otseng wrote:
SallyF wrote:
The concept of Hell is one of the many unmarketable, embarrassingly unbelievable religious concepts that has been recently swept under the altar in the severely diluted quasi-belief system that passes for Christianity in certain circles.
Divine Insight wrote:
In fact, I think this is why Christianity invented eternal punishment in hell. They started to realize that just plain dying wouldn't be compelling. So instead they invented the concept of "Everlasting Punishment" for those who refuse to comply.
Questions for debate:
What is the Biblical view of hell?
Most of this may have been covered already, but...
"Hell" has been translated from various words, as Otseng and others have pointed out.
"Hell" translated from "Sheol" or "Hades" refers to the world of the dead. Where the dead go to await the (second) resurrection. It is not a place of eternal torment; there is no concept of such a thing in the OT. (nor in the NT except for misunderstandings).
Job longed to go there to
ESCAPE his suffering. It was expected that the dead - great and small; good and bad - went there when they died, to await the resurrection. For the most part, that was the resurrection that most of Israel was looking forward to (before Christ offered more to those in Him). See John 11:24 and Rev 20:12 and Rev 20: 13, where Hades gives up the dead IN it.
"Hell" translated from "Gehenna" is a reference to destruction (by fire). This then would be equivalent to the lake of fire (meaning the second and eternal death) from Revelation. And we can KNOW that this lake of fire is not "Hades" (or Sheol, the world of the dead) - because Hades is cast into the lake of fire as well, and destroyed.
("Hell" as "Tartarus", also referred to as a pit of dense darkness, is the holding place for some sinful
spirit beings who have been bound there until the Judgment.)
What concepts do we have of hell that are not in the Bible?
The "Dante's Inferno" kind of concept; the eternal torment and torture concept; and the fiery place concept are all incorrect of 'hell' translated from sheol/hades, meaning the world of the dead.
That non-Christians go to 'hell' (translated from Sheol or Hades) is actually true - but what is incorrect is the definition and description of Sheol or Hades.
Non-Christians go to Sheol (the world of the dead) to await the second resurrection; and
at that second resurrection, some receive life and some receive judgment and the second death - all depending upon their deeds that have been recorded in their individual scrolls. See:
viewtopic.php?p=731804#731804
Christians on the other hand go "under the altar" to await the first resurrection (Rev 6:9); they
already have eternal life in Christ.
I received understanding of those things that are written from my Lord.
**
I'm sure there are more false (and non-biblical) ideas out there as well. But those are the ones that come to mind.
Oh, and no one is conscious in "Hell" - translated from Sheol or Hades, meaning the world of the dead - unless in the presence of the Life (Christ). The dead are conscious of nothing.
Peace again to you!
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy
