Post on 09-Apr-2018
transcript
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THE
LAKEOFFIRE
SERIES
by
L. Ray Smith
Exposing Those Who Contradict
bibletruths.com
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CONTENTS
PURPOSE............................................................................................................v
PART I: THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A BOOK OF SYMBOLS.........1
Five General Scenarios.....................................................................................4Three False Assumptions..................................................................................6
Literal or Symbolic?.........................................................................................6
Biblical Figures of Speech................................................................................8
Parables are Not Literally True Stories.........................................................11
Making the Simple Complicated....................................................................19
Keeping the Simple, Simple...........................................................................21
Physical Fire Versus Spiritual Fire................................................................24
iii
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PURPOSE
[1]preach with sound doctrine and[2]refute those who contradict it
[Titus 1:9 The New Revised Standard Version]
This site is a ministry of love. We charge for nothing; we have nothing to sell; we ask
for nothing. All we at bibletruths have full-time jobs to support both our families
and this site. The site requires thousands of man hours and thousands of dollars an
nually to operate. It is FREE to all. And our goal is to teach the Truths of God as He
has given us understanding.
There is, however, a two-fold commission in teaching the Gospel of Christ:
...that he[the elders]may be able to[1]entreat with sound
teaching as well as to[2]expose those who contradict(Titus
1:9,Concordant NT).
Unfortunately, many are offended that we wouldexpose those who contra-
dictGods Word. They accuse us of being unloving, unkind, or bad-mouthing Gods
anointed. Untrue. Nowhere do we attack the person or character of those who op
pose Gods Word. So please dont confuse our mission of exposing as an attack on
the character of a person who contradicts Gods Word.
May God richly bless all those who have a real love of the Truth!
Everyone is welcome to copy the material on this site and freely distribute it to
others. You do not need permission from us to do this. All we ask is that you give us
credit and do not in any way, CHANGE, PLAGIARIZE or SELL any material from
bible-truths.com.
L. Ray Smith
v
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PART I:
THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A BOOK OF
SYMBOLS
Some time in the last half of the first century AD, the apostle John (whom Jesus
loved) was on the Isle of Patmos when he found himself in spirit on the Lords day.
Among his many remarkable visions he saw this:
Revelation 19:20,And the beast was taken, and with him the
false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he
deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and
them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive
into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev. 20:10,And the devil that deceived them was cast intothe
lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false
prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever
and ever.
Rev. 20:14-15,And death and hell were cast intothe lake of
fire. This is the second death.And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast intothe lake of fire.
Rev. 21:8,But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abomin-
able, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Concerning the Second Death, John also has this to report:
1
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2The Lake of Fire SeriesRev. 2:11,He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt
of the second death.
Rev. 20:6,Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first re-
surrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him
a thousand years.
And finally this one:
Rev. 14:10,and he shall be tormented with fire and brim-
stone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of
the Lamb.
These are all the Scriptural references in the entire Bible that mention the lake
of fire and the second death.
Theologians and clergymen by the thousands have been telling the world that
this lake of fire is little more than an eternal torture chamber. It is the final HELL
of eternal separation from God accompanied by unfathomable pain, torture, anddespair.
We have been told that there is absolutely no possibility of ever being rescued
from this hellhole of suffering and human misery where there will be wailing and
gnashing of teeth, as real fire barbecues their bodies, and while worms will be eat
ing their flesh. This hideous scene is to continue day and night for trillions of bil
lions of quadrillions of centuries upon centuries for EVER!
We are told that those who will spend eternity in this prison of pain have them
selves chosen to spend eternity there that God doesnt send anyone to hell, butthat people actually choose, themselves, to go there. Even a fool knows that no per
son would ever choose such a fate, but theologians must somehow get God off of the
hook of responsibility, for surely this place exists and will continue to exist for etern
ity they assure us.
Famous TV preachers like John Hagee tell us that every boy and every girl
who dies without knowing Jesus Christ spends an eternity in a city where the fire is
never quenched and the worm dieth not. And Mr. Hagee adds, AND ITS
JUSTICE!
World renowned pastor, educator, and theologian Dr. James Kennedy tells the
world that for a man in India who told a lie, and for a man in the Islands who stole
chickens by night to feed his family, their sins will put them into the tortures of an
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols3
eternal hell, even if they never heard of the name of Jesus Christ their only possible
Savior. And Dr. Kennedy adds, HELL IS FAIR!
Does the Word of God actually and literally teach such a hellhole of eternal tor
ture in fire from which there is no redemption ever? Dont be too sure till you have
read this paper and compared it with Scripture. That the Scriptures do speak of a
lake of fire which is the second death there is no denial. However:
What is it?
Where is it?
When is it?
Why is it?
Who will go there?
Is it an actual place?
And How long will it last?
What actually takes place in this lake of fire which is the second death?
Is Johns vision to be taken literally?
Does this lake of fire and second death serve no purpose other than to ventGods frustration and vengeance on most of humanity which He Himself
created?
Would a loving God really create billions and billions of people which He
knew in advance He would torture for all eternity?
If ninety to ninety-five percent (a ballpark statistic used by many theolo
gians) of humanity is destined for this atrocious destiny, how could any
sane personworshipa god who would design and carry out such a vile and
eternal nightmare on so many billions of helpless and weak creatures?
The Scriptures answer all of these questions, and the answers are not even in
the same universe with what has been popularly taught by theologians.
Some have even taught that God and His Saints will actually derive happiness
and pleasure from this fabled eternal torture and misfortune of the majority of all
humanity that has ever lived.
Men are bold and audacious in how they characterize the very nature of God
Almighty. I heard just tonight on one of the major news channels that Saddam Hus
sein enjoys his leisure by watching videos of men being tortured! Most of us shudder
at the very thought of anything so satanic and evil. And yet and YET, many theo
logians (and Christian lay members as well) would put God Almighty and our Lord
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4The Lake of Fire SeriesJesus Christ in the base company of such depraved minds! God have mercy on them
all; they know not what they say!
Five General Scenarios
Lets look at five general possibilities for the interpretation of this lake of fire and
second death.
1. The teaching comprising the largest number of adherents (Christian Fun
damentalists) state that the lake of fire is indeed literal fire, but that the
second death part is figurative or symbolic seeing that its victims never ac
tually become literally dead or even unconscious, but rather they interpret
this second death as separation from God.
Their explanation of their belief, however, contradicts the idea that the lake
of fire is literal. They teach that the lake of fire isliteral firethat burns like
real fire, but they then contradict the literalness of this fire by teaching
that it doesnt actually burn up anything: It just causes INSANE PAIN. But
really, can a fire that doesnt actually burn up physical, material things, be
called a literal fire? And although Ive heard many state that this metaphor
is literal, this group certainly denies the literalness of the second death be
cause they dont believe they ever die and lose consciousness.
It is a physiological impossibility for a literal fire to cause pain on the
nervous system of a person and yet never actually kill them and burn them
up if the fire is applied eternally. Furthermore, real fire does not cause
symbolic or figurative death real fire causes real death.
2. Others (as the Jehovahs Witnesses) teach that both the lake of fire and the
the second death are symbolic and not literal. They believe that this meta
phor is a word picture that does not represent a place or condition of liter
al torment in literal fire. However, they believe that it does picture or rep
resent the total annihilation of all those who are judged and are not gran
ted salvation.
This teaching is certainly billions of times more merciful than the Christi
an fundamentalist theory, however, it too is unscriptural as we shall see.
Not to mention the fact that it would prove our heavenly Father either un
able or unwilling to save most of His own children.
What kind of an eternal example would that be for those who are saved?Does God really teach us to train up a child in the way that he should go
and when he is old he will not depart from it (Prov. 22:6), but that God
Himself is incapable of training His children in the way that they should go
and that most of them WILL DEPART FROM IT?
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols5
Does God really teach us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES while God Himself
HATES OUR LOVED ONES by destroying most of them for all eternity?
This teaching is also blasphemous.
3. Still others teach that the lake of fire is figurative, but that the fire part
of the symbolic phrase lake of fire isliteral firewhich will burn up its vic
tims. So they interpret this as asymboliclake of fire which is made up of
a literal lake and literal fire. And that the second death isliteral deathso
that its victims will be killed by thisliteralfire in aliterallake, which then
becomes asymboliclake OF fire.
However, this group has a unique twist to their teaching. They believe that
when the victims are thrown into the lake of fire, they have already gone
through the white throne judgment and have turned to God, are now right
eous, have accepted Christ as their Lord, but they must die a second time
anyway. Why? I dont know!! I am at a loss as to how Rev. 21:8 would fit
into this theory,
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, SHALL HAVE
THEIR PART in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is
the second death.
They dont sound too converted to me at this point in time when they enter
the lake of fire.
This group then believes that at the consummation of the ages (just as they
have died a second time), they will be resurrected a second time, but this
time to immortality and life with God in His Family. Though maybe not
quite as blasphemous, this teaching is still unscriptural and foolish.
4. I know of no group who teaches that the lake of fire isfigurative,but that
the second death isliteral.Such a doctrine would be akin to literally drown
ing in symbolic water.
5. And so that leaves one more combination, and that is that the lake of fire is
figurative or symbolicand that the second death is alsofigurative or sym
bolic.I am one of a very tiny group who is of this latter persuasion.
It is the only way that these Scriptures on the lake of fire and the second
death will harmonize and not contradict the rest of Gods Word. Further
more, God plainly tells us in chapter one, verse one, that an angel signi
fied this whole Revelation of Jesus Christ contained in this book. He
SYMBOLIZEDit, for that is what signifies means to make known by
signs, and signs are symbols. Therefore it cant be literal.
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6The Lake of Fire SeriesThree False Assumptions
Fundamentalist Christians are the largest group who hold three bedrock doctrinal
teachings, which are really only assumptions, regarding the lake of fire:
1. The lake of fire part of this verse must positively be taken LITERALLY.
2. This lake of fire and second death are just other terms for HELL.
3. All the wicked, unsaved, and unbelieving sinners will be consciously TOR
TURED in this lake of fire hellhole by having their flesh barbecued FOR
ALL ETERNITY, which is said to be the second death.
Are any of these three assumptions true or Scriptural? Absolutely and unequi
vocally NOT!
In our journey we will clearly see that these verses are NOT to be taken literally,
and they do NOT represent a place called hell, and God will NOT torture anyone for
all eternity.
We will also see from the Scriptures that God never punishes for the sole pur
pose of torturing. God always punishes and chastises for the ultimate purpose of
correcting, righting, amending, changing, fixing, rectifying, redeeming and saving.
That God can and will accomplish these things with every creature in heaven and
earth is fully substantiated by hundreds of Scriptures in His Word.
And there are no Scriptural doctrines or teachings to the contrary. NONE! This
IS the Good News Gospel which precious few on this earth have ever heard. It is
Gods WILL that all mankind be saved (I Tim. 2:4), and Gods will WILL be done
(Matt. 6:10 and Isaiah 46:10-11)!
But seriously, dont these Scriptures (at least in the King James Bible)sound
like the beast, the false prophet, Satan, and all who are not found written in the
book of life will be tortured for ever and ever in the lake of fire and brimstone whichis the second death? Granted, in King James translation, it does definitely sound
that way. But when we remove a few unscriptural assumptions, a few pagan tradi
tions, and a couple of totally mistranslated words, words that never appear in the
Greek manuscripts, we will discover an even more profound love that God has for
His creatures, rather than some monstrous god of eternal hatred which has been
concocted by theologians and promulgated through bad translations for centuries.
Literal or Symbolic?
In many cases it is not difficult to determine whether a verse is literal or not. But,
since we use figures of speech so often we tend to forget that much of what we say
daily isnot literally true.Many of us would hardly be able to carry on a conversation
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols7
if we had to drop out of our vocabulary every word and every phrase we speak that
is NOT LITERALLY TRUE. The English language, as well as all other languages, is
just filled with symbolic and metaphorical phrases.
The first eleven verses of Chapter one in Revelation are an introduction regard
ing where, how, and what John is going to record for us. Much of this introduction
can be taken literally, however, not all. Beginning with verse twelve, we are confron
ted with one symbol after another for the remainder of the entire twenty-two-
chapter-book.
Everything written in Revelation is true, but most is notliterallytrue.
The fact is there are many many truths in the Bible that are notliterallytrue.
Jesussaidthat the bread He gave His disciples at the Lords supper was His
body. Yet, Jesus Himself explains in other places that this was not literally true. He
gave them literal bread, and not His literal physical flesh. What that breadrepres
ented, and symbolized, was indeed, His body but not hisphysical body.
Jesus said that the words that he spoke were SPIRIT (John 6:63). Jesus Christ
changes not. His words are STILL spirit and they certainly were spirit when John
wrote the words of Christ regarding His unveiling or revelation. Just as we physic
ally feed on physical bread for PHYSICAL LIFE, thus also we spiritually feed on Je
sus Christs spiritual body for SPIRITUAL LIFE.
Understand this! Some think that by accepting the Scriptures as they are given
(in the case of Revelation that means AS SYMBOLS), that somehow this spiritual
izes away the teaching. What? It is the spiritual aspect of these symbols that IS
THE REAL THING; THE REAL UNDERSTANDING! Physical things pass away
whereas spiritual things are eternal! The very FACT that this book is written in
symbols is proof positive that the understanding of them is SPIRITUAL and not
physical or literal.
Symbols, metaphors, and parables ARE NEVER LITERALLY TRUE! But they
powerfully demonstrate SPIRITUAL TRUTHS!
This is the second death the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15 and 21:8) is a metaphor
that is no more literal than Jesus taking the breadsaid, Take, EAT. This IS My
body (Mat. 26:26).
Paul did not instruct Timothy to STUDY the scriptures if a mere casual read
ing is all that is necessary to comprehend its many deep and profound teachings. On
the other hand, I believe that those who have studied Gods Word are able to openup much understanding to those who are not called to teach (even babes, or minors
as our Lord stated).
I want to quickly show my readers just how impossible it is to assume most of
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8The Lake of Fire SeriesGods word isliteral.
Again I state: All Gods Word is TRUE, however, much of it is figurative lan
guage which is notliterally true to fact, but rather in what the figurative language of
symbols, metaphors, and parables represent.
If the following section is too heavy for you, just skip to the next heading.
Biblical Figures of Speech
Here are some of the fully substantiated figures of language used in Scripture. I
borrowed many of these examples from an appendix in the back ofThe Concordant
Literal New Testament.
We will begin withFIGURES OF LIKENESSwhich include:
similes(when something islike,orassomething else, it is a simile rather
than a metaphor)
metaphors(where one thing is said to actuallybesomething else) as in,
all lifeisgrass I Pet. 1:24. Therefore, the subject of this paperISa meta
phor andCANNOTbe literal: John says, the lake of fire, ThisISthe
second death (Rev. 20:14), and the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: whichISthe second death (Rev. 21:8)
implications
parables(there are many, the shortest one being, Physician, heal Thyself
Luke 4:23)
allegories(as in the two women standing for two covenants, Gal. 4:22-28)
visions(as in a sheet let down from heaven, Acts 10:11-16)
signs(as in the sign of Jonah the prophet, Matt. 12:39)
types(as in Adam corresponding with Christ, Rom. 5:12-21)
shadows(as in the law being a shadow of good things to come, Heb. 10:1) examples(as in the tabernacle vessels being examples of what is in heav
en, Heb. 9:23)
images(as Christ is the image of God, Col. 1:15)
impersonations or personifications(where things are spoken of as per
sons)
condescensions(as where God takes on human attributes)
diminutives(as in little women, heaped with sins II Tim. 3:6)
There areFIGURES OF ASSOCIATIONwhich include:
association or metonymys
appellations(as when a quality or office is used instead of a proper name,
as in Son of Mankind instead of saying Jesus Christ)
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols9
compound associations(as the word of the cross I Cor. 1:18, which has
to do with Christs shameful and agonizing death)
near associations(as in a phrase that is partly literal, Then went out to
Him Jerusalem [that is thepeopleof Jerusalem], Matt. 3:5)
retentions(this one is too complicated to explain, but Ill give you an ex
ample, the tablets of the heart II Cor. 3:3)
circumlocutions or periphrasis(what is circumlocution? Well, its a
descriptive phrase in place of a name in order to emphasize the association.
Examples, the product of the grapevine [though not named is, wine] Matt.
26:29, the city of David [though not named is, Bethlehem] Luke 2:11,
enigmas, and symbols(where a known object or something else is used to
typify something else, or even an intangible quality such as love, power,beauty, etc.)
Here are many of the words from the book of Revelation used asSYMBOLS:
candlesticks
horses
locusts
beasts
birdsanimals
dragons
heads
horns
teeth
tails
eyes
mouths
wings
hair
feet
hands
foreheads
odours
books
gold
seals
crowns
names
cities
book of life
tree of live
water of life
hours
daysmonths
seasons
rod of iron
sickle
bow
blades
swords
reap
harvest
grass
trees
thrones
garments
robes
signs
images
wonders
marks
numbers
vials
hails
songs
winepresses
grapes
winebalances
wheat
barley
oil
eyesalve
pebbles
manna
wreaths
palm fronds
whores
harlots
fornications
keys
doors
temples
synagogues
pillars
rich
poor
blind
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10The Lake of Fire Seriesnations
kings
tongues
Nicolaitans
Antipas
Armageddon
Balaam
Balak
Abaddon
Apollyon
Babylon
Sodom
Egypt
Jezebel
trumpets
winds
rivers
lakes
seas
waters
clouds
floods
mountains
islands
lightnings
voices
thunders
earthquakes
naked
hot
cold
lukewarm
blood
deaths
fire
sulfur
brimstone
smoke
sun
moon
stars
And evenheaven and earthare used as symbols in this great book of symbols.
There are alsoFIGURES OF OMISSIONwhich include:
omitted nouns(as in the wicked [people is understood], the blind
[people], the rich [people], the poor [people], the twelve [apostles isomitted but understood])
omitted verbs(as in incongruous omissions like, Milk I give you to drink
not solid food The omission of to eat is understood, as one does not drink
solid food I Cor. 3:2)
unfinished sentences(the King James usually finishes sentences that
are unfinished in the Greek, such as, As I swear in My indignation, If they
shall be entering into My rest___! Heb. 3:11)
omission or nonsequence (as in These which you are
beholding___there will be coming days Luke 21:6)
I did not include this basic listing of figures of speech in the Scriptures, just to
fill another page. It is most important to understand that the study of the Scrip
tures is not the same as studying a high school or college text book. It is far differ
ent. School text books, as a rule, would not contain even one percent of the figures
that I have presented here. And if we do not have even an elementary understand
ing of these many and varied figures of speech, we will hardly be in a position to
TEACH Gods Word to others.
It is the height of naivety to believe that whenever someone shouts, My King
James Bible SAYS, that what follows will be non-refutable Scriptural proof of
that persons doctrinal preference. Thank God that:
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols11
no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpreta-
tion(II Pet. 1:20).
The Scriptures themselves really do interpret other Scriptures. This is true for
interpreting prophesies and doctrinal issues.
Parables are Not Literally True Stories
The parables of Jesus are certainly true, but they are notliterallytrue. Example:
one cannot possibly put a beam (a large piece of lumber) in or out of ones eye,
Mat. 7:3-5. The moral of this parable is certainly a great truth. The symbols used to
teach that truth (namely a large piece of lumber in ones eye) is, of course, not literally or possibly true. The beamrepresentsa huge character flaw, not foreign matter
in ones eye. Its a figure of speech.
We also use such figures dozens of times a day without even realizing it. We say
such things as Dont cry over spilt milk although we are notliterallyspeaking of
crying, nor are we speaking of milk, but rather of a disappointment that has caused
sadness.
When we show our respect for our countrys flag, we are not even thinking about
respecting a piece of cloth, but rather the nation that the flag represents. A flag is a
symbol that represents a nation. A band of gold is just a band of gold, but a wedding
ring is symbolic of something much larger, something huge, something GRAND!
Who wears the pants in your family? Has the cat taken your tongue lately?
Can you carry a tune in a bucket? Do you follow the spin doctors with their com
mentary on the movers and shakers in Washington, DC? Where do you stand
when the tire hits the road? Do you know for a fact that the early bird gets the
worm? Does a stitch in time save nine? Are any of your friends square? Is it
cool to eat chili on a hot day? Do people turn blue when they are sad? Do cowards
really have a yellow stripe down their back? Are you worth your salt? Do you
know people who are pigeon heads and hot heads? If people realized that silence
is golden, maybe they would stop breaking your ear drums. Do you think that I
am just pulling your leg? And just when will hell freeze over?
All languages have many, many figures of speech that are not literally true. And
God also uses symbols, figures, idioms, metaphors and parables, over and over in
His Word hundreds and hundreds of times!
I know of very few who will believe it, but it is true nonetheless, that Jesus
taught the masses in parables and parables ONLY so that they would NOT under
stand the message He was giving them (See Matt. 13).
Figures, parables, metaphors, and symbols are in many ways like poetry. Take
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12The Lake of Fire Seriesthe phrase, No man is an island from one of my favorite poems. How wonderfully
worded and true are those words?
Or this line, Every mans death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind.
How many unsaved friends do you have? Will YOU not be diminished for all
eternity if they are not saved? Will GOD not be diminished for all eternity if billions
and billions of His creatures are not saved but are rather separated and tortured in
some hell-hole of fire?
Elementary school children are not likely to understand such a poem as No man
is an island. They would say, of course no man is an island, neither is a man a
house or a car or a telephone pole either. Yet this is the same childish mentality that
many theologians use in interpreting Scripture such as the lake of fire and seconddeath.
For all too many, these marvelous Scriptures have no meaning beyond the literal
meaning of the literal words. And so, for most, the Word of God remains a giant en
igma. How sad!
Right now, here in Miami, it is raining cats and dogs. Or is it really? It some
times rains real fish, but cats and dogs? But if it ever does rain cats and dogs,Ill
eat my hat.
Some of these things are extremely elementary and others are extremely com
plex. God told Daniel that thewise will understand. It is not wise, but foolish to in
sist that countless symbols in the Bible are literal.
With that all said, let us now see that most of what is said in this marvelous
book called Revelation is not literal, but symbolic.
My King James Bible says:
The Revelation ofSaint John the Divine.
And then verse one says,
The revelation ofJesus Christ
Which is it? It is, of course, the latter, seeing that the title is merely mans inter
pretation which is obviously wrong. The book of Revelation is a revelation OF Jesus
Christ. It is not just a revelationfromJesus Christ, but a revelationoforaboutJe
sus Christ. It is a revelationof HIM!
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols13
Most of my life I believed that the book of Revelation was a literal prophecy
about events that will happen at the END OF THE WORLD! Prophesies that had
virtually no meaning for those who have lived during the past two thousand years
since it was written. But for most of my life, I WAS IN ERROR!
Now for a most important understanding. Just how was this revelation to John
to be recorded and preserved? Notice it:
and he sent andSIGNIFIEDit by his angel unto his servant
John(Rev. 1:1)
What does it mean to signify? Certainly this prophecy of the revelation or un
veiling of Christ was written down (ver. 19), but it means more than just that. To
signify has to do with signs and symbols. From myWebsters Twentieth Century
Dictionaryp. 1541, first definition of signify:
to make known by signs or words
First definition ofsign:
any symbol thatrepresentsan idea
That which, being external,representsor signifies somethinginternal or spiritu
al.
The synonym for sign is:symbol.
There is no mistaking this language. The book of Revelation is written in SYM
BOLS! So what is written externally, on paper, in symbols, has a SPIRITUAL mean
ing and application.
Let us now see the symbolism of this prophecy. I will pick out some of the most
obvious things that would be impossible to understandliterally.
Notice that in verse ten John informs us that,
I was IN THE SPIRIT on the Lords day
And then he begins to tell us what he hears and sees. Now the very fact that he
was in the spirit on the Lords day conclusively proves that he was notliterally
there! Let us never lose sight of this fact: John WRITES what has been SIGNIFIED
(WITH SYMBOLS) the things that he SEES and HEARS IN A VISION IN SPIRIT!
Beginning in verse twelve John starts to tell us what he saw and heard,
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me his eyes
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14The Lake of Fire Serieswere as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass And
he had in his right hand seven stars and out of his mouth went
a sharp twoedged sword
NONE of what I underlined is literal. Have you ever seen a voice? All these
things are symbols that stand for other things. And God immediately gives us proof
positive of this in verse 20,
The mystery[this is not literal it was a mystery until God tells us
that one thing reallymeansor representsanother and DIFFERENT
THING]of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand,
and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars ARE THE
ANGELS OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES: and the seven candle-
sticks which thou sawest ARE THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
The stars are not literal and the candlesticks are not literal. In the first 20
verses of Revelation we can find eleven statements that are not literal, but rather
symbolic. They represent truths that are presented in symbols. Theliterallanguage
is not theliteraltruth being presented. The statements themselves do not teach us
the truth OF the statements. We must look elsewhere in the Scriptures for the in
terpretation.
Now chapter one was pretty easy as God told us just what some of those symbols
represented. But there are dozens and dozens more symbols in this book of Revela
tion that are not explained in the verses that follow immediately. How shall we un
derstand all those symbols. First of all, without the spirit of God, the answer is we
will never understand these symbols. But guided by Gods spirit, God can show us in
other places in His Word what these mysterious symbols represent. It is God Who
provides us with ears to hear and eyes to see.
Now look at chapter two:
Verse 5, Will God literally punish the church of Ephesus by removing
aliteralcandlestick? NO! Removing a literal candlestick would be no
great loss to anyone. But from what we learned in verse 20 of chapter
one, the candlestick IS one of the churches. So Christ is threatening to
REMOVE THE WHOLE CHURCH, not some piece of furniture or can
dlestick from the building of a church.
Verse 7, Is the tree of life aliteraltree that one literally eats?
Verse 9, Was the church in Smyrnaliterallyin poverty andliterally
rich at the same time? Does synagogue of Satan mean aliteralsyn
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols15
agogue where Satan has a Rabbi teaching the Law to a congregation
every Sabbath day?
Verse 13, Is a name something that oneliterallyholds fast to with
ones hands?
Verse 16, Will Christliterallydo battle by using aliteralsword which
Heliterallykeeps in His mouth? Or do we not read in another place in
Gods word that this sword IS Gods Word? (Heb. 4:12).
Verse 17, Will Christ reward the faithful with aliterallittle white
stone? Cant we see that the stone and the name written in it representssomething else?Something of much greater value?
Verse 20, Was the harlot Jezebelliterallyin the Thyatira church?Lit
eralJezebel died CENTURIES before this book was written by John.
Jezebel in the physical represents or symbolizes a SPIRITUAL condi
tion in the church of Thyatira.
Verse 22, Will ChristliterallythrowliteralJezebel into aliteralbed
where she willliterallycommit adultery withliteralmen?
Verse 23, Will Christ killliteralchildren of theliteralharlot, Jezebel?
Verse 27, Will the saints beat the nations with aliteralrod of iron into
literalsmall pieces like broken pottery?
Verse 28, Will Christ give theliteralmorning star to His saints?
Where would they put it? What would they do with it?
Chapter 3:1, Was the Sardis churchliterallyalive andliterallydead at
the same time?
Verse 4, Were members of the Sardis congregation wearingliterally
soiled clothing?
Verse 7, Is thereliterallya metal key of David that is needed to open aliterallock?
Verse 12, Will Christliterallyturn people into stone pillars in the
temple?
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16The Lake of Fire SeriesVerse 16, Will Christliterallyspit the church of Laodicea out of His
mouth?
Verse 17, Were the members of the Laodicean churchliterallypoor andliterallyblind andliterallynaked without clothing to wear? Are there
not other Scriptures that tell us what it means to be SPIRITUALLY
poor, blind, and naked?
Verse 18, Did Christ try to sell Laodicealiteralgold? What would they
do with the gold? What, pray tell, would Christ do with the money?
Verse 20, Does Christliterallyknock at the doors of our homes andthen come in and eat aliteralhome cooked meal and pecan pie with
us?
Is it necessary for me to go through this entire book verse by verse before we can
fully realize that this book is written in figurative, symbolic, and metaphorical lan
guage?
Lets look at just a few more:
Chapter 4, Was aliteraltrumpet talking with John?
Chapter 5, Is Jesus Christliterallya Lion, an animal?
Chapter 6, Are theseliteralhorses? Do theliteralstars of heaven fall
on the earth? The smallest known stars are a million times larger
than the earth.
Chapter 7, Were angelsliterallyholding back four winds on fourliteralcorners of the earth? I thought the earth is round without
corners? Can oneliterallywash his clothes white in red blood?
Chapter 8, Will an angel cast aliteralmountain burning with fire into
the sea?
Chapter 9, During the fifth trumpet will itliterallybe impossible for
mortal men to die?
Will there beliterallocusts shaped like horses? Locusts thatliterally
have hair like a woman, teeth like a lion, and breastplates of iron?
LOCUSTS with breastplates of iron?
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols17
Chapter 10, Did John eat aliteralbook? That wasliterallysweet in his
taste buds, butliterallybitter in his stomach? Why would anyone eat
a literal book?
Chapter 11, Are Gods two witnesses that prophesy,literallytwo olive
trees and two candlesticks? But if we study Zechariah 4 we can de
termine what is meant by two witnesses.
Chapter 12, Will thereliterallybe a pregnant woman clothed with the
sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars? Was this same woman able toliterallyfly into the wil
derness with wings of an eagle?
Chapter 13, Will there be aliterallamb that will speak like a dragon?
Just how do dragons speak anyhow? Will people beliterallytattooed
with marks (bar codes, swastikas, Social Security numbers, implanted
with computer chips or one of a hundred unscriptural marks being
suggested by fundamentalist prophets) in their hands and on their
foreheads so that men cannot buy or sell ice cream or automobiles
without these marks? Self-appointed prophets of doom havent a clue
as to what this mark of the beast really is or the number of his name. I
have already been barred from buying and selling recently because I
refuse to brandish this mark of the beast!
Chapter 14, Does Babylon cause all nations toliterallydrink of the
wine of theliteralwrath of her fornication? I thought wine came from
grapes not wrath (of course there is that famous novel,The Grapes of
Wrath).
Chapter 15, Are the seven last global plagues and catastrophes really
contained in sevenliteraltiny gold vials or bottles?
Chapter 16, Is Jesus Christ going to return to this earth as aliteral
thief? Will every island and mountain on earthliterallydisappear?
Chapter 17, Will there really be a woman who will ride aliteralscarlet
coloured beast, having seven heads and ten horns. Can whole nations
literallyfornicate with a harlot? But here once more in this chapter
God does reveal to us who this beast is and what the symbolic horns
represent which again proves that ALL OF THESE THINGS are not
literalbut symbolic and represent things other than what is being de
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18The Lake of Fire Seriesscribed.
Chapter 18, Will the entire social, political, and economic system of
the worldliterallycollapse in just one hour because oneliteralcity
(Babylon) is destroyed?
Chapter 19, Will aliteralprostitute corrupt the entire earth? Will a
literallamb marry aliteralwife? Will the King of the universe
really wear clothing dripping withliteralblood? Is Gods wrath alit
eralwinepress? Willliteralarmies of heaven follow Christ to earth
riding onliteralflying horses? No, NONE of these things areliteral!
Any theologian or preacher on international television would be laughed to scorn
if he were to preach a sermon trying to prove that all of the above Scriptures are to
be taken absolutely literally. Such a sermon would be seen as foolish by nearly
everyone. No educated man in the Word of God would ever dare to present anything
so STUPID!
And yet and YET, when we come to verse 20: will aliteralbeast and aliteral
false prophet be cast alive into aliterallake of fire burning with brimstone? How
do these same theologians and preachers answer? They answer: Yes, of course theywill be thrown into a literal lake of fire, because THIS IS LITERAL.
Chapter 20, Will the devil, the false prophet and the beast be cast into
aliterallake of fire and beliterallytortured day and night FOR
EVER AND EVER? And will all those not found written in the book
of life be cast into aliterallake of fire? Answer: Yes, THIS TOO IS
LITERAL, ABSOLUTELY LITERAL, shout our fundamentalist
friends once more.
Chapter 21, And will the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abomin
able, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters,
and all liars, be cast into aliterallake of fire burning with
brimstone? Yes, Yes, A THOUSAND TIMES YES, THIS IS SOOO
LITERAL, ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY LITERAL shouts every red-
blooded fundamentalist worth his salt!
Amazing. Absolutely amazing the power of the carnal mind to self-deceive.
Why are fundamentalists totally sure that these verses on a lake of fire are literal?
Well, of course, they arent sure; they just pretend to be sure. They desire with their
whole heart and being that this lake of fire is real fire. Why? Because the eternal
torture of billions of men and women and boys and girls in some fabled hellhole
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols19
doesnt diminish them one iota! They want people who dont believe as they believe
to have their flesh barbecued over fire and brimstone for all eternity. The very idea
gives them great joy. And it makes them proud. They have no love for sinners as God
does. They hate sinners. They hate unbelievers. They love only themselves. Theypronounce CURSES on me for quoting Scriptures that show God will save everyone.
They highly disapprove of God being the saviour of the whole world. They wont hear
of it; they wont have it! They dont approve of a God Who would save everyone by
bringing them to repentance, and purging them, and turning their hearts to God. If
God were to save everyone through the purging of his SPIRITUAL FIRE, then they
could not wag their fingers at all these people sizzling and popping like bacon in a
hot skillet saying, I told you so, I told you so for all eternity. Hussein and Bin
Laden are not the only ones out there with depraved religious minds.
God did not write nineteen whole chapters of Revelation giving us symbol after
symbol and metaphor after metaphor, and then in chapter 20 switch to writing in
literal language with literal meanings.
The book of Revelation was signified by the use of signs and symbols. Signs
and symbols always represent or mean something other than the sign or symbol it
self. We are all familiar with symbols and signs so that we should never be confused
as to what a sign or symbol is or is not. A red and white striped barbers pole is not
a barber shop, neither is it a barber, but it is a sign or symbol that immediately conveys to our understanding what it represents namely a barber shop with a barber.
There are many more Scriptures that will prove that this lake of fire has a much
more benevolent purpose than barbecuing human flesh for all eternity for the sheer
sick and depraved entertainment of Christian Fundamentalists.
Be it known however, that the lake of fire and the second death DO INDEED pic
ture something spiritual that relates to or has some properties of, LITERAL FIRE
and LITERAL DEATH. Without some similar properties, the metaphor would be
meaningless. I have read some extremely complex definitions of a metaphor which
were totally wrong. A metaphor is where one thing is said to BE something else.
Heres a Scriptural example: All flesh is grass (I Pet. 1:24). Thats simple enough.
Now then, is that statement by Peter true? Yes, of course, it is true. Is itliterally
true? No, it is not literally true. Then how do we know for sure what there is
ABOUT this metaphor thatistrue? If a metaphor is not literally true, how is it true
at all?
Making the Simple Complicated
Reading some theories about the meaning of metaphors causes me to think of the
man who when describing the feats of a circus performer stated: He performs feats
of ease with the greatest of difficulty. It is absolutely amazing how theologians can
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20The Lake of Fire Seriesmake relatively easy to understand principles seem most difficult. I will now show
you an exercise of just such grammatical gymnastics. Its just three very short para
graphs, so indulge me and I will try to simplify the whole thing immediately there
after.
Here then is a complicated example from Concordant Studies The Lake of
Firepage 9:
The lake of fire is the second death. That is, the lake of fire is the
cause of, or the agency which produces, the second death. This rep
resents that. The idea is, the lake of fire by figure of association in
which the cause is put for theeffect representsthe second death. This
is a compound figure. That is, it incorporates more than one figure of
speech. In such a case as this, is itself is also a figure of speech. In
stead of its literal significance (which denotes existence), is, as a sym
bolic metaphor, means represent. The concept is this: Part Arepres
entsPart B; thus Part A symbolizes Part B. As a symbol of Part B,
Part A itself has become a figure.
From page 10:
The lake of fire, which, by virtue of being its cause, thus,represents
the second death. In the interpretation of a metaphor, the goal is to
take note of the essential way in which thesymbolicsubject is like the
literalpredicate. Indeed, if in the presence of a symbolic, subject-ex
pression, the meaning of the predicate-expression were itself unknow
able which would be the case if the predicate expression were a fig
ure of speech it would be impossible to note thelikenessbetween the
two.
And finally, from page 11:
When one thing (or things) which represents another thing, is finally
said to be that other thing, whether or not the representative thing it
self is a literal entity, in any case, that which it finally represents con
sists in a literal expression and is a literal entity. (Italics is authors
throughout).
Okay, did you get all that? I want to just borrow a few statements from the above
explanation of a metaphor and see if these things be so or not. Trust me, we will getthrough this quickly:
1. The lake of fire, which, by virtue of being its cause, thus,representsthe
second death.
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols21
2. thesymbolicsubject [the lake of fire] is like theliteralpredicate [the
second death].
3. When one thing (or things) [in this case the lake of fire] which represents
another thing [in this case the second death], is finally said to be that other
thing [the second death], whether or not the representative thing itself is a
literal entity [second death], in any case, that which it finally represents
consists in a literal expression and is a literal entity [a LITERAL second
death].
Keeping the Simple, Simple
Must we all be theologians with a 150 IQ to understand these things? That leaves
me out.
Lets just take a couple of very simple metaphors from the Scriptures and apply
the above conclusions to them. Heres a simple one:
All life is grass(I Pet. 1:24).
Can we apply the first deduction made by the author quoted above? Lets try it:
All life is[that is, REPRESENTS]grass.
No, this is clearly not true, anymore than all life REPRESENTS trees, or all life
REPRESENTS worms, or any other thing! We can certainly use the word repres
ents with reference to metaphors, but not in the way the above author does. It is
wrong to say that the subject of a metaphor represents the predicate, and it is
equally wrong to say that the predicate of a metaphor represents the subject.
Neither is true. However, both the subject AND the predicate TOGETHER, do rep
resent something. And THATS why it is called a metaphor rather than a statement of fact!
What about number 2: The subject of a metaphor issymbolic, while the predic
ate isliteralLets try this out on our sample metaphor:
All [SYMBOLIC] life [the subject] is [LITERAL] grass [the
predicate].
No, that doesnt work either. How in the world can symbolic life BE literal
grass?
And now number 3: Is it true that the subject of a metaphor must represent
something that consists in a literal expression and is a literal entity? Nope. Not
true. All life is not LITERALLY grass! PEOPLE are not grass, ELEPHANTS are not
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22The Lake of Fire Seriesgrass, BIRDS are not grass, FISH are not grass, BACTERIA are not grass, and a
thousand other forms of life are NOT literal grass! Am I going too fast for anyone?
Earlier I stated that most believe one of the following:
The lake of fire is literal and the second death is literal, or the lake of
fire is literal but the second death is symbolic, or the lake of fire is
symbolic (with literal fire) but the second death is literal.
I believe that the lake of fire AND the second death are both symbolic and figur
ative language.
Is it true that one part of a metaphor must be literal or there is no way to under
stand the metaphor? No, that is not true. Let me give you an example that I doubtmany have really meditated on:
Now at their eating, Jesus, taking the bread, and, blessing,
breaks it, and, giving to the disciples, said, Take eat[this
bread], This[bread]IS my body(Matt. 26:26).
The greatest minds in theology have haggled for hundreds of years over this
metaphor that Christ used at the last supper. Does the breadliterallyturn into the
body fleshof Christ when we eat that bread as the Catholic faith demands? What a
silly question. ITS A METAPHOR! And the idea that one of the two parts of a meta
phor must be literal is likewise silly.
In this metaphor, the bread is a symbol. Is there anyone who cannot recognize
that Christ used bread from the table as a symbol of something? Then when used
as a symbol, neither can it be any longer literal. Is there anyone who cannot recog
nize that Christ used His own body as a symbol of something? Then when used as
a symbol it neither can be any longer literal. That being said then, the bread is sym
bolic AND Christs body is also symbolic! Jesus used literal bread from the tableand used the literal words my body. When Jesus picked up the bread and broke it,
no one thought that He was talking about CHEESE! When Jesus said, my body,
no one thought He was speaking of His clothing or His shoes. Everyone at that table
knew what bread was and what Christs body was. However HOWEVER,
Christ used the words bread and my body in a METAPHOR! He said, Take eat,
this [bread] IS My body. That my friends is a METAPHOR! And as a metaphor,
neither the bread nor Christs body is to be takenliterally!I am the BREAD OF
LIFE (John 6:35).
We do NOT eat physical bread to partake of the symbolic or spiritual life-giving
food of Christs body. Nor would we be partaking of spiritual or symbolic bread by
eating Christs literal flesh and blood body. Can we not see that neither part of a
metaphor must always be literal. The bread is used as a symbol because literal
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols23
bread is called the staff of life. Christs body is used in this metaphor because our
spiritual nourishment comes from no other source but Jesus Christ. They say that
we are what we eat. When we partake of the real staff of life the spiritual food of
Christs body, we ourselves BECOME the very body of Christ ourselves!
Heres the Scriptural proof:
I am the BREAD OF LIFE(John 6:35).
For we, who are many, are ONE BREAD, ONE BODY, for we
all are partaking of the ONE BREAD(I Cor. 10:17).
The Jews, then, murmured concerning Him, that He said, IAM the Bread which descends out of heaven.(John 6:41).
I am the living Bread Now the Bread also, which I shall be
giving for the sake of the life of the world IS MY FLESH(John
6:51).
But just as most are totally blind regarding the meaning of Scriptural metaphors
today, they were also ignorant of Christs words when He spoke them:
The Jews, then, fought with one another, saying, HOW THEN
CAN THIS ONE GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT?(John 6:52)
They also thought that metaphors were LITERAL! Christ is the Bread that came
down FROM HEAVEN, not the bread that comes from wheat out of the ground.
Christ is NO LONGER flesh and blood. He has been raised with a SPIRITUAL
BODY:
I Cor. 15:44,it is raised A SPIRITUAL BODY.
Besidesflesh and blood CANNOT inherit the Kingdom of God.
We partake of Christs spiritual body, not literal flesh, blood and muscle protein.
If we fight and argue as the foolish Jews did over what part of metaphor must be
literal, we will learn nothing. If we cant understand a simple metaphor as Take
eat, this [bread] IS my body, how will we ever understand The lake of fire which IS
the second death?
I dont wish to belabor this point, but it is of paramount importance and some
times if we would hunger and thirst after righteousness, there is definitely some
labor involved.
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24The Lake of Fire SeriesThe easiest way I know to explain a metaphor is to simply state how metaphors
are used, and it all becomes rather simple. If Peters statement that all life is
grass is notliterally true, then why say it? Why use it? Because when we under
stand metaphors, they speak volumes about a subject in just a very few words much like poetry. All life is grass means that all life is like grass IN CERTAIN
WAYS. Thats it! Thats just how simple it is. Life is like grassin certain ways,in
that it is fragile, easily killed, short-lived, here today; gone tomorrow, etc. But, on
the other hand, ALL life is NOT like grass in certain other ways. Not all life is at
tached to the ground, unintelligent, and colored green! Am I going too fast for any
one?
Physical Fire Versus Spiritual Fire
Without realizing it, those who defend a literal fire in this judgment of God will
have a very hard time showing that anyone can be tormented day and night for
ever and ever in a literal fire. If the fire isliteral,then the idea that anyone could
be tormented for ever and ever is totally impossible! How so? We will see.
Notice who is thrown into this lake of fire:
1. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet These
both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone
(Rev. 19:20).
If the beast and false prophet are humans, then a real lake of fire would
BURN THEM UP making it impossible for them to be tortured for ever and
ever! If the beast and false prophet are supernatural, superhuman, or spirit
in nature, then physical fire CANNOT HARM THEM in any way. So, if the
fire isliteral, it can serve NO useful purpose!
2. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire(Rev. 20:10).
As this is Satan, he is a spirit, and therefore CANNOT be tortured with
REAL FIRE! Real, physical fire has NO effect on SPIRIT! Since God
makes His angels SPIRITS; His ministers a FLAMING FIRE (Psalm
104:4), it isnt likely that the Head of the sinning angels would be the
least bit hurt byliteral fire!
3. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the
book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works. And whoso-
ever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols25
of fire(Rev. 20:12 & 15).
The dead, small and greatare mortals resurrected to judgment and
are still mortal. Therefore physical fire will BURN THEM UP, hence there
can be NO torture or torment for ever and ever.
So now what will our fundamentalist friends do with this evidence? Real, physic
al, literal fires, BURN UP physical bodies! And, real, physical, literal fires CANNOT
burn or harm spiritual bodies! Sorry, but thats just the way it is!
But these verses say that there is fire and that those in it are tormented. So
what kind of fire are we talking about and what kind of torment are we talking
about? First, the fire.
If this lake of fire is not real, physical, literal fire, is there then such a thing as
figurative fire or spiritual fire? Im so glad you asked. As a matter of Scriptural
fact, yes there is such a thing as figurative and spiritual fire. Lets start with the
most profound Scripture regarding spiritual fire. As we all know, God IS SPIRIT
(John 4:24). But have you never read:
For our God IS ACONSUMING FIRE(Heb. 12:29)!
God has shown Himself to be not only a fire, but a CONSUMING FIRE all
through the Scriptures. You will be amazed how often God speaks of fire in bringing
judgment on humanity. ALL IS OF GOD, II Cor. 5:18, Rom. 11:36, Eph. 1:11, etc.
God IS a consuming FIRE.
GodIS this lake of fire!
But since it is not literal fire, what does it burn? What does it consume? It is
the works of the flesh that made sinners of those thrown into the lake of fire in the
first place. And we shall see from the Scriptures that it is these very works of the
flesh that are consumed in this lake of fire. And dont think for a moment that it isnot a most painful and tormenting experience to have ones carnal mind with all its
ungodly passions, thoughts and deeds, burned clean and pure by the consuming fire
of Gods Holy Spirit!
God doesnt change. He will use the same method in the day of judging at the
white throne as He uses on US. Although the intensity will get considerably more
severe for those who blaspheme till the end.
We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). However, that does not purge us
from all our filthy thoughts and deeds. No, there is more. There is also a consuming
FIRE that God uses on us:
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which
is JESUS CHRIST. Now if any man build upon this foundation
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26The Lake of Fire Seriesgold, silver, precious stones, WOOD, HAY, STUBBLE; Every
mans work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed BY FIRE; and the FIRE shall TRY
EVERY MANS WORK of what sort it is. If any mans work
abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a re-
ward. If any mans work shall be BURNED, he shall SUFFER
LOSS; but[pay close attention to this BIG BUT]BUT HE HIM-
SELF[the one who had his works burned and consumed in Gods con
suming fire]SHALL BE SAVED[What will save him?],yet so AS BY
FIRE(I Cor. 3:11-15)!!!
Ah dear readers, can we begin to understand the workings of God? God con
sumes with fire, the wood, hay and stubble in our lives. The things that dont de
serve to continue. But he REFINES the gold, silver, and precious stones (those doc
trines and godly character traits of Gods spirit that abide the fire). It is figurative
language, it is an analogy, it is a parable, it is metaphorical (where one thing is
called another thing). Our lives have either qualities of character (which are likened
to gold and precious stones, things of value to refine and retain), or gross lacks in
character (which are likened to wood, hay, and stubble and which are not worthy to
retain or preserve).
And just asreal literalfire is used to refine and purify gold and precious metals,
so Gods SPIRITUAL FIRE refines and purifies us from our sinful and carnal
nature. And likewise, asreal literalfire is used to burn up wood and stubble, so
Gods all consuming SPIRITUAL FIRE will consume and burn up all the impurities
in our life. These things MUST DIE. This purging is the SECOND DEATH. And
whether the person God subjects to His consuming fire has many good qualities or
none, the person himself shall be purged, purified, and SAVED BY GODS ALL-
CONSUMING SPIRITUAL FIRE!!! We just read it in Gods Holy Word. How can any
deny it? Every person who has ever lived will be subjected to the cleaning fire of
Gods spirit.
God is the JUDGE (Rev. 20;12). NOT Satan. This judgment throne is WHITE
not black! God judges in righteousness.
He shall judge the world with RIGHTEOUSNESS(Psalm
96:13)
Because He[God]hath appointed a day, in which He will
judge the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS(Acts 17:31)
Next I present a Scripture that many fundamentalists hate. Ill bet if you atten
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Part I: The Book of Revelation is a Book of Symbols27
ded a fundamentalist church, you never heard a sermon on this verse. We read that
God has appointed a day (a period of time) in which He will JUDGE the whole
world. Revelation 20:10-15 IS THAT DAY OF JUDGMENT! Now we know that
those not found in the book of life will be put into FIRE, and they will be TORMENTED. This is certainly part of this judgment. But it is not literal fire. Literal fire
burns up physical things and literal fire cannot harm spiritual things. So what does
the fire do or accomplish? MUCH!
This judgment in Revelation 20 IS that worldwide judgment spoken of in many
prophecies. But is the purpose of this worldwide judgment to torture people by
burning their flesh in real fire for all eternity? Is that HOW God judges in right
eousness? Absolutely not. We just read where God burns up our fleshly WORKS,
and this is tormenting for sure. But God does not torture our flesh for all eternity.Dont get me wrong, there will be severe chastisements on those who despise God
and His Savior and His Gospel. But out of their ashes will come salvation. Here is
another marvelous Scripture which answers what happens to sinning humanity
when God JUDGES THE WORLD in righteousness.
For he[GOD]bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty
city, he layeth it low, HE LAYETH IT LOW, even to the ground,
he bringeth it even to the dust(Isa. 26:5)
Make no mistake, God will judge the wicked with great severity. However, AL
WAYS FOR A BENEVOLENT PURPOSE:
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my
spirit within me will I seek thee early: forwhen Thy judgments
are in the earth, THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD WILL
LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS(Isaiah 26:9)!!
There will come a time when those who only knew how to blaspheme the name
of God, will come to LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS. They will not just hear of right
eousness, no, they will actually LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS!
The whole book of Isaiah speaks of judgments on Israel and on the nations. But
the end of all these judgments is SALVATION TO ALL. Notice Isa. 45:22-23,
Look unto me, and BE YE SAVED,ALL THE ENDS OF THE
EARTH: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by
Myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness[asin, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who
WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the know
ledge of the truth, I Tim. 2:3-4], and shallnotreturn, That unto
me EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, EVERY TONGUE SHALL
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28The Lake of Fire SeriesSWEAR(See also: Phil. 2: 9-11 & I Cor. 12:3).
Gods words will NOT return empty or void. When God speaks, it will be done.
When God wills, it will be done. When God desires, His desires WILL BE DONE:
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient
times the things that are not yet done, saying, MY COUNSEL
SHALL STAND, and I WILL DOALL MY PLEASURE I have
spoken it, I WILL ALSO BRING IT TO PASS;I HAVE PUR-
POSED IT, I WILL ALSO DO IT(Isa. 46:10-11).
Oh the blasphemy of those who teach that Gods most heartfelt desires WILL
NOT COME TO PASS, but will utterly fail!!! Jesus Christ is not the potential Savior
of the world; HeIS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!!!HE WILL SAVE THE
WORLD!!!
How many self-appointed, bible-thumping, doomsday, fire and brimstone, eternal
torture in hell preachersbelievethese verses in Isaiah? Not one that I know of! Most
Christians have never been taught the Scriptures that I am giving you. These things
are despised by many who call themselves Christian. And yet, Gods Word is FULL
of such statements of Gods salvation to all.
bibletruths.com
http://www.bibletruths.com/http://www.bibletruths.com/