September 8, 2006
Reading through the Bible in one Year: Psalm 107:1-108:13; 1
Corinthians 7:25-8:6
Good Evening Brothers and Sisters,
Here is the second part of the project. Any comments are truly
appreciated.
The Nature of Hell
Hell is a difficult concept to understand because we do not want to think of
God as creating something so hideous. Heaven is just as hideous by
comparison. We have the extreme hatred and fire that never dies in hell
compared to the extreme righteousness and happiness that exists in heaven.
Neither heaven nor hell is given much text in the Bible. Yet both are
highly debated and discussed just as if we have hard facts which describe
each place in detail. In essence we know that heaven will be a wonderful
place, a place of reward, and a place where we will praise God. Hell
will be a hideous place where the fire will never die and maggots will
continually crawl over the body (Matt 13:42-43). The classical view of
hell seems to be most in line with scripture.
One
factor that is not often considered when the consideration is given to
heaven and hell is the glorified body (1 Cor 15:40-53). At the
judgment seat of Christ, all believers will be judged and issued their
crowns (2 Cor 5:10; Ro 14:7-12). Believers will receive a glorified
body at the rapture (1 Thess 4:13-18; Dan 12:3; Isa 26:19; Eph 5:14).
Unbelievers will receive a glorified body at the Great White Throne judgment
(Rev 20:11-15: Dan 12:2). The glorified body will be incredible
because it will be created to live forever, with or without the need to eat.
This body will be perfect designed by God to last forever, in other words,
it will be indestructible by definition; imperishable. The
glorified body will also be totally sensitive emotionally, physically, and
mentally. In other words this body will be perfect, designed to
worship God. Just as God designed Adam and Eve to worship Him, this
perfect body will be designed for perfect happiness and perfect relationship
with God.
How does hell fit in? The glorified body will be resistant to
fire it will not be able to be incinerated because it is perfect in every
way. The cells that are damaged will instantly regenerate to replace
damaged cells. Is it possible that for the body to be perfect to the point
that if it is cast into hell with the unbeliever that it will continuously
feel pain because of nerve endings that cannot be seared? Will it
constantly feel elated emotion of hatred because the emotional experience
cannot be tamed? Imagine constantly feeling the burn that is instantly
seared in our natural bodies to protect us from the hideous pain.
Without the glorified body, there is nothing that can be consumed by
fire. Fire and the spirit exist in two different dimensions; fire
cannot torment a spirit because a spirit does not have nerve endings.
Only a body has nerve endings. If God raises the unbeliever for
judgment and issues a glorified body to them, and death has already been
defeated, then death cannot come to the new body. The second death
that is spoken of is truly a death that is represented by an eternal
separation from God (Rev 21:5-8).
The best argument for hell and the existence of hell is the story that
Jesus told regarding the rich man and Lazarus. The point of the story
is that the rich man begs that his brothers be informed so that they can
avoid hell. Jesus did not tell the story as a parable, He told it as a
factual occurrence that actually took place (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus
cannot lie since He is God, therefore the story must be true. Hell
must really exist, it must be incredibly hot, and somehow people retain
bodies without their being consumed by fire. Jesus stated that hell
was created for eternal punishment for the unbeliever just as heaven was for
eternal life, (Matt 25:41-46). The same word for eternal is used
in reference to hell and to heaven indicating equal duration (v.46).
Jesus’ words are very specific on this eternal punishment is forever, just
like eternal life is forever.
Father, as we consider Your word and ponder the nature of hell, open
our eyes so that we can see and understand the concepts written in Your
word.
In him,
Joe Turner.