IS HELL-FIRE ETERNAL?

The Words "ETERNAL TORMENT" do not appear anywhere in the Bible. The Bible does say that the wicked will be destroyed with "UNQUENCHABLE FIRE". Unquenchable fire cannot be extinguished, but goes out after burning everything to ashes. Jeremiah 17:27 says Jerusalem was to be destroyed with unquenchable fire, (2 Chron 36:19-21). Yet, Jerusalem is no longer burning.Matthew 25:46 says that the wicked will receive "EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT", but not punishing, which would be continuous. The punishment of the wicked is death, which is everlasting.(James 1:15). Sodom & Gomorrah were destroyed with everlasting, or eternal fire (Jude 7), and that fire turned them "into ashes" as a warning to "those that after should live ungodly." (2 Peter 2:6). These cities are no longer burning (Malachi 4:3).The word "FOR EVER" is used 56 times in the Bible in connection with things that have already ended. In Jonah 2:6, "for ever" means "three days and nights." (Jonah 1:17). In Deuteronomy 23:3, this means "10 generations." In the case of man, this means "as long as he lives" or "until death." (See 1 Samuel 1:22,28; Exodus 21:6; Psalm 48:14.) The fiery punishment for the wicked will vary according to individual sin, but after the punishment, the fire will go out.The devil will be cast into the lake of fire, be turned into ashes, and cease to exist.(Revelation 20:10; Ezekiel 28:18,19.)The word "HELL" is translated from several different words with various meaning: 31 times from "sheol," which means "the grave." 10 times from "Hades," whcich means, "the grave." 12 times from "Gehenna," which means "the place of burning." This is a transliteration of the Hebrew "Ge-Hinnom," which means the "Valley of Hinnom." This valley, southwest of Jerusalem was a garbage dump. Though, at one time it smoldered, it no longer burns.What about the story of the rich man and Lazarus? Many points tell us that it is a parable:A. Abraham's bosom is not heaven (Hebrews 11:8- 10,16).B. People in hell cannot talk to those in in heaven (Isaiah 65:17).C. The dead are in their graves (Job 17:13;21:30;John 5:28,29). The rich man was in bodily form - with eyes, a tongue, etc.D. Men are rewarded at Christ's second coming, not at death (Revelation 22:11,12).E. The lost are punished in hell at the end of the world, not when they die (Matthew 13:40- 42). If parables were taken literally, we'd have to believe that trees talk (Judges 9:8- 15).1 Timothy 6:16 says, that the Lord only has immortality. Satan told Eve the first lie in the garden when he said, "Thou shalt not surely die." The wicked are not immortal, but 1 Corinthians 15:53,54 tells us that the righteousshall "put on immortality" and live forever! (Romans 6:23; John 3:16).

I think your take on the difference between 'extinguish' and 'go out' is not really justified. The same word is used in "The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' (Mat 25:8 NASB)The NASB has picked up both the tense, present; and the mood, passive. The complaint of the virgins was not that someone was extinguishing their lamps but that they were 'going out' of their own accord. Consequently your verses can be translated, as did the old Geneva version, by Where their worme dyeth not, & the fire neuer goeth out. (Mar 9:44 Geneva) Otherwise this is a pretty comprehensive list of the views used to support 'annihilation of the unbelieving'; is this your view?Jeremiah's judgement pronounced against Jerusalem certainly indicates that the fire would burn to its 'bitter end' without respite. But that fire was a consuming fire and consuming fires can only burn until all is consumed. Are spirits 'consummable'?

I would begin by paying heed to this quote by G Campbell MorganLet me say to Bible students that we must be very careful how we use the word "eternity." We have fallen into great error in our constant use of that word. There is no word in the whole Book of God corresponding with our "eternal," which, as commonly used among us, means absolutely without end. The strongest Scripture word used with reference to the existence of God, is–"unto the ages of the ages," which does not literally mean eternally. Let us remember however that the self-same word, which is thus used in connection with the existence of God, is also applied to the loss of the human soul. Men have divided the Church, separated from each other, and persecuted one another, upon a thought conveyed by an English word which has no equivalent in the Bible.

I would submit that "the ages" is the scafolding from which God carries out his plan. The ages are not eternity but I suppose as a figure of speech one may refer to somthing which extends to the end of the ages as forever. Even that which extended indefinitly into the future was referd to in the OT as being OLAM (kjv: eternal) for example the temple and the priesthood. To be 'cut off' for the ages is a terrible thing indeed. To lose out on the only chance that one will ever have to grow in this environment in which God has placed us.In relation to hell, Geheena is a word used almost exclusivly by Christ (James is the one exception) it would seem to be apocolyptic language directed to the Jews of that day upon whom all of the blood of the prophts was required. Hades is the unseen the realm of the dead. So the question is really will God's Judgment carry on eternaly. Hardly, judment which goes on forever achieves nothing.Anihilation, while appearing more merciful, is hardly God glorifying. A child will quickly discard somthing that doesn't go the way he wanted, the Potter will put the clay on the wheel again.Love never fails.Taco.

We have discussed the eternal nature of hell on other threads, but I wanted to share an article on Hell by Jonathan Edwards called The End of the Wicked Contemplated by the Righteous that had a most profound and sobering effect on me. He is said to be one of the most brilliant believers America has seen. God Bless,-Robert

Perhaps Edwards has said and done many great things.HE also said this The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked. His wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire. He is of purer eyes than to bear you in his sight; you are ten thousand times as abominable in his eyes as the most hateful, venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince, and yet 'tis nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. . . . Do you believe this?

Whether I believed this or not would not be a matter of a up or down vote; but by whether I was doing everything in my power to preach the Gospel. I believe in time we will look at Edwards words in light of what we come to know as the wrath of God and say- the man didn't have a clue as to how fearful it truly is to fall into the hands of the Living God. Yet, Jesus has even stronger words:But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. This corresponds to Jeremiah 34:"I will make the men which have transgressed my covenant as the calf which they cut in twain; I will divide them asunder as they divided it asunder."But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the unfaithful.Hebrews said that those who despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who have trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant whereby he was sanctified and done despite unto the Spirit of grace. How much worse can it be than to "die without mercy?"The rich man being in hell lifted up his eyes being in torments (plural). Keep in mind that death and Hell are yet to be thrown into the lake of fire- which is the second death. Scripture speaks of a "bottomless pit" where the beast and false prophet are. "They shall be tormented day and night" is but one of a multitude of the descriptions of hell.Here is one small study on the topic. The District of Damnation.

the portion which you quoted from luke beginning thus:But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the unfaithful.ends like this And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.If this teaching is in relation to eternal torment then what is the significance of many vs few stripes? An eternity of few stripes is hardly any less than an eternity of many stripes.The calvinist and the arminan can both put together an impressive list of scriptures to support their opposite views. So can the believer in eternal torment and he that believes in a final reconcilliation fo all. One must read in context and get the overall sense of the message of the gospel.To say that Christ Jesus ever said worse than Edwards "God abhors you" is in my opinion absurd. But I a am assuming (hoping)_ that you didn't quite mean that.The bible does speak of firey judgments but it also speaks of glorios redemption.Psalm 22 tells of Christs Crucifiction, his ressurection and the final outcome of his work.it ends like this :I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.23 Ye that fear Jehovah, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and revere him, all ye the seed of Israel.24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him: but when he cried unto him, he heard.25 My praise is from thee, in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before them that fear him.26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise Jehovah that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto Jehovah, and all the families of the nations shall worship before thee:28 For the kingdom is Jehovah’s, and he ruleth among the nations.29 All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, and he that cannot keep alive his own soul.30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done it.Amen.

You're taking him out of context and implying that Edwards was saying thats how God views every human, and thats not what he was saying at all.Good Lord no! I know that Edwards is preching to the unbelievers. But my dear brother, Christ died to save sinners from their sin because he loves them and because his Father loves them (jn 3:16) The haterd God has twoards sin is the same (but purer and greater) hatred I have twords anything that would destroy my children, including thier sin/disobedience. But I don't hate them! Neither does God hate the sinners.Christ died to save us from sin. Not just to take away its penalty.

The haterd God has twoards sin is the same (but purer and greater) hatred I have twords anything that would destroy my children, including thier sin/disobedience. But I don't hate them! Neither does God hate the sinners.Ultimately your doctrine will lead you to espouse Universalism. Understand that whilst it is called today, God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son..., but when the day of God's grace has been sinned away and the blood of Jesus Christ trodden highhandedly under foot, then the wrath of God will be revealed. ALL of His wrath has been saved up for the day of wrath. Does God love Satan? I trow not! Yet, whilst there is opportunity for the children of Disobedience to hear His voice and turn to him- they might be changed into the sons of God, they might not be partakers of Satan's punishment. Yet, should they choose to be as he is they shall receive that which belongs unto him. Appealing to God's love will be of no consequence for a sinner who has trodden down the opportunity to receive that love. As far as the few and many stripes thing He is dealing with varying degreees of punishment. It has no connection to' time' or 'duration' of punishment. If a man were whipped for all eternity with a whip he is receiving 'few' stripes. If a man were whipped for all eternity with a cat o' nine tails he would be whipped with 'many' stripes.

I am copying this over to add it to the discussion. ******************HELL: The District of DamnationBy Robert Wurtz IIHell is the district of eternal damnation. It is a location that has been set apart to quarantine wickedness. Hell was created by God for the devil and his followers. Scripture uses many illustrations to describe Hell and none is more fearsome that that of Tophet/Gehenna. Tophet was a small valley southwest of Jerusalem which belonged to the sons of Hinnom. According to Jeremiah 7:31 the Children of Israel would come and sacrifice their children there to the false god Molech (I Kings 11:7,33; II Kings 16:3; Jeremiah 19:6, 11-14; etc.). Those Jews who had fallen into idolatry placed a large, bronze, hollowed out statue of Molech- shaped like a man and with its arms outstretched. A fire would be built within the statue that was fed by an air canal that made for a fierce heat. When the flames were intense and the arms red-hot the idolaters would place their babies onto the outstretched arms and hands. Some accounts say they would calculate the distance and throw the infant directly into the fire. The infants would die a horrific death; their skin would be burned off and their bodies burned alive. The screams and cries of the babies would be unbearable, even to these depraved people. Therefore, drums (tophim) were played to drown out the hideous screams of the infants to make the event tolerable for the parents who had all but quenched their familial love (storgos). Hence, Tophet, in the Hebrew, signifies the beating of drums. Tophet Becomes GehennaOver the coarse of time Tophet became synonymous with judgment and slaughter in Jewish history. King Josiah stopped the Children of Israel from making their sons and daughters “pass through the fire” and is believed to have been the person who made the area a garbage dump. Later, when Babylon came to destroy Jerusalem dead bodies were piled there until there was no room (Jeremiah 7:32, 33). By the time of Jesus, Gehenna was a trash dump that burned continually outside the city. The cities refuse, as well as the bodies of criminals, were thrown there. Gehenna was the 'visual' that Jesus used to illustrate what hell is like. Everything that we know of and think of concerning Tophet/Gehenna must come to bare. The fire, the screams, the burning of refuse; all of these are analogies as to what hell is. Hell is a place where the cosmic refuse of God’s creation is burned. It is a place where those who desire to rebel against the love and peace of God are quarantined and burned. Deep and LargeIn Isaiah 30:33 we read… For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he 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. Hell was created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Had Satan opportunity, he would have turned Heaven into Hell. He is the enemy of ALL that Heaven is. He does not like the conditions of Heaven and brought war to it. We must understand that satan was not at home in Heaven once sin was found in him. He obviously enjoys the pains of Hell because of his behavior after 1000 years in the bottomless pit. He comes out only to ADD to the punishments that he justly deserves.God did not create hell for man; but man has chosen to follow Satan and Satan is headed for hell. I have personally known of demonized men to say; "why should I go to Heaven and worship God all the time." (and other unutterable things) It was then that I realized that this man by his own admission, would not be at home in Heaven. 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 (Isaiah 5:14). Hell has expanded to contain the multitudes that are walking the broad road following Satan who militate against all that is good. Why Teaching on Hell is Often NOT EffectiveIf there is one thing that characterizes our culture and generation it is one of the "here and now" and of "instant gratification". People go into extreme amounts of debt because of the need for instant gratification. They are bolstered by the idea that the payments won’t be coming for a month or a year or more. “No payments until next year” is a sales and marketing strategy that seeks to allure people by making the payment for their excesses seem more distant and in the future. A sober minded person sees strait through such a tactic and refuses to buy anything on such terms. The Devil, in like fashion tells people to go ahead and sin; because there are no real payments "until eternity". Because the sentence is not carried out speedily; mans heart is fully set in them to do evil (Ecclestiases 8:11). People do not fear things that are distant because they are distant. They think they will “cross that bridge when the get to it.” And cross over they will- over that great gulf affixed (Luke 16:26). I have heard it said that men spend their whole lives pressing the thought of death as far back into their minds as possible. How much more do they seek to bury the idea of unending flame?Another Reason Why Teaching on Hell is Often NOT EffectiveWhat are the tophim (drums) of our lives? What are we doing to drown out the sounds and horrors of hell? What are we doing to numb our minds to the reality of hell? What is the overarching distraction that is keeping us from focusing on hell? What do we do to put hell out of our minds? The horror of hell never changes; but there are things we do to put it out of our minds. Jesus said that if our hands or feet or eyes offend us we ought to do away with them rather than go to hell (Matthew 5:29). Many, rather than doing away with them do away with the thought of hell. Jesus also said that we should not fear men who can merely kill the body; but we should fear the one who can perpetually destroy our soul in hell (Matthew 10:28). Where is that fear? Why has the doctrine of hell not been as effective as it should be? Why are people so careless with their soul in the face of such unimaginable consequences? Why do people keep telling themselves that there is time to repent? Why do we "beat the drums of procrastination" or self-deception? Why don’t people want to hear it? Many haply travel the downward broad road of destruction with the thought that they will someday change. They procrastinate as though they will feel the need to repent any greater than now. Their unconscious policy is procrastination and it is among the most dooming of mindsets. It's as though people think that right in front of the gates of hell there is going to be an “exit” for them to take; but by then it will be too late. After they had spent as many lifetimes gnawing their tongue for pain as there is sand on the sea shore there will be yet one word that will haunt them the most: ETERNITY. They have been there so long and yet they will be there forever and ever. Nothing is worth that. Nothing is worth even remotely risking that. The enemy is beating the drums of indifference and deceit- we must hearken to the cries of God’s word as it defines hell. If there is a sinner in this house, let me say to him, Abandon all your excuses. You have been told to-night that they are all vain. To-night it will be told in hell, and told in heaven, and echoed from the ends of the universe, what you decide to do. This very hour may seal your eternal destiny. Will you submit to God to-night--NOW? (C.G.F Lecture X)

Understand that whilst it is called today, God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son..., but when the day of God's grace has been sinned away and the blood of Jesus Christ trodden highhandedly under foot, then the wrath of God will be revealed. ALL of His wrath has been saved up for the day of wrath. All his wrath? Wasn't some of of it displayed on the cross. Did God hate Jesus Christ when he was on the cross? think not. So how then did he bear the wrath of God if God's wrath is hatred for the sinner. I submit to you that Gods wrath in Christ was against SIN. The cross was to deal with sin not with the penalty of it per se. Jesus became sin on the cross not a sinner. I have grat trouble with the idea that 'whlile it is today-God so loved the world' God's love isn't somthing that gets switched off at the end of one age or another. HE is love. And love without true righteousness is weak and sentimental. A love that will not deal with sin issurely no love at all. A love that leaves any quarter of this universe infected by sin is very hard for me to imagine.Anyhow I shan't belabour the point. It is not the empahsis on this site and I respect that. I have made my case as best I can.Taco.

I have grat trouble with the idea that 'whlile it is today-God so loved the world' God's love isn't somthing that gets switched off at the end of one age or another.Again, your views will lead you to Universalism which is heresy. If you believe that it is one thing, but for the sake of those who view these threads and the influence such words have in the enemies hands, I must contend. Did God hate Jesus Christ when he was on the cross? think not.This is a rhetorical question as we all know that the Father poured upon the Son our just recompense of reward. Now, that recompense has been laid upon Him, but it is the decision of the sinner as to whether or not that propitiation will be appropriated to that sinner. If the sinner responds rightly when they hear His voice and harden not their hearts they shall be saved from Sin and their sin(s); if they harden their hearts and stiffen their necks, neglecting so great salvation, and counting the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace, then we know Him who hath said; vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense saith the Lord..." I submit to you that Gods wrath in Christ was against SIN. This question is one of many reasons why we cannot afford to merely toss out the teachings of Charles G. Finney. He writes; Sin is the most expensive thing in the universe. Nothing else can cost so much. Pardoned or unpardoned, its cost is infinitely great. Pardoned, the cost falls chiefly on the great atoning Substitute; unpardoned, it must fall on the head of the guilty sinner.The cross was to deal with sin not with the penalty of it per se. Jesus became sin on the cross not a sinner. I would challenge you to continue in your studies. Christ destroyed 'the Sin' for those who believe and potentially for those who rebel. He also paid the penalty for our sin(s) as He is the propitiation for our sins ('our' are those who believe). And love without true righteousness is weak and sentimental. A love that will not deal with sin issurely no love at all. A love that leaves any quarter of this universe infected by sin is very hard for me to imagine.Hell is the place where Sinners will be quarantined for all eternity. As the angelic host they sinned to which there is no cure. Though they desire to look into salvation, there is no salvation for them. I would further submit that they do not desire salvation any more than a sinner who sees it and prefers Sin over it. Human sinners who reject so great salvation love Sin and hate God. They are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. Rejecting Jesus Christ is infinitely the worst Sin that can be conceived or realized. The hideous nature of it will take eternity to sink in to those who do it. That man is seperated eternally from God apart from Christ and the price of propitiation being the Son of God shed His blood? And that when we were yet sinners and haters of God. When we could not have deserved mercy any less. When it is impossible to fathom the contrast between our utter unworthiness and His great sacrifice- to then trod so great salvation under foot- would be a sin worthy of infinite wrath both in severity and duration. If man could not atone for a single sin how would he atone for rejecting the only means of all his sins being pardoned? OH sinner run for your life! Run whilst it is called today! Run through the strait gate to the path of the narrow way! Run for the door of the sheepfold! You dangle as it were over over the pit of infinite ruin! Your tongue will be mangled beyond recognition the first day of thy suffering as you knaw it for pain. Why shall ye curse yourself for all eternity? Why spend the days of thy sojourn trembling with fear for the wrath that shall soon be thine! Anyhow I shan't belabour the point. It is not the empahsis on this site and I respect that. I have made my case as best I can.If I might compell you to once again gaze into the book from which all revelation is weighed. For the time would fail me to list the names of men greater than we that have seen through a dark glass the horrors of Hell's unending flame and have compelled sinners to run to Christ. Finney again asks; How often have you bargained to sell your Saviour for less than thirty pieces of silver! Nay, for the merest trifle! And if it were good had the man that sold him for 30 pieces had not been born; how much better had it been that the man or women who know such things in spite of these truths would sell their birthright to the sons of God or their espousal to Jesus Christ to have not been born?

Isa 61:8 For I, Jehovah, love justice,...(ASV)For God so loved the world..... but he that believeth not is condemned already. John 3:16-18God loves sinners, but its not the only thing He loves. He loves justice. If the children of obeidience get everlasting blessing, then the children of disobedience get everlasting torment. God loves justice. Life isn't fair, but God is.

There is an interesting article on Justice on sermonindex Justice By George MacdonaldHis language isn't always easy to follow but he has some very interesting things to say.

I find it strange that at the end of the day what we see being challenged over and over again; whether it be by MacDonald or even Charles G. Finney is the ultimate power and necessity of the blood of Jesus Christ. It is impossible for me to read these writings and not feel that. how can a man believe that "repentance removes the offense that no suffering could"? Is repentance the Savior? Moreover, it is highly improper to compare man and his beggarly understanding of justice and mercy to God. This is Cain beloved! This is Cain bringing the fruits of the ground in place of the blood. The blood has been shown of late to do everything BUT what it is primarily intended to do- to COVER our sin. It arises from a fundamental misunderstanding of covenant relationships between God and man. Breaking a covenant is a sorely serious offense. The penalty for it is meeted out based upon the voice of the blood of the Testator. The blood of bulls and goats could only speak revenge because it was their nature-riddled with sin, but the blood of Christ was worthy by virtue of paying the penalty to ask for mercy in accordance with Christ's personality. Christ had both the power and the desire to take away Sin and sins. The blood of bulls and goats had neither desire nor power.Simple 'mercy' does NOT take away an offense unless the one offended has the power and the willingness to right the wrong or if I might say, to balance the scales of justice. That is the fundamental difference between us and God in terms of forgiveness. We can forgive and simply absorb the loss of what we were suffered, but we cannot mete out justice and mercy together on all occasions. In accounting terms we cannot make the books balance. But when God forgives He does not simply "right off" the sin- He goes in and pays the loss with the blood of His Son. You cannot "write off" sin- the books have to balance and everyone has to pay up one way or the other. If God pays our debt we have the obligation from there on to forgive others. We CANNOT 'balance the books' in what they did to us as God could, we can only show a willingness to let what they did 'drop' and in trun the blood of Christ will make it right. We must have the 'willingness' to show mercy and in as much as in us we must; but we cannot show mercy as God can. He balances the scales (books) when He does it and He does it with the Blood. It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul.

Bubba,The book of Romans helps to answer your question.For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:12-16)The work of the law is written on all mens hearts, our consciences bear witness to this. Even the most isolated aborigine in some jungle has a conscience and an innner knowledge of God's law. I believe that if that aborigine simply acknowledges that inner law and his guilty conscience then God will move heaven and earth to bring the gospel to that one man or Jesus Himself will minister to that man.Also, Jesus spoke of judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah being lesser than the judgment that would come upon Capernaum because Sodom and Gomorrah would have repented if they saw the works of God that Capernaum saw. This indicates to me that God will judge men's deeds but also their hearts and He knows how they would respond to the gospel even though it was never preached to them.God is perfectly just, no one will have a word of complaint against Him on the day of wrath, only the deepest regret for their unbelief. But we are not aborigines, you and I should both tremble at the responsibilty we bear for the revelation we have been given. I pray to God that we will be found worthy on the day of wrath to be counted among those who hear, "well done...".In Christ,Ron

George MacDonald was a universalist. I didn't know we had his stuff on our site.