Heaven, Hell, and ...?

[juvenissun]

This question enhanced in my mind recently. So, I am seeking your opinion on it.

In Christian doctrine, we have a space called Heaven, and another space called Hell (the Lake of Fire).
If we count the current space, the earth and our universe, as a temporary one,
do we have the third, or more space beyond the Heaven and the Hell.

The meaning of this question is: Whether people would have a third place to go except the Heaven and the Hell?

 

[Bethwhite]

Read Enoch, that's quoted in Jude, and mentioned by Jesus (example - rich man and Lazarus parable)

The Book of Enoch, Section I

Ultimately, no - there's only God or the lake of fire.

 

[PreachingChristCrucified]

Read Enoch

I wouldn't point you to an extra biblical, non-canonical writing such as Enoch. There is enough proof in God's word for the truth of Heaven and Hell. The Rich Man and Lazarus Parable is a good example. Jesus spoke often of Heaven and Hell but he never spoke of an "in-between".

 

[juvenissun]

Are there people who is not fully qualified to be in the Heaven, but is not either so bad to be in the Hell? Would there be such case in the Great White Throne Judgement?

If there are, then where would they go?

 

[PreachingChristCrucified]

Are there people who is not fully qualified to be in the Heaven, but is not either so bad to be in the Hell? Would there be such case in the Great White Throne Judgement?

If there are, then where would they go?

If you don't have faith in Jesus Christ and his gospel you stand condemned and will be cast into the lake of fire. There is no middle ground. Either you believed in him or you didn't.

 

[Bethwhite]

Are there people who is not fully qualified to be in the Heaven, but is not either so bad to be in the Hell? Would there be such case in the Great White Throne Judgement?

If there are, then where would they go?

At the GWT judgment, there's only the lake of fire or dwelling with God. That's why people are judged by their works at that time.

Now, here's what Jesus talked about in regards to the rich man and lazarus:

"

[Chapter 22]​

1 And thence I went to another place, and he mountain [and] of hard rock. 2 And there was in it four hollow places, deep and wide and very smooth. How smooth are the hollow places and deep and dark to look at. 3 Then Raphael answered, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: 'These hollow places have been created for this very purpose, that the spirits of the souls of the dead should 4 assemble therein, yea that all the souls of the children of men should assemble here. And these places have been made to receive them till the day of their judgement and till their appointed period [till the period appointed], till the great judgement (comes) upon them.' I saw (the spirit of) a dead man making suit, 5 and his voice went forth to heaven and made suit. And I asked Raphael the angel who was 6 with me, and I said unto him: 'This spirit which maketh suit, whose is it, whose voice goeth forth and maketh suit to heaven ?' 7 And he answered me saying: 'This is the spirit which went forth from Abel, whom his brother Cain slew, and he makes his suit against him till his seed is destroyed from the face of the earth, and his seed is annihilated from amongst the seed of men.' 8 The I asked regarding it, and regarding all the hollow places: 'Why is one separated from the other?' 9 And he answered me and said unto me: 'These three have been made that the spirits of the dead might be separated. And such a division has been make (for) the spirits of the righteous, in which there is the bright spring of 10 water. And such has been made for sinners when they die and are buried in the earth and judgement has not been executed on them in their 11 lifetime. Here their spirits shall be set apart in this great pain till the great day of judgement and punishment and torment of those who curse for ever and retribution for their spirits. There 12 He shall bind them for ever. And such a division has been made for the spirits of those who make their suit, who make disclosures concerning their destruction, when they were slain in the days 13 of the sinners. Such has been made for the spirits of men who were not righteous but sinners, who were complete in transgression, and of the transgressors they shall be companions: but their spirits shall not be slain in the day of judgement nor shall they be raised from thence.' 14 The I blessed the Lord of glory and said: 'Blessed be my Lord, the Lord of righteousness, who ruleth for ever.'"


The Book of Enoch, Section I

 

[Bethwhite]

Juvenissun,

Keep in mind that all it took for the condemned man hanging next to Jesus was for him to say, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom".

After the church is removed, everyone else will be judged by their works.

 

[juvenissun]

If you don't have faith in Jesus Christ and his gospel you stand condemned and will be cast into the lake of fire. There is no middle ground. Either you believed in him or you didn't.

How about a child died before he/she understood?

How about people who never, or barely have a chance to hear the Gospel? I believe many Muslim and Buddhism people who probably never have a chance. And I believe there are many other such cases.

How about people who have a very weak faith, such as seldom attend church worship. Can you say that they do not believe? I can not.

I can think of many cases in which people do not really believe, but do not either fight against the faith. They do not reject the Lord.

And if you like to, you may count in all those who got aborted and have never seen the light of day. Do they go to the Heaven? If so, why don't we encourage abortion so they won't have the chance to go to the Hell?

Would God put them into the Lake of Fire? I am not sure, or I don't think so. But I don't think they are qualified to be in the Heaven either.

 

[Bethwhite]

How about a child died before he/she understood?

How about people who never, or barely have a chance to hear the Gospel? I believe many Muslim and Buddhism people who probably never have a chance. And I believe there are many other such cases.

How about people who have a very weak faith, such as seldom attend church worship. Can you say that they do not believe? I can not.

I can think of many cases in which people do not really believe, but do not either fight against the faith. They do not reject the Lord.

And if you like to, you may count in all those who got aborted and have never seen the light of day. Do they go to the Heaven? If so, why don't we encourage abortion so they won't have the chance to go to the Hell?

Would God put them into the Lake of Fire? I am not sure, or I don't think so. But I don't think they are qualified to be in the Heaven either.

Children, even miscarried children, go to God.

When the rapture occurs, children will be among those taken:

Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

As for people that YOU don't know their faith status, that's between them and God. God knows those who belong to Him. He has already written the names of His people in the Book of Life in heaven. Rejecting Him gets a person erased.

Psa 69:28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.

 

[juvenissun]

Juvenissun,

Keep in mind that all it took for the condemned man hanging next to Jesus was for him to say, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom".

After the church is removed, everyone else will be judged by their works.

Would it be correct if I say:

Jesus the Lord says: do this, then you will be with Me.

But He does not say: if you don't do this, then you will be put in the Lake of Fire.

I guess what the Lord really says is: If you do't do this, then you will not be with me. That does not mean the person will automatically be put in the Lake of Fire.

There could be a place where people do not see God (is that the definition of the Hell?), but is not as terrible as the Lake of Fire either. I think the Lake of Fire is a place for those who actively fight against God.

This is not all my speculation. I do read this implication from the Bible. On the other hand, you do have to prove to me that there is no other (middle) place except the Heaven and the Hell. I don't really read this message anywhere in the Bible. And I do feel this understanding will cause some theological problems.

 

[Bethwhite]

Would it be correct if I say:

Jesus the Lord says: do this, then you will be with Me.

But He does not say: if you don't do this, then you will be put in the Lake of Fire.

I guess what the Lord really says is: If you do't do this, then you will not be with me. That does not mean the person will automatically be put in the Lake of Fire.

There could be a place where people do not see God (is that the definition of the Hell?), but is not as terrible as the Lake of Fire either. I think the Lake of Fire is a place for those who actively fight against God.

This is not all my speculation. I do read this implication from the Bible. On the other hand, you do have to prove to me that there is no other (middle) place except the Heaven and the Hell. I don't really read this message anywhere in the Bible.

So, you are concerned for people who have never heard the Gospel?

It's up to God.

It's hard to believe that anyone in America has never heard it - or in the entire Western world. It's everywhere.

 

[Hockey_Fan]

Are there people who is not fully qualified to be in the Heaven, but is not either so bad to be in the Hell? Would there be such case in the Great White Throne Judgement?

If there are, then where would they go?

Yes, I have often thought this.

Heaven and hell are two extremes, polar opposites. But they are not the ONLY options. I've met plenty of people who really don't fit in either of those categories. I believe God is wise enough to find appropriate options that there can be justice for everyone.

 

[Bethwhite]

Yes, I have often thought this.

Heaven and hell are two extremes, polar opposites. But they are not the ONLY options. I've met plenty of people who really don't fit in either of those categories. I believe God is wise enough to find appropriate options that there can be justice for everyone.

What else is there?

I think your statement about God is over the top. In your judgment, there are people who don't belong in heaven or hell and you think that God is wise enough to understand that your judgment is the appropriate measure?

Isaiah 45:“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker,
those who are nothing but potsherds
among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
‘The potter has no hands’?
10 Woe to the one who says to a father,
‘What have you begotten?’
or to a mother,
‘What have you brought to birth?’ 11 “This is what the Lord says—
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Concerning things to come,
do you question me about my children,
or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 It is I who made the earth
and created mankind on it.

Isa 29:16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, "You did not make me"? Can the pot say to the potter, "You know nothing"?

Romans 9:
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

 

[juvenissun]

So, you are concerned for people who have never heard the Gospel?

It's up to God.

It's hard to believe that anyone in America has never heard it - or in the entire Western world. It's everywhere.

Of course. But that does not answer my question.

Where in the Bible that says or suggests or implies that if one did not make himself to the Heaven, will then go to Hell with no other options?

I do know if one did not make himself to the Heaven, he will regret and cry hard. But that does not mean he is in the Hell, particularly, in the Lake of Fire.

 

[juvenissun]

What else is there?

A place where one can not be with God, but will not suffer the pain in the Lake of Fire.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

I cannot believe this thread. LOL! It is the same old lie the serpent told Eve. Hath God said...?" You shall not surely die??? Think about who's spirit is prompting these questions.

 

[Bethwhite]

Of course. But that does not answer my question.

Where in the Bible that says or suggests or implies that if one did not make himself to the Heaven, will then go to Hell with no other options?

I do know if one did not make himself to the Heaven, he will regret and cry hard. But that does not mean he is in the Hell, particularly, in the Lake of Fire.

You mean like, "I opt out" or "I choose neither heaven, nor hell".

The problem is that it's black and white. If you don't choose God, then you've chosen hell.

There is no other option. He's not going to set you alone on some distant planet and say, "see 'ya!, have fun!" I don't know if you understand that you don't even exist without God. He's the One that allows you to breathe.

 

[Hockey_Fan]

A place where one can not be with God, but will not suffer the pain in the Lake of Fire.

Yeah. The longer I live, the more I suspect this is probably true.

 

[Hockey_Fan]

Beth,

I'm not the one who decides who should go where. I wouldn't want that job. But I just trust that God is wise enough to figure that out. To say there are only two options limits God pretty severly.

 

[Bethwhite]

Yeah. The longer I live, the more I suspect this is probably true.

why?