Plainer Words Online
By
Tom L. Ballinger
Plainer Words Since 1968
September 15, 2010
PLAINER WORDS ONLINE … THE VISIBLE HELL
Part 1
It is suggested that the February 15, 1972 Issue (Volume II - No. 22) of Plainer Words be re-read. It pertains to "The Gates of Hell," or read the updated version at:
http://www.plainerwords.com/artman2/publish/2008/The_Gates_of_Hell_printer.shtml
It should be remembered that the words which the Holy Ghost uses to teach with (1 Corinthians 2:13) are the words of man, but for them to be the words of God, He has had to purify them seven times as silver is purified in a furnace (Psalms 12:6-7). The words the Holy Ghost has chosen to use have been refined and given an altogether higher meaning than that which man has assigned them. Some of the words and phrases the Holy Ghost has used, He has given them a usage that is totally different from the way man has used them. So, within the confines of the Word of God, Itself, we should look for the meanings of words and phrases which God purified.
The reader of the English Bible can be confident that, as an English speaking person, all of the Truth that God would have him know can be found in our Bible. Knowledge of the "original languages" is not an absolute essential ingredient for God to make known His Truth. His Truth has been preserved and given to an English speaking world in a Bible which English speaking people understand. The Lord, Himself, assigns the meanings to His words. These meanings are found in the Word of God, Itself, and the meanings are to be determined by how the Lord uses them within the Word, Itself. This is said to encourage the new believers of Present Truth.
In a previous article, "The Gates of Hell," the conclusion was reached that the “gates” referred to the power the grave has to retain its captives. The Lord Jesus Christ is said to have the keys to open the gates of the grave and release those who are held captive; thus, bringing them up from the power of "hell" by means of resurrection. The “grave” would not be the visible hell. But, there is to be a "visible" one during the Pre-Millennial Day of Christ and prior to the 2nd Coming (the Parousia) of Jesus Christ.
When the Lord Jesus Christ was on earth heralding, "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand," He was presenting Himself as the King of the Kingdom. During His earthly ministry, His audience was Jewish. He came as a minister to the circumcision to "confirm the promises made to the fathers [of Israel]" regarding the promised Kingdom. He even told the woman of Canaan, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). Therefore, when He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, He was speaking to a people who had been promised the restoration of the Kingdom. During the Pre-Millennial Kingdom, His Throne will be in heaven, not in Jerusalem. This Messiah [the Christ] was to establish and rule over the promised Kingdom of God. Part of this rule over the Kingdom was that of exercising judgment in the affairs of the Israelites. The people present understood, clearly, that the Lord was speaking about gaining entry into this Kingdom which was, then, "at hand" (Matthew 4:17; 5:20). Now, remember that the Kingdom which was being proclaimed was to be a literal one. Jesus Christ was to rule and reign over a literal government which was to be Jewish, Davidic, and Messianic in nature. The hungry heart of the devoted Jew was waiting for the "consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25). When the King of the promised Kingdom showed up and delivered His address from the Mount, saying, "That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" (Matthew 5:20), they knew that He was speaking of gaining admittance into the long awaited Kingdom.
This Jewish, Davidic, and Messianic Kingdom will grow larger by what would seem to be the results of normal geo-political events. We get a glimpse of the growth of the future Kingdom in Christ’s Parable found in Mark 4:26-29:
“And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”
The Kingdom of God grows from a small beginning to a full-grown, world-wide Kingdom which has dominion over the entire world—a Reign of Righteousness for hundreds of years. We must keep in mind that this Reign of Christ, from heaven, does not take place during the so-called Millennium.
The subject of His dissertation was ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM (Matthew 5:20-30). Of course, the opposite of “entrance and admittance” would be “denial and refusal.” In the portion of Scripture we are to focus upon, the Lord told His audience, "Ye have heard that it was said . . . (referring to the Old Testament Law) Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment."
The judgment refers to the three-man council in the local synagogue who were to pass sentence and render the verdict on those who were charged with murder.
But, the Lord gave a further meaning to this law of old by saying, "I say unto you (i.e.; the audience then present) That whosoever is angry with his brother: without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
The council refers to the Sanhedrin which was Israel's Supreme Court. Those who hoped to enter the Kingdom were liable to be brought before the Sanhedrin for calling out to another Israelite; "Raca." The possibility would be that those who were convicted of such would forfeit the right to enter.
The Lord further stated that if any should say, "Thou fool," they would be in danger of "hell fire." Note the three-fold danger that the Lord mentioned was Matthew 5: 22.
1. Shall be in danger of the judgment
2. Shall be in danger of the council
3. Shall be in danger of hell fire
Our understanding, from Jewish antiquity, is that the “judgment” had the authority to condemn to death by the sword. The “judgment” was the council of three from a local synagogue.
The council was, also, the Sanhedrin. They had the authority to condemn to death by stoning.
Hell fire should be noted, very carefully, in the context. This cannot be the "hell" of orthodoxy, for the "hell" of orthodoxy is prepared for those who fail to believe on Jesus Christ. But, in Matthew 5:22, the "hell fire" is held out as a possibility for those Israelites who would call another a "fool." It is quite apparent, then, that we must be prepared to believe God, even at the risk of rejecting "that which we have always been taught." The "hell fire" in Matthew 5:22 associated hell with fire. This does not have reference to a subterranean place of torment, but it has a relationship to a place where bodies of dead men are thrown. To get additional information on this, refer to Mark 9:38-48.
In this section of Scripture, we notice the word, "hell," and its connection with fire.
"than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire . . ." V. 43
"than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire. . :' V. 43
"than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:" V. 47
This connection of "hell," with fire, referred to a literal, physical place with literal, physical fire. This turned out to be the place outside the Dung Gate, south of the walled city of Jerusalem. It was here that Jerusalem's garbage was burned. Scripture indicates that, again, during the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ, the geographical location of the Valley of Hinnom will, again, be the city’s garbage dump. It is suggested that the reader look at the maps in the back of the Bible (Plates 1 and 9) and, there, you will see the Hinnom Valley, or Topheth. (On the map the spelling is “Topheth.” In the Scripture the spelling is “Tophet” 9 times; “Topheth” one time). In the OT, reference is made to this valley as the Valley of Tophet. It was here that Israel, in her practice of idolatry, passed her children through the fires in their worship of the god, Molech.
After Israel was cured of idolatry, the fires of the valley kept burning. However, it was used as the garbage dump, and the fires burned continually. Before going further, we should cite some Scriptures relating to the OT references mentioned. Solomon built a high place on a hill, that was before Jerusalem, for the god Molech, "the abomination of the children of Ammon" (1 Kings 11:7). In 2 Kings 23:7, Hilkiah, the High Priest, was given the job to cleanse the Temple, break down the houses of the sodomites [male shrine prostitutes; NIV] (2 Kings 23:7), and the High Priest "defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech" (2 Kings 23:10). Notice, there was more than one house of male prostitutes which were by “the House of the LORD.” God’s People had fallen into outrageous disgrace, and degradation.
Jeremiah makes a very prophetic statement when he wrote regarding the children of Israel:
“And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart. Therefore, behold, the days come [Day of Christ], saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place. And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away” (Jeremiah 7:31-33).
(Note: The King James spelling is “carcases,” while in American English, it is spelled “carcasses.”)
The name change from "the valley of the son of Hinnom" to "the Valley of Slaughter" speaks volumes; for in this valley, during the coming Day of Christ, will be thrown the "carcasses" (i.e.; dead bodies) of the People of God who were found guilty of certain sins. Many in and around the City of God will be denied proper burial, and their bodies will be deposited in the fires of this valley. Again, in Jeremiah 19:2-7, a reference was made to this changing of the name to "the Valley of Slaughter."
“Hell fire,” as we find it in the Bible, is a geographically localized spot—just south of Jerusalem. Gentiles will not be subjected to this shame in “the Valley of Slaughter” during Christ’s Day. As the nations learn the ways of God, during the Day of Christ, they may adopt similar means to display the carcasses of their citizens who have transgressed against the Laws of the Kingdom of Christ.
"For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared (i.e. for Molech); He [Yahweh] hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it” (Isaiah 30:33).
During OT and NT times, Topheth, or the valley of Hinnom, was a place where the refuse of Jerusalem was consumed by fires which burned continually. Also, it is suggested that the reader look at Appendix 68 of the Companion Bible. Here, it is pointed out, under the heading of VIII. THE DUNG GATE OF NEHEMIAH, that there was an underground sewage system which flowed from the Temple area through the Dung Gate. The sewer discharged into the valley junction of Kidron and Hinnom. This sewer carried the blood of the sacrificial animals, the water of the ceremonial cleansings, as well as the sewage from the Levitical quarters.
The Dung Gate was the closest gate to the perpetual fires. It would, naturally, be the gate through which the “meat wagons” would pass. That is, the wagons that went through the city collecting the dead animals; for the carcasses of the dead animals were thrown into these fires. It was there that the maggots worked on the carcasses. The coals of the fires would consume the flesh. Flesh, however, does not burn like kindling. It smolders; only the “fatty” tissue burns readily. The LORD said He would change the name of the valley to “the VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER,” for He would see to it that those of His people who sinned, or transgressed would be killed by the sword, and they would be dumped in this place.
During the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God, many nations will send representatives to Christ’s Government in Jerusalem in order to gain a greater understanding of the Laws, Rules, and Statutes of His Government.
“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2).
When the nation’s Emissaries are in Jerusalem, they will be given a tour to consider how His Government metes out swift justice. This calls to mind the passages in Isaiah which were clearly speaking of the Day of Christ. This Pre-Millennial Justice is to be followed throughout all nations. Isaiah 66 is repeated again. We should ponder the ramifications of these two verses.
"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh" (Isaiah 66:23-24).
Here, a reference was made to the carcasses of men who have transgressed against the LORD. This ties-in with Matthew 5:22-30 where individual Jews stand in danger of this happening to them. In Verse 22, it was being "in danger of hell fire." In Verses 29-30, it was said that the danger would be that "thy whole body should be cast into hell."
Allowing the Bible to speak for itself, we see, immediately, that this reference to "hell" is not a reference to the place which orthodoxy teaches as being a place of conscious torment. In the references we have thus noted, they refer to a place where the dead bodies (carcasses) are thrown. The orthodox hell is a place where the "invisible" part of man (soul) goes to when he dies because he failed to believe on Christ. Thus, the Bible is self- interpreting. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, the Bible yields its own meanings to words and phrases apart from the meanings that man has assigned to them.
“Pre-Millennial Justice” is to be meted out daily, early in the morning. Justice will not be delayed, or postponed.
“I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD” (Psalm 101:8).
During the Day of Christ, there will be sin that is worthy of death (John 5:16), BUT the GOOD NEWS, in that Day, will be that He will provide a way of salvation. Notice, a most overlooked, ignored, and misunderstood passage of Scripture:
“If we confess our sins [during the Day of Christ], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
1 John 1:9 is not Truth for Today! The members of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head “have [present tense] redemption through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Plainer Words Since 1968
September 27, 2010
PLAINER WORDS ONLINE…THE VISIBLE HELL
Part 2
In Part I, it was noted that during the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God, there will be a valley, outside of Jerusalem, for the burning of refuse as it was during Old Testament and Gospel Periods. Those individuals living in the environs will be living under an administration which will execute judgment upon those who "transgress against the LORD” (Isaiah 66:24). This has special reference to the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God. The guilty, in many instances, will be executed and denied burial. They will be thrown in an open, visible grave which is the garbage dump outside the Dung Gate. Their carcasses will “be an abhorring to all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24) who view this sight.
Admittedly, this will be very obnoxious to “all flesh.” But, what a warning it will be! Those who would transgress the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) will stand in jeopardy of being sentenced to the shame of being refused a “Christian burial.” Transgressors will be sentenced early each morning, executed and, then, cast into the “hell fire” with the carcasses of dogs, cats, vermin, and the city’s garbage. The City of God’s garbage is reduced to ashes by its perpetual fire.
This "hell-fire" has reference to the place where an “open grave” will exist in Jerusalem's garbage dump. Therefore, it could be called “grave-fire.” One of the definitions of the word, “grave,” is “a place of burial.” The object of this "visible hell [grave]'' is to make the crime and the criminal detestable in the eyes of the people. The guilty will suffer capital punishment. Then, their dead bodies will be hauled through the Dung Gate and unloaded at their final resting place—the VISIBLE HELL. Some transgressors in and around Jerusalem will suffer the condemnation of being thrown, alive, into the “hell-fire” (Matthew 13:41-41). The ''visible hell'' is not a place of conscious torment but a place of death. However, for some offenders, this will be a “Valley of Slaughter” because when the unrepentant sinners, being bound hand and foot, are dumped into the “Valley,” there will be “wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Here, the carcasses of transgressors of the “Kingdom Law” will be fuel for the fire. The “ungodly,” the “sinners,” and all who “offend” shall be purged daily (Psalm 101:4-6; 7:11-12; 33:9; 37:9, and many more). The fires will burn continually. That part of the bodies which the “hell fire'' fails to consume, the worms will eat, for “their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48). “The fire is not quenched” speaks of the smoldering character of its rubbish.
During the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God [the Day of Christ], the nations will send delegations to the world’s Capital-City which will be Jerusalem. They will come up to Jerusalem to worship and learn the ways of God.
“And many nations [delegates] shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2. Also, see Isaiah 2:3).
“The mountain of the LORD” is a Biblical idiom for the Government of the LORD. Part of the learning experience of the delegates will be the tour they will take around the geographical location of a valley which was called, in the Old Testament, the “Valley of Hinnom,” and later, re-named the “Valley of Tophet.” They will be driven around the “Visible Hell [grave] which much of the New Testament refers to as “Hell Fire.” We learn from the Prophet Jeremiah that the valley south of the Pre-Millennial Jerusalem will have another name—the Valley of Slaughter.
“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place. And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray [frighten] them away” (Jeremiah 7:32-33).
Again, we will call your attention to Isaiah.
"And it shall come to pass [during the Day of Christ], that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD. And they [delegates from the nations] shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men [Hebrew men] that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh" (Isaiah 66:23-24).
The delegations from the governments of the world will learn the ways of the “God of Jacob.” The “all flesh” doesn’t mean every living person. It means the delegations that represent all the people of the world’s governments. One of the essentials they will learn is that punishment is to be meted-out, swiftly, to those who are guilty of criminal and spiritual acts that warrant the death penalty. Psalm 101:8 clearly indicates that morning after morning, during the Day of Christ, judgment will be meted out as the wicked will be destroyed out of the land, and the doers of wickedness will be cut off "from the city of the LORD."
“I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of the LORD” (Psalm 101:8).
We purpose to enumerate the verses which make reference to this ''Visible Hell." It must be kept in mind: TO WHOM WAS THE LORD JESUS SPEAKING?—to the JEWS. Not to the Gentiles, nor the Church of the Mystery. His speech was directed to those JEWS who will live again in resurrection in the Land of Promise, and in the area Divinely designated for their particular Tribe.
(1) Matthew 5: 22 - “But I say unto you [Jews], That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.''
This verse has been explained in the previous study, (The Visible Hell - Part 1), and we feel no further explanation is needed.
(2) Matthew 5:29-30 - "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell [fire]. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable to thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell [fire].''
These two verses, 29 and 30, fall into the context with Matthew 5:22. These two most certainly do not relate to an invisible place in the heart of the earth where the "departed souls'' of men go when they die. Here, the subject is "thy whole body," not the orthodox concept of the “soul” of man. The Biblical use of the word, “soul,” references a “living being.”
So, in Matthew 5:20-30, the possibility was if a member of the man's body was going to cause him to transgress, it would be better for him to pluck out an eye, or cut off a hand, rather than having his whole body perish in the Visible Grave with its perpetual fires. The Biblical use of the word, "grave," is interchangeable with '' hell." These are the words the Holy Ghost uses to teach with, not the words of men's wisdom.
(3) Matthew 10:28 - ''And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him (i.e. God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in heIl [fire].''
Now, man can kill the body; that is, he can cause the loss of life. Only God can destroy both soul and body. For believing this, men have been branded as heretics. This verse only confirms that the soul is not immortal because the soul, as well as the body, can be destroyed. Matthew 10:28 only affirms that Ezekiel 18:4 is true; ''the soul that sinneth, it shall die."
In Matthew 10, the Kingdom of God was still "at hand." The warning of the ''Valley of Slaughter," the danger of hell [fire] was still in view when the Lord spoke in Matthew 10:28. This verse teaches that the soul can be destroyed; not that it will undergo torment. For a soul to be destroyed, it has the underlying meaning that there will be no resurrection. Resurrection is the only means of release from the power of death.
It should be remembered that during “The Acts of the Apostles,” the Church of God was experiencing a foretaste of the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 6:4-5).
(4 ) Luke 12:4-5 - "And I say unto you my friends [Jews], be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear; Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell [fire]; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him."
This is the same reference as Matthew 10:28. Here, the Lord was pointing out to His Jewish followers the reason why they should take courage in view of the expected persecution. For the time would come when there would be those who think they are doing God's service if they killed Christ's disciples. His followers were to take heart. They should not fear the ones who could only kill them. But rather, they should fear the One who not only had power to kill them, but they should fear Him who had the authority to cast them into "hell," (i.e., the hell fire of Matthew 5); for from the "visible hell," there was to be no resurrection.
Men can kill the bodies of another, but only God has the power over the future of the dead.
(5) Matthew 18:8-9 - "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting [age abiding] fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire."
The "everlasting fire" of Verse 8 is the same as the "hell fire" of Verse 9. It is everlasting, inasmuch as it lasts throughout the Pre-Millennial Kingdom age. "Everlasting” not only means "lasting or enduring forever," but it also means "continuing indefinitely, or during the present state of things" (Webster’s 1828). Hell fire is everlasting in the sense that it will burn "during the present state of things," (i.e.,during the eon of the Day of Christ).
The language which Christ used, here, is figurative. He was not saying to dismember one's body by cutting off limbs, or by gouging out the eyes. He was simply saying it would be better to do that, and it would be better to enter into resurrection-life, halt or maimed, than to be killed and have the carcass deposited in the “Valley of Slaughter.” For, there, the fire is not quenched, nor does the worm die. From "hell fire'' (i.e., the Visible Hell), there is to be no resurrection. The Lord is not saying that these would be those who would enter "into life (i.e., in resurrection),” halt or maimed. He is simply saying that it would be better to live in resurrection, halt or maimed, than to perish which the visible grave typifies.
(6) Matt. 23:15 - "Woe, unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell [fire] than yourselves."
The "child of hell" is a Hebrew idiom which means a person spoken of belongs, very emphatically, to that which he is said to be the "child of …"
Examples of this type of idiom are found in Matthew 9:15 and Luke 5:34; "Children of the bride chamber." In Matthew13:38, you will notice; "children of the wicked one." The idiom, “child of the devil," is used in Acts 13:10, and "children of disobedience" is found in Ephesians 2:2 and 5:6.
The reference is that the proselyte becomes "two-fold more the child of hell" than the scribes and Pharisees. Resultant of the false teaching, the proselyte would belong, emphatically, to the same class as those who would have no hope of resurrection. "Hell" in this verse must, of necessity, have reference to the one we have been reviewing—hell fire.
(7) Matthew 23:33 - "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell [fire]?"
Here again, as in the other verses, the "damnation" of hell" must refer to the judgment of condemnation as it is associated with the “Valley of Hinnom,” later called the “Valley of Slaughter” where the perpetual fires will burn.
The Lord warned the scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites that they were “the children of them which killed the prophets” (Matthew 23:.31), which was to say that they belonged, most emphatically, to that group, being like them who killed the Old Testament prophets. In Verse 34, the Lord told them that He will send to them the prophets, wise men, and scribes: “and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues,
and persecute them from city to city." Hence, His question was in order: “How can ye escape the damnation of hell [fire]?”
(8) Mark 9:43 - "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched."
(9) Mark 9:45 - "And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off, it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched."
(10) Mark 9:47 - "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out; it is better for thee to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell [fire]."
These three verses in Mark 9 are followed by "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Vs. 44, 46, and 48). This is the direct reference to Isaiah 66:24. Thus, Isaiah 66:23-24 ties together all of the references in the Gospels which are associated with "hell fire."
Mark 9:43 refers to a "hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched." Mark 9:45 refers to a "hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched." In these two verses, the "fire that shall never be quenched" modifies the word "hell:" But, in Verse 47, the phrase, "into the fire that shall never be quenched" is omitted, and the word, "fire," replaces the phrase; hence, "hell fire."
(11) Luke 12:5 – “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”
By comparing verse with verse, the Bible student learns that there are times when the Bible uses the word, "hell," to refer to the place where the carcasses of men, who have transgressed against the Lord, are deposited. Sometimes, the Bible uses the expression, "hell fire," to refer to the same place. The context must be studied. The carcasses of dead men are deposited in this "hell," or "hell fire" for the purpose of being "an abhorring to all flesh."
(12) James 3:6 - "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.”
The verse clearly speaks, figuratively, inasmuch as the tongue is not, literally, "a fire." James was simply stating the unruliness of the tongue. In order to depict how obnoxious the untamed tongue is; he said that it “is set on fire of hell." In light of the foregoing, it should be clear that James was making reference to the perpetual fires in the “Valley of Hinnom.”
We will, unapologetically again, set forth Isaiah 66:23-24 and suggest that we should keep these verses in mind when considering the eleven instances that have been set forth in this study.
“And it shall come to pass (during the Pre-Millennium Kingdom of God), that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
Isaiah 66:23-24 is of paramount importance in the unfolding of “Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God Truth” regarding the "Visible Hell." The carcasses in Isaiah 66:23-24 is clearly a reference to the apostate Jews, living in the Land of Promise, who are guilty of capital crimes. It will not be the “carcasses” of Gentile reprobates. NO! The “Valley of Slaughter” is reserved as the repository for Jews who are found to be transgressors of Kingdom Laws of Jesus Christ.
It should be repeated that the Lord assigns meaning to His Words. The definitions of His Words are to be found within the confines of the Word of God Itself. Whatever tradition held by the scribe, or the translator regarding the words, "hell" and "hell fire," the reader of the English Bible (the A.V.) can rest assured that within the confines of the Bible, Itself, the Lord shows us how He uses these words; thus, overruling the bias and traditional influence that might have affected the scribes and translators.
The conclusion is reached that in the twelve instances enumerated in this study, sometimes, God refers to the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem as "hell." Sometimes, He refers to it as "hell fire." The serious student reads nothing more into this than what is written for our learning. Thus, it is concluded that "The Visible Hell" will be a place to deposit dead bodies of those Jews who will have transgressed against the Lord in the coming age, Christ’s Day. Since there will be fire to burn the refuse, it is called "hell fire." It is hoped that this study will encourage further investigation concerning the subject of immortality, soul, death, resurrection, grave, hell fire and hell.
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