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Archive for the ‘Eschatology’ Category

Alright, Let’s Hash Out This Concept Of Hell… Is It Literal, Figurative, Eternal Or Temporary?

In Bible, Eschatology, Hell on September 18, 2009 at 7:43 pm

by Elizabeth K

People all over the world most likely have heard about and possess some degree of fear concerning hell.  This concept is a common reason for some to become atheist or “unchristian”.  Still, human conscience seems to convict us of the law of cause and effect, that there are consequences for wrongs, and that justice must be served in some way.

Misconceptions of hell (and the devil) abound.  So what does the Bible say?  I have been revisiting this topic and wondering about different beliefs concerning it.

Following are Scriptures (in the ASV) which are translated using the term hell by most major Bible translations using the Hebrew word Gehenna used in both the Old and the New Testament, or the Greek term Tartarus which is used one time and concerns the casting of angels into hell. Also listed are a few other Scriptures that may or may not pertain to hell, and a couple of verses which use the Greek term Hades as indicated.

Wikipedia says Gehenna is “used in the New Testament as a metaphor for the final place of punishment for the wicked after the resurrection. Hell is taught as the final destiny of those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior after they have passed through the great white throne of judgment, where they will be punished for sin  and permanently separated from God after the general resurrection and last judgment.”  This seems to be the traditional Christian understanding of hell.

I did not include Old Testament Scriptures that contain the words Sheol which are clearly not eternal and because Bible translations translate this term differently.  The King James version translates it as hell sometimes and other times it is translated as grave in places where hell does not make sense, such as where the patriarch Jacob believed he would go, a place “in peace”, where righteous Job wanted to be hidden, where animals (sheep) go after death, etc.  Sheol is also translated as pit. Read the rest of this entry »

The Antichrist Will Be A Church Leader, Not A President Or Any Other World Leader

In Bible, Church, Eschatology on September 17, 2009 at 6:41 am

by Elizabeth K

I have been called a heretic for pointing out Scriptures which are forthright in distinguishing Christ from God who is the Father, such as:

“For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him….”  ~ 1 Cor 8:5-6

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.  ~ Ephesians 4:4-6

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God [God], and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  ~ John 17:3

“For there is one God, AND one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Timothy 2:5

But I am surprised that so many of the speculations among Christianity, (dispensational premillennialism to be specific) concerning end times are so readily embraced as true doctrine without Scriptural support.  There is an even wider amount of guessing of how these events and characters will play out through media such as The Left Behind book series as well as urban legends floating through email inboxes such as this one found on Snopes:

“According to the book of Revelations the anti-christ is:  The anti-christ will be a man, in his 40’s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal….  the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destory everything.  Is it Obama?” Read the rest of this entry »