Pastor's Corner
The good news about hell, part 3 August 15, 2007
Dear Friend,
The Bible says that "God is love." (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16). It says that God draws us with threats and fear of the eternal torment. Right? Wrong. It says that He draws us with loving kindness. "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3.) But many people do not see God as a Being that draws with love or kindness. In surveys people list as the top reason that they don't believe in God, or the reason they hate God and don't want to attend church and have a relationship with Him is that they just can't believe in a Supreme Being that forces people into heaven with threats of eternal torment without any end: "My way or I'll burn and torment you for eternity." Many churches have taught this for years, and it's based on four phrases that are found in our Bibles that have been misunderstood. So let's take a look at each one of them, and we'll let the Bible give us the definition of the words.
Forever and ever
Forever and ever seems to indicate without end. Our current dictionary defines it as "limitless time." But have you noticed how words have a way of getting their meanings changed over time? The word idiotic started out to describe someone who was private; now it means a foolish or stupid person. Years ago the word silly meant someone who was happy and blessed with good fortune, now it means a lack of common sense or good judgment. And the word gay described people who were keenly alive and exuberant, now it's used to describe persons who are attracted to their same gender. What changed? The meaning of the word. So we have to ask ourselves, what did the phrase "forever and ever" mean in Bible times and when the Bible was written? Did it mean without end? When the Bible uses it, it means literally "until the end of its age," or as long as it's alive. In fact, the Bible uses the phrase "forever" 56 times in connection with things already ended. For example, when a slave chose to serve his master for his entire life, the Bible uses the phrase "forever". Again when Hannah brought her boy Samuel to the tabernacle to serve God she uses the phrase "forever" (1 Samuel 1:22), or as long as he should live (1 Samuel 1:28). So when used in reference to hell fire it simple means the destruction is complete, and doesn't stop until they are completely destroyed, or until the end of their lives. David clearly defines the Biblical usage of the word forever in Psalms: "For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14.
Unquenchable
The Bible says that the fires of hell cannot be "quenched." This comes from the Greek word asbestos, which means "inextinguishable," "not quenchable." To quench something means to put it out. If a campfire gets out of hand, and I throw water on it and put it out, then you could correctly say that I have quenched the fire. But if there is a building burning down, and it's so hot that it keeps on burning in spite of my throwing gallons of water on it, we would say that it is an unquenchable fire. But once the building is completely burned up; then the fire will go out. Not because it's been quenched, but because there's nothing more to burn. And it's the same with hell. Nothing can put those fires out. They will complete their work until everything they are burning turns to ashes, and then the fires will go out, and there will not be even a coal warm your little hands by on a cold morning (Isaiah 47:14). The Bible defines the word "unquenchable" for us. Jeremiah predicted that God would kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem that would consume even the palaces of the city, and "not be quenched" (Jeremiah 17:27). This was literally fulfilled a few years later when Nebuchadnezzar took the city, in 586 b.c. (Jeremiah 52:12, 13). Quite obviously the fire is not burning today. As chaff from a Judean threshing floor was utterly consumed, and nothing but ashes remained, so the wicked will be burned with "unquenchable fire" on the last great day until nothing but their ashes remain (Malachi 4:3).
Eternal Fire
Another word that has confused people is the phrase "everlasting fire" or "eternal fire." But again the Bible defines it for us. In Jude 7 it refers to Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed with "eternal fire", but they are not burning today. We see that after they were destroyed by the eternal fire, they have not been rebuilt. No, the phrase "eternal fire" simply means the effects are eternal, and there's no coming back to life or rebuilding, as in the case of Sodom.
Eternal Punishing
Finally, the Bible uses the phrase "eternal punishment". The effects of this punishment are eternal. The person is not burned for a set period of time, and then released to live their lives. No, their punishment is eternal. It's important to note that it does not say "eternal punishing"; that the act of punishing is eternal, but rather "eternal punishment." That is, the result of the punishment is eternal.
Over and over the Bible uses phrases that give us the finality of hell; that there is no way out, that there is no second chance or even a break once the fires of hell start. But God has also defined these phrases for us in the Bible so that we will not be confused with Satan's plans to make God appear as a mean tyrant that is totally devoid of any humane thinking.
The good news about hell is that it is not the picture that many see and teach of an unmerciful God that delights in torture. The good news about hell is that it is used to cleanse the earth in the last days, and not for tormenting humans in for eternity with the devil and his demons controlling it. But the bad news about hell is this: it's a reality, and it will happen, and when it does there will be many people in it that chose hell, because they didn't choose Christ. Have you chosen Him and His way today? Dedicate yourself to God every single morning, and simply ask Him into your heart.
Have a blessed day! I'm praying for you!
Mark
PS. There's been a lot of confusion on the parable Jesus told about the Rich Man and Lazarus. Let's take a close look at that parable next week.
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