DISCUSSIONS with Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland/Dr. Charles L. Felnberg the presence of God, the lake of fire, or hell. All three agree on the reality of heaven: reason, conscience, and revelation. Q. Denver, Colo. — “Where does the soul go after it expires, especially as regards the unbeliever? He doesn’t go to the lake of fire, does he? Yet Luke 16 indicates that there is a fire already.” A. In the New Testament, the Greek word hades means the abode of the dead. Gehenna is what we know as hell. Hades originally was divided into two parts: the abode of the righteous dead (sometimes called Paradise, and Abraham’s bosom), and the abode of the lost. Following the ascension of the Lord into glory, after His resurrection, the righteous dead were taken to Heaven with Him so that today, when a believer dies, his spirit immediately goes into heav en. The unrighteous dead still go to hades, awaiting the Great White Throne judgment, following which time they will be consigned eternally to the lake of fire. Luke 16:24 indi cates that there is fire already in hades. In this prison house torment is obviously known. No one knows to what that degree may be. Indeed, the finite mind can never begin to fathom it. Q. Walla Walla, Wash. — “In Luke 12:32 does this refer to a present kingdom or that during the millen nium?” 15
Q. Santa Barbara, Calif. — “How can you deal with a person who doesn’t believe in hell?” A. Those who would deny the Bible have long sought to be rid of this truth. Scripture c lea rly reveals, however, that the righteousness of God, showing His provision for sal vation, also clearly deals with hell. To approach this subject, begin with reason. This is in the often inade quate realm of natural theology. It is generally known, as well as being borne out by psychology, that men realize there must be something be yond the grave to right all the in equities and iniquities of life. A per son whose character h a s become stereotyped because of wandering away from the path of that which is right must make amends or be re compensed for this kind of life. An other approach would be from con science. Scripture indicates that God has put this into all men like a sacred monitor. If this individual knows he is going contrary to what is right, then he must realize that as in this life, so in the next, he can expect punishment. Finally, the best and highest proof that there is a hell is from revelation. Point out first of all that the Bible is all that it claims to be. From both internal and external evidence, the Word is a unique book. It definitely shows that there is a hell. Even the last book of the Bible just before the end in Revelation 20:10 we find described that place of eternal separation from
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online