What the Hell? I've Never Heard These Things Before!

For my entire life, I never thought to question the traditional/institutional.orthodox teachings on the topic of hell. The way eternal torment has always been presented, I never saw the need. For some reason I assumed that what my denomination was teaching had to be truly Biblical.

After looking into the topic for myself I realized that the words translated as hell in the Bible in no way resemble (not even in the least bit) the sterotypical Dante's Inferno idea of hell.

It was the same when it came to the topic of God judging people. It was always presented to me as pure retribution, when the reality is that God is into correction and re-direction even after death.

The end of the previous sentence may have thrown you for a loop since we have been taught that the deal expires when we do. After all, "It is appointed for man to die once and then to face judgment." However, have you ever truly looked at what that judgment entails or the purpose behind it?

"Yes I have! It entails being burned and tortured forever and ever and ever without end!"

That's what I used to think too. However the word translated as forever in the lake of fire passages is the same word repeatedly translated as age (referring to a segment of time with a definite beginning and end).

James Flanders did several teachings on the topic of hell toward the end of 2012 which confirmed to me what  I had been discovering on my own time in the word. It was good to find that there are others out there who are diligently seeking the truth from Scripture.

Here is a link to a page with several audios that will be eye opening. They are arranged with the most recent teachings at the top of the page, so I would recommend scrolling to the bottom of the page and starting there. That way you can hear the study progress chronologically and logically.

http://www.jamesflanders.com/3/category/hell/1.html

If you are convinced that God has created a torture chamber where people who He claims to love will be tortured without end, if you believe you rest in the truth, then you should not be afraid to listen to these teachings. If anything they will help you to better communicate with people like me and James Flanders regarding how we are wrong.

If you or I believe we stand in the truth, we should have no fear of hearing the ideas of others. After all, if we are wrong, wouldn't we want to know about it?

By the way, here is a link to another teacher who you might enjoy. His name is Martin Zender. He has written several books including one called "Martin Zender Goes to Hell" which briefly covers the things Flanders covers in his teachings. Zender has a warped sense of humor, so his book might not appeal to everyone. Yet regardless, you really ought to check him out.

http://martinzender.com/