NOTE: The author, compiler chose all of the verses in which Jesus spoke about hell and destruction. I don’t consider Mt. 18:34 to be talking about hell. The tormentors are demons oppressing people on earth. Taking away one would then total 45 verses, but I add what Jesus said in Revelation 21, which keeps the total at 46; though, Revelation talks about hell in parts of the main narrative.
I’ve also excluded the less direct texts here.
We don’t need to know Greek to be able to clearly see that hell is real and eternal. And these are just Jesus’ statements on hell. There are many more references to hell in the Old Testament and in the rest of the New Testament.
Jesus used the word “fire” often, and sometimes “outer darkness.” Those who have experienced hell firsthand describe the blackest black darkness and also the fire. In hell, the light doesn’t dispel the darkness.
They also talk about the worms that eat the people’s flesh, and the flames that burn it. And then the flesh grows back for it to happen over and over….
Notice the many references to hell being an eternal state — Jesus’ words:
• “everlasting fire”
• “everlasting punishment”
• “eternal condemnation”
• “the fire that shall never be quenched”
• “their worm does not die”
• “unquenchable fire”
jeff
– –
Excerpts from: psalm19-7.com/scriptures-about-hell.html
The preachers today are not faithfully preaching against sin, righteousness, judgment, and true repentance. You rarely ever hear them mention the word “Hell” in church or in their sermons but scripture is quite clear: hell is a real place. It is not mere unconsciousness. It is not temporal. It is eternal torment.
Jesus speaks on Hell and Destruction in Forty Six versus in the Bible.
Matthew 5:22
22But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:29-30
[27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ 28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. – editor]
29If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Matthew 7:13,19
13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. …
19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 8:12
12But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 10:28
28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 13:30
30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Matthew 13:40
40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
Matthew 13:42
42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:49-50
49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 18:8
8“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
Matthew 18:9
9And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Matthew 22:13
13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:51
51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:30
30And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:41
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:
Matthew 25:46
46And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Mark 3:29
29but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation
Mark 9:43-48
43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched
44Where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched
46Where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire
48Where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
Luke 3:17
17His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Luke 12:5
5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Luke 12:46-48
46the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
John 5:29
29and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
John 15:6
6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
* * *
Revelation 21:7-8
He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
* * *
[Added 9/27/23]
Revelation 14:9-14
9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Revelation 20:10-15
The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Related:
Different Levels of Punishment in Hell – 7 New Testament Statements
12 New Testament Texts: HELL Is ETERNAL
Hell Testimony — Kenneth Hagin’s Near Death Experience in 1933!
How Many Will Be in Heaven? How Many are Finding the WAY? Only 1 in 40 — 2.5%?!!
[WordPOWER!] 2 Peter 3: BEWARE, in the LAST DAYS People Will Be WILLINGLY IGNORANT
Willful Ignorance: Actively Resisting the Truth & Truth-tellers
From Willful Ignorance through Cognitive Dissonance to “Could I Be Wrong?”
Jesus-is-God Verses — It’s right to worship Jesus! – JWs go door to door falsely proclaiming that Jesus is not God
Doug Reed
Luke 16: 19-31
Jeff Fenske
Yes, that’s a heavy, pretty clear one too, and it’s in the article that I excerpted these texts from.
Thanks.
Denny
Hi Jeff, I really enjoy reading and learning from your”ONE CAN HAPPEN” site. I do have a problem with the scriptures you say there will be forever torment in hell for the unsaved. The idea that Almighty God is a sadist, masochist, torturer and loves to see people be tormented forever in hell is why so many unsaved people say they would never want to be a follower of God! That’s not a merciful God, a loving God, a just God! God wants all people to be with Him! But the wages of sin is death! The wages of sin is not eternal torment, eternal torture. Matt 13:40 says the tares will be burned in the fire. The tares are burned in fire they don’t burn for eternity do they? They burn to ashes and they are gone! They are no more! I believe the terms unquenchable fire and eternal fire are talking about the fire itself not the torture or torment. God is merciful and just and puts the unsaved out of their misery by burning them up not by torturing them.
Jeff Fenske
Denny,
I’m busy right now trying to get a major project done despite serious setbacks, so I’m not putting much time into my blogs or Facebook right now, or I would have responded sooner, and would say more. Briefly:
Who says God “loves” to see people tortured forever in hell? The reality is that it greatly grieves Jesus’ heart that the vast majority of even ‘Christians’ are choosing to disobey, so they’re leaving the safety and peace of being in Christ, so then the demons and Satan can have their way with them, forever and ever.
I posted a lot of these recent “Hell is Real — Forever” posts in a response to a former elder who is teaching what you are, which is false doctrine based on wishful thinking and the “God is only love” theory, which is not reality.
People are choosing their own destiny. Jesus wants everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth so they will not be spit out of His mouth and their names being removed from the Book of Life (Rev. 3).
Your teaching is part of the last-days, great deception, which is in part happening because most aren’t abiding in Christ to hear His voice and be led by Him. Nor will they listen to people like Steve Hill: http://onecanhappen.com/2013/05/03/steve-hill-the-7-great-lies-in-the-church-today
Jeff
Jeff Fenske
Denny,
The Bible flat out doesn’t teach what you’re saying about hell. To believe what you believe you really have to basically just make up your own religion, once you accept only the parts of the Bible that you like, which a lot of people are doing in these hugely deceptive and currently really dark days — the end of America not long away now, because of the great falling away within Christendom.
Did you see the dream I had which verified what Jesus said about going to hell in Matthew 5 for lusting?
http://onecanhappen.com/2008/01/14/who-goes-to-heaven-scriptures
And Paul taught a balanced view of God in a number of places. This is not a popular text among most preachers today. Romans 11:22
“See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.”
Check out the end of Psalm 50 too. This is what some have already experienced or seen in hell, and have come back to talk about it.
It’s a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:26-39).
The main reason people aren’t thrilled about God isn’t because of the reality of hell. It’s because ‘ONE’ isn’t happening “that the world will know.” (John 17)
And the main reason ‘ONE’ isn’t happening is because of the once-saved-always-saved false doctrine, which is a flat out wishful thinking and tremendously deceptive heresy, taught by the grace changers across the land.
Few ‘Christians’ are holy enough to go to heaven, right now.
We need to have clean consciences and hearts now so we’ll have clean consciences and hearts then.
If we feel guilty now, imagine how guilty and full of dread we’ll feel when if we die willfully sinning, including not having gotten right with those we’ve hurt (which the Holy Spirit had been trying to remind us of).
We can sweep it under the rug now, and ignore the Holy Spirit now, but when we see Jesus face to Face we better be clean.
“This is not a game,” God once told a former elder of mine who has been recently really acting like this is just a game.
It’s disgusting what’s going on — which happens when the fear of God texts are removed from preaching, K-LOVE, and then people’s thinking.
“John 3:16, baby! Only believe.” But read a few verses later, and then what John 15 really says.
Another factor, if you’re teaching others the “there is no hell” heresy, you’re going to get a stricter judgment than if you weren’t teaching anything. Because you will be responsible for those you’ve deceived, not fearing eternity even though they’re partying — “ha, ha, ha.”
Denny
Jeff thanks for your reply. I have read your “who goes to heaven scriptures” 3-4 times and have printed them off so I can refer back to them. I believe that osas is a false teaching. I believe our salvation is conditional according to the many scriptures that say so. In my first reply I did not say there is no hell. I do believe there is a hell. The question I need to have answered is’ On the last day, does God raise the evil dead for judgement, into immortal bodies?’ If He does I can understand that punishment and torment will be eternal, everlasting. But if He doesn’t you know as well as I that the human body does not last and live when subjected to everlasting fire. It burns up and turns to ashes just like the tares. God judged Sodom and Gomorrah by raining down fire and brimstone and burned those cities and peoples till there was nothing left. They are not still burning. Another question’ What will happen to the wicked in hellfire?’ Ps.37:10, Mal.4:1,3 Rev.21:7-8, 2Pet.2:6, 2Pet.3:10, Gen.19:24-25! Just a few scriptures I found as answers to my last question. I’m with you in this Jeff, not against you! I know the church is in apostasy and if we don’t read the word of God for ourselves we will never hear the hard things in our churches. Keep being the spokesman you are and may we worship the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Let’s love each other as Jesus loves us! Peace brother!
Jeff Fenske
Wow! Peace to you too, Denny!
That blesses me to hear how you’re devouring my “Who-Goes…” article — which is mainly just scripture — the ones they don’t play on K-LOVE.
But it’s not just a balancing article. I think it’s balanced. We need to have clean consciences and hearts now so we’ll have clean consciences and hearts then, so we can enter.
I just don’t understand how people have bought this idea that they can feel guilty now and won’t when they see Jesus face to Face.
Regarding hell, please check out more of my 33 article in my “Hell…” category. People have been to hell and talk about how the flames operate, and the flesh grows back. “The worm that never dies and the fire that is never quenched”: the worms eat the flesh while the people are being burned.
But many are not in the flame-on area. Some end up in a scary darkness, because they weren’t deceptive pastors, etc.. The OSAS pastors are in big trouble. They’re not only largely responsible for the willful sins within the ‘church, but the end of America too.
If pastors knew their eternal destiny they’d be on the phone for days getting right with those they’ve hurt, and revival would happen this week.
: )
Jeff Fenske
As you can tell by my articles, I major mostly on what the New Testament says, because we’re in the new covenant, under different rules. But I heard “Psalm 50” probably dozens of times over a time period. I finally realized why God was wanting me to read it.
It seems like the majority of pastors and ‘Christians,’ today, aren’t hearing from God, so they really don’t have an active relationship with Him. There are many reasons why they’re not hearing. Familiar spirits saying competing things is a biggy, yet many ‘Christians’ still think that evil spirits can’t affect them — while most probably have lust spirits because of their willful lusting too.
Also, the Holy Spirit doesn’t force His will on people. He’s been knocking, but the evangelicals are mostly not even wanting to open the door, preferring “Dancing with the Stars” and even worse things.
So I think Psalm 50 applies today to many who aren’t hearing God’s voice. And many apparently think because they’re not hearing words about how much trouble they’re in (and perhaps because they can still speak in tongues if they want to — though most don’t want to, much) that they’re not in trouble. But God says:
“21You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
22″Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be none to deliver.
That’s what happens in hell to some people. The demons actually tear their limbs off, the people feeling the pain, and then the limbs grow back to have it happen again.
The Bible is a lot more literal than people realize, which is why Ron Wyatt discovered so many things. And many are jealous, so what he discovered hasn’t even been made known by most pastors.
The pastors in America have led the sheep astray, and will suffer the worst torment in hell, along with Hitler, etc., from what I’ve read and heard.
Jeff Fenske
Denny,
It seems like we get into trouble when we don’t emphasize what Jesus and the NT authors emphasized: many warning scriptures about what happens when we don’t abide in Christ, when we don’t walk according to the Spirit but according to the flesh.
The solution to what ails us is to get in balance.
I don’t know if this is the case with you, but everyone whom I have talked to who questions what the Bible says about hell aren’t regularly hearing God’s voice anymore. We’re supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit Who will lead us into all truth.
I encourage you to not only read the written word, but listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you, and pay attention to your dreams and maybe visions, even if they’re subtle. Wake up and write them down, or you may forget them.
And shut the door to all sin, submitting to God, resisting the Devil, and he will flee. So then there is only one voice that remains.
Worshiping God and fasting helps too. As does praying in tongues, which I believe is mainly about dealing with evil spirits in a way that we don’t see how yukky these beings really are. We would freak out if we knew.
The Holy Spirit will help us get back on track when we get off, like what happened to me, when I got scandalized by Hebrews 6, thinking that if a person lost their salvation they couldn’t get it back. But that was a special case for the Jews who had openly renounced Christianity and gone back into Judaism, apparently.
Ask the Holy Spirit for revelation, and expect an answer — as well as studying — including the experiences of those who went to hell.
jeff
david
you know, I relate to what you say about Jesus. The God I know is full of mercy, not an entity wanting one hell of a barbeque. When was the new test. written? I’m no scholar ,so I don’t pretend to know anything. But, the other day I was wrestling with this question about going to hell when a thought came to me. What if who ever wrote the books had something to sell that wasn’t selling too well ?.Lions and the whole eaten alive stuff don’t sell concepts too well. So what thru the ages has sold more to the masses than fear! Nothing, best sales trick the world has ever know. Maybe, just maybe , the authors knew this. How do you get people to join any cause , scare the pants off em’ . Works every time. Just ask George W.
Jeff Fenske
David,
You say, “The God I know….” I have yet to meet anyone who questions hell and how easy it is to go there through willful, unrepentant sinning (and some like you are also questioning the Bible) who really has had a revelation from God. It’s all just wishful thinking based upon Whom they want God to be. You’re entitled to believe, but when you challenge God’s written word in public, trying to talk people out of believing in the balanced view of God you’re setting yourself up for a terrible experience once you die and experience Holy Jesus Who no longer winks at sin, now that we’re in the New Covenant, all born-again Christians having the grace to overcome, the Holy Spirit.
Paul taught this balanced view of God. Romans 11:22:
“See then the GOODNESS and SEVERITY of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, IF you continue in his goodness; OTHERWISE you also will be cut off” — which agrees with what Jesus says in John 15 too.
I had a dream in which I was told I was in danger of going to hell for lusting, and then I was given Jesus’ Mt. 5 warning about that. I discuss this here: Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? — “There is therefore now *no condemnation* to those who are IN CHRIST Jesus, who don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.”
The reason most churches are spiritually dead today is because most pastors and ‘Christians’ don’t take Jesus’ words, and the words of those who really did follow Jesus seriously.
Only those who overcome, who have pure hearts and clean consciences will go to heaven when they die.
Jeff
The Word
My name is Alan Finch. I became a Christian 42 years ago. I am submitting my comment in response to Denny’s comment.
“WOW,” I was taught and believed that multitudes upon multitudes of humans will suffer “eternal torment” for 100 trillion years, and then another 100 trillion years, and then another 100 trillion years, and it goes on and on with no hope of it ever ending. I am certain that each one of us, deep inside of our very being, know that something just does not add up, but we just can’t quite figure out what is it that we are not understanding correctly from the Scriptures.
The true biblical teaching is neither the traditional Christian view of hell, nor the view of annihilation. Our great God is neither a great torturer nor a great annihilator, but He is the great Saviour of the world.
The mystery of the finished work of Christ on the Cross will one day reveal the perfect plan of God for the entire human race, which does not include “eternal torment” or “eternal annihilation” for one single person!
I have written an article upon this topic, but it is much too lengthy to post on this site (24 pages). Below is a sample. If anyone would like a copy in it’s original Word Document Format, feel free to e-mail me and request a copy, and I will e-mail you a copy.
candy33alan@aol.com
………. What is the “GOOD NEWS” of the Gospel of Christ? ……….(Re-examining the widely held belief of “eternal torment” in “Hellfire”)
My purpose for this writing is to Biblically “expound” upon (1) is there really going to be “eternal torment?” (2) is there really going to be “eternal annihilation?” (3) to give a Biblical answer to the question “If there is no “eternal torment,” and if there is no “eternal annihilation” of our very being, then what are we being saved from, and what is our being here during this present time on earth really all about?”
I was a Christian for 38 years before I gained a better “Scriptural” understanding of some Biblical truths that I had not properly understood in regards to the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
Denny
I also believe the”weeping and gnashing of teeth” is what the SAVED are experiencing when a person is thrown into the lake of fire not the person being thrown into the fire. Hell was made for lucifer and his angels, not for man! Rev21:4 says God will wipe away every tear, no more pain, no more sorrow and I believe this is the way God tells the saved that everything is ok with the unsaved because He has put the unsaved out of their misery. Death and Hades are done away with!
openrebuke
You missed Matt 23:33.
Jeff Fenske
It’s in the original article (linked above) from which I only included excerpts here.
CJ
The “God” of the Bible simply infuriates me and makes me want to vomit. The “God” of the Bible makes “laws” that you must follow and then states that if you don’t follow them you’ll “be put to death”. He judges and condemns. He sentences people to eternity in hellfire and damnation. This infuriates me because I know in my heart that it simply isn’t true. We don’t have a “God” that murders everyone on the entire planet by flooding it. We don’t have a “God” that is totally and completely hypocritical as portrayed in the Bible. “Thou shalt not murder/kill” and if you don’t follow my rules you shall be “put to death”. The “Lord God” speaks of “putting people to death” for this, that and the other thing, stoning disobedient children to death, genocidal mass murder of entire cities, etc. Go here for a nice long list of repulsive quotes from the “Lord God” Himself. “God/Goddess” is not a ruthless dictator like the Bible portrays at all. Not even close. And whoever said “God” was a man? That’s quite sexist if you ask me, is there proof of that allegation? The same people who put this quote in the Bible are the same people who made “God” a man in the Bible: “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 And please don’t tell me that the Bible is proof that “God” is a man because the Bible lacks all credibility, it is full of myths, falsehoods, contradictions and disgusting, repulsive violence.
The “God” of the Bible is a brutal, evil, mass murdering dictator but the good news is that he doesn’t really exist. “God” the control freak mass murderer simply doesn’t exist, the “God” of the Bible is a myth. The Bible, like all other holy religious doctrine (I prefer to call it dogma) is total and complete nonsense, none of it is true. It was invented and designed for the very purpose of holding people back from achieving their enlightened state, teaching them that it is a sin to be in touch with their spiritual gifts. They call psychic ability, astrology, energy healing, communication with spirits, etc “the work of the devil” and prohibit church members from developing themselves spiritually because they don’t want the masses being powerful. If everyone truly knew who they are and how powerful they are and developed their spiritual and psychic abilities then the status quo wouldn’t be able to sustain itself. Religion was developed and invented for the purpose of controlling the masses and holding people down. It is a waste of time. Religion is based upon keeping people in a state of fear. They teach you to fear hell, and they teach you to fear God. They teach you nothing but fear, fear and more fear and the reason for that is to hold you down. When you rise in consciousness into love rather than buying into their fear tactics you’ll discover and be who you really are, you’ll discover your own personal power and you’ll discover what’s been holding you back. Their purpose in creating religion was to keep people small and hold them in bondage. They do not want you rising in consciousness. Holding the masses powerless through mind control and manipulation is their way of easily maintaining their power and control. Politicians created religion, and politicians maintain it and pretend to be religious people for that very purpose.
Religion also remains the # 1 most divisive element in the history of the planet, causing more wars, death and destruction than any other reason. As we all know, what religion you belong to generally depends upon the location of your birth, and virtually all religions believe that their “God” is the only “true” one and everyone else is doomed automatically because they believe in the wrong “holy” book and the wrong “God”, which is absolutely lunacy in and of itself. “My God is better than your God” might as well be their slogan and then they start wars with one another. The Christians talk trash about the Muslims and the Muslims talk trash about the Christians. Neither side has “God on their side” both sides are wrong. I disagree with all of you because you’re displaying so much hate and you’re causing more harm than any good you might bring into the world, calling yourselves “spiritual”, “holy”, “righteous”, etc. and then acting like little children and fighting amongst each other, killing one another. For what purpose? If that is what it means to be a “good Christian” or a “good Muslim” then I’ll pass on your religion, thanks. Not to mention that the Christian religion has divided itself up into more than 38,000 different “denominations” with pretty much all of them making the standard claim that “we’re the only true church and everyone else is doomed” which just causes divisiveness and animosity among people even within the very same religion! Why would “God” so unfairly discriminate and doom people automatically based upon what “holy” book the country of their birth teaches or what denomination of the Christian religion that they belong to? That’s stupid, ignorant, arrogant, self-righteous nonsense and that’s pretty much a standard teaching of all the churches in existence today. Go here to learn more about the blood and gore inspired by the Bible and Christianity such as the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Witch Hunts, etc. all in the name of “God” and because of what it says in the Bible: Religion’s Death Toll and Victims of the Christian Faith.
You would think that if Christianity is true and the “God” of the Bible is true and if the Bible itself is the infallible “word of God” then it would be made clear which church to belong to so that you wouldn’t have to face a 37,999 in 38,000 chance of being “doomed to hell for all eternity” don’t you think? As a matter of fact, if Christianity is true, then why is “God’s one and only true church” busted up into 38,000 different sects? I think that “God” could have made things much clearer than this, don’t you?
“God/Goddess” is not to be feared “God/Goddess” is to be embraced. Our purpose here in this lifetime and other lifetimes and even when we move into the spirit world, is to find our way back to the level of love that “God/Goddess” is. The concept of “sin” is a myth, there is no “sin” there is only cause and effect otherwise known as karma. You are the creator. You are your own “savior”. “God/Goddess” is the highest state of love that you can imagine. “God/Goddess” is so high a state of love that very few people, if any, achieve that level of love in their earthly lifetimes. But “God/Goddess” is certainly not judgmental, or condemning, or a mass murderer or someone who tries to control us as portrayed in the Bible. Those are all traits of lower consciousness. Only people with a low level of love do such things. People who are enlightened and full of love are unconditional and accepting. “God/Goddess” is absolutely unconditional, 100% loving. If you want to be “holy” or “righteous” or “virtuous” or “spiritual” then I have some advice for you. “Do unto each other only that which you would do unto yourself. Love one another.”
Jeff Fenske
To whomever posted this but may not have written it,
[The above is a quote from “My Thoughts On God/Goddess, By Rev. Kenneth C. Dyer, Jr., RMT.]
Paul talks about the kindness and severity of God in Romans 11. It’s a fallacy and false teaching that God is only love. God is also just, and He is no one to mess around with. If we think we can do anything we want and not suffer the consequences we are deceived.
Regarding the Genesis flood:
My theory on the Nephilim: When God told the Children of Israel to kill every man, woman and child in Canaan (the giants), there was this Genesis-6, demon-contaminated genetic problem again? Israel did not; and then there was intermarriage. This would explain why so many seem to be predisposed towards evil — and they become our leaders — even of churches?!!
Also, I totally agree with you about the warmongering ‘Christians,’ and have probably spent many hundreds, if not thousands of hours opposing this view, mostly on my sister blog, ToBeFree, but also here. Here is just one of many examples:
[video] Sarah Palin demonstrates why most evangelicals dissed Ron Paul, who wanted to bring the troops home. ‘Christians’ have two sets of books: one for US and one for THEM (“who don’t deserve rights”). THEY’re not our ‘neighbor’ whom Jesus commanded US to love as much as ourselves. Maybe that’s why most evangelicals refuse to investigate 9/11. If ‘THEY’ didn’t take down the towers…???
Regarding how God made men and women differently to be complementary:
[video] Adrian Rogers on MEN and WOMEN: Celebrate the Difference — “God made us different that He might make us ONE.” It’s time to stop trying to be the be the same or resenting each other because of our differences.
It is true that there are many thousands of denominations. That demonstrates how God gave man free will, and they’re using it. It also shows how reluctant most people are to carefully research what the Bible really says and to make the effort to do what the Bible says in order to learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit, Who will lead us into all truth.
But His truth will never disagree with what He taught the New Testament teachers in the Bible, who said we must overcome. We must be led by the Holy Spirit. We must have clean consciences before God when we see Jesus face to Face, or we will be doomed.
This fear should lead us to repentance, so we can rest in His love and acceptance — knowing there are severe consequences if we choose to willfully sin, to not do the greatest two commandments.
God, the Father sent His only son to pay the price for our sins. He then gave us the HOLY Spirit, who will give us the grace to always overcome if we decide to participate.
We can have peace on earth, deep in our hearts. And then when we see Jesus face to Face we’ll see Him accept us into our eternal home.
But we must have clean consciences now or we’ll experience dread then.
Jesus taught us the narrow road that we must walk on if we’re going to experience eternal life in Him.
No one has to follow Him. Most don’t, including most ‘Christians’ and pastors.
Jesus, clearly male, by the way, promised that He’d give us His glory to be ‘ONE’ with each other in Him, “that the world will know.” (John 17)
Most ‘Christians’ are too much doing their own thing to make the effort to be ‘ONE’ with each other in Him, so the world isn’t knowing. And this breaks my heart.
I have poured out my life, trying to get ‘Christians’ to really serve God, and very few are making sure they’re clean so the Holy Spirit can show up in His glory so billions will know — and Jesus will share His joy with us, as He said in John 15.
Most ‘Christians’ don’t want to accept the dozens of clear warnings which state the consequences of choosing to not live holy. They will be cut off and thrown into the fire and burned, if they don’t repent (John 15), which I prove here, but hardly anyone is willing to accept and proclaim what the Bible really says:
Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? — “There is therefore now *no condemnation* to those who are IN CHRIST Jesus, who don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.”
The God of the universe has given us a minimum standard by which we will be saved. He requires us to love Him enough and each other enough so our consciences are clear. It’s not rocket science, but pretty simple. We must walk in love by His grace, which is given to those who believe by His Holy Spirit.
If people don’t want to walk with Him and overcome that is their choice. And most pastors, today, teach that we don’t have to overcome to be real, going-to-heaven Christians. That’s why we have tens of thousands of denominations, and why we still have church splits here in Anchorage. The pastors refuse to submit to God and get right with each other. And so we have chaos and probably the end of America and the advent of the NWO too.
Is it such a bad thing that God requires us to live in harmony with each other and Him?
He made us the way we are. He gave us the rules. We can either accept what He really says or do our own thing — and He has told us what will happen to us either way.
Man is by nature rebellious. Few are willing to submit themselves to God; resist the Devil; so he will flee — to live peaceful lives here on earth — life in the Son.
It just takes one group of people in one place to get this right. Then God’s glory will show up and the world will know — Jesus’ heart-cry for His people in John 17.
I hope you choose the narrow road to eternal life, instead of the rebellious road that leads to destruction.
Don’t listen to the demons inside of your head, heart and gut that make sin sound and feel so sweet. Do whatever you have to, by His grace to overcome, and you will be free, staying vigilant thereafter, working out our salvation through fear and trembling, by His grace — to see His face happy that we chose to walk in love for Him and each other while on earth in this immense challenge that is no cake walk, for sure. But will became much easier once ‘ONE’ happens:
‘Let Us Be ONE’ Prophecy Continues 10/8/08: “It’s TOO LATE to REVERSE what’s been done for MY MEN have been REJECTED … Now is the Time to OVERCOME and GET RIGHT With ALL … FREEeeeeeeeeeeeee———DOM at last … Your HEART will SWELL with LOVE and it will be EASY to REMAIN In Me when others are On The BOAT With You”
Jeff
David Tench
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89573.The_Fire_That_Consumes
Sola Scriptura
Hell is very real, and very clear in the Bible. In light of all of the lies I’m hearing on it, I decided to scour the scriptures to find out exactly what Jesus, the apostles, and David said. Below is what I found…..
http://followingjesuschrist3.com/2014/12/28/hell-and-the-wrath-of-god-almighty-what-do-the-scriptures-say/
Jeff Fenske
Well said!
Jeff
Denny
Sola, you are right when you say “hell is very real”. I went to the link you listed and I agree 100% with the list of scriptures.
There are some very important facts about hell that need to be established and these facts come straight from the word of God as written in the bible.
The first fact about hell is this: The unsaved do not go to any place of punishment as soon as they die, but are reserved in the grave until the day of judgment to be punished. Jesus explicitly taught this truth in the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matt13:24-30. Then Jesus explains the meaning in Vs37-42. It was in the harvest that the separation would take place, and He plainly stated, “The harvest is the end of the world.” The wicked going into the fire at the time of their death contradicts our Lord’s specific teaching that they would be cast into the lake of fire at the end of the world.
Since the judgment also takes place after Jesus comes, we can see how impossible it would be for anyone to be punished before that time. Justice demands that a person be brought into judgment before being punished. 2Peter2:9. Suppose a man is brought into court accused of stealing, and the judge said, “Put him away for ten years, then we will try his case.” Listen, even a human judge would not be that unfair. Surely God would not be guilty of such a farce. The wicked are “reserved” until when? Until the “day of judgment.” To be what? “To be punished”!
They are reserved until that day as Peter indicated, and Jesus spells it out in John 5: 28, 29 where they will be reserved- ” in the graves.” Also Luke 14:14, Matt 16:27-” For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.” When is “then”? When He comes with His angels. No reward or recompense is handed out until the resurrection of the just, when He comes with all the angels.
Look at Rev 22;12- “And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Here Jesus reminds us that ” every man “- every person- will receive his just reward when He returns to this earth. Job declares ” that the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction.They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.” Job 21:30.
Daniel writes that they which ” sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Dan 12:2.
There is no doubt where the wicked are reserved before facing resurrection, judgment, and punishment- in the graves. We have the testimony of Peter, Job, Daniel and Jesus Himself !
This brings us to a second fact about hell: None of the unsaved will be cast into hell-fire until after the second coming of Jesus at the end of the world.
In Rev 21:8, John writes that the wicked ” shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” These people die the second death in the fire , but they cannot die a second death until they get a second life! This , of course , is what happens at the end of the world. Jesus said ” All that are in the graves shall come forth.” John5: 28,29.
The point to be noted is the time of this hell-fire punishment- it is after the resurrection at the end of the world. It does not take place at the time of the first death as so many have been led to believe.
John describes the dramatic events at the end of the thousand years in Rev20: 7-9. He also states in verse 5; ” But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
The rest of the dead had to be the wicked! As the wicked, being led by Satan, encompass the New Jerusalem on earth, they are suddenly devoured by fire which comes from Heaven! Rev 20: 7-10.
This is the hell-fire which is the final punishment for sin! The bible clearly asserts that this fire devours the wicked right here ” on the breadth of the earth.” Rev 20: 9
Isaiah portrays the entire planet enveloped in the destroying fire in Isaiah 34: 8,9. Isaiah says this is God’s vengeance and recompense at the end for the wicked and sin. David writes in Psalms11: 6- “Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire , and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Notice that John, Isaiah, and David all agree as to the place of punishment- the earth- and the agent of punishment-fire!
This brings us to a third fact about hell: Hell as a place of punishment will be this earth turned into a lake of fire at the Day of Judgment! One of the most intriguing and puzzling questions has to do with the length of the punishment for the wicked. How long will the wicked continue to live and suffer in that fire? No one can positively answer this question because the bible says the wicked will be punished according to their works. This means there will be degrees of punishment. Some will suffer longer than others. One thing we can say with certainty – the wicked will not live in that fire throughout eternity!
There are several reasons for being so sure on this point. First of all, this earth is declared by Jesus to be the final home for the righteous! He states in Matt5; 5- “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Peter writes in 2Peter3: 13- ” Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.” The wicked cannot continue to live in this planet because it has been specifically promised, in it’s entirety, to Abraham’s spiritual seed. Rom4: 13. After being purged of all sin the earth will finally be what God intended it to be from the beginning- a perfect home for a perfect people!
In the second place, the wicked cannot continue to live in this earth because they have never trusted Jesus for eternal life. It is only the righteous who receive eternal life from John 3: 16. But what about those who don’t believe? Paul writes in Rom 6: 23- ” The wages of sin is death.” The wicked are never promised life. They are promised death- eternal death. Only the righteous are promised life- eternal life.
But there is only one way to receive eternal life, and that is through faith in Jesus. 1John5: 11,12- ” And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.” Do the wicked ones in the lake of fire have the Son of God? Of course not! Then how could they have life? John says in 1John3: 15- “You know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” Will the wicked have life for eternity? NEVER!!!!
It would be the rankest heresy ever to believe that eternal life could be obtained from some other source than Jesus! Inspiration from the bible reveals no other source of immortality than through the gospel of Jesus. Where is a text in God’s word which describes the conferring of immortality to the wicked? You can read often about the righteous receiving it, but never the unbeliever.
The text of 1Cor15: 51-53 speaks of a certain point in time when the righteous will be changed into immortal beings. It occurs when Jesus returns, at the last trumpet, when the resurrection takes place. Nowhere in the bible do we read of the wicked being changed in this manner. And it is precisely this, not receiving the gift of eternal life, that they cannot burn for eternity in the lake of fire.
Those who do not believe in the only begotten Son will perish. They will die the second death, an eternal death from which they will never be raised. That death will never end. It is an endless, eternal punishment, because it is an endless, eternal death.
Someone may ask: What about the unquenchable fire? To quench means to put out or extinguish. No one will be able to put out the fire of hell. It is the strange fire of God. No one will be able to escape from it by extinguishing it. Isaiah writes in Is47: 14- “Behold they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them, they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before it.” After the fire has done its job it will go out, not a coal will be left. So say the Scriptures. Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would burn with a fire that could not be quenched, Jer17: 17, but it burned down to ashes, 2Chron36: 19-21. Unquenchable does not mean the fire will never go out, it only means what it says, it can’t be quenched.
What about the terms” eternal”, ” everlasting”, which are used to describe the fires of hell?”
Jude 7 says ” Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” It is quite obvious that these places are not still burning today! Yet they burned with an” eternal fire” and we are told that it was an example of something. What is it an example of? ” And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.” 2Peter2:6.
There it is! That eternal fire that brought Sodom to ashes is an example of what will finally happen to the wicked. This same fire is the fire that will burn the wicked in the lake of fire. Does that mean it will burn the wicked to ashes? The bible says yes! For further bible truth read Malachi 4: 1,3
Many people are troubled by the term ” everlasting punishment”. But notice it does not say ” everlasting punishing”. Whatever the punishment is, it will last eternally. The bible tells us in Rom6:23
” The wages of sin is death” and this is the punishment the wicked receive. Jesus in Matt 25: 46 says, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal “.
Jesus was simply saying that death would be everlasting. It would never end. It would never be broken by a resurrection. Paul writes in 2 Thess 1: 9 ” Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. ” So the punishment is everlasting destruction, from it there will be no hope of resurrection or life.
This brings us to a fourth fact about hell: Jesus said in Matt10:28- ” And fear not them that kill the body….. but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell “. Jesus, the only one who can bestow the gift of life, rejects the possibility that those in hell can continue to live in any form whatsoever. The life will be snuffed out for eternity, and the body will be destroyed in the flames of the lake of fire. Psalms 37: 10, 20- ” For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” ” But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.”
Destroy, consume, burn up, devour, death- Do these words have some mysterious, opposite meaning in the bible than they have in other books?
There would be no reason to think so!
Of all the characteristics of God we read in His Word , He is just to judge every one at the last day. The righteous to everlasting life and the wicked to everlasting death.
We need to remember that for every truth of God’s word, Satan has a counterfeit! We are to search the scriptures to prove that what Satan has instilled in man’s mind is a deception and stay far from it. Satan is the father of lies and the greatest liar of all. Scripture proves there is no punishment until Jesus comes at the last day.
I hope this short paper gives every one a right understanding on the misconceptions of a person burning for ever and ever in hell.
Jeff Fenske
Denny, the indirect reasoning in your comment ignores many straightforward verses in the article, which I speak of in my intro:
And notice here the many references to hell being an eternal state:
• everlasting fire
• everlasting punishment
• eternal condemnation
• the fire that shall never be quenched
• their worm does not die
• unquenchable fire
Only one verse would prove that hell is eternal, but there are many, stated in many ways.
And your not-quenched argument is refuted also by Jesus’ positioning of the “worm that does not die” alongside the “fire that is not quenched” in three places.
“their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
“Does not die” is clearly eternal. And so is the fire.
The worms will eat people’s bodies forever, like Mary K. Baxter saw, as the fire burns the flesh also. Not everyone was in the flame-on areas of hell, though, in her visions, and others. Bill Wiese wasn’t himself burning in the flame-on area, but could see it, smell it, and hear it.
The different degrees of judgment are not in how long the judgment will last, but rather the different places in hell where they spend eternity. God determines where people are placed. ~”Those who consider themselves teachers will get a stricter judgment” if they lead people astray. They can pretty much count on the flame-on area, or something really horrible. We need to be REALLY careful! Those who have never even heard the gospel, but who still knowingly sinned will likely get hell-light.
Please don’t twist the word of God.
Bible interpretation isn’t a hobby. It’s REALLY serious!
Jeff
Denny
Jeff,
It doesn’t matter what Ms. Baxter saw in a vision dream or whatever. Satan can give anyone a dream or vision that seems right but is not. Different degrees of punishment, not judgment, is what I wrote and it comes from the books being opened and all will be judged according to their works (Rev 20:12). In a court of law a person is judged according to the crime he commits, and his punishment is based on the evidence. In God’s court the books are opened (the evidence) and all sinners are judged and rewarded or punished and God’s punishment is found in Rom6:23-” The wages of sin is death. I think this is very clear.
You mention ” different places in hell “.The bible says nothing about this. Hell is- the Lake of Fire- at the last day- and it is on this earth, the entire earth. No one is punished until the last day when Jesus comes with all the angels. And they are punished according to their works until they are dead.
” The worm that dies not ” is a reference Jesus used to give a visual indication of Gehenna, which was a trash dump where garbage and bodies were burned outside Jerusalem. The bodies and garbage that didn’t burn were eaten by the worms until there was nothing left. The people of Jesus’ day were very familiar with Gehenna because it was a very real place to them.
Only three people are in heaven, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah. No one is in hell. All the dead are still in the grave. No one is being punished right now. So says the Scriptures.
Jeff Fenske
Denny,
I’m not concerned about whether people are in hell now or have to wait until the final judgment. That is not the topic here. My point is that it’s real and it’s eternal. Please don’t change the subject.
Regarding the worm that does not die. You sound like you’ve been talking to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jesus says this worm will not die. “Will not die” means will not die.
Regarding Mary K. Baxter and others visions of hell, they aren’t the main source of truth. But they are a legitimate source, and cannot disagree with the Bible, the verses I include below. Jesus said the “Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.” These visions shouldn’t be dismissed as being from the Devil when they all agree with each other and the Bible. Also, I’ve met Mary. She seems exceptionally credible to me.
None of these verses about the different degrees of punishment indicate anything to do with time. That’s wishful thinking and man’s invention — not a natural reading. The visions of hell I’m talking about do help explain how these verses are or will be applied, though.
Then He [Jesus] began to upbraid the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to 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. But I say unto you, It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. (Matthew 11:20-22)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation,” (Matthew 23:13)
That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. (Luke 12:47,48)
How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29).
For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. (2 Peter 2:20-21)
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. (Revelation 20:11–13)
The Bible teaches that hell is real and is eternal. To say otherwise is to manipulate scripture so it agrees with your wishful thinking, instead of accepting what the text says.
When we accept that hell really is this bad, then we can get on with living so we make sure we don’t go there and help as many as possible to also avoid this place.
False teaching about hell affects how people live. We need to work out our salvation through fear and TREMBLING, like Paul did, making sure he had a clear conscience before everyone and God.
“Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:16)
The fear of God is a good thing, teaching us to say ‘no’ to sin, and to live holy lives pleasing to the Lord.
Minimizing the fear of God is heresy.
jeff
Denny
Jeff,
All the verses you cite mention the phrases, ” more tolerable “, ” greater condemnation “, ” beaten with many stripes “, ” beaten with few stripes “, ” worse punishment “, ” last state worse “, ” more strictly “, ” according to what they had done ” all mean varying degrees of punishment. All the wicked will receive some punishment, some more punishment, some less punishment. But eventually all the wicked will die the second death! When God rids the earth of all sin in the lake of fire, then He will make a new heavens and earth. And sin will be no more.
The bible says hell is the lake of fire at the last day. Jeff, where do you say hell is?
Jon gericke
My 2 cents worth regarding the use of fire as eternal punishment….putting aside salvation which doesn’t truly occur until after this world is destroyed…I didn’t say there were not already names written in the book…I said true salvation does not occur until the new heaven and earth are revealed….I believe that what God (Jesus) is saying is that fire has always and always will be a means of purifying and unclean flesh and spirit….the Bible was basically written pertaining to this world only….yes there is a new world but is your pay grade high enough to say that that won’t also become a flesh and blood world…and that fire won’t also be used there to bring judgement to evil? And who is to say that there wasn’t a world before this one….the Bible states that God has existed from the beginning of time which is forever…the Bible I believe states that Satan and his demons are thrown into the lake of fire….so using your logic if fire cannot destroy flesh how could it destroy a most powerful spirit being like Satan….which means he can still wander the universe?
Jon gericke
In addition…before you say that we are going to exist with Jesus (God) in some kind of spirit world for all eternity…don’t you think that would get a little boring? Isn’t that why God created a physical world to begin with? I know the Bible says there will be neither male or female and we will neither marry or be taken in marriage…but isn’t that how it was prior to the creation of this world?….I’m with Jeff…I’m believe that was his name…all lol punishment for us is reserved for this world and is not eternal (FOR US)!!!!
Jon gericke
One last thing….I also believe the Bible does mention a fire but the flesh is not consumed….However….remember unless you become perfect as Jesus was you are coming back here for final judgement….I believe that is all that that means…you need to be aware that even though you die once it does not mean you don’t die a second death
Jon gericke
I lied one last thing….cause I see the Hebrews 9 argument coming….for it is appointed….this gets into some very contentious area here….but even though it is appointed for man to die once…who is to say that a different man….or a resurrected man has to die a second death…Elijah in fact died….to say otherwise is nonsense….whether you believe he felt the sword cut off his head as John the Baptist (I dont)…does not change the fact that he was in fact, at least, Elijah in spirit
isheavennow
Okay so you guys have done a great job of finding scriptures and interpretation of them.
What if Jesus when he talked about heaven or hell I was talking about life here on earth. He never said we had to die to get to either place.
So those who are believing will be experiencing eternal life and those that continue to not believe will not experience the life jesus promised everyone in John 10:10
Jesus also said that in him we can have a life outside of him we would have no life
He’s not talking about after we die he’s talking about what He come to bring to earth We now can actively live in the kingdom those who refuse to believe cannot live in the kingdom
Jeff Fenske
I’m curious. Did you read the 46 verses in this article, because I don’t see how anyone can read these and think they refer to our life now on earth.
isheavennow
Please check out my website it may clarify what I’m trying to say
Look forward to your response
todd tomasella
—-Yes, Jesus’ recorded revelation of hell in Mark 9:43-49 is telling and severe and final. http://safeguardyoursoul.com/hell/
benaiah juma
hell is a real place. Take care of your soul by keeping the commandments.
benaiah juma
nice article
steve Last
“Hell” resides only in the “carnal-christian”
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek?
So you “Carnal-Christians” can’t even understand that, can you? aaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Understand what? What languages the Old and New Testaments where written in?
(Carnal- Christians reply) I don’t know “Hebrew” and I don’t know “Greek”
Well that’s your problem? The same as the pharisees, “self righteous”
Well how do you know what the Greek word is for “Hell” is there one word or more than one Greek word for “Hell”?
Since you can’t answer that question? How do you know how Jesus taught or what He taught?
Come on now, the flesh profits nothing?
In other words, you have read the Gospels have you not?
Well do you know what Gospel means?
Do you Know that it is impossible for God to lie?
Do you know the difference between flesh and spirit?
Do you know that God created evil?
Now could you show me the scripture answers to the 5 question above?
Remember the flesh profits nothing.
Jeff Fenske
Steve,
I’ve taken Biblical Hebrew and Greek classes.
To answer your question: God didn’t create evil. He gave the angels and then us free will. The Devil and some of the other angels chose to do evil, and then Eve fell for Satan’s lie, which brought evil into the human race too.
Most “Christians” today are carnal, largely because the fear of God has been removed from the pulpits and TalmudVision (TV). The false doctrine of OSAS (once-saved-always-saved) is now mainstream, which teaches that all people have to do is say the little prayer and they never have to worry about hell again no matter what they do or how carnal they become.
With so few of the “Christians” being real Christians (including leadership), basic clear principles of the Bible are being thrown out, and we’re living in these days that Paul predicted:
“For The TIME WILL COME when THEY WILL NOT LISTEN to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves TEACHERS AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS; and will TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and turn aside to *FABLES*” (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
“There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to those WHO ARE IN CHRIST Jesus, WHO don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT” (Romans 8:1). Carnal Christians have condemnation, and need to repent and walk according to the Spirit to live an overcoming life, to go to heaven — TO BE FREE!
Jeff
Jeff Fenske
Steve,
Also, I address what Jehovah’s Witnesses and others claim about the Greek word ‘Gehenna’ http://biblehub.com/greek/1067.htm in my response to Denny in comment #9 above.
“The worm that never dies” means just that: “never.” And those who have experienced hell have seen these worms eating the flesh of those in hell.
steve Last
As usual you can hear a Carnal-Christian first, before you see them?
I noticed that you said, God didn’t create evil? Well *Isaiah 45:7 *tells me different “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, *and create evil*: I the LORD do all these things” kJV
I don’t see any angels here or free will for man kind?
This tells me you don’t believe the Scriptures or understand them; that is why you are still “Carnal”
Can you give me a Book,chapter and verse for that statement you mention:
*Jeff Fenske statement* (God didn’t create evil. He gave the angels and then us free will. The Devil and some of the other angels chose to do evil, and then Eve fell for Satan’s lie, which brought evil into the human race too.)
Well when you show me the Book,chapter and verse for the above statement you so proudly uttered (or should I say writ down)
But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.*Mat 15:18*
You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speak a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. *John 8:44*
Oh, yeah anyway just two more things before I sign off, “What type of fire is in Hell” and what is Gehenna fire? I can’t wait for the answer; excited! (I hope you have book,chapter and verse with your answer)
As like all things written in Gods Word which is Spiritual Truth: exciting times!
On Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 8:13 AM, One Can Happen wrote:
> Jeff Fenske commented: “Steve, Also, I address what Jehovah’s Witnesses > and others claim about the Greek word ‘Gehenna’ ( > http://biblehub.com/greek/1067.htm) in my response to Denny in comment #9 > above. “The worm that never dies” means just that: “never.” And those who > have” >
Jeff Fenske
Steve,
You say:
I don’t see any angels here or free will for man kind?
The angels fell before mankind was created.
And you don’t see free will for mankind, really?? You’re exercising yours right now in how you’re treating me: unlike the way you would treat yourself, violating Jesus’ second greatest commandment. You’re harsh. Where is your love?
And if I were carnal, I would knee-jerk react to your harshness with harshness.
The fire in hell actually burns people’s flesh. Many have seen this and told about it, and all I’ve heard say the same thing. Hell is hot. You don’t want to go there. You should treat people better, and get right with anyone you’ve hurt, or else… — like Paul made sure he did, by the way:
“Herein I also practice *always* having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:16)
The word that the KJV translates as “evil” in Isaiah 45:7 is probably better translated as “darkness,” its common meaning as shown here.
benaiah
nice teaching.
Anonymous
For everyone to chew on: http://www.biblicaluniversalism.org/PDF/origin.&.hist.of.ET.pdf
Jeff Fenske
Something is wrong with the link.
Nathan
You’re missing the mark, brother. “Destruction” doesn’t mean “torment”. And anytime the words “eternal” or “everlasting” are used, they are describing the means of destruction (fire) or they are denoting the finality of the punishment; not the length of the punishment. As in, once the soul is destroyed, it remains that way forever; not that it’s destruction lasts for eternity (which is paradoxical).
The words used for “hell” are originally Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek). Both are roughly translated as “the abode of the dead” and Sheol is inconsistently translated as “hell” throughout the OT (seemingly only when it’s convenient for proponents of hell). The only scripture I’ve seen that implies eternal torment of unbelievers is Rev. 14:9-11 and the original Greek (basanizo) being translated as “torment” could have just as easily been translated as “tested” because that word was used to describe a means of testing the purity of gold and silver.
Basically, biased translators have inserted their own twisted beliefs into the scriptures for years (and this isn’t the only example). I would challenge you to reread those scriptures with the thought that hell doesn’t exist and see if it still makes sense. I pray that you find that God’s not the monster you think He is. If you’re interested in learning more, look up annihilationism. Benjamin L. Corey and Greg Boyd make some compelling points on the matter. God bless.
Jeff Fenske
Nathan,
I answered much of this above, which I’ll again post here:
… the indirect reasoning in your comment ignores many straightforward verses in the article, which I speak of in my intro:
And notice here the many references to hell being an eternal state:
• everlasting fire
• everlasting punishment
• eternal condemnation
• the fire that shall never be quenched
• their worm does not die
• unquenchable fire
Only one verse would prove that hell is eternal, but there are many, stated in many ways.
And your not-quenched argument is refuted also by Jesus’ positioning of the “worm that does not die” alongside the “fire that is not quenched” in three places.
“their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
“Does not die” is clearly eternal. And so is the fire.
The worms will eat people’s bodies forever, like Mary K. Baxter saw, as the fire burns the flesh also. Not everyone was in the flame-on areas of hell, though, in her visions, and others. Bill Wiese wasn’t himself burning in the flame-on area, but could see it, smell it, and hear it.
The different degrees of judgment are not in how long the judgment will last, but rather the different places in hell where they spend eternity. God determines where people are placed. ~”Those who consider themselves teachers will get a stricter judgment” if they lead people astray. They can pretty much count on the flame-on area, or something really horrible. We need to be REALLY careful! Those who have never even heard the gospel, but who still knowingly sinned will likely get hell-light.
Please don’t twist the word of God.
Bible interpretation isn’t a hobby. It’s REALLY serious!
Jeff
church boy
its bad anough to be in hell..then to add the judgement acordin to their work.. If hell is forever then its not acording to their works..meci..
Jeff Fenske
Are there degrees of punishment in hell?
On the basis of the Bible we may safely conclude that not all existence in hell is equal. First, the unified testimony of Scripture is that God is perfectly just and will reward and punish each person in accordance with what he or she has done (Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Ezekiel 18:20, 30; Romans 2:5–16; 1 Corinthians 3:8, 11–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 3:23–25; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:12).
Furthermore, the Bible is clear that with greater revelation and responsibility comes stricter judgment (cf. James 3:1 [Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment]). Jesus warned the Pharisees that they would “be punished most severely” for their willful hypocrisy (Luke 20:47). In denouncing the cities where most of his miracles had been performed, Jesus said, “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matthew 11:21). Thus, said Jesus, “It will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you” (v. 22).
Moreover, Jesus used the metaphor of physical torture to warn his hearers that those who knowingly disobey will experience greater torment in hell than those who disobey in ignorance (Luke 12:47–48). God is perfectly just and will reward and punish each person in accordance with what he or she has done.
benaiah
Those who die without CHRIST go to hell.