Eternal Hell

[amortalman]

I have two questions primarily for Christians.

1) If your brand of religion teaches that unbelievers will be judged by God and cast into Hell and the Lake of Fire for eternity to suffer there with no possibility of death or escape, is this action by God a just punishment, and why?

2) The second question is purely hypothetical and reaches way out there. If your God gave you permission to do as you please concerning eternal Hell, to keep it, or to abolish it in favor of, say, annihilation, would you keep it or do away with it?

NOTE: In regards to question number one I'm thinking about the story told by Jesus of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke chapter 16. The Lake of Fire is mentioned in Revelation 20:10-15 and 21:8.

To me, an eternity of suffering in Hell defies logic and any sense of compassion what-so-ever. During my years as a Christian in an evangelical church, I've heard many preachers preface a sermon on Hell by saying they don't like to talk about it and don't like the concept of it but they must preach it because that's what the Bible teaches. I was once a part of a Biblical teaching program for children 2nd through 6th grade. I can only imagine the nightmares some of them had after being told that without Jesus they would go to Hell forever. Someone might argue that it's better that than to go to Hell. But does the fear tactic really work, and if it does, is that the best way, to scare the hell out of them?

In my understanding of the Bible, and what is being taught to millions of people in evangelical churches around the world, there are two kinds of people who will be cast into Hell. Those who have never heard the gospel and those how have rejected the gospel after having heard it. According to that teaching, there are countless millions of poor souls being tormented in Hell right now because they never had an opportunity to hear about Christ. Furthermore, there are hundreds if not thousands that are dying every day and going to Hell for lack of an opportunity to decide. Is that just?

Finally, I'm hopeful that the second question will cut to the Christians heart concerning the doctrine of Hell and reveal the insanity of it. To me, someone who would keep Hell if given the chance to abolish it is a Sadist of the worse kind. But then again, if a Christian says that he would do away with Hell is he demonstrating that he is more merciful than God?

What say you?

[postroad]

[Replying to post 8 by JehovahsWitness]
Very interesting. So in your opinion is the doctrine of eternal suffering in hell a demonic deviation from the true Gospel? What then of those who hold this doctrine to be true. Has the devil corrupted their character in order for them to believe and accept such a blasphemy against the truth of God's nature? I was brought up in a Christian home and community. I rejected God from an early age because of this doctrine and this in the face of intence peer pressure and of course the fear of damnation. In your opinion at the renewal will I be in a better position as one abandoning belief than those who remain believers and hold to the doctrine of eternal suffering in hell?

[postroad]

[Replying to post 10 by 2timothy316] But from your position the Christians who teach an eternal suffering in hell must be the greatest blasphemers of God ever to exist?

[Your Alli]

[Replying to post 1 by amortalman]

Question 1
Is it a just punishment to send unbelievers to Hell / Lake of Fire and why ..?

Hell does exist ...for it not to exist, an individual must be a believer of God and speak the underlying truth that Christ is Lord. (Being a believer)

Now even an unbeliever, is given the privilege of life. Privilege of air, privilege of joy, the privilege of being loved. If this person throughout their life time doesn't believe in God ...Hell does exist.


Question 2
If God gave permission to an individual to rule Hell, would you keep it or do away with it ?

Keep ... Their are things that go unnoticed, that the creation of Hell permits.

As to your reference of Luke 16
Lazarus and the rich man

Simple: The Heavens have a beautiful eternal plan for believers and a not so beautiful one for unbelievers.

Animals need life too and they are forever humble to their masters or current situation.

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 10 by 2timothy316] But from your position the Christians who teach an eternal suffering in hell must be the greatest blasphemed of God ever to exist?

The eternal torture doctrine is one the most blasphemous doctrines to ever be created, yes.

[onewithhim]

I have two questions primarily for Christians.

1) If your brand of religion teaches that unbelievers will be judged by God and cast into Hell and the Lake of Fire for eternity to suffer there with no possibility of death or escape, is this action by God a just punishment, and why?

2) The second question is purely hypothetical and reaches way out there. If your God gave you permission to do as you please concerning eternal Hell, to keep it, or to abolish it in favor of, say, annihilation, would you keep it or do away with it?

NOTE: In regards to question number one I'm thinking about the story told by Jesus of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke chapter 16. The Lake of Fire is mentioned in Revelation 20:10-15 and 21:8.

To me, an eternity of suffering in Hell defies logic and any sense of compassion what-so-ever. During my years as a Christian in an evangelical church, I've heard many preachers preface a sermon on Hell by saying they don't like to talk about it and don't like the concept of it but they must preach it because that's what the Bible teaches. I was once a part of a Biblical teaching program for children 2nd through 6th grade. I can only imagine the nightmares some of them had after being told that without Jesus they would go to Hell forever. Someone might argue that it's better that than to go to Hell. But does the fear tactic really work, and if it does, is that the best way, to scare the hell out of them?

In my understanding of the Bible, and what is being taught to millions of people in evangelical churches around the world, there are two kinds of people who will be cast into Hell. Those who have never heard the gospel and those how have rejected the gospel after having heard it. According to that teaching, there are countless millions of poor souls being tormented in Hell right now because they never had an opportunity to hear about Christ. Furthermore, there are hundreds if not thousands that are dying every day and going to Hell for lack of an opportunity to decide. Is that just?

Finally, I'm hopeful that the second question will cut to the Christians heart concerning the doctrine of Hell and reveal the insanity of it. To me, someone who would keep Hell if given the chance to abolish it is a Sadist of the worse kind. But then again, if a Christian says that he would do away with Hell is he demonstrating that he is more merciful than God?

What say you?

You bring up excellent points. To comment on them....first of all, the churches (as well as pagan religions) have taught that "Hell" is a place of literal fiery torture only to keep people in line with fear. And that is not what true religion is all about. The truth is based on love, and God would not put a person in a fire to roast them forever. That is indeed sadistic and evil. God has no such punishment in mind. It is cruel and unjust to say that people who have never heard the truth of God will be cast into "Hell." All people must be given the chance to CHOOSE what side of the question they are on, after having learned the truth about God and His will. If that doesn't happen in this system of things, it will surely happen in Paradise---Christ's Millennial Reign.

Annihilation is much more merciful than being bar-b-qued. The Bible calls God a MERCIFUL God. (Exodus 34:6; Deut.4:31; 2Chron.30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; 145:8.....and many more) That would mean that he wouldn't torture someone for eternity for something they did or didn't do in their short lifetime.

So....does "Hell" even exist? Not the Hell of the evangelicals (and other churches that teach it). "Hell" is translated from "Hades," and ALSO from "Gehenna" and "Tartarus." They are three different things. Why many versions of the Bible translate all three as "Hell" is probably due to wilfull ignorance (and the belief that since the KJV renders it a certain way it must be true) and the desire to see in the scriptures one's own biased beliefs. Translators have, for some reason, neglected to see that fire is symbolic for complete destruction in all of the verses we are looking at that speak of fire, such as Revelation 20:10 and Matthew 5:22,29 and Matthew 25:41. This can be seen when we consider, for instance, that "death" cannot be literally thrown anywhere, so that scripture is speaking metaphorically about what happens to the Devil and those following him. (Revelation 20:14)

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is just that---a parable, which is an illustration using things that are not actually literal, just like in Aesop's Fables. Aesop used the sky is falling and talking chickens to illustrate an important moral.


"Hell," when translated from "Hades" means the common grave of mankind. It behooves each one of us to do some research and find out what the other words that are rendered "hell" actually are, and what they mean.


.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 8 by JehovahsWitness]
Very interesting. So in your opinion is the doctrine of eternal suffering in hell a demonic deviation from the true Gospel? What then of those who hold this doctrine to be true. Has the devil corrupted their character in order for them to believe and accept such a blasphemy against the truth of God's nature? I was brought up in a Christian home and community. I rejected God from an early age because of this doctrine and this in the face of intence peer pressure and of course the fear of damnation. In your opinion at the renewal will I be in a better position as one abandoning belief than those who remain believers and hold to the doctrine of eternal suffering in hell?

Yes.

.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 10 by 2timothy316] But from your position the Christians who teach an eternal suffering in hell must be the greatest blasphemers of God ever to exist?

Yes.


.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 8 by JehovahsWitness]

What then of those who hold this doctrine to be true. Has the devil corrupted their character in order for them to believe and accept such a blasphemy against the truth of God's nature?

I'm not in a position to judge any individual or pronounce the value of anyone; I like to leave that kind of thing in the hands of the Almighty.

What then of those who hold this doctrine to be true.

They, like myself in the past, have simply been taught such things, it is the Jehovah's Witness mission to help such ones see what the bible has to say on the subject.

So in your opinion is the doctrine of eternal suffering in hell a demonic deviation from the true Gospel?

Well who would be more interested making God look like a psychopath? In any case, the teaching that a loving God would torture the wicked eternally has no basis in scripture and does serve Satan's purpose to make Jehovah God seem cruel and unjust.

I rejected God from an early age because of this doctrine

That in my opinion is a shame, you effectively, I believe threw the baby out with the bathwater. One can reject an unbiblical teaching without rejecting God.

In your opinion at the renewal will I be in a better position as one abandoning belief than those who remain believers and hold to the doctrine of eternal suffering in hell?

As I said above, I am not anyone's judge, that is for God to say but I would point out that abandoning a false belief in itself means nothing unless we embrasse a TRUE one. Even atheists abandon the teaching of hellfire, indeed they abandon lots of false religious beliefs because they don't believe in anything, but does that mean they follow the way of spiritual Truth? Do they worship the true God? Have they accepted Jesus as their savior?


JW

[Divine Insight]

Even atheists abandon the teaching of hellfire, indeed they abandon lots of false religious beliefs because they don't believe in anything, but does that mean they follow the way of spiritual Truth? Do they worship the true God? Have they accepted Jesus as their savior?

JW

If those things are important, then this religion can have absolutely nothing at all to do with morality or moral values.

[postroad]

[Replying to post 18 by JehovahsWitness] I have studied the Bible extensively, some would say obsessively and in my opinion Jesus did teach an eternal suffering in hell for those who did not accept him. Would you still accept him even if he had taught such a concept?