December 29

TEN REASONS NOT TO BELIEVE THE TEACHING OF ETERNAL TORTURE

#8: ETERNAL TORTURE IS UNJUST! THE PUNISHMENT DOES NOT FIT THE CRIME!

According to George Hawtin:

-The following words by George Hawtin are most challenging: “The established visible church has preached its multiplied sermons seeking to prove its tradition that the vast majority of God’s human creation will be LOST, finally, irrevocably, and eternally, and not only will they be lost to God forever and ever, but they will be given up to the most sadistic, inhuman, ungodly torments that could be devised only by the vilest fiends. According to the tradition of the church this hellish torment is to fall upon all who do not believe. It matters not a whit whether they had opportunity to believe or not. It matters not at all if they were born in the darkest jungles of Africa, the swamps of Borneo, or the deserts of India or China. The fact that they never heard there was a God will be no excuse whatever. The fact that they never heard that God had a Son will not impede their dreadful destruction. Heathen who never heard that God had a Son are, according to this teaching, faced with the same dreadful doom as men who heard the gospel from their birth and yet rejected it. To add to the stupidity of their teaching they make pitiful attempts to prove that this is the justice of God and that God is manifesting His love in the punishment of sin. The doctrine of eternal punishment is based on a literal interpretation of some of the metaphors of scripture, to the complete neglect of many other scriptures. No doctrine has ever been propounded with more confidence and greater bitterness nor with a grossness and coarseness more hideous and repugnant, and, in the face of the love and kindness of God, more inconceivable and incredible.” -end quote ( According To The Purpose, George Hawtin )

-To eternally punish a person for 70, 80, or even 100 years of crimes ( sins ) is an UNJUST PUNISHMENT. Not only is it unjust, but it is INSANE! Not only is it unjust and insane, but it is also a punishment that WOULD NEVER SERVE ANY PURPOSE other than to be vindictive, spiteful, and barbaric in nature.

-The scriptures teach that THE JUSTICE OF GOD IS FOR THE SINNER, INSURING HIS SALVATION, NOT AGAINST HIM, DEMANDING HIS CONDEMNATION. Exodus 22:5 states, … If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution … This law, when applied spiritually to the entire creation, makes God responsible to make a restitution of all things, FOR GOD MADE THE BEAST ( THE SERPENT OF GENESIS 3:1 ), setting him in the field ( the Garden of Eden, the world, or the beast nature that is in man ) to feed ( devour ). This is why God was responsible to send the best of His own vineyard ( His only begotten Son ) to make a restitution of all things ( Acts 3:21 ).

-IT WOULD BE UNJUST FOR GOD TO ETERNALLY TORTURE THE VERY HUMAN BEINGS THAT HE CREATED! IT WOULD BE UNJUST ACCORDING TO HIS OWN LAW ( Exodus 22:5 )! It would especially be unjust due to the fact that God created all things ( good and evil ) and subjected the creation to vanity ( not willingly ). As a result of this we are all born with a nature ( the sin nature ) that is contrary to the nature of God. This does not mean that man is not accountable to God for his actions, but it surely does mean that it would be extremely unjust for God to torture him ( man ) forever.

-THANK GOD FOR HIS JUSTICE!-