“Predestined for Eonian Life”

This week I received an email containing the following…

Dear Sir/Madam,

In response to your website, I have a question I would like to put to you.
I always read your website with great pleasure and use it frequently to study the Bible. Although I myself do not believe in election, I am also not yet convinced of the Universal Reconciliation presented on your website. One text that troubles me most in this regard is Acts 13:48. Here, the Greek word “tetagnemoos” is used, which means “ordered,” but in the NBG is translated as “destined for.” “Eternal life” is translated from the words “zooen aioonion,” literally “the life of the coming eons.” My question to you is how you understand this text in relation to Universal Reconciliation and/or election. I would very much like to hear what you think about this. Furthermore, I would like to compliment you on the Bible studies on your site and encourage you to continue producing them!!
Kind regards,
R.

First of all, I would like to thank R. warmly for his kind words.

Now to the question. Scripture teaches both “election” and “Universal Reconciliation.” Many think that the two concepts are incompatible. That is because people think in terms of time as opposed to eternity. That is an enormous misunderstanding! Scripture knows no “endless eternity,” but teaches that at the return of Jesus Christ, “the coming eons” will begin. These are world ages in which God still has a great deal on His program! First the eon of “the thousand years.” Then “the eon of the eons”: a new heaven and a new earth. In these “coming eons,” God will bring His Plan to completion and Jesus Christ will reign as King (Revelation 11:15). It is in these “coming eons” that the Bible places “eonian life”…

He said to them, “Verily, I am saying to you that there is no one who leaves house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children on account of the kingdom of God,
who may not by all means be getting back manyfold in this era, and in the coming eon, life eonian.
Luke 18:29–30

It should be clear that this eonian life (it is called eonian because it pertains to the coming eon) will not be everyone’s portion. The Bible teaches: “he who is believing in Me has life eonian” (John 6:47). Whoever does not believe will not see this life. R. cites Acts 13:48, and this verse teaches us why one person does believe and another does not.

Now on hearing this, the nations rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and they believe, whoever were set for life eonian.
Acts 13:48

God chooses people and predestines them to have a share in the life of the coming eon(s). They are those who believe in “the word of the Lord.” This predestination has to do, among other things, with the fact that God will assign these people a royal task. They will reign with Christ Jesus as kings to the farthest reaches of the universe (see, e.g., 2 Timothy 2:12). Believers are “firstfruits,” the first fruit of the harvest, and are therefore predestined for the highest position. This position explicitly concerns an elite.

Inheriting “eonian life” is therefore destined for a relatively select company. But is this the final destination of God’s Plan?? Certainly not! God has all people in view. Be it “each in his own class,” as Paul indicates in 1 Corinthians 15:23. Ultimately, all who are mortal in Adam (the whole of humanity, therefore) will be vivified in Christ. The finishing touch of Christ’s reign will be that He completely abolishes death…

For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
The last enemy is being abolished: death.
1 Corinthians 15:25–26

Scripture teaches that death (thus also the second death) will be abolished, so that ALL will LIVE. Live as Christ lives. In incorruption, glory, and power (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:43)!

In summary: “eonian life” is destined for everyone who believes (election).
“Incorruptible life” will ultimately be the portion of all people (Universal Reconciliation).
In diagram form:

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