The Strand Study Bible

LUKE

LUKE

1672

to either accept or reject the way God chose to pay for those temporal wrong doings ( Rom 1:16 ). 2. Would it not be better for God to annihilate people rather than allow them to suffer in Hell forever? Interestingly enough, there are some religions that teach that people who do evil, will one day be eradicated by God and cease to exist after they die. However, Scripture does not teach what is referred to as annihilation (cessation of life). The Bible teaches eternal judgment, from which there is no appeal (Heb 6:2). This word ( eternal ) in Hebrews 6:2 comes from the Greek word DLZQLο9 ( aionios ) and describes “ endless duration .” It is the same Greek word used for “ eternal ” life in John 3:15, and for the “ eternal ” God in I Timothy 1:17. If one of these is temporary, then the others must also be temporary. Furthermore, the same phrase translated “ forever and ever ” is used of God being alive forever (Rev 15:7) and of “ eternal ” torment (Rev 14:11). Again there is no way to escape the conclusion that if God is eternal, so is Hell. Annihilation is based on a false cult’s misinterpretation of Psalm 37:9 . Knowing the consequences (Gen 2:16-17), Adam and Eve freely chose to serve Satan rather than serve the Lord (Gen 3:1-7). Whenever people are faced with the real choice of submitting to God or retaining one’s freedom to reject God, sadly, people with free will would rather roam freely in Hell than serve humbly in Heaven. 3. Can people in Heaven really be happy knowing their loved ones are forever in Hell? Although some of our loved ones will choose to go to Hell because they denied the ETERNAL ONE ( Mic 5:2 ) who paid for their Heaven, still, should a believer feel guilty for enjoying Heaven simply because his loved one chose Hell? Common sense says that no unselfish person (a believer) should feel guilty for enjoying his lunch (Heaven) simply because there are starving people in the world (people who reject Christ). Isaac Watts, in his hymn called How Sweet and Awful , noted that very truth: How sweet and awful is the place with Christ within the doors, else we had still refused to taste and perished in our sin Pity the nations O our God! Constrain the earth to come! Send thy victorious Word abroad and bring the strangers home We long to see thy churches full that all the chosen race May with one voice and heart and soul sing thy redeeming grace 2 Why should a person who accepts Jesus feel guilty for enjoying Heaven simply because loved ones who were offered the same hope refused? He shouldn’t, and he won’t. Mart De Haan in Understanding the Endtimes notes: When questions of eternal suffering disturb us, let’s remember the words of Abraham: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25). Then, in faith, we can leave it squarely in His hands. 3 4. Why doesn’t God allow people the option to change their mind after they die? Interestingly enough, there are other religious systems who teach that people who end up going to Hell will have an opportunity to get out of Hell, if and when they come to the conclusion that they were wrong (Hmmm… I wonder how long that will take?). However, Scripture does not teach what is called “classic universalism” (restoration after a time of punishment). The Bible teaches eternal judgment, from which there is no appeal ( Heb 6:2d ). The rich man who died and went to Hell knew that life after death was eternal (Dan 12:1-2). It is interesting to note that, once there, the rich man never asked for himself to be taken out of Hell. He knew better (Heb 9:27). His only request was for those still living (his brethren). Unfortunately, it is impossible to change one’s mind about one’s eternal destiny after one dies. 16:25 This word ( art tormented ) is the Greek word οδυν D σ DL ( odunasai ) and means “ pain of body or mind; sorrow, grief. ” According to The Analytical Greek Lexicon , the parsing (or, break down in the original Greek) of this word ( odunasai ) is: 2 nd person sing ( thou ) / present tense ( shall continually be tormented ) / indicative mood (which is the mood of certainty ) / passive voice (where the subject receives the action), 4 and means that the rich man shall certainly and continually be tormented throughout eternity ( Rev 20:10b ). 16:31 Parable #28 is aimed at unbelievers who underestimate the Word of God ( Moses and the prophets ) . The character flaw – assuming they will have the “last say” in life . They will not (Prov 1:24-33). God will have the “last" say and laugh (Prov 1:24-33). 17:1 Conflicts ( offences ) are inevitable. Still, we are called of God to resolve our conflicts. NOTE – There are five biblical steps that we must take in order to resolve conflict: 1. We must decide to take the time to resolve it (Prov 25:15) 2. We must define the conflict in a biblical light (Prov 18:18) 3. We must refuse to allow the conflict to become contentious (Prov 17:14 & 15:1) 4. We must refuse to dig up the past (Prov 17:9 & 19:11 and Phil 3:13) 5. We must determine that we are going to respect the other person better than our self (Phil 2:3 and Rom 12:10) 1 Robert Farrar Capon’s internet interview with Floyd Brown (June 19, 2008) 2 Watts, Isaac (1705). How Sweet and Awful . 3 De Haan II, M.R. Understanding the Endtimes , Grand Rapids, MI, RBC Ministries, 2004. Print. 4 The Analytical Greek Lexicon . Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1977. Print. while everlasting love displays the choicest of her stores! Here every heartbeat of our God with soft compassion rolls Here peace and pardon bought with blood is food for dying souls While all our hearts and all our songs join to admire the feast Each of us cry with thankful tongues, “Lord, why was I a guest?” “Why was I made to hear thy voice and enter while there’s room, when thousands make a wretched choice and rather starve than come ?” ( my emphasis ) ‘Twas the same love that spread the feast that sweetly drew us in,