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NASB | Jeremiah 32:35 "They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jeremiah 32:35 "They built the high places [for worship] of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom) to make their sons and their daughters pass through the fire to [worship and honor] Molech--which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this repulsive thing, to cause Judah to sin. [Jer 7:30, 31] |
Bible Question:
Beja, Thanks for your help, I just had a bible study on the hell doctrine, but didnt ask them about Jer 32:35. I know what my husband is trying to do, and he's tryin to get me not to believe in hell, bcause I'm still learning, but it's clear to me that there is a place where the wicked will go. Can you help me understand the Sodom and Gomorrah occasion (Jude 1:7).? Thanks again:) |
Bible Answer: Julia, I do not think it means to say that what sodom and gomorrah suffered was exactly the same thing as the eternal fires of hell. I'm not certain what the difficulty is but I imagine your husband's arguement going something like this: This says that what sodom and gomorrah experienced was the eternal fire. Yet this was only temporary and a moment and time destruction, so therefore eternal fire in other places doesn't really mean eternal. If I'm mistaken correct me. Assuming, however, that I'm correct I'll try to address this. Jud 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. What we are seeing here, is that false teachers have crept into the church and the author is trying to assure them of the coming final judgement. How do we prove the coming judgement? There has never been an eternal judgement of the same sort. So what the author is doing is grabing examples of God's judgements that have happened and they are using those as proofs that God is in fact a God who has judged sinners in the past, and therefore we need not doubt that He will climatically judge them in the future. Therefore the fires of destruction that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah are held forth as a type or example of the eternal fires that are coming. So what we are seeing is a limited comparison. Something that has similiarities to eternal judgement, but is only limited in its similarities. I think what I'm telling you is accurate and you can trust it, however, let me just say that a passage such as this, where the meaning is somewhat uncertain should never be allowed to trump the numerous clear passages we have affirming the existence of hell. Clear passages always help us understand the unclear passages. We do not take an unclear passage and use it to negate clearly stated teaching in other places. I hope this helps. In Christ, Beja |