The Truth about Hell-Fire (Part 2)
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When discussing the topic of "hell" or everlasting fire, many people are afraid because, they are not sure if they will end up there or not, when they die.
"One of satan's most contemptible lies is that at the end, God will burn sinners forever in the fires of hell. Can you imagine a more warped, unspeakable, brazen lie? No wonder some have found this picture of God so revolting they have abandoned all belief in His existence!"[1]
But the truth is...."that such a God is the devious product of the devil's own perverted imagination."....Satan's constant effort in his war against Heaven is to hold up before himself a mirror, and then try to persuade us that the reflection we see there is God. Don't be taken in....God is not the author of death, satan is. God is not to blame for suffering and sorrow, satan is.[1]
And the fruit of this lie being preached today in the churches, is the reason why most people hate God for this topic even being in the bible, and will not serve a God that they believe would burn people "forever and ever and ever...."
But when we honestly study everything that the Bible has to say about this subject, we learn that this event is God's act of mercy rather than an act of torture.
The wicked who rejected Christ are reserved in their graves until the time of the second resurrection, after which they will be mercifully destroyed, according to scripture.[2]
>>>>> How does God feel about this event? <<<<<
Job 21 (v. 30) For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; they shall be brought out on the day of wrath.
II Pet 2 (v. 9) ....the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.
Rev 20 (v. 6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power.... (v. 5) But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
First of all, I want to point out what the bible says: that God never intended on any of us to end up in this hellfire.
I Tim 2 (v. 3) ....in the sight of God our Savior, (v. 4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
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So, if this hellfire was not created for us, then whom is it for?
Matt 25 (v. 41) Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
This fire was originally prepared only for the devil and his angels.[3]
By rejecting the gift of life in Christ, the lost have chosen to be eternally destroyed with Satan and his angels.[3]
Now an important point to note is that: Eternally destroyed does not mean eternally burning!!
What does eternal or everlasting fire mean?
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Jude 1 (v. 7) ....as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these....are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
If these cities were destroyed with this kind of fire, then it should still be burning today, right?
Before: Gen 19 (v. 24) Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. (v. 28) Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah....and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.
After: II Pet 2 (v. 6) and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
According to the clear teachings of the Bible, the word “everlasting fire” does not mean that the fire itself is everlasting but rather its effect is eternal.[3]
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The effects of the destruction are eternal or everlasting, just visit there today and see the evidence for yourself.[5]
Archeologists found sulfur balls deep in the ground, that were composed of 96-98% sulfur, with trace amounts of magnesium which create an extremely high temperature burn.[5]
This is the only place on earth where you can find 96 percent pure monoclinic sulfur in a round ball. This brimstone is NOT from any type of geo-thermal activity as there is no evidence of such in the area, and geo-thermal sulfur nodules are only 40 percent pure sulfur and are of the rhombic type.[5]
What does the word “forever” mean in the bible?
I Sam 1 (v. 20) So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son.... (v. 22) ....then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.
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(v. 28) Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.
So, the word “forever” means, as long as you are alive!!
Notice "how quickly" the people were destroyed in eternal fire. How long does someone live in eternal or everlasting fire?
II Kings 1 (v. 9) Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, Come down!”
(verse 10) So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Does anything last for very long in this "fire from the Lord"?
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(verse 34) Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. (v. 35) So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
So, at this point everything is saturated with water and probably very hard to burn!!
I kings 18 (v. 36) And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. ”
(verse 38) Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. (v. 39) Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
Everything in this fire from the Lord, or eternal fire, or hell fire, burns up very quickly and nothing is left over!!
Upon the fundamental error of natural immortality rests....a doctrine like eternal torment, [as] opposed to the teachings of the scriptures, [and] to the dictates of reason,.…According to the popular belief, the redeemed in Heaven are acquainted with all that takes place on the earth,.…But how could it be a source of happiness to the dead to know the troubles of the living....[6]
And how utterly revolting is the belief that as soon as the breath leaves the body, the soul of the impenitent is consigned to the flames of hell! To what depths of anguish must those be plunged who see their friends passing to the grave unprepared,.…Many have been driven to insanity by this harrowing thought.[6]
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As this bible commentary explains, people are not thrown in hell fire as soon as they die; no it is not burning right now either.
Hell fire was created to cleanse the earth of any remains of the curse from the sin problem, not as a place of torture forever and ever, like the devil would have us believe.
On the next webpage, we will discover how the Great Controversy finally ends.
References:
1. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion's Gates, p.324, Hart Research Center.
2. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion's Gates, p.328, Hart Research Center.
3. Savior of the world Bible Course, (2000). Lesson 17, “The State of the Dead.”
4. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion's Gates, p.334, Hart Research Center.
5. http://www.arkdiscovery.com/sodom_&_gomorrah.htm
6. E.G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy (vol.4), p.364, par.3
Image #1: Fearfully & Wonderfully Made, (2013). God’s one and only rescue plan to save you. Retrieved from http://shootarrowsoflove.blogspot.com/2013/11/
Image #2: Vidablogg, (2013). The devil’s future. Retrieved from https://vidablogg.wordpress.com/type/image/page/199/
Image #3: A defense of the Bible, (2017). Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed. Retrieved from https://www.adefenceofthebible.com/2017/12/31/christs-second-coming-is-getting-close/
Image #4: Covenant Keepers, (2016). White sulfur found at Gomorrah. Retrieved from http://www.covenantkeepers.co.uk/sodom.htm
Image #5: Women in the Bible, (2016). Hannah presents Samuel to Eli at the temple. Retrieved from http://www.womeninthebible.net/women-bible-old-new-testaments/hannah/
Image #6: The Bible History Books, (2010). Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Retrieved from https://thebiblehistorybooks.wordpress.com/category/the-bible-history-books-study-notes/1-kings/
Image #7: Kompasiana, (2018). The Earth Burner. Retrieved from https://www.kompasiana.com/jelita_14/5ab049a5dcad5b3396344722/the-biggest-issues-today
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