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Visitor Comments and Testimonies

Some excerpts from recent emails we have gotten here at Tentmaker. We share them to encourage others who are on a similar spiritual journey. Please also check our Testimonials Page for more stories and testimonies. Glory to God!

4/16/2008

this is walter , my suffering is no where the suffering of most , just want to say i love you and your family as well , God did allow me to suffer just enough to see Him for who He really is , the day i cried out for truth i found your site on the internet , close to a nerves beakdown  i read the words , God is the savoir of all men , and i beleived that , and the pain went away and i had great peace enter my body , this was eight years ago , when God wants me to see something He always allows me to suffer again , i find it hard to say at times it is good with my soul , but i do learn . there is a saying , be carful what you ask for you might just get it , with God this is true . loving you and yours always , walter , ps , i thank God for Christ first then you ken second cause He used you in my life , Gary do you not see God used your faith to keep me wanting to live and say, i hope it is good with our souls .  love you brother

3/2/2008

I just found your site after much seeking the last 30 days. The Spirit is burning within me as I read your information. Please pray that I will be connected to the Holy Spirit in all things and will have the wisdom to know what to do in my Christian relationships, including church?

2/272008

I just went searching biblically for the truth...

I've been a lurker at tentmaker for a few years studying UR and just joined the forums recently. I am a past youth minister at a Baptist church, but the concept of EH always bothered me. In fact, the more I studied hell, the more problems I had with it. I can tell you I tired of watching my group get "re-saved" a couple times a year during youth revival and the such. I also tired of the legalism and tradition in the church...when we have a clear law of love to live by.

Really, I never went looking to convert to UR, just started a detailed side by side study, debated it with those in Church, the Pastor, ect...just to test eternal hell to test my belief.. It took about two years before I professed it. I found the teaching regarding hell so wrong that I let my feelings known. Obvious, I had to leave as the youth minister years ago, but it was something that couldn't be worked out..Still, trying to find a bible believing UR church, but alas, hard to do. Not interested in the New Age UR movement.

I didn't find UR, UR found me, I just went searching biblically for the truth and there it was all along. I wasn't searching for an excuse, something to make me feel good..in fact, my walk with Christ is basically the same.Your info was very helpful. I do send a lot of people to the site and do I use the info there.

Now I strongly debate it. Certainly, not the best, but getting fairly good at it...after all it's the truth. Still learning how UR deals with many other doctrines other that EH...so if your available, I may bother you again.

12/22/2007 You are a blessing to the world.

Thank God for You at Tentmaker! You are a real blessing to the world, I have been blessed by your site over a year now, reading on. You're in for the truth! From Sweden

12/12/2007 I Can't Thank You Enough!

First, I  LOVE your website! I can't thank you enough, for having the wisdom and forethought to challenge, with scripture, religious tradition and dogma. My own personal journey with Christ , through  study, prayer and reading the scriptures, has had me convinced about 'universal salvation" for awhile now. I found myself "squirming" in many a church service at the preaching. It all seemed so hateful and intolerant, manipulative, controlling and a major fear factor. It seemed it turned more people away than it gained. I always questioned "why would GOD almighty, leave something as important as eternal salvation or eternal damnation" in the hands of weak, fleshly, hypocritical "men" to share with other human beings. I could not reconcile this. I am emailing to see if you can help me and our family, find a place of worship, which teaches universal salvation.

11/09/2007 Like a New Dawn to me!

GOD BLESS YOU!!
My name is xxxxxxx, i am from Zagreb, capital of Croatia, a small country in south-eastern Europe.

TODAY I DISCOVERED YOUR SITE AND IT WAS LIKE A NEW DAWN TO ME! I THANK GOD FOR YOU, HE IS CONTINUALLY SAVING ME, AND TODAY HE DID IT THROUGH YOU, LET HIM BE PRAISED FOREVER FOR HIS EVERLASTING KINDNESS !!!!
I GOT BORN AGAIN (got to know God to some extent) AT THE AGE 22 after being a kind of atheist, AND I AM ALMOST 39 NOW.

DURING MY CHRISTIAN LIFE I HAVE BEEN GRADUALLY ADOPTING THE BIBLICAL TEACHING YOU PROCLAIM, EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE ELSE BESIDE ME GOING THE SAME DIRECTION (AS FAR as THIS CRUCIAL MATTER OF UNIVERSAL SALVATION IS CONCERNED. First I was a member of CHURCH OF CHRIST, and now I am attending another protestant church (pentecostal, not a typical one, since the leaders are becoming more and more oriented esclusively to God himself & His Word, than to any particular doctrine, praise God!). But unfortunately, for now, they still have that Calvinistic attitude that rejects every universalism :-( . SO TODAY I KNOW ONLY 1 OTHER CHRISTIAN LADY BESIDES ME TO SUPPORT MY VIEWS WHICH NOW, AS I CAN TELL SO FAR, COMPLETELY CORRESPOND TO YOURS!! ISN'T IT AMAZING HOW GOD HIMSELF COORDINATE AND BRINGS HARMONY WITHIN HIS CREATION, EVEN THOUGH WE, HIS CHILDREN, ARE FISICALLY FAR AWAY ONE FROM ANOTHER, AND DON'T SEEM TO BE ALWAYS COOPERATE?

PRAISE BE TO HIM ALONE !!! FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO I HAVE BEEN FEELING SO ON THE WRONG TRACK, SO WIERD, SO ALONE, AND I SLOWLY LET MYSELF LINGERING IN DOUBT AND SPIRITUAL HEAVINESS. INSTEAD OF RISING UP IN FAITH, I WAS IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL NUMBNESS, TRYING TO FIND A CONFIRMATION AND APPROVAL FOR MY VIEWS FROM MEN (PASTORS , BROTHERS & SISTERS). LATELY I EVEN ALLOWED MYSELF THINKING THAT I AM NOT GOD'S AT ALL BECAUSE I HAVE GONE ASTRAY ADOPTING THIS TWISTED «CHRISTIAN» VIEW.

NEVERTHELESS, DURING ALL THIS TIME, DEEP DOWN I HAD THAT TINY SEED OF FAITH & CONVICTION THAT MY VIEWS MUST BE CORRECT BECAUSE THEY ARE BASED ON THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD AND PLACED BY GOD HIMSELF INTO MY HEART - AND THAT SOME DAY IT WILL BE REVEALED TO EVERYONE. I BELIEVE GOD HIMSELF ENCOURAGED ME ONE NIGHT COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN HE MADE HIS WORDS FROM THE PROVERBS COME ALIVE WITHIN ME: "THERE IS NO WISDOM, NO INSIGHT, NO PLAN THAT CAN SUCCED AGAINST THE LORD". BUT I AM ASHAMED TO SAY, I HAVEN'T BEEN FAITHFUL AND STANDING FIRM ON THIS WORD, INSTEAD I LET THE DOUBT, WORRIES AND APATHY GOT THE UPPER HAND. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER ANY MORE! HE RAISES ME UP AGAIN!! EVERYTHING IN ITS PROPER TIME!!

I THANK GOD FOR YOU, I WILL VISIT YOUR SITE AS MUCH AS I CAN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO STUDY HIS WORD, AND PRAY FOR HIS WILL TO BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, WHERE JESUS SITS ON HIS THRONE WAITING THAT EVERY ENEMY BE PUT UNDER HIS FEETH. AND THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DEFEATED IS DEATH. AMEN! I WILL NEVER STOP THANKING GOD FOR YOU! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU AND PROVIDE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH ON THE NET AND ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!!
PRAISE BE TO HIM ALONE FOR EVER AND EVER !!!

10/02/2007 One's Upbringing Is Hard To Shake

I grew up in a fundamentalist household but eventually could not reconcile a loving, forgiving God with one who would torture people for eternity. I shared my ''heretical'' views with others and was treated as a fallen Christian. One's upbringing is hard to shake and for years I have had a crisis of faith. Finding others who believe as I do who also see scripture as freeing rather than frightening has helped to renew my faith. I find it troubling that so many Christians have no trouble with the idea of a cruel and sadistic God who would condemn most of his children to eternal suffering. This is a God who is worthy only of fear and not adoration.  I am grateful for your knowledge of scripture and its application to a doctrine of universal salvation through Christ.        Many Thanks

4/20/2007: Thank you for all the resources on your TentMaker website.

I am a heathen (= I probably don't believe that the Bible is the word of God, that Jesus was divine, that God, if he exists, meddles in our lives) but I often read about (and even minored in religious studies) the Bible. Maybe I'm searching. Maybe I'm angry/disgusted at much of what is declared to be "good" and "Christian."

It's a real pleasure to read your research, especially the step-by- step reasoning leading to your universalist conclusions, but even more, the TONE of your message is one of generosity, warmth, and inclusion. Because I am not formulating defensive arguments or protecting myself from harsh judgments, I hear what you are saying more clearly.

I will be returning to the site often, and sharing it with others.

Thank you.

4/20/2007

I like your scholars corner. Good website!

4/19/2007

I must confess, I owe you a debt of gratitude. In January 2000 I began to actively question the doctrine of eternal punishment. The first Internet site I discovered was your hell site. I read Hanson’s “Bible Hell,” and I’ve never been the same.

4/19/2007

Hey I LOVE YOUR SITE!!! IT rings with truth and the true Gospel of Good NEWS!! Thank you for preaching the truth for once.. I use to be a man who feared hell and believe me life was hell fearing hell.. No pun intended..lol Well, I don't believe in hell anymore.. I believe we all go back to God.. Some may experience a darker sphere for a brief time or longer depending on how evil they were.. Like for instance people who have no remorse may stay there for awhile

4/17/2007

I have already talked to my kids (Margely 13 and Ricardo Jr. 9) about the basic concepts of Christian Universalism. They got it very fast. I am myself fairly new to this teachings.

I can truly say to you that I can never go back again to my old way of thinking. It is OK! I know that people entrenched in religious dogmas will fight this truth to the death. Religion do not like to be told that it is teaching something wrong. This truth is the kind that will cause riots.

As for myself, I am very happy to learn that my Father in heaven is not a Vindictive Sadist who will be sending most humanity to Fry in eternal torment forever.

When I started learning about the truths of universal reconciliation it was like God talking from me 100,000 tons of weight from my soul. I can now pray to God and know that He truly loves me. Before I bowed to God (but I am not sure i loved Him). I was sure I did not want to go to Hell, so therefore I bow to Him.

But now I not only feel true love for Him, but also I know I am love by Him. Why? because if He is capable of Loving All of us (even the unrepentant haters who commit genocide and are sociopaths) even to save them eventually to the outermost, then there is hope for me.

I feel I want to know more and more about my Holy Father now! before i was afraid of knowing him more. Now I want to have a real relationship with Him now. Before I was afraid to have too much communion with Him.

I know that the fact that I came in contact with Your web site and other Christian Universalist web sites is not a coincidence. I know that it was all God doing. I know He is calling me to have a deeper relationship with Him and this was the only way he can accomplish this in my life. I am so greatful to God for allowing such great Web sites like Tentmaker.

Gary, I do not know you, but know this for sure: I love you!

4/13/2007 Site has given me courage...

I'd like to start out by thanking Gary and all those at Tentmaker.org. When I first felt the Holy Spirit in me years ago, I fell in love. I began to love everybody and the idea of punishment (let alone torture or annihiliation) just didn't fit in with what I felt alive inside me.
At that time, however, I was frequenting different 'fundamental' groups which just didn't seem to like the idea of universal salvation. (I remember a time when at a Bible study I was asked to state what saves us. I said 'grace!' But they wanted me to say, 'faith!' -See the difference? They wanted to believe that grace doesn't save! )
And although I 'saw it' all over the place in the Bible that we ALL are God's, and that He will have a glorious creation with ALL of us there in the end, I felt quite alone. (Free will was a doctrine that led to a lot of frustration for me since I felt the love of God and wanted others to feel it. It was frustrating to see so many snicker and refuse such love!)

Anyway, I wanted to say that this site has given me the courage to really stand on what I've felt in my heart since that day in 1990: that God's love really IS bigger than our own love, and when He wants us, He'll call us. And like Paul, we won't be able but to respond: 'Here I am Lord!' (What happened to Paul will happen to all!)

I understand how many don't want to believe that all will be saved. A preacher was once asked if he could believe in universal salvation. His reply? "I could believe it, but I wouldn't dare preach it. I'd lose my congregation!"

They say that it's a devilish doctrine. But I ask, if God hasn't already saved all, then why did Jesus say, "I have come to save the world." Was He lying? Did He fail? -I think not. In fact, His last words were, "It is finished."

P.S. And what's all that about the vail of the Temple being torn from top to bottom?? Looks to me like the Holy of Holies is no longer separated from the rest of the world! Dear friends, I think we really still don't understand exactly what happened that glorious, glorious day on Calvary..!

4/7/2007 Impressed with your web site.

I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR WEB SITE AND THE LEVEL OF SCHOLARSHIP! THANK GOD THE BIBLICAL TRUTH OF UNIVERSALISM IS BEING EXPRESSED IN SUCH A SOBER AND REASONABLE WAY. 

3/26/2007...My theological ship just sank...I am thrilled and overjoyed!

Dear Friends,
I am a minister who recently was enlightened with the "sonship" truth and universal reconciliation. I need your advice, words of wisdom and encouragement, and most importantly, I need your prayers. My theological ship has sank. After years of Bible study, I now realize that I know nothing. I am thrilled and overjoyed. I praise God for this revelation. Now what? I have so many questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

3/23/2007

I beat upon my chest in anguish earlier tonight -for I was at the end -in despair -thinking I was lost for good. All sites seemed to say I was condemned forever, while the last one quoted much scripture saying that and proving somehow, that only a special few overcomers would make it -while the rest would be tormented day and night for all eternity, and I was clearly the worst kind of reprobate. then i came back to computer and gave it one last shot. I typed "work out our salvation with fear and trembling, bible verse" into google and hit tentmaker, the second from top link. Oh how I long to serve Him faithfully, as a vessel unto righteousness! I have stayed up all night and tired. thanks again and I look forward to your reply.

2/11/2007 Grateful Prisoner

Hello, I was recently incarserated within the confines of the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice (prison) and during that time you were gracious enough to forward many helpfull items that benefited the Kingdom of God in me.  One of these was a book by Madame Guyon, and also the many teachings of truth lead by the Spirit, of which are contained in your ministry which is also His.  I would desire you to know that these truths did not go undeveloped and that every effort to forward these materials was and is being rewarded ten fold in the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Please contact me if I can be of help in any way.  I am currently getting back on my feet but I will not soon forget your love.

2/07/2007 Life Saving Message

By means of your web-site I am a recently converted Biblical-Universalist. I am so thankful to the Lord that I came across this web-site when I did. As a traditional Christian I had lost my love for God and even attempted suicide. I may very well owe my life to Gary Amirault. Thank you for everything you are doing. It has blessed me and my friends more than I could have ever thought possible. However, I have not studied my Bible for some time. Could you recomend a Universalist Bible-study aid (preferrably a book) and a good Bible to go with it? Thanks! P.S.- I would love to speak with Gary Amirault sometime.

2/05/2007 From a prisoner:

It was such a blessing to receive the material you sent me. Thank you!

My relationship with God has been an eye opening (dramatic insight) experience…I'm just now waking up to divine sonship. I have lived the term, psychology of hate. I hated the justice system. I hated the inhabitants (inmates and officials) of it. I hated certain parties of this American government. I hated family members and I hated myself…

In 2002 I became an atheist, then converted to Islam. In the summer of 2005 I reverted back to Jesus Christ…As I said earlier, in 2005 is when I surrendered and cried out to Jesus! In the midst of my adversity like (Job 19:25-27) “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and after my body has decayed, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” I asked God to take away my suffering and He said no. Your suffering will take your mind off of the cares of the world and bring you closer to Me. So when I asked God to teach me to love myself and other people the way You love me, God said, “Ah, finally you're getting the idea.”

So where is my relationship with the Father? My heart leaps within me as I contemplate this wonderful reality – being changed into the image of God and to put on incorruptibility to meet the first born son personally, commune with him intimately, be joined vitally with him in union of his mind, nature, and life and continue to walk in the light and glory of who he is. (Although I never took anyone's physical life, but no I understand I psychologically destroyed lives. I'm not where I need to be, but I'm not where I used to be.”

1/04/2007

Hi Tentmaker Ministries

I am more an agnostic than a Christian these days largely because of the "Hell-fire" preachers who really don't believe what they preach - surely if they really believed in hell they'd be on every street corner yelling their lungs out trying to save people from being eternally tormented by God. I found your website by following a link to your expose of Ron Wyatt and his self-delusional "scam" (is it a scam if you're deluded? Or just a tragic mistake?) I followed the link to the Universalism discussion and was reminded again of what Christ had tried to do (only faith knows if he'll succeed), that he'd come for all of us. Maybe he was wrong - I am a doubter after all - but I've respect for his mission.
Anything less is really just calling God an evil Tormentor, a Punisher who is worse than us morally because we can forgive.

Frank Tipler (and C.S.Lewis) makes the point that the gift of freedom might mean that God will be spending an eternity to get us out of our private Hell, but He's big enough to manage that task, I think.

sincerely

1/27/2007

Hello friend of the Master, I have believed this truth always, We have a loving Father in Heaven,For Christ died for all, not some but All. For through Adam, all Shall die, through Christ, all are made alive, not some, All. I am a long time reader of the Dawn bible students publications and what you wrote about Hell is simple and Christ like in teaching. I have come very close to death twice in my 39 years on this planet through two major heart valve surgerys in the last four years, so I guess that qualifys me to walk the walk. Keep up Your great work, you made my year!!!!!  Yours in our Masters presence,

1/12/2007

1/08/2007...from a prisoner in Wisconsin.

10/24/2006

Just wanted to say, The World needs more of this vision of True Gospel. I am now 52 years old, and have been a Universalist for 32 years without realising it. I could never accept the orthodox teachings of eternal damnation. I would even argue with visiting preachers that even Satan should be saved if God was to be 'All In All'. How bright and warm the true light shines.

10/09/2006

Dear Gary.

I have now read quite a few of your articles on Hell, eternal punishment, and to some lesser degree articles by yourself and others regarding Universal Salvation, of which I confess I hadn't known about other than it was associated with some who were the Unitarian belief.

I want to encourage you that these articles regarding these important subjects are a vital tool of education for many of us who have been brainwashed by the false teachings that has come down to the Church over the ages of times past. Keep up the great work, and may many more of us who have been trapped in religious churches whether it be Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Charismatic or traditional come to the full knowledge of the truth concerning these things.

10/09/2006

Dear Pastor, Receeve my greetings in the name of our soon coming King Jesus Christ.

I Just love your site with its wonderful teaching... We thank you so much for your sharing truths. Because we don't understand the Hebrew fully, we often miss lovely little nuggets of truth.

I am your fellowservant in the land of kenya here.After reading much more about you then I totaly I have a burning desier to join with you and develop a group with you here in Kenya.

I have stayed in the truth of God for so long now and when I was studying your wonderful website I found your very marvelous contact there so would you please let me know that you have a pastor in kenya East Africa so we can join you? I can develop a group with you in Kenya.I am very much interested in you. Eagerly waiting to hear from your reply. Thanks, Be guided in God's name.

10/09/2006

Dear Sir, This morning @ 1230am the Lord woke me up and I could hear "Bread of Life" being spoken to my heart. I felt lead to go on internet and put what was being spoken to me in Google and was then prompted to click on the Tentmaker site and I lestened to the audio of the Two Gospels. It is like fresh 100% oxygen poured into my spiritual lungs. The mixing of law and grace is why I have not attended an established church for the last 5 years, and why my family and I have continued to worship and serve God from the sanctuary of our house. I will continue to study your site to gain wisdom and material for the ministry within my home that I am about to open to others so that they may expierence the freedom that we can truly have in Christ Jesus.

10/06/2006

How are things going with me? Well, as I mentioned to you before...my whole world has been turned upside down. It is very "earth-shaking" to realize after 53 years that much of what I have been taught in the Babylonian church system is false doctrine. I feel like I've truly been "born again". I am overjoyed at the "abundance of revelations". The Bible finally makes complete sense!

I don't know where I am going to go from here. I live one day at a time and trust the Lord to lead me.

9/30/2006

Your site has been a huge help in my life.

9/26/2006

Hey there,
I stumbled upon your site a couple of hours ago, ended up reading most of it's contents, and I expect I shall continue doing so for the next couple of days. I sincerely want to compliment your site. Such spirituality! Such creativity! Such a breath of fresh air considering most so called "christian" sites laden with guilt-trips and sickening literalist fundamentalism. I get the feeling you are truly on the right track and pray you will continue doing so for as long as possible. Kind regards and may God bless you in anything you do, xxxxx,, The Hague, Holland

9/23/2006

I treasure the day that I found your website and the many others that are throughout the net. I have been haunted by the preachings of hell that I have heard throughout my life and couldn't reconcile it with the teaching of a loving and merciful God... I know I am rambling on here but I just want to thank you for helping me find the Joy that I have been missing.

9/26/2006

Just want to say that I love your page , good source of encouragment to me.
Keep up the good work of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. you are in my prayers. God bless. You are in my prayers

8/24/2006

I'm so glad I stumbled upon your website 2 or so years ago. It was a major stepping stone in my walk to discovering the amazing truth about God.
Thank you for all that you do.

8/24/06

I stumbled across your website as a result of an article I received (Lazarus and the Rich Man) from a friend. I found your site to be both refreshing and stimulating. I have bookmarked it and will be referencing it much over time. May God bless your ministry and thanks!

8/17/2006

Thank you so much for this in depth study on tithing.
My husband was just made a "deacon" and the preacher is now asking the deacon board for full access to what everyone is giving.
He lists the fact that tithing is a sign of spiritual maturity, and he needs to know who he can count on.
He says that tithing is scriptural and having the leader know who give what is scriptural.
He says that we should use tithing as a qualifier to becoming a leader He says it is because he should be able to acknowledge a gift of giving the same way he does teaching.
I trust this man, but I am opposed to his knowing what people give and if it is 10% or not.
We are going to talk to him soon and I needed research on the history of the tithe. You information was perfect.

7/30/06.

thank you so much for being out there....after pondering universal reconciliation, I have a love for others that I was never able to feel before....and also a new love for and confidence in God.

7/18/06...Best Site on Universal Reconciliation

7/16/06...This was truly Spirit led.

This was truly Spirit led.  I needed this.  One of your best.  Bless you, Gary for this word.

7/16/06...Best Site on Universal Reconciliation

Thanks for the permission to use the photo. The truth of the effectiveness of God's universal love is so important. I have another book coming out sometime soon as an expansion of my booklet.  Lots of famous people who endorsed my last book agreed with my beliefs about ultimate reconciliation but would not publicly say so by endorsing this new book because they were already in hot water  (Clark Pinnock, Brennan Manning,  Tony Campolo, etc) Your website is the best around on the subject. Thanks for it.

6/29/06...Got much comfort.

Just a message of appreciation for all we have received through work of the tentmaker ministery, also at this time I wish to say that I and judy got  much comfort and joy out of reading the "hope of all Nations, and all generations " maybe I have not  quoted the title exactly correct, after we shared it we past it on  for others to share.

6/28/06...web page is wonderful.

Hello servant of God, Am happy to share with you this good news, that your web page is wonderful and it has ministered to my soul.

6/26/06...I thought I committed the unpardonable sin.

I am thankful for your website. I have struggled with the whole concept of hell all my life even thinking I had committed the unpardonable sin at age 10 because I deliberately sinned by disobeying my parents (Heb 10:26).

I also struggled with the concept of justice. With one sin you could burn in conscious torment for eternity. None of that would be a desire for even the worst person imaginable. . I think our concept of justice comes from God.

I also had a charismatic minister tell me I committed this sin because I claimed his ministry was heretical. They beat people to help them see the light of their own pride and separated children from parents because the parents were loving their children too much. Anyway

it is great good news to know that there is a different and correct way to interpret scripture rather than the Medieval construct we have inherited in the church today. People could actually love God instead of fearing Him. No wonder people could reject Jesus or God. Anyone who would commit those eternal tortures would hardly be a God of love.

6/21/06...Holy Spirit led me here.

Discovered  this forum about 3 days ago and must say i find discussions enlightening. I think The HOLY SPIRIT lead me to the tentmaker site because it certainly has opened my eyes to things i thought for many years but found difficult to share with my fellow church  brethren. GOD bless you all. I look forward to reading more.

6/19/06...Sane voice clearly explaining things.

I wanted to tell you that I've been watching the videos you've posted on-line (and ordered one of them on DVD, plus a CD). WOW, WOW, WOW! My husband and I are so grateful to you for putting things like this out there. We're starting to share these resources with our friends, and just wanted to encourage you concerning the impact you are having in our lives. There are so many "crazy" Christian reconciliationists that it has been awesome to find your sane voice out there, clearly explaining things!

6/8/06...Much more peace knowing God loves me.

I am almost fifty years old, and I have gone to church all of my life. Like you, I've been to many denominations. Right now I am attending an Episcopal church. I was taking this Education for Ministry class, as I had indicated that I was interested in being a lay preacher. Or, rather I should say, I felt God had been leading me to become a lay preacher. Now I'm not so sure where God is leading me. But that's okay. God will show me in his time. I have got to tell you though that I am so much more at peace now then ever before in my life. Many times I have gone forward to give my heart to the Lord. I've spoken in tongues, I've stood up when the Pastor asked if we wanted to re-dedicate our lives to the Lord. But I've been haunted by this fear, that in spite of everything, I might still miss heaven. I've been on anti depressants for years now. My first marriage ended after twenty three years. That alone was enough to heap a load of guilt on me. I lost everything in a bitter divorce. This woman and I were supposed to be Christians. In spite of all of this, I am much more at peace with the knowledge that God loves me. He will not give up on me, after investing so much into the relationship already. What a joyous thought! That is truly the Good News of the Gospel for me! I will continue to read the links you sent me, and the articles as well. I pray that I will be open to hearing the voice of the Lord, as you write about. I've never had visions, or dreams, that I'm aware of. Maybe it will happen someday. Is it old men that have dreams, and young men have visions? Or the other way around. God is so good. God bless you in your ministry on the web, and thanks for all you do.

6/5/06...Thank you for all you do

I couldn't get over the testimony of Todd Beaucoudray. I was in the United Pentecostal Church in my early years of growing up. My Mom and Dad actually attended one of their Bible schools, and my Dad was a pastor for awhile in that denomination. I heard a lot of hellfire sermons growing up. The UPC believes that the Roman Catholic Church is the harlot spoken of in the book of Revelation. Ironically, the "harlot" church at least has a means of getting people out of purgatory! Albeit, a selfish method, that has enriched the church for centuries. The UPC didn't have such a thing. (Maybe they should, it might help with the constant building programs they have!) In my teen years, I went to other churches, but the teaching was pretty much the same. I remember as a kid listening to the radio one time. I was waiting to hear my Uncle come on to preach. My Uncle was an Assembly of God preacher, and he had a radio program in Kansas City. The preacher that had the time slot before him, believed in Hell as a place that was temporary. I was so indoctrinated by what I had heard in church, that I thought this guy is out to lunch! It wasn't until I found this website by accident, that I had even heard of Christian Universalism. Reading the testimonies, and checking out the scriptures, I realize my idea of God's love was all wrong. However, I am cautious as to whom I share this new knowledge with. I've been examining a lot of this, as I am in a Seminary training course through the Episcopal church where I attend. For the first two months, I absolutely hated it. We were supposed to do some touchy feely stuff, that I felt uncomfortable with. Most of my feelings I've had locked away for years. Then here I was with a bunch of people, who didn't meet my qualifications of being a Christian. Plus the material is written by a bunch of liberal Episcopalians, Who talk about the P, J, and D versions of scripture. They certainly don't hold to the inerrancy of the Bible idea either! So, I started researching, and I found your website. I've been devouring the articles like a starving man. It's given me much to think about, and pray about. And oh yes, I'm a little more loving and tolerant of my liberal cohorts in the Seminary class! Apparently, I didn't know it all! Thank you for all you do.. God Bless You,

3/15/06...Grateful Beyond Words

Thank you for presenting universal reconciliation! I've believed and trusted in (not perfectly, of course) the Lord Jesus for almost 20 years, and I have to tell you, there is one and one reason why I have occasionally backslidden doctrinally (or strayed looking into other things to combine with my faith in Christ): I could never reconcile the love that made Jesus die for me, taking my sins FOR me, an act of ultimate love and mercy, w/ that same mercy never extending to those who didn't accept it while alive. 

The Almighty and all-loving God who died for me to save me, forgives me endlessly - but those who sin by refusal in this life, don't get any grace or forgiveness, EVER (as I was taught anyway) and will be tormented into eternity. I can see satan and his angels being tormented forever - that makes sense, THEY saw God, KNEW God, LIVED with Him for countless time - but then they spat in his face and turned away, but for humans --- burning forever in torment for limited sins committed, it just didn't 'gel' so to speak with the God who became Man and took my punishment for me!

As a result, I could never fully 100% commit to the Gospel -oh also this - what kind of war is won by God if 99.99% of mankind are lost forever? Isn't it more like satan wins, even though he is defeated forever in the end, if he takes 99.99% of his enemies' people down with him? I couldn't accept that - it's more like a doctrine of believing God wins - only through ominipotent force - but almost all of his created humans will be taken captive by His enemy into hell, and only a handful will be redeemed!

To me that is preaching the 'good news' that all are lost and only a handful of us can be saved, the rest will be tormented forever! A punitive, eternal hell for Satan is one thing - I always thought, "Wait, Revelation 20 says the devil and his angels will be tormented endlessly, but it says that when the lost are judged they are thrown there, too - but it does not say that is the eternal fate of the lost humans, just the fate of satan and his beast & false prophet! Even if "forever and ever" was translated right in Revelation 20, it only says that Satan, the beast, and the antichrist are tormented forever, not the humans who are thrown in there to face the Second Death!

After reading about famous universalists (and I mean biblical universalism, not the unitarian-universalist garbage which promotes sin by saying there is no hell, no punishment, all are saved, etc), I felt much better that I was not alone in this, nor did the Bible actually teach eternal suffering for the lost!

Since I could not figure this out in the Greek myself, but knowing the English alone was hugely contradictory, I just resigned myself to an orthodox faith that secretly hoped that universalism or at least annihilationism was really right, and keeping my mouth shut in ministry. THANK YOU SO MUCH for what you have done here, it is awakening again in my heart my first love, and reconciling the Gospel I secretly hoped was true with what the Word of God actually teaches!

Grateful beyond words....

2/27/06...On the brink!

While I have been interested in things of a spiritual nature throughout my life, I have recently been on a truly serious quest to discover Truth. I have dabbled in studies of other religions and philosophies and, indeed, am just turning from Buddhism as being, ultimately, an unsatisfactory path for me to take to discover Truth.

Having been raised Roman Catholic, and having grown up in a Judeo-Christian culture, I was exposed to so much reprehensible thinking about God and Jesus, that I had pretty much rejected it all; however, as I studied Buddhism, I kept reacting to the insistence that there is no God. I simply can't believe that. Thus, I began to ask God to give me some sort of assistance. I continued to do Internet searches, but kept coming up with "Christian" sites where, ultimately, the message came down to "Believe in Jesus or be damned to hell for eternity." Aside from the fact that this view of God is repugnant and seems a genuine insult to the very idea of God, I am always left wondering about the people who have been raised in other faiths, like Hinduism or Taoism, etc.. Surely, we could not expect to hand them a Bible and ask them to believe it any more than we would be inclined to do the same for them if they handed us one of their holy books. And, yet, I am sure most of these are very good people who are seeking Truth in the same way that I am. They may be as "right" as Christians are. I simply can't say.

What I can say is that I have a tendency to relate to basic ideas about God that have been ingrained in me since childhood. I have reached the point in my life where I no longer cringe or sneer when I hear the name, "Jesus." I have realized that the reasons I did that had nothing to do with Jesus and everything to do with the awful things humans have pinned on him. I know this in my heart, but your website is giving me proof on an intellectual level and I am so grateful for that. I'm not saying I'm convinced, just yet, that Jesus was/is God Incarnate--but I am beginning to lean in that direction and it is because of wonderful people such as yourself who have devoted so much time and effort to showing others that God really is Love...and that we don't have to believe that in spite of stories about hell, etc..

I will continue to explore your site and learn more. But I just wanted to take a moment as I stand on the very brink of it all to thank you for your efforts. I am certain you have made a huge difference in many lives and I am hoping that soon I will be among that number.

Thank you!

2/27/06...Site saved me from a lot of mental/spiritual anguish

Thanks for your hard work Gary.  Your site saved me a lot of mental/spiritual anguish when my brother died back in 1999.  I recommended your site today to my boss, who is struggling since both his parents died.  If he reads through it, I know it will give him peace as well.

02/12/06....Helpful and Insightful...

Your information is very helpful and insightful. I started my spiritual journey as an evolution believing, hardnosed, scientific rationalist. I was told not so politely, more than once, that I had ice water in my veins, by other unbelievers! The term "spiritual journey" held no meaning for me... To go from a diehard evolutionist to a 6 day creationist was a tortured and winding path. I joined a conservative Baptist church about 6 yrs ago because I still had much sin in my life, and I knew they would hold my feet to the fire. I  gained much "Head Knowledge" but not much spiritual discernment or growth. The more I studied theology the more fear and anxiety I felt towards my Creator so I retreated into my natural hiding place of science, but at least this time I was studying creationism and intelligent design. I am mildly fanatical about spreading the gospel of intelligent design, since I view the theory of evolution as a monstrous evil that keeps millions from even investigating the claims of Christianity. I was very interested in everything ABOUT God, but was running FROM a real relationship with Him. How could I want to be close to a creator who endlessly tortures most of his creatures???   After viewing the website of L. Ray Smith for 6-8 Hrs I dared to hope that what he said might be true. I went searching for others of like opinion and found your site. After studying your material for a few hours I was flooded with hope, relief, joy, and release from a lifetime of fear, anxiety and anger. I can barely believe what I am writing, I sound like some blubbering Christian type... Me, the no B.S. nuclear weapons specialist, hardnosed career military type, confirmed agnostic and evolutionist. E-gads, "What Hath God Wrought"?     I used to worship at the alter of science, now thanks to you I can worship the Ultimate Scientific Mind and get to know my real Father. I don't know what I am going to do about the Sunday School class I teach. I always rushed through or glossed through the Hell teachings, but I no longer even loosely hold the doctrine of Hell, and I sure as hell won't teach hell. You guys sure know how to provoke a lotta trouble.LOL...

12/10/05...Grateful...

I just wanted you to know that I am so grateful for you guys not giving up in face of such opposition to the truth. It can be a very lonely and more confusing when you think you are the only one asking these questions. So thanks. If we don't meet this side of the grave. Genuinly look forward to meeting you the other side...

12/09/05...Refreshing

Greetings! You all have really done your "homework", and provided one of the most honest works that I have ever seen. You are not afraid to "fly in the face of popular ideas", and that is really refreshing to me.

12/07/05...Spirit is rejoicing...

Hello, I have been studying the doctrine of eternal punishment and my spirit is rejoicing. Truly this doctrine does not fit the character and nature of God the father of all. I would be very interested in attending a ministry that holds this doctrine.

12/06/05...I love God more than I ever thought possible...

I love your site and your matter-of-fact attitude. Also – you defend Gods true character with strength! Before I knew the facts, I couldn't love God thinking he was going to torture people eternally. When I found information to support my feeling I cried for two weeks.  I love God and Yeshua more than I ever thought possible.   Its love – not just obedience. Love is bigger than obedience and love creates the kind of obedience God wants. I read your site often and always get encouraged. I was just thinking–God said we are made from the dust of the earth.  Isn't it true when sand is heated by fire it turns to class?  Transparent, pure, etc.  I see many examples where God is showing us what his “fire” will do to us.  Like the burning bush and Moses–the bush wasn't consumed. Anyway, love to all my brothers and sisters in Yeshua.  Thank you for your site.

12/03/05...Like being born again, again...

From our family to yours…Thank you beyond words! We have read most of the articles on your site, are thoroughly blessed, and refer many people to it. I spent 13 years teaching at Portland Bible College, a ministry of Bible Temple, now City Bible Church, in Portland, Oregon.  They were good years, but over the years the Lord began to show us the traditional Church, along with the doctrines of men and demons and the traditions of the elders, had allowed so many distractions from Jesus to creep in that we just had to make a life change.  It has cost us greatly to make the change…loss of salary, office, title, position, the revered title “Pastor,” etc. etc., but the losses are more than made up for by the joy of the truth and greater intimacy with Jesus.  There are still many lonely times, but I would rather be close to Jesus than anything else.  We now gather with a view precious saints in our home.  I'm no longer “The Pastor,” but just a brother in Christ that loves them, cares for their souls, and enjoys the fellowship.  We gather on Wednesday evenings and just drink in Jesus. I watched all your video series completely agreed with all you shared.  In many ways it's like being born again again.  The truths of universal reconciliation, the proper understanding of the gathering of the saints, and so many more accurate biblical understandings, that have come over these last 4 years, are priceless. Please keep up the good work. We are definitely kindred spirit's Gary .  It's amazing to hear you teach and believe the very same things we have seen. God bless you in all you do for Him.

12/01/05...Pray for Me

I am 22 years old, from North Dakota. I come from a very loving, caring, Catholic family. My family is my life, I have two younger brothers who are my best friends and mean the world to me. I have graduated from college, and am on my way to grad school. Judging by my short bio, one would think I am not only satisfied with my life, but also proud of it. I'm afraid to admit this is not the case.

As any young curious American, I started questioning my faith. I accepted an invitation to a southern Baptist church in Nashville, TN recently (I am temporarily doing an internship there). The preacher was very judging, telling us that over 3/4 of the people in the church were "not saved" and going to hell. He was very charismatic, brought everything back to Scripture. This "preacher" scared the living hell out of me, and I have not been the same ever since. I started reading Scripture, studying it, OBSESSING over it, and I found that the overall message of the Bible teaches a God who created humans simply to watch them suffer the worst possible pain imaginable forever, for his pleasure. Why would God, who is all-knowing and obviously able to tell the future, create innocent children for the sole purpose of watching them suffer forever? If this is the case, it is MUCH better to have never lived! This was two months ago. I have lost all faith and hope in God. I have been convinced I need phsycological help. It seems that life it not worth living, because for some odd reason I believe what I heard in that Baptist Church. Every time I hear the word God or Jesus I feel sharp pain in my stomach. He has convinced me that that my loving, caring family and I are destined for hell. There have been a few times I've seriously considered suicide, but the loving image of my family is the only thing that has stopped me. Every day I feel like I'm going crazy, literally, because God has pretty much told me nothing is worth living for, since over 90 % of us are going to suffer forever and ever anyway. I am fearful that God is going to punish me for questioning the Bible and attempting to accept Christian Universalism, as I have been doing now since that sermon. Mr. and Mrs. Amirault, I truly want to believe what you preach. I've even looked up the Scripture references to universal salvation that you have laid out, and they do look like they promote this doctrine....But for some reason, I can't seem to believe it. It's as if God is pulling me toward him, telling me to leave my family and friends and everything I love to do, and follow a bunch of wackos that believe that they are the only 5 % that are saved. It's driving me crazy, and I don't know what to do with my life...I want to believe you, and common sense tells me to...but I feel that God (or Satan, or a demon) is telling me otherwise. I am a sick individual, mentally sick, all because of one wrong decision to check out that awful, awful, awful Baptist Church. I can't enjoy Christmas, or anything, or even simple love of my family because I think of these images of them burning forever, my baby brothers who are my best friends in the world, burning forever. I have grown to hate God and Christ. It's like I'm in a trance and it's hard for me to concentrate on anything. Please pray for me. It seems like you truly know Christ. Ask him to reveal his unconditional love for me. And hopefully, if that happens, I may be able to help you with your ministry. I appreciate you taking time to read this. Please respond whenever you get a free moment. Thank you, God Bless.

11/28/05...I Have Found Peace

I have found great peace studying your website.  I am forty-two years of age and have been happily married for twenty-one years.  I was raised Southern Baptist and served five years as an Assembly of God pastor.  After having doctrinal differences I resigned from my ministry and was rejected by all my friends.  My wife and I made it through a real challenging time leaning on each other and God's amazing grace.  I have a wonderful wife and a great God.  It has been over seven years since our departure from our denominational ministry.  During this time God has given me a new (real ministry) serving people with addictions.  He has promoted me to a leadership position in a medical office with a good Christian physician.   I have a question for you:  My wife and I are interested in starting a local church and teaching Christian Universalism.  Do you have any advice or recommendations for us?   Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

11/22/05...Pray for Me

Thanks for the tremendous article, "The Case Against Hell", by Mercy Aiken.  It was absolutely mind-boggling. Please pray for me, as I am struggling in ways that words cannot describe.  God is pouring into me new truth after new truth and I don't know how much more I can take!  I recently left the "institutional church setting" (because of the truth the Lord showed me in Scripture) and began "worshipping" in the home-setting.  The wife is totally against this and against me.  She continues to the "house of man" on her own every Sunday (morning and evening).  Myself, and the three boys stay home.  Believe me, it is an absolutely awful situation, as I am sure  you can imagine....So again thank you and please pray for me.  I know that much more can be said concerning my situation but for now I think I'll close.

11/21/05...The REAL Jesus

I'm so very tired and sad. It's a long story. Just the briefest of notes to let you know that your message is so right, so good, so true, and so important... I know this is true because I slammed the door in Jesus's face a long, long time ago, saying "This is monstrous. Free will is monstrous if it allows unpardonable mistakes, christians are monstrous, take your miserable cosmic contraption and sell it in your hell. I don't know what your will is for me, and I give up. I will be there, in hell, by choice, eternally, keeping the damned company and exercising a simple human compassion there that this stupid, vicious God and his stupid, vicious people cannot seem to comprehend. I don't claim that it's a great compassion, but what kind of heaven would it be if i can't hear or help my own brothers or sisters in torment? This is supposed to satisfy me? Do you want me to be like THAT?? Let me trade places with any of them; that hell would be nearer to heaven than "heaven". Jesus said "But i love you and you are with me and..." And i said, "Go away. Leave me alone." Oh, decades ago.

George Macdonald knew better. I read his books. But no one else did. I became a Buddhist, and there's much wisdom there. But I had fallen in love with Christ and it had been like hearing from strangers and friends alike that that one's beloved sweetheart runs a bookie joint, that angry, exhausted, disillusioned leavetaking. I
listened to them and rejected them and their jesus along with them. Broken hearted and in despair. I could never live up to it, anyway. But that wasn't Jesus at all, was it? And by rejecting that false Jesus I didn't fall out of grace at all, did I? ... ? ...... ??

No one can ever fall out of grace. Grace doesn't have big holes in it for sinners to stumble and tumble through into nothingness and death. Oh... My life is a wreck. I have no idea what to do. I've done things that have led to awful consequences and I'm tangled up in a situation that...

But He's here. For the first time in decades I'm opening to that presence... no. bah. I am so afraid of being tricked, by my own despair and misery, into inventing some... TRIP. Some comforting illusion that all crumbles into nothing.But He's here. And this impossibly, hopelessly tender message keeps breathing whispering in my heart, "It's alright, sweetheart. You have all of eternity. Rest in me for a little while. It's been Me all along. And I was never that other one. " o tears. I want to say "Go away. No more tricks." but tears. Funny, there was no category called "sin" on that list of yours. Though sin gets mentioned. My parents were atheists. I fell in love with God without a church around me. Then i fell into what the Catholics call "scrupulosity", a sin of pride, really. I was so in love with Him. I'm not going to stop sinning, I can tell. I tried and tried and tried... I was so young... I'm not even sure what a sin is any more, though I've read plenty of theology. Just to make love with my lover is a sin by christian accounts -- if I listen to that soft voice trying to speak in my ear am I going to get tangled up in tighter and tighter prohibitions again until I can't possibly... ?

But something is happening. And I don't know anything about whoever this is reading this except from what I've been reading all day on your website, and all I can say is that what you say is good and if Jesus is real that's what Jesus taught and teaches, that would be the REAL Jesus, I know it with certainty. And if Jesus is real then nothing else matters and the world is turned upside down. Or set rightside up. I'm an articulate, intelligent person and a good writer and this is an incoherant mess of a letter but I'm writing it anyway and I'm going to hit send...

11/21/05...Well done

Hell is leaving the Bible Forever: I have read your article and am most impressed by your research.  I myself have heard of the mistranlsations in the Bible and have found your answer to be most comprehensive. I am glad there are some people out there fighting to purify the Bible of "creative" terms used by people with hidden agendas and ample greed. Well Done

11/13/05...A turning point

Hi Gary, I found your blog "Jesus Saves All." It seems to me that the message is getting out and being received. The day I found Tentmaker was a turning point for me, so I appreciate the work God is doing through you.  

11/12/05...Pray For Me

I learned of hell when I was 12; my uncle was a preacher, & he was preaching about hell (which he did VERY OFTEN). He believed in varying degrees of punishment in hell - not unlike Dante - in different degrees of burning. He believed that the worst sinners would suffer the hotter fires, & the lesser sinners the less-hot fires. I asked him, "But however hot the fires are, it has to be more than they can bear, anyway, or it wouldn't be hell, right?" He affirmed that it must be so. "In that case, it doesn't make much sense to have different degrees of heat, if it all adds up to more than anyone there can bear. If I'm suffering in a heat that is less than the heat Hitler is suffering, but we are both tortured to the same extent, that it's more than we can bear, why have different degrees, at all? It equals the same punishment." I don't remember his response, but he told me he prayed for me, that God would bring me to Him at some time in my life; & that if God knew I would never accept His salvation, that He would let me die now, before I had time to stoke the fires of hell up against me, any hotter than I already had. I can't even tell you how that made me feel, that my uncle prayed for me to accept God or die. I became even more resentful of God, I cursed Him, I told Him I never wanted anything to do w/ Him, ever - to leave me alone, & don't ever send His message to me again, through anyone, that I hated Him, that I didn't care if I died & went to hell, as long as it would hurt Him, that would be fine, & I don't remember what all; I went on for quite awhile. Anyway, that's how the doctrine of hell effected me.I recently began to look up hell on the internet because I was trying to remind myself of how terrifying it is, how to tremble before it so I wouldn't do what I was wanting to do, & end up going there, & that's how I found this site....Please pray for me.

11/11/05....More confidence in Jesus Christ

I really enjoy your website. It help to understand the truth about hell. I was plagued for sometime with the thought of people going there. I could never relax or enjoy life. Why do these things if your neighbor is going to hell? Both my wife and I have much peace in Christ since this revelation of truth. We love people more, and are more confident in our Savior Jesus Christ. Now that He is not going to lose half of the world, and people will not separated for ever, is a great comforting thought. What a Savior indeed.

11/10/05...Back at Tentmaker

I recently rediscovered your site. I'd been without Internet at home for a little over 2 years, and I don't surf that much at work. Lately I've been feeling lost in my relationship with God, but then I remembered your site, came back and started doing some reading. I truly feel my connection with the Lord returning. It was your site, after all, that originally broke me free from the concept of a God who torments most of His Creation forever and started me down the path to learning His true character.

11/02/05...A Pastor

I appreciate this site. I came across it doing some research. I am a Pastor of a small Church in Northern Illinois , and have come to see these things that you are promoting in the last 5 years. I would love to help get the Word out anyway I can. I am preaching this, and publishing material through my web-site among other things. I am trying to get a local Radio program also. If you have time, I would love to chat with you. Not many around here who hold the truth.

10/27/05...Preterism

I just got through reading the first four chapters of the book your site has posted "Prophecy Fulfilled" by David P. Crews.  Wow, what a complete eye opener.  I, like Mr Crews stated, always rationalized so many Olivet prophecy verses by placing them in the future but, Like he also said, it would never go down easy due to the explicit statements Jesus said i.e "This generation."  I remember being on a "anti-bible" site titled "The Jesus Debates" reading an article that stated Christianity is hocus-pocus due to Jesus' failure to come back when He said He would and the site qouted many scriptures that I could not ignore.  I prayed and short story shorter, God led me to that book posted on your site.  I am a recent convert to Universalism but I had never even heard of "Preterist."  Now I adhere to both.  Anyway, thank you and God bless, keep up the good works in the faith of Jesus Christ brothers.

10/25/05...From a Missionary

I came across this site about 8 months ago somewhat by accident. I had just gotten off the mission field overseas after completing a two-year term. I had really been struggling with the whole ethos of my missions organization, with the focus on the "lost" and the "us vs. them" mentality. During the two years, I came to realize how I had convinced myself that that judgmental attitude was "love." I had been struggling for years with questions about the conditionality of God's love, His grace, and His sovereignty. If He desired that all people would be saved, then why wouldn't they be? Either He couldn't save them or He didn't want to. I realize now that I was like a polytheist. There was a wrathful Father God who we had to appease and who was ready and willing at the drop of a hat to damn us all to hell forever, and then there was the gentle Jesus who was all acceptance and love. I couldn't reconcile the two. The questions kept swirling until I found this website. I read every article on the site, printing them off and putting them into a large notebook so that I could re-read them and highlight and use them as reference. During this time, God just revealed to me in my spirit that this was True. All of my questions now made sense! Then I read Hannah Whitall Smith's testimony of how God revealed this message to her, and I wept and wept. It was for me, just as it was for her. I was not alone. I love how she said that when she read the Bible, it was like a veil had been removed. I couldn't have described it any better! I devoured my Bible, praising God each time I found a verse that carried a whole new blessed meaning in light of what God had showed me! What Good News the Gospel truly is!!! Even when I was on the field as a missionary, I didn't fully understand what was so good about the news that billions of people would spend an eternity in hell. Thank you thank you thank you for this site and for your courage to speak what God has shown you. I can't believe what I had been missing for so many years: the true message of God's great and incomparable love, love without bounds.

10/10/05...You Saved My Life

This is the beginning of my second (and final) year at the (Christian) college. I spent nearly every waking moment I didn’t have to use on school work on reading religious materials. I read a lot of C.S. Lewis, some Kierkegaard, Hoekema, Lee Stroebel, Rick Warren, and Tony Campolo, and plenty of other less forgiving (and more “traditional”) authors. I read my NIV in light of these author’s, and only found myself desperately confused. There were too many incompatible ideas—I felt so helpless. “Here I am in this school,” I thought to myself “surrounded by all of these Christians who don’t seem to deal with any of the confusion as me—what is wrong with me!?” Week after week the school paper would have an editorial where a student minister would warn that if we didn’t shape up, we would all be sent to hell. Someone even wrote an article discussing how some students eating lunch near him had spent their lunch hour talking about several Seinfeld episodes they liked. He said that he “cried tears of sorrow” at hearing this conversation, as they could have used it to “discuss all of the great things the Lord had done for them.” The letter ended with “The cross of Christ takes two full hands to carry! Either use them to embrace the cross, or to embrace the flames of hell forever!” I was stunned. I heard comment after comment like this. This went on the entire year. I had to move a long distance to come here, and I live alone. I disagree with most of what I hear, but I am terribly lonely, and it is an awful experience to be surrounded by people but feel utterly alone at the same time. Time after time I’d reach out for company and love, but instead hear comments about going to hell and eternal damnation. WORST OF ALL, was this word Calvinism that I was quickly introduced to. I couldn’t stand it. Suddenly my God was a sick tyrant who creates people with the intention of putting them into an awful hell. Each sermon I listened to, each prayer I prayed only made me feel more pathetic and hopeless. I hated life more than ever now, knowing that I was probably going to be sent to hell—and that there was nothing I could do about it—it was only where God had predestined me to go. I cried myself to sleep most nights, and eventually went on an antidepressant to deal with all of the guilt, shame, and depression I was feeling. Each person I looked at was one of the lucky elect—I was a putrid outsider unworthy of God’s love. Then I considered all of my family, all of the children, and couldn’t bear the thought that they had been born only to fill a spot in hell. The only thing that stopped me from killing myself was the idea that I would have to go directly to hell. I figured I might as well not bring it upon myself any sooner than necessary.

Well, at this point I remembered my experiences when I was younger (I am 23 now). I remembered how I boldly used to tell people that I didn’t believe in a hell, and that each person would be saved—back then I didn’t worry at all, I KNEW I was right. I was only 15!! I didn’t even know that what I believed was called Universalism—I never heard about Universal Restoration. Yet, there I was, zealously stating that each person would be in heaven, that nobody would be left behind, that THERE WAS HOPE even if people didn’t recognize it—even if they had to die to realize it. And now, here I was, going on 23, crying myself to sleep, not wanting to be an atheist as it would make life meaningless, and not wanting to be a Christian as it would make life absolutely horrifying—good news!? What good news? I didn’t leave the apartment unless I needed to. I spent hours on the phone crying to my mother. Even if I did get into heaven, how could I enjoy it knowing so many people were being tortured? I was distraught. Then I found your site.

God bless all of you, whoever you are, for making this site. You have no idea how badly I wanted to believe your message, and yet how badly I did not want to. I actually fought it for awhile, but I had to give in—somewhere deep down, I had already known God would not give up on any of us. I am interested in learning so much more. I watched most of your videos and listened to a lot of the audio clips that Gary made, and I heard him say that if we were interested in learning more we should write you. Well, I am VERY interested in learning more...Again, God bless you all. In a very real sense, you saved my life.

10/07/05...Free To Love others

I am a new convert to the Christian Universalist teaching and I have to tell you I am RELIEVED. I had been searching for the answer for over 15 years and have finally come to the truth. What's more is the very truth I found was staring me in the face the whole time. Even children know these things to be true. God does love everyone and wants to save everyone. I am also a preterist Christian, which I believe you are as well, from my reading of your website....I used to cause strife among people who didn't agree with me about preterism. In fact, I would really chew them out and want to hurt them it seemed. I almost had a hatred of people who didn't agree with me. That is because I thought the God I believed in (the Calvinistic God) did that very thing. But, now after becoming a Universalist Christian, my tune is different. I don't judge and condemn people who disagree with me anymore. I remember where I was and that I believed a lot of what they believe. If someone would have shown me love instead of hate, I might have been compelled to change what I believe a lot sooner. Anyway, I feel that my life is a lot better now. I can show God's love to people without feeling odd about it. I can emulate the Father, like Jesus said to, because God loves his enemies.

10/04/05...An Agnostic shares some thoughts....

My oldest daughter (age 42) and I have been having a continuing debate as to whether or not all non-Christians are going to end up in eternal torment. I told her I could not believe that God would subject any one to such a fate but she insisted that is what her church teaches. My daughter is an evangelical Christian and she asked her Pastor if the Bible actual says that all non-Christians are going to finish their lives in eternal torment and he told her the Bible does say that, so I decided to find out if there were any web sites that might have an article on eternal torment. I did a search of the internet using the two key words “eternal torment” and my search produced a list of 10,200 web sites that have articles that include those two words somewhere in their articles and your web site was the first one on that list. The name of that article is, “Bible Translations That Do Not Teach Eternal Torment”. I copied the article into a document in Microsoft Word and I was so impressed with that article that I didn’t bother to go back and find out what those other articles said about eternal torment. This all happened about two weeks ago, say September 12, 2005 and since then I have spent many hours on your web site watching your online videos and reading two other articles that you have on your web site, trying to find out who the real Gary Amirault is.

10/03/05...From the Philippines

I received yesterday one parcel of bookles and tracts from you.  One of these has the title: Hope for ALL Generations and Nations (By Gary Amirault).  I am very very happy.  I was not able to sleep in my bed that night so I rose up and read your booklet ubtil 3 hours in the morning.  I am now bringing it with me in my work place so that I can read it while riding on a bus....

09/25/06... Dispute With God

You know Gary, a few weeks ago, I had a major dispute with God, dispute is saying it nicely, actually it was a fight, a big one. I was so in rage with Him and I told Him that I disagreed with Him on the issue of Hell. I told Him that no matter that He is our creator, He had no right to torture people in Hell eternally, no loving Father would do that, and isn’t God supposed to have Greater Love than man? It went so far I burned my Bible and told Him I did not want to follow Him anymore because of this and I did not ask but demanded an answer. I did not fight Him physically as Jacob did, but my fight with him was as hard and even longer then Jacobs fight, it went on for over a week. I did not comprehend how I or even Hitler could deserve eternal Hell. The first answer I got was that he showed me that I indeed deserve Hell, but he also promised me a second answer … I have a profound feeling that it will be given to me though your message Gary. God bless you

09/17/05...Saved from torment

Thank you for your site.  In tears I have begged the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to reveal to me HIS truth.  Because man's truth is all over the place.  The worst hypocrisy in the world is to teach that Gods perfect love includes the worst torture – beyond even the torture of all known evil.   I hated my own life because I struggled with that belief and I hated that I brought beautiful wonderful innocent children into a world where a “merciful” God could put them in a blaze of fire forever. The teaching that all mankind will be saved will NOT prevail until the return of Yeshua.  Christians are far too arrogant to believe their exclusive membership to heaven doesn't exist.   Websites like yours have saved me from the torment of thinking my perfect, merciful God and Lord could bring forth the worst pain and agony ever known – without ending.   I hated my life and the life I brought into the world.  This understanding has freed me from that horror.  Thank you. Peace in the name of Yeshua the Messiah

09/16/05...My heart is melting

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your ministry. Ever since 9/11, I've been seeking a spiritual "understanding". I've checked out all the popular "brands" - Buddhism, New Age, Pantheism, etc. Though there is much insight in all these teachings, I never felt like I had reached a "ground zero" of spiritual truth until I began looking more deeply into the "faith of my fathers" - Christianity. This was a very difficult thing for me personally, because I am homosexual, and my little group is especially called out for demonizing by the standard Christian denominations. Be that as it may, I still felt somehow that the teachings of Jesus had particular truth and insight for me - more than any other. Even though I was gradually becoming "Christian", even against the wishes of those who would call themselves such, I still felt a great unease, a sense of dread. I WANTED to believe, but I just couldn't quite get with the whole program of eternal damnation - since I was so personally invested in what most Christians would say was eternally damnable sin..... I've been to your site, and have been reading articles, and I just wanted to say that you are talking about a God that I can finally actually worship in love and trust, versus fear and dread. A God that is deserving of all the praise that I could ever think of. I am beginning to understand the "peace that passeth all understanding", the faith of the Apostles. It's amazing. I look at others, finally realizing that we ALL will be sharing in the Kingdom of God. The need to demonize is gone. Already my heart is melting. Thank you so very much.

09/14/05...The beginning of salvation

For me (living in fear of the lies and half truths taught by churches and ministers) was the real hell.  Not truly knowing and understanding God's love and mercy for all people that he ever created was the real hell for me.  It is so wonderful and peaceful to rest in perfect faith and trust that God will save all. In Revelation 21, the tabernacle of God (Christ and his bride the church) will come down from heaven and wipe away all confusion and tears.  They (Christ and his bride) will dwell with (and teach) all who were not accepted as Christ's bride.  Christ and his bride, the church are only the beginning of salvation, not the end.

09/12/05...Never felt closer to God than I do now

By way of introduction, I am an ordained minister. The denomination is not important to mention, but is is a recognized one, not something "weird." I have never pastored a church. My ministry has been to those in prisons, jails, nursing homes, under interstate bridges, etc. I have never "made a living" through my work for God. Several months ago I found your site when researching a topic totally unrelated to Christian Universalism. I read an article or two and became totally enthralled with what I was reading. Since then, I have read almost everything on your site and have branched out to other sources of information. The result has been a dramatic change in my personal beliefs. There has always been a dichotomy between what I have been taught as "orthodox" and what I have felt in my heart. I could never reconcile my beliefs about a loving God to the doctrines concerning eternal suffering and complete isolation from Him. I have never felt closer to God than I do now. I have never been more excited about the Gospel that Jesus commisioned us to carry to the world than I am now. I thank God for leading me to your site and I thank you for your efforts in spreading the truth.

09/08/05...From an African Pastor

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have been reading through one of your publication titled “The outcome of infinite Grace” (By Dr. Loyal Hurley) and it really change my believe on eternal torment for many years. Please, put my name in your mailing list and make me one of your distributor in Africa , because this teaching should touch every Christian home.

09/06/05...Thank you so much

I have a young daughter that I am teaching (to my best ability) about how to think for herself and to be smart. I study the Bible and try my best to set aside everything I was always taught in church and to really soak in what I am reading. I ask questions like, "when does 'all' really not mean 'all'".

I have long suspected that many biblical doctrines are based on inaccurate interpretations (or even translations) of what the Bible really says. I read your article today after finding it by accident...Thank you so, so, so, so much for putting that article by Gary Amirault online. It was a little bit difficult for me to follow, but once I got to the end of it, I really started to understand what he is talking about. So I read it again. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. I especially appreciate the references given (dates and exact translations named). I'm now going to go back and search for other articles from you. Wow. I can't say it enough. Thanks again.

09/02/05...Changed my life

You don't know me but the Lord led me to your site about a year ago. It has changed my life in so many areas. Grace and mercy to you brother.

08/29/05....Looking for hope

Thanks for the article: "The Case Against Hell." I've been digging through the internet looking for hope. I cannot believe in a God who will carelessly throw man into hell and you have presented some interesting arguements to debate that point.

08/26/05.....Everything starting to make sense

I asked the Lord last summer for a revelation of Hell because I thought the church was doing such a poor job with such a critical doctrine. I had a dream that I was buried alive. I was all alone with only my thoughts and my self. It scared me, to say the least. I woke up with the thought in my head that God wouldn't do that to anyone. I don't know if it was me or the Spirit speaking to me but started this journey that I am now on. I found Gary's site after I came to the conclusion that we were at least wrong about the way we went about teaching the afterlife. Everything started to make sense. I would almost shout when I read scripture that lead me to believe that God would reconcile us all back to Himself...........I would rather someone be able to prove to me that the way that I have been taught is the truth but know one can give a good biblical arguement in light of what I know about the greek and hebrew words for Hell. If someone could give me one good verse that proved that Jesus was referring to hell when he talked about Gehenna I would be satisfied and go about my Baptist business. No one has been able to so far.

08/25/05....Searching for understanding

I'm a seminary-trained former Southern Baptist pastor whose struggling with the issue of the eternity of hell. I am compelled by the arguments I find on your website, and most attempted rebuttals I've seen (Tekton for one) don't deal with the central issues or are mean-spirited..... I have good study tools, including Greek tools, and a long history of analytic reading, thinking, and writing - systematizing, synthesizing a wide variety of topics. But I'm really struggling right now to make sense of it all. I'm very excited about the universalist position and it moves my heart, like truth usually does, to joy... But I can't put it all together, much less explain it to anyone, including my long-suffering wife! Is there a commentary set you could recommend (online - free or inexpensive - would be ideal) that would go verse-by-verse through the New Testament (in particular) to show how the universalist position makes the best sense out of each passage???

08/25/05 From an Ex-Jehovah's Witness

For the first 40 years of my life I was terrorized by the Jehovah's Witnesses cult. I studied their literature, went to the five meetings per week and went from door to door offering their literature. It was all torture. I was always told that it was about life or death and it was the only way to survive the great battle of Armageddon. We were not to have association with family or friends that "were not in the truth" and all people who were not JWs would be eternally destroyed at Armageddon. The end of the world was constantly on my mind. I wished that I never knew about it because then I could at least live a normal life. In 1980 my husband and I found a wonderful ministry. (We had to move 1200 miles away from home.) We were taught universal salvation and it was thoroughly proved. A great great burden was lifted off us. It is so wonderful to absolutely know God's love and mercy for all of us creatures of the dust. My heart aches for all the poor souls who believe the propaganda and lies of the JW cult. I am very thankful for your wonderful ministry.

08/24/05 From A Pastor

...I am a credentialed minister who has embraced the doctrine of universal redemption while serving in a pentecostal/charismatic denomination that does not.  I recently resigned the church I was pastoring because I can no longer "stay in the closet" on this issue and do not wish to be divisive within an organization I have held "good standing" in for 34 years.  I am thinking that my departure from this denomination is forthcoming. I have been aware of Tentmaker Online for a number of years and greatly appreciate the high quality of your web site.... Thanks.

08/22/05...A Good Argument

.... The other day I came upon your website. Next to my Salvation, I think it was one of my greatest things in my spiritual walk.  I have read many articles, and know at least one thing--you have a good argument....the Bible seems more wonderful, and life in general, even with just a thought that all will be saved.  I feel like serving our Lord more. Thanks again!

08/19/05...Professor and Pastor

I just can't read any longer without stopping to say thank you! I have been a Christian for 37 years, was a full time institutional pastor and bible college professor for about 30 of those years. Thanks to the grace of God I can do two things now, 1) Forgive myself for teaching the foolish things I once believed, and 2) Thank Him for deliverance from so many of the doctrines and theologies that hurt so many people. Your web site has been a tremendous blessing!

08/17/05

Thank you for such a wonderful website.  There is so much information and its all free to the public.  Tentmaker.org has certainly helped in my understanding of the gospel! 

08/14/05...From a College Student

You're the best thing on the Web (I'm sure you hear that a lot).  You should win the Templeton Prize, and a few other awards, too.  I'm sure it's just wishful thinking that there would be a Universalist Christian fellowship in the Phoenix , Arizona area, but it doesn't hurt to ask.  I'm 24 (became a Universalist Christian in late 1999 after pacing around my dorm room and praying to God . . . I can't remember which verse He reminded me of first.)  My dad's a Universalist Christian now, too, because he had been inclined toward it for a while, without me knowing. 

08/04/05....From a Former Annhiliationist

....I have visited your site many times Gary and it as helped me immensely in my own understanding of the scriptures, as well as in my progression toward understanding that ALL will be saved. This seems the perfect time then to say ‘thank you’ to you for what is obviously a lot of hard work in sharing your message.

08/04/05...A Muslim

I am a Muslim and believe in all the prophets, surely including Jesus, but that is not the issue. It does seem that those who hold a belief of eternal damnation, including Muslims, have a sense of some darkness in their heart's soul. Despite numerous sayings of our prophet Mohamed (hadith), where there shall come a day when no human being shall remain in hell. People in general tend to be closed minded and prefer the literalist interpretation to scriptures when it comes to hell. Why, I am not certain. What I would like to know is if there are any specific sources of Near Death Experience reflecting universal salvation after punishment. Also I can not find the Bible verse, stating some shall have salvation and some shall have it through flames, in so many words. Also the one where Jesus (PBUH),shall preach to those in hell. If you can find these scriptures as well as answer my NDE experiences question, i would appreciate it. Thank you, you seem to be a good scholar of the bible. May God reward genoursly the open minded people of the book and others of the one God. May we be able to one day meet in the Paradise.

07/31/05...From India

I would like to introduce myself as an anglican from India. I am writing this mail to you to tell you how much of a blessing your ministry has been to me. I was raised in an evangelical environment. Where hell was always a central topic. However, the gospel preached there had too many loose ends. I had always a problem of reconciling the God of love with a person who torture billions forever in hell. The insightful and bible based articles on your website helped me find peace and to love God more. The Plan of God is indeed marvellous and his will to save all of mankind reveals his love and kind heartedness. The simple message of the Gospel has been distorted over the centuries to a point where many unbiblical doctrines such as the doctrine of eternal torment have been ingrained into the Christian mind from a very young age. I would like to know if you have any representatives in India whom I can contact. In addition I would like to know how I can help this ministry

07/28/05...Thanks for free books

Recently you sent me a wonderful information packet and I have been so blessed by it. I want to share it all with my brother in prison but the books have to be sent from Tentmakers. Please send him the same books you sent to me.

07/27/05..."Something to all of this"

Just wanted to say I love your site. I have been challenged by the concept of universalism when someone on an email list began a discussion with me about it several months ago. It was after I made the comment that I find it difficult sometimes to understand and love a God who is going to consign his people to hell for eternity ... it just seemed that it was justice run riot, that people would be paying for their sins or whatever forever. Your site has a stack of interesting stuff on it which I am printing off and slowly reading. It certainly DOES feel like there is definitely something to all this but I am still wavering at times. I guess because it's one of those "no-no" areas in Christianity these days, it just feels so incredibly hard to hang onto it .... I do feel that God is doing lots of things in his Church behind the scenes (including the many people who make up his Church but who are currently experiencing times in the wilderness outside of much fellowship or 'meeting together') - if universalism is true, then this would surely be a main tenet that he wants to restore to the Church!!!

07/26/05....Good News!

I just listened to your tape on the Two Gospels. I am thunderstruck to say the least! I think since I was 12 years old and was "saved", I have felt that there were missing pieces to the Gospel. I have never felt like the "Gospel" that I received then and have been "working" at all these years was really "good news". I have searched and searched trying to find good news only to be disappointed again, and again. I knew that God is a good God and that his intentions for us are only good, however, somehow I just could never grasp what I heard and reconcile it with what I heard Jesus say. This begins to become clearer to me. I have never been an educated person but have read whatever came to hand in an effort to learn. I would be so grateful to receive whatever instruction is available so that I can truly receive the Good News and be able to share the real thing with those with whom I have to do. Many thanks.

07/19/05...From South Australia

To encourage you...The video presentation on the gathering of the body of Christ is the most inspiring and simple outline of truth I have ever witnessed. I have been experiencing this truth for a number of years now, but only just recently have I come to the awareness  of it. We have been out of traditional church life for several years now, growing in God and yet not understanding why, as we have had virtually no fellowship with anyone for around ten to twelve years. Your tabernacle outline was so inspiring. Tabernacles is one of my loves. The truth concerning Mt Hermon, I had heard some time ago but never realized the significance until you mentioned it. Also the historic fact concerning Damascus WOW! The Lord has been showing me what I have called the Ministry of no Ministry and it runs right along the line of what you shared. I mentioned to some one  I was writing to that I know I know this thing, But the moment I think I know and understand it, is the time it becomes Law and that's not the way God wants it it's by Grace. We have to move with the cloud. So dear ones, you have greatly encouraged me personally and I hope you are encouraged in return. Love and the Lords richest blessing to you...

07/13/05...A Minister

I am 45, married with 2 lovely girls. I grew up in the holiness/Pentecostal church--all my life. I have been exposed to many denominations. I went to school at Christ for the Nations, Dallas Tx, and graduated from Bethany Bible College (Assemblies of God) in Santa Cruz, CA. Later I did my Masters as UC Santa Barbara. I was an elder in a Pentecostal church here in Los Angeles for a couple of years. Over the last 18 months, I left and we started our own fellowship. During the last 8 months, while studying the prophet Daniel, I came upon some things that led to Acts 3:21. I put in the phrase "the restitution of all things" in my search engine, and discovered the word, aion, and aionios. I have never been the same since. The Kingdom of God that Daniel saw was opened up to me. The life "in the resurrection" became crystal clear. Why the lion couldn't eat Daniel, and why the fire didn't burn the 3 Hebrews became crystal clear. The message of Jonah, his response to God's mercy, and God's response to him, in saving 120,000 gentiles (12x 10x 1000) became crystal clear; Luke 15, (all 3 parables became crystal clear) and the spirit that the prodigal son who stayed home-- the spirit that he had at the recovery of his dead, lost brother, revealed itself among so called "soul saving" saints. Col 1: 15-20 was a bombshell when I re-read it. I am still reeling from it, especially v. 20. Rev 21:3-5 thundered in my spirit as the angel makes the grandest announcement of all--"no more death, or weeping, or crying, or pain." -again, crystal clear. Jesus' preoccupation with the Kingdom of God, or K/d of heaven, and his last 40 days preaching about it from the OT(Luke 24: 25-27) emphasis v 27became very significant; Paul's urgency to declare the message of the K/d from morning until night for 2 whole years was a sledge hammer (Acts 28; 30-31). Of course the K/d of God must be found in the OT for Jesus and Paul to have so much to say about it. And sure enough, Exodus 18: 13-26 with emphasis on v. 25 revealed itself as a template for life "in the resurrection." I Cor 6: 1-3 was like a wild boar to my spirit--it just ran everywhere. When will we judge the nations? and how? Just like Exodus 18 says. Never mind 1 Cor 6 .4 We shall judge angels? Neither my small fellowship nor me was ready for that. Shall I go on? The teaching of Moses on the Jubilee!!! For any one with a little teaching and spiritual ears, this is nothing less than Jubilistic. It is dripping with spiritual language. I see this fulfillment in Rev. 21 with that announcement of release. And Phil 2: 10, "every knee shall bow...." My God, I used to think that this meant that they will be condemned to burn in hell for ever and on their way to the fire, they will pay homage to the judge, who will respond some thing like this, "I told you so." How foolish and dim witted was I. I can go on. I have not understood so much of the scriptures as I have in the last 6-8 months.

In sharing some of this with an old saint, she questioned whether I believed in heaven and hell. So I began to look more closely at what the scriptures say about hell, about Hades, Gahanna, the lake of fire, and the related words, condemn, damned, anathema, torment, and perish. Boy was I in for a great surprise. Then, I put in my search engine, "the history of the doctrine of hell" and there was Tentmaker, and here I am....

07/09/05...New hope for Christianity

Found you when I Googled a quote  "the vilest evil is that which is convinced of its own virtue." ..and then found so many beautiful quotes at your site. I had almost given up on Christianity as being of worth to us in our time. Your site gives me hope that the beauty of the Christian message wil not be lost.

07/07/05...Refreshing

...I have read only a few pages of what your website has to offer and I find it very refreshing to find somebody out there with something intelligent to offer with regard to the manner in which religious dogma has utterly destroyed the message of Jesus Christ. As a Christian person the core of my problem with religion is that we have so anthropomorphized God and His Son, so reduced them to toxic dogma, that we may as well have crucified the Messenger again and buried the Message. Thank you so much for the work you have done.

07/05/05...New Excitment for God

First off, I'd just like to thank you for your ministry - it has been such a blessing to me. I have read several of your articles on tentmaker, and I just listened to the Christ's Body Assembled video. Something inside me just says "yes, yes!" It's like things that I've known all along but you brought it into clarity. The love of God is so amazing.... Thank you again so much for your ministry - I feel a new excitement and fervor in God because of it.

07/03/05...A Fire of Discontent

...I will not go in to detail of how I have gotten to this point embracing Universalism, But I will say that God has placed a fire of discontent within me; with not only the church, but with the doctrine of eternal torments and the translational errors of our English Bibles. Thus, I have come under a great storm of opposition, which has encouraged me to seek further study. I want to thank you for your web site and resources, I have ordered many books about Universalism and I am very excited to await the arrival of my "Young's Literal Translation" bible.....Again, I thank you for your scholarship; a friend first challenged me with the possibility of Universal Salvation through Jesus Christ, I can never stop Thanking Him, for pointing out your web-site. Right now, I am in my infancy, as far as the information gathering process is concerned, however, my goal is to become educated enough, so I can write a book that touches people I know and love.

06/26/05...Thanks!

Hardly a day passes Gary, that I don't think of you and the work you have done that is impacting so many lives ( me for one ). I have enjoyed so much and benefited beyond words from your writings and I hope you appreciate that.

06/26/05....Killed by the Letter

I thank you for not having all the answers. It is a release to talk to someone who, not only admits that he doesn’t have all the answers, but who have seen that it is not necessary. You and your ministry made me a biblical Universalist; you helped to found my house on stone. All glory to God, but His works through you have not been in vain. I was being killed by the letter, but I’m once again vivified in spirit. Oh! the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! For who knew the mind of the Lord or who became his counsellor? Or who have given anything to Him first, so that is shall be repaid him? For out of Him through Him and into Him is all; to him be the glory for the eons. - Romans 11:33-36 (Personal translation based on the Emphasized Bible and the Concordant Version and Knoch’s Interlinear Greek Text)

06/22/05...Encouraged

I have not done Bible study on the matter, I just in my heart could no longer believe in eternal torment. And after I came to that conclusion (or that conclusion came to me), so many other inconsistencies with the doctrine came to light--how could eternal torment be a just punishment for temporary sin, how could God be loving and unselfish and compassionate and responsible yet create humans he knew would go to hell, etc. I about threw the baby out with the bathwater, as the saying goes, almost abandoning my faith (though other factors were surely involved). Course I never could deny Christ. Once you've encountered him, you can't deny his reality. It's not possible. Anyway, since then I've been encouraged to see that there are those who have done in depth Scripture study and have found ultimate reconciliation to indeed be completely biblical. Thanks for your time!

06/20/05...Set Free!

Wow! I have been set free by the doctrines of Universalism, and released from the hypocrisy of the "church", thank you for such great knowledge and insight. Thank you Gary !

06/19/05...Thanks

Great lessons, just great and blessed instruction. What else can I say? I appreciate your web site so much. It is truly a gift to me since I am a serious seeker of God's Truth. God bless and keep you always. Your works will follow you as it is written.

06/10/05...Previously faltering faith

Hi! VERY glad to have discovered Universal Salvation on the Internet - it has done wonders for my previously faltering faith. I want to go into this topic of Universal Salvation thoroughly. --from the UK

06/07/05...Home church

I'm 25 years old and I've been in more than two Christian denominations in the past 10 years (although I am familiar with several other ones). I was a praise and worship leader in the last two churches (spanish churches), at first they told me I had a calling from God the way I did Praise and Worship, when I stopped tithing they told me I could not minister anymore. My last denomination was about Faith, faith and only faith, they are very open in some areas, but so blind in others a lot of grace, but still mixed with law. It's been almost a year since my wife and I stopped going to a church, we got so sick of it (not of God) but of man traditions. There are other two families that we know are in the same situation. We stopped looking for a church, for now we're doing bible studies in our home, it's been fun.I just wanted to share this with you. Also to let you know that a lot of your material from your website has been of great help. Thanks for your time!

06/01/05....Christian musician

I have found your site to be refreshing as well as comforting. I had little idea that there was such a sizable vein of other believers that felt as I do. I came to my conclusions by studying the scriptures and intuitively felt that God would save all of His creation so that He "may be all in all", (see 1 Corinthians 15:28). How can a God Who is love be "all in all" while at the same time damning part of His creation to eternal torture? I am reminded of the quote, (1 Peter 3:9), "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentence." As a reinforcement to that scripture, Job 42:2 states, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." The copious evidence in the article regarding the "Early Christian View" on your website supports what I stated above............I have an inquiry that you may be able to help me with. I am a songwriter/musician who would like to network with other Christian musicians who hold similar beliefs to those expressed at "Tentmaker". Do you know of any websites where I could pursue such interests? Please let me know...

05/31/05...New Hunger for God

...I have been a Christian for 27 years. For the past three years I have given up going to "church" for many reasons that Gary shared in his video. This past year I have had a new hunger for God, similar to what I had when I was first saved. This hunger led me to go back in time to a preacher named Malcolm Smith. He new ministry "Unconditional Love" opened my eyes to God's love in a new way. Within a short period of time God led me to call a old friend. We shared a lot of our early Christian experiences together and I was taken back when he mentioned his view on Hell during my initial phone call to him.

In short, for the past 4 months I have been reading and listening from the Tentmakers web site, along with Concordant Ministry and a woman named Dr. Lorraine Day. This last video I saw of Gary sharing his vision of Christ's body of belivers coming into a new assembly moved me to send this e-mail. I have a hunger for serving God as I live out the remainder of my life...

05/31/05...A Prodigal returns

I grew up in a methodist church. Since childhood I have had a calling to go in the ministry. Like Jonah I ran and ran from doing the Lords will. I attended Penn State University and began to sell drugs and get involved in many different criminal acts. At the age of 22 I opened up my first nightclub in Ocean City, MD. Then I had one in PGH,PA. I was about to open up one in Miami with the wrong people. During this whole time God was speaking to me calling me to come into repentance. By his mercy right before I opened up Miami I got arrested on a conspiracy charge. I knew it was Father paving the way for me to take heed to my calling. Growing up in the methodist church I never really had a personal relationship with God. I was a very prejudice person before entering prison. Wouldn't you know every single brother God put in my life was black. Glory be to God. Not only were they black but well equipped Kingdom brothers. They opened up this word to me and boy my entire life has changed. The transformation that has taken place and is taking place is so unbelievable. Just in the last couple of days God has been opening up many avenues with young brothers and sisters in the Lord. My hometown is small and poverty, crime, sex, addiction ridden. We have like 16 churches for 3,000 people but my spirit can't really bare to sit in the pews. All i hear is Rapture or you are going to Hell if you don't do this or you do this..........Today I was at a funeral for my cousin who committed suicide. The preacher and I talked yesterday because he wasn't sure of what to say. I gave him scriptures about how we are all children and that God's redemptive plan is for all humanity. I shared with him the psalm of David where he said if you make your bed in hell that he will be there. Also, I showed him how the fire in the new testament is for purifacation. After the funeral many questions were being asked to me because traditional christianity has taught us that eternal damnation to those who take their lives. My prayer is that brothers and sisters around here will become hungry and will seek more of our Father. Well good brother if I could be put onto any mailing list or tape list you may have I would be very appreciative. I am looking forward to hearing from you---GOD BLESS

05/25/05...Australian Theologian

Greetings Gary....I live in Adelaide, South Australia and I have recently completed a degree in theology. Before I began my studies I was not a universalist, though I was on the way as I aligned myself with Karl Barth. It was during my study that I became convinced of universalism, but I could not intelligently defend why. Then I came across your website and all the resources there. It has been of great benefit to me. I'm writing to thank you and encourage you in your work.

04/22/05...The Case Against Hell

Beloved in Christ, I have just stumbled upon "The Case Against Hell" by Mercy Aiken and Gary Amirault. I shudder to even attempt conveying what an impact the subject of "Hell" has had on my life. I'm no Bible scholar, I'm not even a very good Christian as Christians go, but by and by in my Search i've come to find some hope here and there, such as in Romans 8:38, 39 "For I am persuaded beyond doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I'm no scholar. I Love God but i've always feared Him more than Loved him, which is why if there really IS no Hell, then the Church has been handled even more poorly than I thought, and I thought alot. My faith is more on the mustard seed side, but it's there. I've always believed I was destined for Hell, despite scripture that said I was saved. I'm trying not to digress here, what I'm saying is that I stumbled upon your website much the same way I stumbled on the preceding passage from Romans...I needed to see that Romans passage desperately, and I only saw it a few years ago. Mercy Aiken and Gary Amirault have shown me that I wasn't the only one wrestling with Jesus over "If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much." I never heard that view from anyone but myself, tho of course I knew there had to be others. This piece, Ms. Aiken and Mr. Amirault, was Invigorating, nothing short. Riveting. It lifted my spirit so very highly, and I cannot thank you enough. I suspect I'll still always be looking over my shoulder for Hell, but you do make an excellent case that maybe I can relax a bit. Maybe even relax a lot.

04/21/05...Convinced

Gary, have been reading your tentmaker.org site for weeks and am now CONVINCED in universal salvation. Verse after verse prove it. What a burden lifted. Now to get the word out but it's so hard. Christian minds are PROGRAMMED to believe in eternal torment. Thank God for your site. I believe revival is coming but it won't happen until the mercy of God is preached, not His wrath.

04/14/05...Amazing!

Thank you for reminding me that salvation is a work of God. You know, for many years I was a Calvinist. I found so much evidence in Scripture of people being chosen by God, healed by Jesus through no understanding on their part, others being hardened, etc, that I felt Scripture was completely clear on the point of salvation being of God and not through man's effort. In fact, "born again"
literally means "born from above." Yet that view always disturbed me. God chooses some for damnation? Once a friend said, "God's love is so amazing, it's a miracle that *any* of us make it at all, because none of us should." That view was completely unsettling, and yet with Calvinism, what other conclusion are you left with? Now that I've come into a new understanding about the ultimate salvation of all, it takes the best parts of Calvinism (that salvation is God's work, not man's) and combines it with the best possible news--that God's redemptive work won't stop until the work is accomplished.... The change in my own life since coming to this new realization has been amazing. The way I interact with others has completely changed, the way I witness and minister has changed . . . it's all just such good news. God is even bigger and more loving than I ever knew. Praise Him. Thank you so much for your help and the articles you provide.

04/11/05...Encouraged

Hello, God has been revealing the full extent of His love for us and the fullness of His salvation for all over the last year, in my quest for truth on these matters your website has been of great encouragement.

04/05/05....Daily Blessing

Your site is such a daily blessing in my life. Sometimes I feel on the OUT of mainstream fundamental christianity.... and this site helps me feel not alone.. and hopeful and anxious for the ones yet to open their eyes, Thank You.

03/27/05...A new peace

Hi, A while back, I had ordered Gary Amirault's teaching series on Eternal Torment. I have since converted the tapes to mp3 format so I can listen to the teachings back to back on my mp3 player. I have found such great comfort in those teachings that I often start playing the teachings when I go to bed. Strangely enough, I have often found myself in dreams that appear to start out as nightmares, but always have a victorious ending, and needless to say during this "nightmare," all fear that I could possibly have has subsided. Could it be that those teachings have a positive effect on the subconcious?...When I was a small child, being raised as a Roman Catholic, I was of course indoctrinated on the "eternal torment" and "hell" theologies. And of course I have often had nightmares that when I woke up, I was glad it was only a dream. But sometimes I was afraid to go to sleep at night for fear that I might have a nightmare.I would definitely recommend your teachings as a great way to help relax somebody or if a person cannot sleep....But anyway, on a day that is traditionally celebrated as the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, I found a strange peace today after listening to your teachings in my sleep (I'm a night owl, so I sleep during the daytime) that was so exciting I found the need to share it with you. Thanks!

03/27/05...Tithe

I read your writing EL DIEZMO ESTA ABOLIDO (I dont know how to trnslate in english this title). You wrote about the diezm (tithe). Thanks for that. I have been researching a lot to find something about it. The Lord sent you to clear the mind of so many confused christians. I was going to a church from Brazil and I envolved very deeply with them. My wife and me learned so many things about the Bible. We feel stronger in our faith. But we didnt see very clear the pressure given from the church to the people asking for money money and money every day. Even requesting for God all your savings. all your money. all your assets. cars. home. etc. After read your writing, I found in my heart Peace and knowledge. Thanks, from Brazil

03/18/05...Learning more than ever

It was 8 months ago that God finally revealed to me His plan to save all mankind. I've learned more in the last 8 months with a Bible and a concordance than I ever have sitting in the pews of a church....

03/12/05...Fresh Air

your site is a breath of fresh air. thank you. the various subject is great.

03/07/05...From the Philippines

When I visited your website, I was so shocked at first. I can't believe that this teaching is being taught today and have no idea that this teaching was really taught by other groups in the past. But it keeps on lingering in my mind and heart. My mind somewhat tells me, "it could not be true," "I will not accept it," but MY HEART is saying very opposite. My heart keeps on shouting inside: "This is the truth. God is Love. , etc., etc." So I decided to give myself into it and visited your website many many many times, printed many of your downloadable tracts and articles. But since I have not computer of my own, and since I have only meager income as a nursing attendant, I cannot rent coumputer in Internet caffe very often.

Since the time I found Tentmaker, I came to know and now I firmly believe that God really will save ALL PEOPLE no matter how bad they are in this present life. God can heal their hearts and mind in the future because He can turn the river wherever he wants to turn it. Here in the Philippines I am doing the preaching work by writing tracts about Universal reconcilliation. But since I have only small financial income, I can only print a dozen or a hundred pieces of tract from time to time.

Last Sunday, I presented to the brethren (on our meeting) my understanding regarding the Universal Reconcilliation using the printed materials from Tentmakers website. They accepted it without difficulty. So, whats next? We are planning to preach and teach this truth to whoever that will be willing to hear....From Your brother in the Philippines

03/02/05...Worship Leader

God has called me to declare His glory to my generation through music. i long to, through the power of music, help to unveil the reality and wonder and glory that God is. please be praying for me as i will be seeking God in how i should communicate this new found glory and joy of the absolutely triumphant and victorious Christ and the glorious restitution of all things in His sacrifice.

02/25/05...Closer to God

I love to read Tentmaker. It makes me feel much closer to God, knowing that 'ALL' will be with Him after we leave this planet.

02/25/05...A gold mine!

I am a 43 year old woman who has believed that only the ones who “believe in Jesus” would get to heaven, and thus since I was a young child in Catholic school. Then I “got saved” when in the Air Force at age 26 and started in the whole progression of learning the Word through a charismatic non-denominational church. I read the two books by Mulholland and Gulley, “If Grace is True” and “If God is Love” and became convinced. Now I am researching this universal idea daily and found your website! It’s a gold mine!

02/23/05...Seeking the truth

I am sending this e-mail to thank you for your website and your informative articles. The words in the Bible now take on a whole new meaning to me. I actually enjoy reading the Bible because I now have so much hope for people in my family and the world, who are not believers...For the past year I have prayed that God would show me the truth if I wasn't seeing the whole truth yet. I AM SEEKING THE TRUTH. I have had a couple of dreams lately of people who have died that were my friends and grandparents who I had thought before did not make it to heaven. In one dream my friend said "You know what you need to do", and in the other dream with my grandparents they were happy and beautiful like I had never seen them before when they were on earth. My Grandmother rocked me like a baby and I was so happy. These dreams made me so emotional and I feel that they may have been God's way of showing me that I do not know all his ways like I thought I did, and I should continue to seek the truth...Thank you so much for all your help.

02/22/05...The "real" Good News!

I don't label myself anything but a true believer of Jesus, so I don't call myself a universalist, but I do believe that God will save all mankind. Your articles are refreshing and it's nice to read that there are believers out there who truly understand that God's love is great enough to save his entire creation. I sometimes get frustrated debating with those who beleive in hell, Lucifer, etc., but I try to remember that their unbelief is all part of God's plan and in the end the truth will be revealed to all. Hopefully by sharing my opinion I can plant a seed that will grow. Anyway keep up the good work, you are truly spreading "the real good news".

02/21/05...Tithing

The pressure to tithe is enormous. I was so spiritually beaten up by the leadership of a local congregation I was a member of, that my spirit was almost destroyed. Fortunately, as a side effect, this turned out to be a good thing. About a year ago I entered into a search of truth within scriptures due to this very issue and I was amazed at the traditions I held sacred with the only justification being that it was passed down to me. As I began to learn more about the lack of truth in the tithe as taught, I began to see other things that gave me pause. My old spirit was beat down and a new spirit in Yeshua was given birth. As the article said "...but most of the slaves do not realize they are slaves to a system which places burdens upon the backs of God’s people that He never placed upon their backs! Few Christians are aware of how spiritually dead they really are until they come out of the graveyards in which they worship!" How true. I have long since come to a peace through forgiveness of others and the realization of how short we all fall. I was doing some other research when I came upon this article. I have read much off this before, but I wanted to send an email to say in all I have read I have never seen it presented so well. This will definitely go in my favorites folder and I will further explore this site. It is now 12:50 in the morning and in a few short hours I will go to work, but I can truthfully say, thanks for keeping me up.

02/19/05...From Norway

I wanted to tell you that there is hope out there...In the ministry of Berg, of which I am a member, I don't think anyone is a believer of eternal torment or even a firm believer in everlasting destructi