THE DOCTRINE OF ANNIHILATIONISM - Our sin bears an eternal consequence because it is committed against an eternal God. God is an eternal and infinite Being - as a result, all sin against Him is worthy of an eternal punishment. It is not a matter of the length of time we sin, but the character of the God against whom we sin - Annihilationism is the belief that unbelievers will not experience an eternity of suffering in hell, but will instead be “extinguished” after death. For many, annihilationism is an attractive belief because of the awfulness of the idea of people spending eternity in hell. While there are some passages that seem to argue for annihilationism, a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about the destiny of the wicked reveals the fact that punishment in hell is eternal. In relation to the nature of hell, annihilationists misunderstand the meaning of the lake of fire. If a human being were cast into a lake of burning lava, he/she would be almost instantly consumed. However, the lake of fire is both a physical and spiritual realm. It is not simply a human body being cast into the lake of fire; it is a human’s body, soul, and spirit. A spiritual nature cannot be consumed by physical fire. The unsaved are resurrected with a body prepared for eternity just as the saved are. These bodies are prepared for an eternal fate. Eternity is another aspect which annihilationists fail to fully comprehend.

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The Doctrine Of Annihilationism

Is annihilationism 

biblical?

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Our sin bears an eternal consequence because it is committed against an eternal God. God is an eternal and infinite Being - as a result, all sin against Him is worthy of an eternal punishment. It is not a matter of the length of time we sin, but the character of the God against whom we sin

Got Questions Ministries

Annihilationism is the belief that unbelievers will not experience an eternity of suffering in hell, but will instead be “extinguished” after death.

For many, annihilationism is an attractive belief because of the awfulness of the idea of people spending eternity in hell.

While there are some passages that seem to argue for annihilationism, a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about the destiny of the wicked reveals the fact that punishment in hell is eternal.

A belief in annihilationism results from a misunderstanding of one or more of the following doctrines:

1) the consequences of sin,

2) the justice of God,

3) the nature of hell.

In relation to the nature of hell, annihilationists misunderstand the meaning of the lake of fire.

Obviously, if a human being were cast into a lake of burning lava, he/she would be almost instantly consumed.

However, the lake of fire is both a physical and spiritual realm.

It is not simply a human body being cast into the lake of fire; it is a human’s body, soul, and spirit.

A spiritual nature cannot be consumed by physical fire.

It seems that the unsaved are resurrected with a body prepared for eternity just as the saved are (Revelation 20:13; Acts 24:15).

These bodies are prepared for an eternal fate.

Eternity is another aspect which annihilationists fail to fully comprehend.

Annihilationists are correct that the Greek word aionion, which is usually translated “eternal,” does not by definition mean “eternal.”

It specifically refers to an “age” or “eon,” a specific period of time.

However, it is clear that in the New Testament, aionion is sometimes used to refer to an eternal length of time. 

Revelation 20:10 speaks of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet being cast into the lake of fire and being tormented “day and night forever and ever.”

It is clear that these three are not “extinguished” by being cast into the lake of fire.

Why would the fate of the unsaved be any different? (Revelation 20:14-15)

The most convincing evidence for the eternality of hell is Matthew 25:46, “Then they [the unsaved] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

In this verse, the same Greek word is used to refer to the destiny of the wicked and the righteous.

If the wicked are only tormented for an “age,” then the righteous will only experience life in heaven for an “age.”

If believers will be in heaven forever, unbelievers will be in hell forever.

Another frequent objection to the eternality of hell by annihilationists is that it would be unjust for God to punish unbelievers in hell for eternity for a finite amount of sin.

How could it be fair for God to take a person who lived a sinful, 70-year life, and punish him/her for all of eternity?

The answer is that our sin bears an eternal consequence because it is committed against an eternal God.

When King David committed the sins of adultery and murder he stated, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:4).

David had sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah; how could David claim to have only sinned against God?

David understood that all sin is ultimately against God.

God is an eternal and infinite Being. As a result, all sin against Him is worthy of an eternal punishment.

It is not a matter of the length of time we sin, but the character of the God against whom we sin.

A more personal aspect of annihilationism is the idea that we could not possibly be happy in heaven if we knew that some of our loved ones were suffering an eternity of torment in hell.

However, when we arrive in heaven, we will not have anything to complain about or be saddened by. 

Revelation 21:4 tells us, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

If some of our loved ones are not in heaven, we will be in 100 percent complete agreement that they do not belong there and that they are condemned by their own refusal to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 3:16; 14:6).

It is hard to understand this, but we will not be saddened by the lack of their presence.

Our focus should not be on how we can enjoy heaven without all of our loved ones there, but on how we can point our loved ones to faith in Christ so that they will be there.

Hell is perhaps a primary reason why God sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins.

Being “extinguished” after death is no fate to dread, but an eternity in hell most definitely is.

Jesus’ death was an infinite death, paying our infinite sin debt so that we would not have to pay it in hell for eternity (2 Corinthians 5:21).

When we place our faith in Him, we are saved, forgiven, cleansed, and promised an eternal home in heaven.

But if we reject God’s gift of eternal life, we will face the eternal consequences of that decision.

Got Questions Ministries seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.

GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.

We will do our best to prayerfully and thoroughly research your question and answer it in a biblically based manner. It is not our purpose to make you agree with us, but rather to point you to what the Bible says concerning your question. You can be assured that your question will be answered by a trained and dedicated Christian who loves the Lord and desires to assist you in your walk with Him. Our writing staff includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, biblical counselors, Bible/Christian college students, seminary students, and lay students of God’s Word.

https://www.gotquestions.org/annihilationism.html

SATAN’S MODUS OPERANDI IN THE LAST DAYS - The methods adopted by Satan are largely deception. He plucks the seed of the Word of God away from hardened hearts, sows tares among the wheat, places his emissaries in the branches of Christendom and mixes the leaven of false doctrine in the belief systems of the Church. Satan presents himself as “another Jesus”, “another spirit”, and propagates “another gospel” - Satan knows what his final end will be. Meanwhile, his modus operandi (way of operating) is to act as the enemy of God and all that God created. He will continue thus until he is finally cast into that lake of fire which is especially “prepared for the devil and his angels.” His tactic is to come “as an angel of light” and though his agents “are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ”, they appear as “ministers of righteousness.” Immediately after the true believers in the Lord Jesus are raptured, Satan will continue his work with greater zeal for, at that moment, every human soul on earth will be an unregenerate sinner. Every vestige of restraint will be removed in an instant as the saints rise into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. But Satan will still have a major problem; Israel. If Israel can be deceived then Satan will triumph over God. At this point in history every saved Jew will have departed with the Church and the remaining rulers of Israel will be fertile soil for the seeds of deception.

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Satan’s Modus Operandi in the Last Days

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The methods adopted by Satan are manifold - his activity is largely one of deception. He plucks the seed of the Word of God away from hardened hearts, sows tares among the wheat, places his emissaries in the branches of Christendom and mixes the leaven of false doctrine in the belief systems of the professing Church. Satan presents himself as “another Jesus”, “another spirit”, and propagates “another gospel” to the one preached by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ

by John R Ecob DD

Satan knows what his final end will be. Meanwhile, his modus operandi (way of operating) is to act as the enemy of God and all that God created.

He will continue thus until he is finally cast into that lake of fire which is especially “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

In this Church Age

The methods adopted by Satan are manifold.

In this Church age his activity is largely one of deception.

The parables of Matthew chapter 13 spell out how he plucks the seed of the Word of God away from hardened hearts, sows tares among the wheat, places his emissaries in the branches of Christendom and mixes the leaven of false doctrine in the belief systems of the professing Church.

In this age Satan presents himself as “another Jesus”, “another spirit”, and propagates “another gospel” to the one preached by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

His tactic is to come “as an angel of light” and though his agents “are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ”, they appear as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:3-15).

We see Satan’s work in the ecumenical and interfaith movements today as apostates and cults join with “evangelicals” on ministers’ fraternals while liberal theologians sow corrupt seed in liberal theological colleges where Calvinistic and Charismatic teaching is rarely challenged.

How awful will be the plight of these deceived agents of Satan when they finally stand before Christ exclaiming, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful (miracle) works?” – only to hear the sentence, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).

After the Rapture

Immediately after the true believers in the Lord Jesus are raptured, Satan will continue his work with greater zeal for, at that moment, every human soul on earth will be an unregenerate sinner.

Every vestige of restraint will be removed in an instant as the saints rise into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

But Satan will still have a major problem; Israel.

The entire volume of Scripture is saturated with promises of a coming day when Israel will crown Jesus Christ as King and He will reign on the throne of David at Jerusalem.

If Israel can be deceived then Satan will triumph over God.

At this point in history every saved Jew will have departed with the Church and the remaining rulers of Israel will be fertile soil for the seeds of deception.

It will be at this moment that the rider on the white horse, Antichrist, will appear as John saw him with “a bow; and a crown” and he will peacefully “go forth conquering and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2).

The ungodly shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 34) will fall for Satan’s deception hook line and sinker.

They will welcome the protection of the Roman prince to shield the nation from Islamic hordes that threaten them on every side.

A seven-year covenant will be willingly signed. Like Judah in Isaiah’s day, they will say, “We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we in agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves” (Isaiah 28:15).

The treaty with Antichrist and the Revived Roman Empire will appear to be a political master stroke and when the “king of the south” (Egypt) invades, the Roman prince will “come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships” (Daniel 11:40).

The combined forces of Israel and Europe will wreak havoc throughout the land of Egypt and Israel will bask in the glory of an outstanding military triumph (Isaiah 19:1-17).

The Firstfruits of Israel

At last Satan will have the ancient “people of God” in his hand but all is not well.

News will come from the four corners of the earth of 144,000 Jewish men who are preaching the imminent return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth.

These must be stopped and all who follow them must be put to death.

While Antichrist is contemplating this, news comes from the north and the east of Israel (Daniel 11:44); from Iran, Russia and Turkey; of a massive Islamic army preparing to pour into the land intent on eliminating the entire nation and there is nothing Antichrist can do to stop them.

At first Russia and the Islamists appear successful and the false shepherds of Israel, with two thirds of the Jews in the land, are wiped out (Ezekiel 34:9; Zechariah 13:9).

The remnant of Israel will cry out to God and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Messiah, Saviour and King.

Immediately God shakes the world with a global earthquake and meteorites rain down on the invaders.

In the confusion, Israel’s enemies turn on each other until “every man’s sword shall be against his brother” (Ezekiel 38:21) and five sixths perish (Ezekiel 39:2).

The land of Russia is burned (Ezekiel 39:6).

Meanwhile, Satan’s “man of sin” is watching from the sidelines. He is angry that all the nations acknowledge this to be an act of God (Ezekiel 39:23) and since “all Israel” has turned to Jesus Christ the now Godly nation will no longer succumb to Satan’s deception.

The rebuilt Jewish Temple that unbelieving Jews had operated, is now occupied by redeemed Jews who “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).

Satan’s plan to deceive Israel is in tatters and there can be only one solution: wipe out the nation of Israel.

“Therefore he shall go forth with great fury, and utterly to make away many” (Daniel 11:44).

War in Heaven

Satan’s plan to seduce Israel has failed and drastic action is now required.

His anger against God becomes a rage and he gathers millions of his angels in a concerted effort to occupy heaven.

“There was war in heaven” (Revelation 12:7) and Michael, the “great prince which for standeth the children of Daniel’s people” (Daniel 12.1), engages Satan and his angels.

The result is never in doubt.

“The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him… Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (Israel) which brought forth the man child (Christ)” (Revelation 12:9-13).

War on Earth Against the Lamb

At this stage Satan’s options are running out. He cannot deceive the elect nation of Israel for Jesus said it was not possible (Matthew 24:24).

He has failed to overthrow the throne of God and his activities are now confined to the earth.

Furthermore, if God has His way, there remains only 42 months before the Kingdom of Christ will be established on earth.

The only chance of thwarting the purposes of God is to occupy the throne of God in the Temple and totally eradicate every last Jew.

However, Antichrist’s armies cannot subdue Israel for, ever since the whole nation trusted Christ, the Lord has fought for them.

In fact, the governors of Judah (are) like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf (Zechariah 12:5).

These Godly Jews “devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left” and they reoccupy Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:5-9).

Satan has only one course of action left: it is to mobilize all the nations of the world to finish the task of utterly destroying these Godly Jews.

Three unclean spirits are sent from the Dragon (Satan), Antichrist and his False prophet to deceive the nations and to gather all their armies against Israel (Revelation 16:13).

With 200 million from Asia, surely it will be possible to dispose of every Jew.

Antichrist’s own army from Europe will be there for we read that the ten kings of the Revived Roman Empire “give their power and strength unto the beast” (Revelation 17:13)

“and these shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

The dams in Turkey on the Euphrates River close their floodgates and the river is dried up to allow easy passage for the vast army from the kings of the east (Revelation 16:12).

A multi-pronged attack is planned and Satan’s armies pour into the land from the north where a massive battle rages in the valley of Esdralon near Megiddo (Revelation 16:16).

Another army gathers at Engedi on the western shores of the Dead Sea, and drives up the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Berachah, 2 Chronicles 20:26) toward Jerusalem.

This battle reaches all the way to Jerusalem and is so fierce that the blood flows to the horses bridle (Joel 3:2,12).

Finally, Antichrist’s armies will reach Jerusalem and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city (Zechariah 14:2).

If Satan can win this war he has triumphed and God is defeated.

God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will never be fulfilled unless Israel is preserved and it seems as though the elimination of the Jews has almost been accomplished.

But just when all seems hopeless, “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives” (Zechariah 14:3-4).

Christ Returns to Rescue His People

At that critical moment the sun and moon are darkened, stars (meteorites) shower the earth and the blackened sky is set ablaze with the glory of God as Jesus Christ appears with all the armies of heaven proclaiming Him King of kings, and Lord of lords. Satan’s reign is finished.

A sword proceeds from the mouth of the Lord Jesus as He descends to the Mount of Olives and the armies of Antichrist are smitten in a moment of time.

Vainly, Antichrist turns his attention to the descending heavenly host but mighty angels appear and both he and his false prophet are slain, given a resurrection body, and cast for ever into the lake of fire.

Satan is powerless to resist the mighty power of the Son of God as John described the scene in that future day.

“John saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:1-3).

One thousand years of confinement in the bottomless pit in hades with the souls of the unsaved who await the resurrection to damnation, will teach Satan nothing for as soon as he is released he immediately goes out to deceive men and gather the nations against the saints and the holy city of Jerusalem, where Christ is reigning.

Satan’s Final Judgment

No longer can Satan be allowed to continue his efforts to overthrow the throne of God. Fire falls from heaven and the enemies of God are burned.

Mighty angels take the fallen Lucifer and fling him into the lake of fire where “the beast and the false prophet are” (Revelation 20:10).

Many have asked, If Satan knows his end, why does he continue to fight against God?

When Satan sinned, he sinned against God in the full knowledge of God’s presence.

He had been there as a sinless creature and had perfect knowledge of the God of heaven. There is no salvation for those who sin against light.

When men blaspheme the Holy Ghost they sin against light and there is no forgiveness (Matthew 12:32).

Christ did not “take on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:16).

Adam was deceived and so Christ took upon Himself the form of man to deliver mankind from the snare of Satan that “through death, He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the Devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

Why Wasn’t Satan Judged Long Ago?

The Almighty God has chosen to use Satan to test mankind.

Mankind has a choice: dwell in Satan’s kingdom under Satan’s rule or choose Christ the Redeemer and dwell in His kingdom.

Have you chosen Christ? Remember that the lake of fire is prepared for Satan and his angels and all who choose sin and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire with him.

At Calvary Jesus purchased your freedom from Satan’s dominion but you must respond.

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

John R Ecob
Editor
Herald of Hope Inc.
Mr John Ecob is the second son of the late Pastor Russell Ecob. He was born at Leeton NSW 28/2/33.
John was savingly converted to Jesus Christ under his father's preaching on the 1st August 1948 in the Hurstville Baptist Church. From the very beginning he committed his life to Christ and began preparing for whatever service the Lord should choose.
For many years he was involved in open air preaching, open air Sunday schools, and lay preaching through the Lay Preachers Association in Sydney Australia.
While indentured as an apprentice in engineering drafting, he completed 2 years at the Sydney Bible Night School under the ministry of T.R. Ford BA.
On completion of his apprenticeship he served one year as a student in Evangelist John Ridley's Australian Institute of Evangelism, one year at the NSW Baptist Theological College and one year as pastor of the Balmain Baptist Church.
He returned to engineering studies with the Institution of Structural Engineers UK, and was employed in the design and construction industry as Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Chief Estimator, Design Manager, Marketing Manager, Consultant, and finally concluding his secular career as General Manager of The First Australia/China Consortium which was formed to take the Australian Construction Industry into Mainland China. He has lectured in Marketing Seminars at New South Wales University.
Mr Ecob is conservative in his theology, dispensational-premill.in eschatology, non-charismatic, and Bible centred. His desire is to effectively serve the Lord Jesus Christ till He comes.

https://www.heraldofhope.org.au/satans-modus-operandi-in-the-last-days/

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT - The small and the great are there: the king stands among slaves; rich with poor; religious zealots with atheists. No doubt all religions are represented: Protestants, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, etc.

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Is God Unfair?

The Great White Throne Judgment.

When Terrified Multitudes Stand Before God Unprepared

By Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer  

There is no topic as terrifying as the Great White Throne Judgment … but what do we really know about it?

Let’s look at Revelation 20:11-15 together.

Who is on this majestic throne?

We can be sure that Jesus is sitting on this throne, for God has “committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22).

Jesus is now the Judge of all the unredeemed. His throne is great, majestic, and being white, signifies His holy justice and impartiality.

Who are the defendants standing in line?

John continues, “I saw the dead, small and great stand before God.”

They were summoned from all parts of the world, raised from the dead to give an account to God. John explains, “and the sea gave up the dead who were in it …”

The ancients believed that if you died at sea or were cremated and your ashes thrown into the sea, the gods could never find you so you need not fear an afterlife. But God knows every particle of matter in the universe and thus summons all bodies, regardless of circumstances, to appear before Him.

John writes, “Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them…” Hades is the abode of the souls of all unbelievers who have died and who will die in the future.

The souls in Hades are joined with their resurrected bodies that are fitted for eternity—bodies, I might say, fitted for the lake of fire.

The small and the great are there: the king stands among slaves; rich with poor; religious zealots with atheists. No doubt all religions are represented: Protestants, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, etc.

On what basis are they judged?
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A book is opened that details all their works. 
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The basic principle: they will be judged for what they did with what they knew.

To the pagan who has never heard of Christ, God will never say, “you will be thrown into the lake of fire because you did not believe in Jesus.”

As M.R. DeHann wrote, “Hell for the pagan headhunter who has never heard the word of God is going to be heaven compared to what it will be for those who have heard the pleading of the gospel and rejected it.”

But all who are at this judgment will fall short, for all lack the one requirement needed to enter heaven. Since their names are not found in the Book of Life (that is, the Book of the Redeemed), they are cast into the lake of fire.

Is God’s Judgment Really Fair?

God’s judgment of unbelievers—especially those who have never heard the Gospel—is one of the most controversial doctrines in Christianity today.

In fact, even many Christians have rejected the idea, choosing to believe that “everyone finds their own way to God.” So can a loving God condemn people to hell?

Pastor Lutzer explains.

Q: You said that all the people at the Great White Throne Judgment lack the one requirement needed for entry in to heaven. I assume you mean belief in the Gospel?

A: Yes, and more specifically, they lack not only the forgiveness of God, but the gift of righteousness whereby we are declared to be as perfect/holy as God. The only person qualified to give us this gift is Christ; therefore only those who trust Him come under the shelter of His protection and are welcomed into heaven.

Q: Could you clarify what standard is used in this judgment?

A: Paul taught that those who do not know the Gospel will be judged by their own conscience and the light gleaned from nature. This judgment will show that no one has lived up to what they intuitively and rationally knew to be right.

Now, as for those who have heard the Gospel, that is a different story. Jesus said that it will be more tolerable in the day of judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those cities that rejected Him when He was on Earth.

Clearly, those who heard the Gospel and rejected it—or those who had access to the Gospel as we do in America—will be more strictly judged.

Also, those who did evil will be given a lesser punishment than those who not only did evil but also influenced others to do the same. For example, Jesus said of the person who causes a little child to stumble, it would be better for him if he had a stone tied around his neck and drowned.

It is one thing for a man to be immoral; it is quite another when he publishes a pornographic magazine read by millions that entices people to be immoral. Judgment for such people will be immeasurably severe.

Q: Is the lake of fine the same as hell?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you believe in a literal fire in hell?

A: We can’t be sure because hell is both spoken of as a lake of fire and also a place of “outer darkness.” Perhaps those two ideas seem incompatible to us. The point is that even if these are figures of speech, what they represent is frightful and terrifying.

Q: It seems that eternal punishment is profoundly unjust. Okay, so these people knowingly did wrong, but after all, they were born sinners along with the rest of us. Temporary punishment yes, but eternal punishment sounds like overkill. Doesn’t eternal punishment fly in the face of common human compassion and fairness?

A: You have stated the dilemma exactly! I’m not sure I have an entirely satisfying answer to this question, but let me give some perspective. What if, as Jonathan Edwards said, the greatness of a sin is determined by the greatness of the being against whom it is committed? To throw a snowball at a mailman is one thing; to throw one at a policeman is another. And if you throw a snowball at the President of the United States, you will be arrested. Using that analogy, think of the infinite crime of sinning against an infinite God. Sin is much more serious to God than it is to us.

Also, because we are eternal beings, those who are in the lake of fire bear the consequences of their personal guilt forever.

Q: What do you say to the person who has a spouse or a son or daughter who has died as an unbeliever?

A: It comes down to this: God is repeatedly described in the Scriptures as meticulously just. We honor Him by believing and trusting in His justice, knowing that someday we will agree with all of His decisions and forever sing, “Just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints!”

I have no doubt that those who are in the lake of fire will agree that they are being justly punished.

After all, the sin they committed on Earth will be present to their mind and consciences. This in itself would be a form of hell.

Difficult doctrine to be sure, but God is more incomprehensible than we generally believe Him to be.

Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will play out?

Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?

He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).

Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:

“Heavenly Father,

I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new life with You.

Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.

I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).

I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.

Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.

Use me for Your glory.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church where he served as the Senior Pastor for 36 years. He earned a B.Th. from Winnipeg Bible College, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a M.A. in Philosophy from Loyola University, and an honorary LL.D. from the Simon Greenleaf School of Law.

A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on three radio programs that are heard on more than 1,000 outlets in the United States and around the world:

·   Running to Win—a daily Bible-teaching broadcast;

·   Moody Church Hour—The Moody Church’s Sunday morning worship service;

·   Songs in the Night—an evening program that’s been airing since 1943.

Dr. Lutzer is also an award-winning author of numerous books including: The Church In Babylon, Rescuing The Gospel, He Will Be The Preacher, The Cross In The Shadow Of The Crescent, One Minute After You Die, When A Nation Forgets God, and Christian Bookseller’s Gold Medallion Award winner, Hitler’s Cross.

He and his wife Rebecca have co-written the books: Life-Changing Bible Verses You Should Know and Jesus, Lover Of A Woman’s Soul.

His speaking engagements include Bible conferences and seminars, both domestically and internationally, including: Russia, the Republic of Belarus, Germany, Scotland, Guatemala, and Japan. He also leads tours to Israel and the cities of the Protestant Reformation in Europe.

Dr. Lutzer and Rebecca live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

https://www.moodymedia.org/articles/god-unfair/

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Is There A Hell? 
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If there is a hell where is it located? 
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Worms don’t die in hell but never stops causing torment.
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Oh Lord, You're Beautiful