I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series! It was helpful in clearing up the weeds of confusion between what I was taught growing up in the church, and what God's word actually says. Thank you!
Yes, we're going to be very busy with rewarding and challenging projects and responsibilities. This life is a preparation for increasingly greater things in the endless future.
Prevailing modern beliefs about the unsaved being tormented eternally in hell are based on (1) mistranslations in the Bible and (2) fictional accounts, such as Dante's Inferno.
1. Mistranslations in the Bible:
Hell:
-- The word 'hell' is a catch-all term for Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus (Greek). None of these words mean 'hell' as a place of eternal torment for human souls.
--- Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) both refer to the underworld place where souls go after the spirit separates from the body at death. But Hades is not hell, since it included both righteous and unrighteous souls.
--- Gehenna was where garbage was burned in the Valley of Hinnon.
---- The valley was used as a refuse dump for burning garbage, animal carcasses, and other waste materials, with fires constantly burning to consume the trash. This image of continual fire made Gehenna a symbol of divine judgment.
---- In the New Testament, Gehenna is frequently used as a metaphor for hell or final judgment. Jesus warned about Gehenna as a place of fiery punishment for the wicked, vividly describing it as a place where “the fire is not quenched” and “the worm does not die” (see Mark 9:43-48).
---- By the first century, Gehenna became a symbolic term for a place of punishment after death. In Jewish thought, it was seen as a temporary place of purification or punishment for the unrepentant. In Christian theology, Gehenna often represents hell, or the “lake of fire” described in the Book of Revelation, a place of separation from God.
--- Tartarus was a place where fallen angels are held in chains in darkness, pending their judgment. 2 Peter 2:4
Eternal?
-- Regarding whether a dead sinner's torment is eternal, Bible translators use words like 'eternal' and 'forever' to translate the Greek word 'aion' which should be translated as an eon, or age of time.
--- An eon, or age, has a specific purpose, with a beginning and an end. Here are a few examples: the age of the Mosaic law (from the Exodus to the cross), the age of grace (from the cross until Armageddon), and the millennial age to come. In God's plan, each of these ages has a purpose, with a beginning and an end.
-- Wherever the Bible says "forever and ever," the Greek words should've been translated "ages of ages."
2. Fictional Accounts:
- Dante's Inferno was written in 1320 AD. It portrayed Dante’s imaginary journey through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. It's famous for its terrifying portrayal of the consequences of sin.
-- Dante's Inferno, and others like it, greatly affected theologians, just as the "Left Behind" series of novels has promoted our modern church's end-time belief in the pre-tribulation rapture theory.
- Well-meaning preachers ignorantly promoted Dante's fictional concept of hell.
-- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was most famous for his sermon entitled, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which vividly described the horrors of hell and the urgency of repentance. This sermon portrayed hell as a place of real and terrifying punishment for unrepentant sinners.
- Since then, some of my favorite ministers, including: Dwight Moody, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, and Billy Graham all believed that preaching about hell was crucial to conveying the gravity of sin and the importance of salvation. Their messages often focused on the love and grace of God, but they used the concept of hell to underscore the urgency of repentance and faith in Jesus.
Traditional preachers will emphasize that "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." Hebrews 9:27
- But this verse is widely misunderstood. Most believe it's saying that after death there's no second chance for the lost, confusing the Biblical concept of judgment with eternal condemnation. But that's not what Heb 9:27 is saying.
- The word 'judgment' in Heb 9:27 is the Greek word krisis.
-- krisis is used in the New Testament to describe both favorable and unfavorable judgments. It conveys the idea of a decision, or verdict, that comes after careful assessment, which may lead to either positive or negative outcomes.
--- So, Heb 9:27 actually says, "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes God's decision about each person."
- This is what I portrayed in this chapter's White Throne Judgement. Both positive and negative decisions are made.
-- Those whose names are in the book of life are glorified and enter God's holy city.
-- Everyone else is excluded from entering the holy city, sentenced to one or more ages in the lake of fire--which is remedial, corrective training to burn away their impurities.
How can we be sure of this? Consider these verses which apply to ALL humans:
- "For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
- "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:18-19
- "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32
- "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22
- "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:19-20
Will all mankind will be saved, just in different stages? Yes, I believe so. After death everyone will be judged. That is, God will decide their destiny.
- For saints, their judgment results in glorification and blessings.
- For the lost, God's justice will send them into one or more ages of refining and purifying. They'll have seen the holy city, but they're excluded from entering it. As a result, they'll suffer great remorse and regret, weeping and gnashing their teeth (Matthew 13:42, 50). But this 'lake of fire' is redemptive, not simply punitive, and there's an end to it. Ultimately, the fires of Gehenna will purify them and reconcile them to God. Then, the verses above, referring to "all" humans, will be fulfilled.
Thank you!
What a beautiful picture…Our King of Kings will reign forever and ever! ❤️
Yes, Amen!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series! It was helpful in clearing up the weeds of confusion between what I was taught growing up in the church, and what God's word actually says. Thank you!
Thanks for that feedback Anna. That's exactly the result I hoped for.
Absolutely beautiful! Now I know why people have always said they look forward to heaven
Yes, we're going to be very busy with rewarding and challenging projects and responsibilities. This life is a preparation for increasingly greater things in the endless future.
Wow, what a great and inspiring ending. Thank you, you give hope that in the end all will be redeemed.
Amen, thanks brother.
Thank you for your effort and work on the writing of this story. Your insight and interpretation is wonderful! Thank you!!
Thanks brother. I appreciate your support.
So, all mankind will be saved, just in different stages?
Yes, Pat. That's right.
Prevailing modern beliefs about the unsaved being tormented eternally in hell are based on (1) mistranslations in the Bible and (2) fictional accounts, such as Dante's Inferno.
1. Mistranslations in the Bible:
Hell:
-- The word 'hell' is a catch-all term for Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus (Greek). None of these words mean 'hell' as a place of eternal torment for human souls.
--- Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) both refer to the underworld place where souls go after the spirit separates from the body at death. But Hades is not hell, since it included both righteous and unrighteous souls.
--- Gehenna was where garbage was burned in the Valley of Hinnon.
---- The valley was used as a refuse dump for burning garbage, animal carcasses, and other waste materials, with fires constantly burning to consume the trash. This image of continual fire made Gehenna a symbol of divine judgment.
---- In the New Testament, Gehenna is frequently used as a metaphor for hell or final judgment. Jesus warned about Gehenna as a place of fiery punishment for the wicked, vividly describing it as a place where “the fire is not quenched” and “the worm does not die” (see Mark 9:43-48).
---- By the first century, Gehenna became a symbolic term for a place of punishment after death. In Jewish thought, it was seen as a temporary place of purification or punishment for the unrepentant. In Christian theology, Gehenna often represents hell, or the “lake of fire” described in the Book of Revelation, a place of separation from God.
--- Tartarus was a place where fallen angels are held in chains in darkness, pending their judgment. 2 Peter 2:4
Eternal?
-- Regarding whether a dead sinner's torment is eternal, Bible translators use words like 'eternal' and 'forever' to translate the Greek word 'aion' which should be translated as an eon, or age of time.
--- An eon, or age, has a specific purpose, with a beginning and an end. Here are a few examples: the age of the Mosaic law (from the Exodus to the cross), the age of grace (from the cross until Armageddon), and the millennial age to come. In God's plan, each of these ages has a purpose, with a beginning and an end.
-- Wherever the Bible says "forever and ever," the Greek words should've been translated "ages of ages."
2. Fictional Accounts:
- Dante's Inferno was written in 1320 AD. It portrayed Dante’s imaginary journey through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. It's famous for its terrifying portrayal of the consequences of sin.
-- Dante's Inferno, and others like it, greatly affected theologians, just as the "Left Behind" series of novels has promoted our modern church's end-time belief in the pre-tribulation rapture theory.
- Well-meaning preachers ignorantly promoted Dante's fictional concept of hell.
-- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was most famous for his sermon entitled, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which vividly described the horrors of hell and the urgency of repentance. This sermon portrayed hell as a place of real and terrifying punishment for unrepentant sinners.
- Since then, some of my favorite ministers, including: Dwight Moody, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, and Billy Graham all believed that preaching about hell was crucial to conveying the gravity of sin and the importance of salvation. Their messages often focused on the love and grace of God, but they used the concept of hell to underscore the urgency of repentance and faith in Jesus.
Traditional preachers will emphasize that "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." Hebrews 9:27
- But this verse is widely misunderstood. Most believe it's saying that after death there's no second chance for the lost, confusing the Biblical concept of judgment with eternal condemnation. But that's not what Heb 9:27 is saying.
- The word 'judgment' in Heb 9:27 is the Greek word krisis.
-- krisis is used in the New Testament to describe both favorable and unfavorable judgments. It conveys the idea of a decision, or verdict, that comes after careful assessment, which may lead to either positive or negative outcomes.
--- So, Heb 9:27 actually says, "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes God's decision about each person."
- This is what I portrayed in this chapter's White Throne Judgement. Both positive and negative decisions are made.
-- Those whose names are in the book of life are glorified and enter God's holy city.
-- Everyone else is excluded from entering the holy city, sentenced to one or more ages in the lake of fire--which is remedial, corrective training to burn away their impurities.
How can we be sure of this? Consider these verses which apply to ALL humans:
- "For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
- "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:18-19
- "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32
- "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22
- "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:19-20
Will all mankind will be saved, just in different stages? Yes, I believe so. After death everyone will be judged. That is, God will decide their destiny.
- For saints, their judgment results in glorification and blessings.
- For the lost, God's justice will send them into one or more ages of refining and purifying. They'll have seen the holy city, but they're excluded from entering it. As a result, they'll suffer great remorse and regret, weeping and gnashing their teeth (Matthew 13:42, 50). But this 'lake of fire' is redemptive, not simply punitive, and there's an end to it. Ultimately, the fires of Gehenna will purify them and reconcile them to God. Then, the verses above, referring to "all" humans, will be fulfilled.
Thank you