Does the Old Testament Teach Universal Salvation?

Looking to the Old Testament as a whole, I am convinced that it does not carry a methodologically clear teaching related to the after-life.

I am convinced that Life and Immortality are brought to light by the revelation of Jesus, after his death and resurrection, as indicated in 2 Timothy 1: 10.

Still we can find types and shadows in the OT related to the Universal salvation, in addition to general declarations related to the nature of God which walks in line with the concept of Universal Salvation or the principles surrounding it. I choose a few verses with the complete understanding that I am not an OT scholar and by no means is this list in any way comprehensive.

Note: all Bible verses are from the English standard Version except if mentioned otherwise.

Genesis 1: 31

“And God saw everything that he has made, and behold, it was very good…”

For the God who clearly knows the future and sees his works from the beginning till the end (see Acts 15: 18 NKJV), to say that He saw everything He made and found it very good is a clear indication that God is positive about the destiny of His creation and on top of it is Man, whom He crowned with Glory and majesty (Psalm 8).

For God to be happy with the creation, indicates that He saw the end result and was pleased with it, which is definitely not the Eternal torment of the majority of humanity in a place of ultimate separation from the creator.

Psalm 16: 10

“For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption”

Though the ultimate fulfilment of this verse is related to the resurrection of Christ, the initial idea that the writer indicated proves that there was a general understanding in his mind that Sheol is in no way an end to God’s intervention in human life. Whether Sheol is used to mean the grave or the state of the dead.

Psalm 30:5

“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

There is an amazing contrast in this verse between the anger of God and His favour. The Anger (which some claim to be reason behind eternal torment) lasts for only a moment compared to his favour which immeasurably extends to a longer period. The “anger” of God is not an end in itself, but rather a pruning tool.

Psalm 103: 8-14

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

The mentioned verses definitely reveal that the anger of God will not be kept forever, eliminating the idea of eternal torment as God’s demonstration of anger against the human sin. There is a clear statement in the whole paragraph that reflects God’s compassion to humans, rather than anger and punishment. The major points in the paragraph that constitute a blast to the eternal torment advocates are:

1.       God does not keep his anger forever.

2.       God does not deal with the people according to their sins.

3.       If a fair God does not deal with Israel according to its sins, he should be extending the same level of mercy to all other people, otherwise he is not a just God.

4.       God understands the nature of men, and shows mercy based on that.

Psalm 139: 8

If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

The Advocates of Eternal torment usually claim that Sheol/Hades is the place of separation from God. If that was true, how can God be present in Sheol/Hades with us to extend his presence to our lives as expressed in these words of the psalmist?

Isaiah 14: 24-27

The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand…For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

The Purposes of God come to pass. As he plans will happen. If his plan of salvation is prepared to save all men, then definitely this plan of His will pass through. Human freedom can’t stand against the Divine plan of ages, which is for the benefit and wellbeing of His creation.

Isaiah 46: 9-10

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose”

God’s purposes will be accomplished. The remarks mentioned related to the previous paragraph applies also to this paragraph. With the emphasis that God’s purpose is reflected in Ephesians 1 of the New Testament, where God’s ultimate will is to gather all persons and things in Christ.

Jeremiah 31: 34

“And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Prophetically, Jeremiah declares that all men will know God. There will be no one teaching others, as all people will know the Lord. The reason being that God will forgive their iniquities. What a clear indication of the Universal Restoration of Humanity into the Garden/relationship with God.

Ezekiel 33: 11

 “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

Again, the Bible declares God’s will to all men. God’s will is not for death and destruction but salvation, life and restoration. If God is not pleased in a certain issue, then definitely his purpose will come to pass, and His will be done.

Combining this verse with those mentioned earlier assuring that God’s Purposes will prevail, as in Isaiah 14 and 46 above, the end result is definitely that Salvation will come on these people and death will lose its power over them.

Amen.