This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'

This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
Ari Mandel grew up in an orthodox Jewish family. After a stint in the U.S. Army, though, he gravitated toward atheism.

As a joke, Mandel recently put his place in heaven up for auction on eBay. He explained that he didn't really believe in heaven any longer, but that he had lived an exemplary life full of good deeds.

In the auction, he offered two contracts: one that transferred his heavenly reservation to the winner and a second that guaranteed he wouldn't do anything in this life to put that reservation in jeopardy.

What started out as a prank, though, appealed to bidders desperate to make certain they had a place in heaven at the end of this life. Bidding for Mandel's assumed place in heaven reached almost $100,000, with 181 bidders.

When it became aware of the auction, eBay immediately pulled it from the site. Their rules state that sellers can't auction off "intangibles."

I suppose there are two disappointed parties here. Mandel, because he won't get the proceeds from the auction and the future winner because he or she won't get Mandel's spot in heaven.

However, I can guarantee that even if the auction had reached its conclusion and money and contracts exchanged hands, there still would be two disappointed parties here. Mandel, because he had mistakenly concluded there was no heaven to gain and the auction winner, because he had mistakenly assumed Mandel's good deeds had reserved him a spot there and that the spot could actually be purchased!

The point of this discussion, though, is that you can't earn or buy your way into heaven. You can only go to heaven by accepting God's complimentary ticket of admission: the free gift of pardon Jesus purchased by His death on Calvary. Now, to me, that's a no-brainer!

But somebody needs to let Pope Francis know about this little caveat.

Recently, the new Pope made some remarks that have greatly perplexed and confused Catholics and Christians all over the world. Although, I must say, they've delighted the liberal theologians and atheists who don't believe in heaven anyway.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, the Pope seemed to imply that even atheists have a legitimate shot at heaven if they are workers of good deeds. That sent shock waves throughout the church (both his and others).

In an effort to clarify the Pope's statement, a Vatican spokesman waded in and successfully muddied the waters even further.

Now whether Pope Francis really meant what he said or it was simply a clumsy attempt to be "inclusive" and inviting to non-believers, I don't know. But taken at face value, the pontiff appears to be changing the rules of the game.

But this is not a game. This is eternally final business. Decisions that will determine our eternal destinies must be based on correct information and a proper understanding of that information. What the Pope said is, at best, misleading, and, at worst, damning.

There is only one way to heaven and that is through acceptance of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No one can earn, merit, qualify for, or purchase his or her entrance into heaven. To believe so will only lead to eternal disappointment and anguish.

Let's cut to the chase. You either believe now, accept God's free gift of pardon that Jesus Christ purchased on Calvary, and go to heaven when you die, or you die an unbeliever and go to a place of torments -- no matter how many good deeds you've done or how exemplary and meritorious your life on earth has been.

I'm sorry if you've grown up believing otherwise. You've been misled. I'm sure Pope Francis is a wonderful man and means nothing but the best, but he's dead wrong on this one. And if you believe it, you'll be dead wrong, too. Forever.

Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, The Word Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Check your local listings.
God Bless,


Hal Lindsey

This was the first time that I can remember that Hal openly spoke out against the pope, and catholicism in general. Thank you Hal.

Thanks Hal