Myth One
or
Satan's Lie
Chapter 1 All the Dead Innocent Children
I should have begun this project in 1978 following my first reading of the Bible, but I felt inadequate. This is the duty of preachers and theologians who we admire and respect. Where are they? I have no credibility in theology and certainly no one will be swayed by my writings. So twenty-five years passed, and I read the Bible three more times. Then an event occurred that forced me to begin this book. My responsibility is to write it down. If God desires that anyone should read it, He will have to handle the distribution.
On June 20, 2001, five children were murdered in Houston, Texas. Andrea Yates has now been found not guilty by reason of insanity after confessing to drowning her five young children in the family's bathtub. Her past contains a history of mental problems and postpartum depression.
Although her defense was based on insanity, she has explained in simple, easy to understand language, why she killed her children. Sadly, no one believed her explanation. Three weeks after the drownings, Andrea told psychiatrist Philip Resnick she was failing as a mother and believed she had to kill the children to keep them from going to hell. "These were their innocent years. God would take them up." Mrs. Yates became frustrated by what she felt was a lack of development by the children. If she did not take action, the children would be destined for eternal damnation. "They did a lot of silly stuff and didn't obey. They did things God didn't like."
The Yates family was a religious, Christian family. The oldest child, at age seven, was nearing the "age of accountability." This is the age after which most Christians believe a person must accept Jesus Christ as their Savior to avoid an eternity of torture in hellfire. As most Christian parents, Andrea Yates was desperately concerned about the eternal home of her children. Mrs. Yates stated that all of her children were in their innocent years. What exactly did she mean by this statement? Sin is the transgression of God's laws, or commandments:
For sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4)
However, to commit a sin, one must first recognize that the act is a sin:
To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:13)
In their innocent years, implied that none of her children were sufficiently old or educated to recognize sinful actions. That is, they had no law. If they were to die before ever knowingly committing a sin, it is taught that their "souls" go immediately to heaven and live with God for eternity. Ask any Christian clergyman for verification that the children's souls are presently in heaven. That is exactly what I did. I emailed the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association asking where the five murdered children were. They responded that they did not know where the remains of the children were, then continued to state:
What is more important, however, is where the souls of these children are. God, in His mercy and love, watches over little children who are taken by death, and they go to be with Him in heaven.
They confirm Mrs. Yates statement that, "God would take them up," and assert that the children's souls are presently in heaven with God! Thus Mrs. Yates achieved her goal! Would all five of her children have gone to heaven and averted an eternity in the fires of hell if allowed to live past their innocent years? That would be highly unlikely! Once the children reached the age of accountability and became responsible for their individual salvation, it is very likely that some, if not all, would burn in hell for eternity:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
It is difficult to place a number or percentage on many and few in a group of five. After all, these five children are an extremely small subset of the entire human population. It is entirely possible that all five could "enter in at the strait gate" through their own efforts. Likewise, it is also possible that all five could enter the wide gate that "leadeth to destruction," even though they were raised in a Christian environment. However, based on current mainstream "Christian" theology, the only guaranteed method whereby absolutely none of the Yates children would burn in hell for eternity was for them to pass away while in their innocent years! If they lived past their innocent years, it would require an active action on their part to avoid their souls burning in hellfire for eternity. As quoted previously from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association email:
God, in His mercy and love, watches over little children who are taken by death, and they go to be with Him in heaven.
Mrs. Yates was additionally concerned because she had already noticed that, "They did things God didn't like." This was under the sheltered existence of home schooling and Christian guidance. Surely they would be severely tested when encountering alcohol, drugs, sex, and other worldly influences. Therefore, she performed an unselfish act which must have been extremely difficult for her as a loving parent. She sent her children to be with God while they were still innocent. She made the decision for them. They would never have to overcome worldly pleasures and temptations and accept Jesus. She decided in the affirmative while they were still innocent. Very likely she believed her fate was to be found guilty, executed by the state, and then burn eternally in hell for her actions. In fact, Mrs. Yates stated to the police that she was not a good mother to the children, that she wanted to be punished for the crime, and that she was prepared to go to hell for what she had done.
Mrs. Yates informed another psychiatrist, Dr. Park Dietz, that she wasn't thinking about Satan at the time of the killings but was praying that her four sons would go to heaven. Apparently she was not certain that all of the boys were still "in their innocent years." However, she had no concern about six-month old Mary, because "she was the most innocent of all of them."
Dr. Dietz asked Mrs. Yates if she thought Satan still lived within her. "No, he left when I committed my crime," Yates said. "He destroys then he leaves." Dr. Dietz then asked, "Doesn't he take your soul?" "When I die," Mrs. Yates replied. Does this sound familiar? It does if you were raised in the Christian faith as presently taught. Incredibly, if she had been an atheist, the children might still be alive. With virtually no challenge or dissent, this crime has now been attributed to mental illness. Mental disorders can be extremely difficult to diagnose with 100% accuracy. Mrs. Yates has been diagnosed throughout this tragic event as having postpartum depression, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.
If these murders are attributable to mental illness, then which of her four diagnosed mental disorders planted this idea of filicide (murdering ones children) in her head? Did postpartum depression create her belief that the souls of innocent children go immediately to God upon their death? No! Did schizophrenia generate this belief in her mind? No! What about the schizoaffective disorder? No! Then it must have been the bipolar disorder? Once again, absolutely not! Where did she learn this belief? It is taught by virtually every Christian church in the world!
In fact, she committed this crime as an altruistic act! The children were in their innocent years, and their "souls" would be immediately received by God to live with Him for eternity in heaven. Great evangelists now confirm that the children's souls are in heaven. Mrs. Yates committed this act in the best interests of her children because she loved them! Based on her religious teachings, she eliminated any chance of her children's souls burning eternally in the fires of hell. If her main concern was the eternal welfare of her children, then she is now a success!
She may not have murdered her children if she did not have a mental illness. No one will ever know. She may not have murdered her children if she had not been taught that the souls of innocent children go immediately to be with God in heaven when they die, thus avoiding the possibility of eternal torment in the fires of hell. Once again, no one will ever know. However, as an absolute minimum, this false teaching made the tragic crime easier to commit! It was a very rational deed to perform. Logically it made sense to her!
Andrea Pia Yates should not have to bear full responsibility for this crime. Anyone who ever helped teach this belief or financially assisted in the teaching of this belief is partly responsible for the deaths of Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary Yates; as well as many other children! I am partially responsible, as are many of you! I beg Mrs. Yates' forgiveness!
Now that her trial is over, isn't it only fair that every Christian church and television evangelist in the nation teaching this theology step forward and accept their responsibility in this tragedy? After all, although she was mentally ill, she was logically acting on what they have always preached. All churches teaching this immortal soul doctrine should come together in an effort to praise her, build a statue of her, and place her image in stained glass windows. Here is a woman who believed and had faith in their teachings! She sacrificed herself so that her children would live forever in heaven. Her fate is to burn in hellfire for eternity. The magnitude of her sacrifice is staggering! Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for all mankind when He died on the cross for our sins. The Bible proclaims:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
The Mel Gibson directed movie The Passion of the Christ portrays the crucifixion of Jesus and is reputed to be very realistic. But no matter how bloody or even gruesome, Jesus' death does not even approach the sacrifice Andrea Pia Yates was prepared to make for her children! She was prepared to be executed by the state of Texas, and then spend eternity in the fires of hell! If she burns eternally in hell for this act, as she believed she would, then there is indeed a greater love than laying down one's life for a friend and the verse above is incorrect! If she in fact goes to hell, present Christian theology teaches us that one billion trillion years from now, she will still be burning alive, while her children are safe in heaven! In comparison, the six hour crucifixion of Jesus Christ was trivial. If anyone fits the definition of a martyr, she does!
Sadly, no Christian organization anywhere will step forward to admit any guilt whatsoever. They will circle the wagons, pray, sing songs, praise the Lord, hope it goes away, and stay in denial. That woman was crazy, possessed by the devil! Indeed, many have already forgotten this tragic event! Society will once again treat this as one isolated act committed by one severely depressed mother. Is that actually the case? Absolutely not! There is a long history of Christian mothers murdering their innocent children to save them from burning eternally in hell. We should expect more killings in the future. Why? The population of the United States is over three hundred million. Tens of millions of these are young Christian women with children.
Where do most Christian mothers who become severely depressed for whatever reason, turn for help and guidance in escaping their seemingly inescapable situations? Psychiatric help? No. Most do not even realize they are mentally ill. They seek help from their main source of strength as they have been taught. Their religion! Thus, there are thousands or even millions of possible filicides waiting to occur in the United States alone. Some of these depressed Christian mothers who can no longer cope may decide to save their innocent children from a possible eternal torment in hell by sending them to live with God in heaven. After all, this theology is taught and validated by the majority of present day Christian theologians. All of these future killings are avoidable. Would God create a system whereby it is logically a good choice to sacrifice our innocent children?
I learned the truth over twenty-five years ago and cannot rationalize my lack of action once again. Let me be one Christian to step forward. When Mrs. Yates reached the depths of her mental illness and depression she resorted to the same religious teachings which millions of other Christians, including myself, have been taught since childhood! She is no different from the vast majority of other Christians in her beliefs. Tragically, she reached the point of acting on these false "Christian" teachings.
Where will you find the true answers regarding your eternity? Sadly, this truth is not to be found in most churches, television evangelistic programs, or crusades. You will find the answers in a book, which many Christian clergy will warn you against reading without careful guidance. That book is the Holy Bible, a translation of the scriptures. The scriptures are the inspired words of God:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (II Timothy 3:16)
Christian churches claim that their doctrine is based on the scriptures. In actuality, most use the Bible to "prove" beliefs they are born with and which their parents and pastors taught them, selecting small portions of the entire Bible. The words of the scriptures are sealed from their understanding:
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot for it is sealed: (Isaiah 29:11)
When will the words of the book be unsealed and why:
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4)
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. (Isaiah 29:18)
The words of the Bible are sealed until the time of the end. In this time of the end, shortly before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth, knowledge shall be increased and the scriptures shall be unsealed. Until that time, man is basically ignorant in regards to the scriptures!
Today's churches and clergy as a whole do not understand the Bible! Why are wonderful men and women of God misleading you? It is not intentional. There may be the rare exception that's involved for the money and power. However, the vast majority are totally sincere in their beliefs and efforts. They are cycling. That is, they are teaching exactly what they were taught from their youth. It is what they sincerely believe, not what is in the Bible. They misinterpret the Bible to meet their predisposed beliefs and are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing, misleading others by continuing to teach their inherited beliefs. They cannot break the cycle. They do not even recognize the problem and feel good about their work even though their teachings logically support the murder of children. These wonderful Christian people are humans just as you and I, and the Bible is sealed from their understanding until the time of the end.
If the churches were interfering with Satan's efforts, is it not logical that Satan would be fighting them? But in the eyes of men, churches continue to prosper with larger and larger flamboyant sanctuaries and cathedrals. Clergymen clothe themselves in royal robes and attach multiple honorary doctoral degrees to their names. Many have become prosperous and powerful. We tend to worship the messengers as much as the message. Is this what happened to churches and men of God in the Bible? Look at what Jesus said would happen to His followers:
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you... (John 15:20)
Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (John 16:2)
Not only do we not persecute religious leaders, we tend to worship them. We give them titles such as Reverend, Doctor, Cardinal, and Father, although the Bible clearly states:
And call no one your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9)
Regardless of whether you believe the Bible or not, shouldn't you at least know what it actually states? You may not be hearing the true gospel message in your church. Why does it matter? False Bible teachings recently cost five young lives! Isn't that a sufficient reason? False teachings create unhappy Christians and keep untold numbers from knowing Jesus Christ. Let's try something different. Let's have a revolution! Let's discover and begin teaching the true gospel message of love in our churches before the next innocent child is murdered! Let's begin to unseal the scriptures as we approach the end times! If you do not care about children, learn the truth for your own peace of mind. Millions of people, Christian or otherwise, live in fear of themselves or their loved ones burning in hell eternally. Today's Christianity is a religion of fear and worry!
There is no major difference between any of the largest Christian denominations' basic beliefs. These common erroneous basic beliefs are:
Ask your pastor if this is not the basic theology of your church. Notice that every belief following the first is a direct result of the first false belief, man's immortality! That is, if man lives forever, he must reside somewhere. Therefore, beliefs two and three assign homes to man's immortal soul. Christian theologians assign heaven as the eternal home of those who believe in Jesus Christ. All others are condemned eternally to hell. However, spiritual bodies such as the soul do not experience pain. It is simply not fair that nonbelievers live for eternity in hell with no corporal punishment! Therefore, belief four reunites the soul with an incorruptible physical body at the resurrection. This physical body can suffer pain but never die. Now nonbelievers can experience excruciating pain every second for eternity. Ah, that is now a complete and perfect system!
However, obvious questions arise due to the above theology. How does it benefit God for the majority of mankind to burn eternally in the fires of hell? How does this equate with "God is Love"? Does God truly love us or hate us? Do these false teachings drive more people away from the church than are saved by the church? Where might one discover the true teachings of Christianity? The true good news of Christianity can be found in the scriptures. We have had too much of this fear, misery, and nonsense!
Although Christian theologians confirm that Mrs. Yates succeeded in saving her children from hell and sending them directly to live with God in heaven, she will be extremely disappointed to learn that this theology is a myth! As long as this erroneous theology is taught, expect the periodic murder of children by concerned Christian parents to continue. Likewise, expect those teaching this false doctrine to immediately deny any responsibility after each occurrence!
This book is dedicated to Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary Yates; and other children murdered over the years by their misguided Christian parents in a futile effort to send them to live with God in heaven for eternity! More of these innocent victims are listed below. If you know someone who is missing from the dedication list, please e-mail us the victim's name and any substantiating information. The victim must be a child whose murder was justified by the belief that he or she was being sent to heaven to live eternally with God or saved from spending eternity in hellfire. The event does not need to be recent. If the information can be verified, that innocent child's name will be added to the growing list of victims. Click here to e-mail us. Click on any victim's name below for details of their tragic and unnecessary passing:
In the week following the murders of the Yates children, Newsweek Magazine reported that Andrea Yates must have been "possessed by a demonic energy," as she "methodically" killed her children, "laying them out on the bed wrapped in sheets like little Christian martyrs." On the problem in general of mothers murdering their children, Newsweek continued, "About 200 children are killed by their mothers every year, according to Justice statistics. Sometimes moms blame the devil. Or they think they are saving their children from a hellish life by sending them to heaven."
In actuality, Christian mothers who murder their innocent children do not think they are saving them from a hellish life by sending them to heaven. They know they may be saving their children from burning eternally in hell by sending them to heaven. They learned this fact from their religions, and certainly their pastors and religious leaders would not mislead them! In fact, Christians reinforce this belief after each occurrence by affirming that the murdered children's "souls" are in heaven with God!
If you are a Christian and are content that your God created a system whereby the vast majority of mankind will burn in hellfire for eternity, then stop reading this. However, in all fairness, please remove all references that "God is love" from your Bibles! Then continue living in worry and fear regarding the salvation of your family and friends. On the other hand, if you want to be courageous and accomplish something truly worthwhile in your life, read the Bible and discover the truth:
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)
We have only a short moment in time before the tragic Yates event is forgotten and relegated to history. In this moment, do two things. First, support efforts to better understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses such as postpartum depression which can result in these tragedies. Secondly, ask your pastors to discuss, study, and debate the theology relied on by these mentally ill mothers to justify their acts. Part of your pastor's job is to answer your questions. Stand up and be counted! You can make a difference!
Chapter 2 False Christian Theology
Reverend Billy Graham, perhaps the most highly respected Christian evangelist in the world, made the following remarks concerning the human "soul" in his Louisville Kentucky Crusade:
Your eternal soul is the most valuable thing you possess. No one in the crowded stadium of awed worshipers seemed to grasp the obvious error in what was just preached as gospel truth. If you are born with an eternal soul which lives forever, why is it necessary for God to offer eternal life to every soul? It is redundant. Why would God offer eternal life to something that already has eternal life? Being the silly person that I am, I emailed the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association asking that question. The following is a direct quote from their response:
We appreciate your question about the soul and hell. The Bible teaches that
you are an immortal soul. Your soul is eternal and will live forever. In other words, the real you -- the part of you that thinks, feels, dreams, aspires; the ego, the personality-- will never die. The Bible teaches that your soul will live forever in one of two places -- heaven or hell. If you are not a Christian and you have never been born again, then the Bible teaches that your soul goes immediately to a place Jesus called hades, where you will await the judgment of God. The moment a Christian dies, he goes immediately into the presence of Christ. There his soul awaits the resurrection, when the soul and body will be rejoined.
1) Man is born as an immortal soul living within a physical body.
2) If man accepts Jesus as his Savior prior to his death, his soul
immediately goes to heaven for eternity when his physical body dies.
3) If man does not accept Jesus as his Savior, his soul immediately
goes to hell for eternity when his physical body dies.
4) At the resurrection, man's eternal soul is merged back with his
resurrected eternal physical body.
Victims
Age at Death
Date of Death
Antonio Lopez
9
July 19, 2005
Erik Lopez
2
July 19, 2005
Margaret Schlosser
10 months
Nov 23, 2004
Joshua Keith Laney
8
May 10, 2003
Luke Allen Laney
6
May 10, 2003
Samantha Mae
Martin
6
March 29, 2002
Noah Yates
7
June 20, 2001
John Yates
5
June 20, 2001
Paul Yates
3
June 20, 2001
Luke Yates
2
June 20, 2001
Mary Yates
6 months
June 20, 2001
Nicholas Lemak
7
March 4, 1999
Emily Lemak
6
March 4, 1999
Thomas Lemak
3
March 4, 1999
Kouaeai Hang
11
Sept 3, 1998
Kouaeai Samson Hang
9
Sept 3, 1998
Nali Hang
8
Sept 3, 1998
Tang Lung Hang
7
Sept 3, 1998
Aee Hang
6
Sept 3, 1998
Tung Ke Hang
5
Sept 3, 1998
Justin Thomas Riggs
5
Nov 4, 1997
Shelby Alexis Riggs
2
Nov 4, 1997
Christina Gindorf
23 months
March 28, 1985
Jason Gindorf
3 months
March 28, 1985
You have a body, but living inside of you is your spirit or soul. And when a person dies, what happens? The soul goes on.
(Speaking on the value of the soul.)
First, it's valuable because it's eternal. It's going to live forever. A million years from now, our soul will be living.
The body is the house, the soul is the tenant. But when the body dies, the soul lives on.
The good news is that God offers eternal life to every soul.
The scriptural doctrine of hell is an awesome one which must be taken very seriously. At the same time, the good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ,
through His triumph over death, has conquered hell. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Notice that they did not answer the question which was, "Why is it necessary that God offer eternal life to every soul?" They simply restated their beliefs. In the second and third sentences of their answer they claim:
The Bible teaches that you are an immortal soul. Your soul is immortal and lives forever. In other words, the real you--the part of you that thinks, feels, dreams, aspires; the ego, the personality -- will never die.
This is a common belief in every Christian religious denomination of which I am aware. Is this belief in man's immortality supported in the scriptures? It most certainly is:
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (Genesis 3:4)
Satan lied when he informed Eve that she would live forever, "Ye shall not surely die." Mankind has accepted that lie as truth ever since. Mainstream Christian theologians have incorporated the lie into their theologies for nearly two thousand years!
Notice in the first paragraph of the above email that the phrase "The Bible teaches..." is used three times. However, no Bible references are given to support their statements. In the second paragraph, they quote John 3:16 which contradicts their claims of man's immortality in the first paragraph! According to John 3:16, the Bible actually teaches that only those believing in Jesus will have eternal life. It is not something all men are born with! Likewise, John 3:16 actually teaches that those who do not believe in Jesus will perish, not suffer for eternity in hell!
Anyone with an elementary school education should recognize that these are contradictory concepts. Why is it necessary for God to offer you eternal life if the real you will never die? God would not have sacrificed His son if you already had eternal life. Therefore, God knows that man is mortal and does not possess eternal life. Who are you going to believe? Man, who claims you are immortal, or the inspired word of God, which states otherwise? Historically, we have believed other men, not God! Let's examine that Bible verse, which every Christian can quote forwards and backwards:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Do most Christians actually believe this verse? It states that whoever believes in the Son of God will have eternal life. There is no problem to this point. However, the words "but have" imply eternal life is not something we are born with, but something received as a result of believing in Christ. "But have eternal life," is undeniably future tense. Eternal life is something those who believe in Jesus Christ will have in the future!
What happens to those humans who do not believe in the Son of God? Implied in this phrase, "whosoever believeth in him, should not perish," is that those who do not believe in Him will perish. Most theologians do not believe this. There are only two possibilities, either you perish or you do not perish. If mankind is born with eternal life, this phrase has no meaning, as they cannot perish. So this phrase indicates that one is not born with any aspect of life which lives forever. No one will live in eternal agony in hellfire according to this verse. They will perish! When the words "eternal life" or "everlasting life" are used in the Bible, they are used in phrases such as: inherit eternal life, the gift of eternal life, or the promise of everlasting life. It is never mentioned as something one is born with, but something that Christians shall inherit in the future:
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred-fold, and shall inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7)
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (I John 2:25)
When any theologian states that a part of every human will live forever after their physical body dies, they are simply and obviously wrong! Regardless of the number of doctoral degrees they possess, or the number of Presidents who have invited them into the White House, they are utterly wrong! Do you believe the inspired word of God or the confused words of misguided theologians? In general, most Christians do not believe John 3:16!
The vast majority of Christian theologians believe and teach that man is born as an immortal, spiritual "soul" housed within a physical body. This creates an obvious problem, as spiritual bodies do not feel pain. Only flesh and blood physical bodies experience pain. When the physical body dies, these theologians teach that the soul is released. Since the soul is a spiritual body, when the souls of nonbelievers are cast into hellfire for eternity, they will feel no pain! Nonbelievers are blessed with eternal life, and their punishment is totally pain free! Theologians solve this problem by creating another myth, the bodily resurrection.
Virtually every Christian church admits to a belief in the rejoining of an incorruptible physical body with the eternal soul at the time of the resurrection. This is known as the "resurrection of the body" doctrine, and is included in many affirmations of faith. For example, from the "Apostles Creed":
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
They believe this body to be different from the present earthly body in that it cannot be destroyed or killed. Therefore, when nonbelievers are cast into hellfire, they will suffer the pain of burning alive for eternity. The fire will never kill them. What a wonderful system! If an omnipotent God designed a system whereby all people who are not Christians will burn in the agony of hellfire for eternity, then explain the verse:
. . . God is love. (I John 4:8)
Of course, that cannot be explained because these are totally contradictory statements! That is, if God is love, then He did not design a system whereby trillions of people will suffer the terror and pain of burning alive for eternity! If God did design such a system, then God is not love! These two concepts are mutually exclusive. Only one can be true! If we can prove that either is true, then the other must be false. Regardless, most Christian theologians accept both of these concepts as truth, and are handicapped by having to defend indefensible "true" statements such as the following:
For God so loved the world that He plans for the majority of mankind to burn in hell for eternity.
The simple obvious fact is that both of these beliefs cannot be true. One must be rejected! Which one would you choose to accept as truth? I choose to accept the concept that God is love! But I do not reject the other concept simply because it is ridiculous. This book will prove beyond any doubt through the scriptures that no human will suffer for eternity in hell. What would God gain from their suffering? God is not sadistic, God is love!
The resurrection of the body myth illustrates the problems created when men impose their own private interpretations on the scriptures. We are warned against this activity:
Knowing this first, that no prophesy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (II Peter 1:20)
The ultimate goal of virtually every Christian is to spend eternity with God in heaven. However, no one composed of any flesh and blood can inherit the Kingdom of God:
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;... (I Corinthians 15:49-50)
If Christian "souls" are reunited with their incorruptible flesh and blood bodies at the resurrection they can never enter heaven according to the scripture above since flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the bodily resurrection doctrine directly conflicts with the ultimate goal of today's Christianity! Both cannot be true! If your soul and body are reunited, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God! You cannot have it both ways. Either you believe the scriptures or you believe man.
In actuality, the truth about what happens upon your death is infinitely better than you have ever heard in any church or from any evangelist, and infinite is a word you cannot comprehend! On a recent Public Broadcasting System television documentary regarding religions in general, one philosopher made a statement concerning Christianity, "Would it not be better if the unsaved simply died?" Guess what? That is exactly what happens as written in the Bible. It is called the "second death." The second death awaits the unsaved. Unsaved humans who are cast into hell die their second death! Here is a philosopher who may have a religion, or may be an atheist, but he sees the flaw in widespread Christian theology. The Bible discusses two deaths, the first death and the second death. The first death is that of our physical bodies as they exist now:
And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)
The second death discussed in the book of Revelation must also be the end of a life if it is a true death:
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
An everlasting life of torment is not a second death! In the traditional Christian concept, man has an immortal soul which neither the first nor second death can kill. Therefore, for these traditional Christian theologians, death must be interpreted to be something other than death! This contradicts the Bible, which states that the unsaved die, perish, and are lost and gone for eternity. That is the end, or death, of them. There is no recovery from the second death. Christians are saved from the second death, when they are born again as immortal spiritual bodies after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ:
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
Nonbelievers are not born again as spiritual bodies and may suffer the second death. All men are appointed to die only the first death. The second death is optional based on whether or not one chooses to accept Jesus as his Savior. If man's "soul" has immortality from birth and cannot die, then death does not apply to man, now or ever!
Incredibly, most Christian theologians have misrepresented the message of the Bible for nearly two thousand years! This myth of the immortal soul can be traced to one five-word statement which Satan spoke in the first few pages of the book of Genesis: "Ye shall not surely die." Many Christians and non-Christians still believe Satan's lie! It is inherent in most humans! This myth and its associated misinterpretations, as taught by most Christian churches, led Mrs. Yates to murder her children. She murdered them in their innocent years to prevent their souls and attached incorruptible physical bodies from burning eternally in the fires of hell. Virtually all other Christian myths and misinterpretations of the Bible are then created to support this immortal soul myth, the lie of Satan that you will live forever.
Therefore, let's call the immortal soul myth, Myth One.
Chapter 3 Myth One
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. (Genesis 1:1-2)
Using the Bible as a reference, the creation defined in detail in Genesis can be traced back approximately 6000 years. My calculations indicate that this Genesis creation occurred 5965 years from the year 2007. Suffice it to say that 6000 years is a close approximation. Many Christians erroneously assume that "In the beginning" was thus 6000 years ago. That is, everything that God ever created was created at that time. They argue against scientific evidence that the earth and entire universe are billions of years older!
Therefore, let's closely consider these first two verses of the Bible. First of all, verse one defines a complete creation! In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. This marks the end of the original creation! Many believe this first verse of Genesis to be a general statement that God created the heaven and earth in the beginning and the following verses describe this same creation in more detail. However, verse two differentiates the original creation in verse one from the recreation begun in verse three. Verse two describes the earth as without form, void, and dark after it was created in verse one. On the other hand, every single item created by God beginning in verse three was seen to be "good" after being created. Likewise, beginning in verse three, God created dry ground and vegetation so the earth was not without form and void. He also created light so the earth was not dark as stated in verse two. Consequently, verse two only describes the creation defined in verse one as everything created after verse two was seen to be good by God. Good is not the same as without form, void, and dark. So verse one definitely describes a separate creation process from that begun in verse three.
We do not know exactly when "In the beginning" was. Whenever it was, God completely created the heaven and the earth originally at that time according to verse one! After that original creation, the earth was without form, void, and dark. Why would God create the earth without form, void, and dark in the beginning? Is it to prove that anyone can make a mistake? Of course not, to err is human, whereas God is all powerful. Everything created in the following verses of Genesis chapter one was seen to be "good" by God:
And God saw the light, that it was good. (Genesis 1:4) There is absolutely no reason to believe that God ever made anything that was not originally created as good! Then why does verse two state that the earth was without form, void, and dark after being created in verse one? Other translations of the original Hebrew text indicate that something occurred and the earth had reached this state. For example, the New International Version® of the Bible renders the same verses as follows:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty; darkness was over the surface of the deep... (Genesis 1:1-2)
That is, God originally created the heavens and the earth good in verse one, and over a period of time the earth had become formless, void, and dark. Between verse one and verse two a period of time obviously occurred. Based on current scientific estimates, the time period between verse one and two was approximately 4.55 billion years. This is the current estimated age of the earth. Yes, dinosaurs did roam the earth sixty-five million years ago! The following "creation" described in detail in Genesis is actually a recreation of a decimated earth originally created in verse one. It is this recreation that can be traced back to approximately 6,000 years ago. This idea that the creation described in detail in Genesis is actually a recreation of a decimated earth is supported by other scripture verses:
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they (mankind) are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:30)
Suppose you were going to recreate something that had become "without form, void, and dark." What would be your first logical step? Would it be the same as God's first logical step? In verse three of chapter one, roughly 4.55 billion years from verse one, God performs the most obvious and logical first step in the recreation of the earth. He turns the lights back on:
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
What caused the original wonderfully created earth to degrade to the conditions as described in verse two? Sin and rebellion against the commandments of God produced chaos.
God created everything that was ever created, and everything that God created was good. However, most of us would agree that sin is definitely bad. Therefore, one might ask, "Where did sin come from?" Since sin is not good, God did not create sin. What God did create was freedom of choice. Angels and man were created with freedom of choice. Is this good? Yes, because God created it. Without the ability to choose, we would simply be robots repeating the same actions to every similar situation. God also created laws or commandments which the beings He created should obey. Are laws good? Yes, God created them. Without laws there would be anarchy and chaos. Sin is disobeying God's laws. God did not create the sins. God created angels and man with freedom of choice and gave them laws to live by. They can choose between good and evil. That is, between obeying or disobeying God's laws. Angels and man then created sin by choosing to violate God's laws.
We will see shortly that man was created during the Genesis recreation and given dominion over the earth. God then provided man with commandments or laws which man should obey. Sin is the transgression of God's laws:
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: ...for sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4) After his creation, man sins by choosing through his freedom of choice to live his way over that of obeying God's commandments:
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
Under man's rule and rebellion against God, the earth will reach a state of great tribulation:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the
beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
Due to the same reason, sinning by rebelling against God, the good earth as originally created had reached a state of no form, void, and darkness before the Genesis recreation begun in verse three! But who was on earth to rebel against God before the creation of man? After God originally created the heavens and earth in the beginning, He did not abandon it to its own fate. He placed a caretaker and a host of subordinates to care for the earth. That caretaker was given dominion over the earth. So who was this caretaker? It was the archangel Lucifer who became known as the devil or Satan after his rebellion. How do we know that Lucifer was the earthly caretaker? In the book of Luke, when Satan tempted Jesus for forty days in the desert, Satan offered Jesus power over all the kingdoms of the earth:
And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whosoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. (Luke 4:5-7)
Notice that Jesus did not question the devil's authority to give him power over the earth. He knew that Satan did indeed have control over the earth and could give or share this power with whomever he pleased. Jesus' immediate response was:
Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Luke 4:8)
Once God makes a covenant, or testament, or promise, He always keeps it. Satan was given rule over the earth. Although he rebelled against his creator, God did not and will not violate the agreement. Satan was given rule over the world and a ruler must be defeated and overthrown! This is one of the reasons Jesus is coming to the earth, to defeat Satan.
So the ruler of the earth is Satan, and he decided sometime between the first two verses of the Bible to rebel against God. The ultimate results of his rebellion and rule are the conditions of chaos described on the earth in verse two. Satan was an archangel, and his staff was a host of angels:
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)
Although we do not know the exact number under Satan's authority, it was one-third of the total number of angels. Satan and the angels who joined his rebellion against God were exiled from the Kingdom of God and restricted to ruling the earth:
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth... (Revelation 12:4)
"Stars" is symbolism for angels in the book of Revelation. Satan was an archangel since he had angels under his control. Today, we might consider him to be middle management. Being omnipotent, God could have created beings which had no choice but to worship and love him. However, of what significance is it if a being has no choice but to love someone? Not much, they would simply be robots. Therefore, God created the angels and man with freedom of choice. Satan and some of the angels under his authority at some time chose to rebel against God. Why did he rebel? It was a grab for power:
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!... For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Lucifer, also known as Satan or the Devil, was not content in his position. He wanted to be like the most high God. He wanted to exalt his throne above the stars, or angels, of God. As a result of their rebellious nature and their dominion over the earth, the good earth had reached the chaotic and unacceptable condition of formless, void, and dark. Satan did not rule the heaven so it remained good. Although Satan ruled the earth, God can and does intervene on occasions. One such intervention was the recreation of the earth described in Genesis which occurred approximately six thousand years ago.
These rebellious caretakers will need to be replaced after God seizes control of the earth back from Satan. In the original creation the caretakers were created with spiritual bodies which live forever. In the recreation God did not create more spiritual beings and risk being stuck with more rebels for eternity. He created a mortal being called man a little lower than the angels:
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?... For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, (Psalm 8:4-5)
Angels are immortal spiritual beings. They cannot be hurt or killed as physical bodies can. Although mankind is a little lower than the angels, we were made after their likeness:
And God said, Let us make man after our image, after our likeness... (Genesis 1:26)
Well, what are some of the characteristics of spiritual beings? The main characteristic of spiritual bodies is that they are immortal. They will never die after being created. Describing Christians who will be born again as spiritual beings, the Bible proclaims:
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
The former things that are passed away are their physical bodies and all associated physical characteristics. These include death, sorrow, crying, pain, etc. "There shall be no more death," indicates they will become spiritual bodies equal unto the angels when born again at the Second Coming. "And there shall be no more death," is future tense. As presently created, man will die. That is, he is not immortal. Additional characteristics of spiritual bodies include:
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
We are certainly not like that. Do spirits have arms and legs like we do? Yes and no. Spirits are not restricted by physical laws as are humans. If they want to look like humans with arms and legs they can do so. Do they have wings? Wings are needed only to propel physical bodies through the air. Spirits do not need this propulsion because neither air nor any other matter restricts them. So spiritual beings are somewhat like the wind. We might be able to sense what they do, although generally we cannot see nor hear them.
So how are we in the likeness of God and the angels? We know that both man and angels have freedom of choice. Satan and some angels under his authority rebelled against God, thus proving they could choose. Man and woman disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, thus proving that they had freedom of choice. So in this way, we are alike. We were both created, as we will see shortly, to have dominion over and care for the earth under the auspices and authority of God. God and man both possess a creative nature. God created everything that was ever created. Within his environment man is also very creative and inventive. He has progressed from living in caves to walking on the moon. Sadly, many of man's inventions were initially created for vile purposes such as war.
The most important way in which man is made in the likeness of God is that man is the only animal which has the capability of becoming equal unto the angels. Speaking of those who shall inherit the Kingdom of God in the world to come, Jesus states:
Neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto the angels... (Luke 20:36)
...and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:10)
(referring to dry ground)
...and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12)
(referring to vegetation)
...and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:18)
(referring to night and day)
...and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21)
(referring to sea and air creatures)
...and God saw that it was good... (Genesis 1:25)
(referring to land creatures)
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)
So in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth as good. Now the earth had become without form, void, and dark. Notice that only the earth had become without form, void, and dark. The "heaven" remained in good condition as it was created.
So man and angels are the same in that both possess freedom of choice, man and some of the angels had the responsibility of caring for the earth, and man is the only animal which has the capability of becoming equal unto the angels.
How were man and spirits created differently? Man was created only a "little lower than the angels." In fact, man was created originally with only two differences between him and the angels! These two differences between men and angels are described in the book of Genesis. They are body type and knowledge of good and evil. Trees in the Garden of Eden represented each of these differences:
Tree Result of eating this tree's fruit
1) Tree of knowledge Ability to distinguish good from evil
of good and evil2) The tree of life Eternal life -- A spiritual body.
God created man and angels with the freedom to make choices. Just as Satan and his angels were given control over the entire earth, man was given dominion over every other physical being on earth:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)
Man is the only animal that can reason, learn, and make choices. Other animals do not make cognitive choices as humans do, but perform actions based on instinct. That is, other animals do not know right from wrong. Originally, mankind did not either. Adam and Eve had access to the fruit of two very special trees among the many in the Garden of Eden:
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)
However, God did not create mankind to sit on his duff and eat fruit:
And the Lord God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15)
Now whose job was that originally? It was the job of Satan and angels under his supervision, as the Garden of Eden is on the earth which Satan rules. However, the original caretakers failed in this assignment. It stands to reason that any earthly caretakers will be required to make choices. Whatever occurs, they must be capable of choosing the best response to maintain the earth in good condition as it was created. Aside from the angels, the only other being created by God and given freedom of choice was man. Therefore, man was created to eventually replace the original rebellious caretakers:
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth... (Genesis 1:28)
Replenish indicates to make full or complete a second time! From The Random House College Dictionary, replenish is defined as:
replenish -- to make full or complete again.
Thus man was charged with completing the work in which Satan and his angels so miserably failed.
The angels created originally to care for the earth are spiritual bodies which live forever. This makes sense, as the job of caring for the physical and natural wonders created by God is an infinitely ongoing process. Consequently, the new caretakers being created will need to live forever also. Therefore, these mortal men and women who qualify for the job will be upgraded to immortal spiritual bodies when they are born again at, or after, the resurrection. These former humans will then replace the original caretakers under the new leader who defeats Satan. That new leader will be Jesus Christ. Not all men will qualify to become immortal caretakers. Those with the character flaw which caused the original caretakers to fail in their duties will not qualify. That flaw was sin. These men and women who do not qualify will perish in the second death!
God defined the criteria whereby mankind could become spiritual beings and be spared from the second death in a testament or will. However, no one could qualify under the original testament. God then created a New Testament, at which time the original became the Old Testament. These two testaments combine to form today's Bible and define our path of salvation from the second death through believing in Jesus Christ.
Although man was made a little lower than the angels he was made in the image of God. In scientific worldly terms, man is at the top of the food chain. That is, man was given dominion over every other animal on the earth. Mankind is being groomed to assume the responsibilities of the original earthly caretakers and was made in their image. The original differences are that man does not understand good from evil and man is mortal. At this point, man does not have a spiritual body and thus does not have eternal life. However, all he has to do is reach out and eat of the tree of life and he will become like the angels and live forever. But the ever present Devil intercedes and causes man to sin by choosing to disobey God:
And the Lord God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)
Notice that God did not suggest or recommend that man not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He commanded it! Since man was not created with the knowledge of good and evil he could not sin until God gave him this first commandment. What exactly is sin? Sin is the transgression of the commandments of God which are also called the law:
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4)
So sin is transgression of the law. But what if there is no law? Then there is no sin:
For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:13)
That is, sinful acts could be committed before the laws were given and understood. However, committing the act does not constitute a sin until by God's law we recognize the act as a sin. Originally, man did not know good from evil as he had no law. At this point, man has one, and only one, law or commandment: do not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil! Man was now set up to commit one, and only one sin. It was the only commandment he knew, and thus the only one he could violate. Satan saw to it that man did indeed violate this first commandment that God gave him:
Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:1-5)
When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil both did immediately know right from wrong. That part of Satan's statement was true as we see below:
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:7)
They had become as gods in that they recognized good and evil. At this point there is only one difference remaining between man and the angels. That difference is that men have mortal, physical bodies whereas angels have immortal, spiritual bodies. Only two body types are described in the Bible, natural or terrestrial and spiritual or celestial:
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:44)
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. (I Corinthians 15:40)
Celestial means heavenly or spiritual and terrestrial means natural, earthly, or physical. There are only two body types, celestial and terrestrial, and they are different. The glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another. In other words, they do not mix. There is no hybrid being consisting of a spirit or soul living within a physical body described anywhere in the scriptures! Man is a terrestrial body, and angels are spiritual bodies. Therefore, man remains lower than the angels.
"Ye shall not surely die," was a lie. How do we know Satan lied? God told Adam and Eve if they ate fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil "thou shalt surely die." God does not lie! Therefore, Satan's contradictory statement that "Ye shall not surely die," was a lie. Mankind has believed that lie ever since! Man believes he has a part of himself that lives forever. Man thus equates himself with God!
Although they did not die immediately, they were not spiritual bodies and had sinned and would sin again as they now knew good from evil, and:
...the wages of sin is death; (Romans 6:23)
Until Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would not die. Once they violated this first law that God gave them, they had sinned, and would die because the wages of sin is death. Additionally, they opened up the knowledge of good and evil for all humans which followed them. That is, all humans from that point forward could sin as they understood good from evil thanks to Adam and Eve:
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
All humans except Jesus will choose evil over good sometime in their life:
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
Therefore, all humans except Jesus will be sentenced to die the second death. Up to this time God had not yet implemented the physical laws whereby man's body died of natural causes. Shortly after man sinned, God created the physical laws whereby human bodies could not live past one hundred and twenty years of age:
And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3)
After Adam and Eve sinned the tree of life was still available in the garden for them to eat from and thus live forever. They would then be equal unto the angels. Why were Adam and Eve evicted from the Garden of Eden? Most people believe it was because they sinned. That's incorrect. It was to prevent them from eating of the tree of life!
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. (Genesis 3:22-23)
If they had been allowed to eat of the tree of life and become spiritual bodies which live forever, the recreation effort described in Genesis might have resulted in adding more rebellious spirits to Satan's gang for eternity! After all, these new beings had already exhibited the same tendencies as the original caretakers. They had sinned! Therefore, mankind was separated from the tree of life so they could not eat of its fruit and live forever. Obviously, at this point, neither man nor any part of man is going to live forever! He had the opportunity. Man was never commanded not to eat from the tree of life! He could have eaten freely from the tree of life but he chose poorly. At this point, man is closer to being like the angels because he knows good from evil. The remaining difference is body type, physical versus spiritual. Man was expelled from the Garden of Eden so that he could not eat from the tree of life and live forever! Few Christian clergy believe this verse.
There is additional confirmation in the Bible that the only remaining difference between man and the angels is body type. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and thus a spirit that lives forever. A spirit cannot be killed. That being the case, how could He die for our sins? The answer is in the Bible:
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)
Jesus Christ was made to be "a little lower than the angels," exactly as man was created!
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? ...For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, (Psalm 8:4-5)
Both Jesus Christ and man were made "a little lower than the angels." However, we are given the one, and only one, reason that Jesus was made lower than the angels for His thirty-three years on earth. He could not die as a spirit! He was made lower than the angels so that he could suffer death! That was the only change required for Him to become a human being! That is, His spiritual body could not die as it is immortal. He had to become a physical human body so that He could die for our sins. It will always be a mystery to man as to how this was accomplished. That is, where was His spiritual body while He was on the earth? We will not understand this until we become members of the Kingdom of God. Regardless of how it was accomplished, the only change required for Jesus to become a human was a body type change from spiritual to physical. Conversely, the only remaining difference between humans and Jesus and the angels is a physical body versus a spiritual body. When Jesus was asked how men could enter into the Kingdom of God, Jesus gave only one requirement which man had to accomplish:
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
Jesus is addressing living men who have already been born of water. Human bodies are approximately 70% water and were carried in the womb in water. Man is the only animal which may gain eternal life since he is the only animal created with freedom of choice. One must choose whether or not to accept Jesus as their Savior. Thus to enter the Kingdom of God, one must first be born of water as a man and not some other animal. Our human birth of water gets us into the animal kingdom as homo sapiens. If one chooses to accept Jesus as his Savior, his second birth after Jesus returns to the earth will be a spiritual birth into the Kingdom of God. It is a real event, not simply some emotion! You are born a second time as a spirit, or born again.
Therefore, the one remaining requirement for any existing man or woman to enter the Kingdom of God is that they must be born again as a spirit! Flesh and blood physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God:
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; (I Corinthians 15:49-50)
Each of the two body types defined in the Bible, physical and spiritual, require a separate and distinct type of birth:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)
Dualisms occur throughout the Bible. God created angels and some sinned due to their desire to be like God. God then created man lower than the angels and man sinned for the very same reason. The pursuit of power lures beings to sin. Both the rebellious angels and man desired to be as, or more powerful, than God. Is the "tree of life" ever encountered again in the Bible? Yes, several times in Revelation:
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
Man will individually be allowed to eat of the tree of life and live forever if he chooses to meet the requirement of the New Testament. The requirement of the New Testament in order for one to become an heir to salvation is a belief in Jesus Christ:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Those who are allowed to eat of the tree of life will be born again as spiritual beings which live forever. They will then, and only then, be equal unto the angels. Those who never eat of the tree of life are not born again as spiritual beings. They are resurrected as mortal beings. Obviously, we all die the first death. So what does eating of the tree of life save us from? It saves us from the second death described in Revelation:
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
How does eating of the tree of life protect us from the second death? When we eat of the tree of life we are born again as spiritual bodies which live forever and cannot die:
Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: (Genesis 3:22)
When will we receive this reward or gift of eternal life? At the Second Coming Jesus is bring our reward:
Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him... (Isaiah 62:11)
And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me... (Revelation 22:12)
When Satan told Eve, "Ye shall not surely die," he lied. However, Satan is the current ruler of the world. When the ruler makes a statement we accept it as truth uncritically. Since then, all mankind has an innate belief that some part of them, their spirit or soul, lives forever. Stories or beliefs accepted uncritically to explain basic "truths" are called myths. This immortal soul myth is not only believed by most Christians, it is a universal myth. Virtually all religions believe in some sort of life after death.
Since man is at the top of the food chain he has no physical being to look to above and see as his creator. Consider your dog or cat. They look to you for their shelter, food, medical help, life or death, etc. They do not worry about where they came from. On the other hand, man cannot understand his existence. Thus, early religions generally worshiped something they did not understand which gave them continued life such as the sun, the moon, or a river.
The effort to explain man's existence has taken two branches, religious and secular. The most widely known secular attempt at an explanation is the "Theory of Evolution." The religious branch has produced many religions. Of course, yours is the only true religion. Most of us would defend our religion to the death, and many have. On the other hand, the poor slob in the jungle worshiping the river truly believes his religion is the only true religion. Why? Because it's what he's been taught since birth. He was born into his religion, as were most of us!
The scriptures form the most amazing book ever written. The answers to man's every question are placed into a book which is brilliantly sealed from his understanding! Satan immediately sets man off on the totally wrong path when he instills in man the concept that, "Ye shall not surely die." After the first few pages of Genesis, Satan has successfully sealed the Bible from man's understanding.
This initial false belief that man is born as an immortal soul living within a physical body seals the remainder of the Bible from man's understanding. The remainder of the Bible must be incorrectly "interpreted" to support this original error! Consequently, secondary myths are created to support this initial myth created in the first few pages of Genesis. With a little assistance from Satan, man seals the scriptures from his own understanding!
An example of a secondary myth is the "bodily resurrection" theology. If you believe you are born with an immortal soul, you are forced to misinterpret the definition of Christians being born again at the resurrection in First Corinthians:
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (I Corinthians 15:42-45)
This scripture is not complicated. The Christian body that is sown is corruptible, dishonored, weak, and a natural body. This is the physical body which is buried like a seed, or sown, when we die. At the resurrection, Christians are raised up as incorruptible, glorified, powerful, spiritual bodies. This is exactly what the above verses state! Read them again several times if you must to confirm their simple truth.
Those humans who died believing in Jesus Christ will be born as spiritual bodies at the resurrection. Since this is their second birth, they are born again. The first man Adam was a living, breathing being or soul. The last Adam was made a quickening spirit or spiritual body. Perhaps use of the word "soul" is confusing. Let's cover that in chapter 14 - Poor Word Choice.
People who believe they are born as an immortal soul inhabiting a physical body will tell you this verse means the soul is rejoined with an incorruptible physical body which will never die. This is known as the bodily resurrection doctrine. This false interpretation is forced upon them once they believe Satan's lie that they already possess an eternal spiritual body, "Ye shall not surely die." Since Christians already have a spiritual body this scripture cannot mean what it states. Therefore, it must be interpreted to mean that the already existing spiritual body, which they believe all men to be born with, is merged with an incorruptible, immortal physical body at the resurrection! After all, if you already have a spiritual body, or soul, why would you need another one? Thus, they would have born again Christians remaining a little lower that the angels, since they are handicapped by a physical body.
This secondary bodily resurrection myth does resolve the problem of punishment for the nonbelievers and it is good news for all sadists. It is now possible to punish nonbelievers twenty-four hours a day for eternity in hellfire since their physical bodies can experience pain but never die! What a wonderful "Christian" concept! When Jesus Christ sees His followers believing that He created a system to torture nonbelievers with the pain and terror of burning alive for eternity, what might His reaction be? My guess is that:
Jesus wept. (John 11:35)
Is it any wonder that Christian parents can worry themselves sick regarding the future "eternity" of their children?
Chapter 4 Sleep Versus Death
All physical bodies will die. Every tick of the clock you get closer to the maximum limit of one hundred and twenty years of human life. Most of us will not even get close to the upper age limit. The key to the word death is its finality; the end of life, the total and permanent cessation of all vital functions. Death is the absence of life. The scriptures state:
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing...
(Ecclesiastes 9:5)
Life and death are mutually exclusive. Everyone is either alive or dead. You can approach very near to death, but you are not dead. Once you cross over to the dead there is no way any man can bring you back to life! Doctors do not bring people back from the dead. Consider a drowning victim who has been under water for twenty minutes with no pulse or signs of life. If he is shocked, given an injection of adrenaline, and CPR, and is "brought back to life," then he was never dead. All of his vital functions had not yet ceased.
The medical definition of dead has recently been modified to include no brain wave activity. Lack of a pulse is no longer adequate to confirm one's death. Even without brain activity, one might be kept "alive" by respirators and intravenous feeding. However, once one crosses over the line from life to death, man cannot restore that person's life. Once again, the key words in the definition of death are those which imply finality. Real death is final.
Not only can man not restore life to a dead body, man has never created life, other than through the biological process which God created. Cloning is not creating life. It is simply tinkering with the creation process as designed by God. The DNA from an egg is removed and replaced with the DNA from the animal to be cloned. The fertilized egg is then placed into a womb and allowed to develop into a new animal. The result is an identical twin of the DNA donor. Man did not create the associated reproduction process which produced the clone. He simply tinkered with the existing process to modify the outcome.
Sadly, there remain people who believe that man can create himself without the help of God's natural reproduction process through the cloning procedure. Some of these "heavy thinkers" then wonder about the other more important part of the man which was produced; his soul. They ask comical questions such as, "Sure man can produce another man's physical body, but can man produce a soul?" In other words, will cloned humans have a soul since they were "created" by other men? The question is utterly ridiculous! Man has never, ever, created life without starting from some existing life. Man has tried and failed to create even single cell life from non-living materials. The thesis upon which the question is based is therefore incorrect. Man cannot produce another man except through the laws of reproduction as defined by God. But regardless of the ignorant basis for the question, the correct answer is that the soul is a myth. And yes, the soul was very definitely created by man!
The Bible describes physical and spiritual forms of life. Spiritual beings consist of the Trinity of God and the angels. Satan and his subordinates are included as angels. The physical life forms consist of every life form which is not spiritual. This includes plants, insects, germs, viruses, fish, birds, animals, and others. Man is an animal. All physical life forms share one very important characteristic. All die! Spiritual life forms live for eternity. This is the characteristic which distinguishes man from spiritual beings.
Since death only applies to the physical world, let's examine what the Bible states regarding the death of the animal which we are concerned about most. That is, man. According to the Bible, two separate and distinct deaths can befall man. The first and most obvious death ends our short one hundred and twenty year maximum life which we are presently living on the earth. After man sinned, God placed an upper limit on the life of the physical human body:
And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3)
Death: the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent
cessation of all the vital functions of an animal or plant.
-- Random House College Dictionary
Our second possible physical death is described in the book of Revelation:
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15)
Individuals whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire and suffer their second death. They die because they are physical bodies which can die. They are physical bodies because they have never believed in Jesus and been born again as a spirit which cannot die. It is very important to notice that this death is actually labeled as a death! That is, it is final and eternal. There is no recovery or return from the second death! This truly fits our definition of the word death. It is the permanent cessation of all vital life functions.
Let's examine how the Bible considers man's first death. When the first death of any man is discussed in the Bible, the words used to describe that event are sleep or rest. Only man, among all the animals is said to sleep, slumber, or rest when he dies. In fact, when Jesus raised people from the dead, He often stated that they were not dead, but simply asleep:
Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (John 11:11)
And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn... (Mark 5:39-40)
Was Jesus lying, or did He know something which no one else knew? Of course, the answer is the latter. If Jesus lied about the dead being asleep when they were actually dead, then He sinned and could not be a valid sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
If true death is final, then our first death is not death at all. It does not meet the definition of death. That is, it is not final. As doctors and medical technicians "restore life" to someone after their heart has stopped for twenty minutes, God is going to restore the physical life of nonbelievers many years after their first "death" at the second resurrection. In many cases after having been "dead" for thousands of years. Therefore, their first death is not actually a death because it is not final and permanent. They will live again. It is final to us here on the earth. That is, man cannot restore another man's life after his first death, only God can. So Jesus did not lie when He stated that Lazarus' stinking body which had been lying in the grave for four days was only sleeping:
Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (John 11:39)
When pressed, Jesus spoke plainly and stated that Lazarus was indeed dead. Plainly indicates that Jesus spoke in terms of how man understands death:
Then Jesus said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (John 11:14)
In neither case, when Jesus said Lazarus was asleep nor when He said Lazarus was dead, did He lie. Both statements are true! One was from God's point of view, and the other was from man's point of view. From God's perspective, there is one true death, the second death.
Once one