Join the panel as they discuss Lesson 10, The Fires of Hell. See why this week’s keyboard is so important.

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The Roman Catholic Church holds that the dead who do not deserve hell but who are not yet ready for Paradise can have their sins purged in purgatory and then ascend from there to Paradise. Their sufferings in purgatory can be reduced by the prayers and penances of loved ones.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is explicit about purgatory: “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church (New York: Doubleday, 1995), p. 291.

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It states, too, that their suffering can be alleviated by the prayers of their loved ones as well as by other acts on behalf of the dead. “The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 291.

Read Ecclesiastes 9:10, Ezekiel 18:20-22, and Hebrews 9:27. How do these passages refute the theory of purgatory?

The dogma of purgatory combines the pagan notion of a burning hell with the pagan practice of praying for the dead. This dogma is unacceptable for those who believe in the biblical teachings 1. that the dead remain resting unconsciously in their graves (Eccles. 9:10); 2. that the righteousness of one fallen human being cannot be transferred to another fallen human being (Ezekiel 18:20-22); 3. that our only Mediator is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5); and 4. that death is followed by the final judgment, without any second chance to repent from the pitfalls of this life (Hebrews 9:27).

An even more serious implication is how the antibiblical theory of purgatory distorts God’s own character. Indeed, “Satan’s work since his fall is to misinterpret our heavenly Father. He suggested the dogma of the immortality of the soul. … The idea of an eternally burning hell was the production of Satan; purgatory is his invention. These teachings falsify the character of God, that He shall be regarded as severe, revengeful, arbitrary, and not exercising forgiveness.” — Ellen G. White, Manuscript 51 (Dec. 10), 1890. Instead of the dead asleep, awaiting Christ’s return, this view says they’re in purgatory, suffering there until someone manages to get them out.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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The theme hymn for this quarter’s studies “On Death, Dying and the FUTURE HOPE” is 
Hymn 214 – We Have This Hope.

The studies we have completed so far are reverberating in 
Hymn 203 – This Is The Threefold Truth and will do through to the end of this quarter.

To help us understand the Bible clearly and avoid the worldly ideas of mankind, 
Lord, I Have Made Thy Word My Choice – Hymn 273. We are then to “sleep not as others; be watchful, and wait” as sung in 
Hymn 600 – Hold Fast Till I Come because 
God Is My Strong Salvation – Hymn 339.

The Biblical View (Thursday) encourages each of us to accept “the gracious gift of eternal life” – Jesus Christ – who give us salvation: 
Hymn 646 – To The Name That Brings Salvation because 
God Is My Strong Salvation – Hymn 339.  1 John 5:11, 12 states “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life”: 
Hymn 637 – Son of God, Eternal Saviour, Hymn 85 – Eternal Father and 
Hymn 90 – Eternal God. All of this is given to us 
Because He Lives – Hymn 526.

Today we look forward to Jesus coming again. Oh, what a day that will be 
When We All Get To Heaven – Hymn 633 because 
That Glorious Day Is Coming – Hymn 209.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought: What happens after we die? There are some unbiblical theories and Biblical truths we need to look at.
December 3, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 66:24, Mark 9:42-48.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What was the source of the fire Jesus referred to that was just outside the walls of Jerusalem?
3. Personal Application: How do you feel about the fact that everybody is going to be eternally lost if they don’t accept Jesus and live according to His will? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “The Bible says that the Gehenna fire is not quenched and the fire does not die. That is pretty clear that hell is for eternity.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Malachi 4:1, Jude 7.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How does Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed by an eternal fire help us understand hell fire?
3. Personal Application: How does the concept of an eternal punishing fire match the Biblical description of God’s love and mercy? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “God destroys the lost in an everlasting fire. That means they burn forever. How can you say that the fires of hell are only temporary?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Acts 2:29,34,35; I Corinthians 15:16-18..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is
2. How do these passages refute the theory of purgatory?
3. Personal Application: Why does the concept of a Catholic purgatory not agree with the teachings of Scripture and the state of the dead? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “I think purgatory is a good thing. It helps people who weren’t ready to go to heaven to get cleaned up and purified so that they could get in. It’s like a second chance for those not quite ready yet..” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read I John 5:3-12.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why does John limit eternal life only to those who die in Christ?
3. Personal Application: How does knowing the dead are asleep in the ground help the living in their understanding that it is “good news”? Share your thoughts?
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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In his booklet for children entitled, The Sight of Hell (Dublin: James Duffy, [1874], p. 24), English Roman Catholic priest John Furniss (1809-1865) illustrates the eternal torment by means of a great solid-iron ball, larger than the heavens and the earth. “A bird comes once in a hundred millions [sic] of years and just touches the great iron ball with a feather of its wing.” The author argues that the burning of sinners in hell continues even after that iron ball is worn away by such occasional feather touches!

The sad thing is, many Protestants even today believe in something similar for the lost.

Read Malachi 4:1 and Jude 7. How can these passages help us better understand the notion of “eternal fire” or the idea, as Jesus had expressed it, that the lost will be in “everlasting fire” (Matthew 18:8) or in a “fire that shall never be quenched”? (Mark 9:43, NKJV).

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The word “eternal” (Heb. ’olam; Greek aion, aionios) carries different meanings, depending on the immediate context. For example, when associated with God (Deuteronomy 33:27, ”everlasting”), the word expresses His eternity. When related to human beings (Exodus 21:6, “forever”), the word is limited by their life span. When qualifying fire (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, “everlasting”), it implies that the fire will not go out until it fully consumes what is being burned. This means that the “eternal fire” will be eternal in the sense that it will consume the wicked completely and irreversibly, leaving them “neither root nor branch” (Malachi 4:1, NKJV).

The theory of an everlasting punishment of the wicked has serious implications. If the wicked are punished forever, then evil will never be eradicated. Also, all human life derives from God (Deuteronomy 32:39, Psalm 36:9), who has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11, NKJV). Why then would He continue to grant life to the wicked to suffer in endless torment? Would it not be much more reasonable for Him just to end their existence? If the wicked will be punished “according to their works” (Revelation 20:12, NKJV), why then should a short human life be punished endlessly?

All Bible references to the “eternal fire” should be seen as allusions to the post-millennium “lake of fire” of Revelation 20:1-15 (see lesson 13). Thus, it is unbiblical to speak of an already-present, ever-burning hell.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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