Could Hell be like a sanitorium

[dms1972]

I was reading Donald Bloesch's The Last Things and he talks about various views on hell. In discussing the meaning of hell. He mentioned that he thought Hell could be a like a kind of sanitorium for incurable souls, those who would not let God do anything more for them. Bloesch himself thought people in hell were not separated from the love of God, but that they experienced His love differently.

Did medieval artists misrepresent Hell when it depicted the damned being tormented by demons? A question I would ask is how does that sort of hell glorify God?

Thinking further on it I began to wonder could there even be angels assigned to manage hell and keep order? Just some thoughts.

 

[disciple Clint]

I was reading Donald Bloesch's The Last Things and he talks about various views on hell. He mentioned one writer who thought Hell could be a kind of sanitorium for those who would not let God do anything more for them. Bloesch himself thought people in hell were not separated from the love of God, but that they experienced His love differently.

Did medieval artists misrepresent Hell when it depicted the damned being tormented by demons? A question I would ask is how does that sort of hell glorify God?

Thinking further on it I began to wonder could there even be angels assigned to manage hell and keep order? Just some thoughts.

I think hell could be very different for different people, what is your worst nightmare? That could be what eternity in hell could be for you. For me it would likely be something different. While God is everywhere I would not expect any comfort from Him for those who have rejected Him.

 

[timothyu]

Earth has been the sanitorium since the Garden, containing an insane species that refuses to learn and makes the same mistakes over and over on an otherwise well balanced planet.

 

[Tolworth John]

I would ask is how does that sort of hell glorify God?

Through the righteous and just administration of due punishment.

 

[dms1972]

Through the righteous and just administration of due punishment.

I mean how can devils tormenting humans in hell glorify God? Seems in some of this art the demons are enjoying themselves - I don't think there is anything about that in the Bible?

 

[Eloy Craft]

I think this is an old school take on hell. Souls in hell can't change their mind. Blame divides all that was united during life. Body blames the soul for leading it there. The soul blames the body for rebelling against it. Their suffering is changeless and for nothing. Their existence is all they have that's a sign of God's love.

 

[Servus]

I'd say the first and early church fathers view of hell would be be the first place to look.

From what I've heard medieval artists depictions of demons tormenting those in hell with pitchforks and so on were inspired by works such as Dante's Inferno and the like.

 

[Tolworth John]

I mean how can devils tormenting humans in hell glorify God? Seems in some of this art the demons are enjoying themselves - I don't think there is anything about that in the Bible?

Art is fiction based on exaggerated images, where in the bible do you find those ideas?

 

[The Liturgist]

Maybe the kind of abandoned haunted Sanitorium for tuberculosis patients or the mentally ill that horror movies are set in? With creepy electroshock therapy and lobotomies and so on? Like, in the Martin Scorsese film Shutter Island.

Otherwise I’m going to say nope.

 

[dms1972]

Art is fiction based on exaggerated images, where in the bible do you find those ideas?

Thats what I am saying - such art doesn't seem to have any biblical warrant.

I think Bloesch's survey in the book I mentioned of the ancient and modern views on this topic is well done.

 

[hedrick]

Then there’s NT Wrights suggestion that in rejecting God, the damned have rejected the image of God. Thus they become the remains of what was once human, no longer being anything worthy even of pity.

(I don’t actually accept this, but if you believe in hell, it’s an interesting approach.)

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I was reading Donald Bloesch's The Last Things and he talks about various views on hell. He mentioned that he thought Hell could be a kind of sanitorium for incurable souls, those who would not let God do anything more for them. Bloesch himself thought people in hell were not separated from the love of God, but that they experienced His love differently.

Did medieval artists misrepresent Hell when it depicted the damned being tormented by demons? A question I would ask is how does that sort of hell glorify God?

Thinking further on it I began to wonder could there even be angels assigned to manage hell and keep order? Just some thoughts.

Not so sure how they would handle the fire.
Blessings

 

[Albion]

I mean how can devils tormenting humans in hell glorify God?

We seem to have started off this discussion with the stipulation that hell is supposed to glorify God. Where'd that idea come from?

 

[timothyu]

Seems in some of this art the demons are enjoying themselves

Art influenced by Medieval sadism fuelled by a church that loved to burn anyone who disagreed with the controlled agenda and narrative. The beginnings of corporatism.

 

[apollosdtr]

I was reading Donald Bloesch's The Last Things and he talks about various views on hell. He mentioned that he thought Hell could be a kind of sanitorium for incurable souls, those who would not let God do anything more for them. Bloesch himself thought people in hell were not separated from the love of God, but that they experienced His love differently.

Did medieval artists misrepresent Hell when it depicted the damned being tormented by demons? A question I would ask is how does that sort of hell glorify God?

Thinking further on it I began to wonder could there even be angels assigned to manage hell and keep order? Just some thoughts.

The Pelasgian version of Hell seems to have been carried with its (Greek) colonies into Europe (Druids brought "Zeus, Jupiter and the Oak", into Britain, and used Greek letters). They viewed Hades (Dis) as a place holding all souls. The Elysium Fields were in Hades; Tartarus was in Hades; the Field of Punishment was in Hades. The gods Zeus and Poseidon had the sky and water, respectively, leaving Hades the ownership of land. How Hades became king of the under-earth... well, History became Legend, Legend became Myth... is how it's described in "The Lord of the Rings". Roidan does a fair job of describing Greek myths (in novels for children and young adults), and says they could even choose to be Reincarnated... which apparently doesn't mean what the critics... and mythologizers say, either.

Reincarnation - Ancient Greeks

I'm glad you posted this thread... because this is something I'd come to wonder about, too... and your questions brought me the answers. Thank you so much!

 

[dms1972]

Then there’s NT Wrights suggestion that in rejecting God, the damned have rejected the image of God. Thus they become the remains of what was once human, no longer being anything worthy even of pity.

(I don’t actually accept this, but if you believe in hell, it’s an interesting approach.)

What is your view / belief on it?

 

[Acts29]

I was reading Donald Bloesch's The Last Things and he talks about various views on hell. He mentioned that he thought Hell could be a kind of sanitorium for incurable souls, those who would not let God do anything more for them. Bloesch himself thought people in hell were not separated from the love of God, but that they experienced His love differently.

Did medieval artists misrepresent Hell when it depicted the damned being tormented by demons? A question I would ask is how does that sort of hell glorify God?

Thinking further on it I began to wonder could there even be angels assigned to manage hell and keep order? Just some thoughts.

Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Man never ate from the tree of life. Thus, none of us live forever unless God saves us.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

What does "destroy" mean? Destroyed. The second death. Never to exist again.

 

[dms1972]

Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Man never ate from the tree of life. Thus, none of us live forever unless God saves us.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

What does "destroy" mean? Destroyed. The second death. Never to exist again.

Are you talking about annihilation?

What do those verse mean that say "the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever..." Revelation 14:11

 

[Acts29]

Are you talking about annihilation?

What do those verse mean that say "the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever..." Revelation 14:11

The smoke of their torment does not mean they will live forever. If you burn something, the smoke can continue long after the thing is dead. Their torment will continue until the second death at the end of the Millennium.

Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

The angels have all eaten from the tree of life and will live forever. This is why hell was created. It is their eternal prison since they cannot die. Man has never eaten from the tree of life. Thus, the second death means just that.

 

[Acts29]

Are you talking about annihilation?

What do those verse mean that say "the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever..." Revelation 14:11

Perhaps I should be more specific. There are two concepts in scripture that both sadly get translated as "forever." One lasts until the end of this creation. Scripture itself has an end, when heaven and earth pass away.

Matthew 5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

For example, the scripture you quoted above, Revelation 14:11. In the Greek, it says "ages and ages" or "ages of ages." A very long time, but not infinite. Scholars know this but don't make the distinction, making God into some kind of cruel being, torturing souls forever. It is the mercy of God that man never ate from the tree of life.

The other concept translated "forever" is truly forever, including the new heaven and new earth onward.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

All scripture must be fulfilled and remains until heaven and earth pass away. Jesus' words/promises will never pass away even after heaven and earth pass away.