The Gates of Hell

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Short Summary
The discourse challenges the traditional Christian doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell, emphasizing instead God’s nature as pure light without darkness and His desire for all humanity to be saved through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial work. It argues that judgment belongs solely to Jesus, who redeemed all people, and highlights scriptural evidence supporting the ultimate restoration and salvation of the entire human race rather than eternal punishment. The speaker calls for a compassionate understanding of God’s justice and mercy, rejecting fear-based teachings and leaving final judgment in God’s hands.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on the Concept of Hell and Christian Judgment

Introduction and Motivation
– The speaker has pondered over the topic of hell and Christian judgment for over six years, aiming to present it in a way that glorifies God and addresses misconceptions.
– Emphasizes the importance of defending God’s character against blasphemy and misunderstanding.
– References the opening hymn about “God’s House of Heavenly Light” and Scripture that states “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5), highlighting the absolute absence of darkness in God.

Purpose of Christianity
– Challenges the common perception that Christianity is merely a “fire escape” from eternal torment.
– Defines true Christianity as God calling people to work with Jesus in renewing the world—restoring life, health, morality, and relationships.
– Quotes Scripture regarding God’s call: “No man takes this honor unto himself, save he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (referencing Hebrews 5:4).
– Stresses that becoming a genuine Christian involves being called by God.

Critique of Traditional Views of Hell
– Questions whether a God who condemns most humanity to eternal torment can truly be a God of light.
– Identifies Satan (Beelzebub) as the one who thrives on the distorted and fearful image of hell.
– Expresses personal anger and a sense of obligation to defend God’s true character.

Jesus’ Role in Judgment
– Cites John 5:22, “All judgment has been given to the Son,” emphasizing that Jesus, who sacrificed himself for humanity, holds the authority to judge.
– Highlights the irrationality and cruelty of the idea that Jesus would condemn the majority to eternal torment after redeeming them.
– States the mission of Christianity is to save the entire human race and prepare them for glorious ages to come.

Peter’s Confession and the Church
– Recalls Matthew 16:16-18, where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and Jesus promises to build His church that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against.”
– Notes that before Christ’s first advent, the concept of eternal conscious torment was unknown.
– Explains “Hinnom” (Gehenna) as a place of disgrace and destruction, not eternal torment.
– Traces the development of eternal torment doctrine to later church and Roman political influences designed to control people through fear.

Revelation and Jesus’ Victory Over Death and Hades
– Reads Revelation 1:12-18, where Jesus declares, “I am the first and the last, I died, and behold I live forevermore,” and holds “the keys of death and Hades.”
– Interprets the keys as the power to liberate all from death and hell, rather than imprison or torment eternally.
– Jokes about the absurdity of opening gates to hell for people to enter.

Scriptural Evidence for Universal Salvation
– Cites 1 Corinthians 15:22: “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
– Quotes Romans 5:17-19, showing that just as Adam’s sin brought condemnation to all, Christ’s righteousness brings life to all.
– Explains the Greek term “hoi polloi” (the masses) implying inclusiveness of all humanity.
– References Hebrews 2:9: Jesus “tasted death for everyone.”
– Reads 1 Timothy 2:3-6: “God desires all people to be saved,” and Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all.

Satan’s Deception and the Nature of Sin
– Reflects on Satan’s original deception in the Garden of Eden and his role as a murderer and deceiver.
– Emphasizes that Satan’s goal is to undermine God’s plan of universal salvation.
– Encourages embracing the inclusive nature of Jesus’ sacrifice and judgment.

Forgiveness, Blasphemy, and Judgment
– Quotes Matthew 12:31-32 on the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will not be forgiven “in this age or in the age to come.”
– Discusses Psalm 50:12-21 where God rebukes Israel for their sins but admits silence at first, leading them to stray by thinking God was “one like yourself.”
– Warns against projecting human flaws onto God and misrepresenting His character.
– Stresses that eternal conscious torment reflects fallen human cruelty, not God’s righteousness.

On Punishment, Mercy, and the Second Death
– Notes that many Christian groups reject eternal torment but accept the concept of widespread destruction (second death) at Armageddon.
– Cites Ezekiel 33:11: “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”
– Quotes James 2:13: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
– Suggests that God’s punishment is corrective and disciplinary, not vindictive or eternal torture.
– Explains that sin against the Holy Spirit hardens hearts, leading to moral blindness, but even then God desires repentance and life.

Questions on the Timing and Fairness of Eternal Torment
– Raises the issue of those who died before or without hearing the gospel (e.g., indigenous peoples before missionaries arrived, enslaved Africans).
– Critiques the idea that salvation depends on birthplace, time, or parents rather than God’s mercy.
– Emphasizes that Jesus died for humanity while they were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
– Affirms that Jesus owns the human race and will judge righteously.

Jesus’ Promise of Eternal Security for His Sheep
– Quotes John 10:27-29: Jesus’ sheep hear His voice, follow Him, have eternal life, and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.
– Declares trust in Jesus’ judgment and mercy over human speculation.

Conclusion
– The speaker humbly acknowledges personal limitations in fully understanding Scripture but commits to striving for truth.
– Leaves ultimate judgment to Jesus, the Redeemer and owner of mankind.
– Invokes a blessing from the Lord on the audience.

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Key Bible Verses Mentioned:

– 1 John 1:5 — “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
– John 5:22 — “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.”
– Matthew 16:16-18 — Peter’s confession and Jesus building His church.
– Revelation 1:12-18 — Vision of the glorified Christ holding the keys of death and Hades.
– 1 Corinthians 15:22 — “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
– Romans 5:17-19 — Contrast of Adam’s trespass and Christ’s righteousness.
– Hebrews 2:9 — Jesus tasted death for everyone.
– 1 Timothy 2:3-6 — God desires all people to be saved; Christ as mediator and ransom for all.
– Matthew 12:31-32 — Unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit.
– Psalm 50:12-21 — God rebukes Israel’s sins and warns against misunderstanding His nature.
– Ezekiel 33:11 — “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn and live.”
– James 2:13 — “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
– John 10:27-29 — Jesus’ promise of eternal security to His sheep.

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Summary Keywords:
Christianity, hell, eternal conscious torment, God is light, Jesus judgment, salvation for all, Peter’s confession, Gehenna, Revelation, keys of death and Hades, universal atonement, mercy, forgiveness, second death, Ezekiel 33:11, Matthew 12, Psalm 50, James 2:13, biblical inclusivity, Satan’s deception, eternal security, corrective punishment, Christian hope.

Transcript

I’ve been mulling over this tool for probably at least six years, but can never quite get my head around it in just the way that I want to give a presentation that effectively deals with the issues surrounding it and at the same time gives glory to our Creator. That’s the important thing. I feel compelled to give it because of the horrible blasphemy that is being cast upon the name of our Heavenly Father. We sang in our opening hymn of God’s House of Heavenly Light, didn’t we? We read in the Scriptures that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.

And I was so impressed that the Apostle John didn’t just write and in him is no darkness. He really wanted us to get the emphasis of that point, no darkness at all.

So let’s take this commonly perceived concept of hell and ask a few questions. The first question we’d like to try to answer is this.

What is the purpose of Christianity?

For most in the Christian world, Christianity is a fire escape. It is a method of escaping the certainty of eternal conscious torment, and that muddies the waters profoundly. That is in no way what Christianity is about for us in the present time. Christianity is all about God calling out a people for his name to work together with the renewal of Jesus in the kingdom to restore life, health, morality and relationships among mankind. That’s the real purpose in Christianity we saw in Brother Mark’s presentation today, the Scripture.

No man takes this honor unto himself, save he that is called of God, as was Aaron, and we realize that Newman becomes a Christian, a practicing Christian, with a genuine relationship with God the Father, unless they have been called by Him.

It’s crucial.

This, in the context of Christianity, as it’s generally perceived, shows God has great darkness, contrary to our observation earlier that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.

Could we say that a God who has virtually condemned the vast majority of humanity to an eternity of hideous, relentless torment is a God of light?

There is a God who thinks that that’s pretty funny, and his name is Beelzebub, Satan. This great animal has supplanted the vision of beauty that we see in the Gospel of Jesus.

And truly I feel anger. I feel obligation to come to the defense of God while realizing that he doesn’t need me to defend Him. He’s quite able to defend himself.

So we’d like to look at a few scriptures here today. I think one of the most important things for us to realize with regard to the destiny of mankind is this dream. Chapter five, Verse 22.

All judgment has been given to the Son.

All judgment has been given to the Son, and the importance of that is this. Think of Jesus coming to this world, fighting the opposition of sinners against himself on a daily basis, laying down his life, forsaking his personal comfort, and culminating in one of the most exquisitely painful and odious debts that anyone could possibly experience.

And in the midst of that death, hearing others jeer him and accuse him of being a blasphemer of God, adding insult to injury, right?

And yet he died for us and the speakers. These four refer to the human race as the purchased possession. Jesus bought the race of mankind through his sacrificial work.

That’s a point we want to mark indelibly in our moments. He bought the race through his sacrificial work.

And he tells us the Father has committed all judgment under the Son. How completely irrational, how completely devilish it is to say that the Savior who bought mankind then chooses to relegate the majority of them to eternal hopelessness.

It boggles the mind.

What is the mission of Christianity long term? The outcome is to help save the race.

To help save the race and prepare them for ages of glory that shall then follow. That is our hope.

Jesus, in speaking with Peter, you know, many people were saying many things of Jesus. Some said that Jesus is that prophet. Some say that he is Elijah. But Peter, who do you say that I am? Then we know what Peter said.

He said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus said, blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven, and I tell you, you’re Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A little bit of history about hell in June’s tradition, prior to our Lord’s first advent, there was no conception of any sort that parallels this thought of eternal conscious torment didn’t exist.

The concept of hinom from which we get hellfire in our Bibles was prevalent. If you were to be disgraced, if you were to be considered an absolute failure, if you were reprehensible and worthy of being cast off from the presence of the Lord’s people, the worst insult that you could be given and the worst fate that you could suffer would be to be sent to Hinnom, the valley where the fire burned and the worms continually ate. No one was ever sent there who was conscious of was a place for the dead. No one was conscious of the consequences of Going to Hinnom.

But eventually, as the Christian church rose in prominence and was seen as an excellent tool for the Roman government to use to bring the people into domination, the concept of eternal conscious torment developed, was spread, was proliferated, and used to keep the people in fear.

And taking Jesus statement to Peter, you know, you’re Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it implied that the apostleship of Peter that would be successive would have the power to put people in this condition of eternal conscious torment.

And it worked and it prevails today. How many evangelists on television are preaching the message of be saved or perish? Virtually all of them.

I think it was a Pew Research Corporations survey that said 84% of evangelical preachers believe that the vast majority of the human race will be eternally lost.

Okay, let’s look at a few more scriptures.

When our Lord Jesus was raised from the dead, he was raised to the right hand of God, to the right hand of power, waiting until his enemies should be made his footstool.

He revealed this to the apostle John in the book of Revelation. Wonderful, wonderful visions of the coming kingdom glory. A wonderful introductory vision of the seven churches who would form a foundation for the progression of Christianity, and he said, then I, John, I’m, I’m sorry, I’m reading from Revelation 1, beginning at verse 12, and our key scripture here will be verse 18.

I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lamp stands like one, like the Son of Man, clothed with a long.

Hairs of his head were white like white wool like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven starmers.

From his mouth came a sword, and his face was like the sun, shining in full strength, and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, fear not, for I am the first and the last and the living one. I died, and behold, I live forevermore.

And I have the keys of death and Hades just a side point. Some say that Jesus was Jehovah in the flesh, that when he was crucified, it was his flesh that died, and of course, being God, God cannot die.

But this one in his glory tells us that he is the one who did die. I died. The ego, the personality, the one, the being. Christ Jesus, I died and now I am alive evermore. The victory has been won.

And as such, he’s been given keys. He has the keys to unlock death and to unlock the gates of hell.

I always appreciate brother Jim Parkinson’s little joke about what are the keys for? Are people really clamoring to get in and we need to open the door to hell for them? No. The keys to hell are to liberate those who are in the death condition.

The promises of Scripture seem empty. If we have any less vision than the sacrifice of Jesus Christ reaching every man, woman, child that ever lived. If one is accepted, the whole process is invalidated. I would like to read a few scriptures about the inclusivity, and you know them all.

You would quote them to me before I even say them up here. But to refresh our memories. First Corinthians 15:22. It’s a good place to start, right? You know that one, as in Adam, all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

That’s inclusive, isn’t it? Do you know any member of the human family who either has not died or who is not subject to death? Not a one, and the parallel of logic is that not a single one of the human family will fail to receive the benefit of Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf.

The apostle Paul, the great theologian of the Christian Church, confirms that In Romans the fifth chapter, if. I’m sorry, Romans 5:17 through 19, if because of one man’s trespass, death reigned for that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

For as by the one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience, the many will be made righteous.

And some say, well, yeah, it only says many. But examine the Scripture, and what is that word? I think it’s the hoi polloi, those of you who have looked into that. The masses of humanity.

That’s what it means. Not like 51% of humanity were made sinners. The many. But all the masses of humanity, and so it is that through the righteous act of one, the masses of humanity will be made righteous of Jesus.

The apostle writes, in Hebrews, the second chapter, verse nine, we see him, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death. So that by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone.

First Timothy 2. How could I leave that out right? First Timothy 2, verses 3 through 6.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

And I always thought that that was puzzled. God desires all men to be saved, and yet he oddly, seemingly, according to traditional theology, has made a plan whereby that can never happen. He’s already frustrated his purposes before he’s enacted.

I think that this is also of Satan, who would do anything he can to undermine the influence of our Creator. Anything. He can reflect back on the deception in the garden, and I can just imagine, and someday maybe we’ll get to see the video replay and we’ll see the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And there’s the serpent in it, just kind of munching.

Oh, so good. Wow. I’m gonna have another one after this one, and Mother Eve, seeing him, saying, God told us that we can’t eat this because we’ll die. Did God tell you that?

You still not surely die. How about it? Really good, right? The deceiver, as God said that he just wants to make sure that you don’t come to the knowledge of good and evil like he has. Well, we know the story.

What happened after that.

He is a great deceiver. He is a liar. He is a murderer in the very beginning. Did he not murder Adam and Eve with his plotting, with his evil plans? He did.

Why did he do it? So that he could have dominion over the earth. His own little people, to be a God to them. He was a murderer from the beginning for his own purposes.

Inclusivity is extremely important.

Jesus, by the grace of God, has tasted death for every man. Therefore, the entire human family belongs to him.

And as such, I think we need to recognize, to acknowledge, to embrace the idea that all judgment has been committed unto the Son, the very Savior who purchased them with his own blood.

Some challenged Jesus, asking him, how do you cast out demons? But we’ll tell you how you’re casting out demons. You’re casting them out by the power of Beelzebub.

And Jesus, in refuting that, says this, I tell you, Matthew 12, beginning with verse 31, I tell you every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people. But the Blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven, and whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

I’d like to read Psalm 50 with you.

Because it has a fascinating concept, Rebuking the people of Israel for their unfaithfulness.

The idea in verse 12 of Psalm 50. If I were hungry, I wouldn’t tell you, because the world and its fullness are mine.

You need to start offering sacrifices of thanksgiving. You need to perform your vows to the Most High and call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you. But he says that they hate discipline. If you see a thief, you approve of it. Oh, he’s a folk hero.

He’s Robin Hood. Robbing the rich and giving to the poor. As though that taking from the rich was a thing of moral virtue, compounded in its effect by giving then to the poor.

You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son.

Well, it’s true. I’m not saying anything that’s not true. He deserves the slander, doesn’t he? No, it is morally incorrect, and then verse 21.

These things you have done, and I have been silent.

You thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. Isn’t that interesting? Because I kept silence. You kind of drifted off the path and you thought that I was one like yourself.

How true that can be for all of us and our perceptions of God and his plans.

It is so necessary for us to stay focused on the message of Scripture.

It is so easy for us as fallen human beings to imprint ourselves on the word of God and find those statements or ideas that really might not be consistent with the character of God. Sort of man recreating God in his image. We all pray for the Lord’s spirit and guidance and enlightenment so that that doesn’t happen to us. Though I can’t guarantee that I’m absolutely right in every aspect of my understanding of Scripture. I strive for it daily, but I may not be absolutely right about everything.

As a matter of fact, I would be surprised if I was.

Because I kept my silence. You thought I was one like yourself, and so this idea of conscious, eternal torment shows the polluted nature of fallen humanity’s soul.

They delight in it. How can you possibly delight in eternal conscious torment? Well, because it’s not me, really.

How can you possibly find delight? Because that exemplifies the Righteousness of God. How does that exemplify the righteousness of God? Conscious eternal torment.

We have been enlightened by Scripture, and other Christian associations or religious associations have also been enlightened by Scripture to a good degree.

And some have rejected the idea of eternal conscious torment.

But embrace the concept of widespread holocaust, that the majority of humanity living at the time of the Lord’s return, those living at the time of Armageddon, millions and millions of people will die, and they will die the second death.

And one organization we’re very familiar with proposes that they are the true witnesses of Jehovah God, while at the same time teaching that the vast majority of mankind alive at the time of Armageddon will be eternally lost.

Why?

Well, because it’s not us. We’re the special ones. We alone have God’s favor. So we can just see this replication of mindset from one set of scriptural understanding to another.

And I am always very cautious in my estimations as to who might go into the second death.

When I first began to study with the brethren, I allowed a more widespread impartation of the sentence of second death. But the more I try to reconcile it with the character of the Heavenly Father, the more difficulty I have with it, and I’ll read a scripture that I’m sure you’ve read. I’m sure you’ve read it. I’m sure you’ve heard it.

It’s from the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel, chapter 33, verse 11.

Say to them as I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back. Turn back from your evil ways. For why will you die, O house of Israel?

Reflect on this mindset that the Apostle James offers. James 2:13.

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

So we’re trying to bring that concept into alignment with our understanding of the eternal plan of God.

We recently had a discussion about Matthew, chapter 12. Jesus saying, I tell you every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, and whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or. Or in the age to come.

I used to read that, that those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit would go into eternal extinction. The second death.

But it is interesting that it. That it doesn’t say the second death. What does it say. It says that it would not be forgiven them.

And when we look at the variety of punitive measures our Creator has implemented toward his creation, with Adam and Eve, the promise was given in this way. In the day that you eat of that fruit, you will die for your disobedience.

We have another group who disobeyed God. We call them the angels who kept not their first estate, who disobeyed God. Their sentence was not death. Their sentence was. Was imprisonment.

So disobedience to God does not require the sentence of death immediately anyway, he can punish. He can institute punitive measures that are corrective, and I think that that’s the spirit behind Ezekiel 33:11.

Punitive corrective measures. We can forgive all sorts of sin. Jesus forgave all sorts of sin, but he wouldn’t forgive a sin against the Holy Spirit. Why?

Because a sin against the Holy Spirit hardens someone’s heart to the leadings of God.

Sinning against enlightenment of God’s Spirit leads to hardness of character, moral blindness.

God says, say to them again, Ezekiel 33:11. As I live, declares the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Okay, Lord, what do you have pleasure in? I have pleasure in this. That the wicked clean from his way and live.

Turn back. Turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? And we read in Scripture that those who sin against enlightenment will be beaten with stripes in the kingdom.

Can we say, okay, you committed this egregious sin. You get 17 stripes in your beating, or, that was a little sin, you only get two stripes today. We can’t say how the Lord will affect this. But the stripes, I believe, are not just vindictive like. Like an angry father saying, how dare you?

How dare you do that? And with anger, smiting the child, slapping the child. That’s not the God I serve.

The God I serve is the God who seeks to wound, to heal, who punishes, to correct, who disciplines us that we might be partakers of his holiness. That’s the God we serve.

Eternal conscious torment.

When did that begin? If. If that is true, when did it begin? All right, so at a certain hour of the day, right around the. The time of the Passover, Jesus died.

And when he died on the cross, did the clock start ticking right then? And everyone who died from that moment on, when Jesus paid the price, were they subject to going to eternal torment? These are questions we need to ask. What of the people in the Americas who had not yet been communicated with, who had not yet received the gospel message. Hundreds may have died that first day, maybe thousands over the years before Christianity came to the shores of the Americas, millions died.

Hopeless, lost forever.

People rounded up on the slave ships, never having the opportunity to hear the gospel, and as they were loaded up into those ships and tortured terribly, cramped into a tiny space, millions died. Did the Lord further augment their suffering by saying, okay, now you get to go to eternal conscious torment?

So salvation really isn’t through the blood of Christ. It’s where you were born, when you were born, and who your parents were.

What if you’re an upstanding and wonderful child who was born to Jewish parents who aren’t teaching you about Jesus?

What if you live as a child of Muslim parents in a country where the Gospel is not allowed to proliferate? You’re lost eternally because of that.

You died before the missionaries came to the Americas. It is so irrational and so unbelievable and more so that we lay this at the feet of God.

Yes, Jesus said, the Father has committed all judgment unto the Son.

We remember that he died for us when we as a race were yet sinners.

We didn’t merit his sacrifice on our behalf. He did it while we were yet sinners. He died for us. We remember that we are the purchased possession. He owns us lock, stock and barrel.

And that’s the one who’s going to be judging the human race.

Jesus said of his sheep, and of course he said, I have sheep of another fold beside these. But he says of his sheep, they hear my voice. I know them, they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

And so, in my Christian growth, my perceptions as to God’s eternal judgment for anyone, I leave the judgment to God. I leave the judgment to Jesus Christ, who bought the race. He owns them. Let him do with us what he will. May the Lord add his blessing.

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