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PART THREE
25 - THE DOCTRINE OF THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, not being in the Bible, the question is, Where has it come from? For an answer to this question, we direct attention to the following facts which reveal that it has been derived from paganism, and falsely superimposed upon the teaching of the Bible:
Herodotus, the oldest historian, writes as follows: "The Egyptians say that Ceres (the goddess of corn), and Bacchus (the god of wine), hold the chief sway in the infernal regions; and the Egyptians also were the first who asserted the doctrine that the soul of man is immortal"(Herod. Book 2;Sec123).
Mosheim says, "Its first promoters argued from that known doctrine of the Platonic School, which was also adopted by Origen and his disciples, that the divine nature was diffused through all human souls; or in other words, that the faculty of reason, from which proceed the health and vigour of the mind, was an emanation from God into the human soul, and comprehended it in the principles and elements of all truth, human and divine" (Ecclesiastical History, vol 1, page 86; Plato page 169).
Justin Martyr (A.D. 150) said, "For if you have conversed with some
that are indeed called Christians, and do not maintain these opinions, but even
dare to blaspheme the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and say that there is
no resurrection of the dead, but that the souls, as soon as they leave the body
are received up into heaven, take care that you do not look upon these.
But I, and all those Christians that are really orthodox in every respect, do
know that there will be a resurrection of the body and a thousand years in
An extract from the canon which was passed under Leo X, by the Council of Lateran, shows that the doctrine of an "immortal soul" that lives when the man is dead was supported in those days, as it generally has been since, by the authority of creeds, rather than the Word of God: "Some have dared to assert, concerning the nature of the reasonable soul, that it is mortal; we, with the approbation of the sacred council, do condemn and reprobate all such, seeing according to the canon of Pope Clement the Fifth, the soul is immortal; and we strictly inhibit all from dogmatising otherwise; and we decree that all who adhere to the like erroneous assertions, shall be shunned and punished as heretics" (Caranza, page 412, 1681).
Martin Luther ironically responded to the decrees of the Council of the Lateran held during the pontificate of Pope Leo: "I permit the Pope to make articles of faith for himself and his faithful - such as the soul is the substantial form of the human body - the soul is immortal – with all those monstrous opinions to be found in the Roman dunghill of decretals; that such as his faith is, such may be his gospel, such his disciples, and such his church, that the mouth may have meat suitable for it, and the dish a cover worthy of it" (Luther's Works, vol. II, Folio 107,Wittemburg, 1562).
In an old work printed in 1772, entitled Historical View of the Intermediate State, on page 348, when speaking of Martin Luther's belief in the relation to the state of the dead between death and resurrection, it is said to be held "that they lie in a profound sleep, in which opinion he followed many of the fathers of the ancient church."
William Tyndale declares that "In putting departed souls in heaven, hell, and purgatory, you destroy the arguments wherewith Christ and Paul prove the resurrection. What God doth with them, that we shall know when we come to them. The true faith putteth the resurrection, which we be warned to look for every hour. The heathen philosophers denying that, did put that the souls did ever live. And the Pope joineth the spiritual doctrine of Christ, and the fleshly doctrine of philosophers together- things so contrary that they cannot agree...And because the flesh-minded Pope consenteth unto the heathen doctrine, therefore he corrupteth the Scriptures to establish it...If the souls be in heaven, tell me why they be not in as good case as the angels be? And then what cause is there of the resurrection?" This translator of the Scriptures into English suffered martyrdom in 1536.
Gibbon declares that "The doctrine of the immortality of the soul is omitted in the Law of Moses" (Gibbon, chapter 15).
Richard Watson remarks, "That the soul is naturally immortal, is contradicted by Scripture, which makes our immortality a gift, dependent on the will of the Giver" (Institutes, vol 11, page 250).
George Combe says, "No idea can be more erroneous, than to suppose that man is an immortal being, on account of the substance of which he is composed" (System of Phrenology, pp. 595-7).
The Hebrew word "nephesh" is found in the original about 750 times, but in the common version, nephesh is translated in 45 different ways; soul 475 times; life, lives, living 120 times; persons 3 times; fish 1time; and applied indiscriminately to man and beast 9 times, etc, etc.
Parkhurst says, "As a noun, nephesh hath been supposed to signify the spiritual part of a man, or, what we commonly call his soul; I must, for myself, confess that I can find no passage where it hath undoubtedly this meaning." (Hebrew Lexicon).
The Greek work "psuche," synonymous with nephesh, used in the New Testament, has 7 different renderings, soul, life, lives, mind, heart, you, etc.,etc.
The word "soul" though frequently occurring in the Bible, is not found in one instance as indicating it being immortal, immaterial, indestructible, or "never-dying."
The word "immortal" is found but once in the Scriptures (See 1 Timothy1:17).
26 - THE DOCTRINE OF IMMORTALITY, There is a doctrine of immortality in the Bible: but it differs from the popular doctrine in every particular.
First - Instead of immortality being inherent and natural, the Bible teaches it is a quality brought within reach by Christ in the gospel, and will only be attained on condition of believing the gospel and obeying the divine commandments.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
This is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.(1 John 2:25).
Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel:
(2 Timothy 1:10).
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (that is, by resurrection: see foregoing context) (John 6:40; John 11:25).
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise
of life which is in Christ Jesus
(2 Timothy 1:1).
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7).
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24,25).
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1).
He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8).
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(John 3:16).
This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath 1life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:11-12).
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life ( Revelation 22:14).
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).
He that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.(John 12:25).
He shall receive... in the world (Greek aion,
age) to come eternal life. (Mark 10:30).
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality (God will render: see verse 6) , eternal life( Romans 2:7).
They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.(Luke 20:35,36).
I give unto them (my sheep) eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28).
As Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal
life to as many as Thou hast given him.
(John 17:2).
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried ,he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12).
The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17).
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:...For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:54,55).
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4).
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.... To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:11,7).
1.In reference to this and similar passages,
in which the present tense is used in reference to the possession of eternal
life, it is necessary to observe that a mistake would be made if it were
supposed they taught the actual present attainment of it. This will be evident
from the facts and testimony already before the reader. The present tense, in
reference to future events, is a peculiarity of speech dictated by inspiration.
Paul, in Romans 4:17, defines this peculiarity as a "calling of those
things which be not as though they were." This is illustrated in
many parts of the Scripture. Mary, by the Holy Spirit, before Jesus was born,
declared that "The Lord hath shewed strength
with His arm...He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them
of low degree; He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath
sent empty away" (Luke 1:51-53). So far were these things from being accomplished,
during his sojourn in the flesh in
Not until he shall appear a
second time, as the Lion of
Second - The immortality of the Bible, unlike the inherent immortality of the popular belief which blooms at death, is to be manifested in connection with, and as the result of the resurrection or change of the body. (The reason is evident: immortality is life manifested through an undecaying body). This proposition is established in many of the testimonies cited under the last heading; it obtains further support from the following:
Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel12:2).
(They) shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of (resulting in) life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of (resulting in) damnation. (John 5:29).
Thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou halt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14).
This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:39-41).
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (John 11:24).
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isaiah 26:19).
There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15).
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We
shall not all sleep, but we (the awakened dead and those who do not sleep) shall
all be changed (after judgement)...for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible1
and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:13,14).
I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:25-27).
What advantageth it me (Paul), if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. (1 Corinthians 15:32).
... I (Paul) have suffered the loss of all things... If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:8-11).
Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at
the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the Godof Jacob.
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
(Luke 20:37,38).
1. Tertullian (about AD 185), in writing upon the resurrection, says, "He who raises the dead to life will raise the body in its perfect integrity. This is part of the change which the body will undergo at the resurrection; for though the dead will be raised in the flesh, yet they who attain to the resurrection of happiness will pass into the angelic state, and put on the vesture of immortality, according to the declaration of the apostle Paul, that this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, and again, that our vile bodies will be changed, that they may be fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ." - Anastasis, page 39.
Third - The immortality of the Bible, in addition to depending upon “the resurrection of the body," is a thing to be manifested and enjoyed on the earth, instead of something to which a man ascends in starry regions after death.
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.( Proverbs 11:31).
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew5:5).
The earth which he hath established for ever. (Psalms 78:69; Ecc 1:4).).
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalms 37:9).
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.( Psalms 37:11).
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. (Psalms 37:22).
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever. (Psalms 37:29).
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. (Psalms 37:34).
The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. (Proverbs 10:30).
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13).
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place (the land of Canaan - Acts 7:4) which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed (Hebrews 11:8).
They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10).
The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:27).
27 - THE EARTH THE DESTINED INHERITANCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS - It follows that the earth, and not "heaven above the skies," is the inheritance of the saints, and the scene of God's work with the human race.
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18).
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. (Psalms 115:16).
And no man hath ascended up to heaven (John3:13).
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day... For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand (Acts 2:29-34).
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. (John 13:33).
In my Father's house 1 are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2,3).
The Father's "house" constitutes the organized polity of the glorified redeemed:
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house (1Peter 2:5).
Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6).
Ye (Ephesian believers)... are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:20,21).
The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15).
Christ has ascended into heaven to appear before God as an advocate for believers on earth:
Christ has entered...into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24).
If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1).
Christ will return to bring to consummation the purpose of God initiated at his first appearance:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21).
If I go...I will come again (John 14:3).
This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11).
The redeemed will be with Christ when he sets up his reign on earth:
They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4).
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4).
1.This passage is generally quoted in the opposition to the doctrine affirmed in Propositions 26 and 27; but the comparison of textual terms below will show that it is but a parabolic expression of the Truth, in perfect harmony with all we are seeking to maintain. It will be seen from this that Christ was alluding to the symbolical temple, or” house of many mansions" (composed of living believers), to be manifested in full glory when his kingdom shall be established on the earth.
28 - HELL: It follows also, of necessity, that the popular theory of hell and "eternal torments" is a fiction. The word "hell" occurs in the English Bible, but a comparison of the texts quoted below will show that its significance is totally different from that which ignorance and superstition have come to attach to it; that, in fact, it, almost without exception, means the grave.
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave (sheol), that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! (Job 14:13).
And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell (sheol, grave), with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. (Ezekiel 32:27, compare with Ezekiel 31:14-17).
The wicked shall be turned into hell (sheol, grave), and all the nations that forget God. (Psalms 9:17).
Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave (sheol).(Psalms 31:17).
For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (sheol, grave: See Peter’s application of this to the resurrection of Christ - Acts 2:27; 2:30-32) neither wilt Thou suffer (allow) Thine Holy One to see corruption (Psalm16:10).
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell (sheol, grave) gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. (Psalms 116:3).
Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said,I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD,
and he heard me; outof the belly of hell (margin, the
grave), cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
(Jonah 2:1-3).
And in hell (hades) 2 he liftup
his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar
off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
(Luke 16:23).
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell (sheol - see margin - grave) (Psalms 86:13).
But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth (grave). (Psalms 63:9).
Thou,
I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell 1(hades, grave) shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18).
He (David) seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell (hades, grave), neither his flesh did see corruption. (Acts 2:31).
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (hades, grave) and of death. (Revelation1:18).
O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hades), where is thy victory?(1 Corinthians 15:55; see Hosea 13:14).
And death and hell (hades, grave) delivered
up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works. And death and hell (hades, grave) were cast into the lake of fire. This is
the second death.
(Revelation 20:13-14).
1. The original word for hell in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word sheol. The following remarks from "The Bible Verses Tradition,"p. 188, will throw light on the subject: "The Hebrew word for sheol is translated hell, properly, as a general thing, if intended to mean the same as the old Saxon word hell, the covered receptacle of all the dead, where the good and bad repose together in a state of unconsciousness: but very improperly and very shamefully, if intended to be a symbol of 'orthodox' and traditionary hell, as a place of conscious torment for the wicked only. But we, without the slightest reservation, condemn the translators: for they have evidently endeavored to obscure the true sense of the word sheol, and to uphold the traditionary meaning of hell at the expense of truth and uniformity. Had sheol been uniformly translated pit, or grave, or the state of the dead, or even the mansions of the dead, no such absurd idea as that of a place of conscious torment could ever have been associated with it."
As to the word "hell" in the New Testament, we quote the following remarks on the original term "hades," by Dr. Campbell, a Presbyterian commentator (see On the Gospel, Diss, 6): "As to the word hades,in my judgement it ought never to be rendered hell, at least in the sense wherein that word is now universally understood by Christians. In the Old Testament, the corresponding word is sheol, which signifies the state of the dead in general, without regard to goodness or badness of the persons."
Kitto, in his Cyclopaedia of the Bible, says, "Hades means literally that which is in darkness." Job in describing the state of man in death, calls it "a land of darkness, as darkness itself"(Job 10:18-22). A careful examination will lead to the conclusion that no sanction to an intermediate state is afforded by these passages where hades correctly rendered hell, occurs eleven times: see Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31: 1 Corinthians15:55 (in the margin, hell); Revelation 2:18; 6:8; 20:13-14. Gehenna, also incorrectly rendered hell, occurs twelve times: see Matthew 5:22,29-30; 18:9; 23:15,33: Mark 9:43, 45, 47: Luke 12:5; James 3:6.
2. This passage, occurring in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, is invariably brought forward as proof of the existence of the hell of popular theory. It can only afford such proof on the supposition that it is a literal description and not a parable. But even then it involves the orthodox believer in endless inconsistencies, for it represents heaven and hell ad divided by a gulf over which the wicked and good can exchange thoughts and hold conversations. It is generally admitted that the account is a parable because Christ spoke to the rulers in parables: "That seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." (Luke8:10). Josephus mentions a tradition current among the superstitious Jews, which seems to correspond with the narrative given by Christ; in fact, Christ appears to have founded his narrative on the tradition in question. Be that as it may, it is evident that he intended to convey some important truth, as seen in verses 29-31. "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." In addressing the Pharisees on another occasion the Lord said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me... for had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." (John 5:39-46). All rewards and punishments are reserved until Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1). Christ plainly taught that the righteous will be "recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:14). At the same time the wicked will likewise receive the fruits of their folly(Romans 2:7-9, 16).
3. Adam Clark, commenting on this passage,
has the following remarks; “Perhaps not meaning here the place of
torment, but rather of desolation. The original word is hades, from a, not and idein,to see - the invisible receptacle, or mansion of the
dead, answering to sheol in Hebrew. The word hell,
used in the common translation, conveys now an improper meaning of the original
word, because hell is only used to signify the place of the damned. But,
as the word hell comes from the Anglo-Saxon helan,
to cover of hide, hence the tilling or slating of a house in some
parts of England (particularly Cornwall) heling,
to this day; and the covers of books (in Lancashire)by the same name; so the
literal import of the original word hades was formerly well expressed by it. Here it
means a state of the utmost woe, and ruin, and desolation, to which those
impenitent cities should be reduced. This prediction of our Lord was literally
fulfilled: for in the wars between the Romans and the Jews these cities were
totally destroyed so that no traces are now found of
28a - GEHENNA: There is another class of texts in which the word "hell"
occurs, which have to be differently understood from those quotedin
the foregoing section: in this the original is Gehenna.1 A reference to the passages and notes
below will, however, show that they give as little countenance to the hell of
popular theology as those in which the word "hell" simply means
grave. They refer to the locality in the
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into
life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell 2(Gehenna,
Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul (psuche, life), but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul (psuche, life) and body in hell 3(Gehenna). (Matthew 10:28).
As
It is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the
controversy of
(His) fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:12).
The sinners in
Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).
Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall, and ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 4:1-3).
The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8).
(Those), knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such thing sare worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:32).
1. Parkhurst says,
"Gehenna is used by the Septuagint for the
Hebrew word Gaihenna (Joshua 18:16). So
Gehenna in the New Testament is in like manner a
corruption of the two Hebrew words gai,a valley, and Hinnom, the name of a person who was once the possessor
of it. This
In this Gehenna
Sennacherib's army was destroyed (2 Kings19:35). It is written also of this
valley, termed also the valley of slaughter, “Behold, the days come,
saith the LORD, that this place shall no more becalled Tophet, nor
the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the valley of
slaughter. And I will make void the counsel of
2. Parkhurst remarks on this verse, "Our Lord seems to allude to the worms which continually preyed on the dead carcasses that were cast into the valley of Hinnom (i.e. Gehenna) and to the perpetual fire kept to consume them; a place of abominable filthiness and pollution."- Greek Lexicon. Thus Gehenna came to be used as a synonym for total destruction.
3. Matthew, who wrote in the Hebrew idiom, used the term soul and body as comprehending the whole being, which only God could kill so as never to be raised to life again. But Luke 12:4-5,who wrote purer Greek, in relating the same discourse, omits the term soul.W.G. Moncriff, Edinburgh, observes that "The only legitimate mode of interpreting the text is, in our opinion, to understand it as affirming that God only can destroy a soul, a life, a human being's existence for ever; and that this will be the doom of all apostates, and of all the ungodly. Persecutions may destroy a Christian's life now, and for a little, but, at the 'last day' he will be raised to glory, honour, and immortality." When God destroys a man, a soul, a life, or a living being in Gehenna, he is quenched forever; the second death is to be followed by no resurrection. - Bible verses Tradition.
4. Van der Palm, a learned and orthodox translator of the Bible, says, on Jude, "As this, according to the Greek text, is said of the cities, we must here take the words 'eternal fire' in the sense of a fire which cannot be extinguished until it has consumed everything, and reduced it to ashes."
29 - THE DESTINY OF THE WICKED. If the hell of popular belief is a mere figment of the imagination it will be asked, what then is the destiny of the wicked according to the Scriptures? The answer, justified by the foregoing and subjoined testimonies is, that they will be put out of existence by divine judgement, with attendant circumstances of shame and suffering.
The wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. (Psalms 37:20).
The day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. (Obadiah 1:15,16).
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently
consider his place, and it shall not be.
(Psalms 37:10).
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it... But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalms 37:34,38).
(They) shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe(2 Thessalonians 1:9,10).
The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.( Psalms 145:20).
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. (Psalms 104:35).
The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction: they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. (Job 21:30).
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. (2 Corinthians2:15,16).
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed:
but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
(Proverbs 13:13).
These shall go away into everlasting punishment: 1but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46).
1.The literal rendering of the passage is, "And these shall go (eis kolasin aionion) to the cutting off age-lasting; but the righteous (eis zoen aionion) to life everlasting" (Matthew 25:46).The Hebrew word "olahm" corresponds to the Greek words "aion,"age, and "aionos," pertaining to the age. Parkhurst says, "It (aion)denotes duration or continuance of time with great variety." - GreekLexicon. Liddell and Scott render the word aion thus: "A space or period of time, especially a life time: also one's time of life, age, generation, definite period, a long space of time, eternity," etc.: not once rendered "world" in their Greek Lexicon. In the Common Version,” everlasting, eternal, evermore, and for ever," are usually given as the equivalent of aion. While in most cases this translation is practically correct, it has to be observed, even these words do not always represent the idea of unlimited duration. Their scope is purely by the subject with which they are connected. A few examples will suffice to show this:
1 - Unlimited Duration: