Satan’s Grand Lie: There Is No Hell

By John Waddey

Satan convinced the first couple that God's word was not to be taken seriously. They could sin with impunity (Gen. 3:1-6). The result was the greatest catastrophe in human history. Today, Satan's servants are still trying persuade humanity that God's word on the subject of "hell" is not to be believed.

Pastor Rob Bell of the Mar's Hill Bible Church has written a new book entitled, "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived." He does not believe that there is a literal placed called "hell" where the impenitent, unsaved wicked will spend their eternity. Time Magazine gave front page attention to the subject in its April 14, 2011 issue.

Today we face the same kind of challenge that confronted Adam and Eve. Christ tells us "...be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). He tells us at judgment angels shall "gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 13:41-42). "And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life" (Matt. 25:46). But men like Mr. Bell are shouting "There is no hell!" Many others say the same thing. Our skeptical, unbelieving media loves the story and has elevated Mr. Bell and his book to celebrity status. Multitudes of folks will believe the lie and plunge headlong into wickedness, thinking the fear of eternal punishment has been removed.

The lie comes in different wrappings. Some say that the wicked will be annihilated, or consumed in an instant, thus no everlasting punishment. Others say the misery experienced in this life is hell. Still others claim hell is the haunting pangs of a guilty conscience. Some say the word "hell" should be understood only as poetic imagery. The most arrogant of unbelievers declared that such a thing as hell does not exist. Some opine hell is the inventions of Christians to intimidate sinners. At the root of most of the above views is the latent wish and hope that God will grant universal salvation for all men. Desiring to appear more charitable than Christians, religious skeptics declare that all, regardless of the religion or lack thereof, regardless of their conduct, will enjoy a home with a loving God in eternity. They seek to camouflage their lie under God's love.

Sinful Motives prompt men to deny what God has said about hell. They want heaven, but not hell. They want to live with God but not have to obey him. Christ is the savior of all who obey him (Heb. 5:9). They want the reward Jesus promises the righteous, but they do not want to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus (Matt. 16:24).

Their Faulty Reasoning. These nay-sayers assert that everlasting punishment in hell makes God a monster. They taunt Christians, "Would you burn your enemies to death, would you burn your disobedient child?" But they must answer, "Is it not unjust to all to allow the vicious monster who has inflicted great harm on others to go unpunished? Would they give the mass-murderer the same reward as the innocent child? Do they also renounce the reality and need for justice?" They are sinful, finite creatures who presume to pass judgment on God's sovereign will and reign. God's ways are not our ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his ways above ours (Is. 55:8-9).

Their Guilt is Obvious. To deny the reality of hell is to deny the teaching of Jesus. He tells us that his words will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). Faith come from hearing the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). Those who deny hell, hear his word on the matter and deny that it is true. That is the action of an unbeliever. Those who do not believe in Christ will die in their sins (John 8:24). It is both arrogant and presumptuous for the creature to challenge the wisdom and teaching of their Creator (John 1:3).God does not take man's presumption lightly (Num. 15:30).

The Destructive Consequences of Denying Hell. Those who say "There is no hell" contradict Jesus and discredit his wisdom and teaching. If he was wrong on the subject of hell, can we be sure of anything he taught? They discredit the Bible's testimony. If we cannot believe the Bible on this point, how can we be sure of its message on any other topic? By destroying man's belief in hell, one of the most powerful motivations for avoiding evil and sin is removed. If there is no penalty, why should a wicked man restrain his passions?

God wants no one to suffer the punishment of hell (II Pet. 3:9). He wants all to be saved (I Tim. 2:4). He has warned us that the wages of our sin is death (Rom. 6:23). He gave heaven's best (Jesus) to save man from hell (John 3:16). He created us with volition so we could choose our eternal destiny (II Cor. 5:20). If you pay for your sins in hell you will be able to blame no one but yourself.

When you hear any person deny the reality of hell, be he clergyman or atheist, criminal or hedonist, remember Paul's exhortation, "Let God be found true and every man a liar" (Rom. 3:4). As Satan rejoices and wicked men congratulate themselves that they no longer have to fear judgment and hell, we can still hear the words of Jesus, "How can you escape the judgment of hell?" (Matt. 23:33). &

On What Day of the Week Was Jesus Crucified?

By Bob Myhan

Traditionally, Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected two days later on Sunday. However, many sincere brethren are skeptical of this view, affirming either a Wednesday or a Thursday crucifixion. The main problem they seem to have with the traditional view is the time span between the two events. But what does the Bible teach?

First, Jesus said He would "be killed, and be raised the third day" (Matt. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Mark 9:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22; 18:33; 24:7; 24:46). Second, Peter said, "Him God raised up on the third day" (Acts 10:40). Third, Paul wrote, "He rose again the third day" (1 Cor. 15:4). Any position that is inconsistent with these statements is error!

According to Mark, Jesus said that He would "be killed, and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31). But Matthew tells us Jesus said He would "be killed, and be raised the third day" (16:21; see also Luke 9:22). Thus, "after three days" and "the third day," were used interchangeably. The Jewish rulers took “after three days” to mean “the third day” (Matt. 27:62-64).

Some argue that this could not be "three days" because it is fewer than seventy-two hours. But in Acts 10:30, Cornelius called a period of seventy-two hours "four days."

Jesus further said He would "be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matt. 12:40). But this cannot mean "three full twenty-four hour days," because this would result in His being raised on the fourth day, rather than the third day! In order for Jesus to have been in the grave "three days and three nights," and to be raised "after three days," and on "the third day," "three days and three nights" must be a figure of speech for a period of time less than seventy-two hours in length.

The Bible specifically says, Jesus "rose early on the first day of the week" (Mark 16:9). On this day, two of His disciples said, "today is the third day" (Luke 24:21). Since "the first day of the week" (Sunday) was "the third day," the seventh day of the week (Saturday) must have been the second day, and the sixth day of the week (Friday) must have been the first day—the day of the crucifixion!

If Jesus had been crucified on Wednesday, Sunday would not have been the third day but the fifth day. But, if He had been crucified on Thursday, Sunday would have been the fourth day. Therefore, He must have been crucified on Friday, rather than on Wednesday or Thursday!

“But,” some ask, “Wasn’t Jesus standing before Pilate at the sixth hour and crucified at the third hour? How then could He have been crucified on the same day He was sentenced?” (John 19:14; Mark 15:25)

John was writing to non-Jewish readers and referencing time as did the Romans, who counted days from midnight to midnight. Mark, however, referenced time as did Matthew, who was writing to Jewish readers (compare Mark 15:33 and Matt. 27:45). Jews counted the twenty-four hour day from sunset to sunset and the twelve-hour day from sunrise to sunset. Thus, Jesus was sentenced at six a.m. (sixth hour from midnight) and crucified at nine a.m. (third hour from sunrise) on Friday (Preparation Day), during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. &