Find “CQ Kids” Video Library of short, animated Bible videos here
Latest Episode #1352: What Does “The Smoke of Their Torment Rises Up Forever” Mean? (Hellfire Series Part V) – September 24, 2024
View or download (PDF): CQ Rewind Show Notes
Properly managing our varied Christian perspectives of right and wrong
To many Christians, the fear of an eternal place of torment for unbelievers is very real. In the first four parts of this Hellfire Series, we addressed many of the sources of these fears one at a time. What we have seen is straightforward. First, the concept of “unquenchable fire” comes from the Old Testament and simply means a fire of destruction that burns until its work is done. Second, “weeping and gnashing of teeth” refers to deep regret on the part of those who should know better and has nothing to do with flames and torture. Third, the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is just that. It is a parable that demonstrates the unfaithfulness of the Jewish nation when they rejected Jesus. Fourth, history plainly reveals the origin of torture and flames in an afterlife comes from pagan origins and is not at all biblical. Finally, here we are looking at the book of Revelation. Do its graphic statements fit in with all that we have previously discovered? Absolutely!
LIVE PODCAST every Monday 8pm eastern at ChristianQuestions.com
“Think about the Bible like you never have before” with the weekly podcast dealing with life’s issues from a biblical perspective. Hundreds of podcast episodes on relevant topics are available now. Listen here or through the Christian Questions App. To read along while you listen, each episode has a companion CQ Rewind Show Notes document with every scripture quoted and much of the commentary.
Our Mission: In accordance with God’s grace and providence: make the gospel available to all ages and to as many areas of the world as possible, reach out through podcasting, multimedia offerings, Bible study tools and technology, plant seeds of hope for the burdened and for those searching for answers in their lives, lead people to truth and an understanding of God and His plan for us.
Christian Questions began airing on terrestrial radio June 12th, 1998, as a result of an idea to produce a Christian radio talk show that was Bible-based, where discussion and opinions would be welcome. We welcome listener participation, encouraging a nurturing, politically-free environment of expression on biblical topics. We aim to provide a comprehensive perspective on a wide range of studies and delve into the deep layers of Scripture.
~~~~ Above everything guard your heart ! – Why? ~~~~
.
Proverbs 4: 23
Above everything else guard your heart,
because from it flow the springs of life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark 7 :
18. And He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding?
Don’t you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him?
19. For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated.” (As a result, He made all foods clean.)
20. Then He said, “What comes out of a person—that defiles him.
21. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,
22. adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
23. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 Thessalonians 4 :
2. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3. For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality,
4. so that each of you knows how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,
5. not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God.
6. This means one must not transgress against and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.
7. For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification.
8. Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hebrews 10 :
26. For if we sin deliberately
>>> after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
>>> there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27. but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hebrews 3: 12
Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James 1: 21
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil,
>>> humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.
=============================
Questions for study:
1) Why should a man guard his heart ?
2) From what kind of heart do the evil things listed by Jesus come out?
3) What is God’s will for us?
4) What does “holy” (holiness) mean in accordance with God’s word?
5) Is there still a “sacrifice for sins” if we sin willingly after receiving the knowledge of the truth?
6) How can we obtain salvation?
==============================
Please study God’s Prophetic Word which foretells what is to happen within His people during the “latter days” :
.
https://www.facebook.com/Seeker4GodsKingdom/posts/1596983540587058
.
Thanks Seeker for your contribution. Great questions. I will share my thoughts and hope others join in. Feel free to respond even if you disagree.
Questions for study:
1) Why should a man guard his heart ?
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Mr 14:38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jas 1:14-25 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
2) From what kind of heart do the evil things listed by Jesus come out?
As you quoted Mark 7:21. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil…”
3) What is God’s will for us?
As you quoted from 1 Thes 4:3. “For this is God’s will, your sanctification…” Sanctification is the life long process of developing holiness. Rom 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Heb 10:9-10 then He said, “Behold, I [Jesus] have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first [Law Covenant] that He may establish the second [reality / antitype]. By that will we have been sanctified [as body member joining with Jesus –Bullock in sacrifice as Goat – Lev 16) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” Jesus provides Ransom to redeem Adam’s race. Sacrifice of body members qualifies them to be priests (Rev 20:6) in the earthly kingdom to help mankind overcome their sins.
4) What does “holy” (holiness) mean in accordance with God’s word?
Strong’s 38. Αγιασμος̀̀ means Holiness, purity, sanctification. This is fulfilling our process made at baptism, to die to the flesh and be raised to newness of life (Romans 6:4) shining forth the fruits of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23). In order to become holy, the Father disciplines his children (Heb 12:6) to learn lessons. This is also shown in Jesus illustration of pruning the vine – John 15:2.
5) Is there still a “sacrifice for sins” if we sin willingly after receiving the knowledge of the truth?
As your quote from Heb 10:26 shows, the answer is no. However, people are inclined to make harsh judgments. The Foolish Virgins of Matt 25 were not destroyed. They were shut out of entering the door into the heavenly reward of priests, judges and kings ((Rev 1:6; 1 Cor 6:2; 2 Tim 2:12). Those going into eternal destruction are described in Jude and 2 Pet 2. These are extremely evil people, not those who have fallen into doctrinal error.
6) How can we obtain salvation?
The world will get a future opportunity for salvation in the resurrection. In the present evil world, only those baptized into Christ receiving the Holy Spirit are now on Trial for life. Of those, only the wicked who reject Jesus will be destroyed.
Jn 10:9 – “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved”
Acts 4:12 – “there is no other name… among men by which we must be saved.”
1 Tim 2:4 – God “desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
John 3:17 – God sent his Son to save, not condemn, the world.
John 12:47-48 – “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world… the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” NKJV
1 Peter 1:9 – “receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls. “Your” added. It is “the salvation of souls.” So the purpose of our faith is to save mankind in the resurrection. They are resurrected as sinners and need to be brought to holiness.