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L AKE OF F IRE
SERIES
by
L. Ray Smith
Exposing Those Who Contradict
b i b l et r u t h s . c o m
CONTENTS
PURPOSE ............................................................................................................v PART I: THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A BOOK OF SYMBOLS .........1 Five General Scenarios .....................................................................................4 Three False Assumptions ..................................................................................6 Literal or Symbolic? .........................................................................................6 Biblical Figures of Speech ................................................................................8 Parables are Not Literally True Stories .........................................................11 Making the Simple Complicated ....................................................................19 Keeping the Simple, Simple ...........................................................................21 Physical Fire Versus Spiritual Fire ................................................................24
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PURPOSE
[1]preach with sound doctrine and [2]refute those who contradict it [Titus 1:9 The New Revised Standard Version]
This site is a ministry of love. We charge for nothing; we have nothing to sell; we ask for nothing. All we at bibletruths have full-time jobs to support both our families and this site. The site requires thousands of man hours and thousands of dollars an nually to operate. It is FREE to all. And our goal is to teach the Truths of God as He has given us understanding. There is, however, a two-fold commission in teaching the Gospel of Christ: ...that he [the elders] may be able to [1] entreat with sound teaching as well as to [2] expose those who contradict (Titus 1:9, Concordant NT).
dict Gods Word. They accuse us of being unloving, unkind, or bad-mouthing Gods
Unfortunately, many are offended that we would expose those who contra
anointed. Untrue. Nowhere do we attack the person or character of those who op pose Gods Word. So please dont confuse our mission of exposing as an attack on the character of a person who contradicts Gods Word. May God richly bless all those who have a real love of the Truth! Everyone is welcome to copy the material on this site and freely distribute it to others. You do not need permission from us to do this. All we ask is that you give us credit and do not in any way, CHANGE, PLAGIARIZE or SELL any material from bible-truths.com.
L. Ray Smith
PART I:
Some time in the last half of the first century AD, the apostle John (whom Jesus loved) was on the Isle of Patmos when he found himself in spirit on the Lords day. Among his many remarkable visions he saw this: Revelation 19:20, And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and
Rev. 20:10, And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev. 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found
Rev. 21:8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abomin able, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Concerning the Second Death, John also has this to report: idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which
Rev. 20:6, Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first re surrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And finally this one: Rev. 14:10, and he shall be tormented with fire and brim stone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
These are all the Scriptural references in the entire Bible that mention the lake of fire and the second death. Theologians and clergymen by the thousands have been telling the world that this lake of fire is little more than an eternal torture chamber. It is the final HELL of eternal separation from God accompanied by unfathomable pain, torture, and despair. We have been told that there is absolutely no possibility of ever being rescued from this hellhole of suffering and human misery where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth, as real fire barbecues their bodies, and while worms will be eat ing their flesh. This hideous scene is to continue day and night for trillions of bil lions of quadrillions of centuries upon centuries for EVER! We are told that those who will spend eternity in this prison of pain have them selves chosen to spend eternity there that God doesnt send anyone to hell, but that people actually choose, themselves, to go there. Even a fool knows that no per son would ever choose such a fate, but theologians must somehow get God off of the hook of responsibility, for surely this place exists and will continue to exist for etern ity they assure us. Famous TV preachers like John Hagee tell us that every boy and every girl who dies without knowing Jesus Christ spends an eternity in a city where the fire is never quenched and the worm dieth not. And Mr. Hagee adds, AND ITS JUSTICE! World renowned pastor, educator, and theologian Dr. James Kennedy tells the world that for a man in India who told a lie, and for a man in the Islands who stole chickens by night to feed his family, their sins will put them into the tortures of an
eternal hell, even if they never heard of the name of Jesus Christ their only possible Savior. And Dr. Kennedy adds, HELL IS FAIR! Does the Word of God actually and literally teach such a hellhole of eternal tor ture in fire from which there is no redemption ever? Dont be too sure till you have read this paper and compared it with Scripture. That the Scriptures do speak of a lake of fire which is the second death there is no denial. However: What is it? Where is it? When is it? Why is it? Who will go there? Is it an actual place? And How long will it last? What actually takes place in this lake of fire which is the second death? Is Johns vision to be taken literally? Does this lake of fire and second death serve no purpose other than to vent Gods frustration and vengeance on most of humanity which He Himself created? Would a loving God really create billions and billions of people which He knew in advance He would torture for all eternity? If ninety to ninety-five percent (a ballpark statistic used by many theolo gians) of humanity is destined for this atrocious destiny, how could any sane person worship a god who would design and carry out such a vile and eternal nightmare on so many billions of helpless and weak creatures?
The Scriptures answer all of these questions, and the answers are not even in the same universe with what has been popularly taught by theologians. Some have even taught that God and His Saints will actually derive happiness and pleasure from this fabled eternal torture and misfortune of the majority of all humanity that has ever lived. Men are bold and audacious in how they characterize the very nature of God Almighty. I heard just tonight on one of the major news channels that Saddam Hus sein enjoys his leisure by watching videos of men being tortured! Most of us shudder at the very thought of anything so satanic and evil. And yet and YET, many theo logians (and Christian lay members as well) would put God Almighty and our Lord
Does God really teach us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES while God Himself HATES OUR LOVED ONES by destroying most of them for all eternity? This teaching is also blasphemous. 3. Still others teach that the lake of fire is figurative, but that the fire part of the symbolic phrase lake of fire is literal fire which will burn up its vic tims. So they interpret this as a symbolic lake of fire which is made up of a literal lake and literal fire. And that the second death is literal death so that its victims will be killed by this literal fire in a literal lake, which then becomes a symbolic lake OF fire. However, this group has a unique twist to their teaching. They believe that when the victims are thrown into the lake of fire, they have already gone through the white throne judgment and have turned to God, are now right eous, have accepted Christ as their Lord, but they must die a second time anyway. Why? I dont know!! I am at a loss as to how Rev. 21:8 would fit into this theory, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. They dont sound too converted to me at this point in time when they enter the lake of fire. This group then believes that at the consummation of the ages (just as they have died a second time), they will be resurrected a second time, but this time to immortality and life with God in His Family. Though maybe not quite as blasphemous, this teaching is still unscriptural and foolish. 4. I know of no group who teaches that the lake of fire is figurative, but that the second death is literal. Such a doctrine would be akin to literally drown ing in symbolic water. And so that leaves one more combination, and that is that the lake of fire is figurative or symbolic and that the second death is also figurative or sym bolic. I am one of a very tiny group who is of this latter persuasion. It is the only way that these Scriptures on the lake of fire and the second death will harmonize and not contradict the rest of Gods Word. Further more, God plainly tells us in chapter one, verse one, that an angel signi fied this whole Revelation of Jesus Christ contained in this book. He SYMBOLIZED it, for that is what signifies means to make known by signs, and signs are symbols. Therefore it cant be literal.
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Are any of these three assumptions true or Scriptural? Absolutely and unequi vocally NOT! In our journey we will clearly see that these verses are NOT to be taken literally, and they do NOT represent a place called hell, and God will NOT torture anyone for all eternity. We will also see from the Scriptures that God never punishes for the sole pur pose of torturing. God always punishes and chastises for the ultimate purpose of correcting, righting, amending, changing, fixing, rectifying, redeeming and saving. That God can and will accomplish these things with every creature in heaven and earth is fully substantiated by hundreds of Scriptures in His Word. And there are no Scriptural doctrines or teachings to the contrary. NONE! This IS the Good News Gospel which precious few on this earth have ever heard. It is Gods WILL that all mankind be saved (I Tim. 2:4), and Gods will WILL be done (Matt. 6:10 and Isaiah 46:10-11)! But seriously, dont these Scriptures (at least in the King James Bible) sound like the beast, the false prophet, Satan, and all who are not found written in the book of life will be tortured for ever and ever in the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death? Granted, in King James translation, it does definitely sound that way. But when we remove a few unscriptural assumptions, a few pagan tradi tions, and a couple of totally mistranslated words, words that never appear in the Greek manuscripts, we will discover an even more profound love that God has for His creatures, rather than some monstrous god of eternal hatred which has been concocted by theologians and promulgated through bad translations for centuries.
Literal or Symbolic?
In many cases it is not difficult to determine whether a verse is literal or not. But, since we use figures of speech so often we tend to forget that much of what we say daily is not literally true. Many of us would hardly be able to carry on a conversation
if we had to drop out of our vocabulary every word and every phrase we speak that is NOT LITERALLY TRUE. The English language, as well as all other languages, is just filled with symbolic and metaphorical phrases. The first eleven verses of Chapter one in Revelation are an introduction regard ing where, how, and what John is going to record for us. Much of this introduction can be taken literally, however, not all. Beginning with verse twelve, we are confron ted with one symbol after another for the remainder of the entire twenty-twochapter-book. Everything written in Revelation is true, but most is not literally true. The fact is there are many many truths in the Bible that are not literally true. Jesus said that the bread He gave His disciples at the Lords supper was His body. Yet, Jesus Himself explains in other places that this was not literally true. He gave them literal bread, and not His literal physical flesh. What that bread repres ented, and symbolized, was indeed, His body but not his physical body. Jesus said that the words that he spoke were SPIRIT (John 6:63). Jesus Christ changes not. His words are STILL spirit and they certainly were spirit when John wrote the words of Christ regarding His unveiling or revelation. Just as we physic ally feed on physical bread for PHYSICAL LIFE, thus also we spiritually feed on Je sus Christs spiritual body for SPIRITUAL LIFE. Understand this! Some think that by accepting the Scriptures as they are given (in the case of Revelation that means AS SYMBOLS), that somehow this spiritual izes away the teaching. What? It is the spiritual aspect of these symbols that IS THE REAL THING; THE REAL UNDERSTANDING! Physical things pass away whereas spiritual things are eternal! The very FACT that this book is written in symbols is proof positive that the understanding of them is SPIRITUAL and not physical or literal. Symbols, metaphors, and parables ARE NEVER LITERALLY TRUE! But they powerfully demonstrate SPIRITUAL TRUTHS! This is the second death the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15 and 21:8) is a metaphor that is no more literal than Jesus taking the breadsaid, Take, EAT. This IS My body (Mat. 26:26). Paul did not instruct Timothy to STUDY the scriptures if a mere casual read ing is all that is necessary to comprehend its many deep and profound teachings. On the other hand, I believe that those who have studied Gods Word are able to open up much understanding to those who are not called to teach (even babes, or minors as our Lord stated). I want to quickly show my readers just how impossible it is to assume most of
shadows (as in the law being a shadow of good things to come, Heb. 10:1)
examples (as in the tabernacle vessels being examples of what is in heav en, Heb. 9:23) images (as Christ is the image of God, Col. 1:15) impersonations or personifications (where things are spoken of as per sons) condescensions (as where God takes on human attributes) diminutives (as in little women, heaped with sins II Tim. 3:6)
There are FIGURES OF ASSOCIATION which include: association or metonymys appellations (as when a quality or office is used instead of a proper name, as in Son of Mankind instead of saying Jesus Christ)
compound associations (as the word of the cross I Cor. 1:18, which has to do with Christs shameful and agonizing death) near associations (as in a phrase that is partly literal, Then went out to Him Jerusalem [that is the people of Jerusalem], Matt. 3:5) retentions (this one is too complicated to explain, but Ill give you an ex ample, the tablets of the heart II Cor. 3:3) circumlocutions or periphrasis (what is circumlocution? Well, its a descriptive phrase in place of a name in order to emphasize the association. Examples, the product of the grapevine [though not named is, wine] Matt. 26:29, the city of David [though not named is, Bethlehem] Luke 2:11, enigmas, and symbols (where a known object or something else is used to typify something else, or even an intangible quality such as love, power, beauty, etc.)
Here are many of the words from the book of Revelation used as SYMBOLS: candlesticks locusts beasts birds horses book of life water of life hours days tree of live hails
songs
animals
seasons
months
blades
wreaths
hands
thrones
fornications doors
images
temples
blind
Nicolaitans Armageddon
Jezebel
earthquakes
And even heaven and earth are used as symbols in this great book of symbols. There are also FIGURES OF OMISSION which include: omitted nouns (as in the wicked [people is understood], the blind [people], the rich [people], the poor [people], the twelve [apostles is omitted but understood]) omitted verbs (as in incongruous omissions like, Milk I give you to drink not solid food The omission of to eat is understood, as one does not drink solid food I Cor. 3:2) unfinished sentences (the King James usually finishes sentences that are unfinished in the Greek, such as, As I swear in My indignation, If they shall be entering into My rest___! Heb. 3:11) omission or non-sequence (as in These which you are beholding___there will be coming days Luke 21:6) I did not include this basic listing of figures of speech in the Scriptures, just to fill another page. It is most important to understand that the study of the Scrip tures is not the same as studying a high school or college text book. It is far differ ent. School text books, as a rule, would not contain even one percent of the figures that I have presented here. And if we do not have even an elementary understand ing of these many and varied figures of speech, we will hardly be in a position to TEACH Gods Word to others. It is the height of naivety to believe that whenever someone shouts, My King James Bible SAYS, that what follows will be non-refutable Scriptural proof of that persons doctrinal preference. Thank God that:
Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpreta tion (II Pet. 1:20).
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The Scriptures themselves really do interpret other Scriptures. This is true for interpreting prophesies and doctrinal issues.
With that all said, let us now see that most of what is said in this marvelous book called Revelation is not literal, but symbolic. My King James Bible says: The Revelation of Saint John the Divine. And then verse one says, The revelation of Jesus Christ Which is it? It is, of course, the latter, seeing that the title is merely mans inter pretation which is obviously wrong. The book of Revelation is a revelation OF Jesus Christ. It is not just a revelation from Jesus Christ, but a revelation of or about Je sus Christ. It is a revelation of HIM!
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Most of my life I believed that the book of Revelation was a literal prophecy about events that will happen at the END OF THE WORLD! Prophesies that had virtually no meaning for those who have lived during the past two thousand years since it was written. But for most of my life, I WAS IN ERROR! Now for a most important understanding. Just how was this revelation to John to be recorded and preserved? Notice it: and he sent and SIGNIFIED it by his angel unto his servant John (Rev. 1:1)
What does it mean to signify? Certainly this prophecy of the revelation or un veiling of Christ was written down (ver. 19), but it means more than just that. To signify has to do with signs and symbols. From my Websters Twentieth Century Dictionary p. 1541, first definition of signify: to make known by signs or words First definition of sign: any symbol that represents an idea That which, being external, represents or signifies something internal or spiritu The synonym for sign is: symbol. There is no mistaking this language. The book of Revelation is written in SYM BOLS! So what is written externally, on paper, in symbols, has a SPIRITUAL mean ing and application. Let us now see the symbolism of this prophecy. I will pick out some of the most obvious things that would be impossible to understand literally. Notice that in verse ten John informs us that, I was IN THE SPIRIT on the Lords day And then he begins to tell us what he hears and sees. Now the very fact that he was in the spirit on the Lords day conclusively proves that he was not literally there! Let us never lose sight of this fact: John WRITES what has been SIGNIFIED (WITH SYMBOLS) the things that he SEES and HEARS IN A VISION IN SPIR IT! Beginning in verse twelve John starts to tell us what he saw and heard, And I turned to see the voice that spake with me his eyes
al.
NONE of what I underlined is literal. Have you ever seen a voice? All these things are symbols that stand for other things. And God immediately gives us proof positive of this in verse 20, The mystery [this is not literal it was a mystery until God tells us that one thing really means or represents another and DIFFERENT THING] of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars ARE THE sticks which thou sawest ARE THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
The stars are not literal and the candlesticks are not literal. In the first 20 verses of Revelation we can find eleven statements that are not literal, but rather symbolic. They represent truths that are presented in symbols. The literal language is not the literal truth being presented. The statements themselves do not teach us the truth OF the statements. We must look elsewhere in the Scriptures for the in terpretation. Now chapter one was pretty easy as God told us just what some of those symbols represented. But there are dozens and dozens more symbols in this book of Revela tion that are not explained in the verses that follow immediately. How shall we un derstand all those symbols. First of all, without the spirit of God, the answer is we will never understand these symbols. But guided by Gods spirit, God can show us in other places in His Word what these mysterious symbols represent. It is God Who provides us with ears to hear and eyes to see. Now look at chapter two: Verse 5, Will God literally punish the church of Ephesus by removing a literal candlestick? NO! Removing a literal candlestick would be no great loss to anyone. But from what we learned in verse 20 of chapter one, the candlestick IS one of the churches. So Christ is threatening to REMOVE THE WHOLE CHURCH, not some piece of furniture or can dlestick from the building of a church. Verse 7, Is the tree of life a literal tree that one literally eats? Verse 9, Was the church in Smyrna literally in poverty and literally rich at the same time? Does synagogue of Satan mean a literal syn
Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols agogue where Satan has a Rabbi teaching the Law to a congregation every Sabbath day? Verse 13, Is a name something that one literally holds fast to with ones hands? Verse 16, Will Christ literally do battle by using a literal sword which He literally keeps in His mouth? Or do we not read in another place in Gods word that this sword IS Gods Word? (Heb. 4:12). Verse 17, Will Christ reward the faithful with a literal little white stone? Cant we see that the stone and the name written in it repres ents something else? Something of much greater value? Verse 20, Was the harlot Jezebel literally in the Thyatira church? Lit eral Jezebel died CENTURIES before this book was written by John. Jezebel in the physical represents or symbolizes a SPIRITUAL condi tion in the church of Thyatira. Verse 22, Will Christ literally throw literal Jezebel into a literal bed where she will literally commit adultery with literal men? Verse 23, Will Christ kill literal children of the literal harlot, Jezebel? Verse 27, Will the saints beat the nations with a literal rod of iron into literal small pieces like broken pottery? Verse 28, Will Christ give the literal morning star to His saints? Where would they put it? What would they do with it? Chapter 3:1, Was the Sardis church literally alive and literally dead at the same time? Verse 4, Were members of the Sardis congregation wearing literally soiled clothing? Verse 7, Is there literally a metal key of David that is needed to open a literal lock? Verse 12, Will Christ literally turn people into stone pillars in the temple?
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols Chapter 10, Did John eat a literal book? That was literally sweet in his taste buds, but literally bitter in his stomach? Why would anyone eat a literal book? Chapter 11, Are Gods two witnesses that prophesy, literally two olive trees and two candlesticks? But if we study Zechariah 4 we can de termine what is meant by two witnesses. Chapter 12, Will there literally be a pregnant woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars? Was this same woman able to literally fly into the wil derness with wings of an eagle? Chapter 13, Will there be a literal lamb that will speak like a dragon? Just how do dragons speak anyhow? Will people be literally tattooed with marks (bar codes, swastikas, Social Security numbers, implanted with computer chips or one of a hundred unscriptural marks being suggested by fundamentalist prophets) in their hands and on their foreheads so that men cannot buy or sell ice cream or automobiles without these marks? Self-appointed prophets of doom havent a clue as to what this mark of the beast really is or the number of his name. I have already been barred from buying and selling recently because I refuse to brandish this mark of the beast! Chapter 14, Does Babylon cause all nations to literally drink of the wine of the literal wrath of her fornication? I thought wine came from grapes not wrath (of course there is that famous novel, The Grapes of Wrath). Chapter 15, Are the seven last global plagues and catastrophes really contained in seven literal tiny gold vials or bottles? Chapter 16, Is Jesus Christ going to return to this earth as a literal thief? Will every island and mountain on earth literally disappear? Chapter 17, Will there really be a woman who will ride a literal scarlet coloured beast, having seven heads and ten horns. Can whole nations literally fornicate with a harlot? But here once more in this chapter God does reveal to us who this beast is and what the symbolic horns represent which again proves that ALL OF THESE THINGS are not literal but symbolic and represent things other than what is being de
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doesnt diminish them one iota! They want people who dont believe as they believe to have their flesh barbecued over fire and brimstone for all eternity. The very idea gives them great joy. And it makes them proud. They have no love for sinners as God does. They hate sinners. They hate unbelievers. They love only themselves. They pronounce CURSES on me for quoting Scriptures that show God will save everyone. They highly disapprove of God being the saviour of the whole world. They wont hear of it; they wont have it! They dont approve of a God Who would save everyone by bringing them to repentance, and purging them, and turning their hearts to God. If God were to save everyone through the purging of his SPIRITUAL FIRE, then they could not wag their fingers at all these people sizzling and popping like bacon in a hot skillet saying, I told you so, I told you so for all eternity. Hussein and Bin Laden are not the only ones out there with depraved religious minds. God did not write nineteen whole chapters of Revelation giving us symbol after symbol and metaphor after metaphor, and then in chapter 20 switch to writing in literal language with literal meanings. The book of Revelation was signified by the use of signs and symbols. Signs and symbols always represent or mean something other than the sign or symbol it self. We are all familiar with symbols and signs so that we should never be confused as to what a sign or symbol is or is not. A red and white striped barbers pole is not a barber shop, neither is it a barber, but it is a sign or symbol that immediately con veys to our understanding what it represents namely a barber shop with a barber. There are many more Scriptures that will prove that this lake of fire has a much more benevolent purpose than barbecuing human flesh for all eternity for the sheer sick and depraved entertainment of Christian Fundamentalists. Be it known however, that the lake of fire and the second death DO INDEED pic ture something spiritual that relates to or has some properties of, LITERAL FIRE and LITERAL DEATH. Without some similar properties, the metaphor would be meaningless. I have read some extremely complex definitions of a metaphor which were totally wrong. A metaphor is where one thing is said to BE something else. Heres a Scriptural example: All flesh is grass (I Pet. 1:24). Thats simple enough. Now then, is that statement by Peter true? Yes, of course, it is true. Is it literally true? No, it is not literally true. Then how do we know for sure what there is ABOUT this metaphor that is true? If a metaphor is not literally true, how is it true at all?
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the symbolic subject [the lake of fire] is like the literal predicate [the second death]. When one thing (or things) [in this case the lake of fire] which represents another thing [in this case the second death], is finally said to be that other thing [the second death], whether or not the representative thing itself is a literal entity [second death], in any case, that which it finally represents consists in a literal expression and is a literal entity [a LITERAL second death].
The greatest minds in theology have haggled for hundreds of years over this metaphor that Christ used at the last supper. Does the bread literally turn into the body flesh of Christ when we eat that bread as the Catholic faith demands? What a silly question. ITS A METAPHOR! And the idea that one of the two parts of a meta phor must be literal is likewise silly. In this metaphor, the bread is a symbol. Is there anyone who cannot recognize that Christ used bread from the table as a symbol of something? Then when used as a symbol, neither can it be any longer literal. Is there anyone who cannot recog nize that Christ used His own body as a symbol of something? Then when used as a symbol it neither can be any longer literal. That being said then, the bread is sym bolic AND Christs body is also symbolic! Jesus used literal bread from the table and used the literal words my body. When Jesus picked up the bread and broke it, no one thought that He was talking about CHEESE! When Jesus said, my body, no one thought He was speaking of His clothing or His shoes. Everyone at that table knew what bread was and what Christs body was. However HOWEVER, Christ used the words bread and my body in a METAPHOR! He said, Take eat, this [bread] IS My body. That my friends is a METAPHOR! And as a metaphor, neither the bread nor Christs body is to be taken literally! I am the BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:35). We do NOT eat physical bread to partake of the symbolic or spiritual life-giving food of Christs body. Nor would we be partaking of spiritual or symbolic bread by eating Christs literal flesh and blood body. Can we not see that neither part of a metaphor must always be literal. The bread is used as a symbol because literal
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bread is called the staff of life. Christs body is used in this metaphor because our spiritual nourishment comes from no other source but Jesus Christ. They say that we are what we eat. When we partake of the real staff of life the spiritual food of Christs body, we ourselves BECOME the very body of Christ ourselves! Heres the Scriptural proof: I am the BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:35). For we, who are many, are ONE BREAD, ONE BODY, for we all are partaking of the ONE BREAD (I Cor. 10:17).
The Jews, then, murmured concerning Him, that He said, I AM the Bread which descends out of heaven. (John 6:41).
giving for the sake of the life of the world IS MY FLESH (John 6:51). But just as most are totally blind regarding the meaning of Scriptural metaphors today, they were also ignorant of Christs words when He spoke them: The Jews, then, fought with one another, saying, HOW THEN CAN THIS ONE GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT? (John 6:52)
They also thought that metaphors were LITERAL! Christ is the Bread that came down FROM HEAVEN, not the bread that comes from wheat out of the ground. Christ is NO LONGER flesh and blood. He has been raised with a SPIRITUAL BODY: I Cor. 15:44, it is raised A SPIRITUAL BODY. Besides flesh and blood CANNOT inherit the Kingdom of God. We partake of Christs spiritual body, not literal flesh, blood and muscle protein. If we fight and argue as the foolish Jews did over what part of metaphor must be literal, we will learn nothing. If we cant understand a simple metaphor as Take eat, this [bread] IS my body, how will we ever understand The lake of fire which IS the second death? I dont wish to belabor this point, but it is of paramount importance and some times if we would hunger and thirst after righteousness, there is definitely some labor involved.
were written in the books, according to their works. And whoso ever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols of fire (Rev. 20:12 & 15).
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The dead, small and great are mortals resurrected to judgment and are still mortal. Therefore physical fire will BURN THEM UP, hence there can be NO torture or torment for ever and ever. So now what will our fundamentalist friends do with this evidence? Real, physic al, literal fires, BURN UP physical bodies! And, real, physical, literal fires CANNOT burn or harm spiritual bodies! Sorry, but thats just the way it is! But these verses say that there is fire and that those in it are tormented. So what kind of fire are we talking about and what kind of torment are we talking about? First, the fire. If this lake of fire is not real, physical, literal fire, is there then such a thing as figurative fire or spiritual fire? Im so glad you asked. As a matter of Scriptural fact, yes there is such a thing as figurative and spiritual fire. Lets start with the most profound Scripture regarding spiritual fire. As we all know, God IS SPIRIT (John 4:24). But have you never read: For our God IS A CONSUMING FIRE (Heb. 12:29)! God has shown Himself to be not only a fire, but a CONSUMING FIRE all through the Scriptures. You will be amazed how often God speaks of fire in bringing judgment on humanity. ALL IS OF GOD, II Cor. 5:18, Rom. 11:36, Eph. 1:11, etc. God IS a consuming FIRE. God IS this lake of fire! But since it is not literal fire, what does it burn? What does it consume? It is the works of the flesh that made sinners of those thrown into the lake of fire in the first place. And we shall see from the Scriptures that it is these very works of the flesh that are consumed in this lake of fire. And dont think for a moment that it is not a most painful and tormenting experience to have ones carnal mind with all its ungodly passions, thoughts and deeds, burned clean and pure by the consuming fire of Gods Holy Spirit! God doesnt change. He will use the same method in the day of judging at the white throne as He uses on US. Although the intensity will get considerably more severe for those who blaspheme till the end. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). However, that does not purge us from all our filthy thoughts and deeds. No, there is more. There is also a consuming FIRE that God uses on us: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST. Now if any man build upon this foundation
abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a re ward. If any mans work shall be BURNED, he shall SUFFER LOSS; but [pay close attention to this BIG BUT] BUT HE HIM suming fire] SHALL BE SAVED [What will save him?], yet so AS BY FIRE (I Cor. 3:11-15)!!! Ah dear readers, can we begin to understand the workings of God? God con sumes with fire, the wood, hay and stubble in our lives. The things that dont de serve to continue. But he REFINES the gold, silver, and precious stones (those doc trines and godly character traits of Gods spirit that abide the fire). It is figurative language, it is an analogy, it is a parable, it is metaphorical (where one thing is called another thing). Our lives have either qualities of character (which are likened to gold and precious stones, things of value to refine and retain), or gross lacks in character (which are likened to wood, hay, and stubble and which are not worthy to retain or preserve). And just as real literal fire is used to refine and purify gold and precious metals, so Gods SPIRITUAL FIRE refines and purifies us from our sinful and carnal nature. And likewise, as real literal fire is used to burn up wood and stubble, so Gods all consuming SPIRITUAL FIRE will consume and burn up all the impurities in our life. These things MUST DIE. This purging is the SECOND DEATH. And whether the person God subjects to His consuming fire has many good qualities or none, the person himself shall be purged, purified, and SAVED BY GODS ALLCONSUMING SPIRITUAL FIRE!!! We just read it in Gods Holy Word. How can any deny it? Every person who has ever lived will be subjected to the cleaning fire of Gods spirit. God is the JUDGE (Rev. 20;12). NOT Satan. This judgment throne is WHITE not black! God judges in righteousness. He shall judge the world with RIGHTEOUSNESS (Psalm 96:13) Because He [God] hath appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS (Acts 17:31)
SELF [the one who had his works burned and consumed in Gods con
Next I present a Scripture that many fundamentalists hate. Ill bet if you atten
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ded a fundamentalist church, you never heard a sermon on this verse. We read that God has appointed a day (a period of time) in which He will JUDGE the whole world. Revelation 20:10-15 IS THAT DAY OF JUDGMENT! Now we know that those not found in the book of life will be put into FIRE, and they will be TORMEN TED. This is certainly part of this judgment. But it is not literal fire. Literal fire burns up physical things and literal fire cannot harm spiritual things. So what does the fire do or accomplish? MUCH! This judgment in Revelation 20 IS that worldwide judgment spoken of in many prophecies. But is the purpose of this worldwide judgment to torture people by burning their flesh in real fire for all eternity? Is that HOW God judges in right eousness? Absolutely not. We just read where God burns up our fleshly WORKS, and this is tormenting for sure. But God does not torture our flesh for all eternity. Dont get me wrong, there will be severe chastisements on those who despise God and His Savior and His Gospel. But out of their ashes will come salvation. Here is another marvelous Scripture which answers what happens to sinning humanity when God JUDGES THE WORLD in righteousness. For he [GOD] bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty he bringeth it even to the dust (Isa. 26:5) city, he layeth it low, HE LAYETH IT LOW, even to the ground,
Make no mistake, God will judge the wicked with great severity. However, AL WAYS FOR A BENEVOLENT PURPOSE: With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when Thy judgments LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS (Isaiah 26:9)!! are in the earth, THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD WILL
There will come a time when those who only knew how to blaspheme the name of God, will come to LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS. They will not just hear of right eousness, no, they will actually LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS! The whole book of Isaiah speaks of judgments on Israel and on the nations. But the end of all these judgments is SALVATION TO ALL. Notice Isa. 45:22-23, Look unto me, and BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by
Myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness [as in, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the know ledge of the truth, I Tim. 2:3-4] , and shall not return, That unto me EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, EVERY TONGUE SHALL
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