Traditions of Men

Many if not most Christians believe that the bible they hold in the hands on a Sunday morning is the inspired word of God. These people also know that the old and test testaments were not written by people who did not speak English. For instants the old testaments was written in Ancient Greek and the New Testaments were written in Ancient Greek. There are currently over one hundred different translations of the Bible.

I came from a church that had bilingual services and the people who spoke both languages would always laugh when translations just could not match.  They would say when you translated into English it loses it meaning or it has a different meaning in English.

Sometimes reading a different translation gives the reader a better meaning or a deeper understanding. However, the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts are the inspired word of God not the Bible translations. In short man wrote the Bible and God inspired the Holy Scriptures (manuscripts).

If the Bible was the inerrant word of God every translation would have the same words and there would be no need to have more and more revisions.

But make no mistake about it; the King James Bible is “Catholic” in many ways. Anyone with a copy of the 1611 King James Bible knows that it contains the fourteen books of the Apocrypha still retained by Catholic Bibles to this day. The King James bible is a series of revision from these books..

God Warning about playing with his words

“Adding to” or “taking away from” His Word (Rev. 22:18-10)

We are to rightly “divide” God’s Word (II Tim. 2:15-18)

We are to “…distinguish the things that DIFFER” (Phil. 1:10)

We are to have a “PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS” (II Tim. 1:13-14)

Also, we are to shun the “TRADITIONS OF MEN” (Col. 2:8)

and the “WISDOM OF THIS WORLD” (I Cor. 1:20 & 3:19)

Let see how man has changed words to suit his doctorines

TWO DEFINITIONS OF HELL

First the “hell” of four centuries ago: Webster’s Twentieth Century Dictionary:

“hell, n. [ME, helle; AS, hell, hell, from helan, to cover, conceal.]”

 Second the “hell” of the 21st Century: The American Heritage Collegiate Dictionary:

“The abode of condemned souls and devils… the place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death, presided over by Satan… a state of separation from God… a place of evil, misery, discord, or destruction… torment, anguish.”

Many modern language translations are dropping the translation of “hell” in the Old Testament. That’s because they have checked and found that the KJV translations were in absolute error on this subject.

When a New Testament writer quotes from the Old Testament Hebrew, the Holy Spirit inspired them to translate the Hebrew word “sheol” (the grave, erroneously translated hell half of the time) into the Greek word “HADES.”

So the Hebrew “sheol” (grave) and the Greek “hades” are synonymous–they have the SAME MEANING, and yet, and YET the KJV translations translate the Greek word hades (the UNSEEN, the abode of the dead, the GRAVE) into the word “hell” 99% of the time!!!

Why not only 50% of the time as in the Old Testament? But now to the 1%. What about that ONE PERCENT (actually only ONE TIME) that the KJV did NOT translate

the Greek word “hades” into the English word “hell.” What happened there? I’ll show you.

 I Cor. 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave [Greek 'hades' always

translated 'hell' elsewhere in the New Testament], where is thy victory?”

I Cor. 15:55 the KJV translators translated the Greek word not “hell” but “GRAVE.” Why? Why just this ONCE? Why because there is “VICTORY” over THIS “HADES” over THIS “GRAVE” over THIS “HELL” but the deceitful translators following their pagan traditions wanted to deceive their readers on this one verse.

They didn’t want anyone to KNOW that there is VICTORY OVER HADES WHICH THEY ALWAYS TRANSLATE HELL in the New Testament!!!

Below is a list of all 65 Scriptural references to sheol in the King James. It appears that they might have used the flip of a coin to determine whether to translate any particular verse as heads or tails. I do this to impress upon your minds the unscholarly, unscriptural, and silliness employed to come up with 31 graves and 31 hells by using the same one word, sheol.

In one verse they would have us believe God is speaking of an “ETERNAL LIFE OF TORTURE IN FIRE,” and in another verse using the very same word sheol, they would have us believe all are “DEAD.” And they did this SIXTY-FIVE TIMES!

A count on the 31 times that Sheol is translated into the English word hell, and count all of the times that we find the words: condemned souls, devils, eternal punishment, Satan, separation of God, evil, misery, discord or destruction, torment, anguish.

Lake of Fire

Interesting word, this word “lake.” The word lake in Rev. 19, 20, & 21 is “limen, which comes from Strong’s “[#3040--limen] (through the idea of nearness of shore); a POND (large or small) — lake.”

And the word limen means “a harbor—haven, the fair havens” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary, p. 151).

A pond? God judges the world in a pond? Yes, God judges every unrepentant, unbelieving, wicked person that has ever lived (billions and billions and billions of people) — The WHOLE WORLD OF HUMANITY (who are not in the first resurrection)… in a pond. A pond of divine, purifying SPIRIT.

This word limen has the word “fair” before it in Acts 27:8, in the King James Version—the “fair havens.” Other translations render this verse as “safe harbor.” 

Is not even the definition of this word and its root, comforting? And so even in this most solemn setting of God’s judgment there is a hint of safety and security.

SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE DIVINE LAKE OF FIRE

Perhaps one reason that God describes this place of judgment as a “pond” or “lake” rather than a “harbor” is because a lake is landlocked, thus preventing a return to the perilous winds and waves of the deep sea from which these occupants have figuratively come:

“And the SEA gave up the dead [spiritually dead people] which were in it…”

This is not speaking of the physical waters of the world’s oceans, however. Remember that just as the “lake of fire” is symbolic in Revelation, “the sea” is likewise symbolic. This is speaking of the SPIRITUALLY DEAD from the great sea of humanity, not the relatively few literal flesh souls who have unfortunately drowned to death in the oceans of the world. Many have also drowned in rivers and other waterways don’t you know.

The very reason that the “fair haven” of Acts 27:12

“…was not commodious [suitable] to winter in…” [is because of its position to the sea] “…the more [majority] part advised to depart thence also if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven [harbor] of Crete, and lies [opens] toward the south west and north west.”

The American Bible Union Version translates this verse:

“was not well situated for wintering in…”

The Living Bible translates this verse:

“And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor…”

What happens in this lake?

Scriptures in Rev. 20 and 21 do not actually say what happens to a person who is thrown into the lake of fire? It does not say they are burned or tortured. It does not say if they are killed. It does not say how long they are in this fire (there is an indication as to how low the beast, false prophet, and Satan are in this lake of fire, however). So how then does the church decide that those who are thrown into this lake of fire are tortured, in their physical flesh, by real fire, for all eternity?

Theologians say that “the lake of fire” is physical, material, and literal. They compare this phrase with similar phrases in Scripture thinking that they have proved that the lake of fire is literal. Here are a few examples that they believe proves that the “lake of fire” is physical, material, and literal:

“…cast into everlasting fire…cast into hell fire,” (Matt. 18:8-9).

“…cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark. 9:45-46).

“…cast into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:42-43).

“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” (Matt. 25:41).

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever,” (Rev. 20:10).

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14-15) and “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death,” (Rev. 21:8).

I will add one more, not because it mentions either hell or fire, but because it is often used to establish the length of punishment in hell. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment…” (Matt. 25:46).

Jesus words are spirit and the carnal minds cannot understand them

John 6:63  “It is the SPIRIT that quickens [gives life]; the FLESH PROFITS NOTHING: the words that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are life”

The Scripture then tells us in verse 66: “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”

They did not, could not, and would not understand “spiritual things.” They could understand and believe physical, material, and literal things. They could not understand “spiritual” things, and therefore they walked with Christ NO MORE! Human nature has not changed.

Does God Hate or Love the Bastards?

Heb. 12:6-8, “For whom the Lord LOVES He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for which son is he whom the father chastens not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye BASTARDS, and not sons.”

God chastens EVERY son, but He does not torture him in literal fire for all eternity. If we endure chastening, then we know that God is dealing with us as SONS!  .BUT, if any are “without chastisement” then they are “bastards, and NOT sons.”

If we endure chastening, then we know that God is dealing with us as SONS! .BUT, if any are “without chastisement” then they are “bastards, and NOT sons.”

If God “Loves” the bastards, then He will eventually HAVE TO CHASTEN THEM, because….He chastens “EVERY son whom He loves.” And God then “receives” all that He chastens. No exceptions here. So God can’t burn any whom He “Loves” in a literal lake of fire for all eternity

If he loves the bastards as God says he loves the world and all sinners then he has to chasten then and then receive them, even the enemies of the cross.

So by God’s Own Words He prevents Himself from hating or torturing enemies for all eternity in a literal lake of fire. You see, GOD REALLY DOES LOVE HIS ENEMIES! But many of us do not, and so we make God into a carnal-minded image of ourselves, which is IDOLATRY! God has never said in His Word that He will torture anyone in literal fire for all eternity

Have you ever told a lie or do you fear things?

“…and ALL LIARS [do you see any exceptions in that statement, ‘ALL liars?"] shall have their part in the lake which BURNS WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8)!

If you believe the lake of fire is an eternal torture chamber? Well, then you must also concede that if you or anyone you know is “fearful” (same verse) (“fearful” in the Greek here is “timid”), or a “liar,” then you and everyone you know who is either “timid” or a “liar” is going to burn and burn and burn in literal fire in this lake of fire for ALL ETERNITY. Are you ever “timid?” Do you ever tell a “lie?” Are you ready to go to Hell and be burned in real fire for all eternity?

 What is the Great Commission? That Jesus Christ died to save a small fraction of sinners

: “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent [Gk: apostello, to send out on a mission—commission] TO BE THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD” (I John 4:14)! See Second Witness in John 3:17. Now if anyone knows of a GREATER mission or commission than this. Do you know of a verse anywhere in the Bible that says Jesus will FAIL at being “The SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD?”  Do you believe that Jesus IS what His name SAYS He is—Saviour of THE WORLD? Do you believe that His Father gave Him a commission that could only be hoped for, but never accomplished? Do you believe that Jesus Christ will FAIL TO LIVE UP TO HIS NAME? Well, then, if you believe that Jesus IS the Saviour of the world, then you certainly cannot believe that He will NOT save most of the world but rather torture most of the world for all eternity in a lake of fire.

Jesus gave a parable about a father who commissioned one of his sons to do a job. The son said he would do what his father commissioned. However, he lied and did not do what his father commissioned. Jesus told Are we to believe that the very Son of God Himself is no better than this failing servant in Christ’s own parable?

“…the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I DO, bear witness of Me….” (John 5:36).

A second witness: Did Jesus take the works (“to be the SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD”) seriously?

“I MUST WORK THE WORKS [SAVE THE WORLD] OF HIM THAT SENT ME….” (John 9:4)!!!

What power might Jesus lack that could disable or frustrate this august commission of His Father?

“ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18)!

See Second Witness in Dan. 7:14.

Has Jesus already proven that He has enough power to overcome all the “free wills” of the world? “Be of good cheer; I have OVERCOME THE WORLD” (John 16:33).

See Second Witness in I John 4:4.

God the Father commissioned HIS OWN SON to do a job, which His Son agreed to DO.

Is saving 5% of the world a good enough pass mark for Jesus. Is this good and acceptable to God, the farther. Would you as a parent be happy if your child 5% for their grades. “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:14-30).

Why cannot Christians believe the scriptures?

All these Scriptures make it sound as if the Church has many worship practices that are nothing but the philosophies, commandments, and traditions of men rather than Scripture.

“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men…Full well you reject the commandments of God, that you may keep your OWN TRADITION” (Mark 7:7 & 9).

And, of course, EVERYONE in heaven and earth will ultimately believe this gospel:

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ask a hundred pastors or theologians if your mother, let’s say, were to bow her knees in the name of Jesus [Jehovah-Saviour] Christ and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, will she be saved? I am pretty sure all one hundred would say, “YES, OF COURSE!” Next ask the same one hundred whether all those in heaven and earth who will also bow and confess Jesus as Lord will be saved, and I am pretty sure all one hundred would say, “NO, OF COURSE NOT!”

We cannot believe that God will save ALL mankind while, at the same time, torturing most of the mankind in an eternal lake of fire, now can we? Here then is just one profound and beautiful statement of Good News from God that virtually none of the Christian world teaches or believes:

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: Who WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:4).

Here then is true Christian scholarship: If God will NOT save all men, then He will NOT save all men, and if God WILL save all men, then He also will NOT save all men!!

“So shall my WORD be that goes forth OUT OF MY MOUTH [just as in I Tim. 2:4 and everywhere else] it shall NOT return into me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, and it SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING WHERETO I SENT IT” (Isaiah 55:11).

Do you still believe that the “lake of fire” contradicts I Tim. 2:4, and that when God says He WILL save all men, what He really means is that He will NOT save all men, but will rather torture MOST men for all eternity in a lake of real fire? Is that what you still believe?

Let’s not neglect the first part of the sentence which begins in verse 3 of I Tim. 2:

“For this is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE in the sight of God our Saviour…”

That God will “have ALL men to be saved” is both GOOD and ACCEPTABLE in God’s sight. These verses do NOT say: “For this is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE in the sight of God our Saviour; Who WILL NOT have all men to be saved, and WILL NOT have all men come unto the knowledge of the truth” now does it? Theologians tell us that the reality of this Scripture is that all men WILL NOT come into a knowledge of the truth and that all men WILL NOT be saved. THAT they tell us is the reality and truth of the Scriptures.

Now then, if the reality is that all men WILL NOT BE SAVED, but rather most men will be tortured in a literal lake of fire for all eternity, I ask: Is this “GOOD and ACCEPTABLE in the sight of God our SAVIOUR? Again I ask: Is it “GOOD and ACCEPTABLE” that most of humanity be tortured for all eternity? If it is “GOOD and ACCEPTABLE” that God DOES save all mankind, then it CANNOT also be “GOOD and ACCEPTABLE” that God DOES NOT save all mankind!

Is the lake literally or physical?

He that has an ear, let him hear what THE SPIRIT says…” (Rev. 1:7)?

Today, theologians continually inform us that the “unquenchable fire,” “furnace of fire,” “gehenna fire,” and “lake of fire” are physical, material, and literal!

Parables, metaphors, allegories, and symbols are NEVER LITERAL! Try this: Jesus Christ (SPIRIT), gives John this Revelation which God (SPIRIT), gave and signified (symbolized—things with SPIRITUAL meanings), by an angel (a SPIRIT), while John was in the SPIRIT, and wrote Christ’s words (which are SPIRIT), and were spoke by “the SPIRIT,” in a book, that can only be understood by those with an “[spiritual] ear to hear.” And theologians believe that most of this book of Revelation is literal?

Some keys to understanding spiritual things

1. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (II Pet. 1:20).
2. “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED” (I Cor. 2:14).
3. “It is the spirit that quickens [makes alive]; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, THEY ARE SPIRIT and they are life.”
4. “Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth [not by comparing physical things with physical things], but which the HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES; COMPARING [OR MATCHING] SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL” (I Cor. 2:13)!

A. “The lake of fire. This is the second death” (Rev. 20:14). Or condensed: “Lake of fire is Second death”

B. “The lake of fire is [like] the second death [in certain ways].”

But before we can see in what ways the lake of fire is like the second death, we must determine what this lake of fire is and what the second death is.

This metaphor is, admittedly, considerably more complex than most for a number of reasons:

1. The subject contains the addition of an adjective.
2. The Predicate contains the addition of an adjective.
3. The phrase “lake of fire” is used nowhere else in Scripture.
4. The Phrase “second death” is used nowhere else in Scripture.
5. A lake is a body of water not fire.
6. Nowhere do we find a counter-balancing phrase such as “the first death.”
7. Satan is thrown into this metaphor—real fire can’t hurt him.
8. Why are the beast and false prophet thrown in to this metaphor before Satan?
9. Although it is called the “second death,” NO ONE ACTUALLY DIES!
10. Why would we find “brimstone” or sulfur in this metaphor—brimstone is not something that is used to torture? (
11. Death and hades are thrown into this metaphor—death and hades are not living creatures.
12. Many humans are thrown into this metaphor, but we are not told that their bodies are either “burned” or “killed.”
13. Being only “fearful” (Greek: “timid”) is cause to be thrown into this lake of fire. .

So we have proofs that this “lake of fire-second death” is FIGURATIVE language SIGNIFIED IN SYMBOLS, taking the form of a METAPHOR witnessed by John in a VISION and written in a BOOK OF SYMBOLS that is prophetic and therefore cannot be its OWN INTERPRETATION, being a revelation of Christ Who’s words are SPIRIT!  And therefore we know two things to be absolute Scriptural truth: (1) This phrase is SPIRITUAL in meaning and not literal. (2) This prophecy cannot be its OWN INTERPRETATION as God commands in II Pet. 1:20.  But if one doesn’t believe these proofs (or even ONE of them), how is he to have a spiritual understanding of spiritual things? To find the true interpretation of this spiritual metaphor we must compare it with other spiritual teachings of the same nature until we find a MATCH!

We do have a SPIRITUAL MATCH

In Rev. 20:11 we read of “a great white throne.” In Verse 12 the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books are opened, and God presents us with a double witness that “every man’s work” shall be judged by “fire”:

1. “and the dead judged… ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS,” (Rev. 20:11). And they are judged in “FIRE,” Vers. 14, 15 & 21:8.
    
2. “…they were judged every man ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.” (Rev. 20:13). And they are judged in “FIRE,” Vers. 14, 15 & 21:8.

Now then, is there another Scripture that speaks of the judgment of “every man’s WORK?” and every man’s work judged by “FIRE?” Yes, there is, and only one other:

1. “EVERY MAN’S WORK shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by FIRE” (I Cor. 3:13a).
    
2. “…And the FIRE shall try EVERY MAN’S WORK….” (I Cor. 3:13b).

We have now located our “two witnesses.” These are the only two places in the entirety of the Bible that speak of:

1. “EVERY MAN…,”
    
2. “Every man’s WORK…,”
    
3. “Every man’s work, JUDGED…MANIFESTED, DECLARED, REVEALED, AND TRIED…,”
    
4. “Every man’s work judged…tried BY FIRE.”

We have proven by that the lake of fire in Rev. 20 is not physical, material, or literal, but SPIRITUAL. We shall now prove conclusively that the fire of I Cor. 3 is likewise, not physical, material, or literal, but SPIRITUAL as well. These two sets of Scriptures will explain each other. Remember that we learned there are two groups of people to be judged: (1) The whole world in the day of judging (Acts 17:31), and (2) The house of God NOW (I Pet. 4:17 & I Cor. 11:32). Since God is no respecter of persons, He judges both groups by the same means.

But He also tells us that we will have our old man pulled down and humbled while the fire of His spirit burns the wood, straw, and stubble till all such evils and destroyed. And at the same time, God builds man up by refining and purifying gold, silver, and precious stones (the very character traits of God Himself). First comes the physical, the carnal, the Old man that must be destroyed. Then comes the Spiritual—the man of God.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a NATURAL body; it is raised a SPIRITUAL body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (I Cor. 15:42-44).

First we are born into mortal bodies with carnal minds by which we build a plethora of straw, hay, and stubble. In judgment these things are burned up and destroyed by the God’s spirit, which is a CONSUMING FIRE. At the same time the qualities pictured as gold, silver, and precious stones are purged and purified by the fire of God’s spirit and made even better.

REVEALED AND TRIED BY FIRE

“Now if any man build upon this [spiritual] foundation [Christ] gold, silver, precious stones [godly character traits], wood, hay, stubble [carnal character traits]; Every man’s work [thoughts, words, and deeds] shall be made manifest [become known, come to light]: for the day shall declare it [make it evident], because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (I Cor. 3:12-13).

The fire in these verses is no more literal than are the gold or stubble suggested as building materials. People do not construct large buildings out of gold, neither do they set them on fire after completion to see how well they will fare. This is all figurative and symbolic language to instruct us in much higher spiritual development. We are not literaI gardens of God neither are we literal buildings of God. But we are like gardens in certain ways—we are to produce good spiritual fruit. We are like buildings in certain ways—we are to be a spiritual dwelling place for God. We have works that are like gold and silver in certain ways—we have thoughts, words, and deeds of good and lasting value. We also have carnal and evil works—bad thoughts, crass words, and evil deeds that are of no lasting value and are only fit for destruction. Only God’s SPIRITUAL FIRE can burn away spiritual wickedness and evils of the heart.

All of these material items are used as symbols of spiritual things. Therefore, of necessity, the fire that tries these material symbols is also SPIRITUAL. It is not possible to burn up with fire an inanimate character flaw without burning up the person who harbors it. Likewise, it is not possible to purge and purify the good qualities of character in a person with literal fire without burning up the individual that possesses them. But spiritual fire, God’s all consuming, purging and purifying fire is perfectly suited to do just that. This trying and purging is not always pleasant, however, it is not a torture chamber either. Does this fire harm the person being purged in this fire?

SALVATION BY FIRE

No, our merciful and graceful loving God and Father does not eternally torture humanity IN fire, but rather eternally saves humanity BY fire.

Let’s read it and rejoice:

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; YET SO AS BY FIRE” (I Cor. 3:13-15).

Does everyone understand this? NO ONE is tortured, killed, or annihilated in this fire! This fire of God SAVES people who go through it! There is salvation BY means of this fire. This fire is part of God’s judgment and grace!

BRIMSTONE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE

Look up the word “brimstone” in any dictionary and you will find it defined as “sulfur.” Brimstone is sulfur. What then are the properties and uses of sulfur? I have known the Scriptural meaning and uses of sulfur for years, but I had never looked up the word sulfur in my Encyclopedia Britannica before—what a revelation.

SULFUR: “It is often called brimstone (burning stone) and ignited sulfur is mentioned in the earlier records of many countries as having been used for religious ceremonies, for PURIFYING (fumigating) buildings and for bleaching cloth” (Encyclopedia Britannica, page 536d).

Gee, I wonder if spiritual brimstone might be used to PURIFY and fumigate people and bleach their darkened hearts to a bright white? Under the caption: “Methods of Production—Ancient producers described their method of obtaining sulfur from its ore as PURIFICATION BY FIRE”

 (Page 537a). (All caps emphasis is mine). “Purification by fire.” That sounds very Biblical. Does God “purify” good and wonderful things by “fire?” Yes, He does: The WORDS of the Lord are pure words: as silver [silver? Isn’t the silver qualities of our character also tried in ‘fire,’ I Cor. 3:12-13?]

tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6). Now we all know that the very “words” of God are not burned in a literal fire. But “AS” silver is tried in literal fire, so SPIRITUALLY God’s words are tried in spiritual fire.

But surely, according to what we have been told by doomsday prophets of eternal hell, sulfur must cause great torturing pain when brought into contact with human skin, and wouldn’t the smell alone be enough to suffocate all in its presence? Continuing: “Physical Properties—Sulfur is TASTELESS and ODORLESS. IT HAS NO ACTION ON THE SKIN” (Page 537d)!

“

Continuing: “Physical Properties—Sulfur is A POOR CONDUCTOR OF BOTH HEAT and electricity…” (Page 538a)! Imagine that—a POOR CONDUCTOR OF HEAT! Theoretically, if God were to put enough brimstone into the lake of fire it would protect those in the fire like an asbestos suit! Is anyone beginning to see the sheer folly in the church’s teaching that the lake of fire and brimstone are literal? I sure hope so.

NO, brimstone is not the demon of hell fire that it has been portrayed. Sulfur rather has hundreds and hundreds of beneficial uses (my Twentieth Century Dictionary says, ‘innumerable uses’) not the least of which are purification and medicines. But wait, there’s more. Why do we find sulfur in the lake of fire? If it serves no detrimental purpose, is it possible that it serves a beneficial purpose? I think that we can all agree that the Bible uses the word “fire” in a figurative way on many occasions.

Being tormented in the lake of fire

Re 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented [basanos} with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

The word "tossed" appears but four times in the New Testament, and all four times it is translated from a different word. In this verse, tossed is translated from the

Greek word basanizo, and here is its definition: "#928. basanizo, to torture:--torment. Basanizo, as a verb, properly signifies in Greek

 (1) ‘to test by rubbing on the touchstone’ [basanos, ‘a touchstone’], then, (1a) ‘to question by applying torture’; hence  (1b) ‘to vex, torment’; (2) in the NT in the passive voice,

(2a) ‘to be harassed, (2b) distressed’; (2c) it is said of men struggling in a boat  against wind and waves: ‘But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed (bazanizo) with waves: for the wind was contrary’ (Mat. 14:24; Mark 6:48).” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary, p. 51). And where have we seen this word basanos before?

In my paper on “Lazarus and the Rich man” we saw that the Rich man was also, “…in torments (Greek: basanos—a touchstone)…” (Luke 16:23). This is mental, emotional,

spiritual torment. The Rich man was not physically tortured by the flames anymore than the disciples were physically tortured by the waves, or that Mary and Joseph

were physically tortured when they couldn’t find the young boy Jesus.

“And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto Him,

Son, why has thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee

sorrowing (Greek: basanos)” (Luke 2:48).

I assure you that Joseph and Mary were not physically tortured! Neither were the disciples (basanizo) physically tortured. Nor those who go through the fire of I Cor. 3:15,

nor those who go through , “the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Strong’s Dictionary tells us that basanizo can mean: “to question by applying torture.”

It ought to be apparent to anyone that for God, “to question” someone by “applying torture” is silly. God ALREADY KNOWS what is in man.  

He doesn’t need to torture him to learn the truth. But it is absolutely necessary  for man to go through this bassnizo, or torment because it is part of his spiritual development and spiritual perfection.

God’s punishipments /chastening are tempory and serve a purpose.

“Punished,” “punishing,” or “punishment” is found only three times in the Greek text. And two of those occurrences have to do with Paul punishing the saints. Therefore, there is only ONE time that the word “Punishment” is used with reference to evil doers in the entire Greek Scriptures

Some translation malfunctions

1. 1.    II Thes.1:8-9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (AV)

II thes. 1:8-9 in flaming fire, giving vengeance to those not knowing God, and to those not obeying the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall suffer justice-destruction age-during-from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his strength. (YLT)

The word punishment / destruction DOES NOT appear in the Greek manuscript.  It should read. “Who shall incur the justice of eonian (age) extermination…”

1. 2.    II Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

ii Peter 2:9 the Lord is  acquainted with the rescue of the devout out of trial, yet is keeping the unjust for chastening in the day of judging,

1. 3.    Mathew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (AV)

Mathew 25:46 And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian (age), yet the just into life eonian (age).”

Chastening definition.  Websters dictionary.  to prune (as a work or style of art) of excess, pretense, or falsity. Not torture in hell fire for eternity

Chastening someone to a correct their behavior is a lot different to torturing someone in fire for ever. It is only temporally with a purpose and goal in mind. The word Chastisement has always carries the connotation of correcting and bringing things back and making right again. 

Can the lost sheep be saved?

1. 4.    Matt 10:28 And do not fear those who are killing the body, yet are not able to kill the soul. Yet be fearing him, rather, Who is able to destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna.”

Those who teach annihilation and eternal punishment use this verse to show that when God destroys, the soul is irretrievable. This, however, is not true. “Destroy” comes from the Greek word Apollumi = FROM-WHOLE-LOOSE, that is, to “lose.” The disciples were afraid that they would perish [apollumi] by drowning (Mk. 4:38). The sheep was lost [apollumi] by straying (Lk 15:4). We may destroy [apollumi] a weak saint by our knowledge (I Cor. 8:11). And Christ destroys [apollumi] both body and soul in Gehenna. Never does the Greek word apollumi mean annihilation! Besides destruction is the prelude to SALVATION! All we like sheep have gone astray. To be “lost” is the same Greek word used for “destroy.” So it is axiomatic that if an apollumi [LOST] sheep can be SAVED, then certainly an apollumi [DESTROYED] soul can be saved also.

Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; But he that believeth not shall be damned [Greek: condemned].”

Matt. 20:18: “… the Son of Mankind will be given up to the chief priests and scribes, and they will be condemning Him to death.”

Being “condemned” is not a final or eternal judgment. Have you not read that our own Lord was “condemned?

Eonian time.  What time is it MR Wolf?

Furthermore, the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures had no word that meant, “eternal,” “forever,” or “everlasting,” or any word meaning “endless time.”   This is a provable fact of history and etymology. This one marvelous fact alone exposes much of the depraved theology of modern Christendom.

 II Tim. 1:9“…according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

 The word “world” is not found in the Greek manuscripts, the word “began” is not found in the Greek manuscripts. Here is what the Greek says: “…before TIMES EONIAN.”

So where is the consistency with these translators? Could they not deceive the readers by translating this verse properly? If “aionios” means “eternal” or “evermore” then HOW, pray tell, can there be “TIMES” “BEFORF” “ETERNITY?” Give me a break. This is not translating; this is out and out planned deception! They change an adjective into a noun, then change the noun to a different word, then completely leave out the word “times.”

The Lambs Book of Life.  Is this like Schindler’s List ?

Rev. 13:8. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb…”

Our lives must be written in “The BOOK of the LIFE of the LAMB.” It is “The Book of THE LIFE of THE Lamb.” The book is the LAMB’S LIFE. The Lamb IS THE BOOK—JESUS CHRIST IS THE BOOK! When we “take away” from God’s “Book” we take away FROM JESUS CHRIST. We diminish “THE LIFE of the Lamb” down to a mere physical “book”—a book of paper when translators, “take away from the words of the BOOK of this prophecy” (Rev. 22:19).

Gehenna Fire – Where is the eternal flame?

“Gehenna” appears in the Greek Scriptures twelve times (Matt.5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6). Not one of these passages has reference to the so-called “final state.” The Lord explicitly identifies Gehenna with Isaiah 66:23,24 by speaking of it as the place of “unextinguished fire, where their worm is not deceasing and the fire is not going out” (Mark 9:46). All whose bodies are destroyed in Gehenna will be raised to be judged at the great white throne, and go into the lake of fire.

Isaiah 66:23-24.  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

The meaning of Gehenna must be established from facts furnished by the Scripture, not by falsehoods foisted by human tradition. To the reader of the Hebrew Scriptures themselves, Gehenna can only mean a verdict which, besides condemning a man to death, also ordains that, after death, his body should be cast into the loathsome valley of Hinnom. This being the sense of Gehenna in the Hebrew Scriptures, we may be sure that this is the sense in which Christ used it.

Being Disqualified from the Kingdom

“Not inheriting the Kingdom of God” has absolutely nothing to do with not ever being saved. Only the CHOSEN FEW will inherit the Kingdom of God, and will rule and reign with Jesus Christ. But ALL will receive salvation in the judgment.

THE PARABLE OF LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN

But even if we take this parable literally, it still does not support such an absurd and evil teaching. When the truth is seen, the Rich man is overcome with great emotional torment by whatever “this flame” represents, but he is not physically being burned or barbecued in this flame.

The Rich man is in a most distressful situation, there is no argument. But he is not “burning in eternal hell fire.” That Lazarus is being comforted, there is also no argument, but neither is he presently basking in the sunshine of heaven. The two main figures in this parable represent whole nations of people who are either being shown the spiritual things of God or are being blinded to the spiritual things of God. The situation looks particularly grim and bleak for the Rich man, but certainly not hopeless as is taught in the pulpits of mainstream Christianity.

Unfortunately, the parable of Lazarus and the Rich man has become a sort of theological passport to the annihilation of hundreds of plain and exact verses of Scripture.

Let us now see if Jesus gives us any indication whether or not this Rich man will ever come out of this place of torments and what these torments really are:

The Greek word translated “torments” in verse 23 is basanos.

From Friberg’s Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, we are told that basanois which is a form of the noun basanos, means, “strictly, a touchstone for testing the genuineness of metals by rubbing against it…”

From the Greek-English Keyword Concordance we read this, torment, literally a touchstone, used to test metals for alloys, [and] then the examination of persons by torture (Page 307).

What kind of “torment” is God talking about in this parable? Is this physical pain from the flames burning his flesh as is taught in Christendom? Not at all! Note that he does not say “flames,” but rather “flame,” singular! The Greek word translated “tormented” in verses 24 and 25 is a totally different Greek word than is used for “torments” in verse 23. The Greek word here is odunao and it means to be sorrowful or pained, but not physically, but rather EMOTIONALLY! We can easily see how the Holy Spirit of God used this word in Scripture. Adunao is used only two other times in all Scripture and both times it has absolutely nothing to do with physical torture, but rather with emotional sorrow or pain.

1. 1.      “And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing [Greek: adunao, same word translated "tormented" in Luke 16:24 & 25]” (Luke 2:48).
2. 2.      “Sorrowing [Greek: adunao, same word translated "tormented" in Luke 16:24 & 25], most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him into the ship” (Acts 20:38).

Now then, does anyone believe that they were physically tortured when Paul departed? Does anyone believe the parents of Jesus were physical tortured in their flesh while they searched for Jesus?

Had the KJV translators been consistent they should have translated Luke 16:24 & 25 the same way. He was emotionally “pained” or “sorrowed” and not physically tormented or tortured! The same word cannot mean both “emotionally sorrowed” and “physically tortured.”

The Rich man was emotionally pained or sorrowed by the flame (the testing and trials), not tortured, and that’s why, as we shall see later, he wanted a drop [a symbolic drop of water] for his tongue and not a barrel of water to cool his body. Let’s not be guilty of adding to the Rich man’s woes.

God’s 3 step Approach to Salvation?

1 cor. 15: 23-24: “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end…”

The King James starts a new sentence and a new verse with the words, “Then cometh the end…” It should, however, be a continuation of the previous sentence. There are three items in view here, not just two. The Concordant Version has a better rendering of this:

“Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ’s in His presence; thereafter the consummation…”

One, two, three. So there are three orders or classes that synchronize with the three festivals of harvest,  Notice them:

1. “The Firstfruit, Christ” (The Passover, The Wave Sheaf).
    
2. “Thereupon those who are Christ’s” (Pentecost, the Firstfruits)
    
3. “Thereafter the consummation [the end]” (the final Fall Harvest of Ingathering in the end of the year).

These three match perfectly with the three types of harvest in the Old Testament. So yes indeed, there will be a fall harvest at the end, at the CONSUMMATION.

Many are called but few a chosen

        Where in the bible does it say hell represents a place of life, consciousness, fire, or torture?

            The word “Hell” is neither Hebrew nor Greek in origins.

             Webster’s dictionary. Etymology:

              Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old English helan to conceal

The old testaments were written in Hebrew and the new testaments were written in Greek. Scholars have translated the bible into many different languages. No translation is perfect and to help the translation some words were added and some words omitted to help the understanding. Many important errors in translation still exist. However, Christians blindly believe what they are reading is God’s perfect word and not a translation delivered by man.

Many new bible translations do not even use the word HELL as it is a poor translation,

The word HELL was used for the Hebrew word SHEOL and the Greek words HADES, GEHENNA and TARTAROO in the KJV

The words HELL, GRAVE and PIT were all used for the same Hebrew word SHEOL in the KJV

The Hebrew word Sheol (grave) in the Old Testament is translated 31 times into grave and 31 times the Greek word Hades (Unseen) is used. And three times it is translated as pit.

                                   Sheol = Hades

DR Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, #7585, “sheol, hades or the world of the dead…”

To show that Sheol and Hades have the same meaning

Acts 2: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (Sheol –unseen), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (Hades – unseen); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Therefore, since the Holy Spirit inspired the Hebrew word “sheol” to be translated as the Greek hades, we have proof positive that hades is sheol and sheol is hades. This is, in fact, what Dr. Strong declares in his dictionary:

So Where the Bloody HELL are they?

And we are also given in this definition further proof that hades and sheol are indeed “the world of THE DEAD.” Surely the “world of the dead,” cannot also be the Christian place of: eternal life, eternal judgment, torture in fire, hopelessness, memories of life, knowledge of past sins, and insane screaming. How does such nonsense fit into the Scriptural description of the Hebrew sheol, which is also the same as the Greek hades? Let’s check it out and see if any of these things are found in sheol/hades:\

 LIFE? Nope–“… the dead are there… in the depths of sheol” (Prov. 9:18).

SCREAMING? Nope–“… let them be silent in sheol” (Psa. 31:17).

KNOWLEDGE? Nope–“… there is no knowledge in sheol…” (Ecc. 9:10).

HOPELESSNESS? Nope–“… I will ransom them from sheol…” (Hos. 13:14).

DAMNED? Nope–“…God will redeem my soul from sheol…” (Psa. 49:15).

EVERLASTING? Nope–“… O sheol, I will be thy destruction…” (Hos. 13:14).

Hades

Definition: The god Hades, son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, received the Underworld  for his realm, when his brother gods, Zeus and Poseidon, received dominion of the sky and sea.

The Cyclops gave Hades the helmet of invisibility to help in the gods’ battle with the Titans — the titanomachy. Perseus later borrowed this helmet to decapitate Medusa.

The name Hades means “The Invisible.” The realm he rules over is also called Hades.

New Testaments Definitions – 3 Words

Strong’s #1067 Gehenna. Valley of the Sons of Hinnom. A Valley of Jerusalem. Was the city garbage dump. It was burning with fire every day with a constant supply of garbage and dead people.  There was a daily supply of waste for the worms to feed on.

#86 Hades. Unseen. State of departed souls. Hell, and Grave.

#5020. Tartaroo. The deepest abyss of Hades
New Testament references to hell. The Greek word Gehenna (12 times), Hades (10 times), and Tartarus (1 time)

Where did we get the fable hell from?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A lake of fire appears, in both Ancient Egyptian and Christian religion, as a place where, after death, the wicked are punished or destroyed. The phrase is used in four verses of the Book of Revelation. The image was also used by Hippolytus of Rome  in about the year 200 and has continued to be used by Christians.

Clearly, the Greeks did not invent the idea of a hell of pain, misery, and punishment at death – the Egyptians did. The Greek hell of Hades was plagiarized from the Egyptian hell of amenti.  

Basic concepts of the EGYPTIAN hell now found in Christianity

1. 1.    We see that the DEAD are STILL LIVING (Anything is possible in fables).
2. 2.    The dead Egyptians had IMMORTAL SOULS.
3. 3.    At the time of death, JUDGMENT took place immediately.
4. 4.    Good people were ushered into a place of HAPPINESS at death.
5. 5.    Bad people were: (a) Sentenced to ROAM AIMLESSLY, (b) were completely ANNIHILATED by being eaten by Ammut, or (c) they could be TORTURED as In fire.

Although the bible clearly teaches that dead people are a sleep and waiting judgement. We are told people are judge already and are in hell waiting to be judged again.

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten

Why doesn’t God warm anyone in the Old Testament about a pending doom of fire for millions of millions of years if that don’t repent and accept Christ as there Lord and Saviour

The Wages of Sin is Death Not eternal torture in fire

            Gen 3:3 and of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden
            God said, Ye do not eat of it, nor touch it, lest ye die.’

Rom 6:23 for the wages of the sin is death, and the gift of God is life age-during in Christ Jesus our Lord

Rev 20:14 “and death and hell was cast into the lake of fire”. This is the second death.

How can death and hell be abolished through a physical fire? And because this is the second death does this mean we have to die a physical death again.

 Re 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

So it is very obvious that the lake of fire cannot be hell. Hell itself cannot be cast into hell? Death and Hell are abolished through this fire.

God tells us he creates everything new and their no more pain.  Yet we are told most of humanity will be in unbelievable pain for ever.

Nowhere is scripture does it say that hell is a lake of fire.

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire…” (Rev. 20:10).

We know that Satan is a spiritual being and cannot be tortured by real physical fire. So the fire has to be spiritual fire.

God’s Promise to Abraham – Jesus is that seed

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Gen 3:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Isa 19:25  Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

How can all nations be blessed if most of humanity is going to hell?

Titus 2:11. For the saving grace of God was manifested to all men,

Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

I Tim. 1:15 “… CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS …”

Eph. 2:8-9.“For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God’s gift, not of WORKS, lest anyone should be boasting”

Is Abraham in Hell?

“Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.”

Now then, that Abraham was a righteous and obedient man of faith, there is no question, but

what about his “father” and “his people?” What kind of people where they? They were GODREJECTING IDOLATERS, that’s what they were, and here’s the proof:

“And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and THEY SERVED OTHER GODS” (Jos 24:2).

Abraham’s fathers and his people were worshipers and servers of “OTHER GODS.” You

cannot worship other gods and die in that condition in the good graces of God. Those sins

must be judged. Yet, we are told that God promised Abraham that he would go to the same

place “be gathered to his people” were his idolatrous fathers and family went when they

died

Can’t we see that they all went to the same place of sheol/hades which is the state of the DEAD, where there is no consciousness where “the dead know not ANYTHING” (Ecc.9:5)?

Abraham was a godly man of faith, but his fathers and his people weren’t. Still God tells us

that Abraham would die in a good old age, an old man, full of years and go to his fathers

IN PEACE and be gathered to his people. “In PEACE”–From the Hebrew #7965, “shalom,

safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace” (Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary).

Can one word send you straight to Hell?

Jesus warned about the one calling another a fool being in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:22). Earlier in the text Jesus warned about insulting another… Now are ‘idiot’ and ‘guttersnipe’ synonyms for

‘fool’? ‘Raca’ and ‘fool’ are of course insults. Raca sounds like spitting and means empty head’. Fool is the Greek moron’, which I learned in seminary was their common word for ‘stupid person.‘

My faithful e-sword informs me that Eugene Peterson’s translation uses the word ‘idiot’ and ‘stupid’; other translations: ‘fool’, ‘worthless’… Elsewhere, ‘numbskull’, ‘airhead”

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger ['liable'] 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 [Gk: 'GeHenna'] fire; agree with your adversary quickly… lest… you be cast into prison” (Matt. 5:21 & 25).

Calling someone a “fool” is a higher degree of seriousness than calling him “Raca?”

Is saying “Raca” to a brother really a worse sin than being “angry with his brother,” especially when John tells us “Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer…” (I John 3:15)? Is it really worse to call someone a name than to have murder in one’s heart? And is it really a worse sin to call a brother you fool,’ than to call him “Raca” ['I spit on you, you cursed empty headed fool'],

when both are epithets, albeit, saying Raca’ seems far worst than saying fool’?

Although Raca and fool are similar offenses, the difference in punishment between the two sins is greater than astronomical. The difference in punishment would be greater than the entire universe as compared to one grain of sand. Do you still not see the problem with the Christian teaching of eternal ell fire?

 Does not this verse prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that whatever “hell [Gehenna] fire” is, it cannot be any worse substantially, than being in danger of a council of judges, or the local town judicial court, or serving jail time. It might be ridiculously compared to paying a parking ticket for $25, as opposed to running a stop sign with an imposed penalty of $875,000 in fines and life in

prison!

Did God choose to send some people to Hell and not others?

If it is JESUS Who is responsible for the salvation of Sodom, then it is JESUS Who is also

responsible for the salvation of ALL CITIES AND ALL OF HUMANITY, for “God is no

respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).

Consider the orthodox doctrine of “one chance only at salvation or suffer the horrors of hell

for all eternity.” Orthodox Christian theologians, pastors, teachers and lay people all agree

that the wicked sinners of Sodom are presently alive and suffering in hell and that they have

suffered there for nearly 4,000 years now, and will continue to suffer in this hellhole for all

eternity.

“Then began He [Jesus] to upbraid the cities wherein most of the mighty works were done, because they repented not: 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.”

Was Bethsaida, and Capernaum so evil and hard-hearted that the mighty works of Jesus did not

effect them at all?  Are we to foolishly assume that 100 percent of all the men, women, and children of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom would be fully capable and willing to repent in the presence of these

mighty works, but that 100 percent of the men, women, and children of Chorazin, Bethsaida,

and Capernaum are totally incapable and unwilling to repent in the presence of these mighty

works?

Here is the only way to repentance: “the goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4). Are we so totally ignorant of the Word of God so as to believe Tyre and Sidon could have repented on their own? Repentance is the result of “the goodness of GOD,” not the goodness of the

repenting sinner. And this is why, “no man can come to Me except the Father draw

[Gk:drag] him” (John 6:44).

So if these mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, the only way they would have

repented is still totally dependant upon the goodness of God leading them to repentance

and dragging them to Christ.

But since God didn’t have His Son do these mighty works in Tyre and Sidon they didn’t

repent. And what about Sodom? Sodom did not see these mighty works, and Sodom did not repent,

and so Sodom also was brought “down to hell [hades].” And Sodom wasn’t alone in that

ancient destruction. It also included along with Sodom and Gomorrah, all “the cities of the

plain” (Gen. 19:28-29).

Are you following this closely? Jesus could have caused Tyre and Sidon to repent; He could

have saved them; and they too could have remained until this day, but Jesus didn’t want to

save them at that time. Imagine that: all Jesus would have had to do was the same “mighty

works” in Tyre and Sidon as He did in Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida, and they

“would have repented long ago.”

Would any deny that God is NOT A LIAR? Can we then take Him at His word when He

declares through Peter:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Pet. 3:9).

“But I say unto you, That it shall be MORE tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you” (Matt. 11:20-24).

They have ALREADY BEEN JUDGED TO SUFFER ETERNALLY IN HELL? What

kind of “tolerance” is that? And how can there be “more tolerable” for Sodom, the city that

personifies all that is wicked and perverted? The city that had not one righteous person in it

save Lot?

And just how, pray tell, can one sentenced to eternal torture receive “more tolerance” than

others? If the sentence for all unrepentant sinners is eternity in hell, then this will include

Sodom, Gomorrah, and all the cities of the plains, the entire population of the world at the

time of Noah, Chorazin, Bethsadia, Tyre, Sidon, Capernaum, and the rest of the billions and

billions of humanity which have never heard the name of Jesus down through the centuries.

How is one sentenced to eternal torture more tolerable than another sentence? Does one

group suffer in 3000 degree fire instead of 30,000 degree fire?

Conclusion:

Jesus is the good shepherd. He will find the lost sheep and saved them. It’s not the job of the sheep to find the shepherd.

Salvation is not a lottery. If you were brought up in a good Christian home you get saved. But, if you are brought up in one of the African Tribes that have never heard of Jesus, well it’s just bad luck.

A God that would BQQ anyone for a trillion years is not the God of LOVE. Where is the justice and purpose? What good is heaven if you know your loved ones are being tortured in fire? Hell is a man made invention that takes away from what Jesus did on the Cross and makes God look like an evil monster.