Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The Apostles Never Taught Eternal Torment Of The Damned... Really???

"...these will go away into >eternal< *punishment*... [*see note following] ...but the righteous into >eternal< life” ...[*Note (punishment): Grk= κόλασις [kolasis] indicating "penal incarceration"; as opposed to "apollumi"{cp.Matt10:28 "destroy"} which can mean anything from "destruction" to "brought to worthlessness." (cp. In Luke 15 apollumi is used three times to speak of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. ... So the word (apollumi) can also mean "to render useless" such as the case of wineskins, or "to be lost." In John 6:27 there’s a statement about food that "perishes," and that is also the word "apollumi," e.g. perishables, food that is corrupted and useless.)... but the word used in Matt25:46 is "kolasis"{penal incarceration} -not "apollumi."]
 ...[continuing] "The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"{can the annihilated "weep and gnash teeth? -this is a picture of torment/anguish/suffering. The "fiery furnace" is referred to also as as "lake of fire"--> } ... "and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and **they will be tormented day and night forever and ever***... And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. {Notice that it is expressly and explicitly written that those cast into the lake of fire are "tormented day and night forever and ever."}
Who wrote these passages if not the Apostles?!



What about the OT prophets... what did Daniel say for instance:--> "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake... some to everlasting life, and **some to shame and everlasting contempt**{Dan1 2:2}. The Aramaic word עולם / עלם ‛ôla translated "everlasting" is the transliteral equivalent to the Greek "aions" rendered "eternal." 
So yeah, I will preach the *exact words* of the Scriptures void of philosophical commentaries. Here is a link to a practically comprehensive list on the topic of "Hell" for anyone interested: --> www.gty.org/search/ hell?title=1&con tent=1
{although "Johnny Mac" is a Trinitarian and NeoCalvinists; no one has it "all" correct... but on the topic of "Hell" I have to agree with MacArthur.} 

[Edited in as an addendum... what did the wisest man to ever live; a man with wisdom received from God Himself; what did Solomon say about the spirit/soul of man?
--> 7 "and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." -Eccl 12:7

...it appears that Solomon believed that there is a spirit/soul of man that is distinct and distinguishable from the "earthen vessel" of man...]  

In closing I ask others to consider Rev14:--> 9 "...If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is mixed full strength in the cup of His anger. He will be ***tormented*** with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, 11 and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. ***There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or anyone who receives the mark of his name.***"{Does this create the picture of annihilation? 

One can't cry "vision" or "symbolism" on the whole of Revelation -if a "vision"; were the angels seen in the vision unreal? If symbolism; what does the symbolism symbolize?... nor is it honorable Hermeneutics to pluck-out, at personal discretion, those passages which indicated "eternal torment" and discount these as not meaning exactly what they *expressly and explicitly* convey... 

Some faithful and biblical advice: one does no err to repeat the *express and explicit* words of Scripture to those with an ear to listen -thus the reason why I could never tell a sinner that all that awaits them after death is an intermediate state of unconsciousness followed by annihilation... {boyhowdy and how; what a comforting message for the sinner who loves sin.}

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Trash or Treasure: Out With The Old In With The New?

--> Matt13:52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” 

Is the Law, indeed, irrelevant to the Christian as some suggest? Note that in the parable above Jesus refers to "what is old" as also being treasure... Jesus' message within this parable should be clear: "What is old" was not intended to be abandoned for the "new" but rather the "new" was intended to compliment the old. 
Jesus quite clearly conveyed that He in no way intended to overthrow the Law but to perfectly fulfill{Matt5:17}. -And thus, on many occasions; far from making the Law void and null; Jesus *expanded* the scope of the Law *BEYOND* what was written so as to reveal and clarify what is the heart and intent of God's Law -i.e. "You have heard{e.g. been taught from the written Law} not to commit adultery; but I'm telling you the truth that if you look with lust upon another then you are breaking God's intent(*) of the Law{(*)e.g. intent= purity of heart}... you are committing adultery in your heart"{rf. Matt5:28}. And again Jesus said, "You have heard 'Do not murder' but the truth is that if you are furious at a brother/sister then you have crossed the intent of the Law already{rf. Matt5:21-22}... according to the Apostle John, the one who hates{Grk= detest fueled by anger} his brother has a murderous heart like Cain"{1John3:12,15}. Thus, Jesus' "new" message(s) compliments the old -exactly as conveyed in Matt13:52. 
To those whom have thus broken the *INTENT* of any of God's Law Jesus commandment is to repent{Mark1:15}. So you see, far from abolishing God's Law; Jesus actually expanded the Law to reveal the Law's intent and fulfillment. 
Now, concerning Sabbath,.. this is no less a commandment than "do not murder." Jesus also claified this Law and its fulfillment in His "new" complimenting message concerning Sabbath. Jesus explained that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for Sabbath{Mark2:27}. The Sabbath *IS A GIFT* to us; a day in which we can cease from all *unnecessary* work and STILL be blessed and prosperous DESPITE a one [specific] day reprieve from working. I say cease from all "unnecessary" work because Jesus did explicitly convey that *rare* circumstances may require a certain amount of labor on the Sabbath -such circumstances as would be equivalent to a sheep trapped in a pit needing to be rescued{Matt12:11}... the key is discerning what work can be "put off till tomorrow" so that the Sabbath can be *enjoyed* ..."remembering the Sabbath" was never intended to be a hardship; it was a day to look forward to and celebrated. 
What I find amazing is that God showed that He cares so much for our health and enjoyment by actually including *remember the Sabbath* in His "Top Ten." ...yet sooo many are willing to toss that gift aside?!?! Why is it okay to not only practically throw God's gift back in His face; but break the 4th commandment in doing so? What makes the last commandment [of the Ten] any greater than this fourth that we readily acknowledge that coveteousness is wrong? -But it is okay to dishonor God by tossing aside His gift of Sabbath by not making even an attempt to rest and remember the Sabbath? Let me close with this thought to ponder: Did Jesus honor God's intent for Sabbath -Yes or no? 
--> 1John2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

[BTW, I do not assert that "remember the Sabbath..." demands that we assemble for worship -but assembling together on the Sabbath is certainly one good way to enjoy Sabbath and keep it holy :) ]

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Choose This Day{Josh24:15} Means Get Off The Fence!

Those who profess to be Christian but co-mingle and blend-in with "the world" without reservation [and typically *nuture* the "occasional" sin] are often referred to as fence-sitters. Now [just a thought here], from my observation,.. I've never seen one person sitting on a fence that didn't have more of the body on one side of the fence than the other... have you? 
-Besides, "fence-sitting" is a misnomer anyway since once one actually commits an act of sin they are no longer sitting on the fence but have wandered away from the fence :/ 
The danger of "spiritual fence-sitting" [and especially wandering] is that should one encounter a "stumbling block" that takes his/her life on the wrong side of the fence -this one will die in their sin and be judged as a sinner: 
--> Eze3:20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die... he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, 
--> Eze33: 
12 “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. 13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. 
[see also Luke12:43-46] 

Some good advice..? STAY FAR AWAY FROM THE FENCE... STAY IN THE ARMS OF JESUS 
--> www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6c3CYdqTG8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Da6c3CYdqTG8 

So, here's a hint: If you're looking for God... You won't find God ANYWHERE NEAR the fence; you have to move toward Him -which means leaving the fence: 
--> James4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you...

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Why This... Why Now

Many who suffer sudden loss [physical or material] beg the answer to: "Why God?" Emotions start like a rollercoaster ride which one did not volunteer to get on. Adding misery to pain, one begins to feel guilt for questioning God. Let me say this before continuing: No father is angry with his child whom genuinely seeks understanding so long as the child is not challenging the father's authority or integrity; God is no exception. 
Writing by the inspiration of God, James writes that we are actually encouraged to seek understanding from God in faith{see James1:5-7}. David often asked God, "Where are you..."{i.e. Ps10:1/Ps22}. Jeremiah also sought to understand God whereby asking, "Why do you let things happen this way..."{Jer12:1}. So, we do not sin in seeking understanding from God; it is only sinful to ask in such a way as to challenge His sovereignty or doubt His integrity. 
We have two promises in Scripture which; although do not answer "why;" these two promises can set our minds at rest through faith. We are told that "God is love"{1John4:8}. The first promise is that since God is the epitome of love; thus His actions [or what He allows]; although not always understood; are *always* motivated by love. The second promise comes from Romans8:28. By these two promises we know through faith that whatsoever God does [or allows] is out of love to bring about a greater good. 
Now, that said, I would like to share this parable. I heard it long ago so I might not get every detail correct but the gist should be easily understood: 
Elijah was entering a town crossing over the bridge which led to it. On the bridge, a young lad of about sixteen years of age was fishing and greeted Elijah, "Shalom, Jehovah is God." Elijah smiled and replied, "Amen, Shalom." After crossing the bridge, a man recognized Elijah and approached him seeking to be his apprentice while Elijah was in town. Elijah agreed but warned the man that the things he was about to witness would greatly trouble him. Without reluctance, the man set his chin as a flint and followed Elijah. 
In the city, as Elijah and his new apprentice walked pass a bar, news was spreading quickly that the town beggar had just inherited a large sum of money. Elijah saw the beggar a ways off and stepped into a near-by alley. The beggar ignored the pleas of his former fellow beggars as he made his way to the bar to celebrate -he'd never drank before. As the beggar passed the alley which Elijah had stepped into, Elijah grabbed the beggar and knocked him out taking all the money. This indeed troubled the apprentice but he dare not seem to question his master's integrity. -But what happened next was even more astounding... Elijah gave the money to the most well-off man in town. As the apprentice crossed the bridge with Elijah as he departed the city, what happened here -the apprentice will never forget. Elijah took the lad whom was fishing up by the trousers and tossed him over the bridge to his death. The apprentice could no longer contain himself, "I cannot follow a God who would tell you to do such things!" Elijah smiled lovingly and replied, "Allow me to explain." 
"The beggar was going to the bar where he was going to get drunk and be robbed. Returning home drunk and angry he was going to beat his wife. She just found out that she was pregnant; but before she could tell her husband the good news his abuse causes her to miscarriage. That child will now live and bring many to God. 
"The well-off man will two weeks from now give all the money that I gave to him to a man so that he can start an orphanage. This orphanage will result in the making of many missionaries who will bring many to God." 
"The young lad is a tragic story. He is a lover of God but he gets mixed up with the wrong kids. He ends up helping this band of hoodlums attack and rob the well-off man of his money before the well-off man meets the man starting the orphanage. In the commotion, the lad is killed -dying in his sin. I have secured the lad's place in heaven and the salvation of many others." 
With that, Elijah said, "Shalom, Jehovah is God" and departed. The apprentice was left speechless and ashamed. 

We may not always know God's reasons; but we know God -He is love. We can trust that whatsover God does or allows is motivated by love and for the greater good. 
In closing, we are also promised in 2Cor1:3,4 that God *will* comfort us... and in doing so we will be able to comfort others whom may be similarly suffering. Rest assured, you who are suffering; your testimony may be the lifeline for others whom you share your testimony with. 
Shalom, Jehovah is God -and He loves you dearly.