StephenDiscipleofYHWH
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- Does the Lord speak things that are without meaning or that are without purpose? Any true child of God will answer faithfully that the Lord Speaks all things with purpose, and that purpose is made clear through comparing scripture with Scripture letting the word of God Interpret the word of God(1 Cor 2:13, 2 Tim 2:15) doing so by the Spirit of God(1 Cor 2:10-13) . That we must live by every word spoken by the Lord(Mt 4:4) considering each piece no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential knowing that the Lord spoke each word for a reason.
- As a First Point we need examine the difference between the Lake of Fire and Hell, there is some confusion amongst Christians these days who mistakenly believe that they are one and the same place. This matter can quickly be cleared up by looking at the greek definition of Hell and a couple verses from the bible
- The First use of Hell we will look at is the one that causes the most confusion and that word is Gehenna(strongs 1067) this word has possibly three different meanings(depending on which version of the Strongs you are using) and they are:” Gehenna, and originally the name of a valley or cavity near Jerusalem, a place underneath the earth, a place of punishment for evil. Of Hebrew origin (gay' and Hinnom); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; ge-henna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment -- hell. “ So looking at the definition of the word we find that it can mean: A place underneath the earth, a place that was once outside of Jerusalem, or the final place of torment. In the NT we only ever see it used as the Last definition which is the Final place of torment or in other words the Lake of fire.
- The second use of Hell we see in Scripture(NT) is Hades(Strongs 86) which refers to the Grave/Abode in Hell the definition is: “grave, hell. From a (as negative particle) and eido; properly, unseen, i.e. "Hades" or the place (state) of departed souls -- grave, hell.” When hades is used in each instance we find that it is never a place of torment but rather the Abode of those who have died in the grave/the lower parts of the earth(Ephesians 4:9-10; 1 Peter 3:18-19;Daniel 12:2) .
The next question we will answer is where is Hell located and where is the Lake of fire. Hell is said to be the grave or pit into which those who are dead go(Acts 2:27; Psalm 16:10) and exists for an abode of the Dead until judgment when they will be given up(Daniel 12:1-2). Looking at the Lake of fire we are never told it’s exact location, what we are told is that it was prepared or set up for the Angels and Lucifer(Matt 25:41) that it exists while this heavens and earth still stand(Revelation 19:20) and that it will exist after the Lord’s return with fire(Revelation 20:9-10) .
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2. The next Point that needs to be looked at, is actually three separate events all occurring at almost the same time. First In scripture we find the Lord saying that he will return with fire(Isaiah 2:19-21; Isaiah 26:21; Isaiah 66:15-17; Hosea 10:8; Joel 2:10-11,31; Micah 1:3-4; Zephaniah 1:2-3,18; Zeph 2:2; Zeph 3:8; Haggai 2:6-7; Malachi 4:1; Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Thess 4:16; 2 Thess 1:7-9; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 6:12-17; Revelation 20:9) that he will pour it down upon the wicked(Revelation 20:9) dissolve them and wipe them off the face of this earth(Ps 21:9-10; Psalm 37:9-11,20,22,28-29,34-36,38; Revelation 20:9) leaving nothing behind on this earth(Psalm 37:10) . Second we see the Lord opening up the books to judge all men who now stand before the throne(2 Cor 5:10; Matt 12:36-37; matt 25:31-32; Romans 14:10,12; Revelation 20:12-13). Third we see these men being cast into the Lake of fire once they are not found in the book of life(Matt 3:10, 7:19, 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 3:9; John 15:6; Revelation 14:9-11 Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10-15) . When we look at these events one after the other we notice a key difference between the first and third event. That difference is the fire in the first event comes down upon the wicked while they are upon this earth(Revelation 20:9) but in the third we see the wicked being CAST INTO the fire(Revelation 20:10-15) rather than the fire coming down to them. A key dividing point between the first and third event is that we only see the books being opened and all men being judged AFTER fire has already consumed the earth(Revelation 20:11) .What does this mean then? This shows that there are different purposes for each devouring flame:
- The Purpose of the first flame is to destroy this heavens and earth, along with all flesh
- The Purpose of the Last flame is to torment the wicked in the place of final punishment
3. Now how long is this final punishment going to last? And what does it entail? These are the next questions that need to be answered. We are told that the final punishment for the wicked will be everlasting(Matt 25:46) that it will not end by the command of the Lord . This punishment is said to be in an everlasting fire(Matt 25:41) a fire which the Lord has said will never be put out or extinguished(Mark 9:43-48). This final punishment is said to torment the wicked so greatly that they will be in constant anguish and misery(Matt 8:12; Matt 13:42-50; Matt 24:51; Matt 25:30;Luke 13:26-28) this torment is also said to be forever and ever(Revelation 20:10, 14:10-11). This torment in the Lake of fire is said to be an everlasting destruction(2 Thess 1:9) the destruction is said to be a prolonged form(3639 oltheros-From a primary ollumi (to destroy; a prolonged form); ruin, i.e. Death, punishment -- destruction) and fits in with the description of eternal torment in the Lake of fire as they are constantly being destroyed/consumed by fire but never having any rest(Revelation 20:10).
An additional aspect to consider:
Everlasting fire mentioned in Scirpture.
Jude 1:7
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire
Matt 25:41
41 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:
On the surface these two passages seem to speak of the same fire, but there is a difference between the two. Which is, simply put, aiónios has two definitions depending on if it is beng used past or future tense
Greek 166. aiónios
eternal, forever, everlasting.
From aion; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) -- eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
The eternal fire (Greek 166) talked about in Jude is referring to a time already past, since the age in which Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire has long since gone.
Matt 25:41is referring to the Future everlasting fire, eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began)). We know it is talking about this future fire since it says it takes place after Christ destroys the Heavens and Earth with fire.
Another distinction between the two fires is that the flame that went down to sodom and gomorrah was never foretold to stand forever without being put out, but the fire prepared for the future punishment of the wicked is said to never be quenched(Mark 9:48). So it can clearly be seen that the fire that the wicked are cast into at the end will never cease to burn, but the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah did indeed burn out.
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4. What is the meaning of forever? And what is the difference between “forever” and “forever and ever”? Forever in both greek and Hebrew can mean several different things. To show this we look at the Hebrew then the greek words used in the bible translated as forever: 5769 Olam; 5957 alam; 5331 Netsach; 5703 ad; 166 aionios; 165 aion; dienekes 1336
If you do not own a strong's concordance go to biblehub.com and there is a free concordance for you to check the definitions out on. After looking at the definitions we find that in not every case does forever mean perpetuity or eternity but rather only in certain situations does it mean eternity, since in both greek and hebrew a words definition comes from the context of the sentence it is being used in.
The difference between forever and forever and ever is that while forever can mean many different things(time past, antiquity, an age, etc) forever and ever will always mean eternity, without end, perpetual, and this is shown in every instance it is used in scripture(Exodus 15:18; 1 Chronicles 16:36; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Ps 9:5; Ps 10:16; Ps 21:4; Ps 45:6; Ps 45:17; 48:14; Ps 52:8; Ps 92:7; Ps 111:8; Ps 119:44; Ps 145:1,2,21; Ps 148:6; Isa 30:8; Dan 2:20; Dan 7:18; Dan 12:3; Micah 4:5; Gal 1:5; Philippians 4:20; 1 Tim 1:17; 2 Tim 4:18; Heb 1:8; Heb 13:21; 1 Pet 4:11; 1 Pet 5:11; Rev 1:6; REv 4:9,10; Rev 5:13,14; Rev 7:12;Rev 10:6; Rev 11:15; Rev 14:11; Rev 15:7; REV 19:3; Rev 20:10; Rev 22:5). So then when the Lord tells us that torment will last forever and ever it means without end(Revelation 20:10) .
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5. What is Death? Well it is clear to all men even those of a Natural mind that Death is what follows after life in this body has ceased, but to know what Death is not does not give a full account of what death actually is. To know what death is in its fullest sense we must consult the only authority we have on this matter, the word of God. When looking at the word of God we find that there are two types of death, the first is said to be sleep(Matt 9:24, Mark 5:39, Luke 8:52-53; John 5:28-29; John 6:39-40; John 11:11-14,23-26; Acts 2:24-31; Acts 7:60, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Peter 3:18-19; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 14:13; 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 11:43; 1 Kings 14:20 Job 7:21, Job 14:10-14, Psalms 13:3; Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 26:19-21; Daniel 12:2) this sleep is said to take place in the Lower parts of the earth to which Christ descended at his death(Eph 4:9-10) first to paradise where the Thief on the Cross also went when he died(Luke 23:43-Paradesisos-3857 paradise.
Of Oriental origin (compare pardec); a park, i.e. (specially), an Eden (place of future happiness, "paradise") -- paradise.- Thayers greek- 3. that part of Hades which was thought by the later Jews to be the abode of the souls of the pious until the resurrection: Luke 23:43, cf. 16:23f. But some (e. g. Dillmann (as below, p. 379)) understand that passage of the heavenly paradise), then to the rest of the souls in prison to preach to them(1 Peter 3:18-19) we are also told that the fallen angels have a place in the lowest part of Sheol(tartarus- 5020) where they are held in chains of darkness until the day of judgement(Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4). This sleep is in hell occurs after the Body has perished and returned to dust(Ecclesiastes 12:7; Genesis 3:19) and the breath of life has returned to the Lord(Psalm 104:29; Ecc 12:7) after the Body and breath have departed it is said that the man sleeps(Job 3:11-17; Job 14:12; Matt 9:24) in the grave/hell(Daniel 12:2;Revelation 6:9-11)). Now the second type of death that we find is said to be Torment(Revelation 20:10; Revelation 14:11) in the Lake of fire(Revelation 20:10; Revelation 14:11) this occurs after all flesh is destroyed at Christ’s return(Revelation 20:9) and it is also a condition of the Soul after the flesh has been destroyed(Revelation 20:9). We find then in Both the First and Second death the same themes
- The body is destroyed/perishes
- The Soul is sent/departs to a place prepared for it by God
- It is put into a state of being, the first state is sleep, the second state is Torment Both are called/said to be Death
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