Jack, interesting study today. I looked up "lake of fire" in the Blue Letter Bible app. It appears only 4 times in ESV. Once in Rev 19 and 3 times in Rev 20. It says that " ... they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev 20:10) If there is no eternal punishment, then what is the lake of fire? What does it represent if it is not an eternal punishment for evil? Stay blessed Brother. I like how you make one think; especially this one......
Great question Ken! I'll do my best here. First thing to notice about the lake of fire is that the devil, beast, false prophet, death, and hell are all cast into it. Since hell is cast into it, hell cannot be the lake of fire. To put it plainly, we have five negatives to consider, where five is the number of GRACE. All these negatives are cast into the lake of fire, so, this leads to the idea that the lake of fire is a "positive" thing, something that "consumes" these five negatives. This is probably the most critical point I could make regarding the idea of hell, eternal torment, etc., as typified by "fire." Tradition has long advanced the idea that fire is bad, but it's not, for our God is a consuming fire. Fire is light and God is light. Light is life, therefore, fire is light and life. We've got it turned around because of tradition. As for the "torment"? Light torments darkness, selflessness torments selfishness, good torments bad. This is one reason why they hated Jesus. He came as a light to the world and exposed their religious pride. He tormented those who wanted to cling to their darkness. And they were so steeped in it that they crucified him for it. Yet, what did Jesus say on the cross? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Here is the message of the cross, the message of self-sacrifice that transcends every lawless act ever committed (behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world). The five negatives correspond to our struggle with the flesh, but the one positive of the lake of fire consumes it all in His GRACE. It's also interesting to note that it's called a "lake" of fire. Water, like fire or light, is essential to life. Without water OR light, everything would simply die. So, the lake of fire is a double source or "witness" (2) of life for all. Everyone is salted with fire, meaning everyone is exposed to the light of life in one form or another, regardless of culture or belief. Unconditional Love cannot be contained within the parameters of our religious concepts, restrictions, or opinions. Finally, please keep in mind the errors contained in the many bibles we have. One of the worst is the words rendered "eternal" and "everlasting." These errors were picked up by most of the other translations, but thankfully, not all of them. You will notice from time to time that I change the word "eternal" to eonian, for that is what it really means? But this is another discussion entirely. By the way, I have a video on the "Lake of Fire." Check it out when you have time. Hope this helps! Love to you and yours!
Jack, interesting study today. I looked up "lake of fire" in the Blue Letter Bible app. It appears only 4 times in ESV. Once in Rev 19 and 3 times in Rev 20. It says that " ... they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev 20:10)
If there is no eternal punishment, then what is the lake of fire? What does it represent if it is not an eternal punishment for evil?
Stay blessed Brother. I like how you make one think; especially this one......
Great question Ken! I'll do my best here. First thing to notice about the lake of fire is that the devil, beast, false prophet, death, and hell are all cast into it. Since hell is cast into it, hell cannot be the lake of fire. To put it plainly, we have five negatives to consider, where five is the number of GRACE. All these negatives are cast into the lake of fire, so, this leads to the idea that the lake of fire is a "positive" thing, something that "consumes" these five negatives. This is probably the most critical point I could make regarding the idea of hell, eternal torment, etc., as typified by "fire." Tradition has long advanced the idea that fire is bad, but it's not, for our God is a consuming fire. Fire is light and God is light. Light is life, therefore, fire is light and life. We've got it turned around because of tradition. As for the "torment"? Light torments darkness, selflessness torments selfishness, good torments bad. This is one reason why they hated Jesus. He came as a light to the world and exposed their religious pride. He tormented those who wanted to cling to their darkness. And they were so steeped in it that they crucified him for it. Yet, what did Jesus say on the cross? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Here is the message of the cross, the message of self-sacrifice that transcends every lawless act ever committed (behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world). The five negatives correspond to our struggle with the flesh, but the one positive of the lake of fire consumes it all in His GRACE. It's also interesting to note that it's called a "lake" of fire. Water, like fire or light, is essential to life. Without water OR light, everything would simply die. So, the lake of fire is a double source or "witness" (2) of life for all. Everyone is salted with fire, meaning everyone is exposed to the light of life in one form or another, regardless of culture or belief. Unconditional Love cannot be contained within the parameters of our religious concepts, restrictions, or opinions. Finally, please keep in mind the errors contained in the many bibles we have. One of the worst is the words rendered "eternal" and "everlasting." These errors were picked up by most of the other translations, but thankfully, not all of them. You will notice from time to time that I change the word "eternal" to eonian, for that is what it really means? But this is another discussion entirely. By the way, I have a video on the "Lake of Fire." Check it out when you have time. Hope this helps! Love to you and yours!
@@grainofwheatpublishing Thank you. I think I understand the point now. I'm still battling a "literal" mind set. Forgive my hard headedness.
Nothing to forgive brother. Check out the video too when you have time.