ANSWERS TO YOUR EMAILS
Subject: GEHENNA
Can you explain what you believe these verses mean?
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell
[Gehenna]. (Matthew 10:28)
“But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he
hath killed hath power to cast into hell [Gehenna]; yea, I say unto you, Fear
him.” (Luke 12:5)
Thanks…
those who will inherit the thousand year kingdom, and those who will not (Rev
20:4-6). The first resurrection occurs before the thousand years; the second
resurrection does not occur until afterwards:
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished.” (Rev 20:5a)
Jesus was warning His disciples (and those of us today who have ears to hear)
about Gehenna, which is merely a symbol for the lake of fire, second death
judgment, where the soul of man is destroyed, but his spirit saved (1 Cor
5:5). Most will be in this second group. But there will be a chosen few who
do not draw back to perdition (the second death), but who rather believe to
the saving of the soul (Heb 10:39).
First resurrection = narrow road = salvation of the soul = kingdom inheritance
Second resurrection = wide road = loss of one’s soul = no kingdom inheritance
Hope this helps,
Gary
JC Vucina
/ March 2, 2011I think that this means you should be alert. I don’t fear mankind. They can’t touch my soul as it is not their jurisdiction. You are looking out at real wolves in sheeps clothing here, the type that are fanatics, The drinking the coolaide types. They manipulate people so much that they twist the very foundation of the law of God. They act as benefactor as God’s will, where as in my experience only when God finds me worthy does he speak through me. You see you must be AWARE rather than be ware. There is no one that can cast you into hell. You have a choice in every thought, action, word, and everything you do to give it over to God. In my experience this is when I feel the deepest of Christs forgiveness and love for mankind. So as you practice this it works in reverse of manipulation. It works to keep you aware and hearing his message, which is always on and broadcasting. “Men of God” in my humble opinion are simply tuned in correctly. Anyone with the faith and constitution can tune on in and get the truth directly from him. If you aren’t supposed to know it or you aren’t ready for it he will spoon feed you your faith at the level you are comfortable with. Every unfolds and awakens to God at different ebbs and flows. This life is merly a dream that will be over in the blink of an eye. In my case I am repenting and I have some amazing things that have happened to me. I will share it with anyone. I am not a pastor, saint, messenger, I am a man who seeks the truth. Christ is the truth. There are other chances when Christ returns for the confused and ill informed to choose him. I humbly bear witness to the truth and do not make opinions on who should or shouldn’t go to hell. That is arrogant and nothing for fallable men to dabble in. There is a hell, and it is a terrible place. I don’t want to have to teach my kids about it but I will. The evil and twisted nature of the fallen transform that way in the absence of GOD. God is light and love, so in his absence things are dark, twisted, terrible, and deformed in grotesque ways. Satan opposes God as he lost the battle to take over the thrown. Our God is a loving and just God and he is only capable of judging souls. I believe you must repent from the wicked ways in order to get into heaven with grace. I believe that you can take advantage of God ‘s grace and sneak in on faith alone, because we all fall short of our Gods perfection. I just don’t want to sneak in, I want to come home when he wishes me to and my work is done here. Men of God are needed everywhere now, not just churches. I am a salesman. I have seen men that in this profession have wielded the type of evil that can lead a man astray, and they will get it ten fold. Remember that Heaven is an open ended invitation and every day is another chance. God takes no pleasure in the death. God also talks about anyone that adds or subtracts from the holy bible. I have no idea what his version is, I know Christ is in it. I ask God to tell me the truth when it is important for mankind. Sometimes it takes a while, and I learn and I grow through experience. I am 29 and really had the same issues/clarifications with contradictions. Let me tell you an addage that still exists today. The devil is in the details. Evil men can add or subtract from a bible, it’s very simple. Shoot even incompetent good man can too. I have learned most my truth directly from the source, God. He the ultimate master of the universe and speaks through every detail of your life. There are so many systemic anomolies that you notice when you are listening to him that to you it is proof, I can assure you. It’s good that you are questioning claims of truth. There is only one truth. Even people that try to deliver it sometimes don’t understand and are trying to help. There is nothing wrong with making an honest mistake, and I have. When I recieve absolute confirmation I call or write to clarify. Worshiping your church or bible is idolatry. You must love God first and people and everything else second. Other wise you are worshiping something imperfect, you see? Churches are doing the best they can(in most cases) to deliver the truth, but if I were a church I would constantly be correcting/clarifying my subjects. Letting them know that God’s truth is eternal and perfect, but men are not. Churchianity causes many to lost faith in God. Ask yourself if you believe in God, not what men say about God. Then remember this phrase: the kingdom of heaven is inside you, not in the house of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood and I am there, lift a stone and you will find me. I am working as hard as I can to reach people who won’t or can’t go to church. You can’t force the hand of God. God doesn’t even force his own hand, he wants us to love him. Much like you want your child to love you, not by force but choice. A lot of these answers are quite simple. God wants all of his children back, but we ignore him. He must keep heaven righteous and pure and just. That makes it a state of perfection. Every moment we do,say, and think is recorded. Then for those with faith in Christ he writes his name over every single sin you have ever commited in the eyes of the lord. Mankind trying to judge sin on the soul is much like a child playing cops and robbers, laughable and far from the real way it happens. I hope this helps and sorry if I rambled. I am available anytime you need me on this subject. Christ reveled himself to me. I was struggling with good people not going to heaven because they didn’t know about him. I haven’t read a whole lot of the bible, just got started. But my name means Bringing Justice and Truth with Christ bearing the Wolf. I am no wolf in sheeps clothing, and I love skeptics. I love from my heart and I forgive because I have made mistakes. There will be no pointing at anyone else time of judgement. You can’t deflect and say that person was worse. Satan lost it in the absence of God and became Hatred. The angels that fell with him became demons. They hate us. It is all they know. They always try to sneak into peoples hearts unnotice, but the reason you don’t see as much demonic activity in brief possesions as often as in old times is because of the fact that they don’t reproduce and we do. Being fruitful certainly gives us an advantage. That would make a lot of sense on God’s insight wouldn’t it. They have no dominion, and any time you feel tempted ask God to handle it for you. He will literally make you good when you lack the ability to do so, which is always. When you listen to your heart or your morals that is the holy spirit which is the messege of God. He is the source of true love. It doesn’t exist if he doesn’t, even on the minutia of the way we express it. I cried what I believed to be the tears of Christ when people turn from him.The devil puts higharchy on sin in order to make you not know the difference and devolve your soul far enough away from God to not believe. Faith is the cornerstone of entry to heaven, but a God that puts himself to death for me deserves my full co-peration. That means I am his. Satan makes you an ego maniac with no knowledge that you are following one of the worst evils, indifference. He doesn’t need you to believe in him, he needs you to not believe in God. That means money, women, power, and everything non godly which doesn’t fill the hole in our hearts. Only God’s love fits there first, then love of others, and I say enjoy things but do not love them, that is reserved for living beings. I have heard stories of someone letting someone else choke to death in order to not risk getting sued. I will get sued. Will you?
JC Vucina
/ March 2, 2011Also I just read over this, women are not ungodly, worshiping them is ungodly, see I just made an honest mistake
JC Vucina
/ March 3, 2011Dear AIG,
Please see my above post. I was wrong about Hell, and very happy about that fact. That’s how it’s done.
I have wrong before, yes that happens.
J
Steve
/ March 16, 2012Hi. I have a question about the millenium and the second death. Presumably during the millenium people will learn God’s laws and judgments better than they know them today, given the fact that Christ and the apostles are ruling from Jerusalem. There is still sin and death (Isa. 65:20) as a judgment for sin. But here’s my question: Wouldn’t people in that time, under God’s rule and teaching, be brought to understand that God will eventually save everyone? If they do understand this, then why would there be any fear of death. In other words, wouldn’t the threat of death for sin seem harmless if they believed that everyone is eventually saved? I suppose one could argue that they miss out on the rest of the millenium, but is that really so bad if they are still going to be saved? Thanks. Peace.
Gary
/ March 19, 2012Death is not a threat… it’s a promise. But anyone who knows the truth of God’s love, whether living now or during the millennium, need not fear death:
I John 4:17-18 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
And believe me, I know how difficult it is to rewire our thinking when it comes to subjects like “sin” and “death.” We have all been conditioned to believe that “death” is the penalty for “doing sinful things.” But it is not. Death is what must happen to the flesh – the sinful nature, before it can be resurrected anew.
John 12:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
During the millennial kingdom the adversary satan will be bound (Rev 20:2). And I believe “satan” is just a metaphor for the sinful nature within man: that which does what is contrary to God’s law. But the sinful nature will not have been completely destroyed just yet, because Christ must rule over His kingdom with a rod of iron (Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15), meaning rule still has to be enforced. But it will be a time of peace on earth without any more war (Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3).
Rev 20:7-9 “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”
I believe these verses are metaphorically describing the second resurrection, the key phrase being: when the thousand years are expired (cf. Rev 20:5a). Satan (unregenerate man) is loosed (resurrected) from his prison (grave) and is immediately devoured by fire.
“For our God IS a consuming fire.” (Heb 12:29)
I know Rev 20:7-15 reads as though it is describing two separate events, but I don’t think so. I believe verses 7-10 are merely another way of describing the same event as verses 11-15.
Peace
Steve
/ March 20, 2012That’s a very interesting interpretation. If it’s true, however, it creates a problem with the timeline–at least as it is usually presented. Satan is to be tormented for ages and ages. 1 Cor 15 says at the end everyone is saved–all of creation. This can’t occur right at the end of the millenium because at that point Satan still has to endure several more ages of torment. Thanks. Peace.
Gary
/ March 25, 2012My point is that this cannot be a literal “battle” which occurs after the 1000 years, or it would contradict Isaiah’s prophecy that people will no longer learn war. And I don’t necessarily believe the millennium will be a literal 1000 years, either. Nor do I believe there will be any more ages after the millennium. I tend to believe that the term “1000 years” symbolizes ALL of the coming ages that will ensue after Christ’s return. And the only reason we get the idea that “satan” has to endure several more ages of torment after the millennium is because we try to read and understand Revelation as if it were a book of chronological events. But we have already proven that it is not. And I do not believe “satan” is some literal creature who will one day be tossed into some fiery pit. Satan is simply the adversarial spirit within man who by nature opposes the things of God (Rom 7). And his torment is taking place even as you read these words. Turn on the news any day and you will see the torment people experience when they tragically lose a loved one, etc… But the good news is that one day God will wipe away all tears, thus ending all torment (Isa 25:8; Rev 21:4).
Steve
/ March 26, 2012But Isa. 65:20 suggests that sin and death still exist in the millenium; why couldn’t there be a war after Satan is “loosed for a while”–even if satan is just a representation of our own sin?
My other question: 1 Cor. 15:54 says “death is swallowed up in victory.” Yet it seems to be tying that only into the resurrection of the saints at Christ’s return (v. 49-54). Isn’t the victory over death supposed to occur when all have been resurrected? Thanks. Peace.
Steve
/ March 27, 2012I think I’ve answered my own question again– the second one anyway–so I figured I would save you the time. Actually, you answered it in THE SECRET RAPTURE MYTH when you compared these two verses.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:19-23)
“This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:5a,6)
1 Cor. 15 is describing the completion of Adam in Christ. This does not occur instantly at the resurrection of the saints anymore than Adam was completed when he was made in God’s image. There is still a period of time–perhaps a thousand years–before it is complete, but the process of the restoration begins when the saints are resurrected. Thanks. Peace.
Gary
/ March 31, 2012Exactly. The saints are in the business of restoration, so it makes no sense to me that a literal “war” will occur after the 1000 years. And keep in mind that the imagery in Revelation pertains to SPIRITUAL (not physical) things.
John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are SPIRIT, and they are life.”
And remember, this all takes place AFTER the 1000 years, when rest of the dead (the non-saints) live again. I could be wrong, but the way I currently see it is that after the second resurrection occurs, the enemies of God who surround the camp are all of those billions upon billions of resurrected souls complete with all of those old sinful qualities still within them. And what happens to those sinful qualities? Fire proceeds forth from heaven and devours them (v.9), aka the lake of fire:
Heb 1:7 “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.”
But only the sin within the man, the son of perdition, is the enemy of God. The good qualities are to be retained and refined.
I Cor 3:12-15 “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
The carnal nature will be destroyed, but the Spirit will be saved.
1 Cor 5:5 “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
It will be at this point when Adam will be fully completed in Christ’s image.
Mal 3:2-3 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.”
Peace
Steve
/ April 6, 2012It seems to me that the idea of everyone eventually being allowed to dwell in the new Jerusalem is based on the following scenario: those not found in the book of life are subject to the lake of fire, after which they are permitted in the new heavens and new earth. But Rev. 21:27 says that those not written in the book of life will never enter. Can you clarify this? Thanks. Peace.
Gary
/ April 8, 2012Remember when Louis Abbott made the point during his interview that most people erroneously assume that Rev 21 & 22 are describing the very end of all things? Not true. They describing the millennial kingdom, because nations are still being ruled.
Rev 21:24 “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.”
Rev 21:26 “And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.”
Rev 22:14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the New Jerusalem via the first resurrection.
Rev 21:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
The rest of the dead will not live again until the kingdom age is over (Rev 20:5), when the need for rule is finally abolished.
I Cor 15:24 “THEN COMETH THE END, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; WHEN HE SHALL HAVE PUT DOWN ALL RULE and all authority and power.”
I Cor 15:25 “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.”
I Cor 15:26 “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
And precisely when is the last enemy (death) destroyed? Why not until AFTER the 1000 years kingdom, when the rest of the dead are made alive..
Here’s another way to look at this. We know that flesh and blood (aka the first adam) cannot enter the kingdom:
Rev 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Rev 22:15 “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Nothing which defiles will ever enter into the presence of Almighty God. Only the perfected man, the LAST ADAM, can enter therein. I have come to believe the “new heavens and new earth” may also be symbolic of the perfected man: the new heavens symbolic of the renewed mind, the new earth of the new body. Those who have been chosen as saints are now in the process of renewing their minds toward Christ, and will be perfected at His coming (I Co 15:23). Non-saints of course will not be perfected until the consummation via the lake of fire.
Steve
/ April 9, 2012But the new Jerusalem descends from heaven after the millennial kingdom, not before. Rev 21:2 shows the new Jerusalem established after the millennial kingdom has ended. Rev 21:10 also describes this same new Jerusalem. It is this same new Jerusalem that seems to be in view right up to and including verse 27, where it says no-one else shall enter. You are right that it still depicts authority. I don’t know what to make of that. But it seems fairly certain that it’s talking about the new Jerusalem. Is it possible that the new Jerusalem in Rev 21:2 is describing a different new Jerusalem that that of Rev 21:10? Can the millennial kingdom also be called the new Jerusalem? Rev 21:22-23 seem to indicate that the literal physical kingdom is not in view here–no temple, no sun, no moon. It seems like the only way to interpret these verses as applying to the millennial kingdom is by the fact that authority is still present. But maybe the authority referred to in 1 Cor. 15 was only referring to a complete subjugation of all hostile or oppossing authority. The authority still present in Revelation is not hostile; it’s subject to God. Thanks. Peace.
Gary
/ April 9, 2012The New Jerusalem does not descend from heaven after the millennial kingdom has ended. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven to rule over this earth DURING the millennial kingdom. Once you understand this then everything else should fall into place.
Peace
Steve
/ April 9, 2012I guess that would explain Jesus’s promise to his disciples that they would sit on thrones ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel and the imagery of Rev. 21:14. Thanks. Peace.
Steve
/ April 16, 2012Hi, Gary. You stated that the New Jerusalem descends to rule DURING the millennial kingdom. Rev 21:27 says only those in the book of life may enter. But if the Jerusalem in view here is the millennial Jerusalem, then unholy people are already there. The nations that the Saints are ruling over are unholy–they are not saved. And they are not in the book of life. Can you clarify this for me? Thanks. Peace.
Gary
/ April 22, 2012Great question! We know that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom, yet the very thing God abhors, namely flesh, is going to be preserved for the elect’s sake. Can you think of any good reason why?
Matt 24:22 “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
When Christ returns to this earth with His resurrected saints the nations [G1484] will be judged and dealt with accordingly (see Matthew 25:31-46). But verse 34 seems to indicate that the (sheep) nations which are there ARE saved:
Matt 25:34 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Rev 22:14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Perhaps the nations which are there are not so unholy after all. Perhaps this is why their flesh is preserved: so the elect upon their arrival can take pleasure in transforming it. This is the only logical conclusion I could come to. Can you think of anything?
Steve
/ April 23, 2012I subscribe to the idea–which I’m sure you’re familiar with–that the people in the thousand year kingdom are the unsaved who are resurrected DURING the kingdom. Otherwise the saints are presiding over those who are already saved, which seems unlikely. It also means the gospel doesn’t go out to the whole world. Thanks. Peace.
Steve
/ April 24, 2012Hi Gary. I have a question. If the Lake of fire is meant to save man, but destroy Satan, then why does the parable of the sheep and goats say it was made for the devil and his angels? I realize it could be phrased either way–you could say it was made for man or for Satan, but wouldn’t it make more sense to say it was made for the one whose salvation is in view? Moreover, wasn’t man’s salvation in view BEFORE Satan’s destruction–not sequentially but in order of importance or priority? This really has me wondering. Thanks. Peace.
Gary
/ April 26, 2012You shouldn’t have any problem reconciling the verse in question when you truly understand what satan really is. Satan is not a literal being, but a metaphor for the carnal nature, the evil within man. Who do you think Jesus was referring to when He told Peter to get thee behind Me “satan” (Matt 16:23)?
Peace