May 17 2008, 12:56 pm - Replied by: Explicit_Faith

How can anyone learn anything from this constant bickering which clouds truth?


What this parable does is refutes the doctrine of "soul sleep". At death, the flesh body DOES go back to the ground and turns back to dust, agreed? However, the spirit and soul go back to the Father from where they came. The soul is placed into the body at conception. Read the account of John the Baptist leaping in his mothers womb when Mary approached having just conceived the Lord. When we die, our soul and spirit (intellect of the soul) returns to PARADISE. There is however a GULF or divide. Those saved are on the side with Abraham. The rest are on the other side of the gulf and can not cross over. God is a consuming FIRE. This fire consumes God's enemies however it WARMS the hearts of those that are His. This warmth has been described as to a similiar effect of a glass of wine and how it warms the insides. The rich man in the parable realized that he didnt make it and the torment of being in the presence of God but not having salvation and begging for a drip of water ( the living water of Christ ) to quench the fire is there to teach us. The rest of this parable also teaches that we have the word (Moses and the prophets) to help us make the decision as to the side of the gulf that we want.

The word HELL in the english Bible has a couple of translations. Grave (spiritually dead?) , Ghiannon (garbage pit- what goes into a garbage pit? ). They are referring to the other side of the gulf, where the rich man is hanging out awaiting judgement.

The Hell that has been TRADITIONALLY taught has not been created yet. It will be created at judgement and it is the lake of fire mentioned in Rev. 21:8.

Ive got a personal problem with the message of BEVIEVE OR BURN IN HELL. Yeah ok, it is necessary to teach this, however, using fear as a motivation to get people to turn to the loving grace of God is WAY OVERUSED. Why not teach about the blessings, love, and peace that come with a personal relationship with Jesus? Why not teach the beauty that is in God's word? For over 40 years now I have been hearing the fire and brimstone message and I observe the effect it has on people. Some, and I mean some, are SCARED into accepting the Lord. But for a large part I have seen people turn and say, "This is what God is about? I dont think I want any part of it." This is just my PERSONAL opinion and viewpoint, but it comes from observation. Look at the way Jesus taught about the Kingdom. He healed, brought peace, and instructed. He jiggled the bait to catch the fish, He didnt throw the anchor at it! These are lessons where we can learn from as we bring the gospel to our brethern. May God bless you!

Sep 14 2008, 2:55 pm - Replied by: dane_g87

end times prophet, you have no authority whatsoever to say whether or not someone has been called by God to teach.

 If you were to read the Bible, you would have known that the Scriptures command ALL CHRISTIANS to teach:

(2 Timothy 2:24-25) A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.

Sep 19 2008, 12:17 pm - Replied by: Farmermatt

A couple of comments

1st the End times prophets guy is someone who cannot be debated with because there is no rational approach only his own truth.  There is no basis for open discussion.

2nd while I agree about the Hell, Fire and Damnation maybe over done in some circles, there are other circles where you would think that man is ok, because sin is not taught.  There has to be balance in all things not just the Wrath of God or Just the Love of God, but both.  If you look in the gospels you will find that Jesus talked about hell and punishment more than heaven, but He did talk about both. 

Sep 20 2008, 1:23 pm - Replied by: sermonselect

Wow! This is quite a thread...

Jesus never went to Hell, he wen't to Hades; Sheol; the realm of the dead - just as everyone who has, or will die. 

 Never once has anyone (including) Satan stepped foot into Hell. Hell was prepared for the "Devil and his Angels" - as punishment. That is Satan's destination along with those that chose to follow him e.g. deny Christ. 

The first thing to remember is that Hell is not Satan's kingdom; it belongs to God. Satan is the ruler of this world; not Hell.

Abraham's bossom = Hell?!

No. Abraham's bossom is the place of comfort in Hades - the abode of the dead.