Rev 20 - Eternal Life is based upon the Resurrection of the Dead and the Coming Day of Judgment.      

I am sharing below a most difficult subject that has been very misunderstood by the church. Please read with an open mind. Let the scriptures speak for themselves. Allow the Bible to interpret itself. We hold many "traditions" that are simply not true. In order to understand our hope in Christ and the end times we must embrace truth. Read and study prayerfully.

Rev 20 - Eternal Life is based upon the Resurrection of the Dead and the Coming Day of Judgment.      

                         

 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9.27

 

“The Power of tradition is such that scripture and historical facts rarely sway those who are guided by it”

 

Strong’s Concordance Study

 

HELL = O.T. Strong’s 7585 = “ol” = grave, by extension, realm of death, deepest depths; transliterate “Sheol”

          = N.T. Strong’s     86 = Hades, the grave, the place of the dead (10 times)

          = N.T. Strong’s 1067 = Gehenna, hell, Valley of Hinnom

     = N.T. Strong’s 5020= Tartaroo =send to hell, hold captive = a place of torment lower than hades (the grave) in Greek and Jewish literature but not found in the N.T. (1 time; 2 Peter 2.4) Final judgement in Lake of Fire

 

Grave = O.T. Strong’s 7585 = “ol” = grave, by extension, realm of death, deepest depths; transliterate “Sheol”

            = 6919 = burial site, tomb, grave

            = 6605 = “patah” = open, to be opened, to loosen, release, take off

            = 6900 = Tomb, grave, burial, sepulcher (2 times)

            = 3419 Strong’s N.T. = tomb, grave, sepulcher (4 times)

Pit = hell - Gehenna - the grave, realm of the dead.

 

Hell= gehenna=hell=Valley of Hinnom Strong’s 1067= Matthew 5.22; 29-30; 10.28; 18.9; 23.15; 23.23. Mark 9.43-47. Luke 12.5. James 3.6.

Hell=Hades= the grave, the place of the dead (Strong’s 86). = Matthew 11.23; 16.18. Luke 10.15; 16.23. Acts 2.27; 31, Rev 1.18; 6.8; 20.13; 20.14

 

Pit = hell - Gehenna - the grave, realm of the dead.

 

What is Hell?

 

Even if you are a Christian, you may go to hell. Some of your loved ones are already in hell. But don’t be alarmed. “Hell” is not what most people have imagined! There is a judgment in hell, but the Bible version is different than our tradition.

 

Most people assume one of two extremes concerning “hell.” One group totally denies that it exists. It is passed off as an ancient superstition with no bearing on modern life. The other group pictures hell as a terrible place of never-ending torment where the devil rules and his demons gleefully “roast” sinners like meat on a bonfire. There is bitter weeping and wailing, agonized cursing, shrieks and screams from those in eternal torment—according to this concept.

 

Before we examine the Bible to see whether the common ideas about hell could possibly be true, let us consider where our traditional concept of hell, if true, would lead us.

 

There are over 7 billion people on this earth. The most populous lands are China, India and other parts of Asia. In spite of the efforts of Western missionaries, literally billions of people on the Earth have never so much as heard the only name by which, the Bible tells us, men may be saved: “Jesus Christ”! (Acts 4:12). How will God judge? Romans 2.11-16 may give us a clue:

For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

God is going to judge man according to the gospel. I have to believe that God is just and that those who have never heard the gospel will be judged righteously. Romans 10.13-15 says: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

The word is a bit unclear here. I believe God is just and those whom have never heard the gospel in this life throughout history will be judged righteously…I am just not sure how, but, if all the “unsaved” go immediately to a fiery hell at death, then multiple billions of people who have ever lived have been consigned to this terrible punishment without ever having had a chance to be redeemed by Yeshua‘s salvation! I will trust in God’s righteous judgment for these souls. Revelation 20.11-15 is not fully understood by the church today. I continue to seek understanding of these verses.

 

What is the truth? Christ Spoke of “Hell Fire”

 

1. What punishment did Christ warn would ultimately befall those who refuse to quit sinning? Mark 9:43...If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

 

Comment: Hell is an English word. When Mark recorded Christ’s words, he wrote them in the Greek language. The Greek word translated “hell,” which Mark was inspired to write down, is gehenna. In this verse Christ says the sinner is “to go into hell, into the fire,” it follows then, that those who go to gehenna will receive punishment by fire.

Keep in mind, that Christ associated the Greek word gehenna with fire.

 

2. How did Christ reemphasize what He said about “hell fire”? Verse 47...And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—

 

Comment: Again, the Greek word Mark used in this verse is gehenna. This word is derived from the name of the narrow, rocky Valley of Hinnom, which lies just outside Jerusalem. It was the place where refuse from the city was burned up. Trash, filth and the dead bodies of animals and despised criminals were thrown into the fires of gehenna, or the Valley of Hinnom. Ordinarily, everything thrown into this valley was destroyed by fire—burned up. Christ used gehenna to picture the fate of unrepentant unsaved sinners!

Two Different “Hells”

 

In many passages in the New Testament where we see the word hell, the original Greek word is gehenna—but not always. Often, the Greek word translated “hell” is hades, which does not refer to fire at all, but to a grave—a hole in the ground. Yet the translators have confused and obscured the two entirely separate meanings of these words by indiscriminately rendering them both as hell. Let’s study the proof. Let the Bible interpret itself….

 

1. What one thing befalls both men and beasts? Ecclesiastes 3:19-20... For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

 

Gen 3.19...In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

 

2. What place does God say man goes to when he dies? Ecclesiastes 9:10... Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Did Job realize he would go to the grave after death? Job 17:13...If I wait for the grave as my house, If I make my bed in the darkness….Ref: Grave=Strong’s 7585=Sheol.

3. Jesus Christ was “made flesh.” John 1:14. Did Christ take upon Himself the same mortal flesh of which we are composed? Hebrews 2:14. Didn’t He also have to go to the grave as other mortal men do? Acts 2:31...he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades (the grave), nor did His flesh see corruption.

 

Comment: The original Greek word translated into the English hell in this verse is hades. Hades simply means the grave, as its usage in this verse clearly shows! Jesus’ “flesh” (body) did not see corruption (in other words, it did not decompose in the grave) because He was resurrected after three days.

 

We can plainly see that the English word hell can have different meanings! Hades (which can also be translated as “grave,” as in 1 Corinthians 15:55) has a completely different meaning than gehenna. Whenever you’re in doubt about the intended meaning of the word hell in the New Testament, look it up in a concordance, such as Strong’s or Young’s, to see which Greek word it was translated from, and hence its true meaning. Hell, Hades, and Sheol mean grave—gehenna means the burning Valley of Hinnom or Lake of Fire as described in Revelation 20.

 

4. When a person dies and is buried in his grave, does he know anything? Ecclesiastes 9:5...For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

 

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Ps 146.4

 

…the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Eccl 12.7

 

So man lies down, and rises not till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. Job 14.12

Comment: When people die, they go to hades, or the grave, where they are aware of nothing! But, when do people go to gehenna fire for punishment? Let’s see when and how the dead will be judged by God.

 

The Resurrection to Judgment

Note: The issue in question is: When a person is thrown into the Lake of Fire are they eternally tormented or do they get devoured or consumed (cremated) by the fire and become extinct? In this study I lean toward cremation and eternal death or extinction. It is possible they are tormented for eternity but that does not seem to fit in with what the Bible seems to be saying. Keep this in mind as you read on:

 

1. Is there to be a future resurrection to judgment of the unsaved dead? John 5:28-29...Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation.

 (The word damnation in the King James Version in verse 29 is correctly rendered as “judgment” in most modern translations.)

Comment: Here is further proof that the unsaved dead may not be tormented in a “fiery hell.” They are now dead and asleep in the grave. But there is coming a time (“the hour is coming,” said Jesus) when they will be resurrected for judgment and thrown into the Lake of Fire. They are asleep awaiting resurrection.

 

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Prov 9.6...prophetic

 

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15.20

 

Not dead but sleeps…Matt 9.24; Mark 5.39; Luke 8.52

 

And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.39-40

 

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6.44

 

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.54

 

2. Does the first sentence of Revelation 20:5...also prove there is to be a future resurrection to judgment? (Note that the first sentence in verse 5 is a parenthetical statement inserted within verses 4-6, which describe the first resurrection.)…But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand (MK) years were finished. This is the first resurrection…and verses 11-12...Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books…Ref: this judgment is the second death.

 

Comment: Some of the dead—the “dead in Christ”—will be resurrected to eternal life in the first resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). But the “rest of the dead” will not live again for a thousand years, at which point they will be resurrected to mortal life. These are the unsaved dead who will rise in the second resurrection to be “judged.”

 

The Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20:11-12 is the period when the vast majority of mankind (the dead) will be resurrected and given their opportunity to hear God’s plan of salvation. These billions are those who never heard God’s truth. They will be judged by their response to the Word of God. At the end of this period of judgment, God will render a sentence—a verdict—for each individual. Again, these are those who have not heard the gospel throughout world history.

 

3. Will there then follow a resurrection of all the incorrigible dead—all those who refuse to repent? Revelation 20:13-15...The Sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades (the grave) delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. These are those who heard the gospel and refused to repent and accept Yeshua’s salvation.

 

Comment: After the Great White Throne Judgment period, the incorrigible dead of past ages, who have perished at sea, or on land (the Greek word for “hell” in verse 13 is hades), will be resurrected to physical life. They will then be formally judged by God and sentenced. But what will be their penalty? Is it eternal life in the torment of gehenna fire? Or, is it extinction and eternal death?

 

4. All who stubbornly refuse to repent will be cast into a lake of “fire and brimstone.” Revelation 21:8...But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Notice it says “second death.”

 

Comment: We saw earlier that the fate of unrepentant sinners is gehenna fire. So gehenna and the lake of fire are the same. A very large fire would have the appearance of a fiery lake, hence its description.

 

5. The fire causes the death of the wicked. Notice Revelation 21:8 once again. Which death will it cause? Same verse. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

Comment: Mortals naturally die once, because we just “wear out” (Hebrews 9:27). But if anyone dies the second death, that individual will have been judged by God to be guilty of persistent disobedience and incorrigible rebellion. The second death will be for all eternity! Just as we have eternal life the unsaved have eternal death.

 

6. What are the “wages of sin”? Romans 6:23...Death! The soul that sins it shall die…Ezekiel 18.20…John 3.18

Comment: Death is the opposite of life! The final wages the incorrigible may receive is the complete cessation of life!

 

7. What does Paul warn will be the judgment, or sentence, of those who, knowing God’s commands and having tasted of His way of life, sin willfully—who refuse to repent? Hebrews 10:26-27...For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries--they are “devoured” by it!

 

8. Psalm 37:20...But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away…this shows that the ultimate fate of the wicked will be destruction by fire. This fire be so hot that it will burn up—consume—the wicked…Malachi 4:1...“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, “Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.

 

Comment: The biblical “hell fire” will totally consume the disobedient! Never will they exist again.

The Bible plainly shows that those who have known God’s truth and willfully disobey and refuse to repent will reap the wages of sin—which is eternal death! This scripture means what it says. The attempts by many theologians to explain away death and to interpret it as mere “separation from God” cannot be reconciled with Scripture.

 

God Is Love

 

Why do so many people have a false concept of “hell”? Because we have been deceived by our “traditions of men” and do not understand God’s overall purpose for creating mankind…we have not carefully searched the scriptures and allowed the Bible to interpret itself.

 

God’s purpose for man is that he develop the holy, righteous character of God, which will make him fit to receive the precious gift of eternal life. God created man out of the dust of the ground, subject to death, so that if he failed to develop righteous character, he could—unlike Satan and the immortal angels who sinned and became demons—be released from his misery by death. Satan and angels are immortal--they do not die and will be tormented forever! Rev 20.10

 

God has no desire to torment or to torture anyone. God is love (1 John 4:8). He created us mortal for our own good. He has seen to it that every person ultimately hears the truth and has a real opportunity for salvation upon sincere repentance, no matter how terrible his or her sins have been. We are mortal and God will consume the sinners in the Lake of Fire.

 

Return to dust: Body, soul, and spirit.

 

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Genesis 2.7

 

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Gen 2.7

 

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Gen 3.13

 

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 13.3

 

…the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit (breath of God) returns to God who gave it. Eccl 12.7

 

When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. Ps 104.29

 

All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Eccl 3.20

 

All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? Eccl 3.20-21

 

The word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares: Zechariah 12.1

 

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Ps 146.4

 

When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath (spirit), they die and return to the dust. Ps 104.29

 

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. Job 7.21

 

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

Job 14.12

 

…Slept with their fathers: 2 Chron 32.33; 33.20

 

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Dan 12.2

 

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Ps 13.

 

Resurrection:

When did Yeshua ever teach about dying and going to heaven? Never!

 

John 5:28-29...Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

 

So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. Jonah 1.6...very prophetic of resurrection.

 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall transform our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is also able to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3.20-21

 

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Prov 9.6...prophetic

 

…for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Ps 103.14

 

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15.20

 

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 13.3

 

For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand

Acts 2.34

 

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed…1 Cor 15.51

 

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”  His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”  John 11.11-12—

 

Not dead but sleeps…Matt 9.24; Mark 5.39; Luke 8.52

 

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7.60

 

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Matt 27.51-53...could these be the 24 elders in Revelation?

 

…And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, and all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5.27-29

 

And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.39-40

 

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.44

 

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.54

 

The Millennial Kingdom (MK) is the Goal:

 

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20.5-6...the MK on earth.

 

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things (MK), which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3.20-21

 

...And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 13.3

 

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. Matt 26.29

 

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?…earth is footstool Acts 7.48 - Isaiah 66.1

 

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Romans 10.6

 

For our conversation is in heaven (our thoughts and mind); from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Phil 3.20-21...so we then enter the MK. 1Corinthians 15

 

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thess 1.9-10

 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1 Thess 4.16

 

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Thess 1.6-8

 

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Hebrews 12.28...MK

 

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (the inheritance in the MK is reserved in writing in heaven for you!)

 

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1.2-7

 

Our hope in resurrection to an inheritance incorruptible…reserved in the official records of heaven, God’s HQ.

 

We sleep in the grave (hades) awaiting the call of His voice, are resurrected into eternal life, rule and reign with Him in the Millennial Kingdom, then after a thousand years, the rest of the dead are resurrected and the White Throne Judgment commences.