From Newsgroup: alt.bible

A perfect summary of "Jehovah's Witness" heresy hermeneutics: Any time
they don't like what the Bible says, they simply label it a "parable" or
a "symbol", then claim "anything goes", and that they can ascribe
whatever meaning they want to it:

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Sat, 30 May 2026 17:21:59 -0400
<u3ml1lt02mhft0u2vunsva47koumq4vkkf@4ax.com>
Satan's Witness (SW) James <zebrabible@proton.me> wrote: ========================================

That is a parable. In a parable, anything goes.

...You can interpret the symbols any way you want.

========================================

LIES. Parables and symbols always teach truths which are consistent with
what the parable or symbol shows, not something which is the exact
opposite. This is how they try to work their way around what the Bible
says to promote a FALSE GOSPEL which tries to "comfort" men with the LIE
that they can reject Christ as Savior, and still escape eternal,
conscious torment without Him:

The Bible clearly shows the soul survives the death of the body:

rCLAnd do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the
soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell.rCY (Matthew 10:28, ESV)


rCo Jesus said it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for
Sodom and Gomorrah than for the cities that rejected Him
(Matthew 10:15; 11:22-24). Degrees of tolerability require
conscious awareness. Nonexistence does not vary by degree.

rCo Jesus also said of Judas, rCLIt would have been better for that
man if he had not been bornrCY (Mark 14:21, ESV). That cannot be
true if Judas simply ceased to exist. Nonexistence is not worse
than existence unless post-death punishment consciously occurs.

rCo Paul said, rCLWe would rather be away from the body and at home
with the LordrCY (2 Corinthians 5:8, ESV). This means the
believerrCOs soul goes to be with Christ after death.

rCo Jesus told of Lazarus who, after death, was comforted, while
the rich man was in torment and flame, conscious enough to
speak, remember, and feel regret (Luke 16:22rCo25). Parables and
symbols do not teach the opposite of what they mean. They
convey truth. So simply saying "parable" or "symbol" doesn't
disprove or automatically dismiss the stated fact of conscious
existence in comfort or torment after physical death. Further,
this account names actual people by name, which parables never
do.

rCo John wrote, rCLThe smoke of their torment goes up forever and
ever, and they have no rest, day or nightrCY (Revelation 14:11,
ESV). This cannot describe unconscious nonexistence.

rCo Jesus said, rCLIt is better for you to enter life crippled than
with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable firerCY (Mark
9:43, ESV). The fire is unquenchable, not momentary. An eternal
fire serves no purpose unless what it burns endures.

rCo Revelation 20:10 says the devil, the beast, and the false
prophet rCLwill be tormented day and night forever and ever.rCY It
does not say they will cease to exist.

rCo Jesus said God is rCLnot God of the dead, but of the living,rCY
referring to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matthew 22:32, ESV),
affirming their conscious existence after death.

rCo The thief on the cross was told, rCLToday you will be with me in
ParadiserCY (Luke 23:43, ESV). Jesus did not say rCLafter
resurrection,rCY but rCLtoday,rCY showing conscious life after death.

These passages all affirm conscious existence and consequences, either
of comfort or judgment after physical death. The Bible nowhere teaches annihilation after physical death.

Satan's Witnesses deny this, because they promote a false gospel which
seeks to "comfort" men with the delusion that they can reject Christ as Savior, yet still avoid conscious eternal torment, by ceasing to exist.
This is a LIE and false gospel of the worst order.
--
Good News rCa

The crucifixion of Christ completely satisfied the debt of our sins
toward God (Colossians 2:14), which God verified by bringing Him back to
life (Romans 1:4). As a result, God is proven just when He forgives
believers (Romans 3:26) and delivers them from the approaching wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Eternal salvation is a free gift appropriated by
faith (Romans 6:23). If you believe in Him, call on the Lord for your deliverance (Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation
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