In Touch Quarter 4 - 2011

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8 // IN TOUCH ~l'A[ Olam (PART 2) Hebrew Word Study with John C. P. Smith In PART 1 (In Touch no.168) we looked at the meaning of the Hebrew word ~l'A[ olam, particularly in the light of popular American teacher Rob Bell’s recent highprofile book, “Love Wins”, in which the author challenges the orthodox understanding of the word olam in support of his finite hell thesis. He writes: “...’forever’ is not really a category the biblical writers used... So when we read ‘eternal punishment’... Jesus isn’t talking about forever” (p.92). But Rob Bell’s interpretation of olam is untenable on several grounds, including its lexical definition and its extensive usage to mean ‘forever’ in mainstream translations. Yet more importantly, olam is a description of the unbounded, limitless, Eternal God, ~l'A[ lae El Olam! What about the root meaning of olam? Hebrew root meanings are sometimes difficult to identify or define with certainty. But according to the Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew, the root ~l[ ‘lm, from which ~l'A[ olam is derived, means “hide”. In relation to time this means “the unknown future” or “forever” (p.186). Similarly, the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis defines the verbal root ~l[ ‘lm as “hidden things, secrets” (Vol 3, p.425), and “the basic meaning of the noun [~l'A[ olam] is farthest time, distant time”; adding that it is “widely attested” in other Ancient Near Eastern languages (p.346). Whilst it can sometimes refer to limited (though usually long) periods of time, “in many more cases, the noun is used with longer time periods in view—indeed, it often implies unceasingness or perpetuity” (p.348). The Greek word aivw,n aion often parallels ~l'A[ olam in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and occurs 122 times in the Greek New Testament. (The Latin word aeon, also spelt eon, is a transliteration of the Greek word aion, and means ‘age; for ever, for eternity’.) Like olam, aion has several usages, but a central part of its meaning is “prolonged and unlimited time... eternity, age to come... forever, eternally... forever and ever, forevermore” (Friberg’s Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament). Despite this, Rob Bell asserts that “aion... doesn’t mean ‘forever’ as we think of forever” (p.31). But if Rob Bell believes that the Bible teaches a finite hell, then he must also logically accept a finite heaven, since the same word is used to describe the resurrected life of the ‘righteous’. For example, Yeshua says, “Then they [the cursed] will go away to eternal/everlasting punishment, but the righteous to eternal/everlasting life” (Matthew 25:46), the Greek word here translated twice as “eternal/everlasting” being the adjectival form of aion in both instances. The fact is, contrary to Rob Bell’s thesis, there is nothing in Scripture to suggest either a finite hell or a finite heaven. On the contrary, death itself will be destroyed, logically implying an eternal existence: “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” (I Corinthians 15:54) Beyond death is either eternal life or “the second death”, which is the “lake of fire” and “of burning sulphur” (see Revelation 20:10, 14; 21:8). The Bible couldn’t be more clear on this subject. God does not want any to perish (2 Peter 3:9), yet He also says, “My Spirit will not contend with man for ever [olam]” (Genesis 6:3). This contradicts the “second chance” idea mooted by Rob Bell “for all kinds of people” after death, including some “atheists” and “people from other religions” (p.106). He asks, apparently rhetorically, “Could God say to someone truly humbled, broken, and desperate for reconciliation, ‘Sorry, too late... Door’s locked’?” (p.108). Yet Yeshua did teach exactly this (e.g. Matthew 25:1-13). In His parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Yeshua makes it plain that there is no means of comfort for those in agony in Hades (hell). Indeed, He speaks of “a great chasm fixed” in order that none may cross from heaven to hell or vice versa (Luke 16:26). With the terrible realisation of this unending, unalterable state of pain and anguish there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; and Luke 13:28). No wonder Yeshua urged His listeners: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that “God may be extraordinarily loving and merciful, but He is also utterly just, and does not change or contradict Himself.” leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Hebrews states emphatically, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (9:27), and Yeshua declared “whoever believes in the Son has eternal [adjectival aion] life; whoever disbelieves/disobeys the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath abides over him” (John 3:36). God may be extraordinarily loving and merciful, but He is also utterly just, and does not change or contradict Himself. We would all do well to “consider therefore the kindness and severity of God” (Romans 11:22). Tragically, readers of the book Love Wins who are not well versed in the Scriptures and who have little or no knowledge of Hebrew or Greek—including both Believers and non- Believers—will most likely take its hugely popular and influential author at his word, believing that neither olam nor aion mean ‘forever’. They may very well be deluded into thinking everything’s going to work out OK, for everyone. Yet, even in this short study we have seen clear evidence to the contrary from a number of sources. Hebrew is important for the Believer, whether Bible-teacher or layman. In the case of Rob Bell’s thesis, we might even go as far as to say that it’s a matter of life and death—helping us to understand the full gravity of choosing between eternal life and “the second death.” “Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good; His love endures to olam (eternity)!” (1 Chronicles 16:34)
UNDER FIRE IN SDEROT CFI-UK’s David Soakell writes about his recent visit to Israel The future months ahead in Israel are very uncertain. However following the ‘Arab Spring’ - otherwise known as the ‘Islamic awakening’, one thing is for certain - the battle ahead could well take its toll. As the UN Security Council planned to meet regarding the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian State in the ‘West Bank’, I flew out to Israel to see first-hand how the people of the Land felt about their future. I interviewed many people – some with connections to Arutz Sheva - others ‘the ordinary man on the street’. I had the opportunity to interview an “old school” kibbutznik, Lt.- Col. (res) Tzvika Levy, who works with the Israel Defence Force (IDF) Lone Soldiers. I was invited to an IDF Golani parade at the Jerusalem Western Wall; interviewed residents living close to Ramallah in Samaria and in Sderot, and spoke at length with someone who has his finger on the pulse of the Middle East daily, whose CFI UK tour I’d organised for 2011 ~ Jerusalem-based author and journalist David Dolan. I also managed to write my weekly News Report as I visited Sderot on the Gaza border. I was there when Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005 and returned again in 2008, but three years later, the Arab terrorists still attack the Jewish communities – so how do the people of Sderot cope? When I last visited Sderot I was struck by the concrete bomb shelters around every bus stop and the air of impending doom that hung over the city like a cloud. I was amazed to discover that this was once a beautiful town before Hamas took control of Gaza. Three years later in 2011, I was back wondering what changes I would see. Sadly, the progress was only a new school that was built less than a year ago with a ‘bomb resistant’ roof… if that’s progress, it is not too encouraging. Since 2005 over 11,000 Kassam rockets have been fired at Sderot, with over 1,400 hitting the town. As we travelled towards the area, we tried to eliminate all noise distractions - windows in the car should remain open so that any warnings about imminent attack sirens (“tzeva adom” - red alert) could be heard, for when that happens, one only has 15 seconds to run for cover! This appears to be the only place in the world in which rockets are regularly targeted on civilians yet the world’s media regard this as a minor event. Many people have been killed, for others, the pain does not go away - families have to cope with the aftermath: on-going medical and psychological problems, loss of body parts, ended careers, financial ruin, and coping with grief/fears/nightmares. Here, I met with families having to cope with anything but normal life. One can view the damage of just what these Kassam rockets can do, and each family has a harrowing story. As each visit came to an end, I for one, felt at a complete loss as to how we can really make any difference to these families, though of course we can offer some assistance and support. Here at CFI, we can help… but we need you to help us, to help them! ‘Communities Under Attack’ is a project set up to provide support to these very families that are under attack from Israel’s enemies. Through this project financial assistance is provided to those who suffer, and of course, as we did during our time there, the CFI Jerusalem staff travel to these affected areas to personally visit families and bring much-needed comfort and blessings. Ultimately, the blame for the rocket attacks lies with the terrorists in Gaza and until something is done to curb these attacks, people in Sderot will continue to suffer from the trauma of living under constant threat. Solutions have thus far been fruitless, but that has not stopped some Sderot residents from attempting to find a sense of normality in a decidedly unnatural setting. Someone once said, “When you pinch the cheek of an Israeli child and you pinch the cheek of an Arab Palestinian child, it’s the same thing. It’s the same blood”. The question many ask however is, why does Israel keep giving the Palestinians land for peace gestures, when the Palestinians don’t offer anything in return? It all seems so unfair. Please do stand with us and pray for these families, for the Lord’s hand to be with them every day - for healing and restoration in every area of their lives. We serve an all-powerful, almighty and awesome God whose heart is for all who suffer - and we believe He works in all circumstances. CFI.ORG.UK // 9
Page 1 and 2: Christian Friends of Israel IN TOUC
Page 3 and 4: CONFERENCE Crawley, West Sussex Nov
Page 5 and 6: INTERVIEW WITH DAVID DOLAN David Do
Page 7: A SCARLET THREAD OF REDEMPTION The
Page 11 and 12: Recorded live in the desert of En G

In Touch Quarter 4 - 2011

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