 | Reverend Terry G. Fox is Senior Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. He is Chairman of the North American Mission Board, member of its Executive Committee and the FamilyNet Broadcast Communications Committee, as well as numerous other subcommittees. He's listed on the Who's Who Among Outstanding Corporate Executives. He is a sought after speaker and has traveled and ministered in many places in the United States, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Rev. Fox and his wife Barbara have three children. You may contact him at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 South Topeka, Wichita, Kansas, 67211; phone (316) 262-1452; or Fax (316) 262-4704. |
Religion
2005-02-01 09:22:00
Is it true that most people who have lived on this earth will go to hell?
: In Matthew Chapter 7, and Luke Chapter 13, our Lord says, "Struggle to enter the Kingdom through the narrow door. The road to hell is wide with plenty of room and most go that way. But the door is small and the path is hard and narrow that leads to life and only a few find it." Is it true that most people who have ever lived on this Earth go to hell?
ANSWER: I would like to say "No", but the verse, that quote, was clearly the teaching of Christ. In the Bible, it is Jesus Who speaks most often and fervently of life after death and the judgement to follow. He spoke of "Laying up treasures in Heaven" and the horrors of hell. But didn't Jesus teach about the love of God? Yes! He said that God's love was the reason Christ came to rescue people from the doom they were facing. Does a loving God send millions of humans to hell? Listen to II Peter 3:9 "God is patient, not wishing anyone should perish, but that everyone should come to repentance." Most people view Heaven as a sort of celestial retirement club with a great climate and a better class of people....where one can do what he likes, including some forbidden on earth! The Biblical Heaven is an existence wholly different. It is not Happy Hunting Grounds, Nirvana nor Valhalla. It is God's presence! Rev.21:3-4 tells us: "I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain, for the old order has passed away.' " The "infection" from earth is quarantined: "Nothing impure will ever enter, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of Life." (Rev.21:27)I think one can make a Biblical case for saying that everyone who can enjoy Heaven (or even survive it) will be there! To be in Heaven is to be with God, but: "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, lives in unapproachable light, Whom no one has seen nor can see..." (I Tim.6:16) When Moses was going up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, God told him to "warn the people not to force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish." (Exod.19:21) When Moses asked to see "God's glory", God told him"...you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live." Great changes in the nature of a sinful, rebellious human must take place to be able to be in God's presence. I Cor. 15:35-44 tells of the "spiritual body" contrasted to our natural (earthly) body. The perishable body is to be replaced by an imperishable, immortal one. Jesus stressed that a new birth, a "spiritual birth", must take place if we are destined to receive a spiritual body. (see John 3:3-18). Life in Heaven is very different from earth-life. There will be no genders or marriage! (Matt.22:30) People who go there will "reign" with Christ (I Tim.2:12) and "judge Angels"
