Traditions of Men

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.