Is Hell real? Part 2

Where is Hell? Do souls really burn forever?

The thought of"Hell" has made many a person a legalistic Christian. That is, they serve God from fear of punishment rather than an intelligent appreciation of His unfathomable love. Hell is said to be a place of torture for disembodied souls. Let us candidly examine this claim by the word of God.

What causes death? The bible makes it clear that "For the wages of sin is death; …" (Romans 6:23) and further "… when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1: 16). Again, "… as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)

Our lord and Saviour has redeemed humanity by His infinite sacrifice on the cross of calvary giving our world a second chance at life. Scripture says "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

It is clear that sin causes death and the "gift of God" is life. But what about the doctrine of hell? Does our all wise and everloving God burn His creatures who exercise their choice against Him. Is this the character of our God?

Let us examine the words for hell in the bible. "[Heb. she'ôl; [1]Gr. hadēs and geenna; the Greek verb tartaroō, "to cast (down) to hell," occurs once (2 Pe 2:4).] The word "hades' refers a place of death and the greek "geenna" refers to a place of punishment. Since our English word hell refers to a place of disembodied spirited being tormented in fire there is some confusion that occurs.

"Everlasting fire" and "eternal fire" are also used by some to establish the never-ending nature of the flames of hell. We have already seen that the words translated hell simply mean the grave and "geenna" is a place of punishment, let us look closer at the words translated 'everlasting" and "eternal" they are "olam "in the old testament and "anionios."

The scripture says "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7) Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by "olam" or eternal fire but that fire turned"...the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" (2Peter 2:6)

Moreover, the fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah rather quickly. "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her."(Lamentations 4:6)  


In fact, the same eternal or everlasting fire will destroy the wicked, ""For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts."(Malachi 4:1-3.) "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." (Psalms 37:20)

The wicked will be as though they had never been. "For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been." (Obadiah 16) "Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 104:35.)

The second death is the final destruction of unrepentant sinners. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."( Rev. 21:7,8)

The gift of God is eternal life and conversely sin when it is finished produces eternal death. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)


 Therefore, from our study the bible makes it clear that these words are used to describe the length of time that lasts as long as the subject lasts.

In our next study we will examine the use of "geenna."

Is Hell Real? Part 1

Using our principles of interpretation that we learned in our last lesson, we are equpped to follow God's instruction which says

 

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV) "Handling the word of truth" involves correct interpretation of the bible "... not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (1 Corinthians 2:13, KJV)

 

 

There is the popular teaching in Christianity that the soul of man will be eternally destroyed in hell where God sends the finally inpenitent. Is this the God that you or I serve? Or would want to serve? Would you be delighted to do God's will knowing that if you didn't, He delighted to slow roast you over an ever-burning fire.

 

Let's examine the bible caefully. A popular text used to support this idea is:

 

"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (Luke 16:22-24, KJV)

There are several inconsistencies that make it obvious that the parable is fictional. 

1. Lazarus dies, goes to "hell" and sees Abraham and the beggar from "hell"
2. The beggar goes into the arms of Abraham rather than God
3. Lazarus asks for water to cool him in "hell"?

These three are sufficient to prove that the story was not to be applied literally, but instead teach a spiritual truth. Jesus used 

a popular story in His day to capture the attention of His hearers. The Jews prided themselves that they were descendants of Abraham

"... We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" (John 8:33 ASV) Therefore, Jesus reached them at their level.

He was teaching them that there was no second probation after death. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," (Hebrews 9:27 NKJV) There is no second chance, no purgatory, only today. Jesus said "...Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts." (Hebrews 4:7 NKJV) "...Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2 WEB)

In our next study we will examine the issue of how "hell" "eternal" and "everlasting" are used in the bible.

"The Paradox of Free Will" part 1

A question that puzzles many honest Christians is "how can an omniscience (all knowing) God allow sin and suffering? How come sin and sorrow is everywhere and God takes a hands-off approach? 

Firstly, the bible says "And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war," (Revelation 12:17 NASB) 

Michael is the archangel from revelation, in 2nd Thessalonians, Paul says that He (Christ) will come with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. therefore, we conclude that Michael is he Son of God. The dragon is called Satan in Revelation 12. Hence we see a struggle between the Son of God and Satan occurring in heaven. why did it occur?

The scriptures tell us that Satan was Lucifer in heaven, one of God's covering cherubs before he became Satan. We are also told that it was self-exaltation and self-centeredness that caused Lucifer's descent into sin. He said "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:14 NASB) A mystery of mysteries, that sin could develop in a sinless environment but nevertheless it did. Lucifer apposed God's government of self-sacrificing love. A Love that "does not demand its own way. ... is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged." (1st Corinthians 13: 5 NLT)

Upon exercising the most longing entreaties that only infinite Love can employ,Satan chose rebellion. But before He left heaven he placed doubt in the minds of the other angels about the character of God. By "the abundance of [his] traffic they filled the midst of [him] with violence, and [he has] sinned:" (Ezekiel 28:16 WEB) 

Since Satan challenged the government of God in heaven and introduced doubt into the creatures minds, God had to vindicate His character. Satan said God was a dictator, He had a law that no one could keep, He said God was selfish and only wanted the praise of the creaurest. Additionally, given creatures have free will, a mere verbal account would not suffice in answering the charges that Satan brought against God.

God applied His Wisdom, His word to declare to men and to angels the nature of His government of Love. Scripture says "No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known]. (John 1:18 AMP)

Does the Bible say what it means? Part 2

Isaiah says "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" (Isaiah 28:9-10, KJV) Paul told Timothy, a young man full of faith and love for God "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV)

Set forth here are invaluable principles of biblical interpretation set forth by Jehovah Himself. God says that there must be careful comparison of scripture to arrive at truth. many christian will admit that the prophecies of the messiah written down in the old testament are beautifully fulfilled in the new. But how did the disciples come to the conclusions? When the Holy Spirit descended at pentacost, he illuminated the minds of the disciples to see the word of God differently. They correctly divided the word of truth and were able to prove and convince both jews and gentiles that Jesus was the Christ.

So today, as God is sending the beautiful message of His character, these principles need to be applied. Scripture must be compared with scripture to determine truth. Paul again says "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (1 Corinthians 2:13, KJV)

Spiritual things must be compared with Spiritual, scripture with scripture, line uopn line, principle upon principle.

Does God Determine My Fate?

"If God knows everything then why should I pray, He knows whether I will live or die and whether my friends will be saved or lost, so why pray?"

 God allows freedom of choice. Never will God force Himself upon His creatures, what an amazing thought! God knows that love cannot be commanded or controlled, only by love is love awakened. Though sinful and although He knows that His way is the only way for life and happiness He says"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18, KJV)

God invites us to reason, His Government is not founded on unreasonable control but intelligent faith. What does that mean for the person who believes that God has predestinated some people a certain way and others another apart from their choice. It is like saying  "I am a woman so I will never vote or I am black therefore I will always be a slave." In the 20th century both of these obsacles were overcome by people who chose otherwise than that of popular tradition.

Similarly, God has predestinated all men to be saved in Jesus Christ, but we have to choose to accept that salvation. God cannot do it apart from our choice. The Inspired apostle says "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12, KJV) "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:18, KJV)

In other words, God has given His Son to humanity, and in so doing has given us life "in Him." Many persons refuse to pray or give up on life and the  future that God has already worked out in His Son simply through lack of knowledge.

Does the Bible say what it means? part 1

 ⁸ "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. ⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (New Living Translation) We closed our last lesson and saw that God's ways are not the same as man's. God modus operandi is unlike and altogether different from that of ours.

Since this is so, an enormous question confronts the honest seeker guided by the Spirit of God. How do I reconcile this thought with that of the many statements that seem to suggest that God personally and undoubtedly inflicts acts of physical, coercive and unbridled force to eliminate dissenters to His ways?

There are basic interpretative principles that the Word of God defines that enable us to identify Principles and Statements.

Principles are absolute declarations of truth, that is, they do not change. Statements, on the other hand, are brief declarations of truth that are based on principles. What does this mean? There are statements in the bible that suggest God destroys, kills and floods His creation into submission, but what is the underlying principle of these statements? Are these actions consistent with a God of love? In our sinful way of love definitely! We love when things are good, when they are bad we hate.

 

Remember that the Infinite God is not like finite man, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19, NIV) We learned too in our last lesson that God is changeless, infinitely righteous, self-existant (eternal), all knowing and all wise. If God is all wise and infintely righteous (always doing good) then would putting a creature to death be good? The bible says "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:16-17, NIV)

 

Therefore, Principles in the word of God must guide our understanding of the word rather than statements or popular tradition.

Who is like unto our God?

Satan has masterfully orchestrated the concept that God is in the business of self-pleasing and is a ruthless dictator. In our last lesson we saw that "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19, NIV) God's ways are different from our but how much different?

To answer this question let us first define the characteristics that must be possesed to be called God.

1. Omnipotence (be all powerful) "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns." (Revelation 19:6, NIV
2. Omniscient (all knowing) "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." (Psalm 147:5, NIV)
3. Must possess eternal (beginningless and endless) life "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2, NIV)  God applies Wisdim and Righteousness to Power by Love (Agape) to produce life. God sustains all the creation by His sustaining power and grace.
4. Changeless "I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." (Malachi 3:6, NIV)
5. Absolutely Righteous "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made." (Psalm 145:17, NIV)

God ways cannot be compared with mans in the slightest sense because God is infinitely above and beyond us. How then do we know God and How do we find out more about Him? In the bible itself can be found principles of interpretation, that is, the bible explains itself. One of the great reformers of the 1800's put it this way "if the Bible is a revelation from God, it must be consistent with itself; and that as it was given for man's instruction, it must be adapted to his understanding." The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan; Great Controversy. Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1888; 2002, S. 319

In our next lesson we will look at the principles of biblical interpretation.

The Traditional View of God part 2

We ended our last study with the question " who or what is our greatest enemy?" we will return to this question later but for now let us direct or attention to how God is popularly viewed. While many sincere christians admit that God is a God of love, truth and mercy there seems to be a dynamic inconsistency in relation to their view of God.

For example, most Christians attest to the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins, but on the other hand they claim that God would strike down all  opponents of His ways. Immediately we must ask the question. If God sent His son to redeem us or buy us back why would He now kill us if we don't obey? Why not not offer His Son if He knew that we would sin?

Furthermore, some well meaning individuals attribute to God acts of violent destruction that cause extensive loss of life. They claim that since God is all powerful He could have prevented these occurrances but chose not to. This false reasoning has made many individuals unbelivers and athesists. It has added ammunition on the side of unbelief for opponents of the Gospel.

This view and popular tradition has taught us that retaliation is the only normal response to agression. Some parents, peers and adults encourage this type of behaviour but what does the bible say? "for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:20, NIV) Anger and retaliation are opposite to God's ways. Additionally, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)


 God's ways are opposite to mans ways and his thoughts are infinitely beyond ours. Therefore, our finite minds cannot understand God apart from the aid of the Holy Spirit. We must resist the urge to attribute to God the ways of man and humbly seek Him through his word with the promise "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7, NIV)

Our greatest enemy then, is our own understanding of God that keeps us from a fuller and sweeter relationship with Him.

What are you doing more than others?

" "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:38-48, NIV)

The Traditional view of God part 1

Whether you believe it or not most of us have a very wrong concept of God. We were taught to view God as a stern judge who demands total obedience from His subjects or else. Think about it, we grew up hearing "you better obey God OR ELSE, you better be a good boy OR ELSE, "He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;" (Psalm 103:9, NIV). All these things we heard and feared as we grew up but did they paint an acccurate picture of God? God invites us to come and know Him and receive full salvation "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18, NIV) God's unconditional Agape Love drove Christ to the cross to die for our sins, our mistakes, our shortcomings, our betrayals, our gossiping, our guilt. Would His love also spur Him on to destroy that for which He payed so high a price? Who or what therfore kills or is the destroyer? Who our what is our greatest enemy? The World, Satan or Myself?