10.9.25 ~ Knock-knock, who's there?
Good morning!
Chag Sameach Sukkot!
I was asked on a lunch date yesterday about a topic that appears to be anything but joyfully Sukkot related: Hell/gehenna. Yikes. Does it exist? Are there people there now? Some say it doesn't exist. Some say it does. I can't speak experientially, but I can tell you that Yeshua said "Yes, it is a real place" at least 12 times in the recorded gospels. And in juxtaposition to the Kingdom, He warned us strongly: Avoid it at all costs.
In fact, He warned us that if our eye offended us, you better pluck it out...t's better to go into the Kingdom (positions of ruling and reigning) with one eye than to go into hell/gehenna with two (Matt 5:22-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mk 9:43-47; Lk 12:5; etc.). In this place apart from His ruling Kingdom, the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
Knock-knock, who's there? Anyone there? Does it exist? Does it not exist? Yes. Enquiring minds want to know? But we aren't talking about 'modern Christianity Dante's inferno'.
If I'm correct, and I can't be 100% certain, because I haven't been there and don't plan on it :-). But, I can say, according to Scripture, hell/gehenna is an actual geographical location; the valley of Hinnom (Josh. 15:8; 18:16). This area became a place known for its child sacrifice and idolatrous worship of Molech (Jer 32:35; cf. 7:31-32; 19:6; 2 Kgs 23:10; 2 Chron 28:3; 33:6). This place definitely exists outside of Jerusalem, but is it active?
What if this place that exists still doesn't exist? What if it's not going to come active until after the resurrection? When Yeshua describes this place in Mark's account (Mk. 9:44) as the place where the worm doesn't die, He's quoting from Isaiah 66:22-24 when there is a grand description of the new heavens and the new earth.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon/rosh chodesh to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring/deraon unto all flesh. (Isa. 66:22-24)
According to Isaiah, this abhorrent/deraon event is for the wicked in a post-resurrection reality; not a current state of eternal torment because I rejected the unconditional love of the heavenly Father.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt/deraon. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Dan. 12:1-3)
The Bible describes everyone being raised from their graves and then a judgment to determine their destiny. Revelation calls this place the '2nd death' (Rev. 20:14; 21:8); a death that comes after resurrection.
The question I must ask myself is, "Do I believe in both life and death? With your help and encouragement, I'm waiting for the new heavens and new earth where righteousness will dwell (2 Pet. 3:13) and I'll do my best to warn people of that place which is spoken of, as though it is, but isn't yet (Rom. 4:17). What do you believe? Actions speak louder than words.
Chag Sameach Sukkot!
Shalom,
Alan
Last night's zoom call on our Sukkot theme of: Will the real Messiah please stand up! Do I really know who Yeshua is? Who is King David's Lord (Psa. 110; Psa. 2; Matt. 22:441-46)
I was asked on a lunch date yesterday about a topic that appears to be anything but joyfully Sukkot related: Hell/gehenna. Yikes. Does it exist? Are there people there now? Some say it doesn't exist. Some say it does. I can't speak experientially, but I can tell you that Yeshua said "Yes, it is a real place" at least 12 times in the recorded gospels. And in juxtaposition to the Kingdom, He warned us strongly: Avoid it at all costs.
In fact, He warned us that if our eye offended us, you better pluck it out...t's better to go into the Kingdom (positions of ruling and reigning) with one eye than to go into hell/gehenna with two (Matt 5:22-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mk 9:43-47; Lk 12:5; etc.). In this place apart from His ruling Kingdom, the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
Knock-knock, who's there? Anyone there? Does it exist? Does it not exist? Yes. Enquiring minds want to know? But we aren't talking about 'modern Christianity Dante's inferno'.
If I'm correct, and I can't be 100% certain, because I haven't been there and don't plan on it :-). But, I can say, according to Scripture, hell/gehenna is an actual geographical location; the valley of Hinnom (Josh. 15:8; 18:16). This area became a place known for its child sacrifice and idolatrous worship of Molech (Jer 32:35; cf. 7:31-32; 19:6; 2 Kgs 23:10; 2 Chron 28:3; 33:6). This place definitely exists outside of Jerusalem, but is it active?
What if this place that exists still doesn't exist? What if it's not going to come active until after the resurrection? When Yeshua describes this place in Mark's account (Mk. 9:44) as the place where the worm doesn't die, He's quoting from Isaiah 66:22-24 when there is a grand description of the new heavens and the new earth.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon/rosh chodesh to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring/deraon unto all flesh. (Isa. 66:22-24)
According to Isaiah, this abhorrent/deraon event is for the wicked in a post-resurrection reality; not a current state of eternal torment because I rejected the unconditional love of the heavenly Father.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt/deraon. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Dan. 12:1-3)
The Bible describes everyone being raised from their graves and then a judgment to determine their destiny. Revelation calls this place the '2nd death' (Rev. 20:14; 21:8); a death that comes after resurrection.
The question I must ask myself is, "Do I believe in both life and death? With your help and encouragement, I'm waiting for the new heavens and new earth where righteousness will dwell (2 Pet. 3:13) and I'll do my best to warn people of that place which is spoken of, as though it is, but isn't yet (Rom. 4:17). What do you believe? Actions speak louder than words.
Chag Sameach Sukkot!
Shalom,
Alan
Last night's zoom call on our Sukkot theme of: Will the real Messiah please stand up! Do I really know who Yeshua is? Who is King David's Lord (Psa. 110; Psa. 2; Matt. 22:441-46)
Comments
Post a Comment