Question #5
Do those who teach the doctrine of eternal torment make clear to their hearers
that they really believe in two hells; one temporary (Hades) and one permanent
(Gehenna)?
Answer: That would not be quite correct. Two or more places may be "unseen"
(the basic meaning of hell), but that is not two hells. I do tell people that
Hades is a general unseen realm of departed spirits, and that death and Hades
will finally be cast into the lake of fire (Rev.20:14), which would be the final
place of the unseen wicked.
Question #6
When you teach the doctrine
of eternal torment, are you honest in instructing your hearers that Hades and
Gehenna are two very different things although both are translated as ‘hell’
in the King James Bible?
Answer: Yes! At least they are two or more places of the unseen realm of the
dead.
Question #7
a) Are you willing to admit
that even if ‘The rich man and Lazarus’ (Luke 16) is not a parable,
it still has no bearing on the doctrine of eternal torment?
Answer: No! Hades is general enough to speak of the unseen realm of Gehenna,
and if not, it will still ultimately be cast into the lake of fire (Rev.20:14),
so there is a bearing Hades has with Gehenna as far as the wicked, unbelieving
dead are concerned.
b) The Rich man clearly went to Hades which you teach is not the final abode
of the wicked but a temporary condition. How is it that this temporary condition
is preached as if it is an eternal one?
Answer: What does it matter since Hades will still ultimately be cast into the
lake of fire and the rich man gets no relief thereby?
c) Is this honest?
Answer: Yes! But, is it honest of you to say that the rich man suffered torment
in Hades, but that other wicked will be cast into the garbage dump outside Jerusalem
where there will be no torment?
d) Hades must be emptied so the dead may be judged (Rev 20). Are these facts
made clear to your hearers when you attempt to use Luke 16 to teach the doctrine
of eternal torment?
Answer: Yes! But, do you attempt to make them think that the rich man will be
relieved of torment when he goes to the lake of fire, or relieved of torment
when thrown into the garbage dump outside Jerusalem?
Terry W. Benton
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