THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE BIBLE TELLS US ABOUT THE “WRATH” OF GOD.
THE VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER
In the Hebrew Bible, “Gehenna” was initially where some of the kings of Judah sacrificed their children by fire. Therefore, it was deemed to be cursed by God. In the KJV, the term appears 13 times in 11 different verses, such as the “Valley of Hinnom,” “Valley of the son of Hinnom,”or “Valley of the children of Hinnom.”
In the Greek language, “Gehenna,” was translated ” Hell or Hellfire,” did it take on the significance of “Hell or “Hellfire.”
(Mat 5:22) But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
When the term Gehenna is used in a scripture, that scripture is talking about God’s judgement. Time frame is important here also. More scriptures where Gehenna is used:
(Mar 9:43) And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”
(Luk 12:5) But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”
The valley of Slaughter was located in a deep narrow ravine south of Jerusalem, called the “Valley of Hinnom,” was the boundary of the territories of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah.
(Jer 19:1) Thus says the LORD, “Go, buy a potter’s earthenware flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests,
(Jer 19:2) and go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the entry of the Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you.
(Jer 19:3) You shall say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.
(Jer 19:4) Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents,”
Consequently, in the period of the divided monarchy, the Valley was the site of a pagan altar known as “Tophet,” (approx. 626 BC). Parents sacrificed their children there to the god Molech. the bible singles out Ahab and Manasseh, Kings of Judah as having led the way to this grotesque ritual. However, scripture praises King Josiah for destroying this idolatrous altar during his reforms.
(Jer 7:31) And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind.
(Jer 7:32) Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere.”
Jeremiah, who was called as a prophet during Josiah’s reign, foretold that God would cause such destruction that the Valley of Hinnom would be a cemetery known as “The Valley of Slaughter.”
(Joh 5:28) Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice.”
(Act 17:31) because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Note: Jesus is talking to all of mankind since it is Judgement Day, therefore that includes everyone who has been born. He does not distinguish the OT to the NT. So here, there is no timeline.
In time, the Valley became so noxious that its name became a synonym for “Hell” or Hellfire.” In my blog I showed the unseen places; “Paradise ” and “Torment.” I hope you grasp that these places of souls were waiting for Judgement Day when God’s wrath on the wicked. Not to be confused with the “Rapture,” my friend.
Consequently, the Koine Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses the verb form (“harpagisometha,)” which means that “we should be caught up , or taken away, with the connotation that this is a sudden event or rescue.”
Paul admonishes us to comfort our brothers & sisters with
(1Th 4:9) Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
(1Th 4:10) for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
(1Th 4:11) and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
(1Th 4:12) so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one”
(1Th 4:13) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
(1Th 4:14) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
(1Th 4:15) For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
(1Th 4:16) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
(1Th 4:17) Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
(1Th 4:18) Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
However, do not get too relaxed. to follow Jesus is not an easy road. I should know, I wrote a book about my rollercoaster life in “Heaven by Attrition.”
UNITED NOW AND HEREAFTER IN THE LORD
It is suggested that God Himself is the teacher of love. Others may teach the lower classes in the school of grace, but the highest is reserved for the Supreme Teacher. Note that recurring more and more,
(1Th 3:12) and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
(1Th 4:1) Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
(1Th 4:10) for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
The distribution of goods in the early Church may have led to abuses, which the injunctions here given were intended to rectify. It is well to bring up every child to know one means of livelihood, and children are much more likely to grow up into noble and useful people, if they are encouraged to work for their living. Do something in the world!
These disciples anticipated the speedy return of the Lord and feared lest those who had died would be worse off than they: The Apostle bade them dismiss such fears, because they who remained alive until the coming of the Lord would have no precedence over others who had died. Paul assures them that they who had fallen asleep were with Jesus, and that they would accompany Him when He came again; To those who needed to be raised, Jesus would be “the Resurrection”; to those who were living, He would be “the Life.” They that believed in Him, though they had died, yet would they live; and they who lived till He came would never die.
© FB Meyers
What Do I Know? 