Part 3 — A Hell Trilogy
By: General James Green
CONNECTED TO MY FIRST 2 ARTICLES is the question: “Is The Soul Of Man Immortal?” Our Congregational pastor of 45 years says NO! To prove His points of view he delves into the questions: “What is the soul?” and “What is man?”
This theologian / pastor has some very strange ideas about all this. But he is only one of a multitude who believe in the annihilation of the wicked (the soul).
As we have seen in part one, John Stott, former rector of All Souls Church in London, recognized as a great champion of evangelical Christianity, is one such promoter of annihilationism. He and many others of the same camp politely yet forthrightly teach this false concept. You would think that a man like Stott would be a more careful Bible scholar / theologian.
“Emotionally, I find the concept intolerable”, Stott writes concerning the orthodox view: the wicked will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. This is N.T. Theology, exegesis, and is true!!!
The Soul That Sins
THE OPPONENTS OF THE ORTHODOX VIEW usually quote Ezek. 18:4, as does our Congregational Pastor.
I have a tract called ‘Is the Soul Annihilated in Gehenna?’ Therein I refute mainly the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but they stand not alone on this false teaching.
Our Congregational minister says “When we understand that man does not possess a soul, but he is a soul, then, to ask the question, ‘Is the soul of man immortal?’ is really asking, ‘Is man immortal?’ The Scriptures clearly affirm that he is not.”
The Debate
IT IS DEBATED whether man is body-soul-spirit or just a living soul (living being) with a body.
Let me take a minute to quote Heb. 4:12 and 1 Thes. 5:23, there are others but these two will do for now.
Heb. 4:12: “For the Word of God is living and active….it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit….”
Dr. Adam Clarke (1832) writes: “when the SOUL is thus distinguished from the SPIRIT, by the former is meant that inferior faculty by which we THINK OF and DESIRE what concerns our present being and welfare. By SPIRIT is meant a superior power by which we prefer future things to present, by which we are directed to pursue truth and right above all things….for future happiness.” Clarke does not believe man to be “soul” only, but that man is a soul, lives in a body, and has a spirit.
Much has been written along this argument. The Bible uses “soul” and “person” interchangeably — man is a soul = a person, has a body, has a spirit. When we speak about the “soul” in Gehenna forever, we’re speaking about the WHOLE man— resurrected body (in shame, Dan. 12:2); the man himself = soul / spirit.
1 Thes. 5:23—
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Some wrongly believe that Paul alludes to the Pythagorean and Platonic doctrine, which was somewhat acknowledged among the Thessal-onians of history. But I don’t think so.
Some teach that man is dual, meaning body / spirit (Eccl. 12:7), or man is soul / body (Gen. 2:7). If so, why did Paul distinguish between body, soul, and spirit?
Body: Gk. “soma” Soul: Gk. “psyche”
Spirit: Gk. “pneuma”
The body is merely the house for soul and spirit; the soul is the seat of affections and possessions, appetites, and propensities of various kinds; the spirit is the immortal principle, the source of life to the body and soul, without which the human functions cannot be performed. The spirit alone possesses the faculty of intelligence, understanding, thinking, and reasoning, and produces the faculty of speech, etc.
So, body-soul-spirit constitute man—all corrupted by sin. Here Paul writes about the WHOLE man being sanctified and preserved for Christ.
Dozens of pages could be written on the debated subject of body-soul-spirit. But the truth remains, the wicked WILL go to Hell / the Lake of Fire—not be annihilated.
Review a Bit
FROM WHAT I’VE ALREADY WRITTEN in parts 1 and 2, let Scripture, not our personal wishes be the judge.
In Romans 2:5-9, Paul writes about the fallen state of man. His reasonings are well adapted to encourage the Gentile, and rebuke the Jew. Paul points out that the wicked—Gentile or Jew (or sinning believer) will be judged, condemned, sentenced by God eternally.
Beware of the “treasures” (v. 5) you store up; it could be your damnation not your annihilation. In Hebrew thought treasure expressed many things (see Deut. 28:12; 32:34, 35; 33:19 etc.). The Greeks also used treasures to mean collections or an abundance. With this in mind, Paul uses the Word (v. 5), (see also 1:18) to teach us that unconfessed sins can become our treasures that provoke God to wrath. One’s punishment can be (shall be!) proportioned to the mercy one has abused—now and in the future.
For the “contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath” (v. 8). In verse 9 he repeats it. Verse 10 he reverses it. So, we’ve established the fact that the Great Judge will punish the wicked and bless the righteous, now and in the future.
Basis on Which Men are Judged
EVEN THOUGH MAN IS in a fallen state, Jesus offers a way out — Salvation. Salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus, not by one’s works — works come later as a believer / Christian. Paul points out that we are judged by what we do / don’t do, not what we say or think, verse 6. Verse 7 we find the word IMMORTALITY and ETERNAL LIFE. This is our subject matter.
In the treatise on salvation, Paul clarifies a fundamental Truth: God PUNISHES evildoers and REWARDS the righteous (see Jn. 5:29 and Gal. 6:7, 8 also).
#1—The righteous are justified by faith (Rom. 1:16, 17; 3:24) and persevere in DOING what is RIGHT (Rom. 2 vv. 7, 10; Matt. 24:13; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:14; Rev. 2:10). They value the glory of God (Rom. 1:23; 2:7; 5:2; 8:18), and seek eternal life (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Pet. 1:4; Rev. 21:1-22:5).
#2—Those seeking immortality do so by grace thru faith (Rom. 3:24, 25; Eph. 1:4-7; 2:8-10; 2 Tim. 2:1; Phil. 2:12, 13). The faithful enter into “glory, honor and immortality” by “persistence in doing good” (see Matt. 24:12, 13). Not that the born-again Christian has not eternal life, but one must complete his / her journey, to be raised from the dead with a new glorified body — like that of Jesus the Christ. One completes the course = a saved soul, quickened spirit, raised / glorified body — IMMORTALITY.
BUT…
ROMANS 2:12-15 = All who continue in sin, even though they have no knowledge of God’s love, will perish (not be annihilated), because they have a measure of knowledge of right and wrong (the conscience).
You see, God will not automatically save those who do not hear the Gospel (this is another falsehood called Universalism), nor will He give them a second chance after physical death (this is called Postmortem Evangelism; these two falsehoods I cover in my other Hell booklets).
Glory—Honor—Immortality
These words have different meanings in Christian vocabulary:
Glory: is the splendor of the perfect life, which has been revealed in Christ and by Him made available for others.
Honor: the honor which we seek is honor with God, not men.
Immortality: suggests that the ends at which we aim belong to a more enduring plane / sphere / realm than any earthly benefits we might seek. Eternal life is a free gift, not achieved by good works; immortality crowns our Christian quest. John 17:3 explains (by Jesus who is its author) what Eternal Life is — it is more than, ENDLESS existence (remember our definitions in Greek?); it is also a special kind of, quality of life that we as believers receive Christ into our lives.
Eternal life = Endlessness and godliness;
Eternal death = Endless separation from God coupled with suffering and darkness.
Let me state again, after studying the Bible now in my 40th year, that Eternal Life is kept by persevering a day-to-day present living union with God (1 Jn. 5:12). One can die again (LOSE the gift of salvation.) This is hotly debated, I know, but I’m convinced one’s salvation can be THROWN AWAY / LOST.
Those Entitled
ROMANS 2:8-10 TELLS US that both blessing and retribution depend upon us. The blessings crown those engaged in the CONSISTENT pursuit of righteousness. Equally true, those who are CONSISTENT in evil (i.e., who practice it) will also be crowned—with retribution.
To The Heart of This Lesson
THE DOCTRINE OF IMMORTALITY is not hard to grasp. The question is “Is the soul of man immortal?” I’ve only dealt mostly with that of the ones possessing eternal life. Our opponents argue that a sinner cannot and does not possess eternal / life or immortality, therefore his / her soul dies or is annihilated in Hell Fire.
We’ve established the fact that “spiritual death” is simply the separation of man from his / her Creator because of sin (see Isa. 59:2). The N.T. tells us in Eph. 2:1-10 that sinful man is DEAD, yet physically ALIVE, but when born-again, our spirit, which was DEAD is quickened (made alive). Until one is resurrected from the dead (v. 6), one can never obtain eternal life or immortality.
This, they say, proves that the unsaved has not immortality (endless life), so annihilation is the result….the wicked in Hell will not live eternally in torment, but will be extinguished forever.
Quickened
The Greek word for “quickened,” in some translations, is “zoopoieo,” which = “resurrect, make alive.” It is translated “made alive,” as in 1 Cor. 15:22, referring to the physical resurrection of all men; it is translated “give life” in 2 Cor. 3:6 and Gal. 3:21; and “quicken” in Jn. 5:21; 6:63; Rom. 14:16; 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:36, 45; 1 Tim. 6:13; 1 Pet. 3:18—study all these out. Sinners are all said to be spiritually dead, although physically alive (Col. 2:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:6; Jude 12).
Immortality = Never Dying
BASICALLY “immortality” / “immortal”, as we’ve already established, describes the eternal existence on a “never dying” condition of the soul, spirit and body. “Aphthortos” (Gk) means “undecaying, not corruptible, immortal.” This word is found only in 1 Timothy 1:17 — used of God. But this same Gk. word is translated “not corruptible” in speaking of “the hidden man of the heart” and of the “spirit” of man in 1 Pet. 3:4, thus proving that the inner man is immortal (see Ps. 22:26, O.T.). It is translated “incorruptible” in reference to our eternal inheritance, what we receive (fully) at life’s end (see 1 Cor. 9:25; 1 Pet. 1:4). The Word of God is said to be “incorruptible” in 1 Peter 1:23 and of the resurrected bodies of the saints in 1 Cor. 15:52.
One can argue all day that the soul and spirit of (saved) man are not immortal, but they are.
The same Greek Word is used for God as for man. The Gk. Word literally means undying in essence or continuance. If God can’t die, saved man (who keeps himself in God) will not die….but the Bible points out persons who did not keep their first estate and lost out.
Christ and the resurrected saints have immortal bodies (Matt. 27:52, 53; 1 Cor. 15:20-23; Phil. 3:20-21; Rev. 1:18).
ALL persons will be raised from the dead (if dead before His coming) to live CONSCIOUS lives FOREVER, both the redeemed and the unredeemed, (look up the Gk. Words “incorruption”/ “incorruptible”).
The Bible clearly speaks of the resurrected bodies of men (see Dan. 12:2, 3), of an incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9:25), of an incorruptible inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4), and of the incorruptible Word of God (1 Pet. 1:23).
Life After Death?
MANY THINK NOT! British philosopher and social reformer Bertrand Russell (we’ve all seen pictures of this sour-faced God-hater) wrote that “immortality removes the terror from death. People who believe that when they die they will inherit eternal bliss may be expected to view death without horror….I believe that when I die I shall not, and nothing of any ego will survive….I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation…” Russell fought the ideas of heaven and Hell. He faulted Jesus for teaching such cruelty (one can read his rants in Why I Am Not a Christian, especially on pp. 22-23).
There are many, many like Russell who don’t believe in life after death: you die, you die—there is nothing to annihilate.
Differently Related
BOTH OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS state the state of the dead. The O.T. portrays death as the withdrawal of the spirit of life, the source of energy and vital power, the personalities in Sheol are feeble and flaccid. They are shades (Job. 26:5 and Isa. 14:9). Their abode is called “silence” (Ps. 94:17). Other passages represent the existence of the dead in Sheol as a dreamy reflection of life on earth, in which self-consciousness and ability to recognize others still remain — “Art thou become weak as we; art thou become like unto us?”
The O.T. speaks neither of a place of punishment or blessing like that of the N.T. page after page could be written about the O.T. Sheol, but the Truth remains, the evil persons are ALIVE not annihilated.
Jesus spoke frankly and candidly about both the righteous and wicked after death. This distinction is visible, real; men are differently related to God—blessed by Him, or cursed by Him.
Trust the Scriptures: in a “moral” world, morality is not triumphant. So where does that leave mankind? Only as men, women, boys and girls are born-again and receive eternal life is there victory—Death is swallowed up.
In other words, immortality or eternal life is the corollary of Christianity, as Christ, summing up the whole O.T. teaching, said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” It might even be said to be a corollary of morality—if the universe be a moral world where there is everlasting life.
O.T. Does Not Teach Annihilation of the Dead
THE O.T. TEACHES THAT both the righteous and wicked continue to subsist in Sheol—the place of the dead, though in a shadowy and feeble form— the common abode of the dead. Death is NOT the EXTINCTION of the formerly living person.
Christ Jesus
ALTHOUGH JESUS CHRIST was God in the flesh, His body died. David said of Christ, “for thou will not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Ps. 16:9, 10). We know that both soul and spirit of Christ were alive and conscious while His body lay in the tomb. It is said that Christ went into the lower parts of the earth (Matt. 12:40; Eph. 4:7-11). His grave was not in the center and in the lower parts of the earth. In fact His body was not buried, but lay in a tomb, in a borrowed grave.
There are dozens of Scriptures proving that the body dies / sleeps, the soul / spirit exist after leaving the body.
Scriptures teach that persons who CONTINUE (not stop as millions have done and do) in Christ until physical death have eternal life because they did not give up this life for sin again (1 Cor. 15:2; Rom. 8:12, 13; 1 Thes. 3:8; Gal. 6:7, 8).
We are told to be good Christian soldiers, fighting the good fight of faith; to lay hold on (hang-on to) eternal life to be saved (1 Tim. 6:12; Titus 3:7).
The real saved person will continue to have eternal life after death. There is no such thing as “soul-sleeping” as many teach (read the following texts: Jn. 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:39-58; 10:27-29; 11:25, 26; 14:19 etc.).
Note what St. John says in 1 Jn. 2:17: “The world and its desires pass away but the man who DOES THE WILL of God LIVES FOREVER.” Sadly, many professors of Christianity know nothing of doing God’s Will — they believe that Christ died so they could be happy and rich!
Luke 16:19-31
PROVES WITHOUT ANY DOUBT that the wicked live after death. This is not a parable but a truth put forth by Christ Himself. The rich man, a wicked man, died and went to Hell, a place of torment in flames to await the final resurrection of the body to be judged and CAST INTO ETERNAL HELL which is the Lake of Fire. Jesus did not use falsehoods to portray truths. Jesus starts out with a truth, “There was” (v. 19).
There are literally dozens and dozens of Scriptures we could go to, to prove
#1: life after death exists;
#2: punishments and rewards are given in proportion to ones works;
#3: annihilation can never be proved by Scripture;
#4: those who have eternal life have passed from death unto life (1 Jn. 3:14, 15).
The condition of perpetual and perfect life is perfect correspondence to the eternal God. Conditions necessary to have and keep eternal life do not exist in our natural world—they are spiritual, for that which is spiritual (not in a cultish / false religion way) is eternal (2 Cor. 4:18).
Sinners
SINNERS HAVE created life, not eternal life. But don’t be fooled by this, men, wicked men, unregenerated men will exist after death in spiritual death forever.
Mortal — Immortal
THE INNER MAN of the believer / saved sinner is immortal, but the body is still mortal, will die, await the resurrection, then the body will become immortal.
Many religions of the world expect future life after death—research it for yourselves. They will be sadly disappointed to find that only having eternal life, e.g., the life of God, will promise them immortality.
If natural death is real, and the world is convinced of it, spiritual death is as real—the spiritually dead are alive on earth as well as in Hell. God’s justice, not men’s, demands that ALL men live again. Why? So they might receive their just rewards (Matt. 10:41, 42; 16:27; 19:28-30; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:11-15); mere extinction would be unjust.
And don’t believe the popular LIE that punishment is extinction. Man has spiritual and soulish faculties, like the body has senses. The body is world conscious; the soul is self conscious; the spirit is God conscious.
The eternal purpose of God for eternal man demands eternal existence. Sinners cheat themselvesout of this purpose, existing in spiritual darkness and torment—God’s Wrath is experienced, for God will also be in Hell; His blessing, will be felt and experienced eternally for the redeemed—this is Bible.
The wicked will exist eternally as a monument of God’s awful wrath (Isa. 66:22-24; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:10-15; 21:8). Why do men insist on teaching otherwise?
Moral Criticism
THERE IS A GROWING ARMY of Bible scholars / theologians / preachers that hatefully employ moral criticism as the test of theological truth. Many well known and respected “men and women of God” have moral criticism of the Biblical doctrine of Hell. They falsely point out that eternal punishment is incompatible with God’s infinite love. I think they need to re-read the Bible, especially how God punished ancient Israel for their sins. The first to die under God’s justice / wrath in the N.T. was Ananias and Sapphira—both died for lying to the Holy Ghost / God (Acts 5:1-10).
The N.T. is FULL of “Warning Scriptures” about the fate of rebellious man: the serious threat of Hell corresponds to the reality of Hell. The possibility of Hell is inconsistent with there being no possibility of Hell.
Remedial or Retributive?
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES for yourselves. Hell is never portrayed as remedial, only retributive. Show me, if you can, if the former is taught. The Roman Catholic Church teaches this, but those folks teach many strange and unBiblical things.
Could it be that our opponents are biased against God’s Word? Yes!
It is sheer folly to claim that ALL will eventually be saved (universalism) or ALL will be annihilated by Hell’s fire. To teach this is a serious defection from orthodoxy. Yet, what I write violates their “moral criterion.”
To hear these religious darlings tell it, it is quite unnecessary for a person to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved….Christianity has been reduced to a Christ-less faith, a cross-less faith and belongs to the self-loving, world-loving masses.
Thank God!!
AS MUCH AS I don’t personally like the Truth about eternal punishment, this Truth still needs to be preached / taught in order to WARN men / women about the consequences of sin.
We can thank God for those who do teach this truth, although their ranks are shrinking each year—falling under the spell / curse of Political Correctness. TO HELL with this demon!
We thank God for the honest Bible writers, scholars, theologians etc. who examine the many Scriptures honestly. Even pagan nations in O.T. times believed in “life after death”, for God commanded Israel not to seek communication with the dead (yet alive in flesh) as did the heathen (see Lev. 19:28, 31; 20:27; Deut. 18:10-12; 1 Sam. 28:7-19; 1 Chron. 10:13, 14; Isa. 8:19; 29:4).
The N.T. has plenty of evidence of this fact: Matt. 6:20; 10:28; 12:32; 13:50; 18:8, 9; 19:27-30; 22:23-33; 23:15; 25:31-46; Mk. 9:42-48; Lk. 16:19-31; 23:43; Jn. 11:24-26: 12:24, 48; Acts 1:3; 2:25-36; 3:26; 4:2, 10, 33; 5:31; 7:59; 10:40-42; 13:34-37; 12:24, 48; Acts 24:15, 21; 26:8; 1 Cor. 15; 1 Thes. 4:13-16; Phil. 3:20, 21; Col. 3:4; Heb. 11:8-19, 35-40; 12:23; Rev. 20:4-15 are a few Scriptures you can research for yourself.
Don’t be lazy, do your own research. Truth matters to God and is imperative to both the wicked and unconcerned believers.
Most Assuredly
JESUS USES THIS PHRASE to warn His listeners about the future. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:25-29, KJV).
Do you believe Jesus or the false teachers of today?
“Most assuredly” or “verily, verily” are emphatic words used to alarm hearers / readers.
Jesus was teaching in our texts above two things—life after death and rewards and punishment. He did not teach annihilation, but damnation of the wicked.
Verse 24 Jesus makes it clear that those who hear His Words and believe in God, “have everlasting life (eternal)—they have “passed from death unto life.” The seed of life is sown into the hearts of those who believe.
Death is the country where every Christ-less soul lives—no exceptions! To live in sin is to live in death, to live in death, is to live in sin; and those who live and die thus shall die eternally—not be annihilated, but be separated from eternal life.
Death: Natural – Spiritual – Eternal
THE FIRST CONSISTS IN the separation of the body and soul; the second in the separation of God and the soul; the third in the separation of body and soul from God in the other world.
We have, answerable to the above, natural life, the union of the soul and body; spiritual life, the union of God and the soul, by faith; eternal life, the communion of the body and soul with God, by holiness, in the sphere of bliss.
Resurrection of Life vs. Resurrection of Damnation
EVEN THOUGH MOST BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE RESURRECTION, they disbelieve in eternal damnation—which is my subject matter.
Just what does “damnation” mean?… “annihilation”? One needs to examine the words “condemn” and “condemnation” (& “condemned”— verb, noun, & adjective). The Greek words for “damnation” (v. 29) can be “krima” and “krisis.” Verses 28 and 29 go together.
Once the wicked is resurrected (his body to join soul / spirit already separated from God), their final judgment / sentencing will be placed upon them = damnation in its eternal state.
Both Heaven and Hell are eternal = never ending. Whenever olam / aion / aionios, Heb. / Gk. words expressing eternity, are used dispen-sationally, they ALWAYS mean ETERNAL. The foolish argument that Hell is not eternal (comes to an end) can’t be proved. Hell is as ETERNAL as the New Heavens and New Earth (Isa. 66:22-24, see also Revelation). And those who occupy Hell / Lake of Fire will be TORMENTED with FIRE (Rev. 14:9-11).
Death — Destruction
THE FINAL STATE of unsaved man will be death (separation from eternal life) and destruction (see Matt. 10:28). Don’t be fooled by the word “destruction.” The Greek word for “destroy” is “appollumi” which means to “perish”, “die”, “lose”, and “mar”—never “annihilate.”
The Greek word for “perish” (Jn. 3:16 and 2 Pet. 3:9 are good verses where this word is used) is also “appollumi.”
Don’t accuse God as many are doing because they don’t like what the Word says about the damned, for both John 3:15, 16 and 2 Peter 3:9 came from God’s heart: God is not willing (He does not nor did not decree men to be ruined / marred forever) for any to perish (this word in no wise means annihilation).
Despite some Calvinist teaching along these lines, God NEVER devised nor decreed the damnation of any man, nor has He, as they teach, made it impossible for any soul to be saved, either by necessitating him to do evil, that he might die for it, or refusing him the means of recovery, without which he could not be saved. The T.U.L.I.P. teaching is cruel, not God.
Peter tells us that the New Heavens and New Earth, will be righteousness, but the Lake of Fire will be unrighteousness forever.
Romans 2:12 — Perish
PAUL’S USE OF THE WORD “perish” in Rom. 2:12 speaks not of the extinction / annihilation of the sinners, but of their demise on “the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed” (v. 5).
Likewise, the second death never speaks of the wicked’s extermination, but ENDLESS torment, which is “the Lake of Fire, where the beast, false prophet, Satan and ALL [THE] WICKED will be together.” This certainly will not be a grand by-the-lake party as the Rock N’ Roll stars sing about, but one-HELL-of-a-party that never ends…even after the drugs / alcohol wear off!!
Plainly, the Beast / False Prophet were not annihilated when they were cast ALIVE into the fiery lake but were still ALIVE when the Devil was cast in a thousand years later. Tell me, how long does it take to be “burned up”?
The Bible presents, without apology, the fate of the wicked which involves utter ruin / loss (death / destruction), which is the LORD’S WRATH (punishment), a place of outer / utter darkness of the soul / spirit and fire for the body.
This teaching is not that of some insane madman, but Jesus Himself. And we can’t cheat by claiming “eternal” (“aionios”) means “agelong” (which in some cases it does), but never means this in the final age, the age that partakes in God’s eternality.