Response to the question of does hell exist? The answer to the question is no. Hell as most people know it is a Christian adoption of pagan mythology, and
isn't a biblical teaching. The SAB also points out three possible interpretations. Those that don't go to heaven are tormented forever in hell; Those
that don't go to heaven, just die; and Everyone goes to heaven after they die. None of these are correct biblical teachings. The Bible teaches that a few
people go to heaven to judge and rule with Christ Jesus, the rest of the people who have ever (or will ever have) lived will either live forever in paradise
Earth or suffer everlasting destruction. Not a literal torment, as in hell, but a simple death.
First I will address the question of hell's existence and then each of the points brought up by the SAB in support of the aforementioned three interpretations.
[Edit: - The Pathway Machine article currently under construction includes the article I formerly posted here on the subject of hell. Wickle enjoys my reposts very much!
The SAB - Those That Don't Go To Heaven Are Tormented Forever In Hell?
To the question of does hell exist? The SAB interprets the following as yes.
Daniel 12:2 doesn't convey the idea of hell. The meek shall inherit the earth and the disobedient will be destroyed.
Matthew 13:41-42 is a parable about the harvesting of crops after the weeds have been burned, beginning in verse 39. Jesus compares the disobedient to the weeds that would have been thrown into the fire and burned so that the crop may live. Fire was, in Bible times, the most thorough means of destruction.
Matthew 18:8-9 is a reference to Gehenna, mentioned above. Gehenna was a literal place which came to represent spiritual destruction. A figurative everlasting fire.
Matthew 22:13 the illustration of the marriage feast is actually a pretty good account of very early Christianity. The King (God) invites his subjects (Jews) to the marriage feast of his son (Christ) and bride to be (anointed 144, 000) but his subjects refuse. The first call went out from 29 - 33 C.E. during Jesus' disciples (the King's slaves) missionary work. The second call began at the wedding dinner (Pentecost 33 C.E.) and continued to 36 C.E. but still the King's subjects refused and even began to kill the slaves of the King and the King became enraged and his armies destroyed them (70 C.E.). Since the King's subjects refused he sent his slaves outside of the city (Jerusalem) to gather any who would attend (Gentiles) beginning in 36 C.E. with the Roman army officer Cornelius and his family. This continues to this day, and the man without the wedding garment is the apostate Christian, who will be removed and thrown into the darkness. Which brings us to the next verse given by the SAB. . .
Matthew 25:41, 46 - Verse 41 is a reference to the lake of fire which is symbolic of everlasting destruction and verse 46 is interesting in that the KJV uses the term everlasting punishment, or in other translations, cutting off. From the Greek kolasin, which literally means "lopping off or pruning."
Mark 9:43-48 is a reference to Gehenna, mentioned above. Gehenna was a literal place which came to represent spiritual destruction. A figurative everlasting fire.
Luke 16:22-24 is the illustration of Lazarus and the rich man, which was addressed above.
John 5:28-29 in the KJV is a pretty poor translation. Damnation comes from the Greek anastasin kriseos and the Latin resurrectionem iudicii, far more accurately translated as "judgment" or "resurrection to judgment." It is a reference to the resurrection of the unrighteous. (Acts 24:15) Those who have not been given the opportunity to know Jehovah God, though unrighteous, will be resurrected and given the opportunity to do so.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 deals with the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction to the disobedient.
Revelation 14:10-11; 20:10 and 20:14-15 indicates that the wicked are tormented, from the Greek basanizo or related terms, which can imply being restrained, as in Matthew 18:34 where the "tormentors" are "jailers."
First I will address the question of hell's existence and then each of the points brought up by the SAB in support of the aforementioned three interpretations.
[Edit: - The Pathway Machine article currently under construction includes the article I formerly posted here on the subject of hell. Wickle enjoys my reposts very much!
The SAB - Those That Don't Go To Heaven Are Tormented Forever In Hell?
To the question of does hell exist? The SAB interprets the following as yes.
Daniel 12:2 doesn't convey the idea of hell. The meek shall inherit the earth and the disobedient will be destroyed.
Matthew 13:41-42 is a parable about the harvesting of crops after the weeds have been burned, beginning in verse 39. Jesus compares the disobedient to the weeds that would have been thrown into the fire and burned so that the crop may live. Fire was, in Bible times, the most thorough means of destruction.
Matthew 18:8-9 is a reference to Gehenna, mentioned above. Gehenna was a literal place which came to represent spiritual destruction. A figurative everlasting fire.
Matthew 22:13 the illustration of the marriage feast is actually a pretty good account of very early Christianity. The King (God) invites his subjects (Jews) to the marriage feast of his son (Christ) and bride to be (anointed 144, 000) but his subjects refuse. The first call went out from 29 - 33 C.E. during Jesus' disciples (the King's slaves) missionary work. The second call began at the wedding dinner (Pentecost 33 C.E.) and continued to 36 C.E. but still the King's subjects refused and even began to kill the slaves of the King and the King became enraged and his armies destroyed them (70 C.E.). Since the King's subjects refused he sent his slaves outside of the city (Jerusalem) to gather any who would attend (Gentiles) beginning in 36 C.E. with the Roman army officer Cornelius and his family. This continues to this day, and the man without the wedding garment is the apostate Christian, who will be removed and thrown into the darkness. Which brings us to the next verse given by the SAB. . .
Matthew 25:41, 46 - Verse 41 is a reference to the lake of fire which is symbolic of everlasting destruction and verse 46 is interesting in that the KJV uses the term everlasting punishment, or in other translations, cutting off. From the Greek kolasin, which literally means "lopping off or pruning."
Mark 9:43-48 is a reference to Gehenna, mentioned above. Gehenna was a literal place which came to represent spiritual destruction. A figurative everlasting fire.
Luke 16:22-24 is the illustration of Lazarus and the rich man, which was addressed above.
John 5:28-29 in the KJV is a pretty poor translation. Damnation comes from the Greek anastasin kriseos and the Latin resurrectionem iudicii, far more accurately translated as "judgment" or "resurrection to judgment." It is a reference to the resurrection of the unrighteous. (Acts 24:15) Those who have not been given the opportunity to know Jehovah God, though unrighteous, will be resurrected and given the opportunity to do so.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 deals with the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction to the disobedient.
Revelation 14:10-11; 20:10 and 20:14-15 indicates that the wicked are tormented, from the Greek basanizo or related terms, which can imply being restrained, as in Matthew 18:34 where the "tormentors" are "jailers."
