I believe God is fair and just, but I still have questions about the Lake of Fire.

Lik3

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Here is my personal belief. I believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell. I also believe that hell and death will finally be destroyed. However, those who are not repentant will end up in the Lake of Fire if their names are found not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Where can I find what the Lake of Fire looks like? Is it similar to Hell? Is it different from Hell? Do people end up burned in Hell before they end up burned up in the Lake of Fire? It seems strange, but that can be confusing.

Anyways, I wish that God invented a worse punishment than the Lake of Fire, if possible. There are just people who are unrepentant who are just among the most evil of evils. They will remain unrepentant and probably will curse the Lord. For example, people like Stalin or Hitler (if they claim to be Christians but are unrepentant) will not be among the few who walked the narrow road so to speak. Other examples would be unrepentant child molesters, rapists, killers, liars, swindlers, pimps, other oppressors, and unrepentant professing believers. Those are just examples.

My question is, couldn't God have created something even worse than the Lake of Fire? Seems to me like the Lake of Fire is too easy a punishment. I am also saddened that the unrepentant or rather, most people in the world, will be punished that way. I don't wish for anyone to have their part in the Lake. I too wish for others to come to repentance. By the way, do people choose to repent or is it already predestined that they will not repent (Is that was predestination is about, or no?)
 
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1watchman

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Some references to Hell are a mistranslation in Bibles, and should have been shown as Hades, which is a holding place adjacent to the Lake of Fire --Hell. No one yet is in Hell (the Lake of Fire) but many are in Hades. The first people to be cast into the eternal fire will be the two Beasts of Revelation, then Satan will also be cast in. All souls on earth when the "Great white throne" is set in the air who are not of the redeemed, will be sentenced there (not a time of trial, but sentencing); and they then will see the Lord who they rejected and be cast promptly into the fire (of which gehenna is a type).

One can see all ref. to Hell and Hades, by understanding "sheol" and "gehenna"; also "a great gulf fixed" as shown in the Gospels. All the OT religious people who were not true saints of God are in Hades now, and they with all who die today without Christ as Savior are in Hades, though they be very religious. The OT saints of God who died in faith were sent to Hades ("Abraham's bosom" as a separate section of Hades) have been translated up to God, when Jesus descended into Hades after His death to deliver them. Hades had two sections, and others in Hades on the other side of the "great gulf fixed" there are still there; and will be joined by souls today without the Savior, and waiting for the final judgment at the "Great White Throne". Those of us who are redeemed by Christ will never see Hell fire, but will be translated (raptured) up to Heaven when Jesus comes for His "Bride" before the Tribulation time (which may be very soon) ---what a day of rejoicing that will be for us who know Him.
 
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1watchman

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Here is my personal belief. I believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell. I also believe that hell and death will finally be destroyed. However, those who are not repentant will end up in the Lake of Fire if their names are found not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Where can I find what the Lake of Fire looks like? Is it similar to Hell? Is it different from Hell? Do people end up burned in Hell before they end up burned up in the Lake of Fire? It seems strange, but that can be confusing.

Anyways, I wish that God invented a worse punishment than the Lake of Fire, if possible. There are just people who are unrepentant who are just among the most evil of evils. They will remain unrepentant and probably will curse the Lord. For example, people like Stalin or Hitler (if they claim to be Christians but are unrepentant) will not be among the few who walked the narrow road so to speak. Other examples would be unrepentant child molesters, rapists, killers, liars, swindlers, pimps, other oppressors, and unrepentant professing believers. Those are just examples.

My question is, couldn't God have created something even worse than the Lake of Fire? Seems to me like the Lake of Fire is too easy a punishment. I am also saddened that the unrepentant or rather, most people in the world, will be punished that way. I don't wish for anyone to have their part in the Lake. I too wish for others to come to repentance. By the way, do people choose to repent or is it already predestined that they will not repent (Is that was predestination is about, or no?)
 
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1watchman

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One needs to see that death and hades will be destroyed, but the lake of fire is "everlasting" as God says; and it is suffering immensely forever. Nothing could be worse than that! Bodies will not be consumed, but suffering, as you can read of it in the Bible. Yes, Hitler and Stalin, and many others will be there, even with less heinous crimes than those two agents of Satan have committed. God says the fire will "never be quenched". Anyone who hates God and will not bow to Him in thanksgiving for His mercies and blessings will be in the fire that burns forever. There is no middle ground, friend. Just be very thankful if you are also among the redeemed! Look up and praise the Lord!
 
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Sketcher

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Is it similar to Hell? Is it different from Hell? Do people end up burned in Hell before they end up burned up in the Lake of Fire? It seems strange, but that can be confusing.
I suppose you could say that the Lake of Fire is the final stage of Hell. Hades being like "jail" before the judgment and the Lake of Fire being like "prison" after.

Anyways, I wish that God invented a worse punishment than the Lake of Fire, if possible. There are just people who are unrepentant who are just among the most evil of evils. They will remain unrepentant and probably will curse the Lord. For example, people like Stalin or Hitler (if they claim to be Christians but are unrepentant) will not be among the few who walked the narrow road so to speak. Other examples would be unrepentant child molesters, rapists, killers, liars, swindlers, pimps, other oppressors, and unrepentant professing believers. Those are just examples.

My question is, couldn't God have created something even worse than the Lake of Fire? Seems to me like the Lake of Fire is too easy a punishment.
I think this is the first time I have ever heard of such an opinion. The Lake of Fire is horrible beyond our comprehension, the worst part is it's eternal. I believe part of why all of Heaven celebrates at the redemption of one sinner is because they have a much better grasp of how bad the Lake of Fire is than we do.

That said, I believe there are degrees of punishment in it, proportional to people's sins. As in, it's going to be hotter for Hitler than for many other people.
 
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graceandpeace

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Here is my personal belief. I believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell. I also believe that hell and death will finally be destroyed. However, those who are not repentant will end up in the Lake of Fire if their names are found not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Where can I find what the Lake of Fire looks like? Is it similar to Hell? Is it different from Hell? Do people end up burned in Hell before they end up burned up in the Lake of Fire? It seems strange, but that can be confusing.

Anyways, I wish that God invented a worse punishment than the Lake of Fire, if possible. There are just people who are unrepentant who are just among the most evil of evils. They will remain unrepentant and probably will curse the Lord. For example, people like Stalin or Hitler (if they claim to be Christians but are unrepentant) will not be among the few who walked the narrow road so to speak. Other examples would be unrepentant child molesters, rapists, killers, liars, swindlers, pimps, other oppressors, and unrepentant professing believers. Those are just examples.

My question is, couldn't God have created something even worse than the Lake of Fire? Seems to me like the Lake of Fire is too easy a punishment. I am also saddened that the unrepentant or rather, most people in the world, will be punished that way. I don't wish for anyone to have their part in the Lake. I too wish for others to come to repentance. By the way, do people choose to repent or is it already predestined that they will not repent (Is that was predestination is about, or no?)

If you could place yourself into one of the Gospel stories, who would you be?

Jesus' example throughout the Gospels is one of love & mercy, even to those others thought undeserving. While it's normal to sometimes feel anger at evil in the world, it's troubling to hear a wish for punishment that is devoid of any such love or mercy.

Sometimes two different words are both translated as "hell." Hades, which is the grave, & Gehenna, which was a burning dump. "Lake of fire" only appears in Revelation, which is an apocalyptic text. I don't know what to do with all of that. It seems Jesus did believe in some sort of possible exclusion from the Kingdom, but I think it's less clear what such an exclusion would look like, or how long it would last. I do have hope for the redemption of all.
 
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Mediaeval

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Anyways, I wish that God invented a worse punishment than the Lake of Fire, if possible. There are just people who are unrepentant who are just among the most evil of evils. They will remain unrepentant and probably will curse the Lord. For example, people like Stalin or Hitler (if they claim to be Christians but are unrepentant) will not be among the few who walked the narrow road so to speak.

It is very insightful of you to perceive that there is something lacking in a punishment, however severe, that leaves the sinner still as sinful as ever. In the Bible, God's punishment has the effect of inducing repentance, as in Deuteronomy 32 where Israel is ultimately purified of idolatry through punishment.

“Only good where evil was, is evil dead. An evil thing must live with its evil until it chooses to be good. That alone is the slaying of evil.” George MacDonald
 
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Job8

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My question is, couldn't God have created something even worse than the Lake of Fire? Seems to me like the Lake of Fire is too easy a punishment.
Seems to me that you have not examined the Bible doctrine of Hell sufficiently. If everlasting punishment and everlasting torment is insufficient, then you really have no idea about the awfulness of Hell.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Mt 25:41).

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 8:11,12)

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 22:13)

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 25:30)

The wicked shall be turned into hell [Sheol], and all the nations that forget God (Ps 9:17).

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Mt 23:33).

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mk 16:16).

Hell [Sheol] and destruction [abbadown = perishing] are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? (Prov 15:11).

Hell [Sheol] and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Prov 27:20).

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Mt 7:13).

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thess 1:9).

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isa 33:14).

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Mt 5:22).

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Mt 3:12).

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Mt 18:8,9).

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mk 9:43-48)

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn... The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth... So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 13:30,38-42; 49-50).

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell [Gehenna]. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and notthat thy whole body should be cast into hell [Gehenna]. (Mt 5:29,30).

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt 10:28).

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Mt 25:45,46).

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell [Hades] he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Lk 16:22-24).

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Rev 14:9-11).

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone... And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 19:20;20:10)

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire... But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 20:15; 21:8)
 
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ToBeLoved

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Here is my personal belief. I believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell. I also believe that hell and death will finally be destroyed. However, those who are not repentant will end up in the Lake of Fire if their names are found not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Where can I find what the Lake of Fire looks like? Is it similar to Hell? Is it different from Hell? Do people end up burned in Hell before they end up burned up in the Lake of Fire? It seems strange, but that can be confusing.

Anyways, I wish that God invented a worse punishment than the Lake of Fire, if possible. There are just people who are unrepentant who are just among the most evil of evils. They will remain unrepentant and probably will curse the Lord. For example, people like Stalin or Hitler (if they claim to be Christians but are unrepentant) will not be among the few who walked the narrow road so to speak. Other examples would be unrepentant child molesters, rapists, killers, liars, swindlers, pimps, other oppressors, and unrepentant professing believers. Those are just examples.

My question is, couldn't God have created something even worse than the Lake of Fire? Seems to me like the Lake of Fire is too easy a punishment. I am also saddened that the unrepentant or rather, most people in the world, will be punished that way. I don't wish for anyone to have their part in the Lake. I too wish for others to come to repentance. By the way, do people choose to repent or is it already predestined that they will not repent (Is that was predestination is about, or no?)
I think sometimes people get way to carried away about what will happen to this group of people or this group, or this group.

If we believe God's Word, we know that He is the ONLY righteous judge. It is somewhat of a lack of faith (IMHO) that one doubts that God will judge righteously and justly. Because if you or anyone doubts that God will righteously judge (anyone), then the perfection of God is called into question.

I think when we try to decide what is righteous and what is not, we are headed for problems. Because we all know that we cannot even judge others in our own lives correctly. I think this is a bad road to travel down. God is clear in the scriptures that He reigns holy, righteous and just in ALL things.

We are servants of the Most High, not equals. I think that we have to be much more focused on ourselves and our relationship with God and study the Word and know our place vs. God's place in decisions.
 
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Lik3

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I do hope and wish that all of us would believe and repent. I too would like for us all to enter Heaven and later to the New Jerusalem, including myself. I personally don't to have my part in the Lake of Fire. I am afraid of going to Hell when I die. I guess that in part is where it comes from. Thank you for all of your answers. I guess I do have a belief. I wish that I could understand everything that is in God's Word, especially when it comes to suffering. I do imagine Hell and the Lake of Fire to be scary places and I certainly don't want to end up there. I do wonder, however, about things and wish to ask questions about things that I wish I could answer, but I believe God is the Judge and He knows all. I don't so I ask questions and accept the fact that my ways and thoughts are not His ways and thoughts. His and He is higher than mine. I believe that He will judge righteously and justly. Maybe it does come from a place of fear but also because of wonderment. Maybe I need to read the scriptures or rather, reread them to see how bad it or they truly are. I don't want to imagine it for myself. I want to be ready when Jesus returns myself.
 
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Emmy

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Dear Lik3. Yes, God is fair and just, God is Love. Hell has many names, and hell is where those who do not want God will end up. To me hell is a place without God`s Love and Light, and I sincerely believe it is in OUTER DARKNESS. Hell is a place we choose ourselves, God has given us a chance to live with HIM forever, the choice is ours.
Jesus told us in Matthew 22: 35-40: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: love thy neighbour as thyself." in verse 40 we are told: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7: 7-10: tells us: " Ask and you shall receive."
we ask God for Love and Joy, then thank God and share all love and joy with our neighbour. (neighbour is all we know and all we meet, friend and not friend) We keep asking for Love and Joy, then thank God and share all love and joy with our neighbour. God sees or loving efforts, and God blesses us.
The Bible tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," we give up all our selfish wishes and wants, and start loving, caring, and be kind and helpful. The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. Jesus will lead us back to God our Heavenly Father. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring. God is Love, and God wants loving sons and daughters.
Let us always choose to follow Jesus back to God, Satan will run away from all love and compassion, and hell is for Satan`s followers. I say this with love, Lik. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.
 
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Edmond Smith

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I do hope and wish that all of us would believe and repent. I too would like for us all to enter Heaven and later to the New Jerusalem, including myself. I personally don't to have my part in the Lake of Fire. I am afraid of going to Hell when I die. I guess that in part is where it comes from. Thank you for all of your answers. I guess I do have a belief. I wish that I could understand everything that is in God's Word, especially when it comes to suffering. I do imagine Hell and the Lake of Fire to be scary places and I certainly don't want to end up there. I do wonder, however, about things and wish to ask questions about things that I wish I could answer, but I believe God is the Judge and He knows all. I don't so I ask questions and accept the fact that my ways and thoughts are not His ways and thoughts. His and He is higher than mine. I believe that He will judge righteously and justly. Maybe it does come from a place of fear but also because of wonderment. Maybe I need to read the scriptures or rather, reread them to see how bad it or they truly are. I don't want to imagine it for myself. I want to be ready when Jesus returns myself.

Lik3,
Here's how I believe Hell to be like.
Hell, is real, Hell is dark and burning with fire. People have made fun of that statement and have asked " how can you have fire and there is darkness." The answer is..because it's so dark, that there is nothing reflecting the light. The reason we are called the light in the darkness is because we have God to reflect that light.
Hell, is real, and those who say there is no God, will get just what they want, a place completely devoid of love, joy, compassion, justice and righteousness. A place where all the love we've ever encountered will be gone, but the memory of having that love will be there to torment us.
Hell, is real, It will be like falling into the deepest darkest hole with no bottom. Blackness so thick that it will stick to you, Fire so hot that you'll feel your bones burn, yet not die.
Hell is real, Your memories will be to. You'll remember every single time God gave you a chance not to be there. You'll remember your brother or sister telling you he or she is going to pray for you and you insulted them and mocked God.
Hell is real, and so is God. Remember God is everywhere, all the time, and always knowing. While in Hell, they'll know that the God of Heaven, they mocked, laughed at, said didn't exist. They'll know He does. And He'll be just within reach, but untouchable.Close enough to whisper to, but won't hear them. They'll know, the love they thru away, but can't grasp again. They'll remember the times when they were hurt by someone they love leaving them, but the pain will be great they'd rather die, but can't.
They'll thirst, and It will never be quenched. They'll hunger and never be feed.
Hell is Real.

But lik3,

Your Born Again. Graciously saved by Christ. You have no fear of Hell, because of What Christ did for us, it wasn't only to save us from our sins, he cleanses us with his blood shed, but to save us from an Angry, just and righteous God. To save us from Hell. Because He knows what's like and He doesn't want us to be there, no one. We need only fear the God who can send us to Hell, not hell itself.
You should come to Christ, because of what He did for us, because he suffered and died on that Cross, Because He rose from the dead on that Easter morning. Because, he's made a place for us. To be with Him and the Father, living, loving, praising and having joyful time with the lord.
Because we know where those you die in their sins go. We must as Born Again people. Place our Trust in Jesus, and spread the gospel
 
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food4thought

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I do not believe that there will be an eternal furnace/lake of fire where sinners will be eternally cooked... but I do believe that the lake of fire represents hell, something so terrible as to be compared (for the benefit of our understanding the horrifying nature of this place) to a lake of fire and burning sulfur. Note that Jesus does not refer to hell as a lake of fire, but as the valley of Gehenna, a place where garbage is thrown out and burned, also a place once used for all kinds of idolatrous and unclean practices. This was an accursed place to the Jewish mind, and thus a fitting reference point for Jesus to use in denoting the eternal place of the unsaved.

Make no mistake, hell is real and horrifying, but to try to say it is literally a lake of fire ignores what our Lord said about it by calling it Gehennah. Suffice it to say that if we as fallen carnal earthly beings could comprehend what the literal spiritual reality of hell actually was, we would avoid it the way we avoid jumping into a lake of lava or a burning heap of gross garbage or dwelling in a place of complete and absolute darkness.

Hope this helps.
 
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Edmond Smith

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I do not believe that there will be an eternal furnace/lake of fire where sinners will be eternally cooked... but I do believe that the lake of fire represents hell, something so terrible as to be compared (for the benefit of our understanding the horrifying nature of this place) to a lake of fire and burning sulfur. Note that Jesus does not refer to hell as a lake of fire, but as the valley of Gehenna, a place where garbage is thrown out and burned, also a place once used for all kinds of idolatrous and unclean practices. This was an accursed place to the Jewish mind, and thus a fitting reference point for Jesus to use in denoting the eternal place of the unsaved.

Make no mistake, hell is real and horrifying, but to try to say it is literally a lake of fire ignores what our Lord said about it by calling it Gehennah. Suffice it to say that if we as fallen carnal earthly beings could comprehend what the literal spiritual reality of hell actually was, we would avoid it the way we avoid jumping into a lake of lava or a burning heap of gross garbage or dwelling in a place of complete and absolute darkness.

Hope this helps.
Looked up Gehenna...it's pretty descriptive

Gehenna:

(originally Ge bene Hinnom; i.e., "the valley of the sons of Hinnom"), a deep, narrow glen to the south of Jerusalem, where the idolatrous Jews offered their children in sacrifice to Molech (2Ch 28:3; 33:6; Jer 7:31; 19:2-6). This valley afterwards became the common receptacle for all the refuse of the city. Here the dead bodies of animals and of criminals, and all kinds of filth, were cast and consumed by fire kept always burning. It thus in process of time became the image of the place of everlasting destruction. In this sense it is used by our Lord in Mat 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luk 12:5. In these passages, and also in James 3:6, the word is uniformly rendered "hell," the Revised Version placing "Gehenna" in the margin. (See HELL; HINNOM.)

Mark 9:43, describes it as fire that is never put out.

Yeh, Christ does refer to hell as a lake of fire of using Gehenna as the example of what it will be like and more. Like that while there you won't die.

But I agree he uses the word gehenna. And most definitely agree, we don't want to go, nor should we just sit back and watch others go, without trying to tell them.

Even here on this forum, I've been accused of saying that Christians would go to hell...Untrue..if you are truly Born Again and live the life of holiness as God commands and follow His commandments then, I believe you'll make it to heaven. But if you live in sin, do sinful things, continue to turn from God and ignore His grace. Your sins will take you to Hell.
 
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1watchman

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Young believers confuse Hell (lake of fire) and Hades (a holding place adjacent to the everlasting fire ---and formerly known also as "Abraham's bosom" for saints of Israel); and when there was that "great gulf fixed" (removed when Jesus descended there to take the OT saints to Heaven). One needs to compare "all the counsel of God" to see these things, and be "rightly dividing the Word of Truth". Look up always and honor God!
 
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farout

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Here is my personal belief. I believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell. I also believe that hell and death will finally be destroyed. However, those who are not repentant will end up in the Lake of Fire if their names are found not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Where can I find what the Lake of Fire looks like? Is it similar to Hell? Is it different from Hell? Do people end up burned in Hell before they end up burned up in the Lake of Fire? It seems strange, but that can be confusing.

Anyways, I wish that God invented a worse punishment than the Lake of Fire, if possible. There are just people who are unrepentant who are just among the most evil of evils. They will remain unrepentant and probably will curse the Lord. For example, people like Stalin or Hitler (if they claim to be Christians but are unrepentant) will not be among the few who walked the narrow road so to speak. Other examples would be unrepentant child molesters, rapists, killers, liars, swindlers, pimps, other oppressors, and unrepentant professing believers. Those are just examples.

My question is, couldn't God have created something even worse than the Lake of Fire? Seems to me like the Lake of Fire is too easy a punishment. I am also saddened that the unrepentant or rather, most people in the world, will be punished that way. I don't wish for anyone to have their part in the Lake. I too wish for others to come to repentance. By the way, do people choose to repent or is it already predestined that they will not repent (Is that was predestination is about, or no?)


God sets the rules, He has give us warning, we make the choice. If a person makes the choice to spent eternity in hell, then it is between God and them. I feel deeply sorrowful for those who are blinded by Satan, but God has provided a way of escape, what more can He do.
 
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Edmond Smith

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God sets the rules, He has give us warning, we make the choice. If a person makes the choice to spent eternity in hell, then it is between God and them. I feel deeply sorrowful for those who are blinded by Satan, but God has provided a way of escape, what more can He do.

Your right. He did and they aren't listening.
All we can do is what you said, pray for our lost loved one's believing that God will intervene In their lives and draw them to Him. And continue to spread the message.

Charles Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers, said this:

“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

“God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking into hell!”

"I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ than unravel all the mysteries of the divine Word, for salvation is the one thing we are to live for."

The man didn't pull any punches.
 
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food4thought

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Your right. He did and they aren't listening.
All we can do is what you said, pray for our lost loved one's believing that God will intervene In their lives and draw them to Him. And continue to spread the message.

Charles Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers, said this:

“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

“God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking into hell!”

"I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ than unravel all the mysteries of the divine Word, for salvation is the one thing we are to live for."

The man didn't pull any punches.

Hi Edmond, great quotes.

With regard to your earlier response to my post, I don't want to quibble, but it seems important to me that people who read this thread understand that God is NOT into torturing people with fire for all eternity, no matter what their sins. I pointed out that Jesus used different imagery to describe hell, referring to Gehenna and not a lake of fire, and I also referenced at the end of my post that He used the imagery of outer darkness, as well. What this seems to say to me is that the imagery is just that, imagery designed to evoke a primal revulsion in our hearts and minds. I do not think the reality is torture in fire, but something so horrible in comparison with the eternal life offered through Jesus' sacrifice that should we understand the spiritual reality, we would be repelled by the horror of what hell is the same way that we are repelled by the thought of burning, filth, and darkness.

As a Catholic poster noted, although I think they are in error with regard to purgatory (i.e., hell is a purging of our sins so we can enter heaven), the word torment has an original meaning in Greek that refers to testing a refined metal against a touchstone to determine it's purity. In my mind, torment refers not to torture, even though it came to be used as such in Greek thought, but refers back to the original meaning of the word in that God will be testing the unsaved dead for purity all through eternity, but they will never be pure because they have refused the only way to be pure, the blood of Jesus Christ. When you think about it, the imagery of fire fits in well with this understanding, as metal is put in the fire for purification, then pulled out and tested against the touchstone to determine whether it is pure or not, then placed back in the fire over and over again until the stone reveals that there are no impurities in the metal. In the same way, the unsaved dead will undergo some form of trial in an attempt to purify them (fire), then tested against the righteousness of Christ (look up the root meaning of the word translated "brimstone" or "sulphur") to determine whether they are fit for the kingdom... of course they never will be fit for the kingdom because they rejected the only means of being purified from their sinful nature, the blood of Christ. Thus they will be "tormented [tested against the stone] day and night forever and ever".

Just my 2 cents worth...
God bless;
Mike
 
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Edmond Smith

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Hi Edmond, great quotes.

With regard to your earlier response to my post, I don't want to quibble, but it seems important to me that people who read this thread understand that God is NOT into torturing people with fire for all eternity, no matter what their sins. I pointed out that Jesus used different imagery to describe hell, referring to Gehenna and not a lake of fire, and I also referenced at the end of my post that He used the imagery of outer darkness, as well. What this seems to say to me is that the imagery is just that, imagery designed to evoke a primal revulsion in our hearts and minds. I do not think the reality is torture in fire, but something so horrible in comparison with the eternal life offered through Jesus' sacrifice that should we understand the spiritual reality, we would be repelled by the horror of what hell is the same way that we are repelled by the thought of burning, filth, and darkness.

As a Catholic poster noted, although I think they are in error with regard to purgatory (i.e., hell is a purging of our sins so we can enter heaven), the word torment has an original meaning in Greek that refers to testing a refined metal against a touchstone to determine it's purity. In my mind, torment refers not to torture, even though it came to be used as such in Greek thought, but refers back to the original meaning of the word in that God will be testing the unsaved dead for purity all through eternity, but they will never be pure because they have refused the only way to be pure, the blood of Jesus Christ. When you think about it, the imagery of fire fits in well with this understanding, as metal is put in the fire for purification, then pulled out and tested against the touchstone to determine whether it is pure or not, then placed back in the fire over and over again until the stone reveals that there are no impurities in the metal. In the same way, the unsaved dead will undergo some form of trial in an attempt to purify them (fire), then tested against the righteousness of Christ (look up the root meaning of the word translated "brimstone" or "sulphur") to determine whether they are fit for the kingdom... of course they never will be fit for the kingdom because they rejected the only means of being purified from their sinful nature, the blood of Christ. Thus they will be "tormented [tested against the stone] day and night forever and ever".

Just my 2 cents worth...
God bless;
Mike

Very good response. And I'll study more into this. Thanks. Always open to learn something new.
Because I do believe God will be known more by those in Hell...they'll feel his presence but not in a good way.
God is omnipresent...He will be there.
Those in Hell, will remember who He is, what He done and why He did it. But they won't be able to reach any of it, no grace, no mercy, no love, no forgiveness...none of it...they'll know it's there just within reach...but never quite reach it.
Hell is eternal punishment, as you know, due to the Eternal justice of God.
Because the rich man, Knew more about how not to get to Hell, after He got there. He asked Abraham to let Him go back so He could tell his friends, how not to end up there. But was denied.
Again, more study and prayer. And more spreading the Gospel. Is what we can do. Thanks brother
 
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