THE LAKE OF FIRE IS NOT A SWIMMING POOL
EVERY PERSON THAT DENIES THAT THE LAKE OF FIRE IS “EVERLASTING TORMENTS” HAS CALLED JESUS CHRIST A LIAR!. There are many of His truth’s hated but none so hated as His warnings of Eternal Hell. It was Jesus Christ that said to us to cut off a hand or foot that offends rather that spend eternity in “everlasting fire.” Listen to the Son of God proclaim truth that any man is in deep trouble to deny. “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” (Matthew 18:8) The Eternal “Alpha and Omega” could not tell an untruth. There is no way He could ever use language that can be twisted and changed. He warned in His great story of those on His right and left hand that those on His left would be cast into an “everlasting fire.”Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”(Matthew 25:41) When you add the story of the rich man and Lazarus, it becomes to profound to question. “ And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 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.” (Luke 16:23-25) Notice that the story spoke of torments in the plural. This Open Bible Dialogue will document a scary list of different torments that a lost soul can expect. From the lost loved ones that the doomed soul will see in this same state of utter misery, to the body of corruption that will be their eternal lot, it is too awesome to consider. I can understand why anyone that has been corrupted in their view of the infallibility of Scripture would also doubt this truth. It’s too dangerous to think that you would reject a truth as totally proven by plain Scriptures. To spend eternity in the Lake of Fire is hell to even think about.
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Bill Scudder
I do not deny what the Lord say’s about eternal fire. I have no proof that everyone will be
tormented equally. But the scriptures talk about those in heven recieving different rewards
and that leads me to believe that those in hell will not be punished the same. take fir example–
a good person in hell would mot suffer as much as someone like Hitler. Also I don’t believe
the scripture say’s that the punishment would be eternal. So, it may last longer for Hitler.
RJ
Hmm… well, Bill, I would have to wonder just which part of EVERLASTING is not understood then? (when you say Scripture does not say it is “eternal”) Along with the verses quoted here by Bro. Chambers, right here in Rev. 14:11 it says it is:
REV. 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
“smoke of their torment ascendeth up FOREVER AND EVER” ~ means just THAT!!
However, I do agree that even those who are hellbound will rec’ different “degrees” of punishment ~ Rev. is also clear on “according to the deeds done in the body”.
When considering that, however, hell is still hell!! And being apart from the presence of the Lord FOREVER……. so as for myself, I want no part of it in any way, fashion, or form!!
In today’s Laodecian age, the concept of hell and then the Lake of Fire is (to their own detriment) rejected by the world & even by “Christians”! A fine prophecy teacher comes to mind who, while he seems so “right on” about so many other things ~ yet, he came out a few years ago & announced that there is no “physical” hell (place of torment) ~ that this is only in people’s minds — even the rich man ONLY THOUGHT he was in hell (according to this very wrong teacher!)
However, as Bro. Chambers so bravely points out — even this error is calling Jesus a LIAR!!! And will not bide well for this particular man (unless he repents of that, of course.)
I might add that the Bible is not to be taken “cafeteria style” ~ where we “pick and choose” which parts we’re going to believe. So since it talks about a very tormenting and everlasting Lake of Fire ~ then we’d better BELIEVE it!!
Icorigin
The Lake of Fire might now or might not yet exist, but we do know that it will exist
by the time the beast and the false prophet are thrown into it. The so-called
“bottomless pit” is actually The Abyss, and not much is known about it, except that
it is a place or state of disfavored imprisonment for The Devil and demons.
Saint Paul referred to “eternal destruction” in one of his epistles, and that along with
“their worm does not die,” combined with the term Jesus used of “outer darkness” in view
of the states of inescapable torment (as in the case of the rich man in Hades who ignored
Lazarus)…all put together — indicate a place and/or state of perpetual [solitary?]
confinement in everlasting black flames painfully consuming flesh by tormenting fire
where the damned will “weep and gnash their teeth” but which being-destroyed flesh is
simultaneously replaced or restored so there is always more flesh to painfully burn (
thus: “their worm does not die”).
In the Old Testament, the separate states of afterlife existence was not distinct
and clear in contrast to the case in the New Testament. In the Old Covenant, Sheol
was simply “the place of the dead” (for both for the righteous and the wicked), but in the
New Covenant we see a definite distinct separateness between “Paradise” (remember the
Mount of Transfiguration) in stark contrast to “Hades.”
Ed Wood
There are certainly parts of the Bible that are symbolic, such as the elements of Nebuchadnzzar’s dream in Daniel 2, Daniel’s own visions in chapter 7 regarding the world empires, but the Bible also tells us what exactly they mean.
Regarding Sheol (“hades” in Greek) which contained a place of torment and paradise (Abraham’s Bosom) prior to Jesus’ ascension but were separated by an uncrossable chasm, Jesus’ descent to and removal of the righteous inhabitants from paradise to accompany him to heaven leaves only the “place of torment” currently occupied by the unrighteous until the Great White Throne Judgment at the close of the Millennium.
The place of torment seems to contain at least two levels – Gehenna for the unrighteous mortals (e.g. Matthew 5:22) which Jesus referred to numerous times (in addition to his reference to “hades” (Matthew 16:18) which seemed to be a more general reference to the place of the dead which is eqivalent to “sheol”), and Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4 – the only reference) for the demons, both realms intact to this day. Deuteronomy 32:22 refers to a fire in the lowest hell that will one day even consume the earth, which is much in accord with Peter’s account of the future dissolution of the present earth and universe (2 Peter 3:10) and the passing away of the earth and heaven in Revelation 21:1.
From what I read in the Bible, I believe the first to occupy the lake of fire will be the Antichrist and the false prophet, to be joined by Satan the demons and the unrighteous and the entire realm of hades itself 1000 years later (Revelation 19:10-15) for all eternity.
Bottom line: ALL of these places are just as real as heaven so it seems to me that taking the Bible seriously and reading it honestly and in context would be a wise move. Especially since doing so will bring one to believe and trust in Jesus – the ONLY way to salvation.
Pastor Michael Oney
Matthew 7:13-23:Enter ye in at the straight gate:for wide is the gate,and broad is the way,that leadeth to destruction,and MANY there be which go in thereat:14Because straight is the gate,and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life,and few there be that find it.15Beware of false prophets,which come to you in sheep’s clothing ,but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16Ye shall know them by their fruits.Do men gather grapes of thorns,or figs of thistles?17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19Every tree that bringeth not forthgood fruit is hewn down,and cast into the fire.20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.21NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME,LORD,LORD,SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN;but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY,LORD,LORD,HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN THY NAME?AND IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS?AND IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?23AND THEN WILL I PROFESS UNTO THEM,I NEVER KNEW YOU:DEPART FROM ME,YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.Phil.2:12:…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.Any way it not the right way!Rev.3:16:So because thou art lukeward,and neither cold or hot,I will spew thee out of my mouth.This is not just words!It’s warning!Many have been on there way that what God wants them to be but something,that they desired,or the devil put in their way stopped their journey.Others were living for the Lord but allowed the thistles of life to strangle their joy and left their first love.Col.1:23:says…If ye continue in the faith,then are ye my disciples.There is no place called roadside rest for the child of God.Life’s struggles and trials present many obstacles to the child of God but oh the glorious ending is worth it all.Ps.91 talks about a secret place.I am convinced if one evr really journeys into that place with God he will never desire anything that this world has to offer for to them the world’s riches is but fool’s gold!If those in this world,even those that call themselves religious,knew Him like I know Him they would never settle for crumbs from the table when they could feast with the Master!