Lesson 4 - Hell's Illusion

Gehenna Fire: NOT Eternal Torment 🔥

• What is Gehenna?

  • Gehenna was a garbage dump outside Jerusalem where waste, dead animals, and even diseased bodies were burned.

  • Historically, it was also a place where children were sacrificed to Molech—a detestable practice condemned in the Old Testament.

  • Because of this history, Gehenna became a symbol of destruction and cleansing, not eternal torture.

• Where is "Gehenna Fire" used in the Bible?

  • Used 13 times in the New Testament (12 by Jesus, 1 by James).

  • First mention: Matthew 5:21-22 → "Whoever says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna."

• Key Points About Gehenna Fire:

  • It is not a reference to eternal punishment—Jesus used it as a metaphor for the consequences of sin and social conflict.

  • Fire (Greek: pur) in the Bible is always a symbol of purification, not torture.

  • Jesus never taught that God would use fire to torment people forever—instead, he warned about the real-life consequences of division, hatred, and conflict.

• Misinterpretation by the Church:

  • Catholic and Protestant translators twisted “Gehenna” into “hell”, misleading generations into believing in a torture chamber after death.

  • The "fire of Gehenna" is a metaphor for destruction, refinement, and judgment, not eternal suffering.

Destruction (Apollymi) – NOT Annihilation 🏚

• Greek Word: Apollymi (ἀπόλλυμι)

  • Mistranslated as “eternal destruction” in many Bibles.

  • The actual meaning is loss, ruin, or breaking down of the old—not annihilation or endless torment.

• Biblical Examples of Destruction = Renewal

  • John 12:24 → “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

    • Destruction leads to transformation.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:36 → “What you sow is not made alive unless it dies.”

    • Death leads to new life.

  • Matthew 7:13-14 → “Wide is the gate that leads to destruction, but narrow is the way that leads to life.”

    • Jesus was speaking to the Jews, warning that clinging to the law (the broad way) would lead to ruin, while the narrow way of grace led to true life.

• The True Purpose of Destruction in Scripture:

  • Destruction is part of God’s restorative process.

  • It removes the old to make way for the new.

  • Physical death is not the end—it’s a doorway to something greater.

• How the Church Twisted "Destruction"

  • Church tradition made destruction seem like eternal separation from God.

  • In reality, destruction is a temporary, refining process, much like how fire purifies gold (Malachi 3:3).

• Destruction = A GOOD THING in the Kingdom

  • Just like old houses are torn down to build better ones, destruction is part of God’s restoration plan.

  • Instead of fear, we should see destruction as an act of divine renewal.

Free Will: A Man-Made Illusion 🧠

• The Myth of Free Will

  • We’ve been told that our "free will" determines our eternal destiny.

  • This implies that our choices override God’s sovereignty and love—which contradicts the nature of God.

• What Does the Bible Say About Free Will?

  1. Romans 3:11 → "No one seeks God."

  2. Romans 8:7 → "The carnal mind is hostile to God and cannot submit to Him."

  3. John 6:44 → "No one can come to me unless the Father draws (Greek: helko, meaning 'drags') him."

  4. Romans 9:16 → "It does not depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

• Free Will is an Illusion Because:

  • All of our decisions are influenced by something (environment, upbringing, spiritual encounters).

  • True free will would require us to be completely uninfluenced—which is impossible.

  • God is in control—not our “decision-making power.”

• Why Did the Church Push the Free Will Doctrine?

  • To justify hell:

    • "God doesn't send people to hell; they choose it."

  • To shift responsibility from God to humans:

    • If we go to hell, it's "our fault," not God’s.

  • To maintain control:

    • If we believe our eternal fate depends on our actions, we become easier to manipulate.

• Reality Check:

  • God’s will is greater than ours.

  • God is not losing a battle against human choice.

  • He will accomplish His purpose of restoring all things (Acts 3:21).