APPENDIX ONE

 

(A): Though Paul never used the word “hell” anywhere in his epistles, there are several places where warnings of “falling short” of the kingdom of God are given:

 

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9)

 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ( Galatians 5:19-21)

 

First of all, it should be understood that Paul is not addressing the heathen in either of these two letters; rather, he is addressing those who claim to be believers:

 

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified (set apart) in Christ Jesus, called to be saints...” (I Corinthians 1:2)

 

“To the churches of Galatia...” (Galatians 1:2)

 

Anyone who takes an open-minded and honest look at I Corinthians 15:20-28 will come to see that the apostle Paul clearly understood that it has always been God’s intention to bring all fallen creatures into a right relationship with their Creator:

 

“...having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him.” (Ephesians 1:9,10)

 

So Paul cannot be speaking of massively large groups of sinners who will be entirely left out of God’s kingdom; rather, the issue here in which Paul is addressing involves one of inheritance. The word “inherit” which is used in these passages of Scripture comes from the Greek word kleronomeo (Strong’s #G2816) and strictly means “to receive by lot,” and then, in a more general sense, “to possess oneself of, to receive as one’s own, to obtain” [Vine’s Concise Dictionary of Bible Words]. In other words, Paul is speaking of the right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth, or a “birthright.” Those who have been predestined (or chosen) to receive the age-enduring promises will inherit God’s kingdom as true sons and joint-heirs via the first resurrection. This is the difficult to find “narrow road” of which Jesus spoke. All others will travel the “wide road” into the kingdom via the second resurrection. [For a more detailed analysis of this, see the articles Hell: Biblical Truth or Pagan Myth? as well as the series of articles on the word Destruction.]

 

There are multitudes of individuals today who have been “set apart” in Christ, or called, to be saints. However, Christ Himself made it very clear that “many are called, but FEW are chosen.” According to Paul, God’s will for mankind (I Timothy 2:4) is a mystery (Ephesians 1:9) which has been “made known” to but a select few. The majority of the “called,” thanks largely to the misleading doctrines that are prevalent within orthodox Christianity, have had their eyes blinded to these truths by “the god of this age” (II Corinthians 4:4). God’s chosen few will come to recognize the errors within the church system and separate themselves from it. (See II Corinthians 6:14-20; Revelation 18:4,5)

 

(B): The phrase “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction (without remedy) from the presence of the Lord” (II Thessalonians 1:9 – NKJV) would be more accurately rendered as “age-abiding” (Greek: aionian) punishment, always for the purpose of correction.