Hell.......literal

[pyro214]

does everyone take literally that:
"people who die as a non-Christian will burn in a lake of fire for eternity"?

just wondering if theres any other views, this one always gets me......i hate thinking that 2/3's of the world will be tortured unendingly.

 

[Smilebomb]

Hell.......literal

does everyone take literally that:
"people who die as a non-Christian will burn in a lake of fire for eternity"?

just wondering if theres any other views, this one always gets me......i hate thinking that 2/3's of the world will be tortured unendingly.

Does everyone take that literally???? no....

Are there other views???? well that's a given....

You hate thinking the world will go the Hell??? I hate to be the one to burst the bubble, but...

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, Therefore hear the Word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life. The same wicked man shall die in his iniquity. But his blood will I require at thine hand.
Ezekiel 3:17, 18



Oh, and to give my opinion: Is there a literal Heaven? Was there a literal Jesus? Was there a literal resurrection? Hell is spoken of very literally, and if we are to dismiss all that evidence, then why not the literal evidences of these other things?



Peace

 

[Ceridwen]

The bible says that God will punish non-Christians forever. Whether that unceasing punishment amounts to a banishment, a fire, or a freeze is irrelevant. Non-Christians will be unloved, unpardoned and unforgiven. This is because God is just and holy.

 

[Renton405]

The bible says that God will punish non-Christians forever. Whether that unceasing punishment amounts to a banishment, a fire, or a freeze is irrelevant. Non-Christians will be unloved, unpardoned and unforgiven. This is because God is just and holy.

have you seen 2/3rds of this world?? The martyrs cry out for justice.. I can honestly look at this vain world and say with a full concious that most deserve Hell..

 

[icedtea]

Yes, there is a hell and people will go to it.
Unless the bible is all wrong, which I do not believe.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Isaiah 14:9 HELL """"from BENEATH"""" is moved FOR THEE to MEET THEE at THY COMING: IT stirreth up THE DEAD FOR THEE, """" EVEN """ ALL the CHEIF ONES of THE EARTH; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

Unless the bible is wrong why does earth equate with hell here?

Peace

Fireinfolding

 

[Edial]

does everyone take literally that:
"people who die as a non-Christian will burn in a lake of fire for eternity"?

just wondering if theres any other views, this one always gets me......i hate thinking that 2/3's of the world will be tortured unendingly.

Hell is literal.

Yet the people that go there will need to reject Christ soberly and in the most clear terms.

Now, what happens to that Chinese farmer that never even knew Christ?
That is another question.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I conceive of Hell not as literal, but as C.S. Lewis described in The Great Divorce, an eternal, cold and lonely separation from God, and those who go there will be there by their own choosing, since they've made of themselves beings who cannot stand to be in the awesome holy presence of God. Lonely I say because they'll be missing out on God and the joyous celebration in Heaven, though there will actually be plenty of company... but it will be tiresome and unsatisfying.

 

[Ceridwen]

I conceive of Hell not as literal, but as C.S. Lewis described in The Great Divorce, an eternal, cold and lonely separation from God, and those who go there will be there by their own choosing, since they've made of themselves beings who cannot stand to be in the awesome holy presence of God. Lonely I say because they'll be missing out on God and the joyous celebration in Heaven, though there will actually be plenty of company... but it will be tiresome and unsatisfying.

CS Lewis believed and taught that divine vengeance was an expression of God's love for his creatures. Thus, for him, "hell" could mean nothing more than the experience of a deteriorated soul which experience God's love as pain or that retreated from love. CS Lewis believed that God's retribution was always corrective. This is obviously not Biblical, and I sometimes wonder why Evangelicals and Protestants continue to interest themselves in what that man said.

 

[DeaconDean]

I like what R.C. Sproul said:

"A breath of relief is usually heard when someone declares, “Hell is a symbol for separation from God.” To be separated from God for eternity is no great threat to the impenitent person. The ungodly want nothing more than to be separated from God. Their problem in hell will not be separation from God, it will be the presence of God that will torment them. In hell, God will be present in the fullness of His divine wrath. He will be there to exercise His just punishment of the damned. They will know Him as an all-consuming fire.
No matter how we analyze the concept of hell it often sounds to us as a place of cruel and unusual punishment. If, however, we can take any comfort in the concept of hell, we can take it in the full assurance that there will be no cruelty there. It is impossible for God to be cruel. Cruelty involves inflicting a punishment that is more severe or harsh than the crime. Cruelty in this sense is unjust. God is incapable of inflicting an unjust punishment. The Judge of all the earth will surely do what is right. No innocent person will ever suffer at His hand.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of hell is its eternality. People can endure the greatest agony if they know it will ultimately stop. In hell there is no such hope. The Bible clearly teaches that the punishment is eternal. The same word is used for both eternal life and eternal death. Punishment implies pain. Mere annihilation, which some have lobbied for, involves no pain. Jonathan Edwards, in preaching on Revelation 6:15-16 said, “Wicked men will hereafter earnestly wish to be turned to nothing and forever cease to be that they may escape the wrath of God.” (John H. Gerstner, Jonathan Edwards on Heaven and Hell [Orlando: Ligonier Ministries, 1991], 75.)
Hell, then, is an eternity before the righteous, ever-burning wrath of God, a suffering torment from which there is no escape and no relief. Understanding this is crucial to our drive to appreciate the work of Christ and to preach His gospel."

http://www.bible-researcher.com/hell6.html

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Ceridwen]

If, however, we can take any comfort in the concept of hell, we can take it in the full assurance that there will be no cruelty there. Cruelty involves inflicting a punishment that is more severe or harsh than the crime.

How does R.C. Sproul know that this is the definition of "cruelty"? Is this definition of "cruelty" written in the Bible somewhere? Does everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike, agree with this definition of cruelty? Where did Sproul get this definition from?


Most non-Christians would say that for God to retribute evil for evil would be an act of cruelty. Yet, under R.C. Sproul's definition of "cruelty," this act would not be cruel if the measure of God's retribution is the same size as the measure of the person's crime. Sproul assumes that a sin is infinitely loathsome and thus even an infinite retaliation would not be cruel:

Joshua 23:15 (New International Version)
The LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you.
​

But given Sproul's unstated beliefs and questionable definitions, his commentary is merely silly and is simply an attempt to intimidate or confuse his listeners. This is typical of Sproul who treats his readers like children.

 

[Breaking Babylon]

This post is for a more Orthodox understanding.

Consider this analogy:

You've lived in a basement for many, many years. By your own choosing you never went outside to see the sunlight or enjoy the warmth. One day, unexpectedly, the roof of your home is ripped off. Naturally the sunlight is going to be very very painful to you, blinding, and devastating. On the other hand, if you had prepared yourself by basking in the light, you would be used to it.

Likewise, the cleansing fire of God during the last days will be as warmth and grace to His people, but devastating and unbearable to the others. The elect will eternally live in the uncreated light of God, and the damned will forever feel the torment of His searing Love.

 

[icedtea]

CS Lewis believed and taught that divine vengeance was an expression of God's love for his creatures. Thus, for him, "hell" could mean nothing more than the experience of a deteriorated soul which experience God's love as pain or that retreated from love. CS Lewis believed that God's retribution was always corrective. This is obviously not Biblical, and I sometimes wonder why Evangelicals and Protestants continue to interest themselves in what that man said.

I wonder that, too.

 

[Ceridwen]

Isaac, What you are describing is not biblical, the Bible describes hell not as the experience of God's love, but of God's punishment not intended to correct:

Deuteronomy 7:10 KJV:
[God] repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Nahum 1:2 (King James Version)
God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Psalm 2:12 (New International Version)
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
​

The idea that somehow heaven and hell are the same love of God, experienced as pain or joy based on a person's willingness to be corrected -- while it may have a pretty good pedigree amongst certain people like St. Isaac of Syria, Maximos the Confessor, and others -- is a minority position among the Eastern Orthodox.

More importantly, it is not Biblical. God does not love non-Christians beyond the grave, and the reason why their experience is "hell" rather than "Heaven" is because God has not forgiven their sins, but is instead taking vengeance upon them.

 

[DeaconDean]

How does R.C. Sproul know that this is the definition of "cruelty"? Is this definition of "cruelty" written in the Bible somewhere? Does everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike, agree with this definition of cruelty? Where did Sproul get this definition from?






Most non-Christians would say that for God to retribute evil for evil would be an act of cruelty. Yet, under R.C. Sproul's definition of "cruelty," this act would not be cruel if the measure of God's retribution is the same size as the measure of the person's crime. Sproul assumes that a sin is infinitely loathsome and thus even an infinite retaliation would not be cruel:

Joshua 23:15 (New International Version)​

The LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you.​

But given Sproul's unstated beliefs and questionable definitions, his commentary is merely silly and is simply an attempt to intimidate or confuse his listeners. This is typical of Sproul who treats his readers like children.

It would be cruel to punish a thief the same as a murderer. Even by our standards. Jesus said that when those "goats" come before Him He will say to them:

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" -Mt. 25:41 (KJV)

And in the book of Revelation we are told that they shall be punished in the presence of the Lord God, in the presence of the angels, and in the presence of the Lord Jesus:

"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" -Rev. 14:10 (KJV)

We are told that Jesus will be the "righteous judge." (2 Tim. 4:8) Therefore He cannot judge unrighteously. And all judgement has been given to Jesus:

"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" -Jn. 5:22 (KJV)

And that Jesus is the executor of judgment:

"And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." -Jn. 5:27 (KJV)

It would be cruel for God to commit a born-again believer to hell. And that God will not do. It would be cruel for God to punish the one with many strips who deserved few. But that will not be the case, for scriptures tell us:

"And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." -Lk. 12:47-48 (KJV)

God is not some kid with a magnifying glass burning ants as they walk by, whatever punishment He dishes out to those who deserve it, I can rest assured that thy deserve it.

"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it." -Isa. 13:9 (KJV)

However Sister, everybody is entitled to their own opinion, you have yours, and I have mine. May God bless you in yours.

I'm outta here.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Renton405]

Hell is literal.

Yet the people that go there will need to reject Christ soberly and in the most clear terms.

Now, what happens to that Chinese farmer that never even knew Christ?
That is another question.

Thanks,
Ed

Christ preached in Hell after his death for the people before him waiting for salvation(The Harrowing of Hell)(Peter)

I have a feeling these people(in sheol) were the most appeciative for Christs salvation. Yet everyone on the earthy world ignored him or even worse, mocked and killed him.. I don't think the people realize the severity of what they were doing..

 

[AJB4]

Who cares anyway? What everyone should be trying to avoid is actually going there to see which theory was correct.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Who cares anyway? What everyone should be trying to avoid is actually going there to see which theory was correct.

That is SO true!

 

[Renton405]

Put your hand on a flame for 5-10 seconds.. now imagine that pain except all over your body and FOREVER... its just simply beyond any human comprehension..

If the pain is like that, then I truely pray fullheartdly that people will turn back to God.

Is Atheism really worth the risk of this??

When people truely realize things like this(the seriousness and reality of Hell), then they start to truely think about how important God and our salvation is.. are things like athiesm and homosexuality really worth risking your own soul?? Even if you are an atheist and don't believe, what if your wrong and its true?...Athiesm is such a lose-lose situation, you get absolutly nothing from it..

 

[MikeMcK]

does everyone take literally that:
"people who die as a non-Christian will burn in a lake of fire for eternity"?

It would be more accurate to say that those who die in their sins, apart from the forgiveness and reconciliation to God found through repentance and faith in Christ will burn in a lake of fire for eternity.

i hate thinking that 2/3's of the world will be tortured unendingly.

So what are you going to do about it?