“THE SEVEN WONDERS OF HELL”

A Sermon by: John Hagee

A Critique by: L. Ray Smith

Dear Mr. Hagee

While browsing the channels, I happened onto your Jerusalem broadcast on TBN. Shortly thereafter I heard your sermon on "Hell." In Jerusalem you said God inspired His Word in the Greek language because, "Greek is the most exact language on the face of the earth!" Therein lies the difficulty with your sermons.

God's Word does not contradict. It makes sense in the words God chose. Christ warns against "adding to" or "taking away from" this Word (Rev. 22:18-19). When teaching God's Word we are to rightly divide (or cut) His Word (II Tim. 2:15-18). We are to " ... distinguish the things that differ" (Phil. 1:10). We are to have a pattern of sound words (II Tim. 1:13-14). In addition to these we are to shun the traditions of men (Col. 2:8) and the wisdom of this world (I Cor. 1:20 & 3:19). It is a rare teacher who actually does these things.

What prompted this letter was your statement that: "Greek is the most exact language on the face of the earth," followed by the statement that Christ is going to reign "for ever and for ever and for ever ... " In the English, this statement is contradictory and redundant, and in the Greek it has no equivalent. If "for ever" means "always" or "eternity," what pray does "and for ever" mean? Is that something like whiter than white? It is not I who find fault with that statement, but God.

Your statement is both untrue and unscriptural. If your statement that Christ will reign "for ever and for ever and for ever ... " were confined to Christ's reigning only, it would not be as harmful as when applied to other false doctrines that are taught to last "for ever and for ever and for ever." Specifically, I make reference to your teaching on "hell" (Gk. hades-the unseen or imperceptible), which you teach is a place of eternal torment.

EONS OR FOREVER

The King James does say in Rev. 11:15 that Christ will reign "for ever and ever." However, when you add the 3rd "and for ever," it becomes unscriptural. Furthermore, as the Authorized Version of Rev. 11:15 is an unfortunate and misleading translation, the phrase "for ever and ever" is also unscriptural. Remember, Greek is a very exact language, but King James is a very inexact translation. Here's what God's "exact" Word says regarding this matter.

It never ceases to amaze me that words (most words in most languages) have fairly precise and restricted meanings until these same words are used in religion, where they apparently lose all logic and preciseness of meaning.

First of all, the Greek in Rev. 11:15 is not "for ever and ever," but "aions of the aions." The Greek is not "and," it is "of." It's in the genitive. Check this out for yourself. "Of" contrasts one thing with another. It does not "add" one thing to another. This is a big difference. Rev. 11:15, "aion" is in the plural, "aions." Now if you insist that "aion" means "for ever" or "eternal," how is it possible to have a plurality of "eternities?" Let me suggest, Mr. Hagee, that that question mark is larger than it appears on this page.

This alone proves that "aion" cannot be translated "eternal." There can be no plurality of eternity. Whatever "aion" means, it cannot mean "eternal."

"Eon" is the closest English equivalent to the Greek word "aion." Age is close, but has no adjective form, as eon does (eonian).

The Greek Scriptures tell us that Christ will reign "for the eons of the eons" or "the ages of the ages." Not "for the eons of the eons of the eons" as your statement suggests. "For the eons of the eons" makes simple and exact sense, and is in harmony with other Scriptures. "For ever and ever" contradicts dozens of other Scriptures, as we will see. The truth is, "for ever and ever" is a contradiction by itself. Both language and logic forbid duplication of anything infinite. There is no such thing as "several eternities" or "multiple for evers" or "numerous everlastings."

In Rev. 11:15 both "eons" are in the PLURAL. So if someone insists that an "aion" means "for ever" or "eternity," then "aions" would be "for evers" or "eternities." Hence it would have to be translated "for evers of evers" or "for eternities of eternities." What sense is there in such contradictory phrases?

And notice please, the Greek is "aions of the aions" not "aions after the aions" or "aions upon the aions." Could it be that there is an "exactness" and purity here that the clergy are failing to teach?

So how are we to understand the Scripture that says Christ will "reign for the eons of the eons?" It's quite simple.

Christ "reigns for the eons of the eons" because He reigns for only two eons out of all the other eons. He will reign for the next two eons. That is, He will reign for the thousand years (the next eon) and He reigns during the New Heaven and the New Earth, the eon after that.

Christ reigns over these two eons because Rev. 15:3 plainly tells us that He is "King of the eons." Except the King James Version, that is. The King James has it "King of saints." The "exact" Greek word in this verse is "eons," not "saints" or "nations." The Greek word for "saints" is agion not aions.

I will prove that both of these eons, over which Christ will reign, have beginnings and have ends, which excludes any possibility that they last "for ever."

See its simplicity: There was a time before God made any eons (I Cor. 2:7). Then God made the eons (Heb. 1:2). There were eons in the past (Col 1:26). We are living in this present wicked eon (Gal. 1:4). Satan is the god of this eon (II Cor. 4:4). Christ, not Satan, will reign a thousand years in the next eon (Lk 1:33). The thousand years will come to an end (Rev. 20:3). Christ will reign in the eon that follows the thousand years (Rev. 22:5 and Lk. 1:33). Hence, He reigns for the "eons" (the next two) "of the eons" (all others).

Then the last eon comes to an end (I Cor. 10:11). Christ ceases to reign after the eons come to an end (I Cor. 15:24:28) because He turns over the Kingdom to God His Father and God becomes "all in all." The eons end, but that which is of the Kingdom continues (Lk 1:33 & Isa. 9:7). We all continue "living" after the eons because, just like God, we will then all have been given immortality.

But Mr. Hagee, we insult Christ to contend that He reigns for ever. If that were true, then He would never accomplish His mission of " ... placing all His enemies under His feet" (I Cor. 15:25). That's why the Scriptures plainly tell us that He reigns until that is accomplished.

There is not one word in either the Hebrew or Greek Scriptures that can be properly translated "forever" or "eternity," or any other word meaning "endless" time. Some might suggest that a verse such as Rom. 16:26-- " ... the everlasting [Greek: 'aionian'] God" proves that aionian is eternal. It does not. Paul isn't trying to tell us here that God lives "for ever." The Scriptures have long ago told us that God's life has no end (Psalm 102:27). Paul is telling us that God is not off in a corner somewhere unconcerned with mankind, but that He is " ... the eonian God." That is, He is God of the eons in which we live (Rev. 15:8). This does not say God ceases to exist at the end of the eons any more than Christ ceases to exist after He is no longer "King of the eons (Rev. 5:3)."

When there are no more eons, Christ ceases to be the King of the eons (I Cor. 15:24). He certainly doesn't cease to exist. When the eons end (and they all will), then God will be the same God He has always been. It's just that there will be no more eons or ages. Consider: the Scriptures tell us that God is "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Would we deduce from this that God is not the God of Noah, King David, the Apostles, or even you or me?

It is silly to suggest that a simple statement of fact limits either God or Christ to that fact.

" ... Christ liveth in me ... " (Gal. 2:20).

Does this prove that Christ lives in no one else?

"As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth" (II Sam. 14:11).

So when this person eventually died, did God then die?

"And I saw thrones ... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Rev. 20:4).

Would anyone suggest that at the end of the thousand years the subjects of this prophecy all died?

"Immortality" likewise does not mean by definition, "eternity." The Greek word is athanasa and means UN-DEATH (or deathlessness). Of course, contrary to popular Christian teaching,

"He is King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality ... " (I Tim. 6:16).

We must be given immortality (I Cor. 15:53-54). Believers are promised "eonian life" so they are given "immortality," which sees them through and beyond eonian life. Unbelievers are NOT given "eonian life" or "immortality" at the same time we are given it. Hence they can die in the second death. However, after the eons end, they too, (all unsaved from Adam on) are "vivified" [Greek: zoopoieo] (LIVE-DO)--given life beyond the reach of death. This confers immortality (Jn 5:21-22, Rom. 4:17, I Tim. 6:13). Read I Cor. 15:22-28.

"For even as in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all (this is the same "all" used both times) be vivified." There is a "class" or "order" to the vivification of all. First Christ, Second those who are Christ's in His presence, Third the consummation. Christ reigns only until He nullifies all sovereignty and all authority and power, and has placed all enemies under His feet. The last enemy being abolished is death. Then Christ Himself gives up the kingdom to His Father and becomes subject to His Father and God becomes " ... All in All."

It's just like most other basic truths of Scripture: they don't fit into Christian theology.

The doctrine of immortality is essential. We "live" during the eons not because God promised us "eternal life," but because He gives us "immortality." That's how we live during the eons and after the eons. Those made immortal are never again subject to death.

Obviously, the Satanic teaching that God Almighty (full of mercy, love and grace) will torture anyone endlessly (let alone the vast majority of humanity), is nowhere taught or even hinted at anywhere in Scripture.

I am not just saying that, in my opinion, "aion" should not be translated "eternal." I am saying "aion" cannot be translated "eternal"! One cannot translate the Hebrew word for "white" [laban], or the Greek word for "white" [leukos] into the English word "black." It defies all laws of language and logic. A word that means an "age" or "eon" (one as short as just one thousand years-the next eon) cannot possibly also mean "eternity."

Suppose you were to read a book translated from Greek to English about a boy who had a pet elephant that he kept in his pocket. You would immediately know that something must have been lost in the translation. An elephant won't fit in a boy's pocket, it's not possible. Now suppose you check the original Greek version of this book and you find that the Greek word translated "elephant" is really the Greek word for "mouse." Problem solved!

And just as an elephant won't fit into a boy's pocket, neither will "eternity" fit into an eon (or age). An elephant may be only a thousand times bigger than a mouse, but eternity is infinitely bigger than an eon! Furthermore, by definition "mouse" doesn't mean "elephant;" and neither does "eon" mean "eternity."

I prepared a chart below to show key verses on the aions. The Greek word "aion" is here translated properly and consistently by two different translations. Notice carefully the categories these verses fall into: BEFORE, MAKES, PAST, PRESENT, END, NEXT, FUTURE, CONTRASTING, AND ENDS. It is not possible to use any one of these words in conjunction with any word meaning "endless time" or "eternity."

Now try substituting the words "eternity," "forever," or "everlasting" in place of eon or age and see what happens: "before the eternities," "the present wicked eternity," "the conclusion of the everlasting," "the oncoming forevers," "the eternity of the eternities," "the consummation of the forevers." Interestingly, my computer spell-checker just told me that "eternities" and "forevers" are not in its memory and suggested "eternity" or "forever." No, I spelled them correctly, it's just that my computer knows there are no such things as "eternities" or "forevers" even if theologians and translators insist that there are.

Only a few translations render "aion" consistently. These translations are not popular, however, because they are not endorsed by mainstream clergy. Most people have never even seen these translations. What they do see are the numerous popular translations that promote error upon error. I prepared a chart of popular translations showing the extreme measures taken to pervert this simple Greek word, "aion."

" ... the eternities of the eternities ... " Now there's a strange rendering. I nonetheless give the translator credit for his stupid consistency. If aion means "eternity" then aions would mean "eternities." If someone can explain to me the meaning of "the eternities of the eternities" maybe this same man could also tell us about "hot ice," and "square circles."

So how did the translators handle a verse like Matt. 24:3, " ... conclusion of the eon ... ?" Remember they insist in other places that "aion" is "forever," and now they have to translate a verse claiming that this particular eon is going to end. How can forever "end?" Being in a fix, the translators changed the meaning of "aion" again, and translated this verse " ... end of the world ... " Now, think for a moment. Since they insist elsewhere that "aion" means "eternal" (which of course it doesn't), how could it possibly mean "world" here? It couldn't. The Greek word for world is "kosmos" not "aion."

Check enough English Translations, and you will find all of the following diverse words absurdly translated from the Greek word "aion:"

You are looking at an amazing thing, which is false translating in action. This is certainly not "a pattern of sound words" ( II Tim. 1:13-14)!

Who would ever condone such a butchering of God's Word. Who? Most of the world's theologians and clergy, that's who. Not only do they condone it, but they endorse it!

In the Anglo-Saxon Gospels a thousand years ago, the equivalent for the Greek word aion was the old English word ece, which was similar in meaning to aion, which is a period of time.. The word "eternal" was completely unknown (in any of the old English Bibles), before the Renaissance.

Turning to the Old Testament Hebrew will not solve your dilemma either. The Old Testament Hebrew has the word "olam" (this is the Hebrew equivalent of "aion"), which is often translated in the Authorized Version as "everlasting." This word clearly does not mean everlasting. I will give you just one conclusive proof Scripture:

Psa. 73:12--"Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches."

The word translated "world" is olam which they translate "everlasting" in dozens of other places. Clearly the "ungodly" do not prosper for "eternity" or "everlasting."

"It may be laid down as a rule that no language had, for some time after the first century A.D., any term to denote eternity." (Whence Eternity?, By: Alexander Thomson, p. 5). That's a telling statement. Not only doesn't the Hebrew or Greek Scriptures use a word meaning "eternity" or "endless time" in the original texts, it was impossible for them to do so. The Hebrew and Greek Languages had no word that meant "endless time" or "eternity." And further, no one has ever found such a word in ANY LANGUAGE before the second century to denote "endless time" or "eternity."

The facts regarding the temporary duration of the eons are contained in the Scriptures themselves. This demolishes the eternal torment in Hell heresy.

I quote once again from Whence Eternity? "In the year 540, Justinian made arrangements for the calling together of the famous local council of four years later. ... In particular, he wished it made very plain that the life of the saints was to be everlasting, and that the doom of the lost was to be likewise. Yet he did not argue that the word eonian meant everlasting. Nor did he claim that the word eonian had hitherto been misunderstood ... Origen, who exulted in the truth of the reconciliation of the universe, definitely used the word eonian with reference to fire and doom as meaning a limited time. But writing in the very expressive Greek language, Justinian says, 'The holy church of Christ teaches an ENDLESS eonian (ateleutetos aionios) life for the just, and ENDLESS (ateleutetos) punishment for the wicked.' Justinian knew quite well that by itself eonian DID NOT signify endless, and he therefore added a word the meaning of which is quite unequivocal, a word not found in the Scriptures. This letter of Justinian, which is still in existence, ought to convince anyone who is in doubt, regarding the true scriptural meaning of the word eonian. ... It was not until the year 696, at Constantinople, that a Council publicly condemned this doctrine of Origen [reconciliation of all] for the first time, the glorious teaching [reconciliation] being called 'DRUNKEN RAVINGS as to the future life of the dead." [Emphasis mine], page 19.

Adding a word so enormous as "endless" to a word that in no way means endless, is a gross infraction of Christ's warning about "adding to" God's word (Rev. 22:18).

When one perverts one portion of Scripture, it automatically perverts other portions. Since the translators changed eonian to eternity, of necessity they now have to discard the teaching of reconciliation. For if all are reconciled, punishment cannot be eternal. So they called the Scriptural teaching of reconciliation which Origen understood and believed, "drunken ravings!" (If you run out of Scripture, resort to name-calling). And yet, these "drunken ravings" of "reconciliation" are still in my Bible: " ... and through Him [Christ] to RECONCILE ALL to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross) ... " (Col. 1:20).

YOUR SERMON ON HELL

In your sermon THE SEVEN WONDERS OF HELL, you made the following statements:

1.      "This is God's message, not mine."

2.      "The soul will die and spend eternity without God."

3.      "Jesus said twice as much about hell as He did heaven."

4.      "Hell is Heaven's junkyard."

5.      "Hell is the eternal home of every person who rejects the gospel

6.      "Demon # 3 said, 'Lets get the pastors in every congregation ... let's tell them to tell their people that a loving God would never send anyone to a place [Hell] this horrible."

7.      "The pulpit says, 'Just go ahead and do what you want to. The grace of God gives you a blank check to sin and do as you please.'"

8.      "Jesus said: 'Fear those who can kill both the body and put the soul in hell.'"

9.      "Satanism is the fastest growing religion in America."

10.  "Jesus believed in Hell."

11.  "John 3:16, You perish in the place called Hell."

12.  "Paul believed in Hell"

13.  "Hell is an eternal reality and whether you believe it or not, without Christ you're going there."

14.  "Matt. 7:13, 'Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to Hell."

15.  "Christ was saying the majority of humanity will spend eternity in hell"

16.  "Jesus was an extremist, a fanatic."

17.  "Jesus said your chances of living in Hell for ever are very good."

18.  "He [Jesus] was a right wing Bible fundamentalist."

19.  "You send yourself to Hell for rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ."

20.  "In this Bible parable, the rich man died and he went to Hell."

21.  "Lazarus died and he went to Heaven."

22.  "They will not be persuaded if they saw someone walk out of the city of the dead."

23.  "For ever and ever all you're going to hear are the screams and sobs and suffering for ever and for ever and for ever ... and it's justice."

24.  "Hell is called, 'The Lake of Fire,' 'Outer Darkness,' 'A place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth,' 'A place of torment with fire,' 'A place without rest,' 'A place where the fire is never quenched and its worm dieth not.'"

25.  "The rich man died ... he heard blood curdling screams of millions of people that never cease."

26.  "Hell is a place of consciousness."

27.  "Those in hell pulling [his?] singed hair."

28.  "The rich man looked from the bottomless pit of eternity."

29.  "Every man, every woman, every boy, and every girl who dies without knowing Jesus Christ spends an eternity in a city where the fire is never quenched and the worm dieth not."

30.  "The rich man looked from the bottomless pit of eternity, a place of absolute darkness where he couldn't see his hand in front of his face."

Since you claim to believe that "The Greek language is the most exact language on the face of the earth," it is astonishing to me to think that you made all of these inexact statements on national television.

Mr. Hagee, every single statement above, quoted from your sermon on Hell, is untrue and unscriptural, with one exception. The only true and scriptural statement made out of these thirty quotes is the one, ironically, attributed to "Demon # 3."

You shout out these statements with such authority, as though you really know what you are talking about. These phrases are totally foreign to the Word of God. Where, pray tell, does one find these phrases in the Word of God: "Hell is Heaven's junkyard", "soul winning," "eternity in hell," "Jesus was a fanatic," "The city of the dead," "The Rich man died and went to hell." "Lazarus died and he went to Heaven," "Hell is a place of consciousness," The bottomless pit of eternity." This is unscriptural nonsense, Mr. Hagee. None of these phrases are used in the Scriptures. Let's examine a few of your unscriptural statements:

You started you sermon by saying: "This is God's message, not mine." Oh, really? God said none of this.

"The soul will die and spend eternity without God."

If the soul dies, then it is dead, and a dead soul doesn't spend anything with anybody. Dead souls are in hades [the UNSEEN or imperceptible]. Besides, these same dead souls can be redeemed from sheol or hades (Psa. 49:15). And when one is "redeemed," one will spend eternity with God.

"Jesus said twice as much about hell as He did heaven."

The fact, Mr. Hagee, is that the word "hell" is used in the Authorized Version of the Gospels fourteen (14) times, while the word "heaven" is used in the Gospels one hundred and fifty (150) some times. Tell me, do you men ever listen to each other on T.B.N.? Dr. Kennedy says the Scriptures speak of eternity in Heaven some 300 times and eternity in Hell only 60 times.

Both of your figures are in gross error, and they grossly contradict each other.

You said: "Hell is heaven's junkyard!" Where does Scripture say such a thing? I think a little discretion is needed when referring to God and His habitation.

"Hell is the eternal home of every person who rejects the gospel."

"Hell" is not in the Greek Scriptural Vocabulary. "Hades," on the other hand, is not an eternal abiding place, nor is it ever referred to as a "home." Nowhere do the Scriptures speak of souls remaining in hades permanently.

"Demon # 3: Let's get the pastors in every congregation ... let's tell them to tell their people that a loving God would never send anyone to a place this horrible."

This statement is true and Scriptural. Too bad it had to come from the mouth of a demon.

True, many of God's judgments, chastisements, and punishments are severe by our standards, but, truly, as "demon # 3" reportedly stated: "God would never send anyone to a place this horrible." And how do we know that for sure? Because God's punishments are temporary and serve a purpose. When this purpose is completed, punishments will be discarded:

"For this was the Son of God manifested, that He should be ANNULLING the acts of the Adversary" (I Jn. 3:8).

" ... yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the REPUDIATION of sin through His sacrifice, is He manifest" (Heb. 9:26).

"The last enemy is being abolished: DEATH" (I Cor. 15:27).

" ... that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial, and terrestrial and subterranian, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).

"Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be ALL IN ALL" (I Cor. 15:28).

These verses are not difficult to understand. The problem is that men don't want to believe them. It is faith that you lack, Pastor Hagee, faith to believe these marvelous scriptures regarding the salvation of all. And God does more than "just" save His children. He will have a relationship so close to us that He says He will be "All in All."

God Almighty says that He will save all! Yet you teach that God will torture most for all eternity..

The pulpits say: "Just go ahead and do what you want to, the Grace of God gives you a blank check to sin and do as you please."

I can't understand how you could say such a thing. The pulpits of the Churches of America say no such thing. I'm certainly not defending these churches, but to attribute that statement to them is in gross error. Most churches in American teach and preach a strict adherence to the Old Testament Laws (though this is contrary to the teachings of the Apostle Paul).

On the other hand, you teach a plethora of sins, that are not sins according to the Scriptures. You teach that it is a sin not to tithe. Tithing was for the nation of Israel. Only certain commodities were tithed. Only Levites could receive tithes. It was used for administering their office in the Temple. There is no temple today. There is no Levitical priesthood today. I don't think that I am a Jew. And Paul NEVER taught the Gentiles to tithe. Don't deceive yourself, Paul never said, "God loves a cheerful tithe-payer."

Mr. Hagee, read Paul's epistles and notice that those under Grace are held to a much higher standard of conduct and morality than those who put themselves under law. Paul instructs Titus to set standards of morality for elders in the church that are far higher than what was expected of law-keeping Israelites. How many law-keeping clergymen do you think would qualify according to Titus 1:9: " ... able to entreat with sound teaching as well as to expose those who contradict." Much of today's Christian teachings are so unsound and unscriptural that they do nothing but contradict.

I am 59 years old, Mr. Hagee, and I have never heard a minister say that the grace of God gives one a blank check to sin. I have never heard it on radio, I have never heard it on television, I have never heard it in person, I have never read it on a printed page. Never once. I think you exaggerate, Mr. Hagee.

"The church in America has forgotten the idea of punishment for sin"

But you are not talking about "punishment for sin." You are talking about "eternal torture." Let's talk about "punishment." Do you have any idea what it is and how God uses it?

PUNISHED/PUNISHMENT
All occurrences in Authorized New Testament:

1.      II Thes. 1:9-- "Who shall be PUNISHED with everlasting destruction ... "

Comment: The word "punished" does not appear in the original Greek in this verse.
The correct translation is:

"Who shall incur the justice of eonian extermination ... "
(Concordant Literal New Testament)

2.      II Pet. 2:9-- "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be PUNISHED."

Comment: The word "punished" in this verse should be "chastening."
The correct translation is:

"The Lord is acquainted with the rescue of the devout out of trial, yet is keeping the unjust for chastening in the day of judging ... "

3.      Mat. 25:46-- "And these shall go away into everlasting [Gk. aionion] PUNISHMENT: but the righteous into life eternal" [Gk. aionion].

Comment: The word "punishment" in this verse should be "chastening."
The correct translation is:

"And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian."

4.      II Cor. 2:6-- "Sufficient to such a man is this PUNISHMENT, which was inflicted of many."

Comment: The word "punishment" does not appear in the Greek text in this verse.
The correct translation is:

"Enough to such is this rebuke, which is by the majority."

5.      Heb. 10:29-- "Of how much sorer PUNISHMENT, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God ... "

Comment: "Punishment" is the proper translation in this verse.

6.      I Pet. 2:14-- "Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the PUNISHMENT of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."

Comment: The word "punishment" is not found in the Greek text of this verse.
The correct translation is:

" ... whether to the king, as a superior, or to governors, as being sent by him for vengeance on evildoers, yet for the applause of doers of good."

7.      Acts 22:5--- " ... to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be PUNISHED."

Comment: "Punished" is the correct word in this verse.

8.      Acts 26:11-- "And I PUNISHED them oft in every synagogue ... "

Comment: "Punished" or "often punishing them" is correct.

"Punished," "punishing," or "punishment" is found only three times in the Greek text. And two of those occurrences have to do with Paul punishing the saints. Therefore, there is only ONE time that the word "Punishment" is used with reference to evil doers in the entire Greek Scriptures. I hope this doesn't disappoint you.

"Punishment" is translated from the Greek word timoria = VALUE-LIFT. "Punishment" has to do with satisfying the one doing the inflicting. Whereas, "chastening" has in view the amendment of the one being disciplined. Both can be severe or mild. They can be for a short time or for an extended period of time. The words themselves do not set parameters.

In Heb. 10 we have three words in view regarding deeds of evildoers: Punishment, Vengeance, and Judging. Where God uses "chasten," we must not translate it "punish." These are two different words in Greek, and must be rendered such in translating them.

When we look at Paul's persecution of the Church (Acts 22:5, 26:11), Paul was not "chastening" the Church, but "punishing" them. It was not a "disciplinary" action on his part, but rather causing pain, suffering, and loss to the Church for crimes Paul imagined they had committed.

"Punishment" inflicts pain, loss, and suffering, which are humbling to the human spirit.

"Judging" has to do with setting things right.

We can learn the meaning of this word "Judge" by looking at Gen. 18:25. The Authorized Version has:

" ... Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

This verse is not really translated properly, however, its meaning is "right on." That is, both "judge" and "right" in this verse are from the same Hebrew word shaphat. The proper translation is: "The Judge of the entire earth, will He not execute Judgment?" But the Authorized Version does bring out the true meaning nicely. To "judge" is to "do right." But oh, how the simple meanings of words have been corrupted by theologians!

We have been told that "Judgment Day" will be the most feared event to ever overtake Earth. In reality, "Judgment Day" will inaugurate one of the most marvelous works of God since creation.

In this connection, notice an amazing verse.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith." (Mat. 23:23).

Oh how Christ berated the Pharisees for their many evils. They kept what they thought was the law so strictly that it became an overwhelming burden.

Notice the company judgment keeps: "mercy and faith." Judgment is not bad, it is good. The Pharisees lacked mercy, faith, and judgment. They didn't do right. They didn't set things right. And they didn't just neglect it at times, they left it and "omitted" it altogether!

After the wicked are "punished" and "avenged," then God sets them right. In fact, He sets all things right. Read it again: "The Judge of the entire earth, will He not do right?" Christ's sacrifice paid the penalty for our sins. We are more than pardoned or forgiven, we are "justified." However, that does not "set right" all the evil that has been done. This God does at judgment.

" ... Yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the Repudiation of sin through His sacrifice, is He manifest" (Heb. 9:26).

"For this was the Son of God manifested, that He should be annulling the acts of the Adversary" (I Jn 3:8).

Seeing that Satan is the "god" of this world [eon], most of Satan's works involve mankind. And all of these acts are going to be annulled. Annulled! Do you have any comprehension of what that means? These are the grand topics of Scripture you should be preaching and teaching. It sure beats the unscriptural topic of eternal torment.

Why don't you preach a sermon next week on "annulling the acts of the Adversary" or "The repudiation of sin?" How can you possibly explain these two verses using the doctrines you teach? You teach that sin and evil are permanent fixtures in God's creation, and that they will go on eternally in your fabled Hell. According to you God can never abolish sin and evil.

Do you know what "repudiation" means? It means to UN-PLACE. The name "God" means "placer." The Great Almighty PLACER is going to UN-PLACE sin. Repudiation means DIS- ANNULING. Disannuling means "To annul COMPLETELY; to render ABSOLUTELY VOID" Webster's Twentieth-Century Dictionary p. 480. Yet you tell us that men, women, demons and devils will continue to "sin" in the fire of Hell for all eternity. You tell us that Christ will not "repudiate" their sins, that is, He will not annul them and render them void.

As I study God's Word I keep asking myself: "How can anyone not see these simple truths? The answer is: "The blind cannot see."

What about "chastisement?" Simply by understanding the meaning of this word all notions of "eternal" chastening are nullified. "Chasten" is used with a view to amendment, in contrast to punishment, which is penal. Webster's first definition is: "to punish in order to make better." Since chastisement has to do with a view to the future (of making one better or corrected), how, pray, could it ever be eternal? Since "chastisement" is used in connection with the eons, the translators should have deduced that since "chastening" is temporary, therefore "eons" cannot be eternal! No Scripture shows chastisement to last beyond the eons. And usually it is used with destruction and death that last for the eons. There is no pain, suffering, or torture while one is dead. (Psa. 146:3-4 & Ecc. 9:10

"Jesus said fear not those who can kill the body, but fear those who can kill both the body and put the soul in hell."

Mr. Hagee, Jesus never said any such thing. Not even the King James Version defends you here. This verse says:

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [Gehenna]."

Jesus said: " ... fear him," not " ... fear those." And where does it say to " ... fear those who can kill both the body and put the soul in hell?" " ... put the soul in hell?" That false expression is unscriptural. You made it up. God's Word has something to say about "false expressions:"

"Now the spirit is saying explicitly, that in subsequent eras some will be withdrawing from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons, in the hypocrisy of FALSE EXPRESSIONS ... " (I Tim. 4:2) Concordant Literal N.T.

You have used dozens of "false expressions" in just one sermon. God says that it would be a sign of our time (subsequent eras) that men would use "false expressions." Anyone who does such things is grouped with those who:

1.      Withdraw from the faith

2.      Give heed to deceiving spirits

3.      the teachings of demons, and

4.      are hypocrites!

That sounds like a pretty serious indictment to me, Mr. Hagee.

Look carefully at what Jesus really said in Matt. 10:28:

"And do not fear those who are killing the body, yet are not able to kill the soul. Yet be fearing him, rather, Who is able to destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna."

Jesus said not to fear those who can "kill," but rather fear Him [Jesus Christ] who is able to destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna. The first part of the verse is man's operation, but the second part of the verse is God's. Men have no jurisdiction over the soul. All they can do is kill the body. But God can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Man consists of a body which, when God imparts His spirit to it, becomes a living soul. The soul is the result of the combination of body and spirit. There is "soul" only as long as God's spirit unites with the body. At death, God takes back His spirit and the "soul" goes to the unseen (or imperceptible). Hades in Greek or Sheol in Hebrew are not geographical locations, but rather a condition.

Those who teach annihilation rather than eternal punishment use this verse to show that when God destroys, the soul is irretrievable. This, however, is not true. "Destroy" comes from the Greek word Apollumi = FROM-WHOLE-LOOSE, that is, to "lose." The disciples were afraid that they would perish [apollumi] by drowning (Mk. 4:38). The sheep was lost [apollumi] by straying (Lk 15:4). We may destroy [apollumi] a weak saint by our knowledge (I Cor. 8:11). And Christ destroys [apollumi] both body and soul in Gehenna. Never does the Greek word apollumi mean annihilation! Besides destruction is the prelude to SALVATION! All we like sheep have gone astray. To be "lost" is the same Greek word used for "destroy." So it is axiomatic that if an apollumi [LOST] sheep can be SAVED, then certainly an apollumi [DESTROYED] soul can be saved also. Believe God's Word, not man's doctrines.

Have we forgotten Sodom? "And thou, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to the unseen [hades]; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day." And, therefore, it shall be " ... more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (Matt. 11:23-24). All it takes is a few miracles from God and He can save anyone-everyone It is so sad that most Christian Clergy don't believe this. I'll give you all the Scriptural proof you need at the end of this letter to show that God Almighty is going to save all His creatures-under the earth, on the earth, and throughout the entirety of the universe-mortals and messengers, sinners and saints, demons and angels-all (Phil. 2:10)!

"Satanism is the fastest growing religion in America."

What? You have got to be kidding. I don't even know of a religious group that openly acknowledges Satan as their god. I have heard of an occasional small group from time to time that makes the news for one day. They are usually small groups of five to ten, and consist mostly of teenagers. And usually, these groups fall apart just about as fast as they get started. But to say that Satanism (those who openly and admittedly worship Satan) is the fastest growing religion in America is absurd.

Back to your sermon:

"If you never hear another gospel sermon you'll hear enough gospel today to stand before the judgment bar of God-guilty as charged."

Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Hagee. This sermon of yours on Hell can hardly be called a "gospel sermon." You didn't preach a whiff of the gospel. The gospel is "good news." Your sermon was the worst of "bad news."

Why assume that the fruit of the true gospel (which a few people do preach) will culminate in "standing before the judgment bar of God - guilty as charged?"

"What is the result of the gospel without the place called hell?"

What is the result of a gospel with this teaching of yours on Hell? You are driving millions from God and God's Word-that is the result. There is no gospel (or good news) in this teaching.

"If you don't believe there is something to be saved from you won't win people to a living Savior."

One doesn't have to believe in a fabled Hell of eternal torture to realize that there is plenty to be saved from! How about saved from sin and evil? What about being saved from ourselves? What about being saved from weakness, stupidity, ignorance, foolishness and vanity? What about being saved from corruption, immorality, mortality and death? (What about being saved from any more of Pastor Hagee's sermons on Hell?) You don't think these are things to be saved from?

"Jesus believed in Hell."

Jesus never even said the word "hell" so how could He believe in it? Mark 9:46-- " ... to be cast into Gehenna, into the unextinguished fire, where their worm is not deceasing and the fire is not going out." This is not "hell." This is "Gehenna." So why call it "hell?" The exact Greek word is Ge'enna (in Hebrew it is: RAVINE-of-HINNOM). It is a ravine just below Jerusalem where the city waste was incinerated.

What justification is there in translating this ravine into the English word "hell?"

You're not " ... distinguishing the things that differ" (Phil. 1:10).

You are not " ... having a pattern of sound words" (II Tim. 1:13-14).

You are "adding to" the Word of God" (Rev. 22:18-19).

You are following the "traditions of men" (Col. 2:8).

The "ravine of hinnom" (Gehenna) was the city garbage dump in Jerusalem where the garbage was burned. And just like all garbage dumps, there were worms. The reason they didn't die out was because there was a constant supply of refuge being fed them.  Gehenna is a real place. This place existed at the time Jesus spoke these very words. It was burning with fire, with a daily supply of garbage, and a daily supply of worms to eat it. But if you go there today, it is not burning and there are no worms. This Gehenna is not eternal

How is it that learned men can so pervert and corrupt God's Word? There is not one word in either the Greek or Hebrew languages that means "a place where evil dead people suffer in fire for all eternity." What "exact" Greek or Hebrew word has such a meaning

"John 3:16: You perish in the place called Hell."

I'll quote John 3:16:

"For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian."

I'll quote it from the King James:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever be