankind, not those who have lived in the past and rejected Christ, but the whole of mankind during the height of, and successful day of the reign of Christ. This reign, referred to as the "kingdom" is a gradually increasing kingdom according the Christ's teaching. This gradual growth is a long process, and process which we are in NOW. A process which will lead to the fulfillment of the prophecies of Gospel success, peace, and prosperity. (Psa 2:6-12, 22:26-28, 67, Psa 47:6-9, 72:8-11, 72:17, 86:9-10, 110:1-6; Num 14:21; Micah 4:1-5; Isa 2:1-4, 9:6-7, 65:17-25, 66:18-23; Ezek 37:24-28, 47:1-9; Dan 2:34-35, 2:44, 7:26-27, 7:13-14; Luke 13:19-21) A process which was spoken of long ago and began to be fulfilled by Christ, and the early Church, Gen 12:1-3, 18:18, 22:18; Gal 3:8-9, 3:16; Acts 3:24-26, 13:46-47)

In summation, postmillennialists make the most logical sense out of passage which seem to speak of EVERYONE, or THE WHOLE WOLRD being redeemed. In a sense the whole world WILL be redeemed because as Christ's kingdom advances through the ministry of the Spirit through the Church by the preaching of the Gospel we will see more and more of mankind come into the Church and the Kingdom of God. Now, some may want to debate whether or not Postmillennial eschatology is Biblical - that's another discussion all together. What I'm saying here is that the postmillennial view makes the MOST sense out of these passages.

Your options are these. 1) Concede that the universal language must mean that all of mankind past, present and future, will be saved from hell. 2) Avoid the universal language at all costs (pretend it isn't in the Bible), or twist it, because you have an eschatology that can't fit the redemption of the world into it. 3) Accept that the scripture teaches that some go to hell, but that through the ministry of Christ, through the Church, by the preaching of the Gospel and the power of the Spirit humanity will gradually come into the Church and be redeemed and that the great commission will actually be fulfilled, "Make the nations my disciples!" That the great commission will actually be fulfilled because, as Christ said as the basis for the commission,  "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 )

Here is an example:
Romans 5:8-21   8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--  13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.  15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.  16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.  17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.  19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.  20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,  21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Notice that Paul is clearly teaching that the Grace of the Gospel which comes through Christ will abound FAR MORE than the sin of Adam abounded. How much did the sin of Adam abound? The sin of Adam touched all men from Adam to Christ. BUT NOW, Christ has come and the righteousness of Christ will abound even more. How can this grace (which is said to abound far more than the transgression) abound if premillennialism or amillennialism are correct? These eschatologies teach that the vast majority of mankind will go to hell, and that the grace of God will NOT abound, but will be quenched, and will redeem LESS than the sin of Adam condemned. This passage is an OPTIMISTIC passage about the redemption of God in Christ. This optimism is only taken into account honestly, and fully, in the Postmillennial view - wherein The Grace of God does abound far more as all of mankind will be redeemed as the kingdom grows. How can premillennialists and amillennialists make sense out of this passage which twisting it somehow? They have to make it sound as though Paul is teaching that a lot of people, but not too many, will be saved. But they believe that the number of men who will be redeemed will be FAR, FAR, FAR LESS than the number condemned through Adam. However, this passage teaches the exact opposite! like 1 Corinthians 15:22, which says "As in Adam all die, in Christ all will be made alive,"  Paul is teaching that MUCH MORE will be those who receive the Grace of God through Christ than those who died in Adam.  Another thing to take into account is that this passage is speaking in historical terms. Notice that it speaks of the sin of Adam, and death reigning UNTIL Christ came. Christ turned everything around. He turned the curse on it's head. Things were going from bad to worse. But through Christ things are going from better to best.

The prophets said it best...
(Dan 2:34-35 NIV) While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. {35} Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

(Dan 2:44 NIV) "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

(Num 14:21 NASB) but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Notice that in this context Christ receives his Kingdom and authority when he comes UP INTO HEAVEN during his ascension, NOT down to earth during his return!
(Dan 7:13-14 NIV) "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. {14} He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

(Dan 7:26-27 NIV) "'But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. {27} Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.'

(Psa 2:6-12 NIV) "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." {7} I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son ; today I have become your Father. {8} Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. {9} You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." {10} Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. {11} Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. {12} Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

etc etc etc

With regard to Israel, and Romans 11, Postmillennialists believe that along with the rest of the nations Israel will also be redeemed. The Church will make ALL of the NATIONS his disciples - Including Israel. God will choose to redeem Israel again after the Gentiles (literally "Nations" in the Hebrew) have come into the Kingdom.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. This is very general.
(For example, questions may abound regarding the use of the words "World", or "All" in scripture.) Briefly it's important to understand that this language is not hyper-literal langauge. It's normal language understood phenomenologically, or hyperbolically. Other questions might revolve around the so called "pessimistic passages". Briefly, I don't believe they apply to this day and age...I believe they apply to the years leading up to a.d. 70 before the great tribulation and judgment on Israel.