Universal Reconciliation

Edward Beecher determined that the doctrine of eternal conscious torment was only taught in one of the 6 main theological schools of early Christianity. He says that in the second century Universal Reconciliation was taught in 4 of those schools. See following link…

(https://books.google.com/books?id=1eCBAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=Edward+Beecher+six+theological+schools&source=bl&ots=wCunNL2FNE&sig=bDrBxELT5l9c-8meyL7nRySPGd8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8-YHB8dnSAhWrjFQKHcj2BFYQ6AEIPzAG#v=onepage&q=Edward%20Beecher%20six%20theological%20schools&f=false)

Nevertheless, the doctrine of eternal conscious torment promoted by the school in Carthage, influenced by Tertullian and later championed by Augustine has become the principal dogma of both Catholic and Protestant evangelicals. 

It’s popularity of course does not make it true. Remember that the Law of Moses was defined and refined by the various rabbis in their schools over a period of about 2000 years before Christ Jesus was born. And Jesus had this to say about the predominant views of the most influential rabbis….

“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7-9)

And the Apostle Paul said this about the teaching of those Rabbis…

“These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility…” (Colossians 2:22)

The Apostle Paul wrote this about those Rabbis after in Chapter 1:20 he had said that God through Jesus will "reconcile to Himself all things"…

“He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things 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. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence.” (Colossians 1:3-21)

The members of the early churches had an excuse for following the doctrines of men. Few of them, if any, had a complete copy of the Scriptures, especially those which came from the Apostle Paul. We have no such excuse.

I have read too much of the writings of the Christian apologists (both Catholic and Protestant) who characterize God as a sadistic hedonist (one that gets pleasure from the suffering of others).

I believe the bible clearly teaches that God through Christ Jesus will in his time "RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross".

I read the bible on my own and abandon the doctrines of those men that deny what I read.