Malachi 4:1
“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, ” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.
Malachi 4:3
Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.
If Hell burns forever, God will have to designate a place in His universe where satan, his angels, and sinners will be burning from. If Hell burns forever, then evil will still be existing in God’s universe only that it will be burning but not completely eradicated. If Hell burns forever then it means the all-knowing God will be okay with a situation where He knows there are creatures suffering in some fire somewhere in His universe. That means He enjoys the suffering of those in the fire. If Hell burns forever, what would be the intention? To scare all creatures into submission? Our God doesn’t force worship and a scary burning Hell is not part of His strategies to win people.
Our text today tells us that surely a day is coming when the wicked will burn. The day is coming because it has not come. The day is coming because as it is now there is no place called Hell where the wicked are burning. The wicked will burn in Hell. He ll is nowhere now, but it is coming. Any teaching that suggests that Hell is already happening is not biblical. It is coming, it has not come yet!
Our text today is a straightforward text. This is how straightforward texts are interpreted. Luke 16:19-31 is a parable that Jesus gave to teach that we should be mindful of the welfare of others. Parables are given to only illustrate one point. A parable cannot be used to interpret what the narrator did not intend. A parable like this one was common during Jesus’ time, it wasn’t Jesus’ invention. Therefore rules of biblical interpretation do not allow us to use this parable to teach about Heaven and Hell.
Our text today repeatedly says that on that day which has not come, all the evildoers and arrogant will burn. All evildoers suggest the living and the dead evildoers. This is consistent with the teaching on resurrection. There will be a resurrection of all the righteous and then a resurrection of all the evildoers. All the righteous will be resurrected to go to heaven to start eternal life, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. All the evildoers will be resurrected to be burnt right here on earth and that will be Hell. The day is coming and all of them will burn at the same time. We do not have wicked people burning now as others continue doing evil. They will all burn at the same time in Hell that is yet to come.
Our text today tells us that after they burn, nothing will be left. Our text today tells us that they will be ashes. Ashes are the end of burning. The Bible does not teach that there will be an endless burning of evil people. It is not happening now and it will not be endless in the future when it happens.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Jude 1:7
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
When the Bible tells us that the wicked will burn forever what does it mean? The same Bible tells us that it means they will burn like Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom and Gomorrah were burned for their evil. Sodom and Gomorrah are no longer burning. Yet the Bible says that was eternal punishment. Therefore the eternity is of the consequence and not the burning. The forever and ever means, no hope of salvation ever again. It does not mean endless burning, but it means endless consequences of never resurrecting again.
A permanently burning Hell is contrary to scripture and contrary to God’s nature. Ezekiel 18:23 God tells us He doesn’t enjoy the death of evil people. It hurts God to see evil people suffering. Luke 19:41-44 Jesus wept over the wicked of Jerusalem. Jesus wept because their harshest punishment was coming. Jesus wept because He as God does not enjoy the suffering of the wicked. Therefore such a God cannot have a permanently burning Hell, since He doesn’t enjoy this.
The message in our text today is also to the currently suffering righteous people. They are suffering because of the arrogant evil people. God assures them that a day is coming when their tormentors will be permanently forgotten. God is aware of our suffering at the hands of various people and He has a plan to vindicate us and end the reign of terror permanently. Be patient, God will revenge and exalt you and me in His time, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
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Amen.
Thank you for the lesson.
God bless you pastor.
Blessings on you too!
Amen. Thank you for the message
Hallelujah!
Amen
Amen
I think we are missing a point, God judges too, because He is a judge. Hell , heaven are spiritual places, and the spirits that Go there cannot die, a spirit cannot die. Thats why those are eternal places, hell will last until when it is cast into the lake of fire, which is far worse . Now when a person dies, his spirit (the real person) leaves the body (if this person spirit was born again he goes to heaven, if not he goes to hell). Many say that the story of lazaraus and the rich man in a parable, but really its something that happened. And there are more verses in the bible to prove this.. And in the day of judgment, these who are in hell will be cast in the lake of fire.
Rev 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
– So its clear that the lake of fire will be eternal
Rev 20:15 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
– So even those whose names were not found in the book of life will be thrown in the same lake of fire.
Lets look at the old testaments account of hell (sheol)
Numbers 16:32 – As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, 32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households— all Korah’s men and all their possessions. 33They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned.
These are Gods righteous judgement . God is love , but then we tend to overlook the judgement side of God.
— There is more to this. We think the only punishement Jesus went through is being phyisically beaten, but no it was more of spiritual suffering. Having our sins spiritually transfered to Him, He was seperated from God, and when He died, He went to Hell . (Acts 2:31 , He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption). And thats where He was for three days. Thats where He defeated satan, and took the keys of hell and death. So that whoever believes in him and received him will not go there.
The bible gives us more info of what he did in hell
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (1 Pet. 3:18–20)
He preached to the spirits in prison in hell. So there is alot more.
And the bible says , Jesus is the first begotten of the DEAD. remember hell is the abode of the spiritually dead. So Jesus became born again by the resurrection power of the spirit.
Lets look at mathew 27:51-53
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
So the saints of the old testament, abraham, david etc resurrected and went with jesus to heaven. So this solifies what Jesus said concerning abraham and the rich man and lazarus.
So hell is eternal until a certain point where the dead in it will be thrown in the lake of fire, hell too. And the lake of fire is eternal, this should not give anyone confidence to continue sinning , because its their eternity at stake.
Thank you for your rather long response. I do not agree with everything you said, but you have a right to say it.
Read this article on Jesus preaching to the dead Jesus Preached To The Dead?
On the Soul and Spirit and whether they are alive, look at this article here REST IN PEACE (RIP) EXPRESSION TO USE OR NOT TO USE?
We remain grateful for your engagement with us!
Thank you pastor for clarifying this issue in your other posts. May the Lord help us understand that He is a loving God who does not take pleasure in the suffering of any of us.
Oh Yes! Glory to God!
Thanks pastor for this clarification.Gods blessings to follow you
Be blessed too!