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You can access my testimony through Google by typing in Rodger Tutt.
Because my testimony is helping so many people, I am posting it here so it will stay on your front page for awhile if that's ok with you. The many entries in my guest book that is accessible towards the bottom of the front page on my site, and the many positive emails in my email file folders, show that the content of my testimony is helping many people.
http://greater-emmanuel.org/Hope4You/
(nothing for sale on this site)MY TESTIMONY
The idea that God lets any creature suffer endlessly has caused me more suffering than all other problems of my life combined. By the time I had reached the mission field I had hoped to have found a satisfactory answer that would justify God allowing this to happen. I didn't find such an answer. Surrounded by thousands of people, dozens of whom were dying every day and beginning an eternity of suffering in hell was too much for me.
In 1966, at age 28, it caused me to have a nervous breakdown. For several weeks I was confined to my bed in a state of terror night and day. The terror was caused by the fear of what a God I could not love or respect would do to me after I died. It took me twelve years to fully recover from the breakdown. I quickly became agnostic, for the Christian gospel and the Bible were no longer any comfort to me at all. Many evangelical friends tried to help me. They meant well, but in the end they all had only words of condemnation towards me. This added more suffering to my already intense suffering.
Gradually I began to learn that there have been, in centuries past, and still are today, a few people in the world that see a different kind of God in the Bible. They see a God who will not let any creature suffer forever. They see a God in the Bible who will change every second of everyone's suffering into something better that it happened, including the sufferings of Satan. I learned that a correctly (literally) translated Bible teaches universal transformation, not endless suffering in hell, or even annihilation. I read dozens of books, and listened to hundreds of tapes by men who believe this way and I gradually became converted to believing this way myself.
Since 1981, through my newspaper ads and my telephone ministry, I have sent out many hundreds of packets of literature explaining why I believe as I do. I have also sent this evidence to hundreds of pastors and Bible school teachers. None of them have told me that they are able to refute it. I have also read eight books that were supposed to refute the evidence in favor of universalism, but none of them do. Because of this evidence, my panic attacks became less frequent until twelve years after my breakdown they ceased altogether. Now nothing gives me greater pleasure than to make this evidence available to others who have suffered because of the same problem I had even though they have embraced Christ and His gospel for themselves, and I use a substantial amount of my money and time to this end.
Because of the enormous amount of suffering the idea of “endless hell” causes in this world, I am asking you to consider the possibility that you should stop endorsing the idea that the Bible teaches it. Or, at least, let others know that there are (and have been in centuries past) people who do not think the Bible teaches it.
Many of the responses from pastors and teachers range from a mild: “The majority don't agree with you so you must be wrong”, to the vicious “For every week you leave your ad in the papers, God will increase the temperature of the fires of hell for you personally”.
Most are somewhere in between these remarks. But none have told me they are able to refute the evidence. And, until they can, they will not be able to stop me from sharing the good news that a correctly (literally) translated Bible teaches universal transformation, not endless suffering in hell, or even annihilation.A website that answers all the arguments that seem to support the idea that the Bible teaches endless suffering in hell is TENTMAKER. Although forum rules prevent me from posting forum links, you can easily Google it up. The “scholar’s corner” under “research” deals with every aspect of the subject. The more than 600 page search engine at the top of this same TENTMAKER front page is also very comprehensive regarding this subject. Just type in a key word or phrase from any argument or scripture passage, and ten articles will appear that refute the eternal hell and annihilation doctrines.
I am also going to guide you all to the testimony of a man whose experience was almost identical to mine. Even the thought processes that took him into, through, and out of his breakdown are the same as mine. Only he is much more eloquent in telling his story than I am in telling mine. His name is Charles Slagle.
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Absolute-Assurance-in-Jesus-Christ.htmlOr, you can also Google up ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE
You can access my testimony through Google by typing in Rodger Tutt.
It may well be that a few members of this form or surfers will be able to benefit from the testimonies of Charles and myself.
May God's blessing rest with your spirit!
From Rodger Tutt in Toronto, Canada
“That God may be All in all” 1Cor.15:28My name is Rodger Tutt. I am 68 years old. I could have avoided a horrific twelve year nervous breakdown had I known as a youth about the following information concerning what a correctly (literally, not interpretively) Bible teaches.
You can access my website through Google by typing in Rodger Tutt, or
My website is http://greater-emmanuel.org/Hope4You/You can also access most of the following writings through Google by typing in the title.
BOOKS THAT SHOW THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES UNIVERSAL SALVATION, THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF WHICH CAN BE READ ONLINE
1. HOPE BEYOND HELL – Gerry Beauchemin (recently published)
http://www.hopebeyondhell.net/index.html
2. CHRIST TRIUMPHANT – Thomas Allin
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/ChristTriumphant.htm
3. THE BIBLE HELL – J.W. Hanson
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/TheBibleHell.html
4. THE ORIGON AND HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE OF ENDLESS PUNISHMENT – Thomas Thayer
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/OriginandHistory.html
5. THE OUTCOME OF INFINITE GRACE – Dr. Loyal Hurley
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/infinitegrace.htm
6. JUST WHAT DO YOU MEAN “HELL” – J. Preston Eby
http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/savior-of-the-world/hell.htm
7. ONE HUNDRED SCRIPTURAL PROOFS THAT JESUS CHRIST WILL SAVE ALL MANKIND – Thomas Whittemore
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/ScripturalProofs.html
8. TWENTY-FOUR SERMONS ON UNIVERSAL SALVATION – John Bovee Dods
http://www.tentmaker.org/Bovee2.htm#Top
9. THE SECOND DEATH AND THE RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS – Andrew Jukes
http://www.tentmaker.org/restitutionindex.htm
10. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN THE FINAL SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND – Erasmus Manford
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/150reasons.html
11. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS – J. Patching
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/RichManandLazarus-Patching.html
12. BIBLE TRANSLATIONS THAT DO NOT TEACH ETERNAL TORMENT – Gary Amirault
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/GatesOfHell.html
13. AION – AIONIOS – John Wesley Hanson
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Aion_lim.html
14. BIBLE THREATENINGS EXPLAINED – John Wesley Hanson
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/BibleThreateningsExplained.html
15. THE CASE OF JUDAS, ETCETERA
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/asw/Chapter16.html
16. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL – John Essex
AND THE ROLE OF THE ADVERSARY – James Webb
http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/TheProblemofEvil.html
17. HIS ACHIEVEMENT ARE WE – James Coram
http://concordant.org/expohtml/HisAchievement/index.htmlWelcome roger tutt,
I agree that it is inconsistent with the love of God that He would punish people forever and it is a stumbling block to preach it to those searching for God. However it seems that scripture is quite clear on punishment and perishing. Do you maintain your position from scripture?I'm open to my current understanding being wrong but only if shown from scripture. Below I've posted what I believe and while some of it is definitely speculation, it does not conflict with scripture (at least that I'm aware of). How do you see it differently, this is not a “challenge” but an earnest question as I've said many times I more interested in truth, then in my opinions.
Wm
Quote I believe that when sin was first found in satan it was only apparent to God. The trouble was, that God knew that the sin in satan would grow and ruin all of heaven itself. So He created the lake of fire to destroy the irredeemable (which I believe that those exposed to Gods glory and still allow sin a place cannot be redeemed). But if He were to throw satan in prior to his sins being apparent to the rest of heavens inhabitants, they would not see the Love and Justice of God as obviously satan was popular and I do not believe that satan had done anything openly evil (something heaven probably didn't understand anyway). I believe it was at this point God created man with the intent purpose of exposing what sin would do if allowed to run unchecked and to show the length He would go and the price He would pay to redeem His creation if it was possible.
We know that God has His faithful angels and we're told satan has his but I believe that there are still those sitting on the fence. But in Revelation where we are told that war breaks out in heaven and this is where I think the host of heaven have their fill of satan's ways and expel him and his from heaven
Now God who would have been reduced in stature had He have tried to explain His actions, is glorified for His wisdom, Holiness, Love and forgiveness. He has also gained more sons proven through fire than He lost to satan.
Now I believe that this lake of fire is God's justice and will destroy what is thrown in but only at a rate equal to the evil of the one thrown in. In other words the antichrist whom I assume is the most evil person to ever live will have to pay in torment for all he will have done, but those of lesser sins will suffer less, then cease to exist eternally.
The regret alone would be more then I could bear. To know what could have been and to know that it will never be, to have no hope! That scares me more than the fire.
I'm not teaching the above, it is only what I believe and I'm sharing it to help explain why I believe that the scriptures are being misunderstood and eternal torment is not torment for eternity but torment to completion with eternal consequences.
That concept is in keeping with the justice that God requires but with the Love that God is.
Just my opinion (although I believe it to be backed by scripture).
Welcome Rodger,
Universalism is certainly a popular myth and teaches that all are saved and so life is really just a screenplay. Myths assuage the anxieties of men but truth is more helpful in the long run.But there is life in Jesus and all are invited by God to receive absolute and eternal forgiveness so that the Lake of Fire, while true, is no longer relevant for those who take up the generous offer to become sons of God.
False teaching has obscured the way and so many no longer hear the gospel having been indoctrinated with death by tradition.
Come out of her and into the light is still the best advice.
Welcome Roger.
I agree that Hell isn't eternal, for it is written that it will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and the Lake of Fire is the Second Death.
But as far as saying that God will save all, I do not agree (if that is what you are saying).
Scripture is clear that the wicked will perish and be destroyed. There are many scriptures that talk of this. Read the following as it contains scriptural proof that God will destroy the wicked.
https://heavennet.net/answers/answer26.htm
I believe that destruction of the wicked is God's grace.
Suffering with eternal life is not taught in scripture and God blocked the tree of life for Adam and Eve, lest they live forever as sinners.
In the end eternal life is given to the righteous and the righteous alone. The wicked will perish.
Even the most quoted verse in the bible teaches this.
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.Rodger,
I've went over some of your site. Perhaps I've misunderstood, but it seems that you feel (since so many believe it) that scriptures teach eternal torment and have therefore rejected scripture and Christianity (some on your forum definitely have). I believe the whole of scripture does not teach being tormented forever and while I believe there are errors in translation, harmony in scripture is our safeguard to knowing truth.Wm
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