J Mike Byrd

The New Jerusalem and the Eternal State - Heaven and Hell Revisited J Mike Byrd

There are many beliefs about this subject of Heaven and Hell, including Theological debates and divergent interpretations of the last two chapters of the book of Revelation. However, as with the rest of this mysterious highly symbolic book, most of these beliefs and interpretations are very problematic at best. The first challenge is to understand the pattern of the revelation in the book since it is not all in a sequential order. Then one must discern between what is symbolic, and what is literal - which is where the misinterpretations abound. Then of course the next challenge is to accurately interpret the symbolism. The approach taken in this book is first to assume that God's word is accurately portraying reality and is thus free of contradictions and inconsistencies when accurately translated and interpreted. It is also assumed that God's Word is actually quite clear and accurate in communicating the message He intended and that God is quite up to the task, without the help of men. Thus the very conscientious and deliberate effort is made to let God's Word speak for itself. But we can only get to what He is trying to communicate by letting scripture interpret scripture, taking it as literal as possible (as warranted by the text itself), in its most natural sense. In the case of symbology, which is used extensively in this book of Revelation, again we find the symbolism interpreted elsewhere in scripture. In some cases it helps to apply what we know from the real world, in terms of science, geopolitics and history. And we must recognize and incorporate supernatural explanations where they are invoked or necessarily implied or inferred in scripture, but not where literal natural explanations are available and for good reason preferred. The result is that we find the Bible teaches about Heaven and Hell, the New Jerusalem and the Eternal State, are not all that consistent with what is commonly and popularly believed.