Annihilationism
The wicked do not burn in
hell forever, they burn up and cease to exist.
First
Word
·
The term Eternal Punishment
that Jesus spoke of raises the question; is He speaking of a state of ENDLESS ETERNAL
PAIN or AN ENDING OF
COCONSCIOUS EXISTENCE? Is eternal
punishment dealing with its length of TIME
or its EFFECT? – Is eternal
punishment an ACTION or a PROCESS? – Is this punishment MOMENTARY or a SUSTAINED
event?
·
I have always been taught that at the final
judgment, the wicked un-believers and the make believers will be thrown into
the lake of fire and there burn forever; now I am hearing NO, THAT’S NOT RIGHT, after the unbeliever has suffered the
penalty of God’s wrath for a time they will then be incinerated and simply
cease to exist as well as the memory of their existence. – While God’s wrath is
a conscious
punishment, it is NOT an eternal punishment.
·
The first time I heard of
this
was on a TV program called Shepherd’s Chapel with
Pastor Arnold
Murray. - Sometimes a teacher
will say things “off the cuff” in order to make a different point, but this IS Murray’s point; UNBELIEVERS
WILL BE INNIHILATED.
·
Murray’s
position is
that the doctrine of “eternal punishment” is inconsistence with the
nature of a God of Love and the pastors and teachers who DO NOT teach
annihilation simply do not understand how to interpret the scripture correctly.
– Murray pretty much says that it would be needlessly cruel to
cause the wicked to suffer pain endlessly, and he sets out to
vindicate and prove that GOD IS INNOCENT of
such, and condemns those that do not
embrace and teach ANNIHILATIONISM.
·
There seems to be four theories about what happens to the
wicked after they are judged; but we are just going to unpack Annihilationism. - NYOBS 43.02 - BAD SIDE OF THE GOOD NEWS
·
Universalism is a doctrine that in its
simplest form states that, because God is a God of Love, that “IN THE END” all
people will be saved and gathered together into Heaven. – Therefore there
cannot be a place which contains a Chamber of
Horrors like hell that has
infinite (long term) punishing for a finite (short
term)
mistake. – Unauthorized parking in a
handicap zone surely deserves a fine, but certainly not eternity in the ELECTRIC CHAIR.
·
Postmortem
Conversion is
the term that is used for someone who has died and gets a second chance to
accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God. – Those who embrace Postmortem
Conversion hang their hat on the scriptures that says “How can they believe
in Him of whom they have never heard” and the second scripture indicating
that Jesus went to the lower parts of the earth; to HELL and preached to them;
they all believed and went to heaven.
·
Eternal
Conscious Punishment – This is the view that ONLY the believer will have
eternal life. – This is true, eternal life is a gift from Jesus Christ that the
Un-believer does not receive, but that does not mean the un-believer ceases to
exist. - Life and death are both forms of existence – The unbeliever will still
exist and stand at his own judgment.
·
Annihilationism is the belief that when
an UNBELIEVER dies; he goes to hell and is destroyed, burned up, consumed by
fire and ceases to exist, the total end is a non-being; you pass out of
existence. - The position is how can a
loving God make anyone go through eternal terror, pain, torment and punishment
forever - Hell fire has done its work and it is the fire and smoke that rises
forever and ever, not the life that was cast into it. – Eternal torment serves
no purpose.
Voices
for Annihilation
·
Adam and Eve were created neither Mortal nor
Immortal, but with the potential to be either.
This is called “Conditional Immortality”, it was their choice
that made them mortal. Only God is immortal; immortality is a gift given only
to those who accept Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said that there is no
eternal life apart from Jesus Christ.
·
Annihilationist use scriptures that
clearly state; “The wicked are headed for DESTRUCTION” – “DISASTER will fall on them” – “They will be punished with ETERNAL DESTRUCTION” – “Wicked people will be
DESTROYED” – The final effect on
the unbelieving wicked is they will cease to exist.
·
Eternal punishment is inconsistent in
disproportion between the amount of time sins are committed and the time of
eternal punishment. Endless retribution
on the wicked is unjust and disproportionate to Gods Divine justice.
·
Imagine a cat thrown into
a microwave oven,
squirming and screaming in anguish of pain as some people are taking pleasure
in watching it. - Now imagine the Saints
in heaven taking pleasure and satisfaction in watching the wicked squirm and
scream in torment for eternity; how could that be heaven?
·
The continuance of evil
creatures
in the presence of God’s universe would cause Heaven to not be Heaven and
therefore could not reflect His perfection and glory.
Philippians 3:19 -
DESTRUCTION
19 THEY ARE HEADED FOR DESTRUCTION. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. (NLT)
19 THEY ARE HEADED FOR DESTRUCTION. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. (NLT)
1 Thessalonians 5:3 – DISASTER - NO ESCAPE
3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then DISASTER WILL FALL ON THEM as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And THERE WILL BE NO ESCAPE.
3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then DISASTER WILL FALL ON THEM as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And THERE WILL BE NO ESCAPE.
(NLT)
2 Thessalonians 1:9 – ETERNALLY DESTROYED
9 They will be PUNISHED WITH ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, forever SEPARATED FROM THE LORD and from his glorious power. (NLT)
9 They will be PUNISHED WITH ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, forever SEPARATED FROM THE LORD and from his glorious power. (NLT)
2 Peter 3:7 - DESTROYED
7 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for
7 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for
THE DAY OF
JUDGMENT,
when
UNGODLY PEOPLE
WILL BE DESTROYED.
(NLT)
Revelation 20:14 – Destroyed the Lake of fire; the
second death
14 Then DEATH and the GRAVE were thrown into the lake of fire. This LAKE OF FIRE IS THE SECOND DEATH.
14 Then DEATH and the GRAVE were thrown into the lake of fire. This LAKE OF FIRE IS THE SECOND DEATH.
(NLT)
Ezekiel 28:18 – Satan and followers reduced to
ASHES
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and
IT CONSUMED YOU, and I REDUCED YOU TO
ASHES on the ground in the sight of
all who were watching.
(NIV2011)
Hebrews 12:29 - God is
a CONSUMING fire – Wrath No doubt
29 For OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. (KJV)
29 For OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. (KJV)
1 Timothy 6:16 – Only God alone can never die
16 HE ALONE CAN NEVER DIE, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen. (NLT)
16 HE ALONE CAN NEVER DIE, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen. (NLT)
2 Timothy 1:10 – Immortality is a Gift to the
believer
10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. HE BROKE THE POWER OF DEATH
10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. HE BROKE THE POWER OF DEATH
and illuminated the way to LIFE and
IMMORTALITY
THROUGH THE GOOD NEWS. (NLT)
Genesis 3:22-24 – Adam and Eve neither mortal nor
immortal
22 Then the LORD God said, “Look,
22 Then the LORD God said, “Look,
THE HUMAN
BEINGS HAVE BECOME LIKE US, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take
fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER!”
23 So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.
24 After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
23 So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.
24 After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
(NLT)
Ephesians 2:12 – Apart from Christ, you are
excluded
12 In those days you were LIVING APART FROM CHRIST. You were EXCLUDED FROM CITIZENSHIP among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them.
12 In those days you were LIVING APART FROM CHRIST. You were EXCLUDED FROM CITIZENSHIP among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them.
You lived in
this world without GOD and without
HOPE. (NLT)
Psalm 37:22 – Those cursed of God are cut off
Annihilated
22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but
22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but
THOSE CURSED BY HIM SHALL BE CUT OFF. (ESV)
Psalm 37:28 – The wicked are cut off; Annihilated
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of
THE WICKED SHALL
BE CUT OFF. (ESV)
Psalm 37:34 – The wicked are cut off; Annihilated
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when
THE WICKED ARE
CUT OFF. (ESV)
Psalm 37:38 – The wicked are cut off; Annihilated
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of THE WICKED SHALL BE CUT OFF. (ESV)
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of THE WICKED SHALL BE CUT OFF. (ESV)
Psalm 104:35 – The wicked are cut off; Annihilated
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and
LET THE WICKED BE NO MORE! Bless
the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! (ESV)
John 17:12 – Judas; son of destruction; lost,
annihilated
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them
HAS BEEN LOST except the SON OF DESTRUCTION, (Judas) that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
(ESV)
Ezekiel 28:18 – Satan and followers reduced to ASHES
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and IT CONSUMED YOU, and I REDUCED YOU TO ASHES on the ground in the sight of all who were watching (NIV2011)
Ezekiel 28:18 – Satan and followers reduced to ASHES
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and IT CONSUMED YOU, and I REDUCED YOU TO ASHES on the ground in the sight of all who were watching (NIV2011)
Voices against Annihilation
·
The reason we reject eternal punishment
is because we take sin so lightly, we
have watered down the Gospel, teaching mostly only about a loving God and NOT
so much about a JUST God who punishes SIN.
The Book says anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.
·
A broken vessel while it can no longer
be used for what it was intended, it still exist. – In the parables of the lost
coin, the lost sheep and the lost son, while they were all
lost, they did not cease to exist.
·
In the story of the rich man and the poor man that died,
they both continued
to exist; the rich man was in a compartment of hell known as “Torment” and the poor man separated by a great
gulf was with Father Abraham in a compartment of hell known as “Paradise”.
- Definition
of Grave; Hell (Hebrew), Hades (Greek), Sheol
(Hebrew for Hades), and Gehenna (Greek), all symbolize the same thing – Gehenna
was a valley outside Jerusalem where garbage and dead bodies were thrown
with gnawing worms eating the rotting putrid flesh. It burned and smoked
day and night. It is often referred
in the OT as going down to
“the Pit”
or “the
Grave”.
·
Moses saw a bush that was burning, yet it
was not consumed, who is to say that God cannot make the wicked so they are not
consumed, but burn forever like the fires of hell.
·
Enoch and Elijah walked with God and the Book says
and they WERE
NO MORE; but they were not annihilated, they continued to
exist in another dimension; with God.
·
NOTE: Did you notice when the demons
were addressing Jesus, they were expecting to be tortured; not annihilated? –
“Have you come to TORTURE
US before God’s appointed time”?
·
The Book – The words destruction,
destroyed,
and disaster
are referring to the destructive effects sin has in the final judgment. – It
does not necessarily infer the cessation of existence, although you can
certainly make scripture read it that way.
·
When you think of a loving
God,
it’s hard to imagine He would torment someone, but the Book says He is also a JUST God. John
the Revelator uses words like Fire Torment Anguish Weeping and Gnashing of teeth;
this is the bad side of the good news. – At the judgment, God’s Wrath
and Anger
will be poured out in FULL STRENGTH.
·
The Book
says the
Smoke
of their torment will rise FOREVER AND EVER. – The Greek, “eis tous aionan ton aionon” forever and ever, is translated eons and eons. - Let’s reason together; if the fire of
torment has finished its work, then the smoke would CEASE to rise for ever and
ever.
·
None of scripture denote death as an
extinction or a cessation of being. Paul
in his letter to the Thessalonians said, evil doers would be FOREVER SEPARATED FROM GOD; so let’s
reason together; only those that EXIST can be EXCLUDED
from God’s presence. – Only by the isolation of single scriptures from the
many, can you conclude the doctrine of annulation.
·
As students of the Word, we simply
cannot pick and choose what our Belief System wants to embrace; the Bible is
the final authority over us which we must submit; precept upon precept and line
upon line. – Jesus Himself said, Hell is where the WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.
– It’s in the Book -
Luke 16:22-24 – There is a continuance of
existence after death
22 Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and his SOUL WENT TO THE PLACE OF THE DEAD. IN TORMENT,
22 Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and his SOUL WENT TO THE PLACE OF THE DEAD. IN TORMENT,
HE SAW Abraham in the far
distance with Lazarus
at his side.
24 The rich man SHOUTED, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I AM IN ANGUISH IN THESE FLAMES.’ (NLT)
24 The rich man SHOUTED, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I AM IN ANGUISH IN THESE FLAMES.’ (NLT)
Matthew 25:46- The wicked will go into eternal
punishment
46 And THEY WILL GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but THE RIGHTEOUS WILL GO INTO ETERNAL LIFE.” (NLT)
46 And THEY WILL GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but THE RIGHTEOUS WILL GO INTO ETERNAL LIFE.” (NLT)
Revelation 14:9-10 – The wicked will be tormented
in fire
9 Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who ACCEPTS HIS MARK on the forehead or on the hand
9 Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who ACCEPTS HIS MARK on the forehead or on the hand
10 (the wicked) must drink the wine of
God’s ANGER.
It has been poured FULL STRENGTH into God’s cup of WRATH.
And THEY WILL BE TORMENTED with fire and burning sulfur
IN THE
PRESENCE OF THE HOLY ANGELS AND THE LAMB. (NLT)
Revelation 19:20 – Fire signifies the continued existence of pain
Revelation 19:20 – Fire signifies the continued existence of pain
20 And the beast was
captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of
the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and
who worshiped his statue. Both the BEAST and his FALSE PROPHET were THROWN ALIVE into the FIERY LAKE OF BURNING SULFUR. (NLT)
Revelation 20:10 – Tormented day and night forever
and ever
10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of BURNING SULFUR, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOREVER AND EVER. (NLT)
10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of BURNING SULFUR, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOREVER AND EVER. (NLT)
Matthew 13:42 – You will writher in pain and
suffering
42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.
42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.
(NLT)
2 Thessalonians 1:9 – Separated from the Lord God
9 They will be PUNISHED WITH ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, FOREVER SEPARATED FROM THE LORD and from his glorious power. (NLT)
9 They will be PUNISHED WITH ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, FOREVER SEPARATED FROM THE LORD and from his glorious power. (NLT)
Revelation 14:11 – Torment smoke will rise forever
and ever
11 THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT WILL RISE FOREVER AND EVER, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”
11 THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT WILL RISE FOREVER AND EVER, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”
(NLT)
Isaiah 28:10 – Prove scripture with scripture
10 For it IS PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT, precept upon precept,
10 For it IS PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT, precept upon precept,
LINE UPON
LINE,
line upon line, here a little, there a little.” (ESV)
Genesis 5:24 – Enoch was no more, but not annulated
24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; THEN HE WAS NO MORE, because God took him away. (NIV2011)
24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; THEN HE WAS NO MORE, because God took him away. (NIV2011)
2 Kings 2:11-12 – Elijah was no more but not annulated
11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And
11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And
ELIJAH WENT
UP BY A WHIRLWIND INTO HEAVEN.
12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he SAW HIM NO MORE. (ESV)
12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he SAW HIM NO MORE. (ESV)
Mark 9:47-48 – JESUS
- Hell is where the fire is not quenched
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes
to be THROWN INTO HELL, where
the
48 WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’ (ESV)
48 WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’ (ESV)
Revelation 14:11 – Torment day and night forever
and ever
11 THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT WILL RISE FOREVER AND EVER, and THEY WILL HAVE NO RELIEF DAY OR NIGHT, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.” (NLT)
11 THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT WILL RISE FOREVER AND EVER, and THEY WILL HAVE NO RELIEF DAY OR NIGHT, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.” (NLT)
Exodus 3:2 – The burning bush was not consumed
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold,
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold,
THE
BUSH WAS BURNING, YET IT WAS NOT
CONSUMED. (ESV)
Revelation 20:15 – The Wicked thrown into the lake
of fire
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in
THE BOOK OF
LIFE was THROWN INTO THE
LAKE OF FIRE. (NLT)
Matthew 8:29 – Demons – Have you come to torture
us?
29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? HAVE YOU COME HERE TO TORTURE US
29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? HAVE YOU COME HERE TO TORTURE US
BEFORE GOD’S APPOINTED TIME?” (NLT)
Luke 8:28 - Demons expected to be tortured by
Jesus
28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he SHRIEKED and fell down in front of him. Then he SCREAMED, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I BEG YOU, DON’T TORTURE ME! (NLT)
28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he SHRIEKED and fell down in front of him. Then he SCREAMED, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I BEG YOU, DON’T TORTURE ME! (NLT)
Side-Bar
·
Forever and Ever is used over and over to
emphasize the concept of ETERNITY.
·
Limited Eternity – This is something
someone just made up to avoid punishment for Sin. - You cannot limit the duration
of punishment for the un-believer without limiting the duration of eternal life
for the believer. They are both FOREVER. – It’s
in the Book -
·
To destroy something is to ruin
it or make it unfit for that which it is was originally designed to
be or do. – A car that has been compacted FLAT can no longer function as a car,
but it does not cease to exist.
·
A Soul is utterly destroyed,
ruined, made unfit for what it was created for when it is cast into utter
darkness and separated from the light of God; it is destroyed for the purpose
it was created, but it still exists.
·
Hell is both a “State”
and a “Place”.
Ø A State where you have lost the
blessings of God and are out of His presence and His light; cursed and
condemned to utter darkness.
Ø A Place - A prison where you are
in indescribable ceaseless misery and torment day and night, forever and ever
and ever. – A place without hope; only tears of pain and voices of rebellion. - NYOBS 21.30 - HEAVEN -- NYOBS 06.22 - HELL -- NYOBS 15.25 - PURGATORY
·
Satan, Fallen Angels,
Demons & Unbelievers are not the same, all have different natures,
however make no mistake, they will all share in the same ultimate fate; the Lake of Fire.
·
NOTE;
Satan is not in charge of Hell; he is just one of the boys in torment; he cannot
alter, modify or change anything. – The degrees of torture and punishment is SET
by God.
The
Take Away
·
Annihilation implies that Jesus, the second
person of the Trinity at His death, went to hell and then went out of existence
and thus His resurrection would have required a re-creation.
·
Both life and death are
states of existence. – The wicked ore Separated from the blessedness of God’s
presence; they are separated, but not annihilated.
·
Is there any man that can
know
the depth, extent and degree of a heinous sin and contemplate what such
punishment should be?
·
Come let us
reason together;
can a selected TIME OF PUNISHMENT
brought on by
Sin satisfy God’s wrath and justice?
·
If YES, then it would follow, if
God is satisfied, they should not be annihilated and
therefore it follows that they should now be allowed to enter the kingdom of
Heaven.
·
If NO God’s wrath and justice
has not been satisfied, then if follows the wicked should not be annihilated
till it has. – Logically, in both
situations annihilation seems to be wrong.
·
Let’s reason together;
if the time of suffering for the wicked is not eternal but limited, they it
would follow that the time of the blessings for the redeemed is also limited.
·
Logically if there is no conscious
torment and one simply is burned up and just ceases to exist then it would
follow that one should be as wicked as they desire to be. Annihilation is
only the “Wishful Thinking Doctrine” for relief from punishment.
·
There were two Lazarus’
that died. One in the story of the rich man and the poor
man and the other in the story of the brother of Mary and Martha. Both died, but neither
were annihilated. – These were not parables as parables do not
have specific names of people.
·
John the Revelator implies that those in
hell will go on sinning, gnashing their teeth against God, not repenting;
likewise those in Heaven will continue in holiness and live righteously.
·
The fact that we see the smoke
rising from the lake of fire causes redeemed mankind to reflect back and
remember that they too deserve this punishment, but were redeemed by God’s
grace. – Since we will be like Christ and have His characteristics of love, as
well as justice, we will rejoice with Him for all in eternally as we observe His
plan; It Is Finished.
·
The Book teaches that there is a
conscious eternal punishment of the wicked. – Paul as he was lamenting over the
awful punishment for the unbeliever and make-believer said; “my heart is filled
with bitter sorrow and unending grief”. – Since wicked souls continue to exist,
then they must exist somewhere and that place is Hell, in the Lake of Fire.
·
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed
are those who MOURN”. This is when we realize that we are
spiritually bankrupt and MOURN over OUR OWN SINS, it is even more mournful for those who have not
come to that point and are so LOST and will be consciously tormented in Hell fire for all of
eternity. Bible Thumpers are not crazy
fanatics, they are just watchmen trying to sound the alarm and save someone
from a most horrible future; not just the TORMENT, but the separation from
a loving God FOREVER.
·
In my mind’s eye, I see hell as a planet, far out in the heavens, where I can see smoke all around it, as a
reminder, that except for the compassion, love and grace of God… that could be ME. - Makes ME stop and praise God that He loved ME so much, that through His Only Son’s death on the cross, He
provide ME THE WAY back to Him; THE
ONLY WAY. - SELAH -
·
The Ultimate work of the
Cross
is the Love of Christ summoning us to Repentance and to Faith. – It’s the
trumpet call of the NIGHT
WATCHMAN -
You can WAKE UP and get ready or you can go back to sleep. – The Watchman
has done His part. – The rest is
up to you. - The choices you make on this side of life have eternal
consequences. – It’s in
the Book -
Isaiah 1:18-20 – Come - Let’s reason together
18 COME NOW, LET US REASON TOGETHER, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
19 IF YOU ARE WILLING and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but IF YOU REFUSE and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
18 COME NOW, LET US REASON TOGETHER, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
19 IF YOU ARE WILLING and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but IF YOU REFUSE and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
(ESV)
Revelation 22:11 – We will ALL continue to do as
before
11 Let the one who is DOING HARM CONTINUE TO DO HARM;
11 Let the one who is DOING HARM CONTINUE TO DO HARM;
let the one who is VILE CONTINUE TO BE VILE; let the
one who is RIGHTEOUS
CONTINUE TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY; let the one who is HOLY CONTINUE
TO BE HOLY.”
(NLT)
Hebrews 9:27 – Man exist after death for judgment
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, (NLT)
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, (NLT)
Luke 16:22-23 – Lazarus died, went to hell, was
not annihilated
22 Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
23and his soul went to the place of the dead. THERE, IN TORMENT, HE SAW ABRAHAM IN THE FAR DISTANCE WITH LAZARUS at his side. (NLT)
22 Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
23and his soul went to the place of the dead. THERE, IN TORMENT, HE SAW ABRAHAM IN THE FAR DISTANCE WITH LAZARUS at his side. (NLT)
John 11:43-44 – Mary & Martha; Lazarus died, not
annihilated 43 Then
Jesus shouted, “LAZARUS, COME OUT!”
44 And THE DEAD MAN CAME OUT, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
44 And THE DEAD MAN CAME OUT, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
(NLT)
Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn over
their own sins
4 BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN: for they shall be comforted.
4 BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN: for they shall be comforted.
(KJV)
Romans 9:2 – Paul is grieved over the perishing
2 MY HEART IS FILLED WITH BITTER SORROW
2 MY HEART IS FILLED WITH BITTER SORROW
AND UNENDING
GRIEF
(NLT)
Ezekiel 33:3 – The Watchman sounds the alarm of
warning.
3 When THE WATCHMAN sees the enemy coming,
3 When THE WATCHMAN sees the enemy coming,
he SOUNDS THE ALARM to warn the people.
(NLT)
Acts 24:14 – The followers of Christ were known as
The Way
14 But I admit that I FOLLOW THE WAY, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I FIRMLY BELIEVE the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
14 But I admit that I FOLLOW THE WAY, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I FIRMLY BELIEVE the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
(NLT)
John 14:6 – Jesus is THE
WAY; the Only Way
6 Jesus told him, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE CAN COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. (NLT)
6 Jesus told him, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE CAN COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. (NLT)
In the
multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I am grateful to those that went before me
providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their
shoulders
and
see further that I otherwise ever could have.
Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha – Goodspeed
Baker Commentary on the
Bible – Elwell
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
Expositor’s Bible
Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World
Gospels Interwoven; The – Karmit Zarley
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Interlinear Greek-English
New Testament – Baker
Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse
King James Version Bible –
KJV
Lost Books of the Bible; The - World
Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell
Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan
Meredith’s Book of List; 1&2 –Bethany House
Publishers
Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas -
Tenney
New International Version
Bible (2011) – NIV
New Living Translation Bible - NLT
Other
side of the Good News; The – Larry Dixon
Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield
Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee
Vincent’s Word Studies of
the New Testament – Mac Donald
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wycliffe Bible Commentary;
The – Pfeiffer & Harrison
Wikipedia –
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney
