When interpreting Scripture, we always have to ask ourselves is this literal or is it metaphoric? Metaphoric or symbolic language does speak to reality but the symbol is not to be taken literal. The concept is literal. Metaphoric or symbolic language is representational. An example is found in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Is Jesus saying that He is a literal door? Obviously not. He is like a door in that to enter into the kingdom of God, one must go through him. This is representational truth. When interpreting Scripture, one must be consistent. Many are literal when convenient and they sometimes misrepresent symbols as literal.
Application
To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.
Deuteronomy corresponds to the fifth point of the covenant model, inheritance or disinheritance. Deuteronomy 32:22 reads, "For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." God is a jealous and holy God as Deuteronomy 4: 24 says so clearly, "For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." Fire as expressed here is representational. We know that God is portrayed as a fire in Hebrews 10:26-27, "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries," and Hebrews 12:29, "For our God is a consuming fire." His divine judgment and wrath are depicted as fire which burns to ashes. These Scriptures demand a metaphoric interpretation.
The Bible clearly teaches that there will be an eternal state. Jesus said in Matthew 25:46, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Hell or the lake of fire are representative of eternal punishment. This is a never ending, always continuing torment without end. Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. We read in Luke 16:22-24, "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." Jesus had said in verse 19 of this chapter, "a certain rich man." Clarke says it may be either a parable or real history. If a parable, then we are looking at the idea or concept of hell as being a place of torment, whatever that torment may be. One of the torments of hell is regret. There is the regret of not living one’s life for the Lord and the missed opportunities.
Point five of the covenant model is inheritance. It also means disinheritance. In fact, those who are not born again have always been disinherited as Revelation 20:5-6, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." If there is a first resurrection, then it follows that there is a second resurrection. The first resurrection is a bringing to life from the first death. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." To be quickened is to be made alive. We know Romans 6:23 says in part, "The wages of sin is death..." Sin produces death. Being born of the Spirit brings resurrection life. This is also the message of John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." This is an example of the first resurrection i.e. the resurrection into spiritual life from spiritual death.
If there is a second death, then it ensues there is a first death. Revelation 20:11-15 talks about the disinherited, "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Is this lake of fire composed of literal fire or is it representative of the eternal state of damned? Here is the final judgment depicted before the eternal state. Everything has been recorded. Jesus said in Luke 12:47-48, "And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." There will be degrees of punishment in the lake of fire. Some receive greater torment than others.
Conclusion
Jesus said in John 5:28-29, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." There is coming one general judgment. Which will be your eternal state?
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