There is perhaps no other doctrine more difficult to grasp and reconcile than Hell.  People have a very difficult time trying to reconcile a finite person, committing finite sins, paying for those sins consciously for eternity in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone.  More than that it seems so difficult to reconcile a GOD who is love punishing people like that.

In this episode, we look at how a loving GOD, who is love, can and will have those who reject HIS love pay for their sins in hell.  We will also look at one alternative to eternal suffering in hell called Annihilationism.  A very well known theologian, John Stott, is one of the first to put this alternative forward (We have included a link to his views here).  we examine the Scriptures if this view should truly be considered.

What is important to remember is in Genesis when GOD said to Adam, on the day he would eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he (Adam) would surely die.  Most of the time when "death" is mentioned we think of physical life.  But there is also mental, emotional and spiritual death.  Understanding this helps to understand why hell is a place where GOD'S justice and holiness is carried out for those who reject HIM.  A good book to help work through this is called, "Biblical Teaching on the Doctrines of Heaven and Hell" by Edward Donnelly (a link for that book is also listed here).

May the LORD JESUS give us all a deeper and more clear understanding of this essential doctrine.

          6      For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
          7      and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well awhen the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
          8      dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
          9      These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
(2 Thessalonians  1:6–9)

          9      Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
          10      he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
          11      “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
(Revelation 14:9–11)

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