Ever Burning Hell Fire
I would like to present some material from the Bible that is seldom,
if ever, used to present the big picture of “our immortal soul.” It is
essential to realize the role of the 144,000 in earth's end-time events.
These are selected by God and sealed with the Holy Spirit just prior to the
onset of the Great Tribulation.
Rev.7:1-4 — After this I saw four angels standing at the four
corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from
blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.
Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having
the seal of the living God.
He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who
had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea
or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from
all the tribes of Israel.
All through the Book of Revelation it uses “servants” to label these
selected by God for His special purpose. They are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Christ directs their activities during their 1260 days of prophesying -- they are
prophets. Remember how Jesus describes the Holy Spirit's communication?
John 16:13,14 — But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will
guide you into all truth. He will not speak of his own; he will speak only what he
hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking
from what is mine and making it known to you.
These servant prophets are in constant communication with Christ during their
1260 days of witnessing. He will keep them informed as to “what is yet to
come.”
The two witnesses of Revelation 11 are the two olive trees and the two lamp
stands. The olive trees represent the source of the oil that kept the lamps burning
in the temple and represented the Holy Spirit. He is the author of the light.
The lamp stand represents the Word of God. This would be the Bible, as well as
the words of Christ, as transmitted by way of the Holy Spirit to those 144,000 servant
prophets.
These two witnesses are the witnesses in Chapter 11 but their message is
communicated to every nation, kindred, tongue and people by way of the 144,000. This
message is the revealing of Jesus Christ to every inhabitant of the world -- The
Gospel.
We know these 144,000 are not literal Israelites because for them to preach
Jesus Christ would be like asking the Moslems to do it. Paul states that the hardening
that they were going through would last until the last Gentile was called in, and then all
Israel would be saved. The last Gentile wouldn't come in until the 144,000 had
completed their witness to an essentially Gentile world. They were the witnesses
that God had planned for literal Israel to have the honor of becoming, but because of
their rebellion to Him they were replaced by the wild olive branches (Gentile born again
Christians) grafted into the olive tree of Israel.
Romans 11:25-27 — ...Israel has experienced a hardening in
part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved,
as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from
Jacob, and this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
When the 144,000 have finished their testimony, the beast from the abyss makes
war on them and kills them. Notice the account in Revelation:
Rev. 11:7-12 — Now when they have finished their testimony, the
beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. . .
But after 3-l/2 days a breath of life from God
entered them, and
they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to
them, “Come up here,” and they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies
looked on.
This is a very graphic depiction of these witnesses being raised from
the dead after 3-l/2 days from the time of their martyrdom. They were then called up
to heaven by a loud voice from heaven.
Now note John's first glimpse of this group that he sees by vision in
heaven. John always gives some item noted in heaven to give the setting.
Rev. 20:4,5 — I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been
given authority to judge. (These are the 24 elders whose 24 thrones are before the
throne of God -- to place this scene in heaven.)
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not
worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or
their hands.
They came to life and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1000
years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.
John saw the souls of these martyrs in heaven, so souls of the saved must go to
heaven at the time of their demise. But notice, they were not living souls. He
noticed that they came to life. How could they come to life if they were never
dead? It would be most superfluous to say that they came to life if that were
true. When did they come to life? It would have to be when a breath of life
from God entered them and they stood on their feet. It was some time during the end
of this 3-l/2 days that they remained dead.
Now we can see the exact time when John saw those souls come to life.
Certainly these were not the only souls that John saw in heaven, but John says that
“the rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years were ended.”
(These souls didn't come to life as did those of the 144,000.)
Do we have other evidence that the 144,000 are alive in heaven during this time
period? The greatest of evidence:
Rev. 14:1-4 — Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,
standing on Mt. Zion, (another setting of the scene in heaven) and with him 144,000 who
had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
And I heard a sound from heaven like a roar of
rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of
harpists playing their harps. . .
No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who
had been redeemed from the earth...
They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They
were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
Notice that these 144,000 are said to be purchased from among men and offered
as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. These are the firstfruits of earths harvest of
the righteous dead. The full harvest of earth's righteous dead must wait until the Great
White Throne Judgment. (The rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years
were ended.) This is their central portrait in heaven where they are spelled out and
described well enough to help us see this same group in other heavenly settings. So
we have no excuse not to know who they were and how they got there. Remember that
they were martyred when they had finished their 1260 days of prophesying by the beast from
the Abyss at the termination of his 42 month rule.
Revelation, 18th chapter, describes the destruction of that great city --
the Antichrist's capitol city, which is symbolized as the adulterous woman that rides the
beast.
Rev. 18:24 — In her was found the blood of prophets (144,000) and
of all who have been killed on the earth.
It is during the time her destruction is underway that the 144,000 are
observing this from their front row seats in heaven.
Rev. 19:1-9 — After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a
great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! salvation and glory and power belong
to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who
corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants
(the 144,000)...
Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God all you his servants, you who
fear him, both small and great!”
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,
like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder shouting:
"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty
reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the
Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
This is the white robe that is given to each of the 144,000 and
represents the robe of Christ's righteousness and His righteous acts.
Notice the description of the sound of rushing water and like peals of thunder
are the same sounds described of the 144,000 in chapter 14 that describes this
group. This is occurring immediately following their being resurrected and taken to
heaven.
I would like to give one more similar picture where the 144,000 have
their pictures taken in a heavenly setting.
Rev. 15:1-4 — I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: (No
question of this being anywhere else) seven angels with the seven last plagues --
last, because with them God's wrath is completed.
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire
and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image
and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song
of Moses servant of God and the song of the Lamb.
These have gone through the Great Tribulation and have overcome the beast and
his image and over the number of his name. They overcame him by refusing to worship
him as the beast commanded. They were given harps by God and they sang the song as
in their description in Rev. 14.
It also is showing us that they are in heaven at the time the seven
angels with the seven last plagues are getting ready to sequentially
pour out those plagues on the earth. The 144,000 will miss the
“privilege” of being present on earth while this is taking place. The
seventh plague is associated with Christ's Second Coming where the first item on His
agenda is bringing the One World Order armies of the Antichrist to Jerusalem to the Battle
of Armageddon.
The 144,000 accompany Him on this trip and possibly participate in the
destruction of this evil combine.
Rev. 17:12-14 — The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not
yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with
the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them
because he is Lord of lords and King of kings -- and with him will be his called,
chosen and faithful followers.
What better description could you possibly be made in so few words to describe
the 144,000. Following the settling of accounts with this
wicked combine, Christ establishes His rule in this earth from His
throne on Jerusalem's temple mount. It is to be in a temple still to be erected. But
that's another story.
At the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ during the millennial
kingdom, Satan is raised up from his 1000 years of abode in the
bottomless pit -- the grave. He goes out to the four corners of the earth
and deceives a goodly number of earth's inhabitants -- but none of the
redeemed. They march on Jerusalem to take over the earth, but God rains down fire
and brimstone on them and they are destroyed. Then the Great White Throne Judgment
takes place that Jesus had prophesied about at his first coming.
John 5:28,29— Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when
all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out— those who have done
good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
This can only be speaking of the Great White Throne Judgment which occurs at
the end of the 1000 years.
Rev. 20:11-15 — Then I saw a great white throne and him who was
seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened.
Another book was opened, which is the Book of
life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and
Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he
had done.
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake
of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
If anyone's name was not found written in the
book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The last thing of all that is destroyed is death and Hades (death and
hell). This occurs on earth's last day as we know days. The very next verse is the
beginning of Chapter 21 and states:
Rev. 21:1 — Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
This is the beginning of the earth made new where there is never-ending day.
Rev. 21:23 — The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on
it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Now in respect to the Great White Throne Judgment where Christ judges the dead
of all ages, they are all called from the grave and Hades “when they hear the voice
of the Son of Man.”
If every wicked person that has ever died went to hell on his demise, why is he
being called out of hell to be judged now? If he is found not to have his name in
the Book of Life at this judgment, and thrown into the lake of fire, what was the basis of
sending an unjudged man to hell, many thousands of years previously in many cases?
If he had been previously judged, but never explained, why then go through with a totally
unnecessary and redundant trial and execution of the same sentence?
Doesn't this show the total unreality to this myth of ever burning hell?
I believe it is made up with an abundance of texts to prove a point someone wants to
promote. Eventually it becomes a given and numerous theologians and students of
different denominations try to help built up a case for it because by this time it has
taken on a life of its own which would be extremely unpopular to counter.
Let me give a short illustration of how something like this could get started.
Suppose I propose the thesis that trees understand what are going on and are
capable of discussing the issues. Sounds preposterous?
When the Antichrist and his powerful armies are destroyed at Armageddon, the
Lord tells the recently freed up Israelites in Jerusalem to take up this taunt against the
recently slain Antichrist (Also known as 'king of Babylon') who had been trampling them:
Isaiah 14:48 — How the oppressor has come to an end! How his
fury has ended! The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the
rulers, which in anger struck down people with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued
nations with relentless aggression. All the lands are at rest and at peace, they
break into singing.
Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult
over you and say, “Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us
down.”
There you have it straight from God. At least the pine trees and the
cedars of Lebanon have this unnoticed gift. It only makes sense that these same
trees in other locations must have this same talent.
Isaiah through prophetic vision gives to the Israelites and also to us the
delights of being a member of the millennial kingdom where David will be a leader and
commander of the people:
Isaiah 55:12 — You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will break into song before you, and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Now we see all the trees of the field will clap their hands. This is
something we have neglected. Can you imagine how by a few centuries of finding other
texts to bolster this it might be made into doctrine? We may even throw in something
for the rivers.
Psalm 48:8 — Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains
sing together for joy.
I don't believe God is informing us as to the I.Q. of the trees and
rivers. I believe that He is telling us that words are inadequate to explain the
wonders at the time of, and following His Second Coming. He uses beautiful
illustrations but these are not to be taken literally. I believe much of our defense
of “our immortal soul” is put together in a similar manner. Notice one
more text in defense of the trees:
Judges 9:8-15 — One day the trees went out to anoint a king for
themselves. They said to the olive tree, “Be our king.” But the
olive tree answered, “Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are
honored, to hold sway over the trees?”
Next the trees said to the fig tree,
“Come and be our king.”
But the fig tree replied, “Should I give up my
fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?”
Then the trees said to the vine, “Come and be
our king.” But the vine answered, “Should I give up my wine, which cheers
both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?”
Finally all the trees said to the thorn bush,
“Come and be our king.” The thorn bush said to the trees, “If you
really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then
let fire come out of the thorn bush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!”
A very intelligent discussion among the different species of trees. No
need to look for the lesson the writer is trying to convey. Its facts of the
conversation that are indisputible.
I see this kind of logic used extensively in building up this ever burning hell
scenario.
Now that we can see where the resurrections are located and the ones that are
involved in each of these, let us see if the words of Jesus helps us better understand
some of His instructions on the case in point.
Luke 20:27-35 — Some of the Sadducees who say there is no
resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses
wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must
marry the widow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven
brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and
then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children.
Finally the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be,
since the seven were married to her?”
Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and
are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that
age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and
they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since
they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the bush, even Moses
showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for
to him all are alive.
Most Christians would probably see no problem with the question as presented to
Christ. If each brother was of the faith and went to heaven at his demise, and the
wife that each sequentially shared, joined them at her demise; then Jesus, give us a
simple answer to that simple question. In Matthew's rendition of this same
conversation, Jesus includes this admonition to the Sadducees (and to us).
Matt. 22:29 — Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do
not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
He says that in this age, people marry and are given in marriage but those who
are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead
will neither marry or be given in marriage.
When will it be decided who will be considered worthy of taking part in that
age and in the resurrection from the dead? This consideration can only be at the
Great White Throne Judgment when the dead of all ages are resurrected. Those who
have done good (considered worthy) are raised to life. Those who have done evil
(considered unworthy) are raised to damnation. “Those who are considered worthy
of taking part in that age” are God's children. Why is that? Because
“they are children of the resurrection.”
Does every born again Christian immediately go to heaven at his demise?
I'm afraid not. Because he is not a child of the resurrection, and the time for
considering if he is worthy is at the end of the 1000 years. But what about that
last verse, “Moses showed that the dead rise for he calls the Lord 'the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead,
but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Does this disprove everything
that is said prior to this?
Consider the following statement of David:
Psalm 139:15,16 — My (David's) frame was not hidden from you when I
was in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your
eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to pass.
God saw David as alive from the creation of the world -- the time He
wrote the book David was referring to. Don't you see God as considering David alive
during this time although David hadn't been created yet except in the mind of God?
Is it any more difficult to see God seeing David as still being alive in the same way
now. That doesn't mean that David is aware of and participating in heavenly
activities. God has plans for David and has promised to raise him up a 1000 years
prior to the resurrection of all of earth's dead.
Jeremiah, describing the millennial kingdom that Christ sets up following His
Second Coming, states in prophetic vision:
Jer. 30:8,9 — "In that day" declares the Lord Almighty,
"I will break the yolk off their necks (the Israelites) and will tear off their
bonds. No longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead, they will serve the
Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them."
David is being raised up for them, he is to be resurrected to participate in
the activities as Prince of Christ's kingdom on earth during this 1000 years. If
David had been present and active in heaven for the previous 3000 years, why would he need
to be raised up from the dead to participate in activities on earth? Notice
Jeremiah's account about how God was aware of who he was and the activities that he would
perform long before he was born.
Jer. 1:4,5 — The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I
formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you
as a prophet to the nations.
God sees each one of us as alive long before we are born and long after we die
in the same manner. To Him we all are alive in that same way. The saved will
never die, in His sight, but as they came to life at the time of birth, so they will come
to newness of life at the resurrection at which time we will participate fully in the
activities that are scheduled for the age to come. Even though our soul returns to
God who gave it when we die, it does not come to life until we are resurrected to life.
Remember the Genesis account of the discussion God had with Cain after Cain had killed his
brother?
Gen. 4:10 — The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen!
Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.”
Abel was obviously dead. No one else heard Abel's blood crying out to God
from the ground. Is it difficult to see that God still saw Abel as alive, just as He
did before Abel was born? It started at the time when Abel was created in the mind
of God. He will continue to be alive to God until Abel is raised at the resurrection
at the end of the 1000 year millennial kingdom. He will only live in the mind of God
and his soul will not “come to life” until he is raised in the resurrection.
The wicked also are alive in God's sight as He has plans for them also.
These plans are implemented at the time of the resurrection at the end of the 1000
years. Their names will not be found in the book of life and they will then be
thrown into the lake of fire. Thereafter God will no longer see them as alive
because they have suffered the second death. That pays the penalty for their sins,
but it is a death from which there is no recovery.
The last thing thrown into the lake of fire is death and Hades. So
whatever any one considers hell to consist of, it is sterilized and
destroyed in the lake of fire. Death is destroyed the same way because there will be
no more death, and equally obvious -- no more Hell.