INTRO: Before we get into our subject this morning, let me make mention of one matter I won't cover elsewhere. Mercy Aiken, in his paper on hell, said that the word ‘sheol' has been erroneously translated hell in the KJV and that most new translations have eliminated the word ‘hell' entirely. I have checked many versions, even The Message, which someone has aptly named The Mess, and I have not found Aiken's statement true. That is worth noting if you will discuss the matter of hell with those who deny this teaching.
Well, we have defined hell in message one. We said hell is necessary because man's soul is immortal, and man with sin cannot go to heaven, so man goes to the place prepared for the Devil and his angels, hell. Furthermore, the justice of God demands punishment that fits the crime, for sin, and nothing but hell will do for that. Then we saw there are two major errors man falls into when he denies hell. Those are annihilationism, after the judgment man is annihilated in hell fire and ceases to exist. The second error is universalism. In the end, all mankind will be saved. Both are equally false. |