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Introduction to Personal Bible Study - Videos (2007)

4 short introductory video studies First recorded in 2007, posted to GodTube in 2010  These short videos were made nearly 14 years ago. ...

Monday, January 14, 2019

Deconstructing Don Perkins' Introduction to "Hell" - Part 3

Unfortunately, HisChannel doesn't have an archive (that I can find) of previously aired messages and they are currently offering a more recent series from Don Perkins. So, let's take a quick look at the statement of faith at Don Perkins' ministry site and use it to practice rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15) and remember why we need to be careful with God's word and God's words.

We could use any of countless ministries here, Don Perkins is not unique, but since we started with his previous messages, I believe there are some parallels with those studies.

The full statement from his site (What We Believe) can be found HERE

We believe in the immortality of our souls and the resurrection of our bodies.

As we have seen in our studies on "immortality," the scripture is very clear. We only become immortal in resurrection. We must "put on immortality" (1 Cor 15). Before that, all men are mortal. As God stated to Adam (our representative) "you shall surely die" and in Adam "death passed on to all men." The lie of Satan is "you shall NOT surely die." God ALONE is immortal teaches Paul.


We believe in the resurrection of the Just and the Unjust.

Here is where we need to define our terms biblically and in context. This one might be news to some, but Christians can be "unjust." The "unjust" servant was still a servant. Since unbelievers have no "life" in them, they cannot be "resurrected." Resurrection life is a free gift for whosoever believes; all others "perish." (John 3:16; cf Rom 6:23)


We believe in the eternal rest of the righteous with God on the New Earth.

The question here is "which righteous?" The blessings of the One New Man in Ephesians for those who understand the dispensation of the Mystery" are "spiritual" and experienced in "the far above the heavens." The earth, the kingdom, paradise, the New Jerusalem are all promises, hopes, and rewards for other "righteous" peoples and groups. The righteous make of the "family" of God (Eph 3:15). Just from an earthly perspective (and noted in Perkins' list of beliefs), Israel is separate and has separate hopes and rewards than the Body. One day in eternity future all the families of God will come together, but we need to keep specific hopes with specific people .

We believe in the eternal punishment of the Wicked in the Lake of Fire.

If someone perishes, that punishment is eternal. What he means is "being tortured by fire by God without hope of relief." We have covered the "Lake of Fire [Gehenna]" before. It is a pagan doctrine which teaches both the immortality of souls and God as vengeful torturer. We reject this strongly on both counts.


We believe according to the Signs of the Times, that we are living in the last days.

I also hold that we are in the Last Days, facing the end of the current age. We would agree on certain aspects of the end times, but with certainly not on everything.