Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hope, Hell, and the New Jerusalem

by Bradley Jersak, Nik Ansell (Afterword)

Description: Everlasting hell and divine judgment, a lake of fire and brimstone--these mainstays of evangelical tradition have come under fire once again in recent decades. Would the God of love revealed by Jesus really consign the vast majority of humankind to a destiny of eternal, conscious torment? Is divine mercy bound by the demands of justice? How can anyone presume to know who is saved from the flames and who is not? Reacting to presumptions in like manner, others write off the fiery images of final judgment altogether. If there is a God who loves us, then surely all are welcome into the heavenly kingdom, regardless of their beliefs or behaviors in this life. Yet, given the sheer volume of threat rhetoric in the Scriptures and the wickedness manifest in human history, the pop-universalism of our day sounds more like denial than hope. Mercy triumphs over judgment; it does not skirt it. Her Gates Will Never Be Shut endeavors to reconsider what the Bible and the Church have actually said about hell and hope, noting a breadth of real possibilities that undermines every presumption. The polyphony of perspectives on hell and hope offered by the prophets, apostles, and Jesus humble our obsessive need to harmonize every text into a neat theological system. But they open the door to the eternal hope found in Revelation 21-22: the City whose gates will never be shut; where the Spirit and Bride perpetually invite the thirsty who are outside the city to ""Come, drink of the waters of life."" Endorsements: ""Who are the damned? Who are the saved? The questions have a way of provoking controversy, often quite heated. Brad Jersak, self-identified as an evangelical who accepts the Biblical witness as authoritative, turns the controversy into a conversation, a quiet conversation. He listens. He listens to opposing voices. He listens to Scripture as God's last word on the subject. He listens to the scholars and theologians. Out of the listening something like a 'humility of hope' (Jersak's phrase) begins to replace dogmatisms and we find ourselves part of a conversation with Christian brothers and sisters who are seriously praying for the world's salvation."" --Eugene H. Peterson author of Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers ""Deeply grounded in evangelical faith and committed to evangelical categories of theological interpretation, Jersak probes the meaning of 'Final Judgment' in Christian faith and tradition. The phrase, for Jersak, must be kept in quote marks, because he sees that what is 'final' is not 'judgment' but the openness of God. The book traces the way in which Christians, and the author, 'exchange certainty for hope.' In the end the residue of evil will not have the last word; what prevails is the goodness of God's love. Readers will be greatly instructed by this thoughtful book."" --Walter Brueggemann author of Divine Presence Amid Violence (Cascade, 2009) ""Combining theological rigor and pastoral sensitivity Her Gates Will Never Be Shut is sure to push the boundaries of the contemporary theological landscape and expand the theological horizons of scholars, pastors, and lay Christians alike. Grounded, timely, and open--this is evangelical theology at its best."" --Jon Stanley co-editor of ""God is Dead"" and I Don't Feel so Good Myself: Theological Engagements with the New Atheism (Cascade, 2009) About the Contributor(s): Bradley Jersak is an author and seminar speaker based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. He is the author of Can You Hear Me? (2003), Kissing the Leper (2006), and co-editor of Stricken by God? (2007).

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Faith, Spirituality

234 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2005

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in evangelical Christianity, the existence of hell as a place where all unbelievers are forever in pain apart from God was simply taken for granted. To die apart from Christ was to face a torture that would never end. That said, I can't remember the churches I went to dwelling much on hell. It wasn't till my teenage years when these ideas began to take shape. At one point I attended an evangelistic play that literally scared the hell out of me (Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames it was called). Even though I believed in Jesus, I went forward at the altar call to make sure I would not be dragged away, kicking and screaming, by demons to hell. At the same time, I was beginning to have the sort of deeper conversations you have as you become a teen. With this, I was realizing not all my friends were Christians. My dearest friend at the time was kind of outspoken about it.

For me, the tension was resolved somewhat in my early twenties when I encountered CS Lewis' idea that the gates of hell were locked from the inside. The idea of hell may be abhorrent, but at least God does not send people there, kicking and screaming against their will. Hell, said Lewis (and echoed by Tim Keller in his book The Reason for God) is to eternally choose against God. I could handle that. It left open the door for my non-Christian friends: perhaps they had not chosen against God? Maybe they would somehow avoid hell?

But still. Would I allow someone to forever choose something harmful to themselves? If I love a person, will I not do all I can to save them from self-destructive choices? Questions lingered.

At some point, perhaps my mid to late twenties, I began seriously studying other views of hell. Key in this was the book The Four Views of Hell. That book made it clear that the traditional view of eternal (forever) conscious (you feel it) torment (it is painful) has minimal biblical support. Especially if you seek to interpret the Bible "literally", because to let words like "death" or "perish" mean what they mean is to believe hell is simply the end of existence. How can "death" mean "continued existence forever"? I read Edward Fudge's magnificent book The Fire That Consumes. I learned theologians like Greg Boyd and preachers like John Stott believed in Annihilation. It made sense.

Yet again though, questions lingered. If you simply want to pile up Bible verses, Annihilation does seem to have the most support. But there were still verses that did not fit. A few pointed to the traditional view. A few pointed to the idea that God just might save everyone. Apart from the Bible,questions remained. Can God just forget people? Can God annihilating people really be considered a victory or does not evil then have the last word?

For someone who still works in an evangelical world, these are not fun questions. People are surprisingly connected to the idea of other people being tortured for all eternity. Heck, some of them think God foreordains such torture (don't get me started on this version of Calvinism...). Why must others suffer forever for our faith to mean something? I imagine the idea of hell is a nice way to try to keep people in line. I wonder how many Christians are motivated by fear more than love? We see this in the news with what appears to be great fear of immigrants and atheists and LGBTQ persons. Ultimately, its a fear of God who is full of wrath. The God in view here seems to promise love and forgiveness in Jesus. Of course, if you do not accept such love (or were not elect to it) then God will torture you. How is such a God different from an abusive husband?

I digress. The point is, in many places such questions are not welcome. Rob Bell's book Love Wins was filled with more questions than answers, but just speculating on the possibilities led many to excommunicate him. For the record, I gave that book a positive review.

Speaking of books...this is a book review!

Brad Jersak's book Her Gates will Never Be Shut is a must read for any interested in the topics of heaven and hell. What I most appreciate about this book is how Jersak admits all the views of hell have support in the Bible. One thing that has bothered me over the years is how both traditionalists and annihilationists argue the Bible 100% supports their views. Like I said above, I always saw nagging passages that did not fit. Jersak's honesty in this is refreshing. He is not writing to argue that universalism - God will save everyone in Jesus - is the only view in the Bible. But he is writing to say the Bible points to it in strong ways.

One thing Jersak points out, which was very helpful to me, was that the throughout scripture, judgment is never the last word. I've understood this for decades. In the Old Testament, the prophets always promise judgment. They even use hyperbole at times to make it sound like EVERYONE will be punished. Yet after judgment, consistently the last word is salvation and hope. The annihilation view argues that a day will come when the last word will not be salvation and hope, but punishment. Jersak's point is that when we come to the very end of the last book of the Bible, we still see the last word is hope. In Revelation 20 evil is destroyed, the dead are judged, satan and death are cast into the Lake of Fire. Then in Revelation 21-22 we get the New Jerusalem where there are no more tears or pain. But look closer: the gates are never shut. The kings of the world are welcomed in. The water from the New Jerusalem is for the healing of the nations.

Who are these people if the only people left are already the saved?

The implication is, there is hope. The story of scripture does not end with some people saved and some people damned. It ends with a continued opening for salvation.

A few months ago, reading David Bentley Hart's essay on universalism in The Hidden and the Manifest, I was in tears. It seems too good to be true. Jersak's book brought me to tears again. Is God really that loving? Is it possible?

There are lots of other arguments here. Jersak argues that the purpose of punishment throughout the Bible is so the one experiencing it can grow and change. What kind of good Father punishes just to punish? In other words, to believe Jesus will ultimately save everyone is not to totally reject hell. This is not some weak-willed soft idea that everyone is fine how they are. Hell is still real. Only, it serves a purpose beyond just torturing people forever. Hell is for purgation, for discipline and change. Or, to put it another way, in the Incarnation, God has gone into all corners of the cosmos. After his crucifixion, in the descent into hell, God has even gone to the darkest corners of hell. There is nowhere apart from God's presence. Sadly, some people experience God's presence as a negative. For those filled with hate and anger and lust and pride, to be with the God who is a consuming fire is to suffer. But amidst this suffering, the hope is as people's sin is burned away they will see God for who God truly is and turn from fear and hate to love.

Am I a universalist now? Do I believe everyone will be saved?

I don't know. I'm less sure of most things of this sort then I used to be. But I am more sure that God's love is deeper than I ever imagined and I am more hopeful that God, like a loving parent, will never stop pursuing all of his children.

[Simon Wiebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hat mir an vielen Stellen gut gefallen. Besonders seine faire Darstellung, Ausgewogenheit und das Offenlegen seiner Prämissen.

M.E. ist der Hype bei den Amis um das Buch aber zu krass 😅 viel besser aus dem evangelikalen Lager ist das Buch „The Evangelical Universalist“ von Gregory MacDonald (Pseudonym für Robin Parry). Das Buch hat mE eine stärkere Argumentationslinie entfaltet.

[Geoff Glenister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell was one of the first subjects I deconstructed when I went through my long questioning and deconstruction phase (which, incidentally, turned me into a book addict). It's a subject I became utterly fascinated with and ended up writing my first blog series on. So it's a subject I've done a lot of research on before I ever read this book by Brad Jersak.

So I didn't expect it to blow my socks off. But it did. Jersak is just so incredibly thorough here - I was floored by how deep he goes in his exploration of the language the King James translated as "hell". The chapter on Gehenna is the best treatment of the subject I've seen. And Jersak's exploration of the twists and turns of Revelation is just fantastic:

Rev 22:14-15 - Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city (kai tois pulōsin eiselthōsin eis tēn polin). Outside (exō) are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
How is this? How did the wicked escape the flames to a location outside the city gates? Are they the same wicked we read about earlier? Or after the final judgment and lake of fire, were a new batch of wicked spawned somehow? Or is the lake of fire situated just outside the New Jerusalem? But how can this be if there is no suffering, death, or sorrow in the renewed creation? Or are the lake of fire and the place outside of the city different visions of the same realities? The text is not the problem; it simply resists propositional systems of eschatology in favor of narrative development. Remembering that John is having a series of visions that don’t require consistent, mutual cross-referencing helps us realize that the book is not truly conflicted.

In short, I feel that this book is a must have for the shelf of any theologian.

[Heatherjoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more than 15 years, I’ve hoped that hell might not be what I was taught growing up (eternal conscious torment). Madeleine L’Engle and CS Lewis gave me the fictional cover to imagine a more redemptive and Christ-like ending. And now I have the scriptural and theological legitimacy for that hope. Not that I’ve pinned down the answers, but hope is justified at the gates of the new Jerusalem. Thank you Brad Jerzak for taking the time to so thoroughly work through scripture and church history to evidence why hope in the redemption of all creation is well-founded.

My only complaint is for the publisher - why pick cover materials that curl and lead to peeling plastic the moment someone starts reading?!

[David J. Kleinhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brad Jersak's book, Her Gates Will Never Be Shut, is an important contribution to the question of hell as portrayed in the Bible.

Jersak acknowledges that various interpretations of hell can be found within the Bible, shedding light on the complexity and nuance often overlooked in our understanding. By uncovering the mistranslations and assumptions made when rendering different Hebrew and Greek words as a singular concept of 'hell,' Jersak reveals the diverse meanings that have been lost. He argues that the Bible is not unequivocal on the matter, with proponents of eternal conscious torment, annihilationism, and universalism all finding verses to support their views.

That being said, Jersak doesn't assert that either is the only biblical view. He however, presents a compelling case for a hopeful view, this his central thesis revolves around the idea that the gates of will never be shut. Looing at the concluding chapters of Revelation, he notes that evil is vanquished, and the New Jerusalem emerges, symbolizing a place where pain and sorrow cease to exist, importanltly he notes that the gates of the New Jerusalem remain open. Thus hope remains. Jersak, echoes the likes of C.S. Lewis, who suggests that hell is locked from the inside, i.e. a state where individuals choose to remain in bitterness, resentment, hate, and unforgiveness, they remain disconnected from the joyous celebration of grace found in forgveness and reconciliation. The parable of the prodigal son serves as a good illustration here: The older brother in the parable exemplifies this choice, opting to stay outside the celebration and experiencing his own personal hell.

Jersak emphasizes that hell, in this sense, is a creation of our own making. By inflicting hate upon others and binding ourselves in its grip, we perpetuate our own torment. However, the profound message Jersak leaves us with is one of hope, urging us to embrace grace and choose love, thereby freeing ourselves from the chains of hellish existence.

Her Gates Will Never Be Shut invites readers to reevaluate their understanding of hell, offering a transformative perspective that inspires self-reflection and the pursuit of divine love."

[Grant Klinefelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and well-articulated biblical theology of hell. While I may not land where Jersak does at the end, there were many aspects of this work I found compelling. And his tone and style of writing is always kind, gracious, and ecumenical. The final chapter addressing common misconceptions surrounding Christian universalism or hopeful universalism was phenomenal. Also, I now want to read far more about the history of the Moravians and their theology.

[Genni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful presentation of universalism, but the real strength of Jersak’s writing is his humility in the face of Scripture. He is determined not to contort, but accept them with all of their seeming contradictions. As he says, “Our obsessive attempts to harmonize the Scriptures into artificially coherent, stackable propositions-as if they required us to contend for their reliability or authority-actually do violence to their richness.”

[Ross Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jersak does a very good job of presenting all the material, and reaches for tortured interpretations far less than a lot of other writers in this camp - he even provides some good correctives against common historical misconceptions frequently repeated among the universalist blogosphere (Gehenna was a garbage dump; universal reconciliation was a majority opinion among early church fathers).

I think he goes a little astray in that he's not quite as above his biases as he tries to be; although he asserts frequently that many biblical texts about hell cannot be harmonized but must be allowed to exist in conversation with one another, he frequently undercuts this by trying to explain away texts which are frequently read in support of infernalism, even after saying that theologians must avoid doing so. His arguments are fairly good, but his attempts at neutrality fall a bit flat.

The imaginative parables and the section on contemplative prayer are a large part of what makes this book different from other, similar works, but I think that for its stated purpose they ultimately hinder it. The two demographics who will read this book are people who already side with Jersak, or people who will be actively hostile to his thesis. The latter are likely to latch onto these chapters as evidence that Jersak's theology is sentimental and unbiblical.

But where he does argue from biblical interpretation, I think Jersak does a phenomenal job. This is a very well-researched presentation of the case for universal reconciliation.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to DBH’s That All Shall Be Saved, I was more convinced by the theological arguments rather than the interpretation of biblical text. And similar to DBH’s work I was challenged to consider seriously the alternatives to an evangelical default infernalism.

I think the part that affected me the most was that the arguments didn’t come from a position of deconstructing hell/punishment because of some moral superiority, or postmodern disgust... no, instead the program of consideration came from respecting the ancient ways of the early fathers and taking their works seriously.

The standout for me was definitely the section on the Gehenna traditions. There is always something fun that takes place when you start to recognise recurring characters and themes - and in this case realising that the Valley of Hinnom is used in similar fashion in Jeremiah as it is used in the Gospels (although the Greek “Gehenna” is now its dominant monicker). Placing Jesus as a student of Jeremiah was paradigm-shifting (instead of only seeing the Enochic impact.)

All in all an enjoyable book. It’s definitely quite niche though.

[Jake Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly could be a 3.5. I think some of the conclusions he comes to are very influenced by modern day thinking. The bias towards ultimate reconciliation is totally ok, but it was definitely distracting as he did not present the other views in the same fleshed our way (I understand that is hard to do though operating from the theological framework he does so it gets a pass). Overall, great discussion on hell and what it is, how we have the views we have, and who God ultimately is.

[Raborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad is a friend and boy, oh boy, does he take you in-depth with this book. This is the most thorough treatment I know of the history of the Bible's use of the word Gehenna. This book really challenges the traditional understanding of the final state of "the damned".

[Randy Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on the subject of hell I have ever read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title for the book is a reference to Revelation 21:25, found as part of a passage describing a final judgment, and then the recreation of a new heaven and a new earth with a New Jerusalem. In the Christian tradition I grew up in, the last few chapters of Revelation were taught as describing the final judgment, the annihilation of the wicked, Satan, and demons, and then a new earth populated by the saints.

This book challenges that view, as well as infernalism (the more popular idea that the sinners suffer in hell for eternity). But it also does not endorse an unqualified view of universalism. This book shows how all three views can be found in scripture: taught by Jesus, the apostles, found in the gospels, in the epistles, and in Revelation. The book shows how the early Church Fathers also continued in that line, and it wasn’t only until past those generations that infernalism, in particular, took hold and, most strongly, in the Roman/Western Christian tradition.

Readers of this book are challenged to question all assumptions they might hold regarding judgment, hell, salvation, and the afterlife. Bradley Jersak shows how the Bible is multivocal in communicating all the aforementioned perspectives as possible outcomes. The question is not, “Which is biblical or most biblical?” because no single answer can be given, but rather the question is, “Which one seems most hopeful in light of what Jesus reveals about God’s desire for the world and its inhabitants?”

Another potential challenge for Protestant readers is Jersak’s discussion of how the Bible supports the idea of people coming to salvation after their physical deaths in this world. (It should be noted that this is part of the Apostles’ Creed.) It is a foundational part of the argument for the possibility that “all will be saved” at some future point. The Roman Catholic teachings on Purgatory (which the book explains has changed in recent years so it isn’t the same teaching that Luther and Calvin objected to) is similar but not entirely identical with the kind of after-death state that human beings potentially enter.

The conclusions that I understand Jersak making are first, hell is a possibility, but an eternally lasting one is quite unlikely from the scriptural evidence. Annihilation is also a possibility, and perhaps more supported in scripture than eternal conscious torment. While both of these are possibilities, Jersak concludes that in the end, when the love and mercy of God is fully seen, unclouded by sin, all will choose to be saved. This is the most hopeful scenario and which seems to best fit the ultimate desires of God for the world and humanity. This is not the same as unqualified universalism in which all are saved regardless of their desires, but rather, that when God is seen without the blinders of sin, all will choose life.

On the question of whether this is just and fair, the Addendum at the end responds to it. Jersak writes,

Most grievously, I am troubled by those evangelicals (including ministers) who ask, “If hell doesn’t exist (which I am not saying in this book), why bother being a Christian?” The envy of hedonism and need for fear is all too apparent in such remarks. To this, I would respond: If your only reason for being a Christian is to avoid hell, I wonder if you have ever encountered the love of our precious Savior… If our only reason for being a Christian is to avoid hell, we will probably not only go there; we may be there already…

I conclude with this exhortation to examine our hearts on this question: What is us needs the traditional infernalist version of hell? What purpose does it fulfill? Is it our carnal sense of justice as payback or an even darker Schandenfreude? If anything needs purging, it is that. In exchange, I believe God has called us to surrender our self-assurance for a much broader and deeper hope.

Wherever you might be on the journey of understanding what happens after this present life, this book will challenge your assumptions and beliefs. It will show new (but ancient) ways of understanding a concern held by all who have lived and died holding to the faith of Jesus Christ.

[Christan Reksa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and readable discourse and research related to how Judeo-Christian tradition sees hell as time goes by, and reaffirming my belief deep down that I decided to hide for quite a long time, that I believe the Christian eschatological view should see love and hope trumps all desire for destruction, annihilation, and torment.

Through this book, Jersak aptly documented how the word translated as "hell" in our current English and Christian lexicon was supposed to be very diverse and have different meanings and consequences. In no way should we translate them strictly as a place where eternal torment will await those who are "not Christian". Instead, we ought to see them also from historical-prophetic view that is actually more in line with what Jesus saw in His time through a reading of Jeremiah prophetic tradition, while also maintaining a close attention of the apocalyptic and eschatological tradition of how the Bible sees the "end of times" and the transition from the Old Age to the New Age.

The last two chapter was the most touching for me, as Jersak affirms the deep hope against hope that "Her Gates Will Never Be Shut" just as the deep reading of Revelation 21-23 (that closes our Bible) iterates. Deep down, I realized that my coming back to Christian faith was not out of fear of hell (as I had pretty atheistic view in my "exile" from faith), but rather out of the deep hope that permeates the Christian teaching of universal salvation that can only be possible through the Triune God's work in Jesus Christ's birth, life, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

This book might take a while to be read if you want to cross-reference to the many Bible verses mentioned here, but if you are a devout Christian with curiosity of the eschatological discourse beyond "eternal torment in Hell for the heathens", this book is worth to read.

[Jonny Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no qualms with this book. It's the perfect balance of approachable and thorough. The tone is beautifully gentle and hopeful. It's not too short to miss anything but doesn't drag on needlessly. His perspective feels so in line with the character of Christ it's impossible to not take seriously and consider deeply. His handling of scripture is reverent, respectful and spares no consideration.

Don't skip out on this book because you fear your belief doesn't align with what you think his may be. I fully imagine this book will lead anyone with an open heart to consider deeply the possibilities Scripture allows one to hope for in regards to the damned: nay even begs the believer to dare to dream of as countless Prophets, Authors and Jesus himself seem to have done themselves.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jersak is very winsome in his approach to this subject, and the treatment of Gehenna especially and the lake of fire also are very interesting and I had not seen elsewhere.

[José F. de León · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informativo, reflexivo y esperanzador.

[Tristan Sherwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m starting to think that Brad Jersak might be one of my favourite theologians. The way in which he takes on important, but not easy, topics and presents them in a clear and concise way speaks volumes of the time he has taken to earnestly grapple with them.

And this book is no exception; as Brad takes on Hell. Or more specifically, the Bible’s language/imagery of Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and the Lake of Fire. Helping us to think carefully about what these images conveyed in their own historical context, and helping us to wrestle with the idea of what they say about God’s character and judgement.

Is there a Hell to come? Is it an eternal punishment, or a case of instant annihilation? Is it purgative, or punitive? Or, could it be, as Brad suggests (and that I’m particularly leant towards) that God’s love for humanity offers a Hope beyond this, a hope of an Ultimate, Christ-centred Redemption for all as we look at the imagery of a New Jerusalem?

Brad does an excellent job of reviewing the biblical texts which have been used to scaffold both the Infernalist and Annihilationist visions of Hell. And also does a great survey of the differing views/concerns of the the Church Fathers, Reformers and modern Theologians.

All in all, I don’t feel that there’s anything inaccessible to any level of reader here. Brad keeps his language “tidy” of heavy theological jargon, but doesn’t avoid the depth that is necessary to such a study.

Regardless of whatever stance you hold on the idea of Hell, I’d say that there is something to learn and take-away from this. It’s balanced, solid and based on a biblically inspired hope and not mere sentiment; though Jersak’s pastoral heart does shine through in a much needed way.

I think *Her Gates Will Never Be Shut* is a book every thoughtful Christian, who seeks to understand and reflect the heart of God, should read. And once you read this, go check out Brad’s *A More Christlike God*. Both books will challenge, shape, and stir your heart with the portrait of God that they present.

Well done Brad!

—Tristan Sherwin, author of *Love: Expressed*

[Squire Whitney: Hufflepuff Book Reviwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, unique, and enlightening perspective on Heaven, Hell, and the afterlife, Her Gates Will Never Be Shut explores Biblical texts about the New Jerusalem, post-mortem punishment, and the possibility of universal reconciliation from an angle that I have never quite encountered before. Jersak, despite identifying much more strongly with the universal restoration than he does with either of the other views of the afterlife, contends that traditionalists and annihilationists and universalists alike all often error in endeavoring to make all of the Bible perfectly align in teaching only one eschatological system. When we attempt to accomplish this, he proclaims, we are not humbly allowing scripture to speak for itself; we are trying to force the Bible to say something that it is not saying. He claims that we encounter in scripture certain passages that teach eternal torment, certain verses passages that teach annihilation, and certain passages that teach universal restoration—and he argues that we encounter all of these for a reason. Jersak contends that perhaps God intended to paint two alternative futures in order to warn us that turning one’s back on Him forever or rejecting Him definitively is a very real possibility, but that our Heavenly Father will nonetheless never give up in His efforts to reconcile all to Himself. The doors of Heaven indeed will never be shut. While I cannot say that I entirely concur with Jersak’s conclusion—seeing that, to me, the passages that teach universal restoration are far more direct and far more convincing than those that imply that some will be forever lost, to the extent that I find it to make the most sense to try to harmonize them together—I nonetheless find Jersak's perspective refreshing and thought-provoking. He makes for a voice that is deeply needed in this eschatological debate.

(As a side-note It also blew my mind to find out that Jeremiah foretold the eventual redemption of the Valley of Hinnom. I could hardly believe that I had never heard any other Universalists point this out, despite having studied the subject nearly every day for fifteen months now!)

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough study of the Scriptural basis for apokatastasis (universal reconciliation) from the perspective of a committed evangelical speaking to others in his wheelhouse—i.e., those who still tend to struggle the most with the idea that alternative hermeneutics exist on the subject of hell. Jersak helps readers take off the Dante/infernalist lenses through which the Western (esp. Protestant) tradition has been looking at relevant verses since ... well, since Augustine first dug his heels into the ground against the early church fathers' "presumption" of hope. He peels away the layers of translation that have oversimplified the matter in recent centuries, and unearths the messier, many-voiced understanding(s) of restorative justice at the heart of both the Old and New Testaments.

As someone who is decidedly not in the evangelical camp any longer, I didn't need to be swayed on the topic of UR, but I am super interested in how it's gradually becoming a more mainstream topic in the very circles that once considered it taboo. Jersak's book is an excellent resource for anyone looking for a non-dualistic, Biblically coherent perspective on eschatology that moves beyond the internal inconsistencies of infernalism and annihilationism.

[Tony Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative

This book offers options for hope instead of Destruction. I for one have done a complete 180 in the way I believe. I have gone from fearing the possibility of hell to understanding God's love for me, and living life fearlessly (more so now than in the past). It is in great part because of books like this one.

Bradley Jersak it's becoming one of my favorite writers. In his book, a more christ-like God, you will find even more revelation of who God really is, versus what we generally portray him as in modern Christendom. Finding out that God the Father is a lot like his son, Jesus is very liberating. In fact, it can change your life. I find that what I believe about God is what I become.

I am rambling. Both these books should be in your library.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot to like about this book. As someone who was probably already persuaded of his argument before reading it, the way he went about presenting his argument was the best part. Foundational to his work is Jersak's commitment to avoid forcing square pegs of biblical text and theme into round holes of theological systematization. The fruit of this commitment is a humble, honest conclusion that takes the anxieties and reproaches of critics on both sides seriously--no straw men were burned in the writing of this book.

[Greg Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, but packed read that tackles the tricky topic of eternal punishment in the Christian tradition. Bradley Jersak looks at the topic through the lense of history, tradition, and the Bible. In the end he dares to hope the fires of hell are not for eternal torment, but ultimately for refining, and asks the reader to hope as well. May the doors of heaven always be open and may your heart be open too if you choose to read this book. If you do, you will finish with much to ponder, whether you agree with the underlying argument for hope or not.

[Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that it didn't tell me what to think. It pulled scripture, Old Testament and New, theologians from the past 2000 years, history, cultural context and let the contradictions and possibilities present themselves. Too often spiritual leaders are telling what to think, trying to put God, the Bible, doctrine, even Jesus into a neat little box that they just don't fit. I quote Sarah Bessey "If you are not questioning the Bible, I have to wonder if you are even reading it."

[Grace Fig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dense, but well worth the read. Bradley Jersak presents the biblical possibilities from passages we've all struggled with and questioned. Most interestingly, he's an evangelical universalist, writing with hope, along with a great deal of knowledge and research on the topic of hell and salvation. Though I went into the book with Jersak's belief about universal redemption, I think this book would be both enlightening and inspiring to the masses.

[Beau Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for those who think they know what hell is. This book is eye opening, sheds light on confusing scriptures, and gives us hope that no one has ever figured this topic out, so there's no need to feel like we need to. There's a lot of freedom in what we believe about hell, but there's even more freedom in Christ.

[karli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuck between 4.5-5 stars because there were a few things I just felt slightly iffy about, but overall, I think it was a great book. As a universalist myself, I appreciated the more skeptical and realistic view of universalism, as I do not want my universalism to be steeped in dreamy idealism or wishes.

[Christopher Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been troubled by the idea of an eternal ever lasting torment awaiting those who get on God's bad side. Luckily, this book has provided me enough basis to contest the mainstream views of infernalism and opened my eyes to the possibilities of salvation offered to all with its analysis of biblical scriptures and various theological sources.

[Jérémie Cascales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on Hell and eschatology, from both theological and biblical perspectives.
Jersak wrote this book from his own experience as born infernalist, understanding the hope of another approaches such as annihilationism and universalism. He ends on this edge to see hope beyond fear.
Great book to deconstruct the words behind the “hell” translation, with a historical and contextual method.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on the theology of hell, judgement and the final destiny of all. He works hard IMO to do a careful examination of ALL passages relating to hell and judgement. He notes that the Bible presents conflicting unreconcilable stories. He notes that the final picture in Revelation is that of a city whose gates are NEVER shut, all are welcome. A great hopeful read!!