All Things Are Possible

I haven't read Pastor Rob Bell’s controversial new book, Love Wins -A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, so I can't comment on it in particular. The timing of Rob's book is interesting to me because I've recently been earnestly re-examining this whole topic before knowing anything about the book. I do plan to read the book, but for now, I'm inviting anyone who has questions regarding the scriptural definition of hell, judgement and eternity, to join this conversation. For centuries mainstream Christianity has embraced the doctrine of eternal damnation and torment, but I'm not sure that we've looked at the “sum of God’s word” which is truth. Because we're talking about the purpose, value and destiny of every created life...I think the conversation is worth joining.

I want to emphasize that I hold to scripture as my source of truth, and I'm not re-examining God's plan of salvation. Scripture plainly says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that no one can come to the Father except through Him. "Now this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" John 17:3. According to Acts, "there is no other name under heaven given unto men by which we must be saved." The disciples proclaimed to the Lord, "to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Salvation belongs to the Lord, and it's not a result of our goodness or works but it is a gift from God so that no one can boast before God. Without Him, all of us are lost, in bondage to slavery, broken and without hope. Yet from the very day sin entered the world His rescue plan was in motion. From Genesis to Revelation the plan unfolds and all was fulfilled in Jesus who "knew no sin" and became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). He conquered sin and death, rose from the dead and this "Savior of the World" (I John 4:14) is still reaching. Why continue to stumble in darkness, when God has given us the light of Himself? - For any who turn to him, He has promised to be our deliverer, transformer, guide, comforter, teacher, healer, provider, protector and so much more. (I have experienced this first hand..but that is for another blog!) Jesus and only Jesus, "The Bread of Life", and the "Author and Perfecter of our Faith" offers us true life that we can walk in every day starting today, with the promise that he'll never leave or forsake us.

I'm also not throwing out the doctrine of hell because it's uncomfortable or unpopular. I am pondering if we've been off in any way regarding our interpretation of the word "eternity" as well as the purpose of hell and judgement. One place I'll begin is in Luke Chapter 16. I’ve always viewed the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus the beggar, as evidence that there’s an eternal place of torment from which no one can "cross over" from once they are there. But there are insightful teachings on this parable which explain that the rich man clothed in purple and fine linen may represent “Jewry” or more specifically “Judah” (Jesus came from the tribe of Judah.) After the rich man's life of "sumptuous fare" came to an end, he finds himself being tormented in hell. He sees the beggar who while on earth, sat outside his gate, who now is far off in Abraham's bosom. The rich man begs Abraham to warn his five brothers about this place of torment so that they too will not end up there. (Interesting to note that Judah, son of Jacob actually had five brothers, which leads one to conclude that Jesus was probably referring to the tribe of Judah) Even more likely than that, this is a warning to all of Jewry.

We see in the new testament gospels that Judah (Jewry) gave up all the blessings and promises offered to God’s covenant people, trading it for a Pharisaical self-righteousness and blindness when it came to recognizing Jesus as their Messiah. The beggar in the parable most likely represents the Gentiles (or "dogs") who were literally “outside the gate” only able to obtain a few “crumbs” from the blessings given to the Jews and it's religious establishment. These Gentiles were about to be offered all of the same promises and riches offered to God's people. This was made possible when Christ, the final "passover lamb" was sacrificed for the sin of the world. And "as many as received Him he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12) When the beggar dies and goes to Abraham's bosom, it's a picture of the gentiles now able to be included as his spiritual descendants - children of God through Jesus. We read about this picture of exchange between the Gentiles and Jewry in Romans when Paul explains that branches were broken off so that the Gentiles could be grafted into the olive tree. But the apostle Paul also mentions that God is able and willing to graft them back into their natural tree again, and that "all Israel will be saved". This parable seems to be about something different than I thought.

The other place I’ve drawn my interpretation for eternity and the fate of men is in Revelation. I've honestly avoided reading this book because I just don’t understand it, and most of it seems to portray a hopeless and dreadful fate for most of mankind. However, I’m looking again, and asking for “ears to hear” as I read God’s word. When Jesus spoke about hell, images and warnings of fire, torment and destruction are included. (Hell seems to be slightly different from "hades" which is a temporary place for the dead) In Revelation 20 "death" and "hades", along with the beast, false prophet, and anyone who's name is not written in the Lamb's book of life, are thrown into the “lake of fire". Here we see this image of fire again. If we look at scripture as a whole, God speaks of himself as a "consuming fire". It is God's "refining fire" that burns away the "chaff" and unfruitful branches of the believer's life, for the purpose of molding us more and more into the image of Christ. In judgement, even the believer's life-work will be tested by fire - And while there is "no condemnation" for those in Christ Jesus, perhaps judgment for some of us will be harsher than we think, since we’ve been given so much – and to whom much is given, much is required. Jesus also gave stern warnings to believers who needed to be both faithful and ready when their master returned.

While not "all roads" lead to salvation and heaven, all roads eventually lead to our Creator in that no one will escape God's consuming fire. Is it possible that the "lake of fire" is God himself? Revelation refers to this "lake of fire" as the "second death" and that those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death. (perhaps the "they that overcome" are the "elect". Could it be that the "elect" is something different than a mere believer who never laid up treasure in heaven, or persevered through the firey trials of this life?) I can't help but wonder about all those who are literally thrown into this consuming lake of fire. If the lake of fire is indeed God's Holy presence, perhaps even the hardest and vilest of hearts will yes, be justly judged and punished, but maybe also corrected, changed, purged and purified. Because God is perfect and just, He alone knows with what measure to reward or punish each individual. Feeling torment, regret and a literal "ruining" (Even Isaiah the prophet said "I am ruined" when he came near to the presence of God) would seem like the natural result. Regret for what they wasted while on earth combined with the heavenly treasure (potential inheritance?) they gave up in exchange for the pleasures of this temporary world, would certainly lead to the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" we read about.

Revelation says that this fire will be “unquenchable”. It is my understanding that “unquenchable” fire simply means that it's unquenchable until it's work is done with nothing left to burn up. That is different from "unending" fire. (Hasn't the same word "unquenchable " been used in scripture to prophecy about fires that have already burned and are not still burning today? i.e. the burning of Jerusalem/the temple prophesied in Jeremiah which happened in 70 AD?).

Many scholars agree that the word “eternal" and "forever” is translated "aion" or “age” in the greek in many places in scripture. According to the bible, there are “ages” (plural) to come. ("In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Eph 2:7) Perhaps the lake of fire and promised vengeance on the enemies of God is just one of these ages, which in light of eternity lasts just a short time. "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" Psalm 30:5. Could this passage in Psalms have an even broader meaning? Revelation 21:14 says that he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Is this only referring to those who are saved before death and the coming judgement, or could this be a foretelling of what's to come for all? Remember that "death and hades" are burned up in the lake of fire? If there is going to be no more death or crying or pain..would there still be death and pain going on somewhere forever and ever?

For anyone who's spent time reading and studying the bible, it's clear that there is much to come involving God's wrath and judgment on mankind. I certainly don't take this lightly. However, knowing the vastness, goodness and greatness of God, is it unreasonable to trust Him and his purposes in everything (even a terrifying lake of fire) to be higher, bigger, and BETTER than we could ever dream? We read about a new heaven and a new earth to come - and that He is making all things new! Why is it that many of us have never considered that humanity might be included in this restored creation? After all, it is for humanity that he died, the part of His creation he cares for more than anything else. Paul writes in Romans 5:15, "For if the many died by the trespass of the one man (Adam), how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" and 1 Cor 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." I also can't help but think of some of Jesus very last words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. God’s consistent theme and standard throughout all scripture is to keep on forgiving, and that “mercy triumphs over judgment”. Will this also be His heart and theme throughout eternity? Having most of humanity ending up in eternal torment doesn’t seem like much of a triumph. I'm hoping that Jesus, the "last Adam", accomplished infinitely more in his death and resurrection, than the "first Adam" who brought death to all. God told Abraham that his spiritual descendants would outnumber the stars of the sky and the sands of the sea (I think that's billions!)(For an extensive list of scriptures that seem point to hope for all, see this link http://hopebeyondhell.net/Hope-for-All.html)

I haven't even scratched the surface on biblical prophecies, and I'm certainly no scholar. (I'm just a wife and mom who is seeking to know and follow Jesus - and have been for 22+ years.) I also don't claim to have any solid answers, but I also don’t want to assume that popular evangelicalism, of which I've associated myself, has the corner on the market when it comes to the eternal fate of all mankind. The church has gotten it wrong before (thank you Martin Luther and many others). Today we are still prone to error, while embracing myths, carnal thinking, legalistic opinions, and traditions of men. Jesus himself battled against all of this when he confronted the religious institution of his time.

In our glimpses of things to come, when some day “every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord," I somehow pictured most of the people kneeling out of obligation. But scripture also says, "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." I Cor 12:3. Is it possible that every knee will be bowing, truly worshiping in Spirit and in truth this Perfect, Loving, Holy, Awesome Savior, Creator and God? How glorious!! All of this is impossible with men, but all things are possible with God. Maybe the good news is even better than we thought. Maybe we are told to pray that Jesus would hurry and come because of what the psalmist cried out..."My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness..." Isaiah 26:9) Now that sounds purposeful! I may be off on some of these thoughts, or even completely wrong, but it doesn’t hurt to stay open and teachable when it comes to this utterly important topic, one I believe He cares about even more than I do…the souls and destiny of precious human beings created in His image.

All Things Are Possible

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Let's Join the Conversation - Ultimate Restoration of Humanity?

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Stay Together

About Me

Blog Archive