Hell Series
Hell - Under Construction • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Hell (and then Heaven)
since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
NOT VITAL TO FAITH
3 Views Historically – I think some of you will walk out holding 1, some walk out holding another, and no one the third.
ECT – Eternal Conscious Torment (Consensus View for the last 1500 years or so)
Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Annihilationism – Body and Soul Killed/Annihilated
if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
Universalism – Hell is Reforming unto Salvation
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.
I started the BMW series with one view and by the end the view had adjusted. . . I started the Divorce series . . . Exciting
WORDS
Sheol/Hades
Sheol/Hades
Progressive Revelation
Sheol
Sheol
is the most common world in the Bible for the afterlife - “Realm of the Dead” - translated GRAVE - best way to think of it
65 Times in OT - Hebrew Word
(Jacob mourning Joseph)
All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
As the cloud fades and vanishes,
so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up;
he has made me dwell in darkness
like the dead of long ago.
Will it go down to the bars of Sheol?
Shall we descend together into the dust?”
For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am a man who has no strength,
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
For Sheol does not thank you;
death does not praise you;
those who go down to the pit do not hope
for your faithfulness.
The wicked shall return to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.
If I hope for Sheol as my house,
if I make my bed in darkness,
What man can live and never see death?
Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
We don’t have any didactic texts on Sheol or Death - only circumstances, normally poetic language - Sheol = Grave/Pit
Does seem in OT like some kind of resurrection was expected
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my service I would wait,
till my renewal should come.
You would call, and I would answer you;
you would long for the work of your hands.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Hades
Hades
Most think NT Greek version of Sheol
Mainly meaning the grave/realm of the dead
(Leave Bibles here)
And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
2 Options that I dont think I can choose from Biblically
Hades means Death/Grave/Pit
Hades mean Hell Lite/Pre-Hell
And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
“Gates of Hades”
KJV hurt us - two words in the NT translated as Hell - Hades and Gahenna
Hades is tossed into the Lake of Fire - so not the same
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Were they both in Hades, Realm of Dead, or only the Rich Man?
SUM IT UP
SUM IT UP
We’ve been introduced to the two most prominent biblical words about Death, which are roughly synonymous - Hebrew Sheol, Greek Hades
Mainly - Death/Realm of the Dead, sometimes negative hell-like connotations
Doesn’t tell us much about Heaven and Hell, next one is more impactful
Gahenna / Lake of Fire
Gahenna / Lake of Fire
And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
Garbage Dump? - first source Ad 1200
Gahenna means “Valley of Hinnom”
And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no one might burn his son or his daughter as an offering to Molech.
and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere. And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away. And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste.
therefore, behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when this place shall no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
Early Jews 200BC - 100AD picked up on this and used it to mean Hell, tied Gahenna and Lake of Fire together
Jesus uses the imagery as well
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Gahenna of Fire
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
Sheol/Hades/Death thrown into Gahenna
And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
What happens when we die?
What happens when we die?
Body dies, stays in the grave for now, but it will be resurrected - promised throughout the scriptures
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
What is being raised? Souls? No, our souls don’t die when our bodies do.
Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV)
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
1 Corinthians 15:20–21 (ESV)
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
But what happens NOW, if my body dies today and is laid in the grave
Jesus Thief on the Cross- TODAY you will be with me in paradise
“To be absent with the body is to be present with the Lord” - Where is that? lol
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Luke 16 - Not ultimate Heaven/Hell - Punishment or Comfort Immediately
Abraham’s Bosom
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Universalism
Universalism
The main argument heard here is often an emotional one, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that there aren’t biblical passages that appear to point in this direction
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Response?
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
All?
And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
NEXT VERSE 1 Cor 15:23-26
But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
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.
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.
Traditional - ECT
Traditional - ECT
History is on this side - thats SIGNIFICANT
Matthew 25:41, 46
Eternal punishment
Natural reading
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
No Rest!
Rev 20:10-15 - Devil thrown there, so are unrighteous
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Matt 18:6-9
Unquenchable Fire - Mark 9:43, Matt 3:12, Lk 3:17 (II)
Why need unquenchable fire if theres eventually nothing to burn
Luke 16 - no indication that he’ll ever leave this place or stop being there - seems eternal
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Mark 9:47-48**
Annihilationism
Annihilationism
I don’t care much about whether a scholar is coc . . . best scholar or the subject - the one everyone else is quoting and referencing and footnoting
Only time I have ever studied a subject deeply and THE Leading scholar on a position is a COC fella - everyone else references him
RESPONSE -
Matt 25:46 - Eternal Punishment is Death, the punishment lasts forever (Heb 6:2 - Eternal judgment doesnt mean judging eternally)
Luke 16 - Intermediary State - brothers still alive
2 Thess 1:7-9 and Mark 9 are both quoting Isaiah 66:15-16, 24**
Corpses, as a testimony to Gods vindicating might
Unquenchable Fire - This is a fairly common biblical idiom for a fire that cannot be put out because of its strength, not one that will not ever die
Ezek 20:47-48, Jer 17:27, Amos 5:6}
Firefighter - your house - “We just couldnt put the fire out” - but the fire will die out when it has burned the house down
Or how about the smoke going up forever
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
Revelation 19:2–3 (ESV)
for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
Isaiah 34:9–10 (ESV)
And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and her soil into sulfur; her land shall become burning pitch. Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever.
Edom isn’t still smoking
Only God is Immortal by nature - your soul isn’t inherently immortal - 1 Tim 6:16
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
How did Adam and Eve stay alive, what was it that would have given them life forever? . . They needed the tree!
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”
through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Only Righteous granted Eternal Life
2 Tim 1:9-10, Rom 2:7, Jn 5:29, Lk 20:35-36
1 Jn 2:25, Gal 6:8, Jn 10:28, Jn 3:36, Jn 4:14, Jn 6:40, 47, 54, Ac 13:46, Rom 5:21, 1 Tim 6:12, James 1:12
The wicked are never promised eternal life - 1 Jn 3:15
Eternity is Entirely Cleansed of Sin
Eph 1:9-10, 1 Cor 15:24-28, Isaiah 66:15-24
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Christ Bore our Penalty which was Death
Rom 5:6-8, Rom 5:14-15, 2 Cor 5:15
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Destruction/Death Promised for the Lost
Ps 11:1-7, 34:8-22, 58, 37:38, 92:7
2 Pet 2:6, 12, 3:7, Phil 1:28, Phil 3:19-21, Matt 7:13-14, Matthew 13:30, 40-43, Matt 10:28, Rom 9:22, John 3:16, 2 Thess 1:8-9
Rom 6:16, 23, 2 Cor 2:15-16, Jn 5:20, 1 Thess 5:3, 2 Cor 1:18, Ac 3:23
just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Audacious going against so many Christians - but it was a view held early on
Early Christians held this view apparently - Irenaes, Ignatius, Athanasius (debate)
So what happened? Changed clearly by Augustine - Platonic Ideas of Augustine on the immortality of the soul
ETC Response
The promise of Eternal Life is Qualitative not Quantitative - it is something special on its own beyond simple immortality
Does the one in hell ever stop sinning, so is his sin payment ever finished?
SUMMARY OF DEBATE
SUMMARY OF DEBATE
ETC
Matt 25:41-46* - others like it - Eternal Punishment/Destruction
History
Double Resurrection - Just to Annihilate?
Never Stop Sinning
Annihilation
Rom 2:7 Humans aren’t Immortal - God must Grant Eternal Life - Only to the Righteous
2 Pet 2:6 Destruction/Death is the Consistent Promise about the Unrighteous
The Language appealed to clearly refers to death in other places in Bible
OTHER? VERSES
I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Rethinkinghell.com