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Ee-23. Is the DOCTRINE of HELL BIBLICAL?
More specifically IS the DOCTRINE of ETERNAL TORTURE in the LAKE of FIRE
a
SOUND BIBLICAL TEACHING?
There is much controversy over this doctrine or teaching of the tormenting eternal fire of Hell. And due to the fact that this doctrine being so controversial, some church denominations teach eternal torment in hell as an essential DOGMATIC DOCTRINE. And thus, this mandatory must be believe doctrine of eternal torture in hell fire, according to some church denominations, has actually caused some Christians to leave their faith in Jesus Christ and become atheists. Yes, you heard me correctly; this doctrine of eternal torture without end for all eternity has caused some Christians to LEAVE the mainstream churches only to be snared by what some in the mainstream churches call many different “CULTS”.
And as well, this “DOCTRINE” of eternal torture in hell fire has caused some to never really be able to accept such a God as this, my own brother in law being one of them, until he came to see that this teaching is not Biblical. Now, while I say that this “DOCTRINE” of eternal torture in hell fire is NOT Biblical, I do NOT mean that there is no eternal damnation to avoid and eternal life to gain. This is actually part 2 of a two-part study on the subject about whether or not the teaching of ETERNAL TORMENT in flames of fire of hell is Biblical but you do not have to read them in order. But if you have not yet read part 1 of this study then I encourage you to read it as well. You can read any part of this two-part series of studies on the subject of hell separately or out of order but some Christians want to know the true meaning of Revelation 20:10 which seems to be saying that God will eternally torment the wicked in flames of fire for all eternity. So I titled part 1 of this study as “DOES REVELATION 20:10 TEACH ETERNAL TORMENT?”
Again, there is and has been much controversy over this doctrine or teaching of a tormenting eternal fire of Hell, where the wicked are tortured without mercy for all eternity. This controversy over eternal torture in hellfire has actually caused some Christians to leave their faith in Jesus Christ and become atheists. This doctrine of eternal torture without end for all eternity has caused some Christians to leave the mainstream church and thus be caught up is some of the many different “CULTS”. And as well, this “DOCTRINE” of eternal torture in flames of fire, for all eternity without mercy has KEPT many from ever coming to the Lord. So it is this part of the doctrine of hell that is what causes the CONTROVERSY between Christians. In other words, ALL Christians know and understand that there is a place called “HELL” but the controversy is about what HAPPENS IN hell.
Now, it may be true that some have been converted to Christianity because they were moved by FEAR of being cast into HELL to be tormented for all eternity. But when many of these converts, who are converted by FEAR, see even remotely that they have been taught things incorrectly by the church, then they begin to think that those they trusted have LIED to them and many leave the church anyway. So, one has to wonder if these “CONVERSIONS by FEAR” are as strong as Christians that are born of God through his LOVE?
Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. The fear of the Lord is an essential part of our faith. The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. There are many today teaching the LOVE of God, but forgetting that the word of truth also teaches us that God is a CONSUMING FIRE. My point is this, Jesus WARNED us that in the judgment, there would be WEEPING and GNASHING of teeth. So, therefore, there is most definitely an eternal damnation to avoid. The eternal fire is REAL and I assure you that is it NOT a place where you want to go. But I also want to teach and show you from God's word that this lake of eternal fire is not a place of eternal TORTURE for mankind as many of us have been taught. So then, both love and fear teach us the truth, but I myself am moved toward God by love more so than fear.
I can only speak from experience on this point of fear versus love. I can only say that it was hard for me to stay in church, when I learned that they had NOT taught me the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. I knew that I had come to love God because I saw in his word that God first loved me. So if it was hard for me to stay in church being born of God through his love, I can only imagine how hard it is for those, who were converted to Christianity by FEAR of eternal torture in HELL. There is a DIFFERENCE between being CONVERTED to Christianity than being BORN again of the word of God. One can be converted from one belief to another, as in, having head knowledge only. But being BORN of the word goes DEEPER into the inner man where one is rooted and grounded in the truth where there is an inner witness of the Holy Spirit giving to us a KNOWING that we are indeed believing the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God.
Now, I personally do not believe that anyone, who has been a spiritual leader over me has PURPOSELY lied to me or intentionally deceived me, but rather I believe that they sincerely believed that what they were teaching was the truth even though it was not always so. Again, this is WHY each and every one of us should be like the men of Berea and search the word daily to see if what we are being taught is the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And when we learn that we have been taught incorrectly, do not hold it against them, because they themselves have been deceived by the enemy. Never forget that we war NOT against our fellow man but our war is against Satan and his evil spirits.
So then, it is the purpose of this study in God's word to take a CLOSE look at all these verses that deal with the subject of Hell, eternal damnation and the eternal fire that was prepared for the fallen angels. Be warned that this is going to be a very long and in-depth study. So if you are looking for a fast food type lesson in which you can just skim over, then you have come to the wrong website. I try to cover all the verses on BOTH sides of the controversy on this website, which takes some time to cover. For you see, there are many verses and arguments from both sides, especially when verses have been taken OUT of context by others to teach that which only SEEMS to be God's word. For you see when verses that are used are not viewed in the light of the WHOLE word of Almighty God, then they may SEEM to say something that they are truly NOT saying when they are KEPT in their proper context and compared with other Scripture. And it is far easier to simply SAY that a certain verse MEANS this or that than it is to literally show and explain line upon line, precept upon precept, why a verse means what it does from the whole word of God.
SECTION #1.
Let us begin this study in God's word by taking a close look at all 54 verses found in the King James Version of the Bible that contain the word “HELL”. I will have an exhaustive list of these verses at the end of this study so that you can search them out for yourself if you would like because we will not actually look at each and every verse in this study. Many of the verses say the same thing, so really, there is not a need to quote every single verse. But I do quote them all at the end of this study for you to read for yourself, so that you will know that I left no stone unturned in this study. I carefully considered every verse and every argument that I have heard on both sides of this controversy.
Again, the English word “HELL” is found 54 times in the King James Version of the Bible, but in CONTRAST is found only 14 times in the New International Version. One has to ask why the vast difference in how many times the word “hell” is found in these different translations of the Bible. Most of you who are regular readers know that nearly all of my studies in God's word are done using the King James Version. So I will continue this study as well with the King James Version even though by some Bible scholars the King James Version is stated to be the most BIAS of all the other translations of the Bible when it comes to this subject of eternal torment in the flames of HELL.
First of all, there are four words that are used in the Bible that are translated into English as “HELL”, and they are as follows:
The one Hebrew word in the Old Testament is Strong's #7585 and is “OL”, which means grave, and by extension place of the dead. It means the deepest depths and is transliterated as Sheol. It is the pit, the bottomless pit. It is translated 31 times to the English word “HELL”.
Then there are three Greek words in the New Testament which are:
Strong's #1067 “GEENNA”, which means Gehenna, or hell, and refers to the valley of Hinnom. It is translated as “HELL” 12 times.
Strong's #86 “HADES”, which means Hades, the grave, the place of the dead, the underworld, and is translated 10 times as “HELL”.
Strong's #5020 “TARTAROO”, which means to send to hell, to hold captive in Tartarus. In Greek literature, Tartarus was as a place in the lowest part of the underworld that was used for torture. This Greek word Tartaroo is used ONE time and is translated as cast down to hell in 2 Peter 2:4.
Now, just from the definitions of these words that were TRANSLATED as hell, I myself find only ONE time with the word TORTURE in it, and even then it is from the Greek literature, which entailed much folklore that we find the tale of torture in the realm of the dead. So then, let us begin this study with this Greek word “TARTAROO” which is translated as cast down to hell referring to the fallen angels that are being RESERVED or held in this place until the DAY of JUDGMENT. Please read 2 Peter 2:4-9, which teaches us that this place called Tartartoo in the Greek is a place where the fallen angels are being HELD or RESERVED unto the Day of JUDGMENT.
2 Peter 2:4-9.
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to HELL (Or more specifically they were cast down to Tartartoo which is one of the lowest places of the underworld), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be RESERVED unto judgment;
5. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6. And TURNING the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ASHES condemned them with an overthrow, making them an EXAMPLE unto those that AFTER should live ungodly; (As you read the Scriptures I want you to think for yourself. The JUDGMENT of Sodom and Gomorrha was an EXAMPLE of HOW it will be for those who live ungodly lives. So then, does TURNING to ASHES sound like eternal torture in flames of fire?)
7. And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8. (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;
9. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and TO RESERVE the unjust UNTO the DAY of Judgment TO BE punished:”
So then, from the CONTEXT of this passage of Scripture, I myself do NOT see any signs or mention of an ETERNAL TORTURE in flames of fire in this place called in the Greek Tartartoo, which is translated as cast down to HELL.
But what I do see CLEARLY and PLAINLY stated is that both the fallen angels and the ungodly or wicked men are being HELD or RESERVED in this place that is translated as HELL, the place of the dead, unto the DAY of JUDGMENT at which time after they have been JUDGED, then they shall be PUNISHED.
Now, we are NOT specifically told what this PUNISHMENT will be on the Day of Judgment in this particular passage of Scripture. All we know for SURE is that the angels are cast DOWN and that they are being RESERVED UNTO the DAY of JUDGMENT. So we can conclude at least from this particular verse is that at this present time those in HELL are not in a state of eternal torture in flames of fire. But let us hold off before we draw any definite conclusions as yet and wait until we examine all the evidence from the Scriptures.
I want you to also notice that Sodom and Gomorrah was TURNED INTO ASHES as an EXAMPLE for those who afterwards should choose to walk in ungodliness. Please keep in mind that Sodom and Gomorrah was completely DESTROYED by FIRE and brimstone. And we are CLEARLY and PLAINLY told that they were an EXAMPLE as to what would happen to the wicked after them. Again, no sign or mention of eternal torture in flames of fire for all eternity, without any mercy or hope of relief, as many of us have been taught in the mainstream church. In other words, the EXAMPLE was DESTRUCTION by FIRE and NOT eternal torture in fire.
And one other point that I want you to see is that we are CLEARLY and PLAINLY told that the ungodly or wicked are being RESERVED TO BE PUNISHED. And to me this shows me that they are NOT being PUNISHED at this point in time no matter where they are. But rather they are being held or RESERVED unto the resurrection of the unrighteous to first be judged and then they will be punished. I point this out because many have been taught that immediately upon death the wicked are cast into the flame of hell to be tortured for all eternity. However, thus far I myself do not find any evidence of this teaching in Scripture, but again, let us not draw any set in stone conclusions until all the evidence is closely examined.
Now let us take a look at this Greek word “HADES” that is translated 10 times as “HELL” while only ONE time the translators of the King James Version chose to translate it as the grave.
The ONE time this Greek word “HADES” is translated as GRAVE in the King James Version is found in 1 Corinthians 15:55.
1 Corinthians 15:55.
“O death, where is your sting? O grave (Or O Hades, or O Hell), where is your victory?”
Of course, this passage of Scripture is speaking of the resurrection of the RIGHTEOUS, so even if this verse where translated as “HELL” as opposed to the GRAVE this would not change the outcome because neither DEATH, HELL, nor the GRAVE has any victory over the RIGHTEOUS who we are taught that even the SECOND DEATH has NO POWER in Revelation 20:6. The second death is the final judgment where all the wicked along with the fallen angels are cast into the lake of fire to be destroyed. We will come back to this passage of Scripture to study it more closely a little further on in this study to clear up some misconceptions. But for now, I want you to see that once the righteous receive their reward of eternal life in the world to come, then the second death has no power over them.
Please read Revelation 20:6.
“Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the SECOND DEATH has NO POWER, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
And, according to Revelation 20:14,15, the SECOND DEATH is the Day of Judgment for the wicked only to be cast into the LAKE OF FIRE.
Revelation 20:14,15.
“And death and HELL were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Or death and the GRAVE will be DESTROYED in the lake of fire)
15. And whosoever was NOT found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Now, it stands to reason, that since the Bible teaches us that DEATH will be DESTROYED, and both death AND hell are cast into the lake of fire, then the wicked will be DESTROYED in the lake of fire as opposed to be given eternal life in order to be eternally tortured for all eternity. So to me, everything and every one that will be cast into the lake of fire will be DESTROYED as opposed to being eternally tortured.
Let us now look at the words of Jesus and how he used this Greek word “HADES”. Please read Matthew 11:23 in its context where Jesus is upbraiding the cities that he did many mighty works of healing and yet after seeing all these mighty works which he did before their eyes, still they would not believe and repent of their sins. You can also read Luke 10:15 on your own if you like, which covers the same account as Matthew 11:23.
Here is Matthew 11:20-24.
“Then began he (Jesus) to upbraid (Or to scold with warning) the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21. Woe unto you, Chorazin! woe unto you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon AT the DAY of JUDGMENT, than for you.
23. And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought DOWN to HELL (Or down to HADES in the Greek and down to the GRAVE in English): for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom IN the DAY of JUDGMENT, than for you.”
Again, we see the same language as before. AT or IN that DAY of JUDGMENT there shall be some kind of PUNISHMENT. But BETWEEN the actual time a person dies and the Day of Judgment there is a place for the dead that is translated as Hell which also means the GRAVE. In other words, WHILE these wicked unrepentant dead are being HELD, KEPT, or RESERVED in this place that is translated as HELL unto that DAY of JUDGMENT there is NO LITERAL FIRE. However, there is the KNOWING within themselves that they will be cast into the lake of fire ON the Day of Judgment to BE PUNISHED by being cast alive into the lake of fire. I personally do NOT see any hint of the wicked being TORTURED in the holding place called HELL while they are awaiting the DAY of JUDGMENT.
So once again we find no evidence or even hint of ETERNAL TORTURE in this holding place for the wicked dead that is translated as “HELL”. And I do not know about you, but this makes me very cautious to just openly accept some of those who have after death experiences of going to hell and then coming back to tell of this place of eternal torture in flames of fire. I do not doubt that their experience is real or not, but I do doubt whether or not it is from God because I do not see Almighty God CONTRADICTING his own written word. In other words, what they experience was a VISION of what WILL happen to them ON the final DAY of JUDGMENT if so be that they do not repent. Let us continue to look at how Jesus used this Greek word “HADES”.
Please read Matthew 16:18.
“And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my CHURCH; and the gates of HELL (Hades, or the Grave) shall NOT prevail against IT.”
Now some Christians who teach Universalism, which teaches that everyone will eventually be saved, also CLAIM that the gates of HELL shall not PREVAIL against any of mankind. But the CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE text states that the gates of hell shall not prevail AGAINST the CHURCH. And this means that neither Hell, Death, nor the Grave will PREVAIL or have VICTORY over the RIGHTEOUS in Jesus Christ. The gates of hell shall not prevail against IT, which is clearly referring to the CHURCH and not all of mankind.
My main point is that again, we see no clear language in this passage of Scripture that even remotely hints of ETERNAL torture in this place that is translated as “HELL”, which can also be translated as the grave. What I am doing here in section #1 is to show you each and every verse that has the English word “Hell” in it. And one by one I am eliminating each of those verses that have NO mention of SUFFERING in FIRE in those passages of Scripture. Then in section #2 we will cover the verses that clearly teach us that the wicked will be DESTROYED. But for now, let us continue with section #1 where I also show that the wicked will be destroyed as opposed to being tormented in fire for all eternity.
Then in Luke 12:4,5 we read where Jesus himself gives us a WARNING to FEAR Almighty God who has power to cast the wicked into HELL.
Luke 12:4,5.
“And I say unto you my friends, Be NOT afraid of them that KILL the BODY, and after that have NO more that they can do.
5. But I will FOREWARN YOU whom you shall FEAR: FEAR Him, which after he has KILLED has power to cast into HELL; yea, I say unto you, FEAR him.”
So then, CLEARLY from this passage of Scripture, HELL is most certainly a place that we are WARNED to FEAR. But yet even in this passage of Scripture where Jesus himself FOREWARNS us to FEAR being cast into HELL we find absolutely no clear evidence that HELL is a place of ETERNAL TORMENT and TORTURE in flames of FIRE as many of us have been dogmatically taught by the mainstream church.
Thus far, we have learned that HELL is a place for the dead where the ungodly and the wicked are being HELD in this place while they are awaiting TO BE punished on the DAY of JUDGEMENT. I mean, think about a court of law administering PUNISHMENT to those who have NOT even had a DAY of JUDGMENT as yet. Hell or HADES is the HOLDING place for the dead. And more specifically, Hell is a holding place for the WICKED that have died in their sins where they are held or reserved unto the Day of Judgment. In other words, the righteous dead IN Jesus do NOT go to Hell which is the holding place for ONLY the wicked who have died. You have to understand the DIFFERENCE between the holding PLACE in the singular during the Old Testament times and the holding PLACES in the plural after the cross.
In Acts 2:27, we see a prophecy being quoted from the Old Testament where David is speaking but he is speaking as a type or shadow of the coming Messiah. In other words, it is a prophecy of Jesus, who who fulfilled the prophecy by DESCENDING into the BELLY of the EARTH for three days and three nights. And this place in this passage of Scripture is translated as “HELL”.
Acts 2:27.
“Because you (O God) will NOT LEAVE my soul in hell, neither will you (O God) suffer your Holy One to see corruption.”
So then, in this passage of Scripture we see that Jesus himself went to HELL, but neither his SOUL nor his body was LEFT in HELL or Hades or the grave. During the Old Testament times the body went to the GRAVE and the SOUL went into the lower parts of the earth. For you see, the Bible teaches us in other places that Jesus DESCENDED into the BELLY of the EARTH for three days and three nights. And while Jesus was in this place called the nether world or the holding place of the dead Jesus PREACHED to the dead spirits in PRISON. And then Jesus ASCENDED out of Hell leading captivity captive.
Please read Ephesians 4:8-10 where we read about Jesus DESCENDING into the LOWER PARTS of the earth before he ASCENDED out of this pit being brought back to life and given a new glorified body that will never perish. And when he arose from the GRAVE there were many that rose from the grave WITH him.
Ephesians 4:8-10.
“Wherefore he said, When he (Speaking of Jesus) ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also DESCENDED FIRST into the LOWER PARTS of the earth?
10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
Now, the LOWER PARTS of the earth here means more than being buried in a grave 6 feet under the earth. This LOWER PARTS of the earth is speaking of HADES, the UNDERWORLD. It was the place where ALL the DEAD were held or KEPT during the Old Testament times until the Day of JUDGMENT. In other words, BEFORE the resurrection of Jesus the dead of BOTH the righteous AND the wicked were kept in the lower parts of the earth. What I mean by this is that when Jesus was raised from the dead he BROUGHT OUT from HELL or HADES the saints of the Old Testament WITH him and took them to Heaven to be under the altar to await their new glorified eternal bodies. Please read Matthew 27:50-53, where we are clearly and plainly told about many of the SAINTS which had been dead, speaking of the Old Testament SAINTS that arose with Jesus from the grave when God raised Jesus from the dead.
Matthew 27:50-53.
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52. And the GRAVES were opened; and MANY BODIES of the SAINTS which slept AROSE,
53. And CAME OUT of the GRAVES after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and APPEARED unto many.”
But again, we still see no language of ETERNAL TORMENT or TORTURE in flames of FIRE in this place called hell or the grave in any of the Scriptures we have looked at thus far. Yes, I am fully aware of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus which we will cover further on in this study. Clearly, Jesus visited this place that is translated as HELL for three days and three nights. And while Jesus was in the heart of the earth we are taught that he PREACHED the gospel to the Old Testament saints who were NOT SAVED by the law. But rather, the righteous in the Old Testament were KEPT by the law until the day of Jesus Christ, which is quite obviously that they died before that day came. And since there is only one name given among men whereby we must be saved then they needed to also hear the preaching of the gospel.
Please read 2 Peter 3:19, which says.
“By which also he (Jesus) went and PREACHED unto the SPIRITS in prison;”
Now some take this to mean that since Jesus PREACHED the gospel to these SPIRITS in prison from the Old Testament, then this means EVERYONE who has ever died or ever will die will have the opportunity to hear the preaching of the gospel after they die and they are in the GRAVE. But the TRUTH of the matter is that this was a ONE TIME deal for those who died under the Old Testament law, who again were KEPT by the law unto this time, because Scripture cannot be broken and the word of God states that NO flesh shall be SAVED by the LAW.
Therefore, the only way for these RIGHTEOUS men of the Old Testament to be SAVED by the blood of Jesus was for them to hear the PREACHING of the gospel for you see God chose that by the foolishness of preaching to save them which believe. Also, keep in mind that it was ONLY the RIGHTEOUS who were KEPT by the law in order to hear the preaching of the gospel after they had died and NOT all of mankind since Adam to Jesus Christ as some incorrectly teach. In other words, those that teach universalism, which teaches that ALL of mankind will eventually be saved and none will be lost, use this passage of Scripture to try and prove that after death there are still people being saved by the preaching of the gospel to them in hell. But the Scriptures teach us that Jesus only preached the gospel to the SPIRITS of those who were in hell at the TIME that Jesus descended into hell for three days and three nights. So to ME, it would be a gross twisting of the Scriptures to try and ADD to this passage of Scripture and demand that it means ALL of mankind for ALL time so therefore ALL will be saved in the end.
Please read 1 Peter 4:6.
“For for this cause was the gospel preached ALSO to them that are DEAD, that (Or so that) THEY (The DEAD spirits being held in the belly of the earth) might be judged according to men in the FLESH, (Meaning that in the same way we who are living in this age of grace are judged so shall these dead spirits of the Old Testament be ALSO judge and for this very reason was the GOSPEL PREACHED ALSO to these DEAD spirits in the belly of the earth) but live according to God in the spirit.”
But they shall be made ALIVE in the spirit. Now when these saints from the Old Testament rose from the dead with Jesus I believe they ascended to heaven with Jesus and are now presently under the throne as describe in Revelation chapter 6 awaiting the FIRST resurrection where ALL the dead IN Christ Jesus shall be given ETERNAL LIFE.
Please read Hebrews 11:39,40.
“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received NOT the promise; (As in, they have not actually received the promise of eternal life as yet)
40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they WITHOUT us should not be made perfect.”
In other words, when Jesus comes again he is going to bring all the dead saints in Christ WITH him and then we which have remained alive at his coming, who are the faithful in Christ, will all be changed or receive eternal life TOGETHER. Again, it is ONLY the righteous who receive eternal life. The wicked remain in the grave until the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus, which is when the second and final resurrection will take place. In this second resurrection all those who died during the 1000 year reign, both the righteous and the unrighteous, along with all the wicked who have remained in the grave since Adam will be resurrected and judged according to their works. Then all the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death and all those who lived righteously during the 1000 year reign will join the righteous who took part in the first resurrection at the second coming of Jesus. You see my bear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, it is ONLY those who are faithful unto the end who receive eternal life in the world to come.
DO NOT BE DECEIVED by this false doctrine of UNIVERSALISM, which falsely teaches that ALL of mankind will be saved in the end! The Bible clearly teaches us that the wicked shall be DESTROYED and that we are to FEAR him that has power to DESTROY both the body and the soul.
Then in Revelation 1:18 we read about Jesus having the keys of HELL and death.
“I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of HELL and of death.”
The keys that Jesus possesses represent his authority and power OVER both HELL and DEATH. We see this further in Revelation 20:13,14 where both DEATH and HELL are cast into the LAKE of FIRE, which is called the SECOND DEATH.
Revelation 20:13,14.
“And the sea GAVE UP the DEAD which were in it; and DEATH and HELL delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were JUDGED every man according to their works.
And DEATH and HELL were cast INTO the lake of fire. This is the SECOND DEATH.”
Now we know from 1 Corinthians 15 that after the 1000 years of the reign of Jesus that the LAST ENEMY DEATH shall be DESTROYED. So then here in revelation 20, which is after the 1000 years are finished, we see that BOTH DEATH and HELL are cast INTO the LAKE of FIRE which IS the SECOND DEATH. So then, since DEATH is DESTROYED at this time by being cast into the LAKE of FIRE, which IS the SECOND DEATH, then why would HELL not ALSO be DESTROYED in this LAKE OF FIRE which IS the SECOND DEATH?
Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that all the DEAD that are in HELL, Hades or the grave which are being HELD, KEPT or RESERVED UNTO the DAY of JUDGEMENT are resurrected at this time to face the Day of JUDGMENT where they are JUDGED according to their works. And then ALL the WICKED are cast into the LAKE of FIRE which IS the SECOND DEATH.
Now since DEATH is DESTROYED in this LAKE of FIRE that is the SECOND DEATH, then why would the WICKED not be DESTROYED as well seeing also that Jesus warned us to FEAR him that has power to DESTROY both the body and the soul?
You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, the overwhelming evidence points to eternal or everlasting DESTRUCTION as oppose to everlasting TORMENT and TORTURE without end for all eternity. Also please notice that HELL itself is cast into this lake of fire so to me, this clearly shows us that HELL itself is NOT an eternal place of torment, because HELL is DESTROYED in the lake of fire. It is the FIRE that is called eternal and once this fire DESTROYS what is cast into it, then that DESTRUCTION becomes ETERNAL in that once destroyed it will never again be brought back from DESTRUCTION.
Then in Revelation 6:8 we see death sitting on a pale horse and HELL followed this rider of the fourth horse.
Revelation 6:8.
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”
Now we know that a literal pit in the earth did not follow this rider named death, but rather it is the WICKEDNESS and ungodliness that HELL represents that followed with death. In other words, wickedness shall grow worse and worse as the day of our Lord approaches and the wages of sin is DEATH. There is no doubt that there is torment with sin, but we still do not see an ETERNAL place of TORTURE in flames of fire even in this passage of Scripture. Torment yes, but NOT an ETERNAL torment and torture for all eternity in the flames of HELL as many of us have been taught in Catholicism as well as in other mainstream denominations of the church.
We will now look at the last place that this Greek word “HADES” is found, which is where the church as a whole has gotten the idea of eternal flames of torment. Please read Luke 16:23 which is where Jesus is teaching the Jews a PARABLE.
Luke 16:23.
“And in HELL he lift up his eyes, being in TORMENTS, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
Here is the ONE single verse in the entire Bible where the Greek word “HADES” is translated as HELL where we can clearly and plainly see this rich man being in TORMENTS. But please keep in mind that Jesus is speaking to the Jews in a “PARABLE”. So then, is each and every word of Jesus here in this passage of Scripture, where Jesus is speaking to the Jews in a “PARABLE” to be taken LITERALLY? Let us read this verse in its CONTEXT to see what we can learn about taking each and every word of a PARABLE literally.
Luke 16:19-31.
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22. 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;
23. And in HELL (This HOLDING PLACE for the DEAD where they are RESERVED UNTO the DAY of JUDGMENT) he (The RICH man) lift up his eyes, being in TORMENTS, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24. 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.
25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are TORMENTED.
26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27. Then he said, I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house:
28. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of TORMENT.
29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
The first point that I want to make is that ANY verse or passage of Scripture must be interpreted in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. There may be many interpretations that can be concluded from any verse in the Bible, but the only way to know if it is a correct and accurate interpretation is to compare the interpretation that is concluded with the rest of God's word.
Now the fact that we saw no where else where this Greek word “HADES” was translated as HELL any mention or hint of an ETERNAL FIERY TORMENT does not PROVE beyond any shadow of a doubt that there are NO flames in the pit of HELL. BUT at the same time there is absolutely NO ADDITIONAL support either. Remember that out of the mouth of TWO or MORE witnesses shall every word be established. So far we have just ONE and this ONE instance is a PARABLE, which is a story that is used to teach a lesson and is not meant to be taken literally.
In other words, the ENTIRETY of all the evidence for flames of TORMENT in HELL rests solely on this ONE passage of Scripture, which again is a “PARABLE” of Jesus.
Now in respect to the INTERPRETATION of all OTHER parables of Jesus we would not even THINK to INTERPRET them LITERALLY. No one is denying that this place of the dead does not exist. I myself believe that the wicked dead and the righteous dead do not go to the SAME place. All dead bodies go to the earth, they decay and become dirt, but the spirit and soul remain until the Day of Judgment. Those who sleep in Jesus Christ will take part in the FIRST resurrection at the SECOND coming of Jesus. In a matter of speaking, a person is JUDGED at the point of death and the WICKED go DOWN into the heart of the earth, this place called HELL in English, but the RIGHTEOUS go UP to rest under the throne of Almighty God until the rest of the righteous come to full and NO not ONE will seek after God.
Please read the study called “THE FALSE DOCTRINE of ORIGINAL SIN” for a deeper understanding of Romans 3:10-19, but for now, let us see what would happen IF we INTERPRET everything in this PARABLE of Jesus LITERALLY.
I mean think about it, IF you are going to INTERPRET ONE verse or one part in this PARABLE LITERALLY, then you must be CONSISTENT and INTERPRET the WHOLE PARABLE LITERALLY. You cannot cherry pick what parts you want to interpret literally to FIT your doctrine, and then say that the REST of this PARABLE is NOT to be interpreted LITERALLY. With that being said let us see what the REST of this PARABLE would mean IF we took the WHOLE PARABLE LITERALLY.
In verses 23 and 24 we read where the RICH man died and went to HELL and was TORMENTED in the FLAMES.
“23. And in HELL (This HOLDING PLACE for the DEAD where they are RESERVED UNTO the DAY of JUDGMENT) he (The RICH man) lift up his eyes, being in TORMENTS, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24. 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.”
So then, IF we are to INTERPRET this part of this PARABLE LITERALLY, as some incorrectly have done, to teach the false doctrine of eternal torture in the flames of HELL, then we must say that ALL RICH people will go to HELL and ALL POOR people will go to heaven. In other words, the BASIS for SALVATION is not our faith in Jesus Christ, but rather on whether of not you are RICH or POOR, that is to say, IF SO BE you INTERPRET this PARABLE LITERALLY.
Well of course we know that this would CONTRADICT other places in the Bible. So then, to take this PARABLE LITERALLY in this way would be to INCORRECTLY interpret the word of TRUTH.
Next we see in verses 24 through 26 that IF we take this parable LITERALLY that while all the POOR people are in HEAVEN they can SEE and HEAR all the RICH people in HELL being TORMENTED and TORTURED for ALL ETERNITY and NOT allowed to reach out and COMFORT them in any way, not even with ONE DROP of water to moisten their parched tongue.
“24. 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.
25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are TORMENTED.
26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a GREAT GULF FIXED: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that IF we INTERPRET this PARABLE LITERALLY, then our ETERNAL state IN HEAVEN would be to FOREVER look upon the people, who are in HELL being TORMENTED and TORTURED for ALL ETERNITY.
Now this is NOT an accurate picture of our ETERNAL LIFE with Almighty God. So then, obviously to me, to INTERPRET this PARABLE LITERALLY would be in ERROR because it would CONTRADICT the rest of God's word of TRUTH. Also, did you notice that Abraham called the rich man his SON? To me, that leads me to believe that the parable of the rich man is about the Scribes and the Pharisees being DISOBEDIENT children of Abraham because they did not take care of the children of God.
Next, in this same portion of this PARABLE, we see that just dipping a finger in water would be enough water to comfort a person being TORMENTED in FLAMES of FIRE. Really? LITERALLY, ONE DROP of water will bring COMFORT to those souls being TORMENTED in flames of fire for all eternity? No my dear brothers and sisters, we are NOT to interpret this PARABLE LITERALLY for just a mere dip of a finger in the water will quench anyone's thirst let alone the thirst of one being tormented in flame of fire for all eternity.
However, on the other hand if we interpret this PARABLE the way it was meant to be interpreted by comparing this parable with the other parable Jesus told us in this same context we can plainly see where the RICH man represents the Scribes and the Pharisees, who have the RICHES of God's word, but who do NOT share those RICHES in Spirit and TRUTH. The poor man Lazarus represents those who are seeking the TRUTH and yet the Scribes and Pharisees do not teach the truth by living EXAMPLES. Therefore the kingdom of God is hidden from Israel for a time while God turns to the Gentiles who were not a people at that time in order to provoke Israel to jealousy and turn to God in Spirit and in TRUTH.
Now IF Israel and other individual people do NOT believe in Jesus as their Messiah and they DIE, then they will go to HELL or this HOLDING place of the WICKED dead until the day of JUDGMENT.
The word that is TRANSLATED as “TORMENTED” in this PARABLE in Luke 16:24,25 is Strong's #3600 and is the Greek word “ODYNAO”, which means to GRIEVE, to be ANXIOUS, to be in agony. And it is translated as two times as TORMENTED both here in this PARABLE of the rich man and Lazarus, and two times as SORROWING.
ALL the forms of this word carry the meaning of MENTAL anguish of deep sorrowing and mourning. No where do I find any type of actual PHYSICAL torment or suffering being associated with this word that has been translated as TORMENTED.
Remember when we read in Jude that these ungodly are being RESERVED UNTO the DAY of JUDGMENT, which tells me that these ungodly souls may KNOW MENTALLY that they are one day to BE PUNISHED on the DAY of JUDGMENT by being cast into the LAKE of FIRE, which is the SECOND DEATH to be DESTROYED like DEATH will be DESTROYED at the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus, but they are not actually in flames of fire before that Day of Judgment at the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. In other words, they are only SORROWING in their minds about the coming Day of Judgment where they know they have NOT repented of their sins and also know that the punishment for their sins is DEATH in the lake of fire.
So again I myself conclude that the TORMENT that they are experiencing in HELL is a MENTAL anguish that haunts them of their IMPENDING day of JUDGMENT. But again NO WHERE do I find that even this MENTAL torment or mental SORROWING is ETERNAL, in that, these souls will be kept ALIVE and never allowed to DIE. Again I find NO WHERE that the wicked will be TORTURED in flames of fire for ALL ETERNITY. To ME, this INTERPRETATION of MAN completely CONTRADICTS the very nature of a loving and merciful God who WARNS that he is a CONSUMING FIRE and NOT a TORMENTOR in flames of fire for ALL ETERNITY as some falsely teach.
The phrase “CONSUMING fire” is found three times in the Bible. We find it in Hebrew 12:29, Deuteronomy 4:24 and Deuteronomy 9:3. I want you to read the entire CONTEXT of Hebrews 12:29 by reading ALL of chapter 12 in the book of Hebrews because it PARALLELS this parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
Hebrews 12:1-29.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the SIN which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,(The moral of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is to ESCAPE the JUDGMENT of the WICKED and RECEIVE the REWARD of the RIGHTEOUS, which is ETERNAL LIFE. And a deeper meaning is to NOT be like the Scribes and the Pharisees who THINK that they are eternally saved.)
2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
4. You have NOT yet resisted unto BLOOD, striving against SIN.
5. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
6. For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
7. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
8. But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.
9. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10. For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16. Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he SOUGHT it carefully with TEARS (And there shall be WEEPING and GNASHING of teeth).
18. For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19. And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20. (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22. But you are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25. See that you refuse NOT him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, IF we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet ONCE more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27. And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Only the RIGHTEOUS will REMAIN and all the wicked will be DESTROYED in the CONSUMING FIRE of Gods JUDGMENT)
28. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God ACCEPTABLY with reverence and godly fear: (And NOT as the Scribe and Pharisees served God with LIP service and NOT in Spirit and in TRUTH)
29. For our God is a CONSUMING fire.”
Jesus said UNLESS our righteousness EXCEEDS the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees we shall NOT enter into the kingdom of God.
My point is this, the MORAL or meaning of the teaching of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is to ESCAPE the JUDGMENT of the WICKED, which is DESTRUCTION in the lake of fire and rather RECEIVE the REWARD of the RIGHTEOUS, which is ETERNAL LIFE.
CLEARLY and PLAINLY our God is seen as a CONSUMING FIRE that DESTROYS the wicked once and for all time and eternity and God PRESERVES and rewards the RIGHTEOUS with ETERNAL LIFE.
Now some may say that this rich man was being TORMENTED in FLAMES of FIRE, but the word of God does NOT include the word FIRE here in verse 24, which simple says,
“... for I am TORMENTED in this FLAME.”
The Greek word that is translated as “FLAME” is Strong's #5395 and is the Greek word “PHLOX”, which means flame or blaze. This word is used 7 times in the Bible and in the other SIX of the seven times it is accompanied by the Greek word “PYR”, which means FIRE. So in every use of this word “PHLOX” it is used along WITH the word for FIRE, EXCEPT here in this PARABLE of the rich man and Lazarus. Could this be because there is NO LITERAL fire in HELL, but ONLY the TORMENT of the COMING DAY of JUDGMENT? If the writer wanted us to know without a doubt that there are literal flames of FIRE in the grave, then he would have been sure to include the Greek word “PYR”, which means FIRE, but he did NOT. The Greek word that is translated as the word THIS carries the meaning of TOWARD the flame. And the Greek word translated as the word IN carries the meaning of DIRECTION. So to me, the rich man is consciously aware of his Day of Judgment in the lake of fire that he is headed towards in the future. And his TONGUE or his language is hot against God in my own opinion and he knows it is not God's fault that he has chosen his own destiny.
It makes no sense to me, to INTERPRET this ONE verse in this PARABLE as a LITERAL FIRE in HELL, the grave, this HOLDING place for the wicked dead UNTO the DAY of JUDGMENT to BE PUNISHED, and yet at the same time do NOT interpret the rest of this PARABLE in a LITERAL sense.
As we examine the rest of the evidence of God's word you will see the abundant weight of evidence teaches us that the wicked will be DESTROYED as opposed to being ETERNALLY TORTURED in flames of fire for all eternity in the lake of fire, which IS the SECOND DEATH.
Let us now take a look at the third Greek word that is TRANSLATED as HELL in the King James Version of the Bible. We already looked at the Greek word “TARTARTOO”, which is the underworld or place of the dead, and the Greek word “HADES”, which is the grave or again the underworld, the place of the dead, the pit and the lowest parts of the earth.
Now let us take a look at Strong's #1067 “GEENNA”, which means Gehenna, hell, and refers to the valley of Hinnom. It is translated as “HELL” 12 times in the King James Version of the Bible.
The following are the references of this Greek word that means GEHENNA or the VALLEY of HINNOM.
Matthew 5:22,29,30; 18:9; 23:15,33 / Mark 9:43,45,47 / Luke 12:5 and James 3:6.
Here is Matthew 5:17-30. Keep in mind that the SUBJECT of this whole passage of Scripture is to ESCAPE the JUDGMENT of HELL by DOING the COMMANDMENTS of Almighty God and TEACHING others to do the SAME. In other words, do not be like the Scribe and Pharisees that teach righteousness, but do NOT WALK in RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Hell is definitely a REAL and sure JUDGMENT of Almighty God that Jesus WARNS us to FEAR. Of this TRUTH there is no doubt, but the purpose of this study is to CLOSELY examine ALL the evidence of the word of TRUTH to see if we what we have been TAUGHT by this “DOCTRINE” of eternal hell fire is the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. In other words, the purpose of this study is NOT to make light of the clear teaching and warning of eternal damnation, but rather to make it perfectly clear from the whole word of God that HELL is NOT a place of eternal TORTURE as many of us have been taught.
Matthew 5:17-30.
“Think NOT that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am NOT come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled .
19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least COMMANDMENTS, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall DO AND TEACH them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21. You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the JUDGMENT:
22. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the JUDGMENT: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the COUNCIL: but whosoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of HELL FIRE.
23. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you;
24. Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
26. Verily I say unto you, You shall by no means come out thence, till you have paid the uttermost farthing.
27. You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery:
28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29. And if your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into HELL.
30. And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into HELL.”
Now in verse 22, we see the phrase “HELL FIRE”, which remember is translated from the Greek word that means GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM. This is IMPORTANT to understand that this is a DIFFERENT Greek word and that it means the VALLEY of HINNOM. You will clearly see the importance of this truth as you continue in this study of God's word. For you see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, this VALLEY of HINNOM is the place where the great battle of God Almighty will be fought and is where the WRATH of Almighty God will be poured out upon the WICKED and the UNGODLY in a FLAMING FIRE. So then, a more precise and accurate translation of verse 22 would be as follows.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the JUDGMENT: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the COUNCIL: but whosoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of GEHENNA or the CONSUMING FIRE of God's WRATH at the VALLEY of HINNOM.”
Please read 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 where we see the second coming of Jesus coming to execute the WRATH of Almighty God in a FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on those who do not OBEY the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9.
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you (Or persecute you);
7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on them that know NOT God, AND that OBEY NOT the GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be PUNISHED WITH everlasting DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
Here in this passage of Scripture we see that the wicked and DISOBEDIENT to the GOSPEL will be PUNISHED WITH... WITH WHAT? The CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE word of TRUTH teaches us that the wicked will be punished WITH an EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION whereby they shall be DESTROYED in a FLAMING FIRE in the WRATH of Almighty God. This passage of Scripture is not talking about eternal TORTURE in HELL FIRE, but rather is speaking of everlasting DESTRUCTION in the CONSUMING FLAMING FIRE of God's WRATH.
Here is the next place we see this word GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM. Please read Matthew 10:28 where we see that we are to FEAR Almighty God rather than man who can ONLY kill or destroy our physical body of flesh but cannot destroy our SOUL.
Matthew 10:28.
“And fear not them which KILL the body, but are NOT able to kill the SOUL: but rather FEAR him which is able to DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL.”
Again, we see the CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE teaching of the Scriptures undeniably teaches us that the wicked will be DESTROYED in GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM in the WRATH of Almighty God as oppose to being TORTURED for ALL ETERNITY in the presence of the saints, who can both SEE and HEAR their TORMENTS for ALL ETERNITY according to the teaching of the mainstream church as a whole who hold to the man made “DOCTRINE” of the IMMORTAL SOUL and ETERNAL HELL FIRE.
The next place we see this word that means GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM is found in Mark 9:38-50.
Mark 9:38-50.
“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your NAME, and he follows not US: and we forbade him, because he follows not US. (To me there is more than those who CLAIM that they are the ONLY TRUE church and if you are NOT part of THEIR denomination and follow THEIR DOCTRINE, and then you are NOT SAVED nor can be saved)
39. BUT Jesus SAID, Forbid him NOT: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my NAME, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40. For he that is not against us is on our part.
41. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my NAME, because you belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall NOT lose his reward.
42. And whosoever shall OFFEND one of these little ones that BELIEVE in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43. And if your hand offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into HELL (Or into GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM), into the FIRE that never shall be quenched:
44. Where their worm dies not, and the FIRE is not quenched.
45. And if your foot offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into HELL (GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM), into the FIRE that never shall be quenched:
46. Where their worm dies not, and the FIRE is not quenched.
47. And if your eye offend you, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into HELL FIRE (Or the FIRE of GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM where Jesus will come in a FLAMING FIRE to execute the WRATH of Almighty God):
48. Where their worm dies not, and the FIRE is not quenched.
49. For every one shall be salted with FIRE, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltiness, wherewith will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have PEACE one with another.”
The Bible teaches us that John baptized with water, but Jesus shall baptize or submerge WITH FIRE. Please read Matthew 3:7-12, which teaches us of the SECOND coming of Jesus when he shall GATHER the wheat, the RIGHTEOUS into his kingdom, but the CHAFF, the WICKED Jesus will BURN UP with an UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.
Matthew 3:7-12.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who has WARNED you to flee from the WRATH to come?
8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9. And think NOT to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings NOT forth good fruit is hewed down, and cast into the FIRE.
11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with FIRE (The Bible teaches us in 1 Peter 4:12 to not think it strange as to the FIERY TRIAL which IS to TRY you, which I believe is speaking of the end of the age, when Jesus returns in a FLAMING FIRE, at which time the heavens and the earth shall be on FIRE and men will think NOT that Jesus will come again to rescue them):
12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and GATHER his wheat (The RIGHTEOUS) into the garner; but he will BURN UP the chaff with UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.”
Please read 2 Peter 3:3-12.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4. And saying, WHERE is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto FIRE against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8. But, beloved, be NOT IGNORANT of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should PERISH, but that all should come to repentance.
10. But the DAY of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which (Or AT WHICH TIME) the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall MELT with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be BURNED UP.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be DISSOLVED, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the DAY of God, wherein the heavens being on FIRE shall be dissolved, and the elements shall MELT with fervent heat?”
The FIERY JUDGMENT is the WRATH of God, which battle shall be fought in the VALLEY of HINNOM.
The Bible teaches us that God shall bring ONE THIRD THROUGH the FIRE. Please read Zechariah 13:6-9.
Zechariah 13:6-9.
“And one shall say unto him, What are these WOUNDS in your hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the HOUSE of my FRIENDS.
7. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the LITTLE ONES (Take heed that you offend NOT one of these LITTLE ONES).
8. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
9. And I will bring the THIRD part THROUGH the FIRE, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will TRY them as gold is tried (Think it not strange the FIERY TRIAL that is to TRY you): they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”
Then we read in Isaiah 43:2 that this FIRE shall not kindle upon us, much like the three faithful Hebrew men in the fiery furnace.
Isaiah 43:2.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk THROUGH the FIRE, you shall NOT be burned; neither shall the FLAME kindle upon you.”
So then, the baptism of FIRE may very well be one of us who have remained alive unto the coming of our Lord and we may endure one final TRIAL of our faith, which is being salted with FIRE. Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 18:7,8 when he said, Shall I find FAITH on the earth when he comes? Remember that there will be those that question the promise of his coming. Jesus said for in such a day as you THINK NOT the Son of man COMES. What better trial of our faith than to THINK that Jesus is NOT coming, because we are submersed in FLAMES of FIRE? Remember that the word of God says that one third will be brought THROUGH the fire, but the fire will NOT hurt us. In other words, I believe we will SEE the WRATH of God being poured out upon the wicked just moments before we are caught up to be with Jesus in the air. For a deeper understanding on this subject please read “THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS”, but for now let us continue with this study on HELL FIRE.
Luke 18:7,8.
“And shall not God AVENGE his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8. I tell you that he will AVENGE them speedily. Nevertheless WHEN the Son of man COMES, shall he FIND FAITH on the earth?”
Again what could possibly cause Jesus to QUESTION that ALL the FAITHFUL saints could possibly lose their HOPE in his coming and THINK NOT that he is coming? Think about this for a moment. IF you never read this or heard of this FIERY TRIAL taught to you before and you found yourself at the end of the age ENGULFED in a FIERY inferno with no hope of escape, would you LOSE your FAITH in the COMING of Jesus? But IF on the other hand you were taught that this MAY be a POSSIBILITY, and then when it did in fact occur, then you would remember these words and NOT lose your FAITH, but rather be in PEACE knowing that the Lord will come as he PROMISED.
I took this rather lengthy side journey, because I believe that all of God's LITTLE ONES should be taught the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Jesus said that men's hearts will FAIL them for FEAR of those things COMING on the earth. What IF the world news told the world that there is NO HOPE of survival of an incoming comet that is heading for a direct collision with the earth. They have video of this comet getting closer by the day and there is no doubt that it will strike the earth engulfing the entire world in flames of fire. Would you lose your FAITH in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ after hearing such undeniable news? Or what IF the world news told you of an all out attack from another world was coming and then you SAW with your OWN eyes alien ships in the skies all over the world. Would your LOSE your FAITH in the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or what IF the world entered into world war three and the NUCLEAR threat was no longer just a threat, but a REALITY and atomic bombs were exploding all over the world. Would you LOSE your FAITH in the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ?
These are just QUESTIONS that I have had wondering what would cause Jesus to question if he would FIND FAITH on the earth when he comes again. My point is this SOMETHING will take place that will cause many to lose their faith in God, but if you KNOW this beforehand then you will be less likely to be one who loses their faith when this fiery trial comes. The Bible speaks of a great falling away before Jesus returns. WHAT is it that causes this great apostasy from God? What strong delusion will cause many to be deceived? Something to think about, but for now let us take a look at the next place this word GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM is found.
Please read Luke 12:4,5.
“And I say unto you my friends, Be NOT afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5. But I will FOREWARN you whom you shall FEAR: FEAR him, which after he has killed has power to cast into HELL; yea, I say unto you, FEAR him.”
If you remember, we read in Matthew that Almighty God has power to DESTROY BOTH the body and the soul in HELL.
Matthew 10:28.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to DESTROY both soul and body in HELL.”
So again, the heart of the SOUND BIBLICAL teaching on HELL is that the body and the soul shall be DESTROYED in HELL as opposed to the man made “DOCTRINE” and traditions of men who have dogmatically taught us of being ETERNALLY TORTURED in flames of FIRE for all ETERNITY in the presence of the saints who shall both SEE and HEAR the screams of TORMENT and TORTURE for ALL ETERNITY.
The last place we find this word that means GEHENNA, the VALLEY of HINNOM is in James 3:6, which says.
James 3:6.
“And the tongue is a FIRE, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it DEFILES the whole body, and sets on FIRE the course of nature; and it (Speaking of our tongue or the words we speak when we speak cursing rather than blessing) is set on FIRE of HELL.”
Again I personally do not see anything in this passage of Scripture that would refer to a LITERAL FIRE in our tongue being set on FIRE with a LITERAL FIRE of HELL. But rather I see that this verse means that the powers of darkness use our words to bring forth evil. Please read the study “THE POWER OF OUR WORDS!” for a better understanding of how Satan uses our own words to overcome us.
Well, this concludes all the references with the word HELL in them in the New Testament. So now let us examine all the passages of Scripture in the Old Testament from the King James Version of the Bible, because in most of all the other translations there is only one or two places with the word HELL in the Old Testament. But in the King James Version we find 31 references with the word HELL in them. Again the King James Version is my favorite translation to use, but I must admit that it is very BIAS when it comes to the doctrine of HELL. Nonetheless the TRUTH can be found from any translation if one is willing to admit that the translators are not above making errors in their translations. This is NOT to say that the Bible is in error, but rather that any errors are the result of INCORRECT TRANSLATIONS of the original text. Now for the Old Testament.
Please read Psalm 9:15-17, which teaches us that the WICKED and every man of every man that forgets God will be turned into hell.
Psalm 9:15-17.
“The heathen are sunk down in the PIT that THEY MADE: in the net which THEY HID is their own foot taken.
16. The LORD is known by the judgment which he executes: the wicked is snared in the work of his OWN HANDS. Higgaion. Selah.
17. The WICKED shall be turned into HELL, and all the nations that forget God.”
So then, here in this passage of Scripture we see a couple of things, we see that the HEATHEN or those that know not God are sunk DOWN in the PIT, which they themselves DUG so to speak. In other words, Almighty God does NOT want any one to go to this place called HELL, but God must JUDGE the wicked which shall be turned aside or away from God into HELL, because of their OWN work of their OWN hands.
Now some will FALSELY teach you that HELL does NOT EXIST at all, but the EVIDENCE of the WHOLE word of Almighty God CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches us that there WILL BE a DAY of JUDGMENT and HELL is part of that judgment. So then, since every man will without fail be JUDGED, then do you not think it wise to understand what this judgment entails? WHO and WHY receives one kind of judgment and WHO and WHY receives another kind of judgment?
Please read Proverbs 9:10-18, which teaches us that it is the beginning of WISDOM to FEAR the judgment of Almighty God, and that sin leads to DEATH. We will learn later that DEATH in the Bible not only means the physical death of our bodies, but also means SEPARATION from Almighty God. And this separation from God can be restored while we are alive in the body, but once one dies physically IF one is separated from God by sin when they die, then they will be forever separated from God and suffer the judgment of everlasting damnation of hell as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 23:33.
Matthew 23:33.
“You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you ESCAPE the damnation of HELL?”
So then again, there is a literal HELL to ESCAPE and a reward of eternal life to gain, but just what IS the DAMNATION of HELL? Does the word DAMNATION mean ETERNAL TORMENT and TORTURE in flames of fire for all eternity, or does it mean being DESTROYED in the LAKE of FIRE, which is the SECOND DEATH?
Remember what Jesus said to the thief beside him when Jesus and the thief were being crucified? Jesus said TODAY you shall be WITH me IN PARADISE. And do you also remember the passage of Scripture about Almighty God LEAVING his Son Jesus in HELL? So then, in order to understand the true BIBLICAL HELL, then you must have an understanding of what and WHERE was this place Jesus called PARADISE. So before we continue to look at the references of hell in the Old Testament, let us answer the following question of what and where is PARADISE? And we will answer this question in part 3 of this study on the subject “Is the DOCTRINE of hell Biblical? To read part 3 please click on the link “WHAT AND WHERE IS PARADISE? And to read part 1 on the subject of is the doctrine of hell Biblical or not please read the study titled “DOES REVELATION 20:10 TEACH ETERNAL TORMENT?”
Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue seeking the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
RETURN TO HOMEPAGE
AT
Deuteronomy 32:22 KJV
“For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
“The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;”
“It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?”
“Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering”.
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
“Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.”
“For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”
“The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.”
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”
“Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.”
“Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”
“But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.”
“Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?”
“The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.”
“Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”
“Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.”
“Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”
“Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.”
“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
“Because ye have said, we have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:”
“And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.”
“And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.”
“I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.”
“They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.”
“The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.”
“And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.”
“Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:”
“And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.”
“Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:”
“But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”
“And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
“And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”
“And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:”
“And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:”
“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:”
“And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.”
“But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
“Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
“He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;”
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”
“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
God as a CONSUMING FIRE.
“For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”
“Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.”
“For our God is a consuming fire.”
Weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The interpretation that there will be weeping and gnashing is reading into these verses. So ETERNAL weeping and gnashing of tek is the INTERPRETATION of men.
“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”
The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming : it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
And your covenant with death shall be disannulled , and your agreement with hell shall not stand ; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through , then ye shall be trodden down by it.
And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down , they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied , but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out , and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish , and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off , and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off : it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned , but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
God as a CONSUMING FIRE.
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
For our God is a consuming fire.
Weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.
Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well.
Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
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