"The Grace of Hell!" (Grace Note #75)
GARY L. CLENDENON· MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019· 5 MINUTES
In this “Grace Note”, I will attempt to explain my understanding of “Hell”, a VERY important topic! In my research, I found a website with the following helpful graphic regarding different beliefs that currently exist in Christianity about Hell:
On this chart you will see that there are 3 main view regarding Hell: Traditionalism, Universalism, and Conditionalism.
Traditionalism, as the name suggests, is the traditional view brought to us by the Catholic Church. This view argues for ETERNAL torture and punishment in a specific location called “Hell” for all bad people.
Universalism states that EVERYONE lives FOREVER. Now, the bad people may have to go through various levels of growth and refinement until they get to Heaven, but they can eventually get there. The Catholics call this place of refining PURGATORY. Other denominations or religions use the tool of reincarnation to keep you coming back until you get it right.
Conditionalism holds the belief that our immortality is conditional on whether or not we choose to be saved by Jesus Christ. If we are saved by Jesus, we live forever. If we are not saved by Jesus, then we have chosen destruction and are annihilated, destroyed--gone forever (This view is also called "Annihilationism"). Here is the statement of this belief found on the website rethinkinghell.com.
As for which of these 3 positions has the strongest Biblical argument, in my opinion based on my studies, I would put them in this order: Conditionalism: Strong, Traditionalism: Weak, Universalism: Weakest.
As most of you know, I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and our Biblical teaching on this topic is one of the things I am most proud of as an SDA (as most any search you make on the internet would lead you to believe Hell is a definite PLACE and LASTS FOREVER!). We believe in Conditionalism / Annihilationism, and SDA's are one of the few churches that teach that Hell is not a place that operates permanently! (For more on this unique teaching, see Fundamental Belief #27) Here is an excellent article that speaks to the uniqueness of this SDA belief.
What does the Bible say about Hell? One of the strongest BIBLICAL arguments against eternally burning fire is found is Jude 7 and was taught to me by my good friend Donald Howard Blue. Jude 7 says,
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (KJV)
After sharing this text with me, Don asked me, "Are Sodom and Gomorrah still on fire?" “No,” I answered. “They are NOT!” (Since then I have seen actual photos and videos of Sodom and what happened there.)
Then Don explained to me that the phrase used to support the idea of Hell in the Bible is the phrase "eternal fire". Since we can clearly see that Sodom is not still on fire, then "eternal" must mean something else. If you watch the video above, you will see that clearly the destruction of Sodom was eternal in the sense that it will never come back to its former glory. The consequences were eternal, not the fire!
Now, if we transfer this meaning to the other verses that use the term "eternal fire", we have a strong argument against an eternal hell fire and for a destruction that is short, yet final--eternally final. For more Biblical support on this line of thinking, read this article.
As I have shared before on Facebook, in addition to my Biblical belief of Conditionalism / Annihilationism, I have two personal beliefs about hell that are stated in “Gary-ism #12” and “Gary-ism #13”.
Gary-ism #12, says, “Hell is a state of mind!” (Original quote: C.S. Lewis). I personally believe that Hell happens in our minds when we are COMPLETELY separated from GOD. That is what killed Jesus--the separation from His Father. I don't believe, as some Christians do, that Jesus went to Hell. Because he experienced Hell when that separation happened. He took our place and experienced the mental anguish that was ours to experience, and it was this that killed him.
In the end of all things, the "eternal fire" comes to burn up all who have chosen not to side with GOD. These who will be burned up, in my opinion, will be already dead--having experienced their own personal Hell as GOD respected their choice to separate themselves from Him and His Kingdom. The fire that comes is just to purify and clean the Earth from all who have made that choice.
Gary-ism #13 says, “Hell is a Satanic plot!” and is an original saying from me. I believe that Satan has misrepresented GOD's position and teaching on "eternal fire" to created a false understanding of a mean, wrath-filled, vengeance-filled God. I call "Bullshit" on this. Satan is the mean, wrath-filled, vengeance-filled, deceiver and hater of all things good. He has created this false narrative to scare people into following GOD and destroying the Truth of a picture of a Loving, Grace-filled, Merciful God.
This is the "plot" I speak of--the conspiracy (1st meaning) of a false narrative/plot (2nd meaning). My 3rd meaning of plot is "a piece of land". It is also this I am also referring to: the fake and phony place or location where "Hell" is supposed located. This supposed place only serves to confirm and bolster Satan's plot to create an image of a mean, spiteful, and punishing God--burning people forever and ever.
Who could serve such a God? Many have said, to Satan's joy, "Not me!" and rejected this God completely! Instead of rejecting GOD, I would much rather reject this false teaching. And that is how I have made my peace with GOD and the Biblical concept of Hell, for “the Truth will set you free”!
That is my understanding of Hell from a Biblical perspective!
P.S. For an excellent book on Hell, I recommend Rob Bell's book Love Wins, which is in alignment with my personal beliefs. Note: Rob Bell is not an SDA, if that matters to you.
