Christian Ministry Disputes Commonly Held and Cherished Views of Hell
Is Hell Fire Literal? Do the Wicked Go to Hell? Are the Soul and Body Destroyed in Hell?
A review of the video revealed some interesting and thought-provoking information. To begin with, World's Last Chance is clearly convinced of their belief that there is a Heaven we should strive for and a Hell we should strive to avoid. But when it comes to Hell, World's Last Chance teaches what it says are five unorthodox facts:
1. When human beings die, they are reserved in their graves until the day of judgment, going to neither Heaven nor Hell.
2. There is a hell fire, which is called in Scripture the second death; it will occur after the day of judgment. Further, if there is a second death, the ministry says, there must be a second life.
3. The location of Hell will be on the earth, and that hell fire will consume the earth.
4. When hell fire is poured out by God onto the earth, it will consume or completely destroy both body and soul.
5. Hell is not forever.
The ministry teaches that Hell was originally prepared for the devil and his minions (angels). Only those who refuse Jesus will be destroyed or totally consumed, both body and soul, in this coming Hell on earth. World's Last Chance asserts that human beings will ultimately have two choices: eternal life in Heaven or perishing in Hell.
Interestingly, World's Last Chance ministry is not the first or only Christian ministry to take exception to the traditional Christian teachings that Hell is a place of eternal torment and punishment for the wicked.
The website of New Dimensions Worship Center in Tulsa, Okla., also poses some thought-provoking questions about Christianity and its concept of Hell: Do You Think Christ Died Only For Christians? Do You Think Most People Are Going to Hell? Do You Think Christians are Too Mean? The ministry professes that the whole world is saved as a result of Jesus' death for our sins, but not everyone is yet aware of that. Further, evangelical Christianity is said to have ignored the Sovereignty of God and limited the scope and sweep of God's unfathomable love toward all who have ever lived or will live.
New Dimensions' "Gospel of Inclusion" believes that "because all men were included in the finished work of Calvary, when all is said and done, '. . . every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD - the Savior of the world!'" (Phil. 2:9-11) That doesn't mean that New Dimensions doesn't believe in the existence of Hell, but that any punishment after death will be remedial and corrective rather than punishment by eternal torment for punishment's sake.
Dahlia Doss of World's Last Chance said she has at times "feared what Hell would be like. After understanding what the Bible says about Hell I realized that my worst fears were unfounded. God does not want us to listen to Him because we fear Hell and want to go to Heaven but because we love Him. The devil strives relentlessly to keep people in the dark by upholding the twisted theory of eternal fire that opposes human instincts. As a result of this false dogma, our natural impulse is to hate a tyrannical God who delights in the eternal smell of burning flesh; rather than love the tender, pitying friend of sinners whose unsurpassed love has given Heaven's most previous gift - His Only Begotten Son - to redeem us to a Paradise which we do not deserve."
Bottom line, World's Last Chance and other Christian ministries believe the popular and long-held Christian belief in eternal torment in Hell for the wicked does injustice to the compassionate character of God and has resulted in thousands of people turning away from Christianity, instead of toward the God who loves all of mankind.
Sources:
Press release, "What the Hell is 'Hell'? Watch the Video;" http://www.prweb.com/releases/Death/Hell/prweb573623.htm
YouTube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ1b1NyyQIY
New Dimensions Worship Center; http://www.newdimensions.us/
Published by Sussy
I'm retired and living in the country where I enjoy my family and my many animals: horses, donkey, goats, cats, and dogs. I love the outdoors and reading and writing about serious matters. View profile
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24 Comments
Post a CommentVery well written and informing. I wrote an article on the "Bishop" who started this sect. The bible clearly states the fate of those who don't turn to God with total forgiveness and describes in detail what Hell will be like and who it is reserve for. Whether you get there when you first die or later--I would not take any chances.
I can see from the comments that some do indeed "cherish" the idea of genocide and mass torture carried out against those who don't agree with their mythology....
Nicely done, respectful to the beliefs of others and thorough. Who knew the day would come when we would be learning about other religions from youtube? :)
Very well done!
Matthew 25:41-43
Hell is eternal punishment for rejecting Jesus. Hell was prepared for the Devil, demons, and those who follow him. Rejecting Jesus is following the Devil. The choice of wether to go to Heaven or Hell is based on beleif in Jesus.
Interesting take on this doctrine.
Sophie
Interesting and well-written article. As you've said, this isn't the first group to question popular ideas about hell (though I might question the word "cherished" that you used at the beginning of the article). Really, I think it's interesting that the Bible is so relatively vague about the bad side of eternity, but then again, what could be worse than being completely separated from your Creator? I think one of the most intriguing aspects of this topic is that in the Old Testament they didn't seem to have such a clearly defined idea of good and bad eternal consequences... they (including King David, the writer of Psalms) seemed to think everyone went "to the grave (Sheol)" and they just hoped that somehow God would figure out something else for them. Anyway, good article on an interesting topic!
interesting! Nice write up!
You did a fine job presenting the topic. (Which reminded me I have yet to write that follow-up article I promised. I will, I will.) My comments, questions, etc will require an article. So, I'm not ignoring your well written article or the very pressing question.
Very interesting topic and very well-written.