This Is Interesting . . .

I was reading through the venerable Louis Berkhof's Systematic Theology and found this very fascinating section.  Read it carefully!

Moreover, in connection with the subject of "hell" the Bible certainly uses local terms right along.  It calls the place of torment gehenna, a name derived from the Hebrew ge (land or valley) and hinnon or beney hinnom, that is Hinnom or sons of Hinnom.  This name was originally applied to a valley southwest of Jerusalem.  It was the place where wicked idolaters sacrificed their children to Moloch by causing them to pass through the fire.  Hence it was considered impure and was called in later days the valley of tophet (spittle), as an utterly despised region.  Fires were constantly buring there to consume the offal of Jerusalem.  As a result it became a symbol of the place of eternal torment."

Beney Hinnom?  Benny Hinn?  So what's the connection?  Coincidence?  Any thoughts?

Comments

[Timothy J McNeely]

That makes for some fine theology. I'll totally buy it!

I do like the historical bit about the valley always being on fire. Very interesting.

Thanks for that post.

[Russ Atmore]

Well, well, what can I say. Mr. Berkhof always is full of surprises as are you, Mr. Riddlebarger.

I could almost buy it in view of Mr. Hinn's actions and theology.

Good post!

[Jeremy]

That's hilarious!

[Mike Ratliff]

So..is Mr. Berkhof a prophet? :-) The Bible is full of "plays on words" such as calling a king by name which is "close" to his, but in Hebrew is an insult, etc. Could be! :-)

[Tim Etherington]

Pretty spooky! I think it is a prophetic message that Benny Hin should hold a revival in gehenna and that the fire there will never go out.

Read THAT carefully! :)

[Terry J]

In fairness to Benny Hinn, his TV program is only 30 minutes of torment. Thankfully it is not eternal.

[JStewart]

That is great. I was just watching Hinn interviewing John Hagee about how the rapture is merely months away. You can't help but love the dispensational heros of the faith?

[marc]

Hell of a coincedence... err I mean, a coincedence of hell.

[Mark Vander Pol]

Dr. Riddlebarger -

Are you giving us a sneak-preview into "The Man of Sin" and your arguments therein?

Here is something else interesting:

Take the number of letters in "Benny Hinn" 5 and 4.

5 to the 4th power = 625
5 times 4 = 20
4 times 5 = 20
5 minus 4 = 1

Add all these numbers together and what do you get?

That's right. 666

[J Meeks]

Great stuff.

Mark, You've got to get a new hobby!