ASK Commentary
June 2, 2003 

Hell and Lazarus

Commentary for June 2, 2003 — June ASK Articles Are Available

It is interesting that most people wish others to be judged and themselves to be forgiven, saved and glorified. However, God will provide the same judgment and grace to most others that He offers to you, albeit at a different time. Sometimes that judgment will be severe, sometimes mild. However, as the apostle Paul taught forcefully, in the end,

“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach.”

1 Timothy 4:1–11

An eternal hell does not exist. Never did, never will, except in the misunderstanding minds of theologians. These misunderstandings and mistranslations have led to millions living in fear of a fantasy hellfire that was heaped on top of their personal guilt. While guilt for evils and sins committed is often justified — indeed demanded in many situations — fear of an eternal hell should not be used or taught to scare people into obedience. The doctrine is not true.

This month’s “Newsletter” and articles explain the true nature of the words used for “hell” in the Bible. The explanations by Dr. Martin are staightforward and easy to understand, so that you could even explain the concepts to others. The two articles for June are “The Biblical Teaching of Hell” “The Real Meaning of Lazarus and the Rich Man”.

Once you read these articles you can be like the mother and daughter in this internet item:

An Atheist's Hell

A young lady came home from a date looking rather sad. She told her mother, “Charles proposed to me an hour ago.” “Then why are you so sad?” her mother asked. “Because he also told me he is an atheist. Mom, he doesn’t even believe there’s a hell.” Her mother replied, “Marry him anyway. Between the two of us, we’ll show him how wrong he is.”

New Video on ASK Website

Also, we have put up on the ASK Website another “new” old video of a lecture by Dr. Martin. It is titled, The Simplicity of Christian Teaching, presented by Dr. Martin in August 1987.

This video and the one put on the ASK Website last month, What Will You Be Like in the Resurrection?, were the only two produced in a series of teaching lectures originally intended to contain more titles. While the concepts presented in these video lectures are all to be found in Dr. Martin’s book, Essentials of New Testament Doctrine, it is extremely helpful to have the same information, facts and presentations about the Bible explained by different ways and methods.

The information in both videos is excellent. Remember that these videos can be just as valuable played as “audios.” While it is great to see Dr. Martin’s gestures, expressions and body language from the late 1980s, it is the message he presented that was most important to him.

This was one of several methods by which Dr. Martin attempted to explain the real and simple message of God’s Word (what is in God’s mind), and transmit to your mind through writing, speaking and video, to communicate what the words of the Bible really say. Feel free to listen, watch and study this information any way you can. Remember, as always, is the central focus of all ASK teaching, to make the Bible as useful and easy to understand as possible, even with all its subtleties and endless ability to teach.

Again, thank you for your support and financial assistance to continue to provide Biblical information to you on a regular basis. God willing, there is much more to come.

David Sielaff
david@askelm.com

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