Hey everybody. Welcome to Hellgate. I've been so excited to show you today's episode. It's totally unique from other episodes in that it's the answer to the controversy about the dangerous conversation my son

and I had about hell. There's been a debate going on for 2,000 years. And if you dare ask the

question, some people think you're being a heretic. James, you were there for Hellgate. You

were there for the whole discussion. Are you excited we did this?

Yeah, I think it's going to make everyone have a lot more questions, but I think it's a good thing because the fact that we asked this question and a lot of people freaked out led to

us gathering the best of the best from all across the world, flying them into a room at a

roundtable conversation, we're actually able to go deeper into this topic and learn more and

grow in our faith rather than stay stagnant in our preconceived notions.

And I want to thank our sponsor of Hellgate Brave Books. I've been working with them for years.

They share my deep desire

to spark conversations between parents and their kids about topics of faith and character. Subjects

that matter. So I hope you enjoy this. It's two and a half hours long. It is a deep dive. Open up

your Bibles and dig in. Isn't it forever, everlasting? I think all of us here would agree. And if you all say yes, I'm going to just throw up my hands and say, well, then where are we disagree? I know we're going to disagree and that's fine, but I'm just pointing out. Is there a raise ever where you see eternal torment? Lethal injection is allegedly very, you know, painless and quick.

You have crucifixion, which is extremely protracted and torturous.

They all inflict the same penalty, which is not being alive anymore.

One of the emphasis of Scripture is that hell is just punishment.

If our minds are ever going into directions that feel bizarrely cool, we know

we've gotten off the tracks because our God is good and just. Even in Mark chapter 5,

you know, have you come to torment us before our time. So you do see a kind of through line here

that, you know, torment never means annihilation. What if you find out you're wrong, though? Do you really want to be standing before God on the final day and have to account for the fact that you maligned the character of God and called a memorial? I just refused to do that. It's only death and nothing more. There's a lot more bound up with at least death. But if the lost do not die in hell physically, why did Jesus physically die on the cross?

The nature of the punishment in hell is not a primary issue.

You know, the gospel is a primary issue. The resurrection is a primary issue.

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