Does the fact that these verses show a remant and very small remnant disprove Universal Reconciliation? No, Christian Universalism remains true. Let me explain why.
Rom 9:27
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
Isa 1:9
9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
[/quote]
Rom 9:27. Notice the wording, "concerning Israel"
Remanent refers to being "left surviving". But what did they survive from? Physical death, but not spiritual death. A very small remnanet of mercy was given to avoid the physical destruction that the Lord unleashed on Sodom and Gomorrah.
This type of mercy is different from Ultimate Mercy. Ultimate Mercy refers to the washing of sins. This very small mercy refers to avoiding this physical destruction. Because eventually, even those who avoided this physical destruction were eventually destroyed by natural physical death. But will they be permanently destroyed? No, annihlationism is false. Because the Ultimate Mercy, true love, never fails.
remnant
ὑπόλειμμα (hypoleimma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5275: To leave behind; pass: To be left surviving
will be saved.
σωθήσεται (sōthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
If we look at the rest of the verses, the context reveals
Romans 9:28 For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.?
Romans 9:29 we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah
Here the "destruction" is referring to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19. They were physically destroyed, but not spiritually, since when they died, they descended to Sheol, the realm of the dead. This killing by the Lord can also be seen as merciful, because the Lord may have prevented them from suffering due to their sins. The Lord knows people will be saved from Sheol, so He has not truly given up on them.
Earth is like a stage, a story. When the Lord kills, He moves actors off the showfloor and back behind the scenes. The Lord kills to accomplish His purpose, but this is not a permanent killing, but a temporary killing, a temporary death, as all will gain permanent life. No human will ever experience a true permanent death, because all life must return to the LORD God, who created us.
Isa 1:9, also refers to the physical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Thus the question is, will the people of Sodom and Gomorrah be saved? Yes, eventually they will or have already become believers in Christ by faith alone in Him. Where can they believe? In Sheol, the realm of the dead. Post morterm salvation is still available for them.
Speaking of Isaiah, let's get a verse from it that shows that Universalism is true.
```Isaiah 30:18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! ```
The Lord longs, meaning יְחַכֶּ֤ה (yə?ḥak?keh) Strong's 2442: To adhere to, to await. Why does someone wait? Because they expect something to happen, eventually. The Lord expects to give mercy to all people eventually. Otherwise, why would He wait if it will not happen? Thus, all will believe in Lord Christ, who rose up from the dead, and be blessed with salvation, amen.
Rom 9:27
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
Isa 1:9
9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
[/quote]
Rom 9:27. Notice the wording, "concerning Israel"
Remanent refers to being "left surviving". But what did they survive from? Physical death, but not spiritual death. A very small remnanet of mercy was given to avoid the physical destruction that the Lord unleashed on Sodom and Gomorrah.
This type of mercy is different from Ultimate Mercy. Ultimate Mercy refers to the washing of sins. This very small mercy refers to avoiding this physical destruction. Because eventually, even those who avoided this physical destruction were eventually destroyed by natural physical death. But will they be permanently destroyed? No, annihlationism is false. Because the Ultimate Mercy, true love, never fails.
remnant
ὑπόλειμμα (hypoleimma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5275: To leave behind; pass: To be left surviving
will be saved.
σωθήσεται (sōthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
If we look at the rest of the verses, the context reveals
Romans 9:28 For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.?
Romans 9:29 we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah
Here the "destruction" is referring to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19. They were physically destroyed, but not spiritually, since when they died, they descended to Sheol, the realm of the dead. This killing by the Lord can also be seen as merciful, because the Lord may have prevented them from suffering due to their sins. The Lord knows people will be saved from Sheol, so He has not truly given up on them.
Earth is like a stage, a story. When the Lord kills, He moves actors off the showfloor and back behind the scenes. The Lord kills to accomplish His purpose, but this is not a permanent killing, but a temporary killing, a temporary death, as all will gain permanent life. No human will ever experience a true permanent death, because all life must return to the LORD God, who created us.
Isa 1:9, also refers to the physical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Thus the question is, will the people of Sodom and Gomorrah be saved? Yes, eventually they will or have already become believers in Christ by faith alone in Him. Where can they believe? In Sheol, the realm of the dead. Post morterm salvation is still available for them.
Speaking of Isaiah, let's get a verse from it that shows that Universalism is true.
```Isaiah 30:18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! ```
The Lord longs, meaning יְחַכֶּ֤ה (yə?ḥak?keh) Strong's 2442: To adhere to, to await. Why does someone wait? Because they expect something to happen, eventually. The Lord expects to give mercy to all people eventually. Otherwise, why would He wait if it will not happen? Thus, all will believe in Lord Christ, who rose up from the dead, and be blessed with salvation, amen.