-
Far from being immortal, the natural-born human soul is quite susceptible to
termination.
†. Matt 10:28 . . Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill
the soul; but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell.
The koiné Greek word for "destroy" in that passage is apollumi (ap-ol'-loo
mee) whioch is a bit ambiguous. It can mean not only to annihilate, but also
to kill; for example:
Matt 2:13
Matt 12:14
Matt 26:52
Matt 27:20
Mark 9:22
Lk 6:9
Lk 11:51
Lk 15:17
Lk 17:27
John 10:28
John 18:14
1Cor 10:9-10
2Pet 3:6
Jude 1:5
Q: Are dead human souls sentient?
A: Well; I've been with dead human bodies so I know for myself that dead
human bodies are not sentient. But I have never been with a dead human
soul so I have no personal experience to draw upon in that connection.
However, human life consists of more than only a body and a soul.
According to 1Ths 5:23, Heb 4:12, Heb 12:23, and 1Pet 3:18-20; human life
also consists of spirit.
Apparently spirit cannot be destroyed by the fires of hell. I know that's true
because the Devil is spirit, and according to Rev 20:10; he will be
incarcerated in the reservoir of flaming sulfur, not to die, but so suffer--
forever. Quite a number of people are destined for that very same fate.
†. Matt 25:41 . . He will also say to those on the left hand: Depart from me,
you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
The reverse logic of the jingle below is amusing:
"Guns don't kill people: People kill people."
It says though a gun is potentially lethal, it isn't a sentient being with a mind
of its own. Nevertheless, the fact remains that guns are quite capable of
killing people. In point of fact, according to a National Safety Council report;
in 2006 there was a total of 30,896 deaths by firearm in the USA from all
causes; both intentional and unintentional; both legal and illegal.
Here's another selection of reverse logic.
"Hell doesn't kill souls; God kills souls."
Is that jingle the whole truth and nothing but the truth? No; of course not.
Though the Bible's hell is no more a sentient being with a mind of its own
than a gun, it is nevertheless quite capable of killing souls.
The point is that a gun might terminate your body's life; but it cannot
terminate your soul's life. However, hell is far more powerful than a gun. It
will not only take your body's life, but it will take your soul's life too. To pull
the trigger, so to speak; all God has to do is drop you in there.
Q: If somebody is already dead, then how can hell kill their body?
A: The current hell doesn't kill the human body because for now when
people die, their bodies stay here rather than going there. But out ahead in
the future; people in the current hell will be resurrected to face justice at the
Great White Throne event depicted at Rev 20:11-15. It is then when
people's bodies will be terminated by yet another hell; and since there is but
one resurrection allotted per person (Dan 12:2 & John 5:28-29) then nobody
is ever coming back from that hell.
OBJECTION: There is a lake of fire depicted at Rev 20:11-15. Sorry; but it's
impossible to liquefy flame
REBUTTAL: According to Rev 20:10, the lake consists of not only fire; but
also a non-metallic substance called brimstone; which Webster's defines as
sulfur.
Sulfur melts at 232.36º F and boils at 832.28º F. If sulfur's temperature is
maintained in that range; it easily suffices for an impoundment consisting of
both flame and liquid.
Pop Clock Update: 102 days have elapsed since beginning the thread. If the
figures in post #1 are within reason, then something like 5,975,262 new
arrivals have checked into the fiery sector of hades since December 10,
2014.
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