You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. Concerning the first resurrection John observed: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Rev. 2. Satan and his followers are beings of spirit who were denied bodies and cast out of heaven during pre-mortal existence (see Plan of Salvation). However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. Plagiarism and The Globe a comparative analysis, The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism), https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf, https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22, LDS Church and Same Sex Marriage Timeline, The Pump LDS film and the original source, Ethan Smith, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Solomon Spaulding connections. They will not have a kingdom of glory. True, some former Mormons have expressed doubts and wondered if the church might possibly be true, which is a completely natural response after having left the one true church. If they decided they made a mistake because they still believed the church were true, they would be more apt to rejoin it rather than stay excommunicated and fight against it. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). Return to the Crash Course Mormonism Index. Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. Pingback: The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, A Son of Perdition is: Bold and italics in original). One must be on a high eminence to fall so low; and few in worlds history have attained such a height. After inspecting the intruder, the king instructed his servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The. Consistently, hell is associated with fire. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21. The first death is physical death, and everyone but the devil and his angels will overcome physical death through Resurrection. John the Revelator heard Christ proclaim that he possessed the keys of hell and of death (Rev. 5. When the king asked, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" Sons of perdition include (1) those who followed Satan and were cast out of heaven for rebellion during premortality and (2) those who were permitted to be born to this world with physical bodies but then served Satan and turned utterly against God. Articles 1 - 7 will help your candle last longer and perform its best. He was not ignorant, and therefore he became perdition, and they who followed him were sons of perdition, because he and they sinned knowingly. It is true that the only mortals who had once been members are eligible to become sons of perdition, a fact that may worry some former Mormons who wonder if they might be destined for outer darkness. 12:22). In the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. They once held membership in the church (through baptism/confirmation); They had full knowledge of their apostasy from the true and restored church of Jesus Christ; They continue to fight against the LDS Church despite their knowledge. Okay so clearly we have billions of souls who qualify as perdition and go to outer darkness according to one prophet in his personal books and not officially speaking as a prophet. Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first deaththat spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. However, sons of perdition cannot achieve forgiveness and will be completely cast outside of the light of God. Just because Hitler, Mao, and Stalin along with Judas Iscariot (as mentioned above) never became Latter-day Saints apparently provides them with a much higher privilegea life in the telestial kingdom over those who once believed but left the true fold, kicking and screaming in their continued fight against the restored church of Jesus Christ. They will live in eternal darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his angels forever. It clarifies how using an obscure quote does not define LDS doctrines or dogmas. They have wilfully (sic) made themselves servants of Satan and servants to him shall they remain forever. As Joseph Fielding Smith put it, those mortals who fit into this nebulous category of sons of perdition will suffer permanently while the worst of the worst sinners will suffer only temporarily before receiving a kingdom of glory. From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. Joseph restated that anyone who apostatized from the church was a son of perdition in a poem for W.W. Phelps, Sons of Perdition as those who are ever lost, and can never return to the presence of God, the poem declared that such is the torment apostates receive. (Joseph Smith, The Answer to W.W. Phelps, Esq. Now go take a nap and rest well! Also, you can read this too. That last part of the previous sentence is very important. They believe that they are mortal men capable of mistakes just like the rest of us. Other sources used in composing this topic: http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_darkness#Usage_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement, http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Eventual_fate, http://emp.byui.edu/satterfieldb/quotes/Sons%20of%20Perdition.htm. 21:8; cf. With the sons of perdition, however, even this blessing is denied. Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. Mormon doctrines are often contradictory and inconsistent. https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Its just Scary bad. Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. Often in the scriptures it is difficult to discern which helltemporary or permanentis being spoken of, since many references to hell in the scriptures are used in a nonspecific manner to simply designate a place or state of suffering for the wicked. The first example would be spirits from the preexistence who sided with Lucifer rather than Jesus at the Council in Heavenwhere it was decided who would become the Savior of the World. 23:33). Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). In each New Testament passage that speaks of hell (the word hades is neutralneither a place of punishment nor reward but the place of departed spirits) the context associates it with suffering and punishment. A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. He cried: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. This desperate cry for forgiveness through Christ brought deliverance from the pains of hell Alma had experienced because of his sins (Alma 36:1620). (See D&C 76:2835, 4448.) The manual Gospel Principles sheds additional light: There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. Unless someone has rejected love, like the Nephites, I believe there is still hope that they will repent. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 758. In a general conference talk, Joseph Fielding Smith further explained that. Those who followed Lucifer in his rebellion in the premortal life and those who in mortality sin against the Holy Ghost are sons of perdition. 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of 20:6). According to Smith: It is very clear in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:30-37, that the only persons who will be completely overcome by this dreadful fate are the sons of perdition who go with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. (Answers to Gospel Questions 5:107-108). It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. Provo, UT 84602 So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. 22:13-14, D-R.). That being said, I don't think it really matters at the end of the day, because if it is all real, I want to stay clear away from anyone who the Church says deserves the Celestial Kingdom. Later in the same discourse Alma blended the doctrines of the Fall, agency, and the second death together as an admonition to keep the commandments of God (see Alma 12:3137). When the lights were out and we were on the verge of sleep, our camp counselor took advantage of the moment and endeavored to imprint his teachings upon the minds of his captive audience. In Christianity, it is understood that anyone who denies the holy spirit goes to outer darkness, but they see it as a synonym for Hell. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? And the definition contains all of the pre-mortal spirits who followed Lucifer, which would imply that God created a lot more male spirits than women spirits and maybe thats why there was a war in Heaven. They are sons of perdition because, Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to open shame (D. & C. 76:35). 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. 9:4. Cannot be saved at the last day; except W.W. Phelps who was classified as such by Joseph and then redeemed, and we should only trust prophets on the matter because they dont conflict, unless they do. The "authority" to marry a man to one wife is not the same as the "authority" to marry a man to more than one wife. Even the regular Wikipedia seems confused: Sons of Perdition are: The pre-mortal spirit followers of Satan. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. Please read, the source above, What is Official LDS Doctrine. 8:13). 3:20; 10:9- 10; Eph. 22:13). 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. hell.. Grant Building Clean and Unclean The use of the term exterior darkness is in Jesus' parable of the wedding feast (also known as the parable of the marriage of the king's son). Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. I did cite sources spoken from the pulpit by a prophet. Outer darkness is not a kingdom of glory. In my last post, I claimed that I might be a candidate for outer darkness. Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. Oh yes they did: after a man has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for himlike many of the apostates of Christof the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Again, the doctrine of the second death is woven together with other essential parts of the plan of salvation, offering the reader the big picture concerning Gods judgments. Mormons also believe that those on Earth with bodies can become a Son of Perdition, tho this is difficult to do. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. In Jesus parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus contrasted the afterlife state of the lowly Lazarus with that of the self-absorbed rich man. there are two answers, one is being cast out of the presence of God which would be a form of darkness and the other is complete darkness without even the spirit of God in a spiritual realm as far as the light has an end, if thats possible. Horror Short Film "Outer Darkness" | ALTER | Online Premiere 31,262 views Mar 31, 2022 Subscribe to ALTER on YouTube: https://goo.gl/LnXRC3 .more .more 1K Dislike Share Save Description. Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Outer darkness is something which cannot be described, except that we know that it is to be placed beyond the benign and comforting influence of the Spirit of God banished entirely from his presence (Ibid.). In Mormonism, it depends. Each person must reap the harvest of the seeds sown in this life. And thats why men alone get, I mean need the priesthood. This is a Son of perdition. Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. 9:1012, 1516). Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to Gods justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption (Alma 12:13,1618). 13:42), the fire that never shall be quenched (Mark 9:45), where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48), and cast into the fire (Luke 3:9). Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a son of perdition is a person who will not take part in the glory of God in the afterlife. In Christianity, the "exterior darkness" or outer darkness is a place referred to three times in the Gospel of Matthew (8:12, 22:13, and 25:30) into which a person may be "cast out", and where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". Mormonism. Banishment from the joys of heaven. Those mortals who did join the LDS Church in this lifetime must fit the following criteria to be classified as a son of perdition, with a destiny to outer darkness. Becoming a son of Perdition is hard therefore going to outer darkness is hard. Wilford Woodruff in a meeting with the apostles, 1893 D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1997) p. 795. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. He also saw a pale horse with a rider whose name was Death, and Hell followed with him (Rev. A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. I wonder if the language is tripping people up here. The Prophet Joseph Smith would not countenance the teaching of this doctrine, and sanctioned the decision of the bishop that any who taught it should be barred from communion (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). Whether Christians have believed hell to be literal or figurative, the New Testament metaphor of an unquenchable lake of fire has conjured up for believers in the Bible harsh images of souls consigned to never-ending punishment as recompense for their evil deeds done while on earth. 34:3435; note Almas repetitive use of the word state in Alma 40:1112; see also D&C 101:9091; 133:7073). Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. The sons of perdition are those who have had a knowledge of the truth, have known that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, have had the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Ghost, and these things have all been revealed so that they know they are true; and then they turn against them and fight them knowingly (Conference Reports, April 1942, p. 27. The second death is a second separation from God, not because of Adams transgression (the first death) but because of ones own failure to repent of personal sin. He called the Pharisees and scribes vipers and questioned, How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. But suppose, deep down, I do believe the church is true. The Book of Mormon does not teach the doctrinal truth that hell will end for the majority of those who suffer in the spirit prison prior to being resurrected and entering the telestial kingdom; however, this truth is clearly taught in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 76:3638, 106). Jesus marvelled at the faith of a centurion he met in Capernaum and proclaimed that many would come from the east and west, and [would] sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. So, if you are directly listing to Satan, like Cain, and actively turning away from God, like Cain, then you can become a Son of Perdition. Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. Utterly turn against god. spirit prison. Banishment from all progress. In Peters second general epistle to the Church, he taught concerning the angels who had sinned, saying that God cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness (2 Pet. In short, Outer Darkness is eternal torture. For many years, those who have forfeited their membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have been told by other Mormons that they were Sons of Perdition destined for Outer Darkness. The Book of Mormon contains six references to the second death: one reference by Jacob (Jacob 3:11), three by Alma (Alma 12:16, 32; 13:30), and two by Samuel the Lamanite (Hel. A lot of people wanted a source on that. This is full on rejection of God. To become a son of perdition one must sin against the Holy Ghost, but before that is possible, one must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual Religion 324 and 325, 2001, p. 161). Outer Darkness, I always heard, was reserved for a handful of suckers like Cain and Judas who saw God and/or Jesus and were still rebellious. 1:18). The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work. A) Most humans B) Satan C) His angels D) Sons of Perdition. The views expressed . It is taught that, in the pre-mortal life, they chose to follow a plan proposed by Satan, rather than that presented by God the Father. [1], Other views include those of Zane C. Hodges who controversially suggested that it represents a place for those who make it to heaven based on their faith, but have failed to perform good works during their time on the earth.[2]. Thank you! And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). Twenty-nine times the word hell is used with descriptive modifiers, for example, depths of hell (1 Ne. There are possible characteristics of a son of perdition. According to the churchs website: The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. . Alma 40. The prophet Alma described the disposition of those in outer darkness: And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evilfor behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their houseand these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil (Alma 40:13; cf. Again Mormons think this is a very hard place to get into. ABCs of Science and Mormonism now available in Print from Amazon! It is simply his opinion. 2:11). . Ah yes, well with clarity like that, why would Jeremy ever doubt them and ask for official sources! About 74 B.C. Ball (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001), 7789. The Bible teaches that there is a devil and a hell, but the place of hell in the plan of salvation is taught best by the Book of Mormon. Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment (2 Ne. Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Did I really have full knowledge? It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. In the parable of the talents, the returning lord instructed that the wicked and slothful servant who hid his talent in the earth be cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. He also said,I think I am safe in saying that no man can become a Son of Perdition until he has known the light. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. Smith taught: The sons of perdition are those who have had a knowledge of the truth, have known that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, have had the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Ghost, and these things have all been revealed so that they know they are true; and then they turn against them and fight them knowingly. So why dont we get outer darkness too? The opposition gospel twists the title of Adversary into a positive thing. The first three are referred to as the three degrees of glory, often compared to the sun, the moon, and the stars ( D&C 76:70, 78, 98 ). As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. What is the Book of Mormons contribution to our understanding of the New Testaments teachings concerning hell, or that lake of fire John calls the second death (Rev. ; Mormon Temple Worship. Also, Joseph confuses things further by combining words typically used with Hell to describe outer darkness: A sinner has his own mind and his own mind damns him. The apostle John saw the final judgment and wrote of the destiny of the wicked: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. In the Bible, the phrases lake of fire and lake of fire and brimstone, describing the fate of the wicked, are unique to the book of Revelation. If this is the case, the worst fate any former Latter-day Saint can anticipate is the telestial kingdom. The apostle James taught that the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity . Source: https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf. As a young boy, I attended a two-week Christian camp. In the D&C, the definition of those who go to Outer Darkness is stated as: the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof;Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again; Wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation (D&C 76:45-48). It even warns its readers to beware of the devils temptation to disbelieve the doctrine of a personal devil and that there is an actual place and/or state called hell. Mormons believe that there Prophets are fallible and in no way perfect. Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. Whats interesting is that there are many former Mormons who still believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God and have a testimony of the Spirit of the Lord. However, their faith no longer is in the Jesus of Mormonism but the Jesus of the Bible. It must be emphasized that the witness described means that the person has had the heavens opened unto him and has personally seen, and even spoken with, the Savior, and then has turned against Him, bringing him to open shame. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. [3] Larry E. Dahl, The Concept of Hell, in Doctrines of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 4243. And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls. He wrote. 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. 16:811)meaning to be left with those who would partake of that permanent hell reserved only for those who, as Jacob stated, are filthy still.. 25:30). The latter meaning is a place where the glory of God is completely absent, and is the place where Satan and his angels will reside. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. Because of their disobedience, these spirits ended up not receiving bodies, a necessary ingredient to progress to mortality and be qualified for one of the three kingdoms of glory. So apostates from the church are clearly included in this list. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. For those who once were baptized and confirmed into Mormonism, what is your status? You dont believe it is true, which is the reason why you left. (see Rom. So, in conclusion, I would have a hard time believing that you or billions of souls as you put will qualify for perdition even while taking Mormon beliefs into account. The city of Capernaum was upbraided for its lack of faith in view of the miracles Jesus performed there. D&C 133:73 says, These shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Humans who never heard about Mormonism will not go there, as tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith said, That is a punishment that will not come to those who have never known the truth. And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end (1 Ne. Who of the following is NOT eligible for Outer Darkness. To look closer at this possibility, lets break humans into two categories: 1) Those who have never been Mormon; 2) Those who are or once were Mormon. No exact details are given. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. Death brought a reversal of their conditions wherein the rich man in hell became a beggar, longing for a drop of water from the finger of Lazarus, who was now in heaven, or Abrahams bosom. In the parable Abraham explained the impossibility of receiving his request, because between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (Luke 16:1926). - Wilford Woodruff in a meeting with the apostles, 1893 D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1997) p. 795. . 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. The Book of Mormon presents several significant insights concerning the lake of fire and brimstone of which John spoke. Thus, by the definition given by the leaders cited above, these people cannot be considered sons of perdition. How many people. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List, You continue to fight against the true church, Those spirits who rebelled against God in the preexistence are the original sons of perdition. Each differing in Glory but all great places to go. All missionaries are doing is trying to upgrade people to a premium plan of ruling over planets and polygamy. We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. 6:8). While Christianity affirms that many people who were created by God will perish in hell, Mormonism also espouses this . See Michael Hicks, Joseph Smith, W.W. Phelps, and the Poetic Paraphrase of The Vision, Journal of Mormon History 20 (Fall 1994) 2: 63-84 for discussion of authorship of this poem.). 2:4). Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment (Mosiah 2:3839). Jesus proclaimed to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the rock upon which He would build the Church (Matt. At the end of the twenty years, the knife would be withdrawn and again stabbed into us, with the resulting excruciating pain lasting another twenty years; this process would then be repeated for all eternity. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. Can someone get out of this state of Perdition once they are in it? We found these portrayals to be highly inaccurate. 16:18). But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.