Is GotQuestions right? Does the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus rule out a "Second Chance"

[Alfred Persson]

Google "Will there be a second chance for salvation after death?" and dozens of respected sites will appear emphatically proclaiming "No".

What about those who do not believe? Wouldn’t they repent and believe if they were given a second chance? The answer is no, they would not because their hearts are not changed simply because they die. Their hearts and minds “are at enmity” against God and won’t accept Him even when they see Him face to face. This is evidenced clearly in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. If ever someone should have repented when given a second chance to see clearly the truth, it was the rich man. But although he was in torment in hell, he only asked that Abraham send Lazarus back to earth to warn his brothers so they didn’t have to suffer the same fate. There was no repentance in his heart, only regret for where he found himself. Abraham’s answer says it all: “And he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). Here we see that the witness of the Scriptures is sufficient for salvation for those who believe it, and no other revelation will bring about salvation to those who do not. No second, third, or fourth chances would be enough to turn the heart of stone into a heart of flesh. -Got Questions

Will there be a second chance for salvation after death? | GotQuestions.org

Will there be a second chance for salvation after death? Will we be given an opportunity to receive Christ as Savior after death?

www.gotquestions.org

GotQuestions is clearly wrong, this prophetic parable spoken against the Scribes and Pharisees who refused to hear Moses and the prophets that Jesus is the Christ, and would continue to do so even after they received the ultimate sign from God of the risen Lazarus, contains more than enough indications the Rich Man was experiencing his "second chance" in Luke 16:19-31.

The Rich man is not said to be irredeemably wicked. Nor does he act like a Reprobate. When his cries for aid are refused he doesn't begin cursing both Abraham and Lazarus.

Throughout this context he reverently refers to “Father Abraham”, pleading “have mercy” (1653 ἐλεέω eleeo) not a whit differently than did blind Bartimaeus who called out to Jesus for the same thing: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Mk. 10:47 NKJ). The aorist tense indicates both had specific acts of mercy they wanted, relief from thirst or blindness. Nothing in their cries for pity implies unrepentant hearts or hostility against God’s justice and truth. “Repentance” is on the Rich Man’s mind, he proves that when he begs Lazarus warn his brothers so “they will repent” (Lk. 16:30).

Gotquestions claims the torments of hades are unpersuasive, but Abraham doesn’t say that. He says the living who refuse to “hear Moses and the Prophets” won’t be persuaded by someone rising from the dead.

This context is is more than a parable. Its clearly a prophetic warning to the Scribes and Pharisees who mocked Christ refusing to hear Moses and the Prophets like everyone else (Lk. 16:13-16), never believing any of the incredible signs Jesus did right before their eyes. Even the sign of Lazarus risen from the dead failed to convince them, instead they “plotted to put Lazarus to dead also” (John 12:9). In this prophetic parable Christ contradicts their tradition Abraham will prevent their descent into hell:

"In the Hereafter Abraham will sit at the entrance of Gehinnom and will not allow any circumcised Israelite to descend into it."- Genesis Rabbah XLVIII. 8

Therefore, the claim this parable proves there is no second chance is false. Moreover, it “twists scripture” because Hades will be emptied out and destroyed on Judgment Day (Rev. 20:11-15), destroying the “impassible barrier” separating the Rich Man from Abraham (Lk. 16:26).

This parable has many indications the Rich Man was getting his “second chance”.

1.) We would expect an irredeemably wicked man would curse both Abraham and Lazarus for refusing to help him. Instead, he shows great reverence for “Father Abraham” and selfless concern for his family (Luke 16:27).
2.) Abraham affectionately calls the Rich Man "son" (Luke 16:25). That would be impossible if the Rich Man were an irredeemable enemy of God: "Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate you? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?" (Psalm 139:21).
3.) Abraham and others with him wanted to comfort the Rich Man, but an “great gulf” prevented them (Luke 16:26). It is impossible they would rebelliously desire to subvert God's just punishment, therefore that is not what the Rich Man is experiencing.
4.) Although translators have the Rich Man crying "I am tormented (3600 ὀδυνάω odunao) in this flame”, and that is the reverse of the “comfort” (3870 παρακαλέω parakaleo) Lazarus is experiencing, ὀδυνάω is also used to denote “anxiety (Lk. 2:48) and “sorrow” (Ac. 20:38). These could be part of the Rich Man’s torment.
5.) Christ did not use the common word for “fire” (4442 πῦρ pur) that appears when speaking of God’s judgment (Lk. 3:9, 17; 17:29). He chose “flame” (5395 φλόξ phlox)" which is the "visible aspect of a fire that springs upward and is usually orange"(Logos Bible Sense Lexicon). It is this “flame” that often accompanies revelation of God (LXX: Ex. 3:2; Judges 13:20; Isa. 66:15; Acts 7:30; 2 Th. 1:8). When Christ is revealed His eyes are “like a flame of fire” (Rev. 1:14; 2 Th. 1:7-8).
6.) In Hades was “where he was being tormented(931 βάσανος basanos)…this place of torment” (Lk. 16:23, 28). The word denotes “a touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal 2) the rack or instrument of torture by which one is forced to divulge the truth.-Strong's Concordance. The symbolism suggests a refining process (Zech. 13:9; Ps. 51:7; 66:10; Isa. 1:25; 6:7; 48:10; Ezek. 24:13; Dan. 11:35), a purging of sin that reveals the truth of the individual, the “gold” within:

But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. (Mal. 3:2-3 NKJ)

7.) The symbolism of water, extreme thirst (Lk. 16:24) may allude to this text:

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit (0953 בּוֹר bowr) wherein is no water. (Zec. 9:11 KJV)

The idea of redemption from Hades is not foreign to the Old Testament:

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. (Jon. 2:2 KJV)
I called on Your name, O LORD, From the lowest pit (0953 בּוֹר bowr). (Lam. 3:55 NKJ)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit (0953 בּוֹר bowr), out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.(Ps. 40:1-3 KJV)

There are many Scriptures that explicitly or implicitly reveal Postmortem Opportunity in Hades exists:

Dt. 32:39 ; 1Sam. 2:6 ; 2Sam. 22:5-7 ; Ps. 16:10-11 ; Ps. 30:3-6 ; Ps. 40:1-3 ; Ps. 49:12-15 ; Ps. 56:13 ; Ps. 68:18-20 ; Ps. 69:13-18 ; Ps. 71:19-23 ; Ps. 86:13 ; Ps. 102:18-22 ; Ps. 116:1-9 ; Hos. 13:14 ; Jon. 2:1-10 ; Zec. 9:9-11 ; Mt. 5:25-26; 12:30-3 ; John 5:28-2 ; Rm. 11:25-3 ; 1 Pt. 3:18-2 ; 1 Pt. 4: ; 1 Cor. 5: ; Eph. 4:8-1 ; Heb. 9:27-2 ; Rev. 20:11-1

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Does the Bible teach there is a Second Chance to be saved by Jesus? | End Time News

Scriptural Proof Universal Opportunity for Salvation in Jesus Spans this life and the After-life God is to us a God of deliverances; And to Yahweh the Lord belong escapes from death. (Ps. 68:20) As Christ alone is the Door to Salvation, what is the fate of those born before His time, or in...

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The "second chance" was well known in the ancient church.

Clement of Alexandria (150–215) Christian teacher at Alexandria who spent his twilight years with his friend Alexander when he became bishop of Jerusalem, had this to say about souls in Hades:

So I think it is demonstrated that God (being good) and the Lord (being powerful) both save with a righteousness and equality that extends to all who turn to God, whether here or elsewhere. For it is not here alone that the active power of God is present. Rather, it is everywhere and is always at work.… For it is not right that those persons [who died before Christ] should be condemned without trial, and that those alone who lived after His coming should have the advantage of the divine righteousness. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, EE Eastern), 2.491. Dead, Intermediate State of The. (1998). In D. W. Bercot (Ed.), A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers (p. 192). Hendrickson Publishers.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Scriptures explicitly or implicitly refer to redemption from Sheol Hades.

'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. (Deut. 32:39 NAU)

"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. (1 Sam. 2:6 NAU)

10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Ps. 16:10-11 NAU) [Although applied to Christ, verse 11 shows it also applies to David.]

O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. (Ps. 30:3 NAU)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. (Ps. 49:15 NAU)

1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. (Ps. 40:1-3 NAU)

19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?
20 You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. (Ps. 71:19-20 NAU)

For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. (Ps. 86:13 NAU)

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight. (Hos. 13:14 NAU)

As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. (Zech. 9:11 NAU)

"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt. 12:32 NKJ)

25 "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
26 "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 "and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 "and come forth-- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (Jn. 5:25-29 NKJ)

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,
31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. (Rom. 11:25-32 NKJ)

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, (1 Pet. 3:18-19 NKJ)

For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Cor. 5:5 NKJ)

8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this, "He ascended "-- what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Eph. 4:8-10 NKJ)

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Heb. 9:27-28 NKJ)

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15 NKJ)

Scripture that liken deliverance in life, to deliverance in the afterlife. The association is so strong its reasonable to say they believed it happens in the afterlife also:

5 "For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me;
6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
7 "In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears. (2 Sam. 22:5-7 NAU)

For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living. (Ps. 56:13 NAU)

18 You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverances; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death. (Ps. 68:18-20 NAU)

13 But as for me, my prayer is to Thee, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Thy lovingkindness, Answer me with Thy saving truth.
14 Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes, and from the deep waters.
15 May the flood of water not overflow me, And may the deep not swallow me up, And may the pit not shut its mouth on me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, for Thy lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of Thy compassion, turn to me,
17 And do not hide Thy face from Thy servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly.
18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies! (Ps. 69:13-18 NAS)

18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
19 For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
21 That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. (Ps. 102:18-22 NAU)

1 I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!"
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling.
9 I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living (Ps. 116:1-9 NAU)

and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. (Jon. 2:2 1 NAU)

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Does the Bible teach there is a Second Chance to be saved by Jesus? | End Time News

Scriptural Proof Universal Opportunity for Salvation in Jesus Spans this life and the After-life God is to us a God of deliverances; And to Yahweh the Lord belong escapes from death. (Ps. 68:20) As Christ alone is the Door to Salvation, what is the fate of those born before His time, or in...

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[TheDeafMan]

No matter what you think of the GotQuestions website, the Bible is clear when read in context that there is no second chance. None. Things like the Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory are fantasy and unbiblical. Worse they give false hope to those who delay. Paul says that 'today' is the day of salvation. The Luke parable of the rich man/Lazarus, if read plainly for what it says, shows no second chance. The rich man is still waiting for that drop of water. He'll never get it. Don't be deceived. This life is all you get, this life is your only chance to accept Jesus as your savior. When a person dies, their destiny is set, forever. No where does Jesus or the disciples teach or endorse anything other than timely (as in while living) salvation. Again, there are no second chances, no Purgatory, no reincarnation, no previous lives, no nirvana. All of those errors are from the devil. Satan would like for you to delay because when you die without Jesus, you will spent eternity with him and his demons in the Lake of Fire. You get one chance, only one.

 

[TheDeafMan]

Before the cross, no one from Earth could enter into heaven upon dying (John 3:13). Both the saved and unsaved went to a place called Sheol in Hebrew and Hades in Greek. For those who had died in faith of a coming redeemer who would die for their sins it was a place of comfort, but for non believers it was a place of torment. The story of Lazarus and the Rich Man describes this (Luke 16:19-31). It also explains that there was no way of crossing from one to the other. In other words, once a person has died their eternal destiny is fixed. So there is no such place as purgatory.

The practice of praying for the dead originated in ancient pagan religions and may be the source of the Catholic belief in purgatory. The idea was first introduced into the Catholic Church in the 2nd Century AD. as a place between heaven and hell where the dead who have not sinned greatly enough to warrant hell, but have not yet purified themselves enough in goodness to enter into heaven, go to prepare and purify themselves of sin.

As you can see belief in purgatory requires that one first assumes the Lord’s death was not sufficient to pay for all our sins, and that it’s up to us to finish the work He only began. This is a non Biblical doctrine that is specifically and repeatedly denied in Scripture.

 

[TheDeafMan]

As for those who have never heard the Gospel ...

God is just (Deut. 32:4). That means He can’t hold us accountable for something we couldn’t have known. He is also on record as saying He doesn’t want that any should perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). If no one comes to the Father except through the Son (John 14:6), then everyone has to have at least one bona-fide opportunity to accept Him during their lifetime. Otherwise God would be condemning people who never had a chance to be saved. That would be unjust and contrary to His own desires.

Romans 10:14 says that everyone who asks for salvation in Jesus’ name will receive it, and Romans 10:17 says that we are prompted to do so by hearing the Gospel story. Logic would lead us to conclude that somehow the Gospel has to be communicated to everyone during his or her lifetime.

This is something that God can easily accomplish. One example of this is that recently we’ve been hearing about an amazing number of people in countries where the Gospel is outlawed coming to Jesus because He came to them in a dream. There’s no way of knowing how long this has been going on.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Before the cross, no one from Earth could enter into heaven upon dying (John 3:13).

Where did Moses and Elijah come from, hell? This was before the cross:
And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. (Mk. 9:4 NKJ)

 

[Alfred Persson]

No matter what you think of the GotQuestions website, the Bible is clear when read in context that there is no second chance. None.

I love GotQuestions, they do great work. Just wrong about this. You say there is no second chance, none: Who then are being reconciled besides Christians?

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (Col. 1:19-21 NKJ)

 

[Alfred Persson]

The Luke parable of the rich man/Lazarus, if read plainly for what it says, shows no second chance. The rich man is still waiting for that drop of water. He'll never get it.

Then Zechariah is a false prophet? He said because of Jesus' blood shed at the cross prisoners will be set free from hell, "the waterless pit":

9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be`from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.'
11 "As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
(Zech. 9:9-11 NKJ)

 

[TheDeafMan]

Then Zechariah is a false prophet? He said because of Jesus' blood shed at the cross prisoners will be set free from hell, "the waterless pit":

9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be`from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.'
11 "As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
(Zech. 9:9-11 NKJ)

Because of the blood of your covenant: This describes God acting towards Israel in light of the blood of the covenant of Moses (Exodus 24:1-8). As Israel turns to God, He will turn to them and rescue them as if they were trapped in a dry cistern (I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit).

 

[TheDeafMan]

I love GotQuestions, they do great work. Just wrong about this. You say there is no second chance, none: Who then are being reconciled besides Christians?

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (Col. 1:19-21 NKJ)

The phrase in Him should all the fullness dwell gathers into a grand climax the previous statements – image of God, first-born of all creation, Creator, the eternally preexistent, the Head of the Church, the victor over death, first in all things. On this summit we pause, looking like John, from Christ in His fullness of deity to the exhibition of that divine fullness in redemption consummated in heaven.” (Vincent)

The fullness is in Jesus Christ. Not in a church; not in a priesthood; not in a building; not in a sacrament; not in the saints; not in a method or a program, but in Jesus Christ Himself. It is in Him as a “distribution point” – so that those who wanted more of God and all that He is can find it in Jesus Christ.

And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself: Jesus’ atoning work is full and broad. Yet we should not take Colossians 1:20 as an endorsement of universalism.

 

[TheDeafMan]

Where did Moses and Elijah come from, hell? This was before the cross:
And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. (Mk. 9:4 NKJ)

In Old Testament times, the spirits of those who died went to a place they called “the abode of the dead.” It consisted of two compartments; a place of comfort for believers and a place of torment for unbelievers. The place of comfort was sometimes called Abraham’s Bosom because it was thought that Abraham met them there to await the resurrection (Luke 16:19-31). The abode of the dead was called Hades in Greek and is often translated Hell in English.

The Greek word translated paradise appears only 3 times in the New Testament and was another name for Abraham’s Bosom. This is where Jesus and the man who died next to Him went (Luke 23:43). Jesus mentioned going into the belly of the Earth for 3 days and three nights after His death (Matt. 12:40) indicating the location of paradise.

Old Testament sacrifices were not sufficient to cleanse mankind of his sins. They could only set them aside until the Lord’s perfect “once for all time” sacrifice was complete (Hebr. 10:11-14). It was His death that opened the gates of Heaven. After the resurrection Jesus took the faithful dead with Him to Heaven . Some assert that He took paradise itself because the place Paul visited (2 Cor. 12:4) is sometimes called the 3rd Heaven (indicating the Throne of God) but the Greek word there is the one translated paradise.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Google "Will there be a second chance for salvation after death?" and dozens of respected sites will appear emphatically proclaiming "No".


GotQuestions is clearly wrong, this prophetic parable spoken against the Scribes and Pharisees who refused to hear Moses and the prophets that Jesus is the Christ, and would continue to do so even after they received the ultimate sign from God of the risen Lazarus, contains more than enough indications the Rich Man was experiencing his "second chance" in Luke 16:19-31.

The Rich man is not said to be irredeemably wicked. Nor does he act like a Reprobate. When his cries for aid are refused he doesn't begin cursing both Abraham and Lazarus.

Throughout this context he reverently refers to “Father Abraham”, pleading “have mercy” (1653 ἐλεέω eleeo) not a whit differently than did blind Bartimaeus who called out to Jesus for the same thing: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Mk. 10:47 NKJ). The aorist tense indicates both had specific acts of mercy they wanted, relief from thirst or blindness. Nothing in their cries for pity implies unrepentant hearts or hostility against God’s justice and truth. “Repentance” is on the Rich Man’s mind, he proves that when he begs Lazarus warn his brothers so “they will repent” (Lk. 16:30).

Gotquestions claims the torments of hades are unpersuasive, but Abraham doesn’t say that. He says the living who refuse to “hear Moses and the Prophets” won’t be persuaded by someone rising from the dead.

This context is is more than a parable. Its clearly a prophetic warning to the Scribes and Pharisees who mocked Christ refusing to hear Moses and the Prophets like everyone else (Lk. 16:13-16), never believing any of the incredible signs Jesus did right before their eyes. Even the sign of Lazarus risen from the dead failed to convince them, instead they “plotted to put Lazarus to dead also” (John 12:9). In this prophetic parable Christ contradicts their tradition Abraham will prevent their descent into hell:


Therefore, the claim this parable proves there is no second chance is false. Moreover, it “twists scripture” because Hades will be emptied out and destroyed on Judgment Day (Rev. 20:11-15), destroying the “impassible barrier” separating the Rich Man from Abraham (Lk. 16:26).

This parable has many indications the Rich Man was getting his “second chance”.

1.) We would expect an irredeemably wicked man would curse both Abraham and Lazarus for refusing to help him. Instead, he shows great reverence for “Father Abraham” and selfless concern for his family (Luke 16:27).
2.) Abraham affectionately calls the Rich Man "son" (Luke 16:25). That would be impossible if the Rich Man were an irredeemable enemy of God: "Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate you? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?" (Psalm 139:21).
3.) Abraham and others with him wanted to comfort the Rich Man, but an “great gulf” prevented them (Luke 16:26). It is impossible they would rebelliously desire to subvert God's just punishment, therefore that is not what the Rich Man is experiencing.
4.) Although translators have the Rich Man crying "I am tormented (3600 ὀδυνάω odunao) in this flame”, and that is the reverse of the “comfort” (3870 παρακαλέω parakaleo) Lazarus is experiencing, ὀδυνάω is also used to denote “anxiety (Lk. 2:48) and “sorrow” (Ac. 20:38). These could be part of the Rich Man’s torment.
5.) Christ did not use the common word for “fire” (4442 πῦρ pur) that appears when speaking of God’s judgment (Lk. 3:9, 17; 17:29). He chose “flame” (5395 φλόξ phlox)" which is the "visible aspect of a fire that springs upward and is usually orange"(Logos Bible Sense Lexicon). It is this “flame” that often accompanies revelation of God (LXX: Ex. 3:2; Judges 13:20; Isa. 66:15; Acts 7:30; 2 Th. 1:8). When Christ is revealed His eyes are “like a flame of fire” (Rev. 1:14; 2 Th. 1:7-8).
6.) In Hades was “where he was being tormented(931 βάσανος basanos)…this place of torment” (Lk. 16:23, 28). The word denotes “a touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal 2) the rack or instrument of torture by which one is forced to divulge the truth.-Strong's Concordance. The symbolism suggests a refining process (Zech. 13:9; Ps. 51:7; 66:10; Isa. 1:25; 6:7; 48:10; Ezek. 24:13; Dan. 11:35), a purging of sin that reveals the truth of the individual, the “gold” within:


7.) The symbolism of water, extreme thirst (Lk. 16:24) may allude to this text:


The idea of redemption from Hades is not foreign to the Old Testament:


There are many Scriptures that explicitly or implicitly reveal Postmortem Opportunity in Hades exists:

Dt. 32:39 ; 1Sam. 2:6 ; 2Sam. 22:5-7 ; Ps. 16:10-11 ; Ps. 30:3-6 ; Ps. 40:1-3 ; Ps. 49:12-15 ; Ps. 56:13 ; Ps. 68:18-20 ; Ps. 69:13-18 ; Ps. 71:19-23 ; Ps. 86:13 ; Ps. 102:18-22 ; Ps. 116:1-9 ; Hos. 13:14 ; Jon. 2:1-10 ; Zec. 9:9-11 ; Mt. 5:25-26; 12:30-3 ; John 5:28-2 ; Rm. 11:25-3 ; 1 Pt. 3:18-2 ; 1 Pt. 4: ; 1 Cor. 5: ; Eph. 4:8-1 ; Heb. 9:27-2 ; Rev. 20:11-1

Go here for more:

Does the Bible teach there is a Second Chance to be saved by Jesus? | End Time News

Scriptural Proof Universal Opportunity for Salvation in Jesus Spans this life and the After-life God is to us a God of deliverances; And to Yahweh the Lord belong escapes from death. (Ps. 68:20) As Christ alone is the Door to Salvation, what is the fate of those born before His time, or in...

endtimenews.net

The "second chance" was well known in the ancient church.

Clement of Alexandria (150–215) Christian teacher at Alexandria who spent his twilight years with his friend Alexander when he became bishop of Jerusalem, had this to say about souls in Hades:

There's a lot here so let me touch on a few points. From what I read I am in agreement with you. GotQuestions seems to be mainline type Evangelical Billy Graham stuff. Not that I dislike these folks nor am I saying they are not good Christians, but there's some things they simply have wrong. First off, I would not say I believe in a second chance. However... I did not say one can't be saved after death, either. But that may be their first chance after the resurrection. Compare Ezekiel 37 where God puts His Spirit in those dry bones after a physical resurrection. That's Israel after the Millennium and the Great White Throne judgement is a period (millennium-like) after the resurrection that Revelation states that will occur afterwards commonly called the "General Resurrection" which are really two more (Daniel 12:2), but I digress. So, in Revelation at the Great White Throne judgment the books (the Bible) are opened and people are judged by their works. This was assumed that they all "went to hell" since nobody is saved by works, but I did notice one thing that bothered me. The book of life was opened, too. Whoever was not written therein was thrown into the lake of fire to be destroyed forever in the second death. So, these people, resurrected later, did have a chance at salvation. Who are they? Babies who died, people who never heard the Word of God, people whose lives predated Christ, etc etc. and those who never had that chance. You get the idea and the Lord has all bases covered so that EVERYONE has a chance to come to Christ which is the only way to be saved. Nobody is left out. Not even Hitler (theoretically), but I do believe the resurrection of the incorrigibly wicked are thus thrown in the lake of fire - they made their choice.

As with many Christian groups, the problem is that Greek (and other) paganism mixed in biblical doctrine. Remember where our Lord said that the eye is the lamp of the body? But if the eye is evil then your whole body will be full of darkness. He was talking about perspective. If what we see (or hear) is going through the sludge and slime of paganism, then our whole doctrine will be corrupt. So one has to filter that out. This is why I like to get back to the Judaic brand of Christianity and obedience (to what the Spirit enables me and as long as I filter out temptations) to God's Law in which well-meaning but severely misinformed Christians "warn" me I'm trying to be saved by the Law. No I'm not. But the alternative is believing in man's "eternal soul" hence "eternal conscious torment" instead of death in the lake of fire, "going to heaven after we die" instead of being resurrected and ruling and reigning in Christ's Kingdom to bring others to salvation and so forth as that evil eye saw and put into one's body.

To conclude, GotQuestions has this filter of paganism. But be patient with these Christians. They are learning yet. Now, don't get me started on their stance on Young Earth Creationism. The scientists got that right that space and the Earth is really as old as they say, but that was the previous Earth age. God "terraformed" this planet and the rib of Eve was His version of "cloning" for His new creation, Adam, so that no laws of science, which God made and won't break, were broken. This was for this present Earth age. The Bible clearly says there's yet another Earth age. I hate these 6000 year-old "universers" that say stupid stuff like God made the light from billions of years ago magically form in mid-travel to look that way. ???? Might as well then be a flat earther. My avatar buddy, Sir Isaac Newton, BTW believed each creative "day" was simply longer, also a valid point that can work by itself or in conjunctino with an earlier Earth age.

 

[Alfred Persson]

There's a lot here so let me touch on a few points. From what I read I am in agreement with you. GotQuestions seems to be mainline type Evangelical Billy Graham stuff. Not that I dislike these folks nor am I saying they are not good Christians, but there's some things they simply have wrong. First off, I would not say I believe in a second chance. However... I did not say one can't be saved after death, either. But that may be their first chance after the resurrection. Compare Ezekiel 37 where God puts His Spirit in those dry bones after a physical resurrection. That's Israel after the Millennium and the Great White Throne judgement is a period (millennium-like) after the resurrection that Revelation states that will occur afterwards commonly called the "General Resurrection" which are really two more (Daniel 12:2), but I digress. So, in Revelation at the Great White Throne judgment the books (the Bible) are opened and people are judged by their works. This was assumed that they all "went to hell" since nobody is saved by works, but I did notice one thing that bothered me. The book of life was opened, too. Whoever was not written therein was thrown into the lake of fire to be destroyed forever in the second death. So, these people, resurrected later, did have a chance at salvation. Who are they? Babies who died, people who never heard the Word of God, people whose lives predated Christ, etc etc. and those who never had that chance. You get the idea and the Lord has all bases covered so that EVERYONE has a chance to come to Christ which is the only way to be saved. Nobody is left out. Not even Hitler (theoretically), but I do believe the resurrection of the incorrigibly wicked are thus thrown in the lake of fire - they made their choice.

As with many Christian groups, the problem is that Greek (and other) paganism mixed in biblical doctrine. Remember where our Lord said that the eye is the lamp of the body? But if the eye is evil then your whole body will be full of darkness. He was talking about perspective. If what we see (or hear) is going through the sludge and slime of paganism, then our whole doctrine will be corrupt. So one has to filter that out. This is why I like to get back to the Judaic brand of Christianity and obedience (to what the Spirit enables me and as long as I filter out temptations) to God's Law in which well-meaning but severely misinformed Christians "warn" me I'm trying to be saved by the Law. No I'm not. But the alternative is believing in man's "eternal soul" hence "eternal conscious torment" instead of death in the lake of fire, "going to heaven after we die" instead of being resurrected and ruling and reigning in Christ's Kingdom to bring others to salvation and so forth as that evil eye saw and put into one's body.

To conclude, GotQuestions has this filter of paganism. But be patient with these Christians. They are learning yet. Now, don't get me started on their stance on Young Earth Creationism. The scientists got that right that space and the Earth is really as old as they say, but that was the previous Earth age. God "terraformed" this planet and the rib of Eve was His version of "cloning" for His new creation, Adam, so that no laws of science, which God made and won't break, were broken. This was for this present Earth age. The Bible clearly says there's yet another Earth age. I hate these 6000 year-old "universers" that say stupid stuff like God made the light from billions of years ago magically form in mid-travel to look that way. ???? Might as well then be a flat earther. My avatar buddy, Sir Isaac Newton, BTW believed each creative "day" was simply longer, also a valid point that can work by itself or in conjunctino with an earlier Earth age.

On my site I stipulate rejecting God in full knowledge in this life, was the chance. Billions either haven't had a chance, or were "pseudo evangelized", not told the gospel in a convincing way.

I agree Christians became confused by pagan thoughts after Palestinian Jews vanished from the church.

But I disagree about young earth creationism. There is lots of evidence (not flat earth belief) for it. I predicate my belief on scripture:

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Col. 1:17 NKJ)

This is a "matrix" generated by the infinite Mind of Christ. In the Beginning eveything was created "in an instant", then God took six days (so He could enjoy the process) of giving it life:

"for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said,`For we are also His offspring.' (Acts 17:28 NKJ)

God had a thought, and everything instantly came to be. Therefore, light that seems to have traveled for billions of years, actually came into existence in an instant of time:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1 NKJ)

Of course, this "matrix" isn't a hologram like in Star Trek, its infinitely above that. But the fundamental idea is similar, we are but a thought in the infinite Mind of God. If He "has a mind to", everything will be dissolved in an instant of time:

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (2 Pet. 3:10-11 NKJ)

The Greek "melt" is LUO, it means "loosed", what binds everything together vanishes. God will create a New Heavens and New Earth after Judgment Day, after this one vanishes:

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. (Rev. 20:11 NKJ)

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. (Rev. 21:1 NKJ)

It will be cool when the sky is rolled up like a scroll, and everyone alive looks up to see the throne of God:

14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 6:14-17 NKJ)

So friend, the idea of a young universe actually fits the quantum physics of modern times. Medieval notions of reality, are more "like flat earth" than believing the Bible.

 

[Alfred Persson]

In Old Testament times, the spirits of those who died went to a place they called “the abode of the dead.” It consisted of two compartments; a place of comfort for believers and a place of torment for unbelievers. The place of comfort was sometimes called Abraham’s Bosom because it was thought that Abraham met them there to await the resurrection (Luke 16:19-31). The abode of the dead was called Hades in Greek and is often translated Hell in English.

The Greek word translated paradise appears only 3 times in the New Testament and was another name for Abraham’s Bosom. This is where Jesus and the man who died next to Him went (Luke 23:43). Jesus mentioned going into the belly of the Earth for 3 days and three nights after His death (Matt. 12:40) indicating the location of paradise.

Old Testament sacrifices were not sufficient to cleanse mankind of his sins. They could only set them aside until the Lord’s perfect “once for all time” sacrifice was complete (Hebr. 10:11-14). It was His death that opened the gates of Heaven. After the resurrection Jesus took the faithful dead with Him to Heaven . Some assert that He took paradise itself because the place Paul visited (2 Cor. 12:4) is sometimes called the 3rd Heaven (indicating the Throne of God) but the Greek word there is the one translated paradise.

Moses and Elijah were physically present with Christ on the Mountain, Peter wanted to erect Tents for them:

5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah "-- (Mk. 9:5 NKJ)

No one is saved apart from Jesus, the writer of Hebrews made that clear:

24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another--
26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
(Heb. 9:24-26 NKJ)

Christ's sacrifice saved Adam and Eve and everyone who believes after them, whether they hear the gospel in this life, or in the afterlife:

6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

Christ's sacrifice is "timeless", God applies it to everyone born since the foundation of the world, if they repent and believe in Christ:

....The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Rev. 13:8-9 NKJ)

 

[Alfred Persson]

The phrase in Him should all the fullness dwell gathers into a grand climax the previous statements – image of God, first-born of all creation, Creator, the eternally preexistent, the Head of the Church, the victor over death, first in all things. On this summit we pause, looking like John, from Christ in His fullness of deity to the exhibition of that divine fullness in redemption consummated in heaven.” (Vincent)

The fullness is in Jesus Christ. Not in a church; not in a priesthood; not in a building; not in a sacrament; not in the saints; not in a method or a program, but in Jesus Christ Himself. It is in Him as a “distribution point” – so that those who wanted more of God and all that He is can find it in Jesus Christ.

And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself: Jesus’ atoning work is full and broad. Yet we should not take Colossians 1:20 as an endorsement of universalism.

I didn't say anything about Universalism. I say everyone will hear the gospel of Christ, whether in this life or the next, regardless when or where they were born, and all who believe will be saved by timeless sacrifice of Christ.

A "second chance" is only for those who never, in full knowledge, rejected Christ. Actually, I define "second chance" as "the first chance" for the billions who died not evangelized, or were born before Christ came.

But the wicked who rejected God, don't get a second chance. They had their chance.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Because of the blood of your covenant: This describes God acting towards Israel in light of the blood of the covenant of Moses (Exodus 24:1-8). As Israel turns to God, He will turn to them and rescue them as if they were trapped in a dry cistern (I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit).

No. Its a prophecy about Christ, what He would do as King:

9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be`from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.'
11 "As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
(Zech. 9:9-11 NKJ)

The Rich Man and Lazarus prophetic parable warned the Scribes and Pharisees they would end up in hades, even after Lazarus was resurrected by Christ, because they don't heed Moses and the Prophets they won't heed him.

In fact, they conspired to kill Lazarus with Christ:


9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, (Jn. 12:9-10 NKJ)

So Hades, lacking water is what Zechariah's prophecy refers to. Christ will set prisoners free from Hades:

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us-- baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. (1 Pet. 3:18-22 NKJ)

Just like the Church, they gave the answer of a good conscience towards God, that remined Peter of Baptism, dying with Christ and rising with Him in resurrection.


8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this, "He ascended "-- what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
(Eph. 4:8-10 NKJ)

Christ took those in captivity in hell "captive", taking them with Him to Abraham's bosom, paradise to await the resurrection.

 

[TheDeafMan]

everyone will hear the gospel of Christ, whether in this life or the next, regardless when or where they were born, and all who believe will be saved by timeless sacrifice of Christ.

Christ took those in captivity in hell "captive", taking them with Him to Abraham's bosom, paradise to await the resurrection.

I guess we'll have to disagree on both of these points. I don't think we're going to alter our beliefs. Again, though, for salvation, that is, the acceptance of Jesus, it's only this life. As such, the things that the RCs and others do such as prayers for the departed souls, buying masses or lighting candles, etc., do nothing for the departed. Zero. Their eternity is set, forever. Those things may bring some comfort and closure to living relatives but that is it. Sad but true.
As for the second point, Jesus took those in Paradise with him to await the resurection, only those. Those people in Hades/Hell are still there, awaiting judgment. At that judgment, Jesus will condemn them to the Lake of Fire along with the Beast, False Prophet, Satan and his demons. Forever. I'm through beating this horse.

 

[Alfred Persson]

I treated Dr. Ron Rhodes and John Ankerberg objections to "second chance" at my site. Check it out:

Critical Rejection of “No Second Chance After Death” by Dr. Ron Rhodes | End Time News

The John Ankerberg site posted excepts of Dr. Ron Rhodes articles claiming "No Second Chance After Death". https://jashow.org/articles/no-second-chance-after-death/#comments While I agree those who reject God in full knowledge don't get a second chance, billions of have died before Christ came...

endtimenews.net

 

[Alfred Persson]

everyone will hear the gospel of Christ, whether in this life or the next, regardless when or where they were born, and all who believe will be saved by timeless sacrifice of Christ.

Christ took those in captivity in hell "captive", taking them with Him to Abraham's bosom, paradise to await the resurrection.

I guess we'll have to disagree on both of these points. I don't think we're going to alter our beliefs. Again, though, for salvation, that is, the acceptance of Jesus, it's only this life. As such, the things that the RCs and others do such as prayers for the departed souls, buying masses or lighting candles, etc., do nothing for the departed. Zero. Their eternity is set, forever. Those things may bring some comfort and closure to living relatives but that is it. Sad but true.
As for the second point, Jesus took those in Paradise with him to await the resurection, only those. Those people in Hades/Hell are still there, awaiting judgment. At that judgment, Jesus will condemn them to the Lake of Fire along with the Beast, False Prophet, Satan and his demons. Forever. I'm through beating this horse.

Don't confuse me with Roman Catholics. That's deceptive. You can't answer the scriptures, fine. No need to fabricate errors about my position.

 

[Alfred Persson]

There's a lot here so let me touch on a few points. From what I read I am in agreement with you. GotQuestions seems to be mainline type Evangelical Billy Graham stuff. Not that I dislike these folks nor am I saying they are not good Christians, but there's some things they simply have wrong. First off, I would not say I believe in a second chance. However... I did not say one can't be saved after death, either. But that may be their first chance after the resurrection. Compare Ezekiel 37 where God puts His Spirit in those dry bones after a physical resurrection. That's Israel after the Millennium and the Great White Throne judgement is a period (millennium-like) after the resurrection that Revelation states that will occur afterwards commonly called the "General Resurrection" which are really two more (Daniel 12:2), but I digress. So, in Revelation at the Great White Throne judgment the books (the Bible) are opened and people are judged by their works. This was assumed that they all "went to hell" since nobody is saved by works, but I did notice one thing that bothered me. The book of life was opened, too. Whoever was not written therein was thrown into the lake of fire to be destroyed forever in the second death. So, these people, resurrected later, did have a chance at salvation. Who are they? Babies who died, people who never heard the Word of God, people whose lives predated Christ, etc etc. and those who never had that chance. You get the idea and the Lord has all bases covered so that EVERYONE has a chance to come to Christ which is the only way to be saved. Nobody is left out. Not even Hitler (theoretically), but I do believe the resurrection of the incorrigibly wicked are thus thrown in the lake of fire - they made their choice.

As with many Christian groups, the problem is that Greek (and other) paganism mixed in biblical doctrine. Remember where our Lord said that the eye is the lamp of the body? But if the eye is evil then your whole body will be full of darkness. He was talking about perspective. If what we see (or hear) is going through the sludge and slime of paganism, then our whole doctrine will be corrupt. So one has to filter that out. This is why I like to get back to the Judaic brand of Christianity and obedience (to what the Spirit enables me and as long as I filter out temptations) to God's Law in which well-meaning but severely misinformed Christians "warn" me I'm trying to be saved by the Law. No I'm not. But the alternative is believing in man's "eternal soul" hence "eternal conscious torment" instead of death in the lake of fire, "going to heaven after we die" instead of being resurrected and ruling and reigning in Christ's Kingdom to bring others to salvation and so forth as that evil eye saw and put into one's body.

To conclude, GotQuestions has this filter of paganism. But be patient with these Christians. They are learning yet. Now, don't get me started on their stance on Young Earth Creationism. The scientists got that right that space and the Earth is really as old as they say, but that was the previous Earth age. God "terraformed" this planet and the rib of Eve was His version of "cloning" for His new creation, Adam, so that no laws of science, which God made and won't break, were broken. This was for this present Earth age. The Bible clearly says there's yet another Earth age. I hate these 6000 year-old "universers" that say stupid stuff like God made the light from billions of years ago magically form in mid-travel to look that way. ???? Might as well then be a flat earther. My avatar buddy, Sir Isaac Newton, BTW believed each creative "day" was simply longer, also a valid point that can work by itself or in conjunctino with an earlier Earth age.

Perhaps it didn't occur to you, quantum physics has changed evolutionary theory and the concept of reality its founded on, "flat earth" belief. No one viewing the micro world, or the coding in DNA, can honestly believe in spontaneous life from chemical reactions. Its absurd.