Truth About the Doctrine of Hell & Eternal Torment PART 1 - Q & A: What is the State of the Dead?

Answer: Those who have died are currently sleeping in the grave, awaiting resurrection. This

includes the wicked and upright, believers and unbelievers. Only babies and innocent children need not sleep in death, nor take part in the resurrection at the Last Day.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

(State of the innocent who have died)

Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:16 And those from the Kingdom, who lived upon the earth for such a short time and remain without blemish, return to Him from whom they came. They need not sleep in death, for the penalty of sin is death. I have found no sin in them. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 1 To Whom Does the Kingdom of Heaven Belong?)

(State of the dead)

*ALL WHO HAVE SINNED FIRST GOTO SHEOL (Hebrew word penned 65 times in the Old Testament Scriptures. It has been translated in the KJV: Grave 31 times, Hell 31 times, Pit 3 times) (SHEOL is also the equivalent of the New Testament Greek word HADES according to the inspired pen-man of the Book of Acts. (Acts 2:27 quotes Psalm 16:10)): What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of the grave? Selah Psalm 89:48 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19 For even your life, it is but a glimmer, a mere drop of rain soon swallowed up by the earth, seen of no more, only to serve as nourishment for that which grows upon it, which is also soon withered and turned to dust once again... dust to dust, ashes to ashes... a ame brought forth, soon extinguished - so likewise are all those of the esh. All esh is given into His hand, whether from death unto life eternal or from life unto death eternal, all is given into His hand. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 A Day of Thick Clouds and Darkness, Bitter Sorrows... The Day of Deliverance and Judgment...The Day of the Lord)

Whatever your hand nds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave where you are going. Ecclesiastes 9:10 The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. John 5:28 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. Psalm 146:4 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:5 John's spirit is already ascending back to the Father. He will sleep until the Redeemer comes and awakens him. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 1 Do Unto Others As You Would Do Unto Me) Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping. And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, Little girl, arise. Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. Luke 8:52-55 All they, who sleep in death, are asleep until the time of their resurrection, which is appointed unto The Son of Man. All will be raised, both they of good and those of evil... Before the judgment seat of Christ will they kneel. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 1 I am He Who Corrects and Disciplines Those He Loves) Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake Daniel 12:2 If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, All esh would perish together, And man would return to dust. Job 34:14-15 *When one dies, the breath of life that God has given to all mankind, ascends back to Him. However, the soul, which is who we are, dies, and sleeps until the time of resurrection.

(State of the unfaithful dead)

Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon You; Let the wicked be ashamed; Let them be silent in the grave. Psalm 31:17 And those who devise evil against you shall be thrown down...they shall not stand. They have agreed together as one, and so as one shall their agreement be turned into death...and the grave shall be their reward... ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 Israel is Mine! Watchmen, Sound the Trumpet, the Alarm of War!...Says the Lord)

And of your forefathers... They shall surely answer for the perversion of My Word and My name, in the day they are called out of the pit, when they stand up in their graves to give an account of their every word and of their every deed, which they performed in My name. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 I Am Calling You Out!... Come Out of The Churches of Men, and I will Receive You, Says The Lord) Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into sheol: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. Psalm 55:15 You have made your covenant with death, and with hell (the grave) are you in agreement, cut off from the land of the living... the walking dead on the path to destruction. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 6 The Kingdom of God and His Christ Is Coming...Awake!)

(State of the faithful dead)

After that, he was seen of above ve hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:6 He said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up. Then His disciples said, Lord, if he sleeps he will get well. However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. John 11:11-14 In My mercy, I have made death as to sleep, So all those, who love Me and I love, do not suffer in death, But only that they close their eyes to this life and open them again to the Kingdom of God, which is in Christ Jesus. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ Volume 1 - Death and Awakening) Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Psalm 13:3 When Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46 *The spirit that the Lord Jesus committed to the Father was not Himself or His Soul. Rather, it was the life-force, the breath of God that sustained Him. While He was alive, the Lord Himself revealed where He would be during the time between His death and resurrection: As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great sh, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40 *The Lord Himself also spoke to where He was not during the time between His death and resurrection: Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. John 20:17

My Son did sleep in the lower parts of the earth, His tomb, for three days and three nights... By no means did He descend into the evils of mans imaginings. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 4 Proclaim NOT the Hell of the Church of Men...In Their Word is No Mercy Found, Only the Makings of Satan) They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60 *The Apostle Paul speaks here of believers, like Stephen, whom have fallen asleep: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise rst. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 And here: Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him. Luke 20:37-38 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the rst fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the rstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the rstborn from the dead Revelation 1:5 *Even of His own soul did the Apostle Paul speak, saying: Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were nished. Revelation 20:5 Grieve not over all these dead, for by no means does death have the last word... ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 I Shall Bring My Hand Against ALL Nations Who Have Forsaken Me) Come, all murderers... watch Me raise you, and all who sleep, from the grave. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 1 Come...Love Awaits You) There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 24:15 Listen, oh peoples of the earth, and have understanding of the penalty of sin, which is death. All, who have sinned, shall die and rest, save those who are awake and forgiven in My blood at the time of My coming. They shall be lifted up, not preceding those yet asleep in death who are redeemed in Christ. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 2 The Judgment of God is True and Without Question. The Error of the People is Great, Brought Forth Out of Deception and Evil Arrogance, Leading to Corruption and Death) *Likewise did the Lord Jesus speak concerning those whom are His: Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. John 5:25 And: Whoever eats My esh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:54 *Therefore, what the Lord has spoken, stands. And thus has the Lord spoken to this modern generation: All people, both good and evil, sleep in death. They are in no way among the living, for they know nothing... All their thoughts have perished with them. And so they wait until the great and glorious day of The Lord, unto which it is appointed to raise all who sleep... First, all who belong to Him... And then later, those who remain, unto the seat of judgment. I say, to be absent from the body is to indeed be with The Lord, for all those, who die in Christ, will see Him in the blink of an eye. For those, who are dead and sleeping, know not the passage of time. They do not even know they have died, for they only knew the end of their life was near, then awake to the beginning of their new life with Christ. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 1 - Death and Awakening)

PART 2 - Q & A: What is the Fate of the Wicked?

Question: Is the fate of the wicked eternal consciousness in torment, or do they ultimately perish? Answer: The unrepentant wicked, who reject the forgiveness and lordship of YahuShua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), and are cast into the Lake of Fire, will be utterly destroyed and no longer exist. *Eternal Life contrasted with Death: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 If you live according to the esh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19 I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord GOD. Therefore turn and live! Ezekiel 18:32 As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Proverbs 11:19 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24 He who sows to his esh will of the esh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:8 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 Have understanding: I am your Father who gave of His life for you, so the penalty of your sin, which is death, would be paid from now and forever. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 3 - Come and Share in the Lord's Joy) For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:39 Our Savior Jesus Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10 "This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:53 By no means can one be cast into hell, to suffer day and night without end. This teaching is false and myth, borrowed from the deceiver, who upon all pagan religion was built. Sons of men, know you not what the Scriptures say, that whosoever believes in the Son abides eternally; and whosoever, has not the Son, shall perish and not see life. How, then, shall one say that whether one believes or believes not, both have eternal life? This teaching among the churches is of the church, called mother, and is of her father, the devil, of which she continually emulates, seeking after her own glory, which she claims she had received of Me... She shall be cut in pieces. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 - Salvation is Given and Must Be Received...Once Received, Forever Shall It Belong to the Redeemed) *More verses speaking of the end of the wicked: But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption. 2 Peter 2:12 The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with re and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8 Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of re. Revelation 20:15 Darkness and blackness, a void of lifeless nothingness... thus is the second death, of which the redeemed in Christ need not fear. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 5 - The Truth Absolute) Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, Where is he? Job 20:7 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 Knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death Romans 1:32

He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly. 2 Peter 2:6 Jesus answered and said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3 Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:4

*VERBS used in verses below - destroyed, consumed, devoured, perish Please take note of the denitions of these >>emphasized words<< in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, which is an exhaustive cross-reference of every word in the KJV back to the word in the original text. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. Isaiah 1:28

*Hebrew word translated consumed kalah: Concordance: To accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, nish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be nished, be spent May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Psalm 104:35 *Hebrew word translated consumed tamam Concordance: To be complete, be nished, be at an end. Blaspheme His name, and you blaspheme Mine... you shall be destroyed. Life I give... and I shall take it away, unless you repent. There is no life in death; all sleep forever unless the Son calls you to awake. Fear not, I do not punish eternally that which I have created and given My image. Those, who will not return to their Father, and have become the sons, daughters and concubines of satan, to them will the Lord say, "Dust to dust. No more shall you partake of the Tree of Life or the river therein. You have forsaken He who has given to you freely, and forevermore is your inheritance lost and given to another." Oh mourning, great mourning in all the land, My beloved have become a sore and a sickness. I have sent the Healer... you would not have Him, nor drink of His cup freely offered. So you shall be with your adopted father in the lake that burns forever, and be no more. Rest, oh My beloved who have become mortally ill. Rest, all you wicked, evil has wearied you... rest forevermore. Your light has gone out, and you have been blotted out. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 1 - The Great I Am)

Consume (kalah) them in wrath, consume (kalah) them, that they may not be. Psalm 59:13 Thus says the Christ, the Word of God: You shall surely die! You have sealed your own fates by your evil arrogance and rejection of the Truth. I was sent to redeem and restore you to glory, yet you forbear and cast Me from you as cords about your necks. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 5 Stricken) The wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke shall they consume (kalah) away. Psalm 37:20 *Hebrew word translated perish abad Concordance: To destroy, kill, cause to perish, exterminate, blot out, do away with, cause to vanish Sinners shall be consumed out of the earth, and the wicked shall be no more. Psalm 104:35 Therefore, as the re devours the stubble, and the ame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust. Isaiah 5:24 *Hebrew word translated devours akal Concordance: To eat, devour, burn up, feed You shall make them as a ery oven in the time of Your anger; The LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the re shall devour (akal) them. Psalm 21:9 The end sign will appear, separating the heavens and those below... Behold the glorious appearing of The Son of The Most High!... The army of the evil one destroyed and swallowed up... The remnant gathered together... ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 2 Escape the Grasp of the World's Thief...Run to the True Thief, Who Steals You Away to Everlasting Freedom) Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. For the moth will eat them up (akal) like a garment, and the worm will eat them (akal) like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation. Isaiah 51:7-8 And those who follow him are consumed, meat for the birds, dwelling place of the worm. No more breath shall they attain, nor shall their souls escape My glory, nor the power of My sword which proceeds from My mouth. I shall roar... Yea, I shall roar as a raging lion! And they shall be cut to pieces, they shall be consumed. Both esh and bone, and sinew and soul, shall be consumed from My presence, by the word of My mouth... FOR STRONG IS THE LORD!... Hot is His anger. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 The Time Has Come)

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. 1 Thessalonians 1:9

*Greek word translated destruction olethros Concordance: ruin, destroy, death Thus is the eternal state of My punishment, thus is the punishment by My own hand: Destruction of the wicked in the lake that burns, consumed in an instant, gone from My presence for eternity. Darkness, outer darkness, nothingness is your reward, and you shall never even know you had received it or received it not. You shall know nothing, nor have ANY part in life. It is taken from you and shall never again be granted to you... Your inheritance is lost. This, oh perverse generation, is the eternal state of My punishment, and the eternal recompense for all My children, who have forsaken Me utterly in their willful adoption by satan, the evil shepherd of the goats made fat, fat for the slaughter... You are consumed. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 The Day of Slaughter, The Day of Glory, A Day of Harsh Judgment, A Day of Deliverance, A Day of Recompense, The Day of Astonishment... The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord!) Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna*. Matthew 10:28

*Greek word translated destroy apollymi Concordance: to destroy, put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin, render useless, kill, declare that one must be put to death, to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed *Gehenna was used by The Lord Jesus Christ 11 times, never by Apostle Paul, and once by James (the Lords brother). This is one of the few words of Hebrew origin used in the writing of the New Testament. It was an actual, physical, geographic place which those in Jerusalem and surrounding areas were well aware of. *Concordance: "This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the lth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned up." And if they choose to stand until the end, beating their chests, shaking their sts toward Heaven, even with a stretched-out arm and a stiff neck, I will destroy them... they will be consumed and blotted out, says the Holy One of Israel. For the Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, even to the dividing of esh and sinew, even to the destruction of both soul and body. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 7 Let All in the Earth Partake of My Word)

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shamewho set their mind on earthly things. Phillipians 3:18-19 *Greek word translated end telos Concordance: termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be *Greek word translated destruction apleia (From a presumed derivative of apollymi) Concordance: utter destruction, a perishing, ruin You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. Psalm 9:5 *Hebrew word translated destroyed abad Concordance: To destroy, kill, cause to perish, exterminate, blot out, do away with, cause to vanish You, oh children of lucifer, your rule has come to its end... Your inheritance is darkness, the blackness of lifeless nothingness, which conceals your fate, forever... For there is no light in it, neither can any life be found, nor any sound, nor voice crying out... You are blotted out. That, which was made, is unmade... That, which was brought into existence, has ceased. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ Volume 7 Eternal Inheritance) Oh mourning, great mourning in all the land, My beloved have become a sore and a sickness. I have sent the Healer... you would not have Him, nor drink of His cup freely offered. So you shall be with your adopted father in the lake that burns forever, and be no more. Rest, oh My beloved who have become mortally ill. Rest, all you wicked, evil has wearied you... rest forevermore. Your light has gone out, and you have been blotted out. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 1 - The Great I Am) There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy (apollymi). Who are you to judge another? James 4:12 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 112:10 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the re, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. Psalm 68:2

*More of the Lord Jesus Words on life and death: Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? John 11:26 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. John 8:51 I died, My glory set aside, so I might be gloried in you...I am risen, death is overcome, so you might be born again into that life which is without end. Behold, you are also risen and shall be lifted up. Oh death, where is your power? Oh death, where is your sting?... Death is put to death, and the grave is covered over in Me. ~ (Letters from God and His Christ, Volume 6 Be Still and Know...I AM THE LORD) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. John 6:47 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My esh, which I shall give for the life of the world. John 6:51 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36

(*Verses Often Stumbled Over)

1) If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with

one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell re: Where their worm dieth not, and the re is not quenched. Mark 9:47-48 Scripture rightfully dividing Scripture: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their re be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all esh." - Isaiah 66:24 For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations. Isaiah 51:8 I kindle a re in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. Jeremiah 17:27 Behold, I will kindle a re in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the aming ame shall not be quenched. Ezekiel 20:47 *Devour Hebrew: Akal - to eat, devour, burn up. The devouring worm will accomplish its purpose. The devouring re will not cease from burning until that which it burns up ceases to be.

2) These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:46 Scripture rightfully dividing Scripture: *If the wages/punishment of sin is a death from which there is no resurrection, how long will that state of punishment last? Indeed, if being blotted from life forever is the punishment, it would be an "everlasting punishment" This is the case, as the Bible says throughout its writings. "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction..." - 2 Thess 1:9 *The above verse denes the nature of their punishment as: "destruction" that is "everlasting". *Greek word translated destruction olethros Concordance: ruin, destroy, death *So we see by denition, that this "everlasting punishment" is "everlasting death". *In Matthew 25:46, the Lord Himself uses contrast to dene what everlasting punishment is in stating: but the righteous into life eternal. --The implication is that the these shall go away group does NOT have life eternal. Therefore, there can be no other alternative to everlasting punishment being interpreted as everlasting death.--

*THE EXAMPLE: What is the EXAMPLE God gave in the Bible of everlasting punishment? a) Everlasting punishment is what annihilation is. The punishment of damnation IS everlasting. Those that are damned are not everlasting... Unless you believe what >>the serpent<< said in Genesis 3:4 is true... " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die." - Genesis 3:4 b) Is everlasting punishment a form of continuous torment?... What does the Bible say?... "just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange esh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal re." - http://bible.cc/jude/1-7.htm "if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;" - http://bible.cc/2_peter/2-6.htm

*EXAMPLE... Both texts say EXAMPLE. That is not my word, that is the Bible's word... Example. Think about that. We have two verses that say that what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah is an "EXAMPLE" of everlasting punishment. -So ask yourself... Who is still being tormented in Sodom? Who is still being tormented in Gomorrah? -Is the examples EXAMPLE, one of ongoing torment? Or is the EXAMPLE, one of utter annihilation? c) And one more question to consider: If the punishment is ongoing and unending torment, and Jesus took our punishment... Then what is He doing off the cross? *Pray and consider... --Annihilation IS everlasting punishment, but it is NOT unending torment.-3) "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the

hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." Revelation 14:9-11
Scripture rightfully dividing Scripture:

Sinners in Zion are terried; Trembling has seized the godless. "Who among us can live with the consuming re? Who among us can live with continual burning?" Isaiah 33:14 Again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. Revelation 19:3 There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5

*One who is cast into a raging inferno experiences torment for a matter of seconds at most. Their consuming bodies will produce a limited amount of smoke that will ascend from the re. The limited amount of smoke that a burning human body and/or city can produce will ascend forever. However, the human body and/or city itself does not produce an innite amount of smoke. Seeing that 1) day and night has an end, 2) the re consumes, 3) and causes eternal rest/death for the person cast therein, we can conclude that the no rest day or night pertains to them while they are still alive during the great tribulation, being victims of the wrath of God which will be poured out upon them continually until they are ultimately destroyed by re.

4) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of re and brimstone, where the beast

and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10 (KJV)
Scripture rightfully dividing Scripture:

a) *One will notice that this verse in the Bible has the word "are" in italics. That is because the word "are" is not in the Greek manuscripts, and has been added by English translators. Several popular translations read had been thrown, were, were also thrown, instead of are (NIV, ESV, GODS WORD Translation), respectively. b) The Greek word translated forever and ever is the word aion (used twice). The Greek noun aion literally means an age or an indeterminate period of time. Hebrews 1:2 tells us that God made the ages, and the Apostle Paul tells us that there was a state of existence BEFORE the ages (1 Cor. 2:7) and that the ages will END. (1 Cor. 10:11) Clearly, if something begins and ends, it cannot be unending. There are three problems with the way the King James translates this verse. First, if something is for ever, why bother adding another ever? Are we to think that there is more than one for ever or that we have to have an extra ever added so we get the point? Secondly, both uses of the word aion are in the plural form. The problem with this should be obvious to anyone who is honest. Are we to somehow think that there is more than one (plural) eternity? No theologian teaches that and yet there is no doubt that the plural form of aion is used in this verse. If the King James translators looked at the tense a bit more carefully, they would have written the above phrase to read for evers and evers. This, of course, makes absolutely no sense. However, if we properly interpret aion to mean an indeterminate period of time, then the verse makes perfect sense. Therefore, both Rev. 20:10 and Rev. 14:11(from #3 above) would be more accurately translated: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of re and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet were, and shall be tormented day and night unto ages of ages. (Rev. 20:10) "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up unto ages of ages; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Rev. 14:11)

Those who had knowledge of the Holy Scriptures contained in the Tanakh (Old Testament) were well aware of the fate of their adversary, satan. God had made it plain by speaking of his ultimate fate through His prophet, Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 28 is a prophetic chapter speaking of and to satan... "You were in Eden, the garden of God" "You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you." "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you." "By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a re come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching." You have come to a horrible end and will be no more." *The word(s) translated forever in Revelation 20:10 have been used in the Bible in other places in a gurative manner, and such is the case here. The angels which kept not their rst estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 1:6 *These angels will be bound in these everlasting chains UNTIL Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange esh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal re. Jude 1:7 *This eternal re is not currently burning today. Therefore, the re itself is not everlasting as we think of everlasting in our English language. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars [was] about me forever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. Jonah 2:6

*Again, forever is used guratively. We should not nd it difcult to understand that in the most gurative Book of the Bible, forever has likewise been used.

PART 3 - Q & A: Lazarus and the Rich Man Parable

Question: Is the story of Lazarus to be taken literally? Can this story be used to prove the doctrine of eternal torment? Does this story prove that there is an after-life without being resurrected? Answers: No, No, and No. *YahuShuas audience when He told this story: The Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them. Luke 15:2 *How YahuShua Spoke to them: All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them. Matthew 13:34 *Purpose for speaking to them in such a manner: Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fullled, which says: Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. Matthew 13:13-15 *YahuShua did not speak parables in order that the masses would understand His message, repent, and be healed. On the contrary, He spoke as did Isaiah, to... Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes. Isaiah 6:10 *Likewise has the following parable become a stone of stumbling in the paths of those who consume bitter doctrines taught in the churches of men. This story has been used by men in attempt to authenticate the false doctrine of eternal life for the damned in torment: There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and ne linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abrahams bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his nger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this ame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf xed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us. Then he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my fathers house, for I have ve brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. But he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. - Luke 16:19-31 *In reading this story as a literal event, from which we can develop doctrines, one must come to several conclusions (most of which are proven false by Scripture): a) The rich man is currently conscious b) The rich man has knowledge of his family c) The rich man is in torment d) The rich man was buried e) The rich man has a new body, with which he "lifted up his eyes" f) The rich man is in torment without having been judged or sentenced g) There is a ame where the dead rich man is h) The rich man can think and process information i) The rich man can talk j) Lazarus does not need to be resurrected from the dead k) Lazarus is in "Abraham's bosom" l) Lazarus wanted to eat crumbs that fell from the rich man's table m) Hades is a "place of torment" n) Abraham is currently conscious o) Lazarus is not in hades, but in Abraham's Bosom p) Lazarus was not buried q) Lazarus is currently conscious

r) Abraham is not in hades s) The ame does not consume, devour, or cause to burn up

If this parable is to be taken literally, there should be no contradiction found within the Tanakh (Old Testament Scriptures), which all of the people whom The Lord YahuShua/Jesus spoke this story to were familiar with.
The Septuagint, which is the Greek Translation of the Hebrew Old Testament (comprised during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE), translates "sheol"/"the grave" to "hades" which has unfortunately been translated in English to "hell". The author of the Book of Acts (which is written in Greek) used the word "hades" when translating "sheol" from an Old Testament quote. (Acts 2:27 quotes Psalm 16:10) In The Complete Jewish Bible Luke 16:23 reads as follows: "In Sh'ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El`azar at his side." *Therefore, Hades is Sheol, and Sheol is Hades. Below are some Scriptures that speak of the state of the dead: "Let the wicked be ashamed; Let them be silent in Sheol." - Psalm 31:17 "For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing." - Ecclesiastes 9:5 "Whatever your hand nds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going." - Ecclesiastes 9:10 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Psalm 146:4 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. Job 30:23 Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of Sheol? Selah. Psalm 89:48 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto Sheol. Psalm 88:3

"So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep." - Job 14:12 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah 26:19 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forththose who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." - John 5:28-29 *Lazarus and the Rich Man will not regain consciousness until they are resurrected from the dead at their appointed time. By no means do the dead have any part in life prior to the resurrection of the dead. There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 24:15 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. John 5:25 The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were nished. Revelation 20:5 *This parable was prophetic, in saying neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead... John 12:1 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. John 12:9-11

*The religious leaders (to whom Jesus spoke the parable) also rejected the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Himself, attempting to cover it over. Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, Tell them, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governors ears, we will appease him and make you secure. So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Matthew 28:11-15

*These events brought to pass the Lords prophecy: If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. Luke 16:31 The very next verse: Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! Luke 17:1

(Summary of Parable and Important Symbols)

Using the parable of Lazarus and The Rich Man, as a basis for unending conscious torment, is unwise... This is to speak foolishly without knowledge. Even the most literal extreme interpretation of that parable would still not be grounds for belief in unending suffering, because the duration of that suffering is not mentioned. The Parable of Lazarus and The Rich Man is just that... A parable. And until one acknowledges that it is a parable, which uses gurative language and symbolism, understanding will always remain out of reach. Key points to remember: Regarding the literal misinterpretation of this parable: The characters are hard to recognize, especially when reading the English translations. For example, Lazarus is the Greek spelling of the Hebrew name Eleazar. Lazarus/Eleazar was Abrahams heir and faithful servant. He was also a Gentile (not of the lineage of Abraham). He was later disinherited, due to the birth of Abrahams son, Isaac (who was Hebrew, of the lineage of Abraham). Summary of the Parable: The Gentile (Lazarus) was poor in life, but given the spiritual blessings of Abraham. This is contrasted with an Israelite (the rich man), who had riches in life, yet was spiritually poor because of unbelief. And though the rich man was of the lineage of Abraham, he did not receive the spiritual blessings of Abraham. (To better understand this parable, please also read Romans 11).

Summary of the Symbols of the Parable: 1. The Lazarus of the parable was Eleazar, Abrahams steward (Genesis 15:2). 2. He was a Gentile of Damascus, a proselyte of the gate, who ate the crumbs. 3. He was disinherited (to become a beggar), but he remained faithful to Abraham and God. 4. When his earthly life was over, he received Abrahams inheritance after all (he was in Abrahams bosom) in everlasting habitations. 5. The Rich Man of the parable was Judah. This son of Jacob had ve literal brothers as did the Rich Man. 6. He was also a literal son of Abraham, while Eleazar (Lazarus) was not! 7. The Rich Man (Judah) also had the kingship (purple) and the priesthood (linen). 8. Yet Judah, a representative of God on earth, was not the true steward of the Abrahamic blessings. 9. Though he and his literal brothers had been graced with the oracles of God (the Old Testament), they would not respond to The One resurrected from the dead (Christ). 10. The great gulf was the Jordan rift valley, the dividing line between Gentile lands and the Holy Land of promise (Abrahams inheritance). Crossing the Jordan was a typical gure recognized by the Jews as a symbol of salvation.

Again, once these factors are recognized, all the points in the parable (with its context) t perfectly, giving us simple yet profound teachings of Christ. It shows that the earthly promises of God, though excellent, are inferior to the spiritual redemption that anyone, Jew or Gentile, can have in Christ.

PART 4: In Conclusion - "A Blemish and a Stain"

Thus says The Lord: I have nourished and brought up many children... Yet the nourishment of men I despise, and the doctrines of men I do hate.... The doctrines of the churches of this world have crept into every corner. Whether near or far, the doctrine of hell and eternal torment is spoken of widely among My people... This doctrine, of which I loathe with a passion and detest in My zeal. For by it is the name of The Lord polluted, and the glory of My majesty covered over with lies and darkness. It is a loathsome spot on every garment worn in the name of truth, a detestable wrinkle upon the tapestry of glory... A horrible, interwoven thread. This doctrine is evil, and I will not tolerate it to any degree! For I am The Lord, The Light in which there can be no darkness!... For I shall destroy it utterly, in the day My glory is revealed!

~ (Letters from God and His Christ, an excerpt from MORE Letters From God and His Christ A Blemish and a Stain) PDF Compilation: NYXSTORY.WORDPRESS.COM MYFATHERSTHOUGHTS.WORDPRESS.COM