Here is a disturbing topic most people do not like to discuss or turns people away from their faith.
Hell, we all know what it is, but surely it is not up to us to say "if he doesn't except Jesus he's going to hell", I have to be honest with you, there are many things wrong with this thesis:
1) The Jews - the Jews are the "chosen people" they have been under God's wing since the times of Moses and even today! As we see the Iranians will make an attack against the Jews and Israel, if Israel is the protected nation, why would it's people go to hell?
2) Muslims - there are Muslims that despise terrorism, I'm not saying that the Quran can be justified as the truth, I'm saying that Muslims are not all sword-hacking camel jockey idiots, and in many ways, they have Christian values with them in their faith.
3) Imperfection - no Christian is perfect, but above all, I also believe that if Satan can deceive so many into hatred, he can appear as a false replica of Jesus, what I mean by this is that he can appear as the image of Christ, no doubt Christians have done some horrible things to others, the Inquisition, for example, The Roman Catholic Empire and it's sale of indulgences, witch trials, these things contradict what Jesus says, therefore, they cannot be people worthy of salvation.
In my opinion it breaks down to this:
1) You accept Christ and follow his teachings, but be wise in distinguishing literal from metaphorical teachings.
2) If Christ is recognized alongside God (Jehovah, Allah) then it should not be so unlikely to say that there is a chance of "approval", as it does say in the bible: God does not show favoritism.
It gives me a sickness in the pit of my stomach to think that something like God would decide to throw people alongside who have dedicated their lives to HIM! This being YWHEH, Allah, even Jesus, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all recognize Christ, perhaps not all in the same way, nonetheless, he is recognized, and I don't think that judgement and condemnation is as simple as excluding other faiths and just alone including Christianity.
Also, take for example, Hinduism, at one point, this was actually monotheistic, they believed in one supreme God, Braha, or so it goes, surely the only reason for judgement should come in when demons intervene and turn everything away from God, (having Hinduism evolve into polytheism is an example) or when salavation becomes mixed with politics, much like the past Catholic rules who believed to have possessed power to determine who gets "saved" and who "doesn't."
Please tell me there must be some sanity to this.
Greetings
I responded to a question kinda like your this is a big question so to understand it want be simple cake, but it will at least give you greater understanding about the subject.
The Question was? "describe how Gods justice is at work when he punishes a person for all eternity in hell for a temporal crime". well there are a few things to understand to know the answer to that kind of question. I can shed some light on the answer, but be open minded since all this is new for you.
There use to be 3 sections to the underworld area. The
first we call hell which is call
hades.
The
second is the
bottomless pit found in (Revelation 9:2) The bottomless pit is were the worst and most evil angels that followed satan out of heaven are Chained until the Great Judgement Day (Jude 1:6)
The
third was
paradise, this was the temporary place(heaven) that the rightious souls who had faith in God and those who were under that years blood scarifice went to after there life on earth was done, this place was taking away when Jesus arose from the dead and took them all to heaven were they are to this day. Ephesians 4:8-10. Those who were taken to heaven with Christ are all the old testament people in the paradise.
So Now there are only two place there only one gets bigger as I will explain. Just as our universe is always expanding and has no limits God said " hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure
Isaiah 5:14). Hell has expanded since paradise was taken out and it has no limits, if needed it could hold the whole world.
So lets review, the 3 places of the underworld, paradise-gone now, the bottomless pit-those angels that to wicked to be free, Hell(hades) is the place that the souls of the lost go until the final day of Judgement. Now that you understand what was down there, it will help you see what Hell is.
Hell (hades) is not the place the lost is judged that place would be known as Gehenna
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 goes first to a holding cell at the local jail to await all charges to be file against him. Just like 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.
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.Right now during this period of time, we call the age of Grace the only sin God holds a person 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. Everytime we have done something we knew it was wrong when we were doing it, every person has a conscience, when we lie, we know it's wrong then, when a person cusses, and so on, we are all with this knowledge of right and wrong.
When a person dies lost there soul will stay in the holding cell called Hell, it's only until Gods final day of Judgement.(Rev 20:11) 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 are made 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 according to there evil works, cast 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 thoughts, the jokes, all the people that have been affected by every bad thing you did to them, what about for every lie you have told, It makes me tremble to think of the received punishments.
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.
Jesus said so in 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 and 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 kind of work or that work to go into there place, but in every other religion there is never no assurance, no promises that you will go this way, the truth is you don't, without Jesus you pay your own crimes and you'll go to the holding cells of hades. That is why Jesus told us nobody can come to heaven except by him.We have the sin infection in our blood, he didn't. That why it took 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 by 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 ; Jesus said , 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.
don't miss your invitation to life.
Rev Malone
