Time Magazine: "Is Hell Dead?"

Time Magazine questions "Is Hell Dead?"

Jesus referred to hell in the New Testament as being synonymous with Gehenna, or a Place of Torment, The Valley of Hinnom, south west of Jerusalem, "where their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched." Isaiah 66:24. The valley came to be regarded as a place of abomination because some of the Israelites sacrificed their children to Moloch there.  In a later period it was made a refuse dump, and perpetual fires were maintained to prevent pestilence. Thus, in the New Testament, Gehenna became synonymous with hell.  Jesus knew what He was talking about.  Hell is a real place.  Also, See 1 Kings 11:7, and 2 Kings 23:10

As the most splendid of Christian celebrations approaches, The Passover and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will always find some of the usual heretics coming out of the woodwork who attempt to cloud and distract from  the message of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and His atonement for sin and make light of the words of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, and His teachings.   But remember the words of Jesus Himself, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

Take for instance the April 14, 2011 cover article on Time Magazine “Is Hell Dead?”featuring Rob Bell, and the promotion of his new book. The article is a long one, so I will excerpt a couple of points of biblical conflict, but first I will say that if you don’t know who Rob Bell is, he  is the ’emergent church’guru well known among Bible believing Christians for his anti- biblical ‘emergent’ church teachings, and according to the Time article, Bell is now suggesting that the redemptive work of Jesus may be universal. Bell is also a teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church. For an exhaustive study on Rob Bell, his works and associates, see Apprising Ministries.

Bell suggests that the redemptive work of Jesus may be universal — meaning that, as his book's subtitle puts it, "every person who ever lived" could have a place in heaven, whatever that turns out to be. Such a simple premise, but with Easter at hand, this slim, lively book has ignited a new holy war in Christian circles and beyond.

He believes that Jesus, the Son of God, was sacrificed for the sins of humanity and that the prospect of a place of eternal torment seems irreconcilable with a God of love.  Belief in Jesus, he says, should lead human beings to work for the good of this world.  What comes next has to wait.  "When you get to what happens when we die, we don't have any video footage," Bell says.  "So let's at least be honest that we are speculating, because we are." He is quick to note, though, that his own speculation, while unconventional, is not unprecedented. "At the center of the Christian tradition since the first church," Bell writes, "have been a number who insist that history is not tragic, hell is not forever, and love, in the end, wins and all will be reconciled to God."

MSNBC Host Makes Rob Bell Squirm: "You're Amending The Gospel So That It's Palatable!"
Unfortunately, for Rob Bell, he is rewriting the Gospel of Christ, does not take Jesus at His Word concerning hell, and is peddling a false gospel.  The Lord's chosen apostle Peter warned us about men like Bell in 2 Peter 2:1-2.  He is walking in the flesh, has himself been deceived by satan, is a false teacher and is obviously not born again, according to the scriptures.

 What did Jesus say about hell? This is just one of the many verses that Jesus spoke of concerning hell. Just the mere thought of this should make men like Rob Bell run to Jesus and believe His words  before it is too late.

Mark 9:43-48

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:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
 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:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
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: 
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Now compare with Isaiah 66:23-24:

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship me, saith the LORD.
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Jesus referred to hell in the New Testament as being synonymous with Gehenna, or a Place of Torment, The Valley of Hinnom, south west of Jerusalem, where their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched. 

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 12:5

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.  Matthew 25:46

It is a very risky thing to play around with such a terrible truth as hell, and call Jesus a liar. .If you choose to believe Jesus, and die, you have lost nothing, and have gained eternal life. But if you choose not to believe the words of Jesus, but instead believe Rob Bell, who says "When we get to what happens when we die, we don't have any video footage," "So let's be honest that we are speculating," and die and then find out Bell is wrong,  you've lost everything for all of eternity. 

Back to Time's question “Is Hell Dead? Jesus said 'Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away' Luke 21:33, and it is written by the psalmist "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven - Psalm 119:89, but if you listen to a false teacher such as Rob Bell, who I perceive is out to sell and  make a profit on his book, I would have to say yes, by Bell’s own denial of the existence of hell.   According to the article, Bell believes that Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of humanity; however,(even cultic teachers have an element of truth in their otherwise heretic, extrabiblical teachings) Rob  Bell is selectively choosing what scriptures he wants to believe, and discards the scriptures, in this case, about hell, that he chooses not to believe. One can only conclude  that by his selectively cherry picking which scriptures to believe and which scriptures to discard  that Rob Bell does not believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written. Romans 3:4

But the fearful, and unbelievers, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.  Revelation 21:8

Rob Bell-'Love Wins' Video



Love cannot win when you teach a lie; however, when you teach people the soul saving  truth of the words of Jesus, which includes the truth Jesus taught about hell,  love does indeed win, something Rob Bell still needs to learn.  Until he himself  learns and believes this basic  truth taught by Jesus the question is not "Is Hell Dead?", but  how can Rob Bell be qualified to teach any basic truth of scripture?

Since Jesus said there is a hell, it has to be true because Jesus is God, who can’t lie. Titus 1:2 .That’s good enough for me

Have a look at What's Being Taught At Rob Bell's Church

Related Story: 'Jesus Wins'- A Rebuttal To Rob Bell's 'Love Wins' Video

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