Some time ago I was inspired to compose a list of questions that I have given to several pastors of churches in my area. I have yet to hear back from any of them…
QUESTION #1
“For all the land which you see, I give to you and your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:15)
“Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8)
After reading and studying these two Scriptures it appears to me that something is not in accord, because the physical seed of Abraham has not always retained possession of the land of Canaan. From A.D. 70 up to the middle of the 20th century, the people of Israel were scattered throughout this entire earth and thus did not possess their Promised Land endlessly, as the words forever and everlasting signify. Can you explain this?
QUESTION #2
The Bible also says that the Aaronic Priesthood is an everlasting priesthood, but the book of Hebrews clearly states an end to it. (See Exodus 40:15, Numbers 25:13, and Hebrews 7:14-18). Likewise, Leviticus 24:8 tells of the Mt. Sinai or Mosaic covenant as being an everlasting covenant, yet Jeremiah 31:31 prophesies its end with a second and better covenant. Hebrews 8:7-13 reiterates this prophecy as being fulfilled. Why the apparent contradictions?
QUESTION #3
“But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable forTyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. (Luke 10:12-14)
What is Jesus saying here? If the ultimate fate of all of the above mentioned is sure to be eternal punishment in literal hellfire, then how can it possibly be “more tolerable” for one group than for the other?
QUESTION #4
If punishment in hell, which is described as a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, is everlasting, then why does God’s Word clearly state the following?
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
QUESTION #5
Likewise, in Revelation 20:14 the lake of fire is referred to as the “second death.” So how can the lake of fire, or the “second death,” be an eternal place of punishment when God’s Word clearly tells us that “death” will come to an end in Revelation 21:4? (See also I Corinthians 15:26)
Now I want to challenge you to take these five questions to the pastor of your church. I will guarantee to you that he will not be able to honestly answer these questions without seriously compromising his belief system.
EXPLAINING A BLATANT CONTRADICTION
The LORD spoke the following to Moses concerning Aaron and his sons:
“And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be aneverlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” (Exodus 40:15 – KJV)
The word “everlasting” is also used in the American Standard Bible and the New King James Version to describe the Aaronic priesthood. According to the text, this “everlasting” priesthood is to last throughout the generations of Aaron and his sons. So which is it? Is the text really speaking of a priesthood that is to last “forever?”Are the generations of Aaron and his sons continuing to this day? No, for the generations of Aaron and his sons came to an abrupt halt when Titus of Rome drove the Jews from their land and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., thus fulfilling the prophecy (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68). And the 7th chapter of Hebrews clearlytells us that the Aaronic priesthood became null and void when the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, became the final perfect sacrifice on behalf of mankind, thus permanently filling the office as our High Priest.
“This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever.” (Hebrews 7:22-24 – RSV)
Both the Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible more accurately use the word “perpetual” to describe the duration of this priesthood which is to last “throughout their generations.” Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible “hits the nail on the head” by describing this priesthood as “age-during.” And Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible accurately tells us that the Hebrew word olam, which was rendered in this verse as “everlasting” by the King James (Authorized Version) translators, means age, or age-lasting. However, Strong’s Concordance will erroneously give you the idea that olam (Strong’s H#5769) means eternity, always, everlasting, etc. Now based upon the passage we have just examined, what do you NOW think this word means? Should we rather trust the Word of God to interpret the text over the biased (and perhaps influenced) opinions of men? “BEWARE the leaven of the Pharisees!”
*NOTE: Now there will inevitably be those who will point to Hebrews 7:24 as describing Jesus, our High Priest, as continuing for ever (Greek: aion) in order to try and prove that this word can indeed mean “eternal.” This is a very common misconception. However, if you study I Corinthians 15:2o-28 you will learn that therewill come a time at the end of the ages when Jesus will deliver up His reign to God the Father after putting “all enemies under His feet.” In other words, the reign of Jesus as our High Priest will cease at the end of the ages. So Hebrews 7:24 is very accurate indeed in telling us that our High Priest Jesus will continue “for the ages.” How many ages are we speaking of here? UNTIL THE END OF THE AGES!
PURGE OUT THE LEAVEN
Now I would like for you to try something. Go back through all of those passages in question and substitute the idea of a limited period of time (Hebrew: olam, Greek Septuagint: aion) for words such as forever, eternal, everlasting, etc. If you do this, you will soon find that ALL of those verses suddenly make perfect sense! The lake of fire can now be accurately understood as God’s corrective discipline for the lost, and NOT an “eternal” torture chamber of horrors.
SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!
If the Spirit is bearing witness to you that the information you have been reading on this site is true, then it is now your responsibility to share this good news with others, especially with those who are of the household of faith. But do not be surprised if they will not listen to you, for unless they have been given “ears to hear,” God’s Word clearly tells us that they WILL NOT! (See Ezekiel 2 & 3)
Always remember:
“It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 – RSV)
Ron Swanson
/ December 9, 2010Just commenting on the last 3.
REGARDING QUESTION 3 – The Bible teaches that there are degrees of punishment in hell, according to our works. (Certainly a moral person who rejects Christ wouldn’t face the same punishment as, say, a Hitler who killed 6 million Jews. Justice demands that there be a difference.) Here are some Scriptures:
Luke 12:47-48 – “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with MANY stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with FEW stripes.”
Heb. 10:29 – “Of how much SORER punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy…”
In light of that, certainly it would be “more tolerable” for some, than for others.
REGARDING QUESTION 4 – He’s clearly talking about two different groups of people. The ones who rejected the gospel have a “forever” weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Revelation passage is talking about the saved who will never again experience things that would cause weeping and crying.
REGARDING QUESTION 5 – Same concept as above. The second death is defined in Revelation as being cast into the lake of fire. Not only will individuals who have rejected God’s remedy for sin be cast there, but death and hell are also cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation chapter 20). But, for the Christian, death will be no more.
Nope. Didn’t have to seriously compromise my belief system.
Gary
/ December 29, 2010There was a time, Ron, when I too believed this swill. But a closer examination of these points exposes flaws in your argument.
First, let’s see exactly WHO will be cast into the lake of fire:
“But 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.” (Rev 21:8)
The word “fearful” in some versions is translated as “cowardly” or “timid.” So here we have timid or cowardly people lumped in with murderers and adulterers. The same is true of all liars. That’s ALL liars, Ron. So someone who steals a candy bar in a drug store and lies about it will be cast into the lake of fire along with Hitler, Stalin, and the like. So I see a big problem with your argument about degrees of punishment in hell, in that it will be “more tolerable” for those who have done lesser crimes. Besides, the word “everlasting” as it erroneously appears in most modern versions of the Bible implies that their punishment is just that: NEVER-ending. So what’s the difference?
The truth of the matter, Ron, is that Jesus never taught that there would be varying degrees of punishment in “hell.” However, He DID teach that there would be varying degrees of corrective discipline. Can you guess for which group of people it will be LESS tolerable?
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” (Luke 20:46,47)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” (Matt 23:14)
Now I ask, which group of people most fits the above description?
a) murderers
b) adulterers
c) unbelievers
d) televangelists
I encourage you to seek honest answers to questions 1 & 2, which you conveniently ignored. Maybe then will you begin to understand what the scriptures really teach.
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Aion_lim.html
http://www.savior-of-all.com/An%20Analytical%20Study%20of%20Words.pdf
http://thetencommandmentsministry.us/ministry/free_bible/whence_eternity
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/BibleThreateningsExplained.html
“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” — Bertrand Russell
Peace
william twiss
/ November 8, 2011hell is the grave. How is the rich man in the grave feeling any pain (if this story is literal), he is carrying on a conversation with abraham. not in some torture from a falme of fire. He said i am tormented or aggravated . Jesus only taught in parables Matt.13:34,35 G&P