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Temperatures in Hell
Chapter 8
Now for a brief look at the temperature readings in ‘Hades.’ Actually, as mortals understand temperatures. there are none such in Hell; but relatively speaking, yes. When the ‘current’ is negative, the dissipating or destructive force thereof manifests as a consuming flame. But as to its intensity, we would hardly term it intense.
Two illustrations can be given: Fish are comfortable in waters, which to us would range from cool to cold. If, however, the fish is placed in warmish water, it soon dies. Similarly with the soul; it feels too warm. Secondly, God has given us the symbols of sulfur and brimstone (both are the same except in form). In the open air, sulfur ignites at 478 F, and if of amassed quantities may burn at temperatures from 500 to about 700 F. In contrast to most other inflammable materials, sulfur burns at a very low temperature, and slowly. This by itself is intended to convey to us the absence of high heat. Down through the ages, sulfur has been considered as a purifying agent, and especially used for skin diseases. (Leprosy is a skin disease – in its earlier stages.) Thus, the Bible language (“fire and brimstone” – “theion – sulpher”) becomes purely figurative for a remedial process applied to the impure for their ‘leprosy.’
Finally, the 500 to 700 F temperatures (see in previous paragraph) by contrast and ratio, reduce in the soul-world to 50 to 70 F. This by virtue of the fact that TIME is 10 to 1. Wherefore, if a given volume of heat in the physical world is to be spread, or diffused throughout 10 times its normal time, then its intensity takes on the converse ratio: namely 10 times less. As fish are cold-blooded creatures, so are souls (by contrast to the human body). Therefore do we see by the words of the parable that the ‘rich man’ was thirsting in the ‘flame.’ On the other hand, let us not forget that had there been factual fire, or that condition comparable to “a furnace of fire,” then the awakening ‘rich man’ would not have been in a leisurely conversation with Abraham, nor yet too much worried over others: his first and only utterance would have been a full throated roar in agony.
As shown, the amount of cohesive force resident in the departed soul determines its duration of life in the unseen world. This cohesive force is closely linked with the amount of DESIRE still rampant while alive. As time progresses and the soul-body advances in its state of ‘leprous’ decomposition, it also commences to lose its ‘specific gravity’ -relatively speaking. As the still resident desire-currents burn out with the cohesive loosening, so does it become more etherealized, and less and less in affinity to what we might term our earth’s “desire-vortex.” As the soul loses its ‘gravity,’ so does it commence to ascend (away from the earth’s “desire-vortex”) As it commences to lift, so does its state of ‘UN rest’ ease up: its suffering gradually abates. Long before the spirit – still stuck to its last rarified vestiges of ‘soul’ – in its imperceptibly slow ascent reaches zones (about 4,500 miles distance from the earth), it enters into a state of relative composure. We could scarcely term it suffering
By (and before) this time, the spirit has again become fully aware of the true facts and its destiny. It is now in a state of YEARNING: we could compare it to the mental condition of an aged earthling long sick and suffering: yearning for the release. For a long time now it has only willed to be set at full liberty from the confinement and prison of its disintegrating ‘soul’-body. Finally the spirit reaches the border of its own true realm: a sudden violent tremor is felt as the matrix for its ‘soul’-body shatters at the higher vibrations in the pure spirit-realm. Again the Flame leaps up – FREE from a “burnt out ‘engine.”‘ A ‘soul’ has died Solomon called it “the pitcher broken at the fountain (Eccl 12:6).
Lest the reader misunderstands, perhaps it should be stated that the ‘disintegration,’ and ‘last vestiges of soul’ – does not imply anything similar to the decomposition of a body of flesh. A body of flesh has grown from a seed: at death it decomposes throughout and falls away from the outside. A ‘soul’ has not sprung from a seed: it is a tenuous substance spun from the physical life forces, flowing into and filling a matrix. The seeing one called it a “pitcher of water.” (Water symbolizes soul.) Wherefore, as the soul’s ‘leprosy’ advances, portions flake away, but the matrix is as full as ever! We could liken it to a steamboiler under pressure. The fire is out (‘death’ has taken place). Perhaps a pressure gage shows 150 lbs. (internal steam pressure). A blow off valve at base of boiler is opened: water and steam roar forth. Yet after five or ten minutes of this violent boiler is as ‘FULL’ as ever, although under reduced pressure.
After still another ten minutes of outroaring steam, the boiler is still so FULL that it could turn heavy machinery for several minutes…. Or perhaps we could better understand if we liken it to the large pressure tank of air from which you draw for the filling of your car’s deflated tires. After five minutes when your many tires are well filled, the air-tank is as ‘full’ as ever (but under reduced pressure). Similarly with the soul: because of its ‘leprosy’ it may be flaking off throughout one or several hundred years, yet it still remains a full soul (body). But as its ‘pressure’ or density reduces, so it rises through the stratas until it breaks and is no more.
IF you choose to term that sojourn the soul’s “purgatory,” you may. Emphatically is it here stated that there is not – nor ever was – any state beyond physical death, more comparable to that which some term ‘purgatory.’ But with this difference: there is never any release from this state except as through the process already explained. The unceasing prayers of a million priests are of no avail to an UNsaved soul beyond the portal of death! Such teachings are purely an invention by a mercenary priesthood.Balance
According to the words of the parable (and let no man reject them), ‘father Abraham’ tells his child: “Son, remember that you in your lifetime received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are in distress. “* (* The Greek odunuo here used can assuredly never be rendered as “tormented.” At the worst, its meaning is pain. Aside from this, the lexicon renders it “pain of mind, grief, distress.” But the indoctrinated translators of the Authorized Version – and others lost no opportunity to paralyze the people with stark terror of a demon-“God.” It should also be pointed out that the Greek basanos of verse 23 – also translated ‘torment,’ can lend itself to that rendering, yet not true to its original meaning. Originally, it was to apply gold to the touchstone to try its genuineness; hence with reference to people: to cross-examine, and/or to place them under duress to extort a true confession. Thus did our Lord here point out how the ‘rich man’ found himself in duress ‘to extort a true confession.’ Even to the trying of the ‘gold on the touchstone’: for, the gold symbolizes SPIRIT; hence the spirit’s genuineness and worth being ‘tried’ as it is forced to shed its “‘refuge’ of lies.”)
Here, it is considered beyond the true scope of this treatise to survey the depths of verse 25; still it should be clear to any thinking person that the Laws of God are designed to bring about BALANCE. The rich man had enjoyed the good of the earth (which blessings we may surmise he had misused). As a result, beyond death the pendulum swung to find its counterbalance: during which process he had ample time to reflect and come to understanding of God’s immutable laws-in-Truth and JUSTICE. And likewise with Lazarus. During earthlife he had endured much; yet through its trying had found his GOD (for, his name was ‘Lazarus’ – “‘whom God helps”) and Redeemer. Thus to BALAMCE beyond death’s portal, the pendulum in its arc found Lazarus being consoled.
Father Abraham continued to explain that between his own realm and the nether one had been fixed a ‘great chasm” so that neither could pass from one to he other. HOW could ‘balance’ be realized by those in the ‘unseen,’ were they able to intermingle, partaking of the selfsame conditions? Hence the ‘gulf’ between them! Bear in mind how the Lord said that after death, Lazarus was “carried by the angels (messengers) into Abraham’s bosom.” By himself (in the density of his SOUL body he was no more able to ascend into Paradise than can the fish of the sea soar up into the mountains where nest the birds. In the fullness of their time, the ‘Lazarus’ group learns to master the nether stratas — even as some birds – like the geese are masters of the high airways as well as water depths. Yet such power and proficiency in travel cannot be granted to the Lazarus-group until they have come to understanding, rising far beyond the shallow, agonizing confines of the “ME and the mine” obtaining here in the realm of Lucifer. Otherwise their ‘paradise’ would soon be transformed into ‘hell’!!
In the cryptic words of the parable, the swing of God’s Pendulum of Justice is indicated, yet no explanaton offered as to Lazarus’ few earth-years of suffering counterbalanced by an infinity of bliss, with the converse of this for the Rich Man. UNDERSTANDING of God’s Plan for man is here essential.
ONE GROUP remains, which we have as yet not touched upon; the 30-fold. Today’s bulk of ‘Christendom’ is made up thereof! Yet all of them have not “retained their estate,” but broken the bloodseal and gone back into the darkness of night. But such as have stuck to the Christian code of ethics, hoping for “salvation” through the Son of God unto the last (abiding within the blood sealed house through the ‘night’), are like unto the Lazarus group, led forth or ‘carried’ from the ‘Egypt’ of this world by the empowered messengers of God, the Holy Mount from whence manifests the GLORY of GOD.
They partake of peculiarities! They have not received “eternal life” for their SOUL-bodies; yet the same are preserved for them through the power of the BLOOD – in which they had a measure of faith. But OBEDIENCE is still required of them: they are still ‘under LAW’ (if we may use that expression). Wherefore, their arena of SERVICE and TESTING is at the base of the Heavenly Kingdom (the Holy Mount): we might call it the Buffer Zone between Paradise and ‘hell.’ Theirs too is a period of ‘rest’ from their earth-labors, and the entering into a measure of understanding. Thereafter they do BATTLE for their Lord, for the boundaries to Paradise are still beset by Enemy-spirits. Not until their own “Battle of Armageddon” shall the power of Almighty God through Christ our Lord, sweep clear portions of Paradise and bordering stratas of all that is in conflict with His PLAN (Rev. 12:7-8). But in the meanwhile they unsheathe the sword and battle the foe. MESSENGER-service is also theirs – in minor capacities. Yet their ‘great moment’ arrives not until following the great ‘Sabbath’ now approaching (see Rev. 20:5-6).
By Mikkel Dahl
