Tuesday, February 17, 2009


 Question 60 -Will Lost Sinners Ever Completely Die?  
If the Reader is a Pastor, it is likely that you personally know Ministers that have seriously  investigated the Scriptures about the final punishment of the wicked and concluded that the so-called "Orthodox View," of Hell does not exactly fit the Bible's View. Many Ministers that have defended the view of humans being tortured throughout eternity have examined the history of the Greek Mythology roots of the popular view and have concluded that that's where the view belongs. The Question is, why would these Ministers not pass on to their congregations what they learned? Actually many are doing exactly this, but the reason many refuse to is obvious! They know they'll be fired by their Churches if they tell the truth. Also some Preachers have admitted that, even though they know the truth, they still use ever burning Hell as a tool to scare people into joining their Churches. Should these Preachers consider that, for every person that joins a Church out of fear, many others have turned their backs on God completely? Some that have carefully and prayerfully presented the truth to their congregations have been pleased to discover that their Churches have accepted it with joy, and continued having their Ministers be their Pastors. But, sadly many Ministers absolutely REFUSE to even study the subject. 

If it's Truth, We MUST Preach It
If God really is going to torture lost sinners throughout eternity, we have no choice but to preach it as truth. However, if this is not true, are our Pastors making only a minor little error?? Pastor, would such an error not be Blaspheming God?  

Can a Soul Be Killed? Can It Die
"And fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell (Matt.10:28).
The first words seem to give a glimmer of support to promoters of Never-Ending-Torture, but when Jesus finishes His sentence, the truth is clear. Jesus said that there is a Force in our Universe that can and will "Destroy both Body and Soul in Hell!"

The Soul that Sinneth Shall Die
"The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Ez. 18:4). Notice Ezekiel didn't say, "The man who sinneth, his Body shall die, but his Soul liveth forever." Pastor, should we suppose he wrote what the Holy Spirit directed him to write?



The Worm Dieth Not
"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than, having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter halt into life than, having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched" (Mk.9:43-45).
Some might say, "You quoted one of our texts. How're you going to get around that one?" A surface reading appears to support Eternal Torture, but let's look closer. The Greek word translated "hell" in this passage is "Gehenna" (pronounced, gheh`-en-nah). Gehenna is a valley just outside Jerusalem. It was named after the sons of Hinnom. Scripture reveals little about Hinnom's sons, but it tells us this valley was once used by Jews to sacrifice children as burnt offerings to Molech. Molech worshipers believed that their god took morbid pleasure in seeing humans burn. Pastor, is this an ironic twist? Do our Popular preachers depict God the same???
 
When the Jews realized what a horrid thing they'd done in this Valley, they turned it into a garbage dump to show their contempt for their repugnant sin. When Jesus made reference to "Gehenna", He was referring to this Jerusalem garbage dump. Trash, dead animals, and bodies of dead criminals were dumped there. A continual fire burned the rubbish. The worms ate what the fire didn't consume. This dump perfectly represented earth during the Millennium—dead bodies and rubbish everywhere.
Pastor, you have probably preached sermons claiming the expression, "their worm dieth not", means "their soul dieth not." The Greek word used for "worm" means "maggot" and contains no hint of a "soul." So let's read the text again using that original word:

"Maggots" 
"And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter halt into life than, having two feet, to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that never shall be quenched, Where their maggots die not and the fire is not quenched" (Mk.9:43-45).

Trying to say Jesus is promoting the Eternal Torture by taking Jesus' illustration literally creates three problems for the Orthodox View:
First – Jesus was making an illustration. By speaking directly about Gehenna, He was keeping His illustration in an earthly setting that His listeners understood. Of course we will not "enter life" in Heaven missing a foot or an eye. When we enter eternal life our bodies will be perfect.
Second – Pastor, as you know, those teaching, "Eternal Torture" say that, even if we lose our legs, eyes, tongue, and lips in this life, when we instantly awake in Hell, we'll be given a complete, new, indestructible Body/Soul that has all its parts. We hear sermons about blistered feet, parched tongues, and all the other body parts feeling the trillion-degree temperature. Let's let Jesus' words say what He intended—a parable or metaphor.
Third – Jesus never meant for us to litterally cut off feet or pluck out eyes. He was making a point and using graphic means to get their attention. He compared Gehenna to the punishment of the wicked, but, He expects us to understand His real meaning.

Orthodox Version of Final Punishment of the Wicked
Following is NOT the view of this Author. This Author believes that when an unsaved person dies, his very next thought is the resurrection at the end of the Millennium in preparation for the Great White Throne Judgment.  

Hell - So Called Orthodox View
"The moment a person dies, he or she awakes in Hell in temperature hotter than any flame on earth. Only the Soul or Spirit goes to Hell—the body stays in the tomb. However, in Hell they have body parts. They are thirsty with mouths and tongues screaming for mercy. Every nerve feels the intense heat and is in pain beyond any they'd felt on earth. The pain is like fire flowing through their veins. Although these Spirit/Bodies are on fire, they never burn up. They'll live in this excruciating pain for trillions and trillions of unending years. They can never die."
Adam and Eve and Hell
Concerning the forbidden Fruit, Adam and Eve were told, "in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surly die" (Gen.2:17). Pastor, using the so-called Orthodox View, what would have happened to Adam and Eve if Jesus had not stood in their place as their Ransom? The answer is, of course, they would've died that day. But, as you know, Pastor, Orthodox says they wouldn't have died at all, but God would've had to set up an Ever-Burning Chasm somewhere and cast Adam and Eve alive into it and given them Fireproof  Body/Souls. They'd be forced to writhe ans squirm in the hot flames, bellow and scream for mercy throughout Eternity, but there'd be no relief. Pastor, surly we know where such repugnant blasphemy really comes from!!
What Did God Say Would Happen to Adam and Eve?
God said they'd go back to where they were before He gave them life. "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen.3:19). "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish" (Ps.146:4). "Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust" (Ps.104:29). Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and their spirit (breath of life) return to God who gave it" (Eccl.12:7). If God and the Bible are right, it's very clear what would've happened to Adam and Eve if Jesus had not taken their place. But, Satan said, "Ye shall not surly die…ye shall be as Gods" (Gen.3:5).  Satan has done his work well because his lie is a Pillar Doctrine deeply embedded within all world religions, including Christianity.

Polking Fun at Christianity
A famous repugnant standup comedian's whole career was spewing filthy language and making fun of God. He said he grew up in a Christian home but became an atheist. One of his routines goes like this:
  • "Christians beat all I ever seen. They tell us how God gave ten stupid rules and if we don't keep em, he'll throw us in Hell fire and burn us for millions and millions of years. And then these ignorant Christians have the nerve to tell us we're supposed to love this God. Can ya imagine anything stupider than that?"

His audience claps and roars with laughter. He's working for Satan—but wait! Except for his sarcasum, is he not saying exactly what we hear from most Christian pulpits all over the world in almost every sermon they preach? Our Preachers use different words, but are they not saying the same, only they're not joking? Should we not be outraged?

"The Rich Man and Lazarus"
We have a Blogsite covering the Rich Man and Lazarus. A careful examination of the Parable shows it does not support the Orthodox view, but rather refutes it with a vengeance!! See, "Rich Man and Lazarus."

"Burn Them UP"
Malachi was shown a vision of Earth being completely destroyed by fire. Peter and John explained that Malachi was describing the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne Judgment Scene.  "For, Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn like an oven, and the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch" (Mal.4:1). Peter and John also explained that, after the wicked are burned up, Jesus will create a, "New Heavens and a New Earth"  (2Pet.3:13; Rev.21:1; Isa.66:23). Malachi agrees. "And ye (the righteous that are not burned up in the fire) shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts" (Mal.4:3)   As for the wicked being, "Burned Up,"  Pastor, you may among those who objected and said, "That text is talking about their body ONLY! Their soul cannot die." But then you may have remembered Ezekiel: "The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Ez. 18:4). And Jesus when He said, "Fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell" (Matt.10:28). Or James when he wrote, "Let him know that he who converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (Jas.5:20).

The Wages of Sin
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord" (Rom.6:23). Dear Reader, if the Orthodox view is correct, this Scripture in incorrect, and if it is incorrect, Paul's message would've been much more effective if he'd written, "The wages of sin is eternal life in Hell, but the gift of God is eternal life in Paradise." Do wicked people have eternal life? The Orthodox view says every person has eternil life abiding in them! But, John wrote,  "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1Jn.3:15). "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1Jn.5:12). We have a choice. We can accept what Paul and John and James and Jesus said, or we can reverse, revise, or reject their words. 

Did Jesus Endure our Hell? 
Now let's look at a question that should completely settle this question forever. Did Jesus suffer our Hell? "But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man" (Heb.2:9). If Jesus took ALL of our Punishment, do we need to take a closer look at Orthodox View of Hell? See Blogsite, "Did Jesus Take ALL of Our Hell For Us?" See also The Truth About "Absent from the Body - Present with the Lord, Day and Night Forever and Ever, The Rich Man and Lazarus.

Thank you SO much, Dear Reader, for your time and interest. Let's continue to pray for God's Spirit as we study His Word!
Your Brother in Christ!!
Walter C. Martin Jr.
Check our other Blogsites About Hell

Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

-----------------------------------------

Check Our Other Websites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)