I would be sadly remiss if I didn't emphasize how we should fear the Lord who can send both body and soul to hell ( Matt. 10:28).
This; in my opinion should elicit a response in the souls of all true believers; as we should be ever greatful for what He did for us on the cross; taking the punishment of God the Father on Himself for our benefit.
What we can do now; however is be ambassadors for the truth; and allow God to make us vessels of reconciliation ( 2 Cor. 5:19).
We cannot save anyone; but are held responsible for the death of others if we don't sound the alarm (see Ezekiel 33). Notice there that they may or may not heed the warning.
One cannot separate the love of God for fear of the Lord; and one cannot appreciate the joys of heaven without realizing the horrors of hell they have been delivered from.
We also have to understand predestination in that regard; if we disagree on certain aspects it is clear that in the end a certain number are saved and sadly it is only "few" according to Christ Himself. ( Luke 13:23 among other verses).
Another thing which needs consideration is the reports of children being in hell. Matthew 18:10; as well as Matthew 21:16 tied to Psalm 8:2; and the testimony of David in 2 Samuel 12:23 should dispel this; there are other verses as well which I may elaborate on in a future posting. Those scenes where people seem baffled or confused as to what is happening to them isn't scriptural; and we also must ponder Hebrews 9:27; and understand that judgment comes first immediately after death (although before the Great White Throne one at the end of the Millennium). The punishment is justly given in different levels depending on the crime. I need to be careful here; but will say that punishment will be no more or less than deserved; more "tolerable" for some as in Matthew 11:22.
In conclusion; God's Word should make us tremble; the subject matter should never be looked at as entertaining.
Matthew chapter 10 verse 28 : fear him which is able to DESTROY both soul and body in hell . The Greek word is apollumi and it literally means to destroy fully and completely . It does not say 'send ' both soul and body .
I am certain that you are on the path to truth regarding God's Judgment.
The Bible is very clear that the wages of sin is death. And that death is eternal death, eternal destruction. Also, in passages that talk about punishment continuing "FOR ever and ever", the word FOR can also be translated "TO". This fits with the understanding of destruction as God destroys this sin cursed earth and creates the New Heaven and New Earth that will exist eternally.
Additionally the word "Hell" is also translated "Grave".
So when we look at the nature of God's Judgment program very carefully, we find that the Final Punishment is annihilation, that is destruction.
There is also the element of shaming where those that have died will be resurrected, not to life, but to shame and contempt, as their bodies or what is left are strewn on the ground.
I know this is anathema to the churches that have always taught eternal punishment. But we know from the book of Daniel that there will be certain truths that are unsealed as we near the end, which is where we are, I believe. And this understanding of God's judgment is one of those truths.
This is just one example of the Incomprehensible Mercy of God.
Yes David , the wages of sin is death . God is love , He is not cruel or cold hearted , He is not a torturer . Millions of people , through no fault of their own , never got the opertunity to know the Truth and lived and died never knowing their God or Saviour . Are these millions suffering eternal damnation and torture at the hands of a supernatural evil being ? Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 5+6 .
We should pay no attention whatsoever to any testimony regarding anything spiritual that includes some out of body experience or direct message from God such as a voice or a vision or a tongue. While that was possible prior to God completing the Bible as God spoke directly to some and actually appeared in some form to various individuals as He was "writing" the Bible, once the Bible was completed with the book of Revelation, God very specifically prohibits any of that from happening again. As we read in Rev 22:18,19.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
God is not speaking directly to anyone today in a dream or a voice or a vision or a tongue or in some "out of body" experience. We can be absolutely certain of that. The only message directly from God today is in the BIBLE ALONE and in its ENTRITY as God the Holy Spirit would lead us into Truth. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God".
I would be sadly remiss if I didn't emphasize how we should fear the Lord who can send both body and soul to hell ( Matt. 10:28).
This; in my opinion should elicit a response in the souls of all true believers; as we should be ever greatful for what He did for us on the cross; taking the punishment of God the Father on Himself for our benefit.
What we can do now; however is be ambassadors for the truth; and allow God to make us vessels of reconciliation ( 2 Cor. 5:19).
We cannot save anyone; but are held responsible for the death of others if we don't sound the alarm (see Ezekiel 33). Notice there that they may or may not heed the warning.
One cannot separate the love of God for fear of the Lord; and one cannot appreciate the joys of heaven without realizing the horrors of hell they have been delivered from.
We also have to understand predestination in that regard; if we disagree on certain aspects it is clear that in the end a certain number are saved and sadly it is only "few" according to Christ Himself. ( Luke 13:23 among other verses).
Another thing which needs consideration is the reports of children being in hell. Matthew 18:10; as well as Matthew 21:16 tied to Psalm 8:2; and the testimony of David in 2 Samuel 12:23 should dispel this; there are other verses as well which I may elaborate on in a future posting. Those scenes where people seem baffled or confused as to what is happening to them isn't scriptural; and we also must ponder Hebrews 9:27; and understand that judgment comes first immediately after death (although before the Great White Throne one at the end of the Millennium). The punishment is justly given in different levels depending on the crime. I need to be careful here; but will say that punishment will be no more or less than deserved; more "tolerable" for some as in Matthew 11:22.
In conclusion; God's Word should make us tremble; the subject matter should never be looked at as entertaining.
I am certain that you are on the path to truth regarding God's Judgment.
The Bible is very clear that the wages of sin is death. And that death is eternal death, eternal destruction. Also, in passages that talk about punishment continuing "FOR ever and ever", the word FOR can also be translated "TO". This fits with the understanding of destruction as God destroys this sin cursed earth and creates the New Heaven and New Earth that will exist eternally.
Additionally the word "Hell" is also translated "Grave".
So when we look at the nature of God's Judgment program very carefully, we find that the Final Punishment is annihilation, that is destruction.
There is also the element of shaming where those that have died will be resurrected, not to life, but to shame and contempt, as their bodies or what is left are strewn on the ground.
I know this is anathema to the churches that have always taught eternal punishment. But we know from the book of Daniel that there will be certain truths that are unsealed as we near the end, which is where we are, I believe. And this understanding of God's judgment is one of those truths.
This is just one example of the Incomprehensible Mercy of God.
Richard,
We should pay no attention whatsoever to any testimony regarding anything spiritual that includes some out of body experience or direct message from God such as a voice or a vision or a tongue. While that was possible prior to God completing the Bible as God spoke directly to some and actually appeared in some form to various individuals as He was "writing" the Bible, once the Bible was completed with the book of Revelation, God very specifically prohibits any of that from happening again. As we read in Rev 22:18,19.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
God is not speaking directly to anyone today in a dream or a voice or a vision or a tongue or in some "out of body" experience. We can be absolutely certain of that. The only message directly from God today is in the BIBLE ALONE and in its ENTRITY as God the Holy Spirit would lead us into Truth. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God".
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