This is one of the main reasons I can't believe in god. For those that aren't familiar with "the problem of evil" a little intro...
Ok, it's pretty obvious that evil/suffering exists in this world. If god is defined as an omnipotent (all-powerful) and loving being then there should be no suffering if he exists. The problem of evil puts forth four possibilities. Either...
1) God is loving but not all-powerful. In other words, he doesn't want to see people suffering but is powerless to stop it. In which case, he sounds a bit similar to most human beings.
2) God is all-powerful but not loving. In other words, he has the power to stop suffering but doesn't want to. This God sounds more like the devil or something...certainly not a being I'd want to worship.
3) God is neither all-powerful nor loving. In which case, this being isn't very god like at all.
4) God doesn't exist.
So those are the options in the problem of evil argument. And obviously I've found it rather convincing (though this isn't the only reason why I don't believe anymore...it is a major roadblock).
So, onto my question. Some Christians believe that evil/suffering exists in this world because of humans sinning. Ok, valid point...I say "some Christians" because I'm not sure whether all Christians believe this though I can't recall any alternative viewpoints on where evil/suffering comes from. Anyway, my question is...how do you explain the "natural evils" in this world? The suffering caused by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters?
Greetings
One of the reasons we have such storms and earthquakes is because of the Curse when man sinned, God put a Curse on the earth, mankind, This was what Jesus Crown of thrones represented, His crown was part of that payment for sin on the Cross.
The Scriptures say the earth is growning and rumbles for the redemption that Jesus Christ, it growns just Like Christians are today wanting and longing for our Saviour to return.
Why is there suffering today?
Does a guy that breaks the Law go straight to prison right after being arrested, NO this would be a unjust action and this is not how it works he go first to a holding cell at the local jail to await all charges to be file against him. Just like in hell(hades), all are equal, no crime greater then another until Judgement day, all await there day in court. This is what Hell is being used for.
Gods mercy is in this fact, the only sin God holds all mankind accountable for right now is rejecting the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and that's it. He see's every sin we do as being done thru ignorance this allows him to have complete forgivness on every man, women, boy and girl.
No matter what sins you ever did God knows you done them not understanding that they were wrong.
Hell is not the final place that the lost soul will stay, it is were the soul is held after the body dies because the body goes back to the dust. Everyone who dies lost will receives the same torments as all in this temporary place, there is not different degrees personal punishment in hell( hades) right now because it is just the Holding place not the final place.
There is a Day God has set aside to judge every evil work and to pass down the exact required payment that must be paid. This is were God will bring justice to each and every crime and sin ever commited.
When a person dies lost there soul will stay in the holding cell called Hell, it's only until Gods final day of Judgement. At this Judgement every evil, every secret, every deed, every thought, every cuss word, is added to each account. The Bible calls this Judgement, the Great White Throne judgement. When the lost appear at this judgement they will receive there bodies but this time there bodies that aremade just to be able to handle the terrible judgement that will be given.
Christians will have a glorified body to face there judgement, but they receive rewards at there judgement not punishment. The lost will have a soul and body to be cast in alive taking every price and tourment received in judgement into the Lake of Fire.
Just think of how hot it could be if a person get's 1 degree of fire per offence. How many cuss words have you said, then add up the dirty thought, the jokes, all the people that have been affected by every bad thing you did to them, what about for every lie told, It makes me tremble to think of the received punishments.
Here is the Judgement Day recorded in Scripture
Revelation 20:11-15
11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those
things which were written in the books, according to
their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged
every man according to their works.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Everything we do is recorded into our minds, your eyes are recording lens God records your whole life from, some who have died explain there whole life flashed before there eyes, your whole life is recorded inside your mind.Man has created great machines some can even trace every phone conversation, great records are stored on a small computer and at the push of a button, entire history of a person can be traced.
Each person as they walk through this life they are recording there own actions for a witness on that day of judgement. If a person denies they did a act that there accused of God will show it to you, he can show the exact second you did it live right before your own eyes and there will be no excuse for you to use, every small thing you have done, on that day it will be shown to all the hosts of heaven and many are going to add on to there punishment that day, because of all the lies they are going to tell him, he will be just because there will not be one thing left in the universe unpunished after this great judgement day.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37;" I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For
by thy words thou shalt be justified, and
by thy words thou shalt be condemned".
After this great judgement day trial is over, all there will be cast into the Eternal prison known as The Lake of Fire.(Revelation 20:15)
Who is the Judge on that day? It will be none other then Jesus Christ Himself.
John 5:22;" For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:"
Jesus made the way to be saved and because he is the salvation the only way, God commited all judgement to him. He knows all who are his and he knows all who are not his. There will be no mistakes on the Day he judges.
John 10:24-30
24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25. Jesus answered them,
I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26. But
ye believe not, because
ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27. My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me:
28. And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30. I and my Father are one.
Being saved is free, all we have to do is ask to be forgiven, no works to be done to get it, it's all paid for and it is Gods free gift. How could God make it anymore simple for us to receive. If anyone searched all the rest of the worlds religions they will have to do this work or that work to go into there so called heaven, but in every other religion there is no assurance, no promises that you will go this way, the truth is you don't, without Jesus you go to the holding cell. That is why Jesus told us nobody can come to heaven except by him.
If I owned a house and I told everybody who wants to enter it they must come thru the front door only or be arrested . Suppose then people said he's not serious and started trying to come through my roof or window, would I be wrong to called the law, no.
Is it my fault they went to jail, NO! Why not? I tried to help let them in, I warned them theres one way in. I made the way to get in invitation, and it wouldn't cost them one thing , but by choosing there own way to get in , they lost it all, but it all came down to there choice on how to get in. This is the same way God has done for all of man kind, he made salvation to be free and every person gets it the same way, asking Jesus.He has told us to come in thru the door and the only door is Jesus, read it.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Is God just in what he is doing, yes when we see the big picture there is nothing left for him to do, it's up to us to decide to get in, his way or pay our own way, which will you choose.
Matthew 7:13-14. 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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
John 14:6 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Just ask for it, don't miss your invitation.
Rev Malone
