Hell is in your mind

[tdidymas]

Is hell real?I read in Faust about hell but that is not evidence because that never happened.I forgot to mention that our religion teacher described hell as a state of mind and not a place where demons exist.He also told us about the demons that hunted him in the army and I thought that he was insane and that he needed treatment.He told us about another guy(a priest) who had a third eye and could see demons in all places.I am not inventing this,this is his story that shocked me.
I also saw most of his videos about this ,,hell'' and he described it as a state and not a place.Hell is not like jail or hospital,these were his words.
Is that true?I don't know what to believe anymore.I am confused.

Wolly, it sounds like your professor is spewing liberal ideas. What would be the significance of the ultimate justice of God, if there were not the ultimate punishment for sin? Even if hell described in the New Testament were a figure, it still speaks of just punishment for rebellion against the ultimate holy God. Here is some of the Biblical language:

outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth
place of torment
lake of fire burning with sulfur
where the fire is not quenched and the worm never dies

It makes sin a dreadful enemy, that only the ultimate Savior can deal with it.
TD

 

[2Timothy2:15]

I read in Faust about hell

Stay away from writings like Faust, he was not a believer he was an occultist. Stick with the bible and you will not be confused. Confusion is the result of receiving a lie and the truth....

 

[princesstatyanna]

Is hell real?I read in Faust about hell but that is not evidence because that never happened.I forgot to mention that our religion teacher described hell as a state of mind and not a place where demons exist.He also told us about the demons that hunted him in the army and I thought that he was insane and that he needed treatment.He told us about another guy(a priest) who had a third eye and could see demons in all places.I am not inventing this,this is his story that shocked me.
I also saw most of his videos about this ,,hell'' and he described it as a state and not a place.Hell is not like jail or hospital,these were his words.
Is that true?I don't know what to believe anymore.I am confused.

hell is indeed real. Nobody should ever want to go there AT ALL

 

[David7818]

Is hell real?I read in Faust about hell but that is not evidence because that never happened.I forgot to mention that our religion teacher described hell as a state of mind and not a place where demons exist.He also told us about the demons that hunted him in the army and I thought that he was insane and that he needed treatment.He told us about another guy(a priest) who had a third eye and could see demons in all places.I am not inventing this,this is his story that shocked me.
I also saw most of his videos about this ,,hell'' and he described it as a state and not a place.Hell is not like jail or hospital,these were his words.
Is that true?I don't know what to believe anymore.I am confused.

Hell is a literal place of damnation and suffering where demons and devils exist. It's where payback happens, for evils or crimes committed against those wronged. You can go to either heaven or hell. Hell could be where you burn forever. Keep in mind that whether your a child or adult, all life matters. Whether youth or Christ, all life matters. It was said once that the devil is in CHARGE of hell. Don't know why, but buddies are always good to have as soldiers.

 

[Radagast]

He told us how his demons tried to fire him from his job as a captain or major in the army but they failed.

OK, this sounds like something might be wrong with the man.

 

[GirdYourLoins]

I know someone like this, who always sees demons in everything. My friend is a little nuts and is an avid conspiracy theory nut as well. Everything everywhere has some sinister motive behind it, whether man or demons. Although we are both Christians now it all started after he had spent a whole weekend on a drink and drug fueled bender, so I think he suffered some sort of mental illness a as result of too many drugs. His theories that he adheres to have a foundation in Biblical truth but do not fit in with life as I experience it. If demons really are attacking him as much as he thinks he really needs to get hold of the spiritual authority that Jesus gave us.

However, having said that, I am led to believe that demonic activity is more prevalent in places like Africa where they are able to function more openly. I have known a number of people who have done missions across Africa and said this.

So while it is possible for us to deal with demons, it does not sound to me like your teacher is taking Christian authority over demons. It sounds more like he is rooted in occultism or some spiritual deception. I see you are from Romania and there is a very strong history of witchcraft and occultism there which just feels more likely to be what your teacher is practicing. This can also have Christian aspects mixed in with it but is not Christianity, it is still witchcraft.

However, it may just be the wording you use that gives me this impression and its just down to translation. I would be very cautious if I were you and ask God to give you spiritual discernment to recognise the truth. It feels to me like this situation is confusing you and leading you away from Biblical truth, so I believe this is ungodly but I cant be 100% sure.

 

[Monna]

Hell as a state of mind is only partly accurate - it may be better to describe it as a place without relationship - certainly without a relationship with God. C.S. Lewis describes it in "The Great Divorce" as a place where you long for friendship (super lonely) and even lust for others but can't stand to be around other people. There is no love there, there is no light there, there is nothing good there, there is only fear, doubt, deceit, suspicion, utter nastiness and so on. So in those senses it might be described as a state of mind. But ultimately it is where God isn't.

Which is one of those conundrums in the Bible, like an omniscient God saying "your sins I will remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)

Psalm 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Here "hell" is "sheol" - the place of the dead, not necessarily what many think of as hell - the everlasting place of condemnation.

 

[Jonathan Leo]

Is hell real?I read in Faust about hell but that is not evidence because that never happened.I forgot to mention that our religion teacher described hell as a state of mind and not a place where demons exist.He also told us about the demons that hunted him in the army and I thought that he was insane and that he needed treatment.He told us about another guy(a priest) who had a third eye and could see demons in all places.I am not inventing this,this is his story that shocked me.
I also saw most of his videos about this ,,hell'' and he described it as a state and not a place.Hell is not like jail or hospital,these were his words.
Is that true?I don't know what to believe anymore.I am confused.

If hell is in our minds, then heaven is also in our minds and the hope that Christians have for eternal life with Christ Jesus is only an illusion too.
If we have hope in Jesus to save us from eternal punishment and believe that one day, we will be resurrected to Him and live forever, we must also believe that when Jesus said they will be cast into the lake of fire, that this too is real.
The Bible isn’t part truth part fairytale. It’s either an illusion or it’s reality, there’s no half measures.

I belief it to be reality and therefore try to live accordingly but believe me when I say I wish it were an illusion because when my body craves to do sinful things, I could give into it all the time and never feel guilty of it, besides, it’s what we do naturally.
That’s why most of the world are happy to live in their sinful state, it’s because it’s natural and feels right.

In hell, there won’t be anyone crying “ I wish I turned to God” they will be screaming “ why is there such a God”
and the worst thing about hell is that you will know that the God who you refused, ignored, hated or didn’t believe in, will be the One that has put you there and that He cannot lie so when he says eternal torment forever, He means it.

Stop listening to your religon teacher because obviously she doesn’t believe truly in Jesus Christ, if she did, she wouldn’t teach such blasphemous things. For her to believe that hell is in the mind, also means she believes Jesus is in the mind, aka, rejecting Him as a literal saviour who came, died, resurrected. Anyone who denies the Son is of the devil

 

[GirdYourLoins]

This reminds me of 20 years ago when I had been a Christian for only a few months, someone I worked with asked me to describe what I thought it would feel like to be in Hell in laymans terms. After pondering for a bit I came up with this. Imagine you are driving along in your car and all your family, friends, etc are having a party and having a great time. Everyone is really enjoying themselves and having the best time ever. As you drive past they all start telling yo to join and to stop driving the way you are going because you're going to drive off a cliff and crash. Despite their begging you, you think you know better and carry on driving. You drive off the cliff and as your lying in the burning wreckage worms start to eat through your body adding to your pain. You look up and see your family and friends at the top of the cliff having such a good time they are no longer aware of you. You are overwhelmed by pain and despair for not listening to the people who told you to stop and join them. I told him to multiply that by a million times. My colleague said "Thats horrible" to which I replied "What do you expect, its what Hell's like"

 

[Petros2015]

"But what, you ask, of earth? Earth, I think, will not be found by anyone to be in the end a very distinct place. I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell: and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself." ~C.S. Lewis

We are in the suburbs as it were. If you move towards God and Christ, you are on the outskirts of heaven, moving deeper into it. Likewise if you move away, you are on the outskirts of hell, moving deeper into it.

 

[Monna]

"But what, you ask, of earth? Earth, I think, will not be found by anyone to be in the end a very distinct place. I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell: and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself." ~C.S. Lewis

Typical C.S.Lewis. But from what book, article or sermon?

 

[princesstatyanna]

If hell is in our minds, then heaven is also in our minds and the hope that Christians have for eternal life with Christ Jesus is only an illusion too.
If we have hope in Jesus to save us from eternal punishment and believe that one day, we will be resurrected to Him and live forever, we must also believe that when Jesus said they will be cast into the lake of fire, that this too is real.
The Bible isn’t part truth part fairytale. It’s either an illusion or it’s reality, there’s no half measures.

I belief it to be reality and therefore try to live accordingly but believe me when I say I wish it were an illusion because when my body craves to do sinful things, I could give into it all the time and never feel guilty of it, besides, it’s what we do naturally.
That’s why most of the world are happy to live in their sinful state, it’s because it’s natural and feels right.

In hell, there won’t be anyone crying “ I wish I turned to God” they will be screaming “ why is there such a God”
and the worst thing about hell is that you will know that the God who you refused, ignored, hated or didn’t believe in, will be the One that has put you there and that He cannot lie so when he says eternal torment forever, He means it.

Stop listening to your religon teacher because obviously she doesn’t believe truly in Jesus Christ, if she did, she wouldn’t teach such blasphemous things. For her to believe that hell is in the mind, also means she believes Jesus is in the mind, aka, rejecting Him as a literal saviour who came, died, resurrected. Anyone who denies the Son is of the devil

yes agreed

 

[Jonathan Leo]

This reminds me of 20 years ago when I had been a Christian for only a few months, someone I worked with asked me to describe what I thought it would feel like to be in Hell in laymans terms. After pondering for a bit I came up with this. Imagine you are driving along in your car and all your family, friends, etc are having a party and having a great time. Everyone is really enjoying themselves and having the best time ever. As you drive past they all start telling yo to join and to stop driving the way you are going because you're going to drive off a cliff and crash. Despite their begging you, you think you know better and carry on driving. You drive off the cliff and as your lying in the burning wreckage worms start to eat through your body adding to your pain. You look up and see your family and friends at the top of the cliff having such a good time they are no longer aware of you. You are overwhelmed by pain and despair for not listening to the people who told you to stop and join them. I told him to multiply that by a million times. My colleague said "Thats horrible" to which I replied "What do you expect, its what Hell's like"

Good story,

I heard Ravi Zechariah’s sermon one time and it was explains about hell.
There was a guy who heard the gospel and how Jesus talked of hell. The man replied,
If what you speak of hell is true,
I would crawl on my hands and knees across one side of London to the other side with the streets lined with shards of glass if there was a hope of coming out of hell and count it worth my while.

 

[Petros2015]

Typical C.S.Lewis. But from what book, article or sermon?

It's from the preface to The Great Divorce

The Great Divorce by CS Lewis (preface)

 

[akaDaScribe]

I think passages like these cause people to wonder what exactly hell is. These don't really fit the description of a lake of fire.

Matthew 8

Israel. 11And 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. 12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25
28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31

Revelation 20
11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face 2 Pet. 3:7; Rev. 21:1the earth and the heaven fled away. Dan. 2:35; Rev. 12:8And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, Rev. 19:5small and great, standing before God, Dan. 7:10and books were opened. And another Ps. 69:28; Dan. 12:1; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged Jer. 17:10; Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; Rev. 2:23; 20:12according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, 1 Cor. 15:26; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 21:4and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. Matt. 16:27; Rev. 2:23; 20:12And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then 1 Cor. 15:26; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 21:4Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 21:8This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life Rev. 19:20was cast into the lake of fire.

But it seems very clear to me that we will all be judged and anyone who's name is not written in the Book of Life will suffer terribly.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Luke 16:19-31 on Lazarus and the rich man tells a good bit about hell and what it is, but lets take this part of that:

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him (Lazarus) to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

It was not a state of mind or something only in the mind he wanted to warn his brothers about, it was a "place of torment" and after one dies...clearly.

But it seems very clear to me that we will all be judged and anyone who's name is not written in the Book of Life will suffer terribly.

Exactly, and though we may not know exactly what, we have a pretty good idea, but as importantly, we know it's not in the here and now, and not just a state of mind. Hell takes place after the rerun of Christ, in the future, the "final" judgment. How can anyone here not be certain of that, or at the very least anyone who has read the bible?

Teaching an, and you all are just going to have to forgive me, an idiotic, completely unbiblical, completely man made idea of hell when we all know perfectly well what/when it is, is not a good idea at all.. That is, in every sense, changing the bible, and often heads down the road of changing Hell to be something less than what it is, You all should know by now people love to do that with parts of the bible that scares/worries them. Best way to deal with the fear of Hell is to be sure we don't go there.

If you want to be a philosopher with ideas of your own, go deal with life in general, but please don't play around with the word of God like it's some work of fiction being discussed in a book club.

Sorry if I sound overbearing with this but I just don't think people know the seriousness of what they are doing sometimes and it concerns me as much for them as it does those who might misunderstand the bible because of it.

You all know the warnings about changing the bible, so please for the sake of yourselves and others that we may cause to not take Hell so seriously, be careful.

 

[faroukfarouk]

hell is indeed real. Nobody should ever want to go there AT ALL

Well, exactly; and the New Testament mentions it a lot more than it does heaven: = the message: "Avoid going there... and repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus is the way to avoid it."

 

[Monad_Wisdom]

I used to be in to conspiracies and frequent ATS forums years ago, never had such a relgious studies teacher but now that Ive found the bible - as others have mentioned, stick to scripture.


Revelation 21:8

“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.”

This is probably all you need to know about Hell.

As for his comments on demons he encountered, to me whichever way we look at it this is not any work of God and such teachings should be avoided. Whether there is truth in his eyes or lies, this teacher of yours who also sounds like he is adding some new age spin, needs to be avoided. Trust in scripture...If in doubt come on here because there are many many knowledgable people on here, far more so than I am that will be able to guide you better than your so called Religious Education teacher.

 

[John tower]

Is hell real?I read in Faust about hell but that is not evidence because that never happened.I forgot to mention that our religion teacher described hell as a state of mind and not a place where demons exist.He also told us about the demons that hunted him in the army and I thought that he was insane and that he needed treatment.He told us about another guy(a priest) who had a third eye and could see demons in all places.I am not inventing this,this is his story that shocked me.
I also saw most of his videos about this ,,hell'' and he described it as a state and not a place.Hell is not like jail or hospital,these were his words.
Is that true?I don't know what to believe anymore.I am confused.

Follow scripture not what people say and you won’t be confused anymore Mt 15(9).

 

[John tower]

I used to be in to conspiracies and frequent ATS forums years ago, never had such a relgious studies teacher but now that Ive found the bible - as others have mentioned, stick to scripture.


Revelation 21:8

“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.”

This is probably all you need to know about Hell.

As for his comments on demons he encountered, to me whichever way we look at it this is not any work of God and such teachings should be avoided. Whether there is truth in his eyes or lies, this teacher of yours who also sounds like he is adding some new age spin, needs to be avoided. Trust in scripture...If in doubt come on here because there are many many knowledgable people on here, far more so than I am that will be able to guide you better than your so called Religious Education teacher.

Mt 15(9) And 1 John 2(27).