Pantelism
Encyclopedia
Pantelism is a variant of Christian eschatology
that holds that the plan
of God
has been completed both prophetically and redemptively. The term "pantelism" comes from the Greek παντελής "all accomplished," and means "all things having been accomplished". Pantelism has a similar "inclusive" approach to that of Transmillennialism. Pantelism is an extension
of Preterism
. The difference from preterism is that pantelism views Israel's prophesied redemption in Christ as the catalyst for mankind's restoration to God. Preterists typically view people being as "born lost" and must therefore profess personal faith
in Jesus Christ in order to escape Hell
when they die. Pantelism on the other hand views the "judgement
of Hell
" more typically known as the lake of fire
as referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in the year AD 70
. With the Old Covenant
system of law and judgment ended, see Abrogation of Old Covenant laws
, redemption
came to Israel
. As a consequence reconciliation then spread to all humankind. Pantelism understands this inclusive reconciliation, as distinct from Israel's redemption, as the unilateral act of God and not reliant on a professed personal faith
in Jesus Christ. Pantelism further acknowledges that "faith in Christ" was the prerequisite and basis for those called to serve God on behalf of others. Because of the inclusive nature of pantelism and that it accepts the authority of the Bible some view it as a form of Christian universalism
, though there are significant aspects of pantelism also agreeing with universalism's antithesis "partialism".
Christian eschatology
Christian eschatology is a major branch of study within Christian theology. Eschatology, from two Greek words meaning last and study , is the study of the end of things, whether the end of an individual life, the end of the age, or the end of the world...
that holds that the plan
Plan
A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with timing and resources, used to achieve an objective. See also strategy. It is commonly understood as a temporal set of intended actions, through which one expects to achieve a goal...
of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
has been completed both prophetically and redemptively. The term "pantelism" comes from the Greek παντελής "all accomplished," and means "all things having been accomplished". Pantelism has a similar "inclusive" approach to that of Transmillennialism. Pantelism is an extension
Extension (semantics)
In any of several studies that treat the use of signs - for example, in linguistics, logic, mathematics, semantics, and semiotics - the extension of a concept, idea, or sign consists of the things to which it applies, in contrast with its comprehension or intension, which consists very roughly of...
of Preterism
Preterism
Preterism is a Christian eschatological view that interprets prophecies of the Bible, especially Daniel and Revelation, as events which have already happened in the first century A.D. Preterism holds that Ancient Israel finds its continuation or fulfillment in the Christian church at the...
. The difference from preterism is that pantelism views Israel's prophesied redemption in Christ as the catalyst for mankind's restoration to God. Preterists typically view people being as "born lost" and must therefore profess personal faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
in Jesus Christ in order to escape Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
when they die. Pantelism on the other hand views the "judgement
Judgement
Judgment is the evaluation of evidence in the making of a decision. The term has three distinct uses:* Informal - Opinions expressed as facts....
of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
" more typically known as the lake of fire
Lake of Fire
A lake of fire appears, in both ancient Egyptian and Christian religion, as a place of after-death punishment of the wicked. The phrase is used in four verses of the Book of Revelation. The image was also used by the Early Christian Hippolytus of Rome in about the year 200 and has continued to be...
as referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in the year AD 70
Siege of Jerusalem (70)
The Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD was the decisive event of the First Jewish-Roman War. The Roman army, led by the future Emperor Titus, with Tiberius Julius Alexander as his second-in-command, besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem, which had been occupied by its Jewish defenders in...
. With the Old Covenant
Old Covenant
The Old Covenant was the name of the agreement which effected the union of Iceland and Norway. It is also known as Gissurarsáttmáli, named after Gissur Þorvaldsson, the Icelandic chieftain who worked to promote it. The name "Old Covenant", however, is probably due to historical confusion...
system of law and judgment ended, see Abrogation of Old Covenant laws
Abrogation of Old Covenant laws
While many Christian theology systems reflect the view that at least some Mosaic laws have been set aside under the New Covenant, there are some theology systems that view the entire Mosaic or Old Covenant as abrogated in that all of the Mosaic laws are set aside for the Law of Christ...
, redemption
Redemption (theology)
Redemption is a concept common to several theologies. It is generally associated with the efforts of people within a faith to overcome their shortcomings and achieve the moral positions exemplified in their faith.- In Buddhism :...
came to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. As a consequence reconciliation then spread to all humankind. Pantelism understands this inclusive reconciliation, as distinct from Israel's redemption, as the unilateral act of God and not reliant on a professed personal faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
in Jesus Christ. Pantelism further acknowledges that "faith in Christ" was the prerequisite and basis for those called to serve God on behalf of others. Because of the inclusive nature of pantelism and that it accepts the authority of the Bible some view it as a form of Christian universalism
Christian Universalism
Christian Universalism is a school of Christian theology which includes the belief in the doctrine of universal reconciliation, the view that all human beings or all fallen creatures will ultimately be restored to right relationship with God....
, though there are significant aspects of pantelism also agreeing with universalism's antithesis "partialism".