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?

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 268 by Checkpoint]


[center]
My Bible teaching vs. your Bible teaching[/center]

Thankfully, that's not what the Bible teaches.

It's only what so many believe the Bible teaches. Big difference, sadly.

I agree that it's VERY sad when people believe their personal, subjective, inventive interpretations of the Bible are facts.

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Question:

• 
  
  How are we to distinguish the "Truth" of one wonderful interpretation of what the "Bible teaches" over an other?
  
  

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[ttruscott]

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?

It is not only just but an absolute necessity IF:

IF we are created as eternal beings, that is, unable to be annihilated and

IF we were able to become eternally sinful with no ability or hope of ever becoming repentant nor righteous and

IF a little leaven (evil) leavens (corrupts) the whole lump (person, country, reality) slowly but inevitably,

THEN those eternally aware people who have chosen to become eternally evil by their own free will decision to go against GOD's commands and other warnings must be banished from our created reality so their evil does not corrupt our heavenly telepathic communion of every individual, including GOD, who is the heavenly state of marriage.

Banishment to the outer darkness is an absolute necessity for GOD to fulfil HIS purpose in our creation IF these conditions ever come to pass, which of course I think has happened.

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?

I cannot better YHWH. IF creating us eternal is more beneficial to us over being made mortal than immortal, then that would be the way HE would do it. All I need to know is that the damned are banished for however long that is and whatever form it takes. The details of hows, whys and wherefores do not concern me so much since they are all guesses anyway. Short or long doesn't matter to me - hell is justified if the other conditions are true.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 271 by ttruscott]





[center] A house built on IF[/center]

It is not only just but an absolute necessity IF:

Absolute necessity IF ?


IF there is something NECESSARY, there are NO IF about it, friend.


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Question:

• 
  
  
  Could you explain just what you mean by "absolute necessity IF"?
  
  

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[American Deist]

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?

I just want to point out that the Bible never says that all unbelievers will suffer an eternity of torment in the lake of fire. Only three beings are described as suffering that fate: the devil, the beast and the false prophet.

Everyone else is destroyed along with death and the grave, as there is no more dying in Paradise. It helps if Christians actually read the Book of Revelation.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 273 by American Deist]

I just want to point out that the Bible never says that all unbelievers will suffer an eternity of torment in the lake of fire. Only three beings are described as suffering that fate: the devil, the beast and the false prophet.

I just want to point out that Jesus talks about a burning hell. A torment of fire.. In the NT.
All over the place.

You seem to base your idea on Revelations.. but that's not Jesus talking there.. who knows what drug that guy was on.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 268 by Checkpoint]


[center]
My Bible teaching vs. your Bible teaching[/center]

Thankfully, that's not what the Bible teaches.

It's only what so many believe the Bible teaches. Big difference, sadly.

I agree that it's VERY sad when people believe their personal, subjective, inventive interpretations of the Bible are facts.

____________

Question:

• 
  
  How are we to distinguish the "Truth" of one wonderful interpretation of what the "Bible teaches" over an other?
  
  

____________

Each of us will try to determine what is fact, what is fiction, and what is faith.

And then give our take on these forums.

[Checkpoint]

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?

I just want to point out that the Bible never says that all unbelievers will suffer an eternity of torment in the lake of fire. Only three beings are described as suffering that fate: the devil, the beast and the false prophet.

Everyone else is destroyed along with death and the grave, as there is no more dying in Paradise. It helps if Christians actually read the Book of Revelation.

Fair points.

What do you think the lake of fire is, and what is it for?

Is it the same as the Gehenna Jesus talked about, in your opinion?

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 273 by American Deist]

I just want to point out that the Bible never says that all unbelievers will suffer an eternity of torment in the lake of fire. Only three beings are described as suffering that fate: the devil, the beast and the false prophet.

I just want to point out that Jesus talks about a burning hell. A torment of fire.. In the NT.
All over the place.

You seem to base your idea on Revelations.. but that's not Jesus talking there.. who knows what drug that guy was on.

Maybe the drug he was on was the Holy Spirit.

[ttruscott]

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?

I just want to point out that the Bible never says that all unbelievers will suffer an eternity of torment in the lake of fire. Only three beings are described as suffering that fate: the devil, the beast and the false prophet.

Everyone else is destroyed along with death and the grave, as there is no more dying in Paradise. It helps if Christians actually read the Book of Revelation.

Oh well, Matt 25:41Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the ETERNAL FIRE prepared for the devil and his angels. also speaks to this (should you read Matthew?)

The fire has also the demonic angels, both those without bodies and those in human bodies who are here called goats. In case you missed it, (many do), the goats are people who are sent into the fire prepared for the devil's angels, that is, the ones who are sent there, that is, the goats are the devil's angels too.

And if the way to the fire is wide and many choose it, Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Then these goats make up a greater percentage of people on earth because the sheep are few: Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

So, a few more billions that 3, eh?

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 275 by Checkpoint]



[center]What is a fact?[/center]

Each of us will try to determine what is fact, what is fiction, and what is faith.

I have to agree with that.
Each of us has to figure things out for ourselves, ultimately.

So, if we are looking for facts, it would be very important to know what those are and how we can establish if we got one of them or not.

____________

Question:

• 
  
  How can we be sure if we have a fact or not?
  
  

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