Page 661 … when Jesus speaks of Hell
“Jesus speaks of Hell for the lost … Explain that one.”
My dear Friend, I already have explained that one in this thread – and I have done so far more than merely a few times! And yet it is an important misconception of many people (Christians and non-Christians alike), so I will explain it to you here once again …
First of all, there are 1,944 verses in the Gospels that contain the words of Jesus Christ – only 60 of them directly or indirectly refer to “Hell”, while 192 of them speak of “Heaven”. (That’s over three times more Jesus-references to salvation than to damnation!) … It is also important to note that over 90% of Jesus’ references to “Hell” are found in the Gospel of Matthew, a book written primarily for Jews who would have understood the symbolism of his mention of Gehenna (mistranslated as “Hell” in many English Bibles) – the actual name of the actual smoldering garbage-dump located outside the walls of Jerusalem in those days!
Secondly, just as Jesus spoke of Heaven as a present-moment state of being (see Luke 17:20-21), so too did he speak of Gehenna as a Here & Now status as well – namely, the state of great suffering that all men & women endure during and after they have sinned; a state of pain & dis-ease that lingers until the “fire” of purification comes in the form of subsequent selfless deeds of Love given to others!
Thirdly and finally, Jesus himself noted that everyone receives this purification by fire (see Mark 9:49) and indeed, that such a “burning” was the very baptism that he came to offer all of humankind – Christians & non-Christians; gays & straights alike! Please consider:
“I baptize you with water … And yet after comes one … who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with FIRE.” ~ John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11)
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is Good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can you restore its saltiness? By having salt in yourselves, and Being at peace with one another … For the Son of Man came to seek out and save the lost.” ~ Jesus Christ (Mark 9:49 + Luke 19:10)
“I will not execute my fierce anger … for I Am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.” ~ Hosea 11:9
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast Love. The Lord is good to all, and his Compassion is over all that he has made.” ~ Psalm 145:8-9
“So it is not the Will of your Father in Heaven that not even one of these little ones should be lost.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:14)
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 12:32)
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