SOUNDING
OUT:
HELL - Part III: Misunderstood Scriptures
The Rich Man and Lazarus: Luke 16 contains
an account that often causes trouble when working this
subject.
Luke 16:19:31:
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple
and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover
the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar
died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:
the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus
in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham,
have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip
the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue;
for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember
that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things,
and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted,
and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us
and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which
would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they
pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore,
father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he
may testify unto them, lest they also come into this
place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have
Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham:
but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear
not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead.
Many use the account of the rich man
and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 to support the doctrine of
the eternal torment of the wicked noting that the rich
man was tormented in flames. However, this account is
actually a parable, not an account of real events. If
this were literal teaching about the future life, then
all the details of the account would need to be accepted
as true. Then, those lost in hell would be visible to
the redeemed in heaven (verse 26), and the two groups
would be able to communicate back and forth across the
gulf separating them. What would eternal life be like
if the just had to view this horrendous torture forever
and converse with those in such a state.
Let's read a few verses before the account to check the
context.
Luke 16:14-18:
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all
these things: and they derided him.
15 And he [Jesus] said unto them [the
Pharisees], Ye are they which justify yourselves before
men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is
highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight
of God.
16 The law and the prophets were until
John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached,
and every man presseth into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and
earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18 Whosoever putteth away his wife,
and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever
marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth
adultery.
When Christ addressed this parable to
the Pharisees, he was using one of their own well-known
stories about the future to make a specific point. They
believed in a pagan view of the afterlife. He was warning
them using their current belief system. Although they
justified themselves, God knew their hearts and unless
they received Jesus' preaching of the kingdom of God,
they would be in a worse condition than Lazarus was in
their story. The one great point of the parable was that
it is in this life only that we determine our future destiny.
No second chance exists for the human race in a future
life to repent and change.
Regarding parables Bullinger notes:
"A parable is a continued simile-an
illustration by which one set of circumstances is likened
to another... This likeness is generally only in some
special point... It is not to be concluded that the likeness
may be pressed in all points, or extended to all particulars.
For example, a lion is used as a resemblance of Christ,
on account of his strength and prowess. The Devil is likened
to "a lion" because of his violence and cruelty.
Christ is compared to a thief, on account of his coming,
being unexpected; not on account of dishonesty.
The resemblance is to be sought for
in the scope of the context, and in the one great truth
which is presented, and the one important lesson which
is taught: and not in all the minute details with which
these things happen to be associated."
Jesus employed a popular pharisaical
story to teach an important lesson to the Pharisees. He
was God's only begotten son who would be raised from the
dead, and they needed to give heed to his words instead
of deriding his teaching. Not one jot or tittle would
in any wise pass away. According to their beliefs, they,
like the rich man, would only have this life to decide.
They needed to believe now that he was whom he said he
was; they would not get another opportunity after death.
Since the details of the story contradict the other clear
teaching no one should assume that Jesus supported the
details of the parable itself.
Unquenched Fire: Another difficult text is Mark 9:43-46.
Mark 9:43-48:
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better
for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two
hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall
be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and
the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut
it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life,
than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the
fire that shall never be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and
the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck
it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom
of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast
into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and
the fire is not quenched.
It should be obvious to the reader that
these verses are figurative. The very form of these verses
magnify their figurative aspect. The sentence, "Where
their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
is repeated three times with similar examples preceding
it, each time. These two terms, worms (Maggots live on
the corpses before hatching into flies.) and fire, are
representative of what happens at the city dump where
the fire never ceases. As an allusion to what happens
at the valley of Hinnon it is used symbolically to represent
what is going to happen at the judgments of the end times.
These three verses are a hyperbole. It's an overstatement,
an exaggeration, to make a point. Jesus is not encouraging
people to maim themselves. He is encouraging them to commit
themselves and discipline themselves to do what is right.
Mark 9:49,50:
For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice
shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have
lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have
salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Salt is indicative of commitment and
integrity. Jesus is encouraging them to not lose or dilute
their commitment.
Having established that this is a figurative
section, we still need to handle the idea of "unquenchable
fire."
Matthew 3:12:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge
his floor and gather his wheat into the garner: but
he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Luke 3:17:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge
his floor, and will gather his wheat into the garner;
but the chaff he will burn up with fire unquenchable.
Unquenchable means that no one will
put it out. It does not mean it will not go out. A fire
may be put out before everything combusts, but an unquenchable
fire can not be put out until combustion is complete.
These two verses again refer to the kind of fire God will
use to destroy the wicked. No one will be able to extinguish
it before it burns up the wicked completely. "Unquenchable
fire" is indicative of the unchangeable judgment
of God that will be completely carried out.
Jeremiah prophesied of the destruction
of Jerusalem with unquenched fire.
Jeremiah 17:27:
But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath
day, andd not to bear a burden, even entering into the
gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle
a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the
palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
The fulfillment of this prophesy is
also recorded in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 52:12,13
Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month,
which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king
of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard,
which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,
13 And burned the house of the LORD,
and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem,
and all the houses of the great men, burned he with
fire:
Like the "everlasting fire"
that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, the "unquenched
fire" that destroyed Jerusalem is not still burning
today. The point Jesus was making is that the fire that
will destroy the wicked in the future, like the fire that
destroyed Jerusalem will not be quenched until it has
accomplished its destruction. Unquenchable fire cannot
be put out, but it does go out when everything is burned
up.
Jeremiah 4:4:
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the
foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants
of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and
burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of
your doings.
God's fury will burn like a fire that
is not extinguished until it totally consumes the combustible
material. The sentence, "Where their worm dieth not,
and the fire is not quenched." Does not mean that
there are worms with eternal life or fires that shall
never cease. Rather, it is an allusion to what was happening
in the Valley of Hinnon in Jesus' day, an overstatement
to express the nature of divine judgment. The judgments
of God are certain and inexorable. There is nothing that
can hinder or interfere with the declared judgment of
God that will be executed at the harvest at the end of
the world.
Tormented Forever and Ever: The last two sections of scripture
often misunderstood are found in Revelation.
Revelation 14:9-11:
And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud
voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine
of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture
into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented
[basanizo] with fire and brimstone in the presence of
the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of their torment [basanizo]
ascendeth up for ever [aion] and ever [aion]; and they
have no rest day nor night, those who worship the beast
and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his
name.
These texts describe the nature of
the punishment as "torment." The word used in
these texts is the Greek word basanizo. Although it can
be used of testing metals by the use of a touchstone,
it is usually used of "struggle" or "distress."
Thayer states, basanizo means "to vex with grievous
pains (of body or mind), to torment." Likewise, Arndt
and Gingrich say that basanizo means "to torture,
torment," and may apply to either physical or mental
vexation. When we examine the uses of basanizo throughout
the New Testament, we see that distress, pain, and misery
are described. There is palsy in Matthew 8:6, child birth
in Revelation 12:2, and the mental torment of Lot in II
Peter 2:8. The description of torment is not contradictory
to other passages like Luke 12:42-48.
However, the phrase "the smoke
of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever"
seems to indicate the torment going on endlessly. However,
as we have seen before aion means age, and from the context
we see that the smoke will rise as long as the fire burns.
The destruction of Edom in the Old Testament was described
with smoke rising forever.
Isaiah 34:10:
It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof
shall go up for ever: from generation to generation
it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever
and ever.
As we saw with the everlasting fire
of Sodom and Gomorrah, this description emphasizes the
certain and inexorable judgment of God. The smoke will
last relatively as long as the fire does.
Revelation 20:10
And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake
of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false
prophet are; and shall be tormented [basanizo] day and
night for ever [aion] and ever [aion]."
This language in Revelation continues
to be very figurative. It does say that the torment in
the lake of fire will go on "forever and ever."
As we have seen before the meaning of "for ever and
ever must be determined by the context. The many clear
verses on the subject aid us in determining what this
verse actually means. Aion means age and refers to a remote
or extended or uninterrupted period of time determined
by the context. Sometimes the context determines that
aion should be translated "forever," and sometimes
the time should be limited to a specific age or period
of time. Here as in other places aion refers to a limited
time period.
We know this from the many clear verses
that indicate that the "lake of fire" is a figurative
representation of "death." (Revelations 20:14,15)
"Death" is the end of existence, and the "second
death" is used to speak of ultimate destruction from
which there is no resurrection.
As we have already seen, the lake of
fire was prepared for the destruction of the devil and
his angels. (Matthew 25:41; Hebrews 2:14) The wages of
sin is death, and Lucifer's rebellion will be rewarded
with his extermination. Ezekiel 28:19 says of the adversary
that "never shall thou be anymore." Job 21:30
says the "wicked are reserved to the day of destruction."
Matthew 7:13 also talks of destruction.
Revelation 20:11-15:
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on
it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away;
and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great,
stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of life: and the
dead were judged out of those things which were written
in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which
were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead
which were in them: and they were judged every man according
to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The torment described does not last
for ever, but the destruction does. After the second death
the only group of people remaining are those whose names
were found written in the book of life. These are those
who have eternal life. As John 3:16 stated, those who
were to perish, perished, and those who have eternal life
are enjoying it. The second death separates the just from
the unjust. The just are alive with no option or possibility
of ever dying again, and the unjust are dead with no option
or possibility of ever living again. That's the eternal
redemption of the just and the eternal punishment of the
unjust.
The teaching of eternal torment must
be rejected because it claims that the lost will continue
living forever, which is contrary to what the Word says
other places. (I John 5:12; Ezekiel 18:4,20) It must also
be rejected because it perpetuates and immortalizes sin,
suffering, sorrow, and pain. How can these things continue
when God promised that these things will no longer exist?
(Revelation 21:4)
The popular belief that hell is a place
of eternal torment is the doctrine of the devil and not
of God. It is against the teachings of Scripture, properly
understood. It is merely an extension of the first lie
of Satan to Eve in the Garden of Eden: "Ye shall
not surely die." (Genesis 3:4) Satan's great lie-that
when you die you are not really dead, but you keep on
living forever either in heaven or in hell-is still being
perpetuated.
This single lie is the foundation for
so much wrong teaching. Purgatory, indulgences, prayers
to dead saints, communication with the dead (i.e., spiritualism),
and eternal torment for the wicked in hellfire all come
from this unholy breeding ground. It's time to reject
the false teaching and enjoy the comfort of the accuracy
and integrity of God's Word. (I Thessalonians 4:18)
Conclusion: There
are three major reasons for concluding that the unjust
are not tormented forever in the fires of hell, but are
destroyed in the lake of fire. They are:
- First, a loving and just God would
not torture and torment forever.
- Second, the punishment of sin is
death.
- Third, the clear, biblical language
of the destruction of the wicked.
The Nature of a Loving and Just God
Precludes Eternal Torment: The very thought of a God who
deliberately tortures sinners throughout eternity, is
totally incompatible with the Biblical revelation of God
as a loving heavenly Father. Can God love sinners so much
as to send His only begotten son to save them, and then
turn around and punish them so severely as to subject
them to unending, cruel torture and torment? Eternal torment
would impose a punishment out of proportion to the sin
committed and thus violate the infinite justice of God.
(Romans 2:2; John 5:30) A belief in eternal torment would
only inspire more Inquisitions to imprison, torture, and
eventually burn at the stake so-called "heretics"
in an attempt to save them from the "eternal torment
of hell-fire."
The Punishment of Sin is Death: The
final destruction of the ungodly is supported in both
Testaments. The final punishment of sin is death: "The
soul that sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4,20). "The
wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23). This punishment
of sin, comprises not only the first death which all experience
as a result of Adam's sin, but also what the Bible calls
the second death (Revelation 20:14; 21:8), which is the
final, irreversible death experienced by the ungodly.
The ultimate wages of sin is not eternal torment, but
permanent death.
Death in the Bible is the cessation
of life. Were it not for the fact of the resurrection
(I Corinthians 15:18) the death that every human being
experiences would be the termination of their existence.
It is the resurrection that turns death from being the
final end of life into being a temporary sleep. But there
is no resurrection from the second death, because those
who experience it are consumed in what the Bible calls
"the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14). That
is the ultimate destruction.
The Language of Destruction in the Bible:
Another compelling reason for believing in the complete
destruction of the ungodly in the lake of fire is the
rich vocabulary and imagery used throughout the Old and
New Testaments. There are over 25 nouns and verbs used
in the Old Testament to describe the final destruction
of the wicked. We read a few of the many, noting language
like: "they will die," "they shall be cut
off," "they will be no more," "they
will perish," "like smoke they vanish away,"
"they shall be altogether destroyed," "they
shall be consumed," "they shall be devoured,"
and "they shall be burned up." We also saw imagery
of sinners burning like chaff with no one to quench the
consuming fire.
With the exception of the scriptures
noted in Chapters 3-5, the record of scripture is clear:
The end of the ungodly is judgment and death in the lake
of fire.
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