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Question 14
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14

Did Jesus teach of an “eternal Hell”? Did he teach nothing more of the Kingdom of Heaven than already known from the Gospels?


About the time his eldest brother’s visage was revealed to Jesus, some people came to him who had seen him by the River Jordan and had heard what the Baptist said of him. And they much desired to hear him speak.

And Jesus did so.

And he explained much of the old sacred Writings to them, spoke to them of the God of Truth and Justice.

Then those who heard the words spoke to others thereof.

After this, many would come in search of Jesus and would assemble in great numbers to see him and to hear his words.

From among these gatherings, Jesus selected twelve men that they might accompany him upon his journeying and help him speak to the people; for he retained a faint remembrance of the Twelve who accompanied his Father.

Thus he journeyed from town to town, accompanied by some or by greater numbers of his chosen followers.

He spoke in synagogues, in homes, and at places where people gathered to rest after the toils of the day.

And he spoke to them of God as their Father, spoke of His love and compassion. And he rebuked them for their lack of tolerance, for their ways of enmity, their hatreds.

And some of the words of Jesus were these: “Love one another as brothers and sisters, for even as you love so shall your Heavenly Father love you.

“Be compassionate to all who come to you, for as you are compassionate so also shall your Father show compassion toward you.

"Be forgiving of your enemies, of all who sin against you; for in the same measure as you forgive, will your Heavenly Father forgive you when you repent of that which you have sinned against Him. Indeed, I tell you: become reformed and repent of your sins and seek to cleanse your hearts of all that is impure; for then shall you surely behold Heaven's glory, then shall you of a certainty enter the Kingdom of Heaven; for in my Father's Kingdom are many mansions prepared for you; and all joy and glory are there for those who have repented of that which they have sinned. And I tell you that you shall go forward to greater blessedness, yes, you shall go forward until you behold our Father's countenance. Therefore, be you all perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect! Be you all pure; for then shall you surely behold His countenance, that of He Who loves you all!

"But I tell you: Never demand the Kingdom of Heaven as a reward for the good you will do. Neither allow the flourish of trumpets in market places or streets that all may know what you have done. Nor ever with loud voice cry: "See how we have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, have given to many, so that now to us belongs the Kingdom of Heaven! For do you thus, then is the Kingdom of Heaven not yours. For I tell you: are you good, then will you do good, not evil! Are you merciful then will you show mercy to all, for you cannot do otherwise! And are your hearts loving, then will you be compassionate to all who suffer, and then will you forgive your enemies also, and all who have sinned against you.

"I tell you indeed, that do you all this as I have told it, then shall you surely partake of the blessings of Heaven, and then shall God's Kingdom be yours!"

Even having heard this, some yet came to Jesus and said: "Master tell us: how shall we enter God's Kingdom?"

Jesus looked upon them and he said: "Heard you not my words? I tell you that you shall love your God and Father with all your heart. And you shall love your neighbor as you love yourselves."

But those who had asked, answered him: "We heard what you spoke to us, but many are those who heard not the words."

Then said Jesus: "Go and proclaim that which you have heard, that all may share in the joy of Heaven."

And Jesus spoke yet more to the people.

And some of his words were these: "Will you not change and repent of your sins and cleanse yourselves of impurity but continue to journey in sin and disobedience, continue in corrupt ways, continue to rob and kill, continue to speak falsely of your neighbor, continue to hate, to persecute and to curse others, then shall you surely go to the Evil Place, and there shall you suffer everlasting4 torment; there no sun shall shine, and no moon give light to you in the darkness, but a fire5 shall be kindled in your hearts—a fire that will not be put out but neither consume you; there shall you suffer the agonies of hunger and thirst, for no one gives you to eat and no one slakes your thirst; there shall you grieve, for no joy is there but only weeping and the gnashing of teeth; for the worm5 of sin shall gnaw at and pain you."

But when Jesus spoke in this manner, great fear came over the gathering.

And some went to him and said: “Master, tell us, does no one return from that place?”

Then Jesus remembered the image of his brother's countenance, remembered his failed pledge, and he answered: "I tell you that you must indeed change your ways and repent of your sinful deeds while there is time; for none but God knows if any return; for none but God knows whether the fire shall be put out; indeed I tell you: none but God knows whether the worm that gnaws and pains shall die!”

But the people continued to question.

“Master, tell us: how shall we prevent that many must go to that evil place?”

Then answered Jesus: “Did you not hear my words? You must change your ways and you must repent.”

But those who had asked, answered him and said: "We heard the words, but many are they who did not."

And Jesus said to them: “Be you then the salt; for even as the meat is salted that it spoil not, so shall you salt the hearts of the people and proclaim to all that which you have heard. But I say: you must speak in my name; for if the salt lacks in savor then shall the meat spoil and it will reek, and then will neither the salt nor the meat be any longer fit and must be cast away. Thus shall it be with you also.”

 

Then the disciples understood him, understood that they should not speak their own words but those of Jesus only.

 

And they went forth to others to speak of that which they had heard.

Many turned to Jesus, many followed him, and those who did so loved him much.

But the scribes and they who were called Pharisees and Sadducees hated him and persecuted him.




FOOTNOTES

4) Everlasting—an inconceivably long period. But must not be understood as suffering that would last through eternity, as this was not what Jesus meant.

5) As Jesus often used parables, the aforementioned expression is to be regarded as but a metaphorical paraphrase of the nagging and painful feeling of the remembrance of sin. The evil place, as Jesus describes it here, is the ruined kingdom, the domicile of the Eldest. During his life on Earth, Jesus retained some memory from his transcendental existence, but it was not all equally comprehensible to him.




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