Posted on 03/02/2014 10:59:45 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
Would a loving Jesus really teach about hell? Yes, and so does every New Testament author. Let’s consider what they teach.
Hell in Matthew
In the Sermon on the Mount, often known for its emphasis on love and the kingdom, Jesus teaches the reality and nature of hell (5:20–30; 7:13–27). In Matthew 5:20–30, Jesus contrasts hell with the kingdom of heaven and warns that hell is a real danger to unrepentant sinners. The fire of hell, the justice of hell, and the extreme suffering in hell are particularly stressed. The unrepentant are warned to use extreme measures to avoid being cast into it by God.
As Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount, He contrasts the kingdom of heaven with the horrors of hell (7:13– 27). Jesus cautions that hell is a place of destruction, depicted as the end of a broad road. Hell awaits everyone who does not enter the kingdom of heaven— even those who profess to know Christ but continue in sin. Jesus is Judge and King who personally excludes the wicked from His presence and the kingdom of heaven (“Depart from me,” 7:23). Indeed, those who fail to follow Jesus are like a house built on the sand that ultimately comes crashing down.
Matthew also recounts Jesus’ surprising warning that Jews devoid of faith are in danger of hell, which is portrayed as outside, darkness, and a place of intense suffering (8:10–12). Jesus addresses hell when He commissions His disciples not to fear humans but God alone, “who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (10:28). In Jesus’ parables of the weeds (13:36–43) and the net (vv. 47–50), hell is seen as exclusion/ separation from the kingdom of God, described in terms of fire and is a place of suffering. Jesus later describes hell as a place of “eternal fire” (18:8) and even warns the scribes and Pharisees of hell, characterizing it as inescapable for the unrepentant (23:33).
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus speaks of future punishment in the parables of the slaves (24:45–51), bridesmaids (25:1– 13), talents (25:14–30), and the section on the sheep and goats (25:31–46). Several truths about hell emerge. Hell is punishment for disobedience to the master. Hell is graphically expressed as a location where people are cut into pieces and placed with the hypocrites (24:51) and as a place of suffering (24:51; 25:30). Jesus also likens hell to being outside, or a place of exclusion/separation (25:10–12, 30), as the outer darkness (v. 30), as personal banishment from His presence and the kingdom (“Depart from me,” v. 41), and as just condemnation/punishment (vv. 41, 46). Hell is then described as eternal. It is a place of “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (v. 41) and of “eternal punishment” (v. 46).
Hell in Mark
Mark 9:42–48 is similar to Matthew 18:6–9 and records Jesus’ teaching that hell is a punishment for sin that is worse than death and earthly suffering. Hell is exclusion from the kingdom of God, a result of God’s active judgment on sin, and a place of eternal suffering.
Hell in Luke
In Luke 13:1–5, Jesus speaks of hell as punishment for the unrepentant, and those in hell are portrayed as perishing. In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus calls for generosity to the poor by proclaiming that justice will prevail through the coming judgment on the wicked oppressors. The punishment is marked by suffering, torment, fire, agony, exclusion from heaven, and finality.
Hell in Paul
It would take too much space to survey all that Paul writes, so we will highlight Romans and 2 Thessalonians.
In his letter to the Roman church, Paul stresses that Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin, under God’s wrath, and under God’s judgment. Only those who have faith in Christ will escape. In this context, Paul relates important truths about hell.
First, future punishment is connected to God’s wrath. The wicked are presently under His wrath (1:18–32), are objects of wrath (9:22), continually store up wrath for the day of wrath (2:5–8; 3:5), and can be saved from wrath only by faith in Christ (5:9–21).
Second, future punishment is God’s judgment. The wicked are deservedly condemned under the judgment of God, which is impartial, true, righteous, and certain (2:1–12; 3:7–8). This condemnation is the result of sin and is just punishment for sin (6:23).
Third, future punishment will consist of trouble and distress. This suffering shows no favoritism between Jews and Gentiles (2:8–11).
Fourth, future punishment consists of “death” and “destruction.” Sinners deserve death (1:32), the wages of sin is death (6:16–23), as sinners we bear fruit for death (7:5), those who live according to the flesh should expect death (8:13), and sinners are vessels of wrath “prepared for destruction” (9:22). Fifth, both sin and future punishment are separation from Christ (“accursed and cut off from Christ”; see 9:3).
As he encourages believers suffering persecution in 2 Thessalonians, Paul stresses that God’s justice will prevail (1:5–10). In just a few verses, Paul emphasizes several important truths about hell: hell is the result of God’s retributive justice on sinners; hell is punishment for those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel; hell is eternal destruction; and hell is exclusion from Jesus’ presence and majesty.
Hell in Hebrews
Two passages in Hebrews speak clearly about future judgment. Hebrews 6:1–3 refers to the future punishment of the wicked as “eternal judgment” (6:2), which is an “elementary doctrine” of the faith. Hebrews 10:27–30 depicts this judgment as fearful and dreadful and as a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. It also teaches that hell comes from God as punishment, judgment, and retribution.
Hell in James
The letter of James depicts future punishment primarily in terms of destruction, death, justice, and suffering. In particular, the oppressors wither away and are destroyed (1:11); sin produces death as its offspring (1:15; see 5:20); and God is the Lawgiver and Judge, able to save and destroy (4:12). James teaches that oppressors of God’s people deserve to be punished severely. This just suffering is certain and severe, graphically portrayed as miseries, flesh being consumed by fire, and the day of slaughter.
Hell in Peter and Jude
Peter’s second letter is filled with references to hell, and Jude closely parallels 2 Peter 2. Peter and Jude both depict hell as destruction (2 Peter 2:1, 3, 12; Jude 5, 10, 11), as condemnation hanging over the wicked (2 Peter 2:3; Jude 4), and as a gloomy dungeon where rebellious angels are held for judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6 is similar). Peter illustrates future punishment with the account of Sodom and Gomorrah burning to ashes (2 Peter 2:6) and warns that God holds the unrighteous for the Day of Judgment while continuing their punishment (2:9). Peter also writes that hell is a place of retribution (v. 13) and blackest darkness (v. 17; Jude 13). Jude adds that hell is a punishment of eternal fire (Jude 7, 15, 23).
Hell in Revelation
Revelation teaches that hell is a place where God’s fury and wrath are felt at full force (14:10). Hell is a place of intense suffering, filled with “fire and sulfur” (14:10; see the lake of fire in 20:10, 14–15; 21:8), a place where “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever” (14:11). The suffering is continual: “They have no rest, day or night” (14:11), and “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (20:10).
In Revelation 20:10–15, the Apostle John emphasizes that hell is just punishment for the wicked. God casts the devil, the Beast, and the False Prophet into hell. They do not rule or have any power in hell but are “thrown” there (20:10). Hell will also contain everyone whose name is not found in the book of life (v. 15). Such will be separated from God in hell (21:6–8) and banished from heaven (22:15).
Three Pictures of Hell
Clearly, the future punishment of the wicked is a significant theme in Scripture. Jesus teaches it, and so does every New Testament author. While this brief survey has demonstrated an array of truths about hell, three key depictions of hell recur in the New Testament:
1. Punishment. The chief picture of hell is a place of punishment for sin. The punishment is deserved, consists of suffering, and is eternal.
2. Destruction. This destruction is likened to death, second death, loss, and ruin (see Robert Peterson’s article in this issue of Tabletalk for more on this).
3. Banishment. Whereas punishment stresses the active side of hell, banishment shows the horror of hell by highlighting what unbelievers miss—the very reason for their existence, namely, to glorify and love God.
Hell—this is what we deserve. This is how sinful we are. This is what Christ endured for our sakes. And this should spur us to share the gospel.
Yashua spoke more on Hell and why to avoid it than on any other subject.
Jesus spoke more of Hell than He did of Heaven..
The ‘fires of hell’ made famous by Dante, I believe, were the actual burning refuge area of Gehanna on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where the trash was burned and pagans had earlier thrown their unwanted babies.
And he was not speaking of either Hell, Norway, or Hell, Michigan.
What is ridiculous is saying that the Lake of Fire is Hell.
Revelation 20:14
“And death and HELL were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
Hell is destroyed in the Lake of Fire along with the unsaved. That is what is meant by the “second death.” The first death is the death of the body. The second death is the death, ending, of the souls of the unsaved.
Yes, there is a Hell. Yes, there are people right now suffering in Hell. However, Hell will be destroyed in the Lake of Fire.
One other thing in the study of Hell...the location/town of Gehenna is sometimes mistranslated into the word “hell”. Gehenna was a physical location which was known by Jews as a place of national punishment. Gehenna was a picture of what Hell would be, but Gehenna isn’t Hell.
October 24, 2012/ Rev. Marjorie Drickey called me on the phone to tell me she had a “MESSAGE FOR THE NATION”
This is Marjorie’s testimony: “I was sitting in my chair in the dining room at the Stockton Nursing Home in Stockton, Illinois, and my feet started to burn. I yelled, “My feet are burning up!”
The Lord then gave me a message for the nation: “The entire United States needs to repent! Hell is real. If we don’t receive Jesus as our Savior, we will go there.”
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ Luke 16:27
The nurses at the Stockton Nursing Home had to put cool cloths on Marjorie’s feet to soothe them. When asked if she wanted pain medicine to relieve the pain Marjorie’s red feet, she answered, “This is nothing compared to hell. There’s no pain medicine in hell.”
If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, wouldn’t we want to tell them about the Good News before Jesus comes again?
Background: As a young woman Rev. Marjorie Drickey received a vision from the Lord of people falling from a cliff into hell. She was convicted and called into the ministry as she read Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
Marjorie attended Asbury College and became a Methodist pastor in nine different churches; 2 in Michigan, 4 in Chicago, Nebraska, as well as Calvary, Kent and Willow United Methodist Churches in Northwest Illinois. After her retirement Marjorie continued to preach at Kent and Willow Methodist Churches until the age of 87.
Shortly after her retirement Marjorie received a prophetic dream. The Lord told her to get her house in order. Marjorie then saw herself teaching Bible studies in a building with a large room and a smaller room off the side.
Rev. Marjorie Drickey, 92 years old, resided at the Stockton Nursing Home, Stockton, IL. The resident living area at the home had a large room and smaller room off the side. Marjorie conducted Bible studies and gave Sunday morning sermons for the residents.
The Lord has given that message more credibly before 2012. But as Abraham in the parable answered the rich man: Luke 16:27
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Nothing has changed since that parable was taught, for One has risen from the dead, yet sin and unbelief remain.
“Nothing has changed since that parable was taught, for One has risen from the dead, yet sin and unbelief remain.”
May we have a heart for the lost.
Matthew 9:36-38
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
A literal, eternal, burning pit? No.
Punishment and death is eternal, just as the life everlasting is eternal....
to deny that is to deny the Bible.
For Such a Time as This . . . . http://www.patburt.com
Hell is nothing more than a Norse myth. Google it.
bkmk
I went to a very conservative Seminary and it was acknowledged by the professors quite reticently that probably around 60 percent if not higher of Protestant pastors are in fact universalist in their private beliefs. Universalism is the belief that an omnipotent and loving God would not send anyone to an eternal Hell and thus all will arrive at Heaven. I’m sure there are some variants but that is the gist of it.
Even someone like William Barclay admitted to this belief in his autobiography - he’s not the best example. Rob Bell along with all the guys in the emergent church/ social justice persuasion are not surprisingly falling into this heterodox belief system.
Yeah, pretty sad.
Well, whose arguing about it in the first place???
There’s also a “Perdition” in Michigan! I saw it in the move “The Road To Perdition!” You can look it up!!!
see above. :)
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