How can people enjoy heaven knowing that our loved ones are in hell?

[Neostarwcc]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity? God promises to wipe every tear from our eyes but Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)? Isaiah partially gives an answer to that question when he says "And they shall be loathsome to all mankind". So we will no longer love our loved ones and will only see them for the wicked and vile sinners that they are? When they are judged at the great white throne we will agree with every single decision God makes even those made against people we once loved on Earth?

Will our sense of justice be made like Gods in which we will completely hate sin and not only will never do it again but also we can't be around it anymore? Just... So many questions... Help?

 

[Call me Nic]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity? God promises to wipe every tear from our eyes but Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)? Isaiah partially gives an answer to that question when he says "And they shall be loathsome to all mankind". So we will no longer love our loved ones and will only see them for the wicked and vile sinners that they are? When they are judged at the great white throne we will agree with every single decision God makes even those made against people we once loved on Earth?

Will our sense of justice be made like Gods in which we will completely hate sin and not only will never do it again but also we can't be around it anymore? Just... So many questions... Help?

Good question. I don’t believe the Bible gives a direct answer, other than to say that we will only know then. Currently we know in part, and see in part, but then our knowledge will be made perfect.

Another good question: God loves every single person, yet he will be aware of their eternal torment and suffering. How can God have the joyful holy Spirit knowing what he does? That’s a question that bakes my noodle. All I can surmise is, “great is the mystery of godliness.”

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

“great is the mystery of godliness.”

Christianity would be much more approachable if people would just say they did not know but that they had faith everything is as it should be.

 

[Jonaitis]

As much as we love our loved ones here, our love is tainted toward them. After we enter in glory, we will love God perfectly in all things, as it should have been in the beginning. Our love for our neighbor is to be based on our perfect love toward God.

Also, another thing to note is that we will be perfectly in conformity to God's will and perfectly fixated on God's glory. We will be "sidetracked" by the things that will be enjoyed in eternal life than constantly thinking about those that have eternally perished in this life.

I heard one preacher say that it is in this life that we will ever weep for the perishing, and that we should take advantage of the time we live in to reach and pray for them.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Good question. I don’t believe the Bible gives a direct answer, other than to say that we will only know then. Currently we know in part, and see in part, but then our knowledge will be made perfect.

Another good question: God loves every single person, yet he will be aware of their eternal torment and suffering. How can God have the joyful holy Spirit knowing what he does? That’s a question that bakes my noodle. All I can surmise is, “great is the mystery of godliness.”

Well that's an easy question to answer. Because God is a God of perfect justice and to him a just punishment for sin is an eternal punishment.

Picture it this way. Our world that we live in now has courtrooms with a judge. And a just punishment for the judge for the crime of murder is life in prison without parole. Nobody questions that judgement because they consider it a just punishment for the crime of murder. The same goes with God. Only the crime that God is judging is sin and each sin is equal in God's perfectly just eyes. And this time the punishment for murder isn't life in prison its life (which happens to be an eternity because all mankind will be given immortal bodies) in hellfire. How is that not a just sentence?

I mean I guess I answered my own question but my question was more along the lines of loved ones that we love. Unless we're given a perfect sense of justice like God's we would probably view that same sentence on someone we love as in just. So God HAS to change us and our sense of justice somehow to where we would say "Yup, our God is a just God" no matter who God is judging.

 

[Neostarwcc]

As much as we love our loved ones here, our love is tainted toward them. After we enter in glory, we will love God perfectly in all things, as it should have been in the beginning. Our love for our neighbor is to be based on our perfect love toward God.

Also, another thing to note is that we will be perfectly in conformity to God's will and perfectly fixated on God's glory. We will be "sidetracked" by the things that will be enjoyed in eternal life than constantly thinking about those that have eternally perished in this life.

I heard one preacher say that it is in this life that we will ever weep for the perishing, and that we should take advantage of the time we live in to reach and pray for them.

So God will change our sense of justice even against those who we once loved? Because Isaiah says that they will be detestable to ALL mankind that means that they will even view themselves as detestable.

So maybe if they're made detestable in our minds that we would consider Gods judgement as just even against our loved ones.

 

[bling]

Lots of people see no logical reason for God selecting some for salvation and allowing others to go to hell, so for them, they would reasonably have survivor regret. There is no logical answer with that believe.

Those that see: only those going to hell who repeatedly, to the point they would never, accept God’s charity as charity, would realize these people would not be happy in heaven where there is this huge Love feast with only Godly type Love. Just as God’s Love for them, caused God to allow Christ to go to the cross, they can see allowing the unwilling to go to help motivated some children to accept God’s charity and thus go to heaven.

God is not sending people to hell because He wants them to suffer, but to help some nonbelievers to be motivated to accept His charity.

 

[Jonaitis]

So God will change our sense of justice even against those who we once loved? Because Isaiah says that they will be detestable to ALL mankind that means that they will even view themselves as detestable.

So maybe if they're made detestable in our minds that we would consider Gods judgement as just even against our loved ones.

I would say yes, we will be in such conformity to the will and justice of God toward the reprobate that we will be unified in the verdict against them. Scripture says that we will judge, not only angels, but the world. If that is the case, we will not have biases in our judgment, but wholly be in perfect conformity to what God wants and to what God does. If he is glorified in the justice of the wicked, we will glorify him for it. This is something not everyone can swallow, even the loved ones I knew in this life that passed away without ever knowing Christ, I will stand against them on that day when we come to take the kingdoms of the world. If God finds them detestable, we will find them detestable. Our eyes will be open enough to see what God sees, and to agree with what God says.

 

[com7fy8]

Also, another thing to note is that we will be perfectly in conformity to God's will and perfectly fixated on God's glory.

This is like to what I am thinking.

Our attention will be to Jesus.

 

[Silverback]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity? God promises to wipe every tear from our eyes but Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)? Isaiah partially gives an answer to that question when he says "And they shall be loathsome to all mankind". So we will no longer love our loved ones and will only see them for the wicked and vile sinners that they are? When they are judged at the great white throne we will agree with every single decision God makes even those made against people we once loved on Earth?

Will our sense of justice be made like Gods in which we will completely hate sin and not only will never do it again but also we can't be around it anymore? Just... So many questions... Help?

We will see things clearly once we pass over from death to life everything will be new, and the old will be passed away.

Everything in this life is tainted by sin, or ability to reason, as well as our emotions.

Other than that, I have faith God will do what's right.

 

[com7fy8]

Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)?

This scripture says ones will see their dead bodies. It does not say we will be watching ones in hell suffering.

Also, you might consider what has happened each time Satan or his people have met with Jesus Himself. They have been tormented with anger and accusing and fear. They have not at all appreciated being with the One so kind and wonderfully beautiful and sharing.

And what can control such stubborn people?

fire

 

[com7fy8]

So we will no longer love our loved ones and will only see them for the wicked and vile sinners that they are?

If we are in Jesus, who is our family? Who have become our deeply loved ones who likewise dearly love us??

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

Do you remember when the people told Jesus that His mother and brothers were calling to Him, while He was ministering to people who were there with Him?

"if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" (in Matthew 5:46)

So, Jesus has us loving any and all people as ourselves. How this is comes with growing and learning in Jesus, of course.

 

[eleos1954]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity? God promises to wipe every tear from our eyes but Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)? Isaiah partially gives an answer to that question when he says "And they shall be loathsome to all mankind". So we will no longer love our loved ones and will only see them for the wicked and vile sinners that they are? When they are judged at the great white throne we will agree with every single decision God makes even those made against people we once loved on Earth?

Will our sense of justice be made like Gods in which we will completely hate sin and not only will never do it again but also we can't be around it anymore? Just... So many questions... Help?

Torment in Hell ... No

Psalm 1:6 “But the way of the ungodly shall perish (singular)” (2nd death)


Psalm 37:20 “But the wicked shall perish… they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” (consume - totally destroyed)

Perish (singular - not perishing ) suffer complete ruin or destruction.

Psalm 69:28 says that the wicked are “blotted out of the book of the living.” (they will not receive eternal life)


Ps. 34:16, 21 “evil brings death to the wicked.” (2nd death)

Psalm 92:7 “… shall be destroyed forever.” (self-explanatory)


Prov. 24:20 “the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.” (will not contune life)


Dan. 2:35 “the wind swept them away without leaving a trace.” (no trace of the wicked totally gone)

Isa. 1:28, 30–31 “rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.” (consumed - totally destroyed)

Obadiah 1:16 It will be as if the evil “had never been.“ (non-existent)


Mal 4:1 “All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.” (they will be totally burned up - destroyed by fire)


Matthew 10:28 “Rather, fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Here Jesus himself teaches against hell– saying that those who are lost experience the death of their soul. If one believes in eternal conscious hell, they believe Jesus was wrong on this point, and that souls don’t die at all, but will live forever in hell.

John 3:16 “…whosoever believeth in him should not perish (singular)” (2nd death)


Matthew 7:13: “broad is the road that leads to destruction“ (totally destroyed)


Philippians 3:19 “whose end is destruction…“ (destroyed)


2 Thessalonians 1:9 “who shall be punished with everlasting destruction …” (destroyed - never to live again)

1 Cor 3:17: “God will destroy that person”


2 Cor 2:15-16: “those that perish“ (2nd death)


Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death..“ (2nd death)


James 4:12a “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.”


2 Peter 2:3: “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (the unsaved in the grave will face destruction) 2nd resurrection


Revelation 20:9

(9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Those who believe in eternal conscious hell don’t believe in the second death– they believe everyone is immortal, and that some will live forever in hell.

Revelation 20:14 “This is the second death…”

Death is Death ... cease to exist. The first death (earthly death) is temporal ... the 2nd death (2nd resurrection) is final and for eternity (cease to exist).

"Wipe away every tear" ... yes, we will see people totally destroyed and it will be a sad time, but we will also see that God was completely correct in who was saved and who was destroyed. No way one could live in eternity thinking people were being tortured, and we won't.

 

[AvgJoe]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity? God promises to wipe every tear from our eyes but Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)? Isaiah partially gives an answer to that question when he says "And they shall be loathsome to all mankind". So we will no longer love our loved ones and will only see them for the wicked and vile sinners that they are? When they are judged at the great white throne we will agree with every single decision God makes even those made against people we once loved on Earth?

Will our sense of justice be made like Gods in which we will completely hate sin and not only will never do it again but also we can't be around it anymore? Just... So many questions... Help?

Question: "How can heaven be perfect if all of our loved ones are not there? Will we have memories of people who are not in heaven?"

Answer: The word perfection carries the idea of wholeness and a lack of nothing. If something is perfect, then it’s complete. So how can heaven be perfect if some people are missing? Wouldn’t it be better if all our loved ones were there?

God is perfect (Psalm 18:30). God’s dwelling place is perfect. God’s plan of salvation is perfect. In God’s plan (which is perfect) He extends the righteousness of Christ to all who trust in Him. What happens to those who do not trust in Christ? They are rejecting perfection, rejecting God’s dwelling place, and rejecting God Himself. As John 3:18 says, “Whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” To force people to believe, to ignore their sin, or to bypass Christ would be to destroy the perfection of heaven.

When we arrive in heaven, our perspective will change. Our limited, earthly perspective will be replaced by a holy, heavenly perspective. Speaking of the eternal state, Revelation 21:4 says that God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Missing our loved ones would presumably fall under the category of pain or mourning. Perhaps we will have no knowledge or remembrance of them at all. Perhaps we will have come to understand how our loved ones’ absence glorifies God. “Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us” (1 Corinthians 13:12, CEV). In the meantime, we accept by faith that what God says about heaven is true and that we will experience perfection for all eternity.

For a brief description of eternity, see Revelation 21—22. Everything is made new; everything is splendid, glorious, and blessed. That will include us. Our bodies, souls, and spirits will be completely blessed. Sin will no longer be a factor, and our thoughts will be in agreement with God’s (1 John 3:2). God has a plan to comfort His people (Isaiah 40:1), to perfect His redeemed (Hebrews 10:14), and to provide for them for all eternity (Psalm 23:6).

Right now, our focus should not be on how we can enjoy heaven or the eternal state without all of our loved ones there; rather, we should focus on how we can point our loved ones to faith in Christ—so that they will be there.

www.gotquestions.org/Heaven-perfect.html

 

[AvgJoe]

Picture it this way. Our world that we live in now has courtrooms with a judge. And a just punishment for the judge for the crime of murder is life in prison without parole. Nobody questions that judgement because they consider it a just punishment for the crime of murder. The same goes with God. Only the crime that God is judging is sin and each sin is equal in God's perfectly just eyes. And this time the punishment for murder isn't life in prison its life (which happens to be an eternity because all mankind will be given immortal bodies) in hellfire. How is that not a just sentence?

Question: "How is an eternity in hell a just punishment for only a human lifetime of sin? If a person sins for even 100 years, how is it just for God to punish the person for eternity?"

Answer: The Bible says that hell is eternal (Matthew 25:46). Many people struggle with the justice of that. They question how it is just for God to punish a person for eternity in response to only a human lifetime of 70, 80, 90, or even 100 years of sin. How does a sinner’s finite lifespan merit an infinitely long punishment?

There are two biblical principles that clearly declare eternity in hell to be the just punishment for sin, no matter how long one’s earthly life lasted.

First, the Bible declares that all sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4). The extent of the punishment depends, in part, on the target of the crime. In a human court of law, a physical assault against an individual will usually result in a fine and possibly some time in jail. In contrast, a physical assault against the president or prime minister of a country will likely result in a lifetime in prison. And this is the case despite the fact that the crime was a one-time offense, not a continual, ongoing action. God is infinitely higher and greater than any human being. How much more are our crimes worthy of a great punishment in light of the fact that our sins are against God (Romans 6:23)?

Second, the idea that we cease sinning after death is not taught in the Bible. Are those who go to hell suddenly sinless and perfect? No. Those who go into eternity without Christ will be confirmed in their wickedness. The hard-hearted will be eternally hard-hearted. There will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in hell (Matthew 25:30), but no repentance. Sinners in hell will be given over to their own nature; they will be sin-infected, evil, immoral, and depraved beings for all of eternity, forever unredeemed and unregenerate. The lake of fire will be a place of eternal rebellion against God—even as that rebellion is judged (Revelation 20:14–15; cf. Revelation 16:9, 11). Unsaved people do not only sin for 70, 80, 90, or 100 years. They sin for eternity.

What it comes down to is this—if a person wants to be separated from God for eternity, God will grant that desire. Believers are those who say to God, “Your will be done.” Unbelievers are those to whom God says, “Your will be done.” The will of the unsaved is to reject salvation through Jesus Christ and remain in sin; God will honor that decision, and its consequences, for eternity.

www.gotquestions.org/eternity-hell-just.html

 

[worshipjunkie]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity? God promises to wipe every tear from our eyes but Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)? Isaiah partially gives an answer to that question when he says "And they shall be loathsome to all mankind". So we will no longer love our loved ones and will only see them for the wicked and vile sinners that they are? When they are judged at the great white throne we will agree with every single decision God makes even those made against people we once loved on Earth?

Will our sense of justice be made like Gods in which we will completely hate sin and not only will never do it again but also we can't be around it anymore? Just... So many questions... Help?

Have you ever read "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis? If not I would highly recommend it. I can't seem to find it free online. It deals with some of the questions you're raising. I think you're on the right track in that we will see as God sees and we will see sin for what it is. Also, the nature of the one who chose to reject and to continue in sin will become clear to us as well.

“Either the day must come when joy prevails and all the makers of misery are no longer able to infect it, or else, for ever and ever, the makers of misery can destroy in others the happiness they reject for themselves.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

 

[1213]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity? God promises to wipe every tear from our eyes but Just how exactly will God take away every tear when we also will see in plain view our loved ones being tortured for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24)?...

I think it would be good to notice also this:


And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matt. 10:28

I think those who are destroyed, are not tortured, even if they burn forever.

And I think those who are destroyed, are evil and if they would live forever, they would make life eternal suffering for all. That is why I can understand it is good, if they don’t get the eternal life that is for righteous. Also, those who are destroyed, would not want to live with God, so it is actually what they want, eternal separation from God, which is why it doesn’t feel bad.

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

 

[SinoBen]

This question gets asked a lot by atheists and people who refuse to believe. It's now being asked by me. How in the world can we enjoy eternity knowing that our loved ones are not enjoying their eternity?

I guess there is an emotional hump to get over and it may take time to do that but let's look at it this way:

Imagine your loved ones got the black plague and is sick, there is a cure on offer but they refused it. Then in a few days it looks like you got infected too, the same cure is on offer, so does it make sense to refuse it because your loved ones does?

Second point is that people assume that they are going to enjoy eternity or even be with their loved ones in the other place. There's not going to be a celebratory reunion party there.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Christianity would be much more approachable if people would just say they did not know but that they had faith everything is as it should be.

What makes you say that?

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

What makes you say that?

There is plenty of stuff that has no reasonable explanation and trying to reasonably explain those just makes people sound dimwitted.

Like saying heaven is place without ills but everyone still has their free will but just do not want to do anything bad.

Which just makes up question how is that free will if we can not choose to do bad things and if you really just do not want to why were we not created that way in first place ?