The ends of the 4 Christian hells, Part 2 (short version)

Jesus warned about Gehenna, worms and fire in Mark 9:43–48,

And if your hand should ever be snaring you, strike it off. It is ideal for you to be entering into life maimed, rather than, having two hands, to come away into Gehenna, into the unextinguished fire ⁴⁴ where their worm is not deceasing and the fire is not going out. ⁴⁵ And if your foot should be snaring you, strike it off. For it is ideal for you to be entering into life maimed or lame, rather than, having two feet, to be cast into Gehenna, into the unextinguished fire, ⁴⁶ where their worm is not deceasing and the fire is not going out. ⁴⁷ And if your eye should be snaring you, cast it out. It is ideal for you to be entering into the kingdom of God one-eyed, rather than, having two eyes, to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, ⁴⁸ where their worm is not deceasing and the fire is not going out.

Concordant Literal New Testament - CLNT

Christianity says that the valley of Gehenna is hell and the lake of fire, and that the judgment of Gehenna/hell/lake of fire is everlasting. But this miraculous morphing of the valley of Gehenna into hell and the lake of fire cannot be found in the Scriptures. And not one single judgment in the Scriptures is everlasting. Even Satan's time in the lake of fire is limited to "the eons of the eons" (Revelation 20:10)

They err, greatly.

Gehenna, an actual valley outside of Jerusalem, will end when this current earth ends. This takes place at the end of the next eon, after the millennium,

And I perceived a great white throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them.

Revelation 20:11 - CLNT

The apostle Peter gives us more details concerning this event,

Earth, in the future

Yet the heavens now, and the earth, by the same word, are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men. ⁸ Now of this one thing you are not to be oblivious, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not tardy as to the promise, as some are deeming tardiness, but is patient because of you, not intending any to perish, but all to make room for repentance. ¹⁰ Now the day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief, in which the heavens shall be passing by with a booming noise, yet the elements shall be dissolved by combustion, and the earth and the works in it shall be found. ¹¹ At these all, then, dissolving, to what manner of men must you belong in holy behavior and devoutness, ¹² hoping for and hurrying the presence of God's day, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements decompose by combustion! ¹³ Yet we, according to His promises, are hoping for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness is dwelling.

2 Peter 3:7–13 - CLNT

So, there it is, the end of Gehenna, the second Christian "hell."
__________________
Image: Melting earth on Pikist 

Look Hillary! Clear proof that the election is rigged

"Commence 'Operation Big Rig.'"

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are in the homestretch. And both of these saggy, slightly-overweight politicians are probably excited that the finish line is in sight. Election day, November 8th ... or is it the 28th? ... , is quickly approaching, and soon the United States will have a new president.

Trump has recently been accusing the media, politicians, and those overseeing polling sites of rigging elections. He is 100% correct that elections are rigged. But he's blindly pointing his finger at those he thinks are pulling the strings, while the identity of the real rigger remains anonymous - until now.

So who is The Donald not seeing that has the the real clout and stealthiness to secretly seat chosen individuals into the most powerful chairs on the planet?

God.  

Yes, God is the rigger of elections and the determiner of victors.

You should know this

God has revealed the fact of His election of leaders for all to see. Have you seen it?

God's dealings with Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, in Daniel 4 is an example to the whole world of God's control over mankind.

God humbles the proud, powerful king so that "the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men" (Daniel 4:17).  

After the king is humbled by God, he comes to understand that it is God Who gave him his kingdom and power.  Nebuchadnezzar then says in Daniel 4:35,

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

We may not like God's choice for the new president, but we must live with it, or move to Canada - where He also chooses the leaders.

Low people rising

So, you see, the election is rigged. Go ahead and vote, but realize that the only vote that really counts has already been cast. And maybe God has chosen the leader you prefer. Good for you. But also realize, according to Daniel 4:17 above, that God often "sets over it the lowest of men."

Donald? Hillary? Neither is someone I could wholeheartedly stand behind because of their low moral character - you know, the lies, womanizing, arrogance, etc. Yes, God will often put the lowest of people into the highest positions. Putin in Russia, Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Hitler, Stalin and on and on. And "No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'" Well, you could say to Him "What have You done?" but don't wait for an answer.

God gave authority to Pilate (who was not a good guy) to kill His Son. As Jesus was on trial, He had this revealing conversation with the Roman leader,

Pilate said to [Jesus], “Won’t You speak to me? Don’t You realise that I have the power to set You free, and I have the power to have You crucified?” 11 “You have no power at all against Me,” replied Jesus, “except what was given to you from above ...." John 19:10-11 (Phillips Version)

Pilate's power, and the power displayed by all human leaders throughout history, comes not from them, but from God. We see this stated clearly in Romans 13:1, "For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

Be careful what you ask for

God's chosen nation, Israel, rejected God as their king and instead wanted a man as king. God gave them what they wanted. But He warned them how the king would make the people his servants, and He detailed for them the negative things the king would do to the people. You can read it here in 1 Samuel 8. These same results can be seen throughout the world today when people want a human king instead of God as their King.

Contrast what the human king would do compared to the tremendous blessings God promised to Israel if it would walk in His ways.

Even after God's warning, the people still wanted a flawed, weak human king.

I'm often amused by the way people adore politicians. They are often treated like celebrities. Their followers put their heart and soul into candidates who will often eventually disappoint them. People want so badly for their candidate to win that they will often overlook and excuse their serious flaws.

Politicians like to refer to themselves as "public servants." But all too often our "public servants" serve only themselves. And as God warned Israel that their human king would take and take and take some more, the majority of today's politicians follow this same pattern. And we in fact become their servants.

Who is your king?

King Donald? Queen Hillary? It seems likely that God will put one in the Oval Office. Will either of these rule in your life, or is that place for God only?

No one in Washington D.C. is going to save you.

Thankfully there is coming a day when God's chosen leader, Jesus, will reign on the earth.

And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of this world became our Lord's and His Christ's, and He shall be reigning for the eons of the eons! Amen!" (Revelation 11:15 - Concordant Literal New Testament)

Then all of humanity will see the difference between God as King and man as king. And mankind will not throw their arms in the air in exasperation saying, "What have You done?" Instead, we will be saying with king Nebuchadnezzar, "praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice (Daniel 4:37). I don't see Donald or Hillary's first speech as president echoing these wise words of the king.

Until Jesus reigns on the earth, we must endure the leadership of low people. But we can also follow Him as our King now.

Sincerely,
Wes

P.S.
Just as God gave the Israelites something that wasn't good for them - a human king - He will sometimes give us our heart's desires when we want something that's not good for us. But when we reject Him and His ways in favor of our own sinful desires, He also gives us the consequences that come with our unwise desires. Choose God. Call on Him right now.  

  

Democracy will someday cease to exist...thank God!

Ahhhh... just imagine... no more political ads. Better yet, no more self-serving politicians! No more lies. No more mud-slinging. No more BS!

Do you long for a government that does what is right? Not one based on the majority, because history has shown the majority can be disastrously wrong. But a government based on what is really right - on what God says is right. 

I'm talking about a future when Jesus - God's Son, your Savior, the One Who loves you and died for you - rules on the earth.

The Principle of Contrast

The United States has some real bozos running it. But some countries have leaders who are downright evil controlling the people. 

Why does God allow weak, ill-equipped humans to poorly run this nation and the world? One major reason: Contrast.

One way God teaches us is through contrast. We don't appreciate a blessing until we've experienced a curse. We don't appreciate good until we've experienced evil. We don't appreciate God's provision of food unless we've been hungry. We don't appreciate rain until we've had drought. We don't appreciate life until we've seen death. We won't appreciate Jesus running the earth until we experience corrupt people running the earth. And our experience on the bad side of these things needs to last long enough for us to never forget it when we are enjoying the good side.

Let's be honest. We usually look to God seriously when times are tough. We tend to forget Him when times are good. We're like the "friend" who only comes around when he wants something.

The human race is slow to learn that we always need God - in good times and bad. Who do you think created your heart to beat without you even thinking about it? Who do you think created the air you're breathing? Yeah, we take God for granted.

If you ignore God and put your hope and trust in anything other than Him, He lets you have your way and experience the negative consequences that come with it. If you don't want God to be your King, the only other option is for other humans to rule over you. Bad choice. (I guess a third option could be Satan ruling over you, if that's your thing. Another bad choice.)

So God allows life to suck sometimes so we lean on Him and we'll properly appreciate life when it's good. 

We won't get a vote

"Willy, I told you the ladies dig the dreads."

The earth has been run by corrupt people for so long, I don't know if we can truly grasp how good it will be when Jesus does rule on the earth. I guess we'll just have to wait and experience it. But try to look beyond the voting booths and Donald Trump's hair to get a glimpse of the wonderful future. 

When you go from Bush 1 to Clinton to Bush 2 to Obama some things change - like new curtains in the White House. Maybe even a new First Dog. But it's pretty much government as usual with feeble men in charge. Even the better leaders are limited to what they can do by weak leadership in other areas of government.

But if you go from Bush to Clinton to Bush to Obama to JESUS, it's all gonna change. Can you say "night and day?" No more weak men running the world. Jesus is gonna take over. He won't whine in a political ad to get your vote. He won't need it.

Jesus and His followers - those hand-picked by Him - will reign on the earth. And His followers will act in harmony with Him and answer directly to Him as they rule the earth.

♪♪ You say you want a revolution ♪♪

The political systems we now see will be completely overthrown for the better. There will be a new, real Sheriff in town. Jesus will kick some butt, but total restoration is His ultimate goal. Here's a peek into the future.

¹⁵ And out of [Jesus'] mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. (Revelation 19)

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)

And the new Sheriff's posse will be a powerful bunch. Paul, one of Jesus' future top world deputies, wrote this in the Bible to other future world deputies,

² "Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Know you not that we shall judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6)

The reign of Jesus and his followers on the earth won't be weak. Sometimes discipline will need to be dealt out. Jesus said,

²⁶ "And he that overcomes, and keep My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to pieces: even as I received of my Father." (Revelation 2)

When Jesus reigns on the earth, the whole world will learn what is truly right from God's point of view.

When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. (Isa. 26:9)

He will not need NATO or other worldwide man-made organizations to accomplish His will. And He won't have to use nukes either. He has all power and all resources available to judge the world.  

⁹ The Lord will be King over the whole earth...¹⁶ Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. ¹⁷ If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. (Zechariah 14)

Politicians talk about change. Jesus will make all things new, and right, and good.

"But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13)

Jesus is the King of kings, but has not yet come to rule the earth. But He will, just as God has said for a long time.

"Heaven must receive [Jesus] until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets." (Acts 3:21)

It's going to happen. It's just a matter of time. Are you looking forward to it, or dreading it?

God's message to the whole world, but especially world leaders

¹ Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break Their chains
    and throw off Their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in His anger
    and terrifies them in His wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed My king
    on Zion, My holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are My Son;
    today I have become Your Father.
⁸ Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth Your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
    You will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear
    and celebrate His rule with trembling.
¹² Kiss His Son, or He will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for His wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

 (Psalm 2)

While we patiently wait for Jesus to reign on the earth, He can reign in your life right now. If you're not already part of His posse, call on His name and repeat after Carrie Underwood, "Jesus take the wheel."



Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. Until the day Jesus reigns on the earth, we should vote for the best possible people to govern us. And since God is the One Who is able to establish and destroy nations - including the United States - I simply suggest we choose public servants who are most in line with Him. But if they ignore God, don't be surprised when they fail. Keep your eyes on Jesus - He'll never fail.

Do you really want a human to rule over you? Read 1 Samuel 8.