The age-old question has been, “What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him?” ( Psalm 6:4 ). The Psalmist goes on and answers this question in verse six. “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.” However, Hebrews 2:8 refers to this part of the psalm and mentions that “we see not yet all things put under him.” Since mankind was brought forth to have dominion, then what must happen that will give him the power and authority to execute this dominion? Genesis 1:26 gives us the answer, and not only do we find the answer here, but we discover the whole purpose of God recorded in the confines of this one statement of fifteen words:

“LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS: AND LET THEM HAVE DOMINION...”

This mighty declaration seems like a simple thing, and that it should be easily seen and understood by anyone who reads it. But this is not so, for evidence speaks for itself. The beliefs of man being made into the image of God are as varying as the stars of heaven, and are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and to most who grasps a certain belief of man being made in the image of God are very dogmatic with it to say the least. No matter how unreasonable people's beliefs are, God's written word usually has no impact on their doctrine. It is not until His Holy Spirit anoints the word and cuts to the marrow will there be a change.

There are many scriptures that either clearly tell us of how we are to come into the image of God, or else they allude to it in a fashion that can only be seen by comparing scripture with scripture, and even at that, there will be little or no meaning unless they are quickened to us by the same Spirit of God who inspired men to write them in the beginning. One such passage of scripture that plainly states what must be done to be made into God's image is Romans 12:1-2. Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the...will of God.” We see here that His will, or purpose, is to make, man in His image by TRANSFORMING his mind. And remember Brethren — God works all things after the counsel of His own will, Eph 1:11.

From these two verses (Rom. 12:1 & 2) we should be able to get a fairly good idea of how we are to be changed. Primarily, by a renewing of our minds through a process of laying our will down to the will of God as we walk through earths dusty avenues — BEING A LIVING SACRIFICE! And as we become as helpless as a sacrifice, we then become “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10). Much more could be written on being conformed into the image of God by the many processes that He uses, however, at this time I would like to spend some time on what the generalized conceptions of the majority of the world are concerning this subject. We should also notice if any of these thoughts have anything to do with man BEING TRANSFORMED. I will also be presenting some misconceived ideas of what is suppose to happen to anyone who does not submit to Christendom’s creeds and rituals before they go to the grave. In addition, let us notice if these beliefs are in accord with THE PURPOSE OF GOD.

I am praying, as I write this message, that the reader will see that I am not trying to belittle or ridicule God's dear saints in any way, nor do I condemn anyone else for what they have believed. For how shall they believe if they have not heard, and how shall they hear if the word of truth has not been preached? So therefore, my desire at this time is to merely present some of the worlds erroneous concepts of God's purpose for mankind, and then to share what He has so graciously revealed to me in such a sure and positive way. These entrapments of false doctrine are viewed and conveyed as gently as I know how, without actually white—washing them and compromising with lies. However, if I seem to be throwing stones, please forgive me, for that is not my intention.

MAN'S EFFORTS OF CREATION

 Some believe that they can transcend the bondage of the carnal mind and body by sitting in a cross—legged yoga position and just meditate themselves into God's image. Others are under the i11usion that through reincarnation they will finally reach the pinnacle of omnipotence and wisdom. They assume that whatever area of their life that is lacking will be achieved in the next life, and so on, and so on until perfection is accomplished. These types of humanistic ideals do not leave room for believing in a personal God or His judgments unto His creation. Man's salvation, according to their reasoning, is his own responsibility and is worked out by his own might. They maintain that they are the captain of their own salvation.

The bulk of Christianity is a little closer to the truth of what it takes to be made in the image of God, but still, they are falling far short of the mark. The majority of the professing Christians are led to believe that if they go through the motions of being baptized, confirmed, and partaking of the grape juice or wine of communion they are pleasing God as He watches from His throne somewhere in the heavens of outer space. Since He is pleased with their obedience to rituals, they assume that this is a free ticket to heaven after they die.

Going to church at least once a week, and listening to a twenty minute ethical sermon on how to live a moral life, is somehow supposed to insure that when the time come they will be magically changed into God's image and will not go to hell. It is beyond me why they think that God would be so enthused and pleased to see them, like obedient slaves, going to a lifeless temple once a week and drinking wine there rather than at home. Don't get me wrong now, I am not against communion, it's just that more should be known about it than what is commonly understood. There is certainly a true communion which is life giving, and is found in a relationship with Christ through the fellowshipping of the Saints, rather than in the beggarly elements of meat and drink.

There is another concept that Christians of today's religions embrace that bring them nearer to the legitimate truth than the above mentioned practices. But alas, they too seem to be grasping at straws of doctrine, rather than Jesus Christ, who is the Life boat, the Ark of creation. One such straw is man's concept of Romans 10:9, which from the surface seems to be an easy way to glory without costing anything — a free ride to a mansion in the sky. It is common practice for pastors and laymen alike, to use this scripture, among others, as a formula that will some day grant them to be made in God's image. They do this by getting the sin laden soul to repeat after them...”If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” The searching sinner is then asked if he believes that Jesus is truly the Lord and that God really raised Him from the dead. He answers, “Well yes, I guess so, actually I've always believed those things, but...” “Well praise God, that is all that is necessary,” he is told by the one attempting to lead him to Christ. “You are saved now, all you have to do now is to repent of your sins, and just wait for the rapture, for it is at this time that we will be changed into the image of God, as He sends Jesus in the clouds of the sky to lift us off the earth right before the great tribulation starts! Isn’t it exciting?” “I suppose so,” says the confused man, as he is wondering how something so dull and hollow can produce something so great as being made into the same image as God. “Oh well,” he reasons, “these people are the leaders of the church, and it is in the church where one has to go to learn anything about God, so I won't question what I feel in my heart, I'll just go along with the crowd, for in numbers there is safety.” How my soul laments for the innocent ones who have fallen into such traps as these. Truly, these are cases of the blind leading the blind, and they both fall into the ditch. There are, however, exceptions to the rule, for there have been people who where being drawn by the Holy Spirit to Jesus, and it was scenes such as this that caused them to make a conscious commitment that started their Spiritual walk in Christ. But it was not because they said the right words that converted them, it was the hand of the Father that bade them to come.

Then there are religious orders that insist on their converts living a spotless life in order to reach perfection, and their guide lines for this never ending task are the laws that were given to Noses. There is nothing wrong with any of the laws that were instituted by the command of God, but we are not changed into the image of God by OUR DOING anything. Rather than manifesting works because they are in the image of God by nature, they work by the sweat of their face, thinking that this is what will cause them to be made in God's image. The works of the law are nothing more than man attempting to be his own potter. Brethren, it will never work. The law is good if it is used lawfully, as the word states, but never has there been a man between heaven and hell justified by the works of the law and never shall there be. So let us stop trying to form our own destinies, by shaping these vessels of clay with our own unskilled hands of the earth, for in doing so we take on the appearance of chimpanzees that have been trained to imitate human beings. Beloved, imitation by self determination is no way to fulfill the law. We MUST do it the same way Jesus fulfilled it — BY NATURE!

If we will notice, there is one primary thing that all the above religions, as well as multitudes of others, have in common. They all believe, either consciously or unconsciously, that THEIR SALVATION HINGES ON THE WORKS OF MAN — THE EFFORTS OF THEIR OWN MAKING: The yogi sits and meditates, trying to break through to perfection and becoming one with the Universe. The reincarnationist works in this life trying to do good, believing they will pick up where they left off in the next life, and finally reach immortality through their own efforts. The ritualistic Christians are attempting this same feat by going through lifeless motions of crossing their chests with their hand, fingering beads while chanting repetitious, sanctimonious sounding prayers, eating and drinking the elements of dust, being sprinkled with water, wearing prestigious looking robes, while going through other rituals that tires me to even think about.

With the fundamentalists, we see some of these things also; but most of the works are a little different. Their works, which they call worship, consist of a prayer, three songs, a prayer, pass the collection plate, a prayer, a twenty minute sermonette, another prayer, and finally home-bound, primed for another week. They also work by invading the privacy of peoples' homes, where they have neither been invited by the family nor sent by God. They justify these works of invasion by glibly quoting the scripture, “And the Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.” These words have usually never been spoken to them by the Spirit of the Lord, and neither do they have understanding of what or WHO the house of God are, but that does not hinder them. They are determined to get their church house filled no matter what, and for what purpose? To add to their kingdom daily, as they would have it. And most of THEIR converts have never been drawn or called by the Spirit of the Father, as Jesus said was a must before they could come to Him. (See Jn. 6:57—45). Their conversion is a result of more works, by repeating certain selected prayers, you know, “Work this formula we have deemed to be necessary for salvation and you shall be saved.” There is no Life, just a formula, more works that will fail when the hard times of testing come. And Brethren, mark these words, HARD TIMES ARE CONING, THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED! If you have not yet been salted with fire, as Mark 9:49 mentions, you will be, this you can count on. In Christ, prepare for it and you will stand and suffer no loss...to the inner man.

Not only is man guilty of trying to form themselves into the image of God through their own works, but they are guilty of attempting to create God as well. They first form an image in their finite minds of what they conceive God to be. From this unholy, carnal conception, they have formed God to their own liking, or according to what they would desire to be. After this image is formed and molded into doctrines, creeds, and covenants man will do everything in his power to protect and imitate the god he himself has created in his own mind of imaginations. Beloved, this kind of god, that comes from man's concepts, is nothing more than a graven image. It has been carved and formed by man's ideas of what they want God to be, rather than what He actually is. This is idol worship, and these idols, or images, or imaginations MUST be cast down along with every other high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge (or knowing of) God. Who would have ever thought that man could pervert the reality of the Living God to the point that He becomes an idol to man and must be cast down. It is bad enough for man to assume that he can form himself and direct his own destiny, but to create God in his own puny image — what foolish audacity! Jesus said that we are not able to add one cubit to our stature, but not only will man try anyway, he wants to create God as well. Dear God, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”

With all of our comings, and goings, our doings, and tryings, and efforts unlimited to bring ourselves into the image of God, we find that we have failed at every turn, while God's declaration, “LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE,” stands fast. He started this task six thousand years ago, and He is not impatient to finish it. It makes no difference what we do or don't do, God has purposed in His own heart and imagination to MAKE MANKIND IN HIS IMAGE, and that is exactly what He will do, NOTHING CAN HINDER IT!

When we come to the end of ourselves, as Job did, I venture to say that words such as these will resound from God to our wretched hearts: “Gird, I pray thee — as a strong man — thy loins, I will ask thee, and inform thou me. Wilt thou even frustrate my justice? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest appear right? But if an arm like GOD thou hast, And with a voice like His thou canst thunder, deck thyself, I pray thee, with majesty and grandeur, and even I myself will praise thee, In that thine own right hand can bring thee salvation.” (Job 40:7—10, 14). Rotherham.

ACCEPTED VIEW OF WHO WILL BE SAVED, AND WHY

In most of Christendom it is believed that once a person dies, his or her fate is sealed forever, although there is no scriptural evidence to support this thought. If anyone has been willing, or lucky enough, to have said the “sinners prayer”, they are guaranteed, according to man's teaching, that they will never have to worry about going to hell. Instead, there awaits them a beautiful city in the heavens, somewhere in a distant galaxy, prepared and built by the hands of Jesus for everyone who has confessed with their mouths that Jesus is Lord. It seems that a person's life has nothing to do with becoming one with God in Christ Jesus. For they are taught that the all important thing with God, is for a person to say some well sounding words that have been placed in their ears, or to perform some sanctimonious act of doing this or doing that. They assume that God just can't wait to see someone going through these antiquated motions devised by their own unclean hands. What a nonsensical thought.

The Harlot's proselytes will compass land and sea to make one convert, and when he is made, they make him two fold more the child of hell than themselves. And how do they accomplish this? By telling him that all he has to do is what they tell him to do. Mary, the mother of Jesus, told the servants at the wedding to “do what HE tells you,” NOT what she told them to do. But as a usurping harlot, the socialized church tells him what must be done in order to be saved: just kneel down, say this, do this, don't do that, etc., etc. They go on to infer that it is at this time, when you do such and such you will be pleasing God and He personally guarantees that you won't go to hell and burn there forever, but instead, you'll be changed into His glorious image when Jesus comes to take the saints away by—way— of the fabled “rapture”. In their minds it doesn’t matter whether people have been drawn to the Son by the Spirit of the Father or not, as long as they go through the “fabulous formula” of glibly professing Jesus as Lord, the church will receive them as a “born again” child of God. And if the individual questions his or her salvation and relationship with the Lord that they don't even know, they are admonished and told that this is the devil trying to make them doubt by placing lies into their minds. “Don't listen to such lies,” they declare, “you have done what God requires of you to be saved, all you have to do is to live your life the best way you know how, by using the ten commandments as a guide, and when you get to heaven you will be able to fellowship with Jesus throughout eternity.” What a hollow log of a religion. There is no substance to it at all. They are attempting to worship a God they don't even know — “THE UNKNOWN GOD” of Acts 17:25.

Brethren, if people are worshiping a God, even if it is the God of all creation, and they do not KNOW HIM ON A PERSONAL, ONE TO ONE BASIS, then they are no better off than the Greeks on Mars Hill — They will also be guilty of worshiping the UNKNOWN GOD, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW HIM. The only difference I see, is that the Greeks openly admitted that they did not know God, while today’s Christians boldly claim that they do know Him, yet in essence they have never known Him. And when a sincerely concerned saint of God seeks counsel and direction in this matter, they are either stifled or sent off on a wild goose chase. In some cases the searching soul will be told that if they stray from the fold (the camp of organized religion), that they will succumb to the wolves of false, cultish doctrines that lurk on each street corner, and in every home fellowship that is not sanctioned by the church(s). The blind leaders will even encourage people to be ecumenical, even if it means to go to a Roman Catholic church, rather than to join in SPIRIT with a handful of Saints in someone’s home, where they are in one accord SEEKING TO KNOW HIM, AND HIM ALONE, JESUS, AS THE LORD AND CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION! It is here, outside the camp, where Jesus had to go to minister and find fellowship. This is where the true communion of breaking of the bread is found. Let the priests and servants of the church systems consume wafers that perish, or drink grape juice or wine that stimulates the body only, but for me and my house we will worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. We will eat of the broken bread of the Saints, and drink of Life's longing, as the wine of His blood, the sweet Spirit of His essence, flows from your vessel unto ours.

In all of man's feeble ways of trying to make themselves in the image of God, by dressing themselves up with their self—sown and fashioned fig leaves of religious genuflections and ordinances, they fail utterly. But even in their miserable failings, they are loudly proclaiming that their way is the only way unto salvation. This brain washing of, “This is the way, follow thou us,” has been so effective that the masses of socialized Christianity believe these flagrant claims, fearing any and all things that are outside their camp of carnal doctrines. They imagine that if a person does not submit to their mode of worship, then it is not likely that God will be pleased enough with their activities to grant them entrance into the city with streets of gold.

How wearisome it is, to hear time and time again, Christians bemoaning that so many people are dying every day without making a “profession of faith” before taking their last breath of air. “Poor souls”, they say, “so many people burning in hell for ever.” If they really believe this, then how can they have a moments peace while they know that thousands upon thousands are dying daily without making a profession of faith? If they believe what they say, then their attitude about the whole thing openly declares that they could care less if the creation burns forever or not, just so long as they don't. What a lackadaisical way of responding to such a malady. Their friends, relatives, and neighbors are eternally lost in hell, according to them, and what do they do to justify their indifferent attitude? They give a beggarly amount of their hard earned (?) money to send someone else to Africa, or to send up another television satellite, or what ever. But to be concerned enough to relentlessly preach the gospel themselves, it is far from them. I am not saying that ever child of God should take up their sword and go charging off to battle before they are sent to do such. But dear Brethren, if my concept of hell was what modern Christendom’s is, then I don't think I could wait for God to send me to preach the gospel. I would have to spend my every wakened hour, struggling to save people from this tormenting hell. I would have to spend hours upon hours in the chronic wards of the hospitals, begging those on their death beds to repent and turn to Jesus before they died. And I believe that anyone with the love of God in their hearts would do the same IF THEY REALLY BELIEVED the fables that are being taught today about hell.

I would like to illustrate some of modern-day beliefs of hell in the following scenario. I realize the difficulty of accurately portraying doctrines of error concerning God's judgment upon mankind , seeing that there are many facets to these things; however, it is necessary to know what the results of such teaching will be if people continue in them.

MAN‘S CONCEPT OF HELL

Popular Christianity has painted the picture that very graphically details the fate of the people who have not conformed to their task-mastering. It is said, as mentioned before, that if they have not repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their saviour, by repeating a certain prayer or being confirmed and baptized by men before they go to the grave, that a punishment worse than death awaits them. The poor fearful souls are told that God in His wrath is going to cast the majority of mankind headlong into a literal burning, seething, tormenting lake of fire, and that whosoever is thrown into this fire will be lost forever, with no possible way of escape. It is presumed that this lake will scorch and blister their flesh as the blood boils in their throbbing brains, and their tongues will swell and fill their throats from the excruciating thirst generated by the intense heat. They also picture Satan as a two horned, forked tailed, pitch—fork wielding devil who is gleefully standing watch over the mass of eternally tormented mankind.

This horrible imagination and teaching goes on to assert _that the everlasting damnation of these hapless souls will be witnessed by Jesus, all the good angels, and the saints of God as they writhe in endless pain, begging for mercy. They picture Jesus with a pitifully saddened expression on His kind face, shaking His head slowly and saying, “I am sorry, it is too late, if you had only accepted me before you died I could have saved you, but now I don't have the power or authority to do so. I cannot save to the utter most, even though I am always Living.” And as Jesus turns His back on those He died for and walks away, those who are on the sideline, the ones who were sprinkled with water or who had said the proper prayer, can be heard saying to their less fortunate loved ones, “I am also sorry that you are going to be in this tormenting hell forever, but I tried to tell you what would happen if' you didn’t do what the church said. You just would not listen, and since you were warned you have no excuses, so therefore God is justified in burning you in hell forever.”

Then a young woman's voice cries out from the raging fires, getting the attention of Jesus before He walked to' far away, “But Jesus, I beg of you, please have mercy on me, for I was born and raised in the jungles of South America and died at the early age of seventeen. The first time I heard of your existence was at the Great White Throne Judgment, there was no way that I could have accepted you as my savior, I was never told of you being the sacrifice for my sins. Why? Dear Jesus, WHY do I have to suffer, since I did not know?”

This prompts others to cry out as she had done. One can be heard saying, “I am a lad from the back mountains of India, and likewise, I had never heard of your saving grace. Now that I know who you are, why can't I be delivered from these flames, and worship you as do the ones who accepted you even on their death-beds. The only difference that I can see is that the death-bed repenters accepted you while they were breathing fresh air into their lungs, while I am breathing sulfuric flames of fire into mine!”

 Another tormented soul proclaims with great pain, “And I was an American Indian who died in the year 1200 A.D., there was not a man to tell me of your atoning blood. Where is the love and justice of God? We as heathens would not subject our most bitter enemies to such cruel, everlasting punishment!”

Jesus raises His sacred nail scarred hands and stills the turmoil. An accusing finger points to this saint and to that saint, as He announces, “I called these to be missionaries. I wanted them to go to your villages and minister the good news to you, but they failed Me as well as you. Their free will was stronger than My determined will, so therefore they were never sent by their missionary boards. Even though they would not do what I desired of them, they are saved, because they at least accepted Me and confessed Me before men by going down to the altar of their church and performed the proper rituals; but you are eternally lost because they would not leave the luxury of their homes and good jobs to minister the word to people such as yourselves.”

Pointing His tireless finger to another saint, He says, “He was willing to go, but there just wasn’t enough money to send him. There were to many of My people who would not give the church the offerings that were needed. I am sorry, you have to suffer throughout eternity because of their greed for money, but that is the way My Father decreed it, so it must stand, My hands are tied. If My ministers would have only gone, I could have done something, but now it is too late.”

He then turns and speaks to the American Indians of earlier centuries and other people from eons past, from when there was no gospel to hear. “It has been a difficult thing, this business of redeeming even this small handfull of the human race you see standing here with Me. It took My Father four thousand years to find a virgin pure enough for Me to be born of, and two thousand more years to get My carnal minded people to spread the word to all the nations of the world. Again, I am sorry you must also suffer this horrible torment throughout eternity. It was just your misfortune to be born when and where you were. If there was anything I could do to save you I would, even die again if necessary, but My Father doesn’t accept repentance from anyone after they have died. Death seals their fate forever. If a person refused to receive Me as his savior before death, it fills God so full of anger that His wrathful damnation lasts eternally upon all who failed to do what He said before they breathed their last breath. All of you wretched souls in hell, whether you knowingly or unknowingly failed to bow before Me, will have plenty of time to think about and regret the things you did or did not do concerning the will of God.”

For a moment there is utter silence in this burning inferno, except for the ever perpetual crackling of the searing fire, then from this pitiful tormented sea of flesh can be heard whimperings, and cryings, and then such moanings and wailings that the holy angels of God hide their faces from the pain of hells sufferings. The intensity of the anguishing screams increase as the flames lick their already scorched and swelling skin. Then there is heard from somewhere in the cauldron, voices shouting out in unison, “JESUS IS LORD, JESUS IS LORD, we now know you are more powerful than we are, so we confess, JESUS IS LORD!”

Jesus replies to all the inhabitants of hell, as they kneel in humble repentance before the Master. “Yes, I am truly Lord of all, you have said a truth, as My servant Paul so apply recorded that you would someday confess. But why couldn’t you have said that before you died, all I can say now is, depart from Me you workers of iniquity, for I never knew you.”

With those words reverberating in their throbbing ears, all the souls of hell sink into deep despair, and their crying becomes raging torrents of agony that will sweep through the endless annals of eternity. As this floodtide of anguish intensifies, and the feverish screams of the tortured souls rise to the point of rending the air, some of the heads of the saints begin to hang low, grieving for those whom they had loved but are beyond reach. A sobbing little girl, with her voice quivering, is seen tugging at the robe of Jesus, the one in whom she had trusted all the days of her short and innocent life. Her words came forth with such pleading sadness. “Please Jesus, can't you do something, for that is my mommy and daddy that is in such pain, the ones over there, just out of reach. They are so close but the fire is too hot for me to go to them. Please Jesus, let them come to me, for it makes me so sad to see them suffering like this. And won't they ever be able to hold me in their arms and kiss me the way they use to do when I needed there love so much?”

He bends down and picks her up into His loving arms, and tells her the best He can. “No child, there's nothing that I can do now. They had their chance but now it is too late. Don't you worry, though, because you are going to get to live in a mansion that I have built just for you. You will have streets of real gold to walk on, and I will sometimes be there to hold you when ever you need to be loved. I'll be pretty busy in heaven, trying to see everyone that wants to talk and spend some time with Me; but I'll make it a point to see you as often as possible to help with your sadness. I'll also send angles to comfort you when they are not to busy to see you.”

“But,” she resounds, “how can I ever be happy, even in heaven, if I never see my mommy and daddy again? And it will make me cry every time I remember that they are in this awful place where people are forever burning.” “Now don't trouble yourself with those thoughts, little child,” Jesus chides, “I have a way to make you forget, and when you can't remember these awful things, you will never cry again, I promise.”

MAN'S CONCEPT OF HEAVEN

After the discourse with the little girl He raises her to His shoulder as He lifts His voice to the redeemed, and with a sweeping motion of His right hand, He shouts, “Rise children, come and follow Me!” He turns and rapidly walks away forever from the of those in the lake of fire, with the sorrowful handful of believers following close behind, trying to keep up with His long strides. But praise God, their sorrow is short lived, for they begin to notice the scenery is rapidly changing. And before they know it, they are walking in the most beautiful, tulip laden meadow anyone has ever seen. Birds are flying everywhere chirping, and the song birds are making such beautiful music that the grandest orchestra can not match the beauty of it. Then a heavenly choir of angels enter in and begin to harmonize with the song birds of God. Butterflies are fluttering here and there, and the bees can be heard humming high praises unto God as they fill themselves with the pure nectar of the flowers of the garden. Everywhere there is beauty and harmony. Wolves and lambs are laying down together, as with the leopards and the kid goats. The people are seen picking delicious fruit from the low hanging branches, while the lions are eating straw like the ox. Everyone is just ecstatic, running first from one tree and then to another, sampling all the fruit from this beautiful garden of paradise, as well as romping with the beasts of the field that would have been wild and ferocious before the resurrection. One child of about two years of age plays with a poisonous asp, but there is no alarm, for the thing that was once feared is now as harmless as a kitten.

Jesus, with the expression of joy and great accomplishment upon His bearded face, speaks to the little girl who is still in His arms. “See, what I told you was true! With such beauty as this place, not to mention all the delicious fruit to eat, it is a simple thing to forget the former things. But just in case there remains any thoughts from the past, look what lies just beyond those trees in the distance.”

The child turns in the direction of His pointing finger to see great towering pinnacles that reach unto the clouds. They sparkle with a rainbow of brilliant colors as the precious gems that they are made of reflect the light of the sun. With a voice of command, and again, motioning for everyone to follow, He begins to ascend toward the highest parts of the jutting city of wealth. To everyone's surprise they also begin to fly off with Jesus. With gleeful shouts of excitement the saints can be heard making statements such as, “Praise God, it's just like the rapture, I don't think I will ever get tired of flying.” And, “I am so glad I went forward to be saved that day I went to church with my grandma, for I have always had a desire to be able to fly like this.”

They begin to pass over the buildings and streets of solid crystal gold, and Jesus points out various things of interest to His flock, as they fly over certain mansions He announces to the people, “I built this mansion for Brother Done Right, and that one over there is for Sister Ritualistic. Each mansion is designed according to everyone's particular pleasures, so that no one will ever tire of living in this city that I have personally labored for centuries in building.” As they glide by each glittering city and villa, the saint for whom that mansion was made, swoops down and takes up house keeping therein. This continues for quite some time, until everyone, except the small child that is still under His protecting arm, is housed in their own private mansion.

Jesus then points to the house that the little girl is to live in, and says, “This one, the one with all the gold, silver, and jewels is yours. It's your very own. Isn’t it beautiful? Just think, you get to live there throughout eternity.” “Yes...” the child hesitantly responds, “it is very pretty to look at, but what good is all this? Will it make me happy, and will it cause me to forget about my mommy and daddy's suffering, and will it keep me from being lonely all the time?” “Child, Oh Child,” Jesus quips, “like I said, you will forget you ever had a mother and father. Moreover, when you grow up you will learn the value of gold and silver and precious stones. Why, don't you know? that before the world ended, men and women would even kill to possess a fraction of what I have given to you and for practically nothing?

The only thing you had to do for such riches was to receive me as your saviour and confess Me before men before you died. Of course, since you died before the age of accountability, it would not have been necessary for you to make that confession; but I'm glad you did.  You will never know how much it pleased God when you gave your life to Me that day when the visiting evangelist was in town. That was all anyone has to do to inherit eternal life and all that I have.

Oh sure, God as well as Myself, were really encouraged to see people completely sold out to us and doing only what pleased My Father, but even though it was the ritualistic prayer you quoted, it prompted Me to build this fine mansion for you, as well as allowing you to inherit everything else that is in heaven. Nevertheless, as you mature you will see that what I have prepared for you will supply your every need and desire, that is, except for releasing your parents from the lake of tormenting fire. And if living in this beautiful mansion doesn’t cause you to forget them, then I can say the word, and you will have a permanent memory block, then it will be easy for you to be happy.”

He then tells her that there are thousands of other saints who are needing Him, but He will come back as soon as He has time. He also tells her not to worry, though, for she is reminded that He will be sending some angels to keep her company and to play with her while He is away. He then fades into a vapor and is gone. (End of picturesque tour of man's religious fantasies of heaven).

The preceding is only a small sketch of the many faceted image of the social church's view of heaven and hell, but it does cover fairly well the generally taught and conceived ideas of the two. Some of the preceding thoughts are based on a few scriptures that have been massacred by the carnal mind, while other beliefs are totally fabricated to fill in where no scripture exists that can be twisted in the direction of man's madness.

Some of my readers may feel that I have unjustly portrayed heaven, and especially hell, with a negative undertone, and that I have deliberately made God to seem like a diabolical, indifferent, cold hearted, and unjust exacting curator. Dear brothers and sisters, as I mentioned at the beginning of this writing, it was not me that formed such doctrines, I have only repeated it in such a manner that will, hopefully, cause us to think about what is actually believed by the bulk of Christendom. However, I must confess, I have indeed presented these insidious tales in a negative light, but I can see no other way to relate such fiendish and imaginative fables as these. Even if I should whitewash them by trying to lay all the blame on the creation rather than the Creator, it would still be very negative and belittling to God, the One who works all things after the counsel of His own will.

For years, God's dear children have been making excuses for His never ending, wrathful, tormenting judgment of the lake of fire. We have stumbled over reasons of why a loving God is justified in burning people in hell throughout eternity; something that only Hitler would have done to the Jews if it were possible, and we well know from what spirit he was born. Time, and time again, we have been embarrassed when unbelievers would ask us, “How could a God of love torment people in a lake of fire forever?” Our only defense was usually, “Well, God is God, He is the one who makes the rules, and to those who obey them will be changed into His image and be raptured. However, to the ones who don't, He can do what He wants to with them, for He is God.” We would then continue by quoting some mistranslated scriptures that seemed to back up our old religious theology of an eternal hell. But when it was all over, the unbeliever would sadly, or madly, walk away more confused or upset than ever, wondering, “How can anyone respect and worship a God who is as helpless as being able to save only a few of His creatures from Satan, and is merciless enough to make the rest of mankind, THAT HE CREATED, remain in a relentless agony forever?” And we as ignorant babes would either think that we scared that one enough to make him give his life to Christ, or we would feel that empty gnawing in the pit of our stomachs, knowing something was wrong, and that for some reason the Spirit was NOT BEARING WITNESS TO OUR WORDS.

Brethren, it is high time that we are to know the Truth, the Truth that sets us free indeed! We have come to the place in Christ that we no longer desire the old wine of yesterdays traditions, but rather, WE DESIRE THE NEW WINE OF LIFE that is found only in NEW WINESKINS! When Truth reigns supreme in our lives, we are no longer embarrassed, and the need to make excuses for what people assume to be God's ways will be far behind us. It is time for us to gird up our loins like the Sons of God, for our Father will now demand of us. And that girding we are to be wrapped in, as Paul stated in Ephesians 6:14, is THE TRUTH. Not only are we to be covered by GOD'S TRUE LIFE GIVING DOCTRINE, but we are to be clothed by JESUS WHO IS THAT TRUTH, the way, and the Life, and it is TRUTH; TRUE DOCTRINE and TRUE JESUS who sets us free. To those who are called by His name (nature), it is the season to be liberated from all the fabulous fables of yesteryear. No more are we to be shackled by Satanic dogmas of tradition — He has called us to be free. But much more than just being free, WE WERE BORE FREE! When we were conceived by an impregnation of the pure Seed, then the letter of the Word, the corn husk, could no longer satisfy. We, like the prodigal son, said, “I will return unto My Father.” Now that we have returned, we will hear what He has to say to us concerning HIS PURPOSE, even if we must allow our old buildings of an eternal hell to be destroyed.

The whole world, including ourselves, have been in the darkness of a long night, and in the gross darkness of the night there are those who are blind, and there are others who have eyes to see. However, as long as there is no light, no one knows who is really blind and who are not, for without light it is as if everyone is blind, there is no difference, no one can see things as they truly are. However, Christ will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and when the dawn breaks and the brilliance of the SON arises in our hearts to make His presence known, the blackness of the night begins to ebb away. For the first time we see things as they are rather than as they appeared, or as we had imagined they appeared. It is at the rising of the Son when we see who are blind and who are not, for to the blind there has been no change, to them it is still dark, and they continue on as they always have, exalting their ideas above God and disbelieving the truths of God. Since their light is darkness, as Jesus declared in Matthew 6:25, then how great is that darkness. They love the lies of hell rather than the Truths that the Son of Righteousness reveals. When He rises and shines His Light upon a matter we see it as it is and joyfully declare, “Praise God, I can now see what His word is actually saying concerning the judgment of God and the lake of fire.” And as we share these new found truths to the blind, they usually cry, “HERESY”. They will then add, “I am just as righteous as you, and maybe a little more, so if what you say you see is really from Christ, then why don't I see it, or better yet; why doesn’t the church see it, or people like this great evangelist, or that T.V. preacher, or this faith builder see it? None of these great men of God see what you are declaring to be true, so what makes you think you are any better than they are. Don't you think that if these things are true, that God would reveal them to these great prophets of today, so that the word could get to the masses of mankind?” We answer as truthful as we know how by saying, “Concerning heresy, you may be right, for Paul mentioned that according to what the Pharisees called heresy, he was guilty as charged and no doubt my opinions differ from yours in many areas. Concerning righteousness, I haven't considered that aspect. And I don't know why you or these supposed great men of God cannot see the simple truths of pure doctrine, for the Light of Christ seems to be shining squarely on these basic truths for all to see. All I know is what I see and experience to be the Truth.

After a few confrontations like this, we learn very soon what spiritual blindness is, however, in some cases it is not blindness, but rather, being “willingly ignorant”. No matter what is said or how bright the Light of Christ shines on the truth, they still cannot or will not see it for what it is. But remember, dear saints, it is no sin to be blind, the sin comes when they are blind and yet say they see. There are some who cannot see, but their hearts are pure and honest before God, these, we should minister to them in a way that will heal their infirmity. But to the self—righteous Pharisees, we should not waste our time with them. If we debate issues with them, we are only casting our precious pearls before the swine and the dogs. They WILL use the Truths of God to your hurt.

It seems a shame to have written so much on negative connotations, of how Christians have been deluded into believing the fables of how God's people will be changed into His image, and what will supposedly happen to those who do not conform to their imaginary dogmas. I would like to have been able to get into the scriptures that deal with these thoughts, but due to limited space I will hopefully be able address some of them in the future.

Elwin R. Roach