Hell

Hell in the Teachings of Jesus (Part 1)

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This is the ninth in a 13-part series wherein I give you Hell, a little booklet by the inimitable Dr. Jeff Obadiah Simmonds.

Having said that humans are not inherently immortal, and only possess immortality if it is bestowed upon them by God, the Bible does indicate that there will be a resurrection of the dead—not only of the righteous, but also of the unrighteous—and that there will be a final Judgement.

“Those who have done good will rise to live, but those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” (Jn 5.29)

The book of Revelation also describes the final judgement:

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the Second Death. If anyone’s name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20.13-14)

The Second Death is best understood as extinction or annihilation. While the lake of fire itself is described as a never ending fire, there is no indication that those who are thrown into it will be eternally tormented. The exception is the devil, the beast and the false prophet who are thrown into the lake of burning sulphur and “will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev 20.10)

Prior to the resurrection of the dead and the last judgement, the dead are said to dwell in a shadowy abode called Sheol (in the Hebrew Old Testament) and Hades (in the Greek New Testament). It is said that Jesus descended into Hades after His death—that is, not into hell, but into the underworld.

The story of Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16.19-31) refers to Hades. Lazarus is in paradise, while the rich man suffers in Hades. This story, more than any other, is used by opponents of annihilationism to indicate that the wicked suffer eternal torment. The story raises a number of questions: is the story a parable or an account of an actual event? Are we to understand it literally or metaphorically?

This story is in the context of a number of parables—the lost sheep, the pieces of silver, the prodigal son, the unjust steward and the rich man and Lazarus. Both the story about the rich man and Lazarus and the parable immediately before it, the unjust steward, begin with the same words: “There was a certain rich man…” (Lk 16.1, 19)

I am more inclined to see this as a parable, and therefore as a symbolic story rather than an account of an “historical” event in the afterlife. However, even if we were to understand it literally, we may note that Hades is the abode of the dead until the last judgement, and therefore the rich man’s condition is not (necessarily) eternal. After the resurrection of the dead, we may surmise, Lazarus will be raised to life and the rich man will be raised to condemnation, thrown into the lake of fire, and annihilated.

When we read any part of the Bible we must ask what the author’s point is. It is not legitimate to read a meaning into the story which the author did not intend. We may ask, then, if Jesus’ purpose was to describe in literal terms the condition of the afterlife, or if He was making another point. I would suggest that the intended message is twofold: firstly, that those who oppress the poor and needy now will, in the future, receive punishment, while those who are afflicted now will be comforted and receive a good reward. This is true regardless of whether we think of hell as torture or annihilation. Secondly, the point is that “if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Lk 16.31). The question has to do with what will convince the Pharisees of the truth of Jesus’ claims—miracles and even resurrections will not suffice. Probably, the purpose of the story is not to give a realistic description of the eternal destiny of the wicked.

However, it would be dangerous to build a doctrine of eternal punishment on a parable, especially when there is no indication that the rich man is being eternally punished. If anything, the parable is about the condition of the wicked prior to the final judgement.

Christian Libertarianism, Green Party, Sheeple

Auzzie Greens Summon AntiChrist.

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THE world should be ruled by a new “global parliament” under the auspices of the United Nations, according to Bob Brown.

Delivering the Third Green Oration in Hobart, on the 40th anniversary of the party’s founding, Senator Brown asked an audience of “fellow earthians” why the “intergalactic phones” weren’t ringing, suggesting advanced civilisations elsewhere in the universe could have “extincted” themselves through their own greed.

In a sweeping address, quoting Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, Senator Brown called on Australia to take the lead in establishing a global parliament to govern issues such as nuclear proliferation, international financial transactions and poverty.

Excerpt from this article.

Libertarian Christians ought not to be suprised by this at all.

The Green movement is a jumble of Radical Left delusions mixed up with generous helpings of Radical Right ‘expedients’ ie Though they prefer the State to own everything, they will settle for State control of everything…with a semblance of Market functions and very limited ‘private property’… and as the most Die hard comrades of Cold war Communism… they have never abandoned their ambitions for World Communist Revolution and Politburo Dominion… and The UN has always been thoroughly infiltrated and infested by Anti western Lefties (Think: Helen Clark!)
We ought not to be surprised that The Greens do not Dread the Threat to individual liberty that such an all powerful centralised Global State represents, they actually relish the thought!

With such absolutely Evil ambitions, cloaked in terms of concern for the Poor and the wellbeing of The Ecosystems of the world It is a real travesty that so many Christians support this Demonic political movement. They must be as thick as two short planks!

The Green Movement is absolutely Anti Christ in respect to the fundamental foundations of Christian values… They hate the Judeo-Christian Idea that God gave Mankind dominion over the Earth and other creatures. It is no mere coincidence that the Greens align themselves with every Primitive Earth worshipping culture around the globe against Western domination, not because they believe the Earth is God, but because their beliefs dont grant Mankind Higher God-given rights or dominion. Comunists are famously Atheistic (Note Browns reference to Alien lifeforms… a thouroughly Atheist/ evolutionary delusion of our age)
And this call for a One world Government also exposes them as the Ultimate hypocrites in respect to the Occupy movement which is full of Lefty Greens whom claim to be ‘Anti-Imperialism’…’Anti-Globalists’…when in fact they are the Ultimate Globalists of them all!

As a Libertarian Christian I know the Antichrist shall rise on a wave of exactly this type of Ungodly hypocrisy dressed up as Humanitarianism … Deluding Billions of Dipwits… He will not only insist upon thorough product labelling… he will insist upon labelling People!… No man will be able to buy or sell except they have his mark… He will not Tolerate Christians or Jews, nor will respect their values, or religious liberty, but will label them Terrorists and have them killed if they will not bow down before him. It has all been foretold in the Book of Revelation.

ACT, Censorship, Jihad on Drugs™, Mana Party, Sheeple

ACT is bad. Mmmkay?

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Latest from John Banks (ACT Party leader).

Opposition parties say New Zealand has been turned into a “police state” after Parliament last night narrowly passed the Government’s controversial Search and Surveillance Bill.

Parliament last night passed by the Bill by 61 votes to 57.

It was opposed by all Opposition parties and the Government’s support partner the Maori Party.

…

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira said 70 different government agencies could obtain surveillance warrants based on suspicion a crime could be committed.

“This Bill goes way beyond what they have in Europe, in Canada and even in the US.”

If someone was detained under the Bill, enforcement officers could search a person’s workplaces and friends, he told Parliament.

“You don’t have to be guilty of anything, you don’t even have to be to be arrested. You only have to be detained.”

Mana opposed the Bill because it led to a “police state”.

“Where the liberties and freedoms most of us now enjoy will disappear, where the powers of the police will be extended without the approval of the judiciary, where the powers of government agencies will assume more authority that the rights of ordinary New Zealanders and where there will be an assumption of guilt not only on an alleged offender but on anyone who knows that person.

“Where enforcement officers can bug your granddaughter’s phone, install a hidden camera in your daughter’s bathroom, download the files from your wife’s computer and steal your files without even having to prove a crime has been or will be committed.”

Latest from Don Brash (former ACT Party leader).

At the risk of starting a storm even more intense than the debate on climate change, I thought I’d note that the current issue of “The Economist” (in my opinion the best weekly news magazine in the English-speaking world) has an article on the ongoing drug wars in Latin America. Thousands of people have died, and it is not at all obvious than the flow of drugs, much of it to the US, has been reduced despite the cost in human life.

Last year, I enlivened my campaign for the ACT Party – unwisely in retrospect – by suggesting that in New Zealand we should be taking a serious look at whether the present policy on drugs like marijuana should be changed. The Law Commission has suggested there should be change, and internationally the Global Commission on Drugs has made a similar recommendation. I should stress that I myself have not ever used recreational drugs (except relatively small amounts of alcohol) and I do not want to see my teenage son using them either. I’m simply saying that by continuing to make the possession of small amounts of marijuana a criminal offence we drive the drug traffic into the hands of seriously bad people, who do enormous damage to everybody they touch.

Alcohol, Prohibition

Brewin up a Storm! Popcorn vs The State.

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Now here is the first of 11 youtube vids about the last batch of Moonshine old Popcorn Sutton made in the classic ‘Covert style’ in the hills before he made the ultimate protest against tyranical laws… he committed Suicide… rather than do time in the Boob for the so-called crime of brewin likker. This set of vids is an American Libertarian Classic! As you watch this son of a son of a shinner you will hear HillBilly Libertarian Gems!(His Grand Pa helped build the local Baptist church with his ‘Non-taxible’ income!).
It is in the Best spirit of Civil disobedience and refusal to be subjected by tyranny. He talks about suffering Oppression. He admits he was forced to quit, but his Rebel Spirit against Tyranny never left him, he simply got too old to carry on. He’s an inspriraition!Loved his Good Lady and his two model A Fords. God Bless Him! (What? A Christian praisin a Devils Brewer?… Did not Jesus turn Water Into Wine?)
Tim Wikiriwhi

Luke, Trans-egoism

Luke 12:35-48

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I post this by way of introduction to The Third Watch. Welcome to the blogosphere!

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

“That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (NIV1984)

I note that whereas the 1984 New International Version has

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.

the 2011 New International Version has

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

The Devil is in the detail.

Heroism, John, Love, Self-sacrifice

Taiana Pilitati: No Greater Love.

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In the eyes of her family and friends, teenager Taiana Pilitati died a hero.

The 18-year-old from Wellington drowned in Samoa this week while desperately trying to save her 8-year-old sister Vaiola after they became caught by a large wave while swimming in a river.

“She’s a hero. She gave her life [up] for Vaiola,” her uncle Pati Umaga told the Weekend Herald. “Vaiola will grow up knowing that her sister saved her life.”

Read Full NZ Herald article here.

Her uncle, Pati Umaga, told the Weekend Herald Pilitati saved her eight-year-old sister Vaiola in the river.

“They said Tai was holding on to Vaiola when they were swept away – she was trying to help Vaiola. At the last minute she threw Vaiola towards Tino [an older sister], as she went under,” he said.

From this Yahoo article : http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/13192056/drowned-teen-saved-sister-in-samoan-river

No Blog tribute can do justice to such an act of Humanity! I stand in awe. I bow my head.

From The mouth of The Lord Jesus Christ Himself… “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15vs13. In this case…” No Greater Love than this, that a woman lays down her life for her little sister…”

Eternal Vigilance places Taiana Pilitati on our Roll of Self-less Heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Love.

Give me Liberty, or give me Death!