Posts Tagged ‘salvation’

The world misses the point about 9/11, death, and the End-Times

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

(September 11, 2011) It is heart-wrenching watching the documentaries about that tragic day ten years ago which became known as 9/11. As Pearl Harbor changed the world in 1941 and led to a World War so too 9/11 brought a worldwide war on terrorism. Approximately 2400 persons died at Pearl Harbor while nearly 3000 died on 9/11. World War II lasted seven years and resulted in the deaths of more than sixty million people. The War on Terror continues to this day and will continue as long as there are Islamic fundamentalists willing to kill innocent people to achieve their goal of the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate.

The problem is that the world sees this war in a temporal manner and how it affects the world. While we mourn with those who mourn, there is a deeper issue than the current state of geopolitical and “georeligious” affairs. Wars of all kinds have been fought since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. Death and destruction have always been part of the human experience. The lesson to be learned is not how to solve the current state of global affairs but rather how each individual person reacts to the life God has given them. Jesus Himself made this point: “54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not discern this present time? 57 And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent. [13] 1 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 12:54-13:5)

In the first part of this passage Jesus criticizes the Jewish religious leaders for not recognizing Him as their Savior and Messiah. The Old Testament had given many prophecies which said the Messiah would heal people and preach the Good News of salvation to them. That is exactly what Jesus was doing  yet they didn’t discern the times they were living in and rejected Him. In the next section Jesus tells a parable about a judge who in this story refers to God. The opponent who is dragging the person before God is the accuser and adversary of humankind, the Devil. The debt is the person’s sins. Unless that person has their debt paid for they will be cast into what amounts to eternal punishment. In the final part of this passage the multitude ask Jesus about the cause of the deaths of people who had died recently in Israel at the hands of Pontius Pilate. In His response Jesus includes the deaths of eighteen people who were killed when a tower fell. The Jews thought the deaths occurred because those people must have been worse sinners than most people. Jesus declared that their particular sinfulness had nothing to do with their deaths but rather all people are sinners and unless they repent and have their sin debt paid they will face the Judge and be incarcerated into eternal punishment. Therein lies the crux of human existence. No matter what kind of life a person leads they are going to die one day. Some will die in wars, others as the victims of crimes. Sickness, accidents, disease, natural disasters will take the lives of people. And some will die by terrorists acts such as those who died on 9/11. The point is everyone is going to die by some means. What matters is what we do before we die and Jesus told us what we should do: Ask God to grant us Godly sorrow for our sins which leads us to repent and to save us by receiving the sacrificial death of Jesus the Messiah and Savior as payment for our debt of sins. This will lead us to eternal life so that when we die we will be with the Lord forevermore.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for not discerning the signs of the times they were living in and for not acknowledging that He was fulfilling the prophecies of the suffering Messiah with His first coming. Jesus and the prophets gave signs as to what world events would take place leading up to His second coming.   The world mocks these End-Times prophecies as the apostle Peter said they would: “1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:1-18)

The world rejects the second coming of Jesus Christ while His followers believe God’s word which declares unequivocally that He is returning. The world needs to be prepared by repenting of its sins for they don’t know the hour of His return. This time when Jesus comes to earth it will be in judgment: “5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.” (2 Thessalonians 2:5-10) Death will come to the world’s population in many horrible ways at Jesus’ second coming. Whether or not Jesus comes again in our lifetime we will each face our own End-Times. Because we don’t know how we will die or when we will die we need to follow the admonition of Isaiah the prophet: “6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:6-9) If you do this then it doesn’t matter what the sinful, fallen world does to you because you will have more than this temporal life, you will have eternal life.

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Posted in Archives 2011, Jesus Second Coming | No Comments »

God’s love for Muslims: A highway of salvation

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

(March 20, 2011) Jehovah, the God of the people of the Book, declares through His prophet Isaiah: “1 The oracle concerning Egypt: Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. 2 So I will incite Egyptians against Egyptians; And they will each fight against his brother and each against his neighbor, City against city and kingdom against kingdom. 3 Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them; And I will confound their strategy, So that they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead and to mediums and spiritists. 4 Moreover, I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master, and a mighty king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of hosts…18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near its border. 20 It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. 21 Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:1-4,18-25)

This prophecy is speaking of the End-Times when the Antichrist (“a cruel master, and a mighty king will rule over them”) comes to power and subjugates Egypt under his oppressive reign. However, God will send them a Savior and He will deliver Egypt from the Antichrist. The Book makes it clear that this Savior is Jesus the Messiah who is called Isa in the Qur’an and whom Christian Arabs call Yasu:

“11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:11-21)

When Jesus returns to earth at His second coming, the Egyptians, Syrians, Jews, and the rest of the world will know that He is the Messiah. The Muslim and Arab world along with the Jews will accept Him as the true and only Savior. There will be unity among Jews and Arabs in Jesus the Messiah which God calls a “highway from Egypt to Assyria”. This will indeed be a highway of salvation.

Jesus and the Qur’an

The Qur’an declares, like the Bible, that Jesus’ birth was miraculous and that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Him:

“19. He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.
20. She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”
21. He said: “So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’:It is a matter (so) decreed.”
22. So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.” (Maryam sura 019:019-022)

Only Jesus’ birth was without human intervention (apart from Mary giving birth to Him). God miraculously placed Jesus inside of Mary as an unborn baby! Muhammad, Isaiah, Mary and every other human being who has ever lived was conceived with human seed.

The Qur’an also states that Jesus was full of the holy spirit:

“110. Then will Allah say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’” (Al-Ma’idah sura 005:110)

Of course the Qur’anic perspective on the nature of these events is different from the biblical perspective. The biblical accounts are given to prove that Jesus is the Son of God and therefore the only one able to save humankind from its sins. He is more than a prophet: He is the Messiah! It is extremely important that you understand that the biblical accounts of Jesus were written primarily by those who knew Him personally. They wrote them down within a few decades of His ascension to Heaven. This means they were written five hundred years before the birth of Muhammad.

Balance Scales of Judgment: Good deeds vs. Bad deeds

The Qur’an teaches that people will be judged by how many good deeds they have done in their life versus how many bad deeds they have done:

“101. Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that Day, nor will one ask after another!
102. Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy, they will attain salvation:
103. But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls, in Hell will they abide.” (Al-Muminun sura 023:101-103)

Here again the biblical perspective differs on this issue of good deeds and the condition of the human heart:

God states through His prophet Jeremiah:

“9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

History has shown us just how evil and sinful humanity is through wars, hatred, racism, bigotry, adultery, lust, pride and all the other sins we each commit daily in our own lives.

The Book of Romans declares:

“9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin; 10 as it is written,”There is none righteous, not even one; 11 there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God…23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:9-11,23)

Again, the history of the human race has proven this to be true. Islam, like all the other religions of the world, believes that if we do enough good deeds we will earn a place in heaven. However, God disagrees:

“6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags [literally: garments of menstruation]; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Our good deeds or works are as useless as menstrual rags when done apart from the love of God. Thus, no matter how many good deeds we have done they will not take away our sins nor will they override our sinful nature. Our sins actually keep us separated from God:

“1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

The Good News

The good news is that we don’t have to be separated from God because:

“16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

God is not some distant deity sitting on His throne detached from His human creations waiting to sit in judgment on them. He loved the world and sent His Son to save it. The word “world” here means that Jesus died for all the sins of everyone who ever lived whether they were Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Christians, atheists, agnostics, or any other religion that has ever existed. Some of His followers saw Him die on the cross. They knew that it was Jesus and no one else who died on that cross. They also knew He was resurrected from the dead. They knew it so well that many of them died horrible deaths because of their belief in Jesus’ death and resurrection!

The Highway of Salvation

As I said at the beginning of this article, when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom on earth, Muslims and Jews will come together in their knowledge that Jesus is their Savior. Many Muslims today are not waiting for that to happen. They are already receiving Jesus as their Savior as the non-Christian Shiekh Ahmad Al-Katani said in an interview on Al-Jazeera television:

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Ahmad Al Katani:
The reality is that these words say a lot less than they should. As we said in the beginning, everyone has the right to invite others to his religion; this is what is known as evangelism (or proselytizing). As for Christianization, no one has the right to take Muslims out of their religion, and you asked for references and the references are too numerous.

Islam used to represent, as you previously mentioned, Africa’s main religion and there were 30 African languages that used to be written in Arabic script. The number of Muslims in Africa has diminished to 316 million, half of whom are Arabs in North Africa. So in the section of Africa that we are talking about, the non Arab section, the number of Muslims does not exceed 150 million people. When we realize that the entire population of Africa is one billion people, we see that the number of Muslims has diminished greatly from what it was in the beginning of the last century. On the other hand, the number of Catholics has increased from one million in 1902 to 329 million 882 thousand (329,882,000). Let us round off that number to 330 million in the year 2000.

As to how that happened, well there are now 1.5 million churches whose congregations account for 46 million people. In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity. Everyday, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Ever year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity. These numbers are very large indeed …

Maher Abdallah (interrupting):
Hold on! Let me clarify. Do we have 6 million converting from Islam to Christianity or converting from Islam and other religions?

Ahmad Al Katani:
Great (question)! The other religions are not placed on the list of Christianization; rather they are placed on the list of evangelization. The other religion in Africa is paganism; so it’s Islam, Christianity or paganism. There isn’t something similar to Asia for example where you have Buddhism or Zoroastrianism. In Africa it is just these three, so if you talk about Christianization then it targets the only other heavenly religion which is Islam. As for paganism, those people worship animals and planets and the like.

Maher Abdallah:
So 6 million Muslims a year convert?

Ahmad Al Katani:
Every year… In the African nations this century a tragedy happened. Take for example what happened in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is an Arab nation and I am not saying a muslim nation. If any student looks up the word Habasha (Ethiopia) in the book Ocean Dictionary written by Al-Fairuz Abady, he will find that the word Habashat means “people of different tribes” and this is what happened. Ethiopia was a place where Arabs from different tribes would go to live for a while. We all know that Islam entered Ethiopia before Islam entered the city of Medina. We all know that AL-Najashy (the ruler of Ethiopia) was a Muslim. It is mentioned by Al-Darkatny in his biography of the prophet “Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him ” that during the month of Rajab in the 9th year of the Hijra (Muslim calendar) that the prophet said to his companions: “Rise up and pray on your brother Al-Najashy.” From that year on the practice of praying on the absent was established. Therefore from the time of the prophet “Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him ” Islam entered Ethiopia. So what has happened to Ethiopia?
__________

God’s righteous judgment is coming upon the whole world in the last days. He is going to allow a “cruel master, and a mighty king” to rise to power who will attempt to rule the world as Adolph Hitler tried to rule Europe. The people of the world look to earthly rulers for their salvation while at the same time rejecting and spurning and mocking Jesus who is their true and only salvation. This leader is going to be exponentially worse than Hitler and he will lead the world to destruction. Jesus and the prophet Daniel said this will be a time unlike any other the earth has experienced or will experience again. Billions will be destroyed because of their wicked ways until Jesus comes again and sets up His earthly kingdom. He said there would be signs when this occurs. Whether it happens in our lifetime or is still yet in the future is unknown. What is known is that each of us will experience our own End-Times sooner or later. Therefore, every person should turn to God and repent of their sinful ways and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. It is the only hope we have because the world doesn’t care about you or me.

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Rob Bell: False teachings about Hell and God’s judgment

Monday, March 7th, 2011

(March 7, 2011) Part of eschatology or End-Times study deals with the last event to occur before eternity. This event is called The Great White Throne Judgment and is recorded in chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation:

“10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:10-15)

At the end of time and just before eternity begins, God showed to His servant John the final judgment of mankind. It is not pleasant reading to know that people are going to enter into eternal torment in Hell. It is so unpleasant that there have been those who have tried to explain away Hell or allegorize it or simply deny its existence. One such person, according to ABC News, is coming out with a book that purportedly challenges the Christian concept of Hell. His name is Rob Bell and he is the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His book is titled Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Has Ever Lived. Christianity Today linked to a site which gives the publisher’s (HarperOne) official description concerning the book and its author Rob Bell:

“Fans flock to his Facebook page, his NOOMA videos have been viewed by millions, and his Sunday sermons are attended by 10,000 parishioners—with a downloadable podcast reaching 50,000 more. An electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls “a singular rock star in the church world,” Rob Bell is the most vibrant, central religious leader of the millennial generation. Now, in Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith—the afterlife—arguing that a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering. With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is decidedly optimistic—eternal life doesn’t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.”

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of Rob Bell but obviously there are thousands who listen to his teachings. Since the book doesn’t come out until later this month I don’t know what this pastor specifically believes about Hell although his publisher claims “Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith—the afterlife—arguing that a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering.” If this publisher has misrepresented Rob Bell’s position on a literal Hell then it incumbent upon him to tell them to remove this statement. As it is though, in the following video, which is also posted on the link above affiliated with the Christianity Today website and also on Amazon under his book’s listing, Rob Bell does seem to be speaking and supportive of such a belief as stated in this publisher’s official release.

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In the video he says:

“Will only a few, select people make it to Heaven? And will billions and billions of people burn forever in Hell? And if that’s the case how do you become one of the few? Is it what you believe or what you say or what you do or who you know or something that happens in your heart or do you need to be initiated or baptized or take a class or converted or being born again? How does one become one of these few? And then there is the question behind the questions; the real question, What is God like?, because millions and millions of people were taught that the primary message, the center of the gospel of Jesus is that God is going to send you to Hell unless you believe in Jesus. And so what gets subtly sort of taught and caught is that Jesus rescues you from God. But what kind of God is that, that we would need to be rescued from this God? How could that God ever be good? How could that God ever be trusted? And how could that ever be good news? This is why lots of people want nothing to do with the Christian faith. They see it as an endless list of absurdities and inconsistencies and they say, Why would I ever want to be a part of that? See, what we believe about Heaven and Hell is incredibly important because it exposes what we believe about who God is and what God is like. What you discover in the Bible is so surprising, unexpected, and beautiful that whatever we’ve been told or taught, the good news is actually better than that, better than we could ever have imagined. The good news is that love wins.”

Even though the book hasn’t come out yet, what Rob Bell says in this video through a series of rhetorical questions indicates that what he believes about Hell and God is unbiblical and a false teaching.

He firsts asks “Will only a few, select people make it to Heaven? And will billions and billions of people burn forever in Hell?” I will let Jesus answer his question, 13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus declares there are few who find life and many who find destruction.

He next asks “How does one become one of these few?” Again, the Word of God answers his question, “9 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

Then he asks some questions based on a false premise which he creates, “The center of the gospel of Jesus is that God is going to send you to Hell unless you believe in Jesus. And so what gets subtly sort of taught and caught is that Jesus rescues you from God. But what kind of God is that, that we would need to be rescued from this God? How could that God ever be good? How could that God ever be trusted? And how could that ever be good news?” Jesus doesn’t rescue us from God but God rescues us from our sins through His Son Jesus Christ! “23 But I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:23-25 NIV) And, “3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:4-5 NIV) And, “12 And giving joyful thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14 NIV) And, “10 And to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, Who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10 NIV) Notice in this last verse that Paul speaks of a coming wrath which will fall on those whom Jesus has not rescued.

He then follows with an unbiblical statement, “This is why lots of people want nothing to do with the Christian faith. They see it as an endless list of absurdities and inconsistencies and they say, Why would I ever want to be a part of that?” God states plainly why they don’t want anything to do with Christ or His followers, “18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:18-21) People don’t want anything to do with Jesus Christ or Christianity because they love darkness rather than light and don’t want their evil deeds exposed in the light of God’s truth.

Then, finishing up he states, “See, what we believe about Heaven and Hell is incredibly important because it exposes what we believe about who God is and what God is like.” Well, we have just seen what Rob Bell thinks about Hell. Now let’s see what Jesus says about it:

“21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22) Here Jesus speaks of human judgment in the first three instances but states clearly that the fourth judgment is hell fire!

“27 You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30) The word hell is the Greek word Gehenna which means hellfire. Jesus is not saying that we should actually maim ourselves to keep from sinning. What He is saying is that it is so important, eternally important, that we turn from our sinful attitudes; that if it were necessary, we should maim ourselves to accomplish this. Thankfully, it is not necessary. Accepting the forgiveness of Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit to guide us allows us to walk in His ways without taking such drastic measures. The alternative to heeding His warning is spending eternity in Hell. If there is no eternal Hell why is Jesus using such drastic language in order to illustrate how important it is that we don’t end up there?

“28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) How many times did Jesus tell His followers to fear not or do not be afraid? Here He tells them something to fear! Why? Is it because Hell isn’t a real place of punishment or is it because Jesus did not want them to end up there because it is the most horrific place in eternity? One other noteworthy aspect to this saying of Jesus is the fact that there will not be disembodied souls or spirits suffering in Hell. Just as believers in Jesus receive an eternal, glorified body for their souls and spirits, so too will the unsaved have eternal bodies.

“6 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” (Matthew 18:6-9) Jesus declares here that anyone who causes a child to turn from God will regret it for eternity. Again, He states the importance of turning from a life of sin rather than spending eternity in Hell. Notice too that Jesus refers to Hell as everlasting fire. Revelation affirms that Hell is for eternity, “9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)

Jesus clearly teaches that Hell is an eternal punishment for those who reject His atoning sacrifice for their sins, “23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:23-24)

Rob Bell concludes his video by saying “love wins”. He is right! God’s love is a victory for those who love Him and are truly His children: “12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) “55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

There is one other underlying problem with Rob Bell’s assessment of the doctrine of Hell. He, and those who agree with him, maintain that a loving God would never punish a person in Hell for eternity. In doing so they set themselves up as judges and arbiters over God by telling Him what the definition of true divine love is and they say divine love is not a God who would punish people for eternity. They are making God into their image as to what a loving God is like. Thus, when God states in His word that unrepentant sinners who reject the salvation of Jesus Christ will be punished in Hell for eternity, the God of the Bible according to them is unloving. Human beings do not tell God what the truth is but God tells human beings what the truth is. The apostle Paul wrote of such people, “18 Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden. 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist His will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? 22 What if God, although choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath prepared for destruction? 23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory.” (Romans 9:18-23)

I believe Rob Bell is emblematic of the problems facing the modern Church. Many leaders have been influenced by the political correctness and feel-good attitude of our culture. They water down the gospel and the whole word of God in order not to offend anyone and to add to their number of followers. The apostle Paul warned Christians of such leaders, “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4) I’ve had a website since 2003 located at iesouschristos.com. I had 48 pages and 191 images on that site discussing the Culture War from a biblical perspective. Two days ago I wiped out the entire site and replaced it with one page. God has been directing my heart recently in the area of true salvation and what passes for salvation in our modern times. It is stories like the one about Rob Bell that motivated me to change my website to a straightforward account of true salvation in Jesus Christ. The modern Church is flawed and is misleading people about the complete nature of God and His dealings with His human creations. He is a God of love but He is also a God of righteous judgment. The prophet Ezekiel declares, “11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11) Paul writes, “4 [God] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 2:4-5) God knows what awaits those who reject His Son and He declares in His Word that it is going to be horrific. He doesn’t desire that anyone should go to Hell and takes no pleasure in those that do. If the Church doesn’t return to the literal truths of God’s Word and share them in a saving way with the world then I’m afraid in the Day of Judgment… “22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23″And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22-23) Let us pray for God’s truth to return to the Church so that the world will be jealous of the peace with God that Christians have and want to become a true child of God and His Son Jesus Christ.

[NOTE: For a fuller discussion of the biblical doctrine of Hell see chapter 13 of my book Even at the Doors: Jesus, Israel, and the End-Times 13 - The Great White Throne and Hell. In this chapter I discuss the fact that humans can only understand the concept of Hell from the finite, human dimension while God speaks of it from an infinite, eternal dimension and therefore we don't understand why God created Hell.]

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Posted in Archives 2011, Revelation | No Comments »

The Good News is…

Saturday, April 11th, 2009
Jesus' crucifixion and empty tomb

Jesus' crucifixion and empty tomb

(Happy Firstfruits, Resurrection, and Easter Sunday – April 12, 2009) that whether the End-Times occurs in our lifetimes or some time in the future, Jesus’ promise of eternal life is still in effect to this day. This website focuses on news stories that may have implications for the fulfillment of last days prophecies. Many of these stories have a negative aspect since the time that is coming upon the whole world is going to be a time of trouble. However, almost two thousand years ago God came in the form of His Son Jesus Christ. He came to reveal God’s love to humankind and showed the greatest love with His sacrificial death and resurrection. As the apostle Paul wrote, “5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”  (Romans 5:5-15)  This gift of salvation is open to anyone no matter what they may have done in their lives as the Gospel of John declares, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”  (John 1:12)  If you are interested in having eternal life then you can read my article titled “What must I do to be saved?”   If we are not alive when the End-Times begin we will still experience our own end-times. We should be ready for either scenario.

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Peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians in 2008?

Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Jerusalem

Jerusalem

(June 23, 2008)  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared that a temporary peace document will be signed by the Israelis and the Palestinians before 2008 is over. (‘Olmert says peace document likely this year’) Whether or not this becomes a reality the Bible indicates that some sort of covenant or agreement involving Israel is going to be reached at the beginning of the End-Times. The prophet Daniel spoke of a future leader whom Christians call the Antichrist. In chapter 9 of Daniel it states that a ruler or prince will confirm a covenant with many for one week of years or seven years which is called the Tribulation Period. Many believe this covenant will be a peace treaty of some kind. Daniel speaks of this ruler or Antichrist and what he will do during this period:

“24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:24-27)

That this covenant seems to be a peace treaty [which may include the rebuilding of the Third Temple (i.e. the holy place) since the Antichrist enters it and causes sacrifices to cease] is indicated in another passage in Daniel and in the writings of Paul:

“23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:23-25)

It states here that this ruler will destroy many through his policy of peace. The apostle Paul in writing about the End-Times also mentions a false sense of peace in the world just prior to the apocalypse:

“1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-9)

Paul declares that the world will finally think it has achieved peace (probably through the charismatic efforts of the Antichrist). That is when sudden destruction comes in the form of God’s judgment upon a rebellious earth. Thus, anytime a peace agreement is discussed concerning Israel it is worth keeping an eye on developments that surround it. Notice in the last verse Paul wrote above he declared that the only way to avoid the judgment of God is to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. If you want to read what it means to be saved you can go here (What must I do to be saved)

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Posted in Archives 2008, Daniel | No Comments »


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