Carlton Pearson Heretic ALERT!!!

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

Pearson explains how he first began to formulate his break from orthodoxy. In 2002, he told Charisma magazine that he "first started thinking about the inclusive doctrine after reading E.W. Kenyon's writings more than 25 years ago." Once, something said by a guest on TBN resonated with Pearson, and he began to turn it over in his mind. The quote stuck with him, and it has become the oft-cited line: "The world is already saved, they just don't know it."
Still, until the late 1990s Pearson stayed pretty orthodox. Then, when his second child, Majestè Amor, was still an infant in late 1997, Pearson was watching an evening news report about the Hutu-Tutsi conflict in Rwanda. Holding his infant daughter in his lap while watching scenes of extreme malnourishment, he had an epiphany:

I said, "God, I don't know how you could call yourself a loving, sovereign God and allow these people to suffer this way and just suck them right into Hell" — which was what was my assumption.

And I heard a voice within me say, "Well that's what you think we're doing?"

And I remember, I didn't say yes or no. I said, "That's what I've been taught."

"We're sucking them into Hell?"

I said, "Yes."

"And what would change that?"

"Well, they need to get saved."

"And how would that happen?"

"Well, somebody needs to preach the gospel to them and get them saved."

"So, if you think that's the only way they're going to get saved is for somebody to preach the gospel to them, and that we're sucking them into Hell, why don't you put your little baby down and turn your big screen television off, push your plate away, get on the first plane, and go get them saved?"

Now — and I remember I broke into tears — I was very upset. I remember thinking, "God, don't put that guilt on me. You know, I've given you the best 40 years of my life. Besides, I can't save the whole world, I'm doing the best I can. I can't save this whole world."

And that's where I remember — and I believe it was God saying: "Precisely. You can't save this world. That's what we did. You think we're sucking them into Hell? Can't you see they're already there? That's Hell. You keep creating and inventing that for yourselves. I'm taking them into my presence."

And I thought, Well, I'll be. That's weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. That's where the pain comes from. We do that to each other, and we do it to ourselves.

Then I saw emergency rooms. I saw divorce court. I saw jails and prisons. I saw how we create Hell on this planet for each other and I — for the first time in my life — I did not see God as the inventor of Hell. ("Heretics" [20:13-22:03])

Update: For another version of this revelation, see the quote from an interview, posted in my comment, below.

So, there you have it. Born again and called to preach at age 5. Licensed to minister at age 15. Holding week-long revivals and exorcising demons out of his girlfriend at age 16. Ordained into ministry at age 18. Told by God that he would be “a bridge between the nations, denominations, cultures and peoples” at age 21, Founder and CEO of Higher Dimensions Incorporated at age 24, married at age 41, a father of two by age 44.

And a heretic by age 45.

That short slippery slope.…
And now? As the NPR interviewer said, “All of his detractors — who predicted that once you stopped believing in Hell and sin, you start down a long, slippery slope to decadent universalism — were wrong: it’s a lot faster than they could have imagined” (”Heretics” [48:13-48:51]) Now, Muslims, homosexuals, and Buddhists attend Pearson’s church. And when Pearson compares the orthodox view of God to Hussein, bin Laden, and Hitler — now God comes out looking like a monster:

“The way the God of the Bible — particularly the Old Testament — is presented, he’s — he’s — he’s a monster. The God that we’ve been preaching is a monster. He’s worse than Saddam. He’s worse than Osama bin Laden, he’s worse than Hitler — the way we’ve presented him — because Hitler just burned six million Jews. You know, but God’s going to burn at least six billion people … and burn them forever. Here’s this customized torture chamber called Hell where he’s going to torment … torture … not for a few minutes, or a few days, or a few hours, a few weeks — forever.” (”Heretics” [23:18-22:53])

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

I am not God and cannot see in a man's heart, but I DO KNOW he is teaching false doctrine, I pray God turns him around. Even Appollos and Peter had to be corrected NO one is above correction...even YOU and I Anna (I am smiling when said that)

[Anna]

The term Heretic is a subjective term. The Roman Catholic Church authorities would call YOU a heretic, as they did Martin Luther:

2. Roman Catholic Church. a baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith.

heretic - One who challenges the doctrines of an established church. Martin Luther was proclaimed a heretic for rejecting many of the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/heretic

But regarding Carlton's salvation, HE IS SAVED, according to YOU, he cannot lose his salvation. Salvation is FREE. There is nothing Carlton can do to gain salvation or lose it.

Carlton believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, has confessed him, so Carlton is still saved is he not?

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

Carlton Pearson also supports the notion that those that haven't accepted Christ will not go to Hell do YOU agree with that, He also supports Homosexuality, so I stand on my assessment that He is a heretic.

[Anna]

I know you must be really glad you found the article online "Did Jesus Go To Hell" to help you answer this one!

Did Jesus Go to Hell?
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/did-jesus-go-to-hell-faq.htm

Yes I know that Jesus did not go to hell, where he went was to the "grave" and was totally unconscious durinf this time. However I and many Chrisitans were raised learning and reciting the so called "Apostle's Creed" where it is said that "He descended into hell:" Many people believe this, and I have seen childrens cartoons
depicting this.

Do you realize that the article you copied and pasted also said that NO ONE IS IN HELL TODAY:

" Hell (Geenna in Greek, also called the lake of fire and the eternal fire) was made for the Devil and his minions (Matthew 25:41) and will be occupied by all the unrighteous after the last judgement (Revelation 19:20-21 and 20:10-15). There is no biblical evidence that anyone has gone there or will go there until after Jesus' Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-16). This includes Jesus Himself."
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/did-jesus-go-to-hell-faq.htm

That contradicts what you said before.

I do think that we can sympathize/agree with Carlton's rejection of the teaching that people are in Hell now, as is confirmed in the article YOU just posted.

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

#1 - The word speaks for itself Anna that is why I posted the scriptures I agree with the Word as far as the reality of HELL. Anna I have studied Hebrew and Greek so your constant references to the "Greek" and the "Hebrew" don't impress me, I simply believe what the Bible say's....Hell is real but the way out of Hell is through faith in JESUS, He would have it that ALL be saved and none lost.

#2 - Did Jesus go to Hell? "No." The biblical authors were more accurate in their use of words than some of our Bible translators or creed writers. There are two Greek words for the abode of the dead. (Greek is the language in which the New Testament of the Bible was originally written.) Hell (Geenna in Greek, also called the lake of fire and the eternal fire) was made for the Devil and his minions (Matthew 25:41) and will be occupied by all the unrighteous after the last judgement (Revelation 19:20-21 and 20:10-15). There is no biblical evidence that anyone has gone there or will go there until after Jesus' Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-16). This includes Jesus Himself.

The other Greek word is Hadas (from which we get the English word Hades). This is the region of the dead. Before Jesus' ascension, the spirits of all people went to Hades. After His ascension, only the spirits of unbelievers go to Hades, while the spirits of believers go directly to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-8). It is into this region that Jesus entered after His crucifixion (Acts 2:25-31 in which Peter quotes from Psalm 16:9-10). Ephesians 4:8-10 says that Jesus, "had descended into the lower parts of the earth." This may also speak of Jesus' visit to Hades before His ascension. Finally, Romans 10:7 refers to Jesus in "the abyss" while He was among the dead. After the final judgment, Hades will be cast into Hell (Revelation 20:14). Therefore, the longer answer is: "Yes, Jesus descended into Hades but not into Hell."

So, how did the idea of Jesus descending into Hell get incorporated into the church creeds? The early church taught that Jesus descended into Hades. The Old Roman form of the Apostles' Creed (about A.D. 140) did not have the phrase, "He descended into Hell", and it did not appear in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 325). It seems to have been a late addition (perhaps around A.D. 390). The phrase first appeared in the Creed of Aquileia, (4th century, in the Latin words descendit in inferna - descended into Hades). In addition, the Athanasian Creed, which does contain the phrase, may not have been written until the time of Charlemagne (8th century). So, why the addition? One possible explanation is that at the end of the fourth century (around A.D. 381) the church was battling the teachings of Apollinaris. He taught that Jesus was not fully human - He had a human body and soul, but a divine spirit. The church, on the other hand, taught that Jesus had to be fully human for His death to be a true death and an effective sacrifice for sin. To demonstrate that Jesus was fully human, with a human spirit, the church may have added the Latin phrase from the Creed of Aquileia to the more popular Apostles' Creed. By the time of the Middle Ages, the words Hell and Hades had become confused and Jesus was thought to have descended into Hell.

[Anna]

Mark, you posted scriptures about hell, but none of them answsered my last two questions. I will repeat them here:

Now Mark, I'd love to hear your response, to Germain's message. Mark,

#1) Is there an ETERNAL HELL?

2) Since it is written that Jesus was in Hell for 3 days and 3 nights, according to Acts 2: 27 & 31, what Hell was He in according to our Greek text???

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

I think the Word of God is pretty much self-explainitory Anna...I believe it.

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

(2 Sam 22:6 KJV) The sorrows of hell compassed me about;
the snares of death prevented me;

Hell is described as a place of sorrow

(Job 11:8 KJV) It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

Hell is described as a place in the deep (below)

(Job 26:6 KJV) Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

Hell is described as a place of destruction


(Psa 9:17 KJV) The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Hell is a place for the wicked and those that forget God

(Psa 16:10 KJV) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

One’s soul (feelings, thoughts, emotions) will experience the reality of hell

(Psa 18:5 KJV) The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

Again sorrow is described

(Psa 55:15 KJV) Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Again hell is spoke of as being DOWN.

(Psa 86:13 KJV) For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Again DOWN!

(Psa 116:3 KJV) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Hell is a place of pain.

(Psa 139:8 KJV) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

God can be everywhere…even hell!

(Prov 5:5 KJV) Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

DOWN!

(Prov 7:27 KJV) Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

(Prov 9:18 KJV) But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Levels in hell?

(Prov 15:11 KJV) Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?


(Prov 15:24 KJV) The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Hell below us!

(Prov 23:14 KJV) Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Our souls can be delivered from hell.

(Prov 27:20 KJV) Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Hell never fills, it expands.

(Isa 5:14 KJV) Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

Again the expansiveness of hell.

(Isa 14:9 KJV) Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

If you are unsaved hell follows you, and will meet you when you die.

(Isa 14:15 KJV) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Residents of hell are trapped in the sides of hell itself.

(Isa 28:15 KJV) Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

(Isa 28:18 KJV) And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

(Isa 57:9 KJV) And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

(Ezek 31:16 KJV) I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

(Ezek 31:17 KJV) They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.

(Ezek 32:21 KJV) The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.

(Ezek 32:27 KJV) And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.

(Amos 9:2 KJV) Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

(Jonah 2:2 KJV) And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

Anatomical parts are used to describe hell.

(Hab 2:5 KJV) Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

Strong drink will lead you to hell.

(Mat 5:22 KJV) But I say unto you, 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.

Fire in hell!

(Mat 5:29 KJV) 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.

Hell should be avoided at all cost!



(Mat 5:30 KJV) And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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.



(Mat 10:28 KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The most terrible place one can imagine!

(Mat 11:23 KJV) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

(Mat 16:18 KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Gates indicated hell had some sort of government.

(Mat 18:9 KJV) 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.

(Mat 23:15 KJV) 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 than yourselves.

Religion can’t save you from hell.

(Mat 23:33 KJV) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

(Mark 9:43 KJV) 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:

(Mark 9:45 KJV) 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 never shall be quenched:

(Mark 9:47 KJV) 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:

(Luke 10:15 KJV) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

Whole communities can be hellbound!

(Luke 12:5 KJV) 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.



(Luke 16:23 KJV) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

All of the senses will work in hell.

(Acts 2:27 KJV) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Acts 2:31 KJV) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

(James 3:6 KJV) 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 effects of hell can cause problems on earth.

(2 Pet 2:4 KJV) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

(Rev 1:18 KJV) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

(Rev 6:8 KJV) And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

(Rev 20:13 KJV) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

(Rev 20:14 KJV) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Hell is only the beginning of sorrow.

Many people deny the existence of a place called hell, but denying it won’t make it go away. Jesus died so we could avoid the agony of hell.

[Anna]

Now Mark, I'd love to hear your response, to Germain's message. Mark, Is there an ETERNAL HELL?

Since it is written that Jesus was in Hell for 3 days and 3 nights, according to Acts 2: 27 & 31, what Hell was He in according to our Greek text???

[N'ZI Amani Germain]

THERE IS NO ETERNAL HELL

The Prophet William Marrion Branham said:

“…And we know that--that sometimes things are said (and certain churches), that stumble someone who has been taught contrary to what they have--are hearing. For instance, a man told me the other day, who is a friend of mine setting present now, he said, "When you said, Brother Branham, as much faith as I've had in you, and believe, when you said there wasn't no eternal hell," said, "I like to have fell out of my seat. And I said, 'Surely the man is wrong.'" And then said, "You let us stand for quite a while. And then you said, 'There is only one form of Eternal Life, and that comes from God.'" And that's what we all seek. See?

And there's no Scripture that says there is an eternal hell. 'Cause eternal never did begin, neither does it ever end. So the Bible said, hell was created for the Devil and his angels, so it isn't eternal. There was a time when it wasn't, and there'll be a time when it's not again. But they may be punished in there, through fire and brimstone, and the pits of fire, for aeons of time, but it finally will end because hell is not eternal. And if there was an eternal hell, you'd have to have Eternal Life to live in an Eternal hell. And if it was eternal, it always was, and you always was in hell and you'll always be in hell.

See, so there is no such a thing. So, you see, "eternal" is "never had a beginning or an end." And there's only one form of Eternal Life, and that is in God, comes from the Greek word "Zoe," which means "God's Own Life." And when we are borned again of the Spirit of God, we become eternal with God, because we have part of His Life, which makes us sons and daughters to God, then we have Eternal Life. And the Life that is in us, God will raise up the body with the Life at the last day; but it's the Spirit of God that's in us that raises up, because it is a Spirit of Christ that was in Christ, that quickens our bodies and raises us up also with Him to set in--in--in glory and reign with Him… ».

(William Marrion Branham: “Why I'm Against Organized Religion”, Sunday evening, 11th November 1962 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A).

William Marrion Branham also said this:

“Question: Is hell and the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone the same?
No. Hell, translation in the Bible, I believe... Now, there's scholars setting here. And I want to honor that, our Brother Iverson setting here, and Brother Vayle, and many of these brethren who are really theologians. The word translated, "hades" means "the grave." Is that right? The Greek word for the grave... But the lake of fire is something else, because over in Revelations, both hades and all was cast into the lake of fire. See? All right. Now, let's see.
... if not, is the lake of fire and hell eternal?
No, sir. No, sir. Anything that was created is not eternal. No, anything that's created... That's the reason there cannot be an eternal hell. If anybody ever tells you that you're going to burn in an eternal hell, I want the Scripture for it. See?
There's no such a thing as that.
Hell was created for the devil and his angels, for the antichrist and his people; that was the devil, the incarnate devil. It was created for that to destroy. And anything that had... Anything... There's only one thing at all out of everything there is, the whole world and everything else; there's only one thing eternal, and that's God.
Before there was an atom, or electrons, or before there was even cosmic light, electrons, or anything, He was God. He's the Creator. And that's the only way you can be eternal, is to receive Eternal Life; that Greek word there, I think, is Zoe. Isn't that right? Zoe, Zoe. And then that--that Life God imparts to you, as the father, your father imparts his life to you through the--the marriage vow with mother--and he, by that, imparts the--the joy of imparting (Catch me?), of the imparting life for a son.
And that's the way God does: a joy in imparting His Life to a son. See? And then you become part of Him which is Zoe, God's Own Life. "I give unto them Eternal Life--raise them up at the last day." That's the only thing that--that... He got Eternal Life; and that Eternal Life knows its body, and it must have to come forth. That... It can't... It's impossible for it to lay there.”

( Brother William Marrion Branham: Questions And Answers On The Seals, Sunday morning, 24th March 1963 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.)

Brother William Marrion Branham said again:

“How can there be an eternal hell, when hell was created? I believe in a burning hell. Certainly. The Bible said so, but it's to destroy. The Bible said, "Blessed is he that has not part in the second death." See? See, you won't be destroyed by second death. The first is a physical. The second is a spiritual death when everything is finished. The soul that sinneth, that soul shall die. You'll punished for your sins, maybe through the hundreds of year--thousands of years, but there can't be an eternal hell, because the Bible said hell was created. How can it be created and be eternal? If there ever was... The Bible said hell was created for the devil and his angels. And then if it was created, it can't be eternal; 'cause eternal, anything eternal never had a beginning or had an end.
That's how we can never die, because we was always. We're part of God, the offspring of God. And He's the only eternal Thing there is. Amen. You can no more die than God can die, because you're eternal with Him. Amen. Let it come (Hallelujah.), kinda getting tired of this old pest-house anyhow.”

(This Message by Brother William Marrion Branham called “Is This The Sign Of The End Sir?” was delivered on Sunday evening, 30th December 1962 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.)



WHAT IS HELL? ( In French, from Bro. Germain, )

• LA SIGNIFICATION DE L’ENFER

On emploie le mot enfer comme synonyme de « Géhenne » dans le langage courant. Ce mot dérive de l’hébreu et signifie VALLEE DE BEN-HINNOM, lieu où les Israélites sacrifiaient par le feu leurs enfants à des dieux des nations (Jérémie 7 :20-34, 19 :1-13, 2 Rois 23 :10). Plus tard, les détritus de Jérusalem y étaient brûlés.
Ce terme représente l’étang de feu, le lieu des tourments. L’âme et le corps des incrédules sont l’objet d’une destruction dans la géhenne(Matthieu 5 : 22, 10 : 28, 23 :33 ). La vallée de l’Hinnom ou du carnage illustre comment les méchants seront détruits dans le lac de feu( Marc 9 : 43-48; Apocalypse 20 : 10-15; 21 :8). L’étang ardent de feu et de soufre, dans lequel seront jetés les méchants constitue la seconde mort(Apocalypse 21 :8).
Ils ne brûleront donc pas dans les flammes à travers l’éternité. C’est ce que nous allons démontrer à travers les Saintes Ecritures.
Par ailleurs, l’enfer est différent du Hadès. En effet, le Hadès est « une expression qui désigne sans distinction le lieu où vont les âmes des morts( ceux qui sont sauvés et ceux qui sont perdus) (Matthieu 11. 23 ; Luc 16.23 ; Actes 2. 27 ; Apocalypse 1. 18). Dans le premier cas, le Hadès correspond au paradis(Luc 23. 43) ou, en langage juif, au sein d’Abraham; dans le second cas, il s’agit d’un lieu de tourments dans l’attente de la géhenne(voir Luc 16. 19-31).
La mort et le Hadès sont jetés dans l’étang de feu à la fin, après le jugement du grand trône blanc(C’est la seconde mort, l’étang de feu)(Apocalypse 20.14); ils disparaissent pour toujours ».(Confère : E. Richard Pigeon, Petit Dictionnaire du Nouveau Testament, Bibles et Publications Chrétiennes, Valence, France, 1994, P. 50).


 LEUR VER NE MEURT POINT ; LE FEU NE S’ETEINT POINT (Marc 9 : 43-48)

Puisque le feu de l’enfer ne peut être éteint, cela veut-il dire que le feu Brûlera pour toujours ? Non ! En effet, anciennement, Dieu dit qu’il allumerait un feu à Jérusalem : « …Alors, j’allumerai un feu aux portes de la ville et il dévorera le palais de Jérusalem et ne s’éteindra point(Jérémie 17 :27). Cela fut accompli comme Dieu l’avait annoncé(2Chroniques 36 :19-21).
Nous notons cependant que Jérusalem ne brûle pas maintenant. « Inextinguible » est un feu qui ne peut s’éteindre ou qu’on ne peut éteindre. Mais un feu inextinguible s’éteint toujours quand ce qui brûle a été détruit. Amen ! !
Lorsque notre Seigneur Jésus parlait de la géhenne, les gens pensaient qu’Il faisait allusion à la vallée de l’Hinnom qui était l’incinérateur de la ville de Jérusalem. Plus tôt dans l’histoire, cela était devenu un symbole de jugement, parce que dans cette vallée, un jugement divin était tombé sur les Israélites, sur leurs idoles et leurs ancêtres idolâtres(Jérémie 7 :32-34).
Ce que le feu n’avait pas dévoré, les vers le firent. Le ver ne réfère pas ici à l’âme. Dans ce cas il veut dire asticot. Le fait que le feu n’était pas éteint indique qu’il était inextinguible parce qu’il y avait un approvisionnement de déchets qui était jeté tous les jours. Pourtant, aucun feu ne brûle là aujourd’hui !
Le ver impérissable et le feu inextinguible servent à montrer que la destruction finale sera compète. Les hommes ne vivront pas éternellement dans le feu, cela les brûlera complètement.


 LE FEU ETERNEL, LE CHATIMENT ETERNEL (Matthieu 25 :41,46)


Le feu éternel et les tourments éternels(ou le châtiment éternel) ne signifient pas que les méchants seront éternels, ni que le feu brûlera éternellement. En effet, Jude, serviteur de Jésus-Christ dit ceci : « Je veux vous rappeler, à vous qui savez fort bien toutes ces choses, que le Seigneur, après avoir sauvé le peuple et l’avoir tiré du pays d’Egypte, fit ensuite périr les incrédules, qu’Il a réservé pour le jugement du grand jour, enchaînés éternellement par les ténèbres, les anges qui n’ont pas gardé leur dignité, mais qui ont abandonné leur propre demeure; que Sodome et Gomorrhe et les villes voisines, qui se livrèrent comme eux à l’impudicité et à des vices contre nature, sont données en exemple, subissant la peine d’un feu éternel »(Jude 5-7; Genèse 19 : 1-29).
Le feu qui détruisit Sodome et Gomorrhe ne brûle pas toujours aujourd’hui. En effet, l’Apôtre Pierre nous montre comment le feu réduisit ces villes en cendres et les anéantit. La punition des méchants sera un acte complet(2 Pierre 2 :6).
Une punition éternelle n’implique pas une action continuelle.
L’acte de la punition sera si complet et final que les méchants n’existeront plus(Psaumes 37 :9-10).


 AUX SIECLES DES SIECLES(Apocalypse 14 :10-11; 20 :10)

Par l’expression « aux siècles des siècles », l’Apôtre Jean parle du tourment de ceux qui adorent la bête, dans un lac de feu et de braises. Cette expression en grec veut dire d’âges en âges. La punition des méchants se fera pendant un certain temps, mais non pour une période sans fin, ce qui est évident dans d’autres passages qui montrent l’anéantissement des méchants(Matthieu 10 :28 ; Apocalypse 20 :14 ; Esaïe 1 :16-20).


 LA FIN DES MECHANTS

Dieu a-t-Il promis la vie éternelle aux méchants aussi bien qu’aux justes ? Non ! «Car le salaire du péché c’est la mort; mais le don gratuit de Dieu, c’est la vie éternelle en Jésus-Christ, notre Seigneur »(Romains 6 :23).
L’homme est mortel, corruptible(Romains 6 :12-14 ;Job 4 :17 ; 1 Corinthiens 15 :53-54). Il n’a pas une nature immortelle en lui(Romains 2 :7). Il doit donc rechercher l’immortalité s’il désire la vie éternelle. L’immortalité et la vie éternelle sont rendues possibles par Jésus-Christ, notre Seigneur(2Timothée 1 :10 ; 1 Jean 5 : 11-13, 20).
Aucun pécheur n’a la vie éternelle. Plusieurs passages des Saintes Ecritures nous révèlent que l’Eternel détruit les méchants :
- 1 Jean 3 :14-15
- Psaumes 145 :20 ; 101 :8 ; 37 :38 ; 92 :8-9 ; 21 :9-11 ; 37 :1,9,20,22,28,34,38.
- Proverbes 13 :9 ; 10 :27-31 ;13 :13 ; 19 :9.
- 2 Pierre 2 :12-13 ; 3 :7-12.
- Hébreux 6 :8 ;10 :39 ;10 :27
- 2Thessaloniciens 2 :9-10 ;1 :9.
- Esaïe 1 :28 ; 33 : 11-12.
- Apocalypse 20 :9.
- Philippiens 3 :19.
- Luc 13 :3-5
- Matthieu 3 :12 ; 13 :30
- Malachie 4 :1-3
- 1Timothée 6 :9

Le pécheur vivra-t-il éternellement dans le tourment ? Non! : « L’Eternel garde tous ceux qui l’aiment, et Il détruit tous les méchants »( Psaumes 145 :20, précité). Amen !
: «Mais les rebelles sont tous anéantis, la postérité des méchants est retranchée »(Psaumes 37 :38, précité). Amen !
: « Si les méchants croissent comme l’herbe, si tous ceux qui font le mal fleurissent. C’est pour être anéantis à jamais. Mais Toi, Tu es le Très-Haut, a perpétuité, Ô Eternel ! »(Psaumes 92 :8-9, précité). Amen !
: « Ta main trouvera tes ennemis, Ta droite trouvera ceux qui Te haïssent. Tu les rendras tel qu’une fournaise ardente, le jour où Tu monteras ; l’Eternel les anéantira dans sa colère, et le feu les dévorera.. Tu feras disparaître leur postérité de la terre, et leur race du milieu des fils de l’homme »(Psaumes 21 :9-11, précité). Amen !
: « Mais les méchants périssent, et les ennemis de l’Eternel, comme les plus beaux pâturages ; ils s’évanouissent, ils s’évanouissent en fumée »(Psaumes 37 : 20, précité) Amen !
: « Vous avez conçu du foin, vous enfanterez de la paille ; votre souffle, c’est un feu qui vous consumera. Les peuples seront des fournaises de chaux, des épines coupées qui brûlent dans le feu »( Esaïe 33 :11-12, précité). Amen !
: « Il a son van à la main : Il nettoiera son aire, et Il amassera son blé dans le grenier, mais Il brûlera la paille dans un feu qui ne s’éteint point »(Matthieu 3 : 12, précité). Amen !
: « Car voici, le jour vient, ardent comme une fournaise. Tous les hautains et tous les méchants seront comme du chaume ; le jour qui vient les embrasera, dit l’Eternel des armées, Il ne leur laissera ni racine ni rameau. Mais vous qui craignez mon nom se lèvera le soleil de la justice, et la guérison sera sous ses ailes ; Vous sortirez, et vous sauterez comme les veaux d’une étable. Et vous foulerez les méchants, car ils seront comme la cendre sous la plante de vos pieds, au jour que je prépare, dit l’Eternel des armées »( Malachie 4 :1-3, précité). Amen !
En effet, lorsque notre Seigneur emploie le mot « détruire » pour exprimer la punition du méchant, Il veut dire juste ce que le mot littéralement signifie, c’est-à-dire, exterminer, effacer(Genèse 6 :7 ). Pendant le déluge, tous les êtres vivants qui étaient sur la face de la terre furent exterminés, depuis l’homme jusqu’au bétail, aux reptiles et aux oiseaux du Ciel. Il ne resta que Noé, sa famille ainsi que tout ce qui était avec lui dans l’arche(Genèse 7 :21-23).
Ainsi, Christ représente l’arche dans laquelle réside la vie éternelle. En dehors de Lui, il n’existe aucune autre forme de vie éternelle dans le temps présent, futur ou dans l’enfer. L’enfer lui-même symbolise la séparation d’avec Christ et la mort certaine de l’âme du pécheur qui a rejeté Christ(2Thessaloniciens 1 :8-10, Philippiens 3 :18-19).
La destruction des méchants n’a jamais voulu dire qu’ils seront gardés éternellement en vie dans le tourment. Celui qui est en vie n’est pas détruit tant qu’il reste en vie. Une personne ne peut donc pas vivre éternellement dans le feu. En effet, notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ dit ceci : « Ne craignez pas ceux qui tuent le corps et qui ne peuvent tuer l’âme; craignez plutôt celui qui peut faire périr l’âme et le corps dans la géhenne »(Matthieu 10 :28). Nous devons savoir que la destruction d’un être vivant produit la mort. Quand l’Apôtre Paul parle de « ruine éternelle »(2Théssaloniciens 1 :8-9), il faudra savoir que celle-ci est de même que si l’on disait « éternelle dans ses conséquences ». C’est donc un acte complet(Jude 7). Le méchant n’existera pas à travers l’éternité : assurément, l’âme qui pêche mourra. L’Eternel dit : « Voici, toutes les âmes sont à moi, l’âme du fils comme l’âme du père, l’une et l’autre sont à moi, l’âme qui pèche, c’est celle qui mourra »(Ezéchiel 18 :4). L’âme de tout homme est mortelle, il n’y a que Dieu seul qui possède l’immortalité(1Timothée 6 :16). Ce n’est qu’en Lui que se trouve la vie éternelle, et seul celui qui par l’expérience de la nouvelle naissance a reçu cette vie peut vivre éternellement : « Et voici ce témoignage, c’est que Dieu nous a donné la vie éternelle, et que cette vie est dans son Fils: Celui qui a le Fils a la vie ; celui qui n’a pas le Fils de Dieu n’a pas la vie »(1 Jean 5 :11-12).
Les méchants ne vivront pas éternellement mais seront exterminés( Malachie 4 :1-3, précité). Le Diable lui-même sera pour toujours anéanti(Hébreux 2 :14; Apocalypse 20 :9-10). La ruine des méchants sera complète(ou leur destruction sera éternelle). Nulle part dans l’univers de Dieu, le péché ou le pécheur ne sera trouvé(Psaumes 37 :20, précité).
Voici donc la vérité ! Amen ! William Marrion Branham était donc un prophète authentique inspiré par l’Esprit de Dieu, tandis Christian Piette et son élève Toh Glacia sont de faux docteurs, qui, semblables à des perroquets récitent sans comprendre ce qu’ils ont appris dans leurs instituts bibliques, ces citernes crevassées qui ne retiennent pas l’eau. Repentez-vous ! Repentez-vous, car Dieu détruira les impénitents, ceux qui sont endurcis dans leur rébellion : « Que méditez-vous contre l’Eternel ? C’est Lui qui détruit. La détresse ne paraîtra pas deux fois. Car entrelacés comme des épines, et comme ivres de leur vin, ils seront consumés comme la paille sèche, entièrement. De toi est sorti celui qui méditait le mal contre l’Eternel, celui qui avait de méchants desseins. Ainsi parle l’Eternel : Quoique intacts et nombreux, ils seront moissonnés et disparaîtront. Je veux t’humilier, pour ne plus avoir à t’humilier… »(Nahum 1 : 9-12). Alléluia ! ! ! !

En effet, « l’Eternel garde tous ceux qui l’aiment, et Il détruit tous les méchants »(Psaumes 145 :20, précité). Voyons encore ! : « Car les méchants seront retranchés et ceux qui espèrent en l'Eternel posséderont le pays. Encore un peu de temps, et le méchant n’est plus, Tu regardes le lieu où il était, et il a disparu »(Psaumes 37 : 9-10).


 POUR TOUOURS, A JAMAIS

Dans la Bible , l’expression « à jamais » ou « pour toujours » est appliquée très souvent à un temps limité plutôt qu’à un temps indéfini.
En effet, Paul, intercédant pour l’esclave Onésime, qui s’était enfui de chez Philémon son Maître, dit que cet esclave fut reçu par Philémon à jamais ou pour l’éternité, mais quand il mourut, il ne pouvait plus être un serviteur : « Peut-être a-t-il été séparé de toi pour un temps, afin que tu le recouvres pour l’éternité non comme un esclave, mais comme supérieur à un esclave, comme un frère bien-aimé, de moi particulièrement, et de toi à plus forte raison, soit dans la chair, soit dans le Seigneur »(Philémon 15 ; 16).
En outre, Deutéronome 15 : 17 nous parle du serviteur servant son maître à jamais ou pour toujours, mais « à jamais » se termine par la mort du serviteur.
Notons également que 1 Chroniques 28 :4 nous montre que David serait Roi à jamais ou à toujours, pourtant il ne régna que pendant quarante(40) ans(1 Chroniques 29 :27).
Jonas dans le ventre du poisson, pria l’Eternel son Dieu et dit que les barres de la terre l’avaient enfermé pour toujours(Jonas 2 :7). Cependant, notre Seigneur Jésus nous dit que Jonas resta pendant trois(3) jours et trois(3) nuits dans le ventre d’un grand poisson(Matthieu 12 :40).
Retenons que la durée de l’expression « à jamais » ou « pour toujours » est déterminée par la façon dont elle est appliquée. Si nous l’appliquons dans le domaine de la vie et disons, Dieu vit à jamais ou les saints vivront à jamais, nous voulons dire que leur vie sera sans fin, parce que Dieu est immortel par nature et que les saints recevront l’immortalité.
En revanche, si nous disons que Satan et les méchants brûleront à jamais, nous voulons dire tant qu’ils vivront, ce qui ne sera pas sans fin, puisque par nature ils sont mortels, et que la vie éternelle ne leur sera pas accordée(1 Jean 5 :11-13). Cela ne veut pas nécessairement dire une condition qui ne finit pas. Cela veut dire une continuation sans rupture et la longueur de cette continuation dépend de l’objet sur lequel elle est appliquée.
En effet, Il en est de même de l’expression « être grand». Par exemple, un homme qui est grand peut mesurer 1,90 mètres , tandis qu’une montagne qui est grande peut mesurer 4000 mètres d’altitude. Le mot « grand » ici désigne l’élévation verticale de deux choses, mais qui n’ont pas la même hauteur. Il en est de même de l’expression « à jamais » utilisée soit pour Dieu et Ses saints, soit pour Satan et les méchants(Matthieu 25 :41).
Satan lui-même n’existera pas pendant toute l’éternité: « Par la multitude de tes iniquités, par l’injustice de ton commerce, tu as profané tes sanctuaires ;Je fais sortir du milieu de toi un feu qui te dévore, Je te réduis en cendre sur la terre aux yeux de tous ceux qui te regardent. Tous ceux qui te connaissent parmi les peuples sont dans la stupeur à cause de toi, tu es réduit au néant, tu ne seras plus à jamais ! »(Ezéchiel 28 :18-19).
Dieu détruira et effacera toute trace de péché dans l’univers : « Voici, ils sont comme de la paille, le feu les consume, ils ne sauveront pas leur vie des flammes. Ce ne sera pas du charbon dont on se chauffe, ni un feu auprès duquel on s’assied »(Esaïe 47 :14).
Croyez-vous que les méchants vivront éternellement dans le feu de la géhenne ? Voyons: «Et ils montèrent sur la face de la terre, et ils investirent le camp des saints et la ville bien aimée. Mais un feu descendit du Ciel, et les dévora. Et le Diable, qui les séduisait, fut jeté dans l’étang de feu et de soufre où sont la bête et le faux prophète. Et ils seront tourmentés jour et nuit, aux siècles des siècles »(Apocalypse 20 :9-10 ; 14 :9-11).
Ce tourment est jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient transformés en cendres. Quand la fumée de leur tourment s’est élevée, elle s’en va à jamais.

Au total, pourquoi y aura-t-il l’enfer ?
L’intention de Dieu est de détruire le Diable, d’effacer toute trace de péché et de faire un monde nouveau(Apocalypse 21:1-8). Celle-ci fut exprimée par l’Apôtre Pierre en ces termes : « Or le jour du Seigneur viendra comme un voleur; et dans ce jour là, les cieux passeront avec un bruit sifflant, et les éléments embrasés seront dissous, et la terre et les œuvres qui sont en elles seront brûlées entièrement. Toutes ces choses devant donc se dissoudre, quelles(gens) devriez-vous être en sainte conduite et en piété, attendant et hâtant la venue du jour de Dieu, à cause duquel les cieux en feu seront dissous et les éléments embrasés se fondront. Mais selon sa promesse, nous attendons de nouveaux cieux et une nouvelle terre, dans lesquels la justice habite » (2 Pierre 3 :10-13: version Darby).
La volonté de Dieu, ce n’est que le méchant meurt, c’est qu’il change de conduite et qu’il vive. Une personne n’a pas besoin de terminer sa vie dans le feu de l’enfer. Jésus-Christ est notre seul moyen d’y échapper : « Car Dieu a tant aimé le monde, qu’Il a donné son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit en Lui ne périsse pas mais qu’il ait la vie éternelle »(Jean 3 : 16).
Il n’y a donc qu’une seule forme de vie éternelle, celle qui est en Christ, les méchants périront par le feu de l’enfer.
En effet, 1 Jean 3 :15 nous révèle qu’ «… aucun meurtrier n’a la vie éternelle demeurant en lui ».
Au total, au regard de tout ce qui précède, nous pouvons affirmer que l’enfer n’est pas éternel.


Blessings,

Bro. Germain

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