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Is not believing in an eternal hell Heresy?

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MoreCoffee

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Why make such a condemning statement about the teaching of the churches that Christians have known and believed for centuries with bibles in their hands and good clear thinking minds, were they all so lazy and incapable that they deserve to be condemned with such sweeping generalisations about their dishonesty when reading their bibles or laziness about reading their bibles and do you really, in your heart, believe that they didn't pray for proper understanding of the message in the bible? How can you write such disrespectful things about the churches and those who went to them as well as those pastors and teachers who taught in them, the churches that your parents and grandparents went to and to which you and most reading this thread went to from their childhood until now? It astounds me to read such general condemnations of past generations and this generation as we can see in the bold text quoted above.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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Great post.
Have you or others ever studied on the covenantle parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16, that actually shows a Man in torments in Hades?

Isa 45:19
I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,‘Seek me in vain.'
I the LORD speak the truth;
I declare what is right.

Jhn 8:40
but now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.
This is not what Abraham did.

Lazarus and the Rich Man - Here a little, there a little - Commentary
JESUS VS THE JEWISH RULERS

The parable of Lazarus and the rich man has been the foundation for many of the erroneous beliefs about "hell" within traditional Christianity. Some have viewed it not as a parable, but as a true story Yeshua told to give details about the punishment of sinners in hell.

Yet a thorough, unbiased examination of this story will show that the generally accepted interpretations of this passage of Scripture are erroneous and misleading. In this article, we will go through the parable verse by verse to determine what the Messiah was truly teaching.

LUKE 16:24
Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham! have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue;
for I am tormented in this flame.' "



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James Is Back

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Although God's love knows no bounds His perfect Justice also knows no bounds. To have the perfect reward for those who followed Him you need a perfect punishment for this who were against Him.

That is why the LOF will be the final punishment for the wicked,Satan,The AntiChrist,The False Prophet and the other fallen angels. The perfect punishment for those who rejected salvation from Christ and those who took the Mark during the Tribulation and of course Satan's minions is eternal damnation.

Not a pretty picture but it's the Truth. That is why Christ came down and sacrificed Himself on the cross so we wouldn't have to go there.

And someone mentioned the rules of CF. From my understanding Annihilation discussions are against the rules of GT. If I'm wrong someone can correct me.
 
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MoreCoffee

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All life - the true life that God himself has - comes from God and the moment a person is cut off from God he ceases to have that life and becomes dead in sins and trespasses even when he is still breathing and thinking and walking this Earth. The first death that we know and understand is the death of the body when those whom we love stop breathing and thinking and walking this Earth. The second death is the death that separates a person from God forever. It's the death that the wicked will experience when they are "cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14). The scripture says "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, he 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: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:9-11). So the words in Revelation point to the lake of fire being everlasting and the smoke of the torments of those cast into it lasting forever. Christians ought to know, because we trust and love God, that God is not cruel. Even if everlasting torment is what the wicked experience we ought to know that God is not cruel. Even if the wicked are tormented in the presence of God's holy angels we ought to know that God is not cruel. It ought to be our thinking that whatever is meant by everlasting punishment and everlasting torment is is not cruelty on the part of God. Our thinking needs to be trained by our trust in God and knowledge of God, in short we ought to have a bible-trained conscience, even when the bible says that the smoke of their torment ascends for ever and ever. If it is not true and if it is taught as if it were true then it is an error. If it teaches people to believe errors about God, such as thinking he is cruel for punishing the wicked eternally, then it is heresy.

If it is against the teaching that Christians have held for many centuries because they read their bibles and prayed to God to make them wise in understanding it and then taught the truths that they'd received from scripture and from those who taught them and from the apostles then it will be against the rules of ChristianForums.com because this forum teaches that the Nicene Creed expressed orthodox Christian faith.

We all ought to read our bibles (if we are able to) and pray to God for wisdom to understand what we read and we ought to honestly face up to what we discover even if it seems cruel by the worldly standards we pick up from TV and schools and everything.

There's one truth I think we all learn from God and that is that God is good and worthy of our trust. If God revealed that there is unquenchable flames, everlasting punishment, and everlasting destruction from the presence and power of God then we know he is not cruel ... if we trust him. We're not being discouraged from learning the facts. Read your bible, check all the passages that deal with the punishment of the wicked, see for yourself what Jesus says but see with open eyes and nothing between you and what the Lord says so that your vision is not obscured. Take a look at post #320 and look up the passages quoted and referenced in it. There's always a chance that God isn't as cruel as you think having an eternal hell would make him.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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Do you think that is fair, considering how many in Christianity may actually believe in that or have once believed it to be a heresy but now may be rethinking it?

But that is of course up to the owner of CF.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7771017/
POLL: Annihilationism, Universalism or Eternal Hell

View Poll Results: Pick one

Annihilationism
18 48.65%

Eternal Hell
12 32.43%

Universalism
7 18.92%


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James Is Back

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I don't make up the rules LLOJ so it's not my call. I really don't care either way but it's the mods and the owners discretion whether or not to allow it.

The fact it's still unlocked means either no one reported it or the mods are being lenient with the thread. So if that's the case I will shut up about the rules but don't be surprised if this gets locked.

So shall we carry on with the discussion than?
 
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MoreCoffee

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It is good to know that a poll in the unorthodox subforum of CF is not going to be the criterion by which we will be judged on the last day. God is just, if we trust him and love him then we know that what he says is true even if the whole world calls him a liar.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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Yes, let's carry on.......

Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son - YouTube



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shturt678s

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Pretty much affirmed form an old very conservative confessional ELCA Lutheran. Secretly judged now, publically judged at the end of time sort of thing.

Old Jack still taking notes.
 
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Mama Kidogo

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Fair? Isn't that an event where they have beauty contests for hogs?
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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I agree......


1 Peter 2:12
The behavior of ye in the the nations having ideal.
That in which they are speaking against ye as evil-doers, out of the ideal works being spectators, they should be glorifying the God in day of visitation/inspection.
[Matt 5:16]

Reve 2:23
And the offspring of herI shall be killing in death,
and shall be knowing all the Out-Calleds that I am the One searching kidneys/reigns and hearts
and I shall be giving to ye each according to the works of ye.





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MoreCoffee

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Pretty much affirmed form an old very conservative confessional ELCA Lutheran. Secretly judged now, publically judged at the end of time sort of thing.

Old Jack still taking notes.

Good to see you again, my friend
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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Originally Posted by LittleLambofJesus

Do you think that is fair, considering how many in Christianity may actually believe in that or have once believed it to be a heresy but now may be rethinking it?

Fair? Isn't that an event where they have beauty contests for hogs?
Pie eating contests are fun

Reve 3:16
So -- because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth;

The Pie-Eating Contest - Stand by Me (3/8) Movie CLIP (1986) HD - YouTube



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Mama Kidogo

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Not to mention I voted eternal hell and it didn't change the number of votes for eternal hell.I see one other said it showed they'd already voted when they had not. I'm not so keen on polls that cannot be viewed publicly.

I like this word 'fair' being used. It's almost funny that some think they have the ability to judge 'fairness' concerning God. Is this the same God that destroyed the world with a flood? The same fair God that ordered the complete destruction of entire cities? The same fair God that ejected mankind from the garden for a single err from man who didn't know the difference between good and evil?

I'll use the word you used. Just. And I will not question His judgement on my ideology of what 'fair' is.

Seems many think God sees us like pet dogs. To be euthanized out of some odd compassion when He has all power.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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......................
I'll use the word you used. Just. And I will not question His judgement on my ideology of what 'fair' is.

Seems many think God sees us like pet dogs. To be euthanized out of some odd compassion when He has all power.
The Samaritan women at the well felt like she was seen as that.

Lazarus and the Rich Man - Here a little, there a little - Commentary
JESUS VS THE DOGS

Matt 15:27
But she said "yea Lord!
for even the little-dogs/kunaria <2952> are eating from the scraps, the ones falling from the table of the lords of them;"
[Mark 7:27/Luke 16:21]

LUKE 16:
20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,
21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.
Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

Philip 3:2
Beware of the dogs!/kunaV <2965> beware of-the evil workers! beware of-the circumcision!
[Psalm 22:16/Isaiah 56:11/Revelation 22:15]

Reve 22:15
Outside the dogs/kuneV <2965> and the sorcerers and the prostituters and the muderers and the idolaters and every one being fond of and doing falseness.
[Philipp 3:2]


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Mama Kidogo

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And yet he didn't kill her off even though he found her broken.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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And yet he didn't kill her off even though he found her broken.
He didn't kill these guys off either.
[At least not until about 40 yrs later]

http://www.bible.ca/pre-destruction70AD-george-holford-1805AD.htm
DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND TEMPLE IN 70ad

Matt 23:33
"Serpents! produce of vipers!
how? ye may be fleeing from the judging of the geennhV <1067>
[Ezekiel 39:12/Reve 14:11]

Revelation 14:11
And the Smoke of the tormenting of Them is ascending into Ages to-Ages.
Reve 19:3
And a second-time they have declared "allelouia and the Smoke of Her is ascending into the Ages of the Ages".

I have a rather unique view that the Lake of Fire/Gehenna may be symbolically representing OC Jerusalem in Revelation.
I have a poll thread on that if any are interested.

No surprise that a lot of members voted "that is absurb and ridiculous view"

http://www.christianforums.com/t7434988/
OC Jerusalem and Lake of Fire

View Poll Results: OC Jerusalem, Lake of Fire the Same?

Yes it is possible they are the same
4 11.11%

No, it is not possible they are the same
8 22.22%

That is an absurb and ridiculous view!
9 25.00%

I have never thought of it that way
6 16.67%

I don't know
6 16.67%

None of the above
3 8.33%




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MoreCoffee

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If God is subject to human ideas of fairness, cruelty, justice, and goodness then he will be incompetent to judge the world. We're incompetent to judge ourselves. How can we pretend to judge God and call him cruel or unfair? God isn't exactly like the somebody you are equal to, he isn't exactly dependent on your good opinion.
 
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Angelquill

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The second death is the death that separates a person from God forever. It's the death that the wicked will experience when they are "cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14).

I find that it helps to look at these verses in their context, rather than to pick out a particular verse that seems to agree with our preconceived notions and put our own "spin" on it.

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Now, we see that "death and hell were cast into the lake of fire." Now, I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I can figure out that, if hell is the lake of fire, it can't very well be tossed into the lake of fire. That just doesn't make any sense.
The word used for "hell" here is "sheol"...which literally means "the grave".
So, what is being said is that the grave, along with it's nasty companion, death itself, are being tossed into what would seem to be God's trash burn pile.
So, what happens to stuff that gets thrown in there? Well, it does tell us that "death is no more", so there's a hint. Besides, the verse clearly says that the lake of fire is "the second death".
Next, we are told that "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Now, again...I'm no scholar...just a simple bard...but even I can figure out that the fate of these people is going to be pretty much the same as everything else that goes into the burn pile.
Now, the first death is the death of the body. So, the "second death" must be the death of the spirit.
Nowhere in the Bible, at least not so far as I've found in some fifty two years of reading it, does it say that we have an immortal soul. In fact, we are very clearly told that eternal life is a gift, which would indicate that it is something we don't already have.
These are a couple of the reasons why I am rethinking my belief in "eternal torture".
And, yes...I do have a problem with the idea that a God Who says that He is love, could stand to torture people forever. He is already very sad at the very idea that any should perish...let's not make it any harder on Him than it has to be....
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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Is it still the view of Roman Catholicism today that people who die outside of Christ, or in mortal sin, are tormented for eternity in hellfire? Isn't Catholicism the one that instituted both eternal torment in hell and purgatory, perhaps to scare people into joining that church or staying in it? Just curious.

Yeshua and Hell

quote from site:

I now believe that hell is the invention of Roman Catholicism; and surprisingly, most, if not all, of our popular concepts of hell can be found in the writings of Roman Catholic writers like the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), author of Dante's Inferno. The English poet John Milton (1608-1674), author of Paradise Lost, set forth the same concepts in a fashion highly acceptable to the Roman Catholic faith.

The hell myth is a fiction developed by the church to increase its power and keep the flock under control. It simply never existed.

Yet none of our concepts of hell can be found in the teaching of Jesus Christ! [Dawson's italics] We get indignant at the mention of purgatory&#8212;we know that's not in the Bible. We may also find that our popular concepts of hell came from the same place that purgatory did&#8212;Roman Catholicism.
THE OLD ENGLISH &#8220;hell,&#8221; denoted that which is covered (hidden or unseen). Consequently, it once served as a suitable translation of the Greek hades, which means &#8220;imperceptible&#8221; or &#8220;unseen.&#8221; In modern English, however, due to the corrupting influence of human tradition, &#8220;hell&#8221; has come to mean &#8220;the abode of the dead; the place of punishment after death [in which the dead are alive].&#8221; Consequently, since in modern English the notion represented by the term &#8220;hell&#8221; constitutes, to say the least, interpretation, not translation, it is unconscionable for modern translators to render either the Hebrew sheol or the Greek hades by this expression.
Yet it is worse still, whether in old English or modern English, to render the Greek tartarosas and especially the Greek geenna, also as &#8220;hell.&#8221; Such &#8220;translations&#8221; are not translations at all; they are but the product of circular reasoning and hoary tradition. Whatever one&#8217;s understanding may be concerning the matters to which these words make reference, as a translation of the Original, the rendering &#8220;hell,&#8221; in all cases, is wholly unjustifiable. Yet it is this very rendering, the single term, &#8220;hell,&#8221; for all these distinct words in the Original, which has spawned all the familiar talk concerning &#8220;hell&#8221; which prevails among &#8220;Bible-believing Christians&#8221; today. (James Coram, "The Gehenna of Fire," Concordant Publishing Concern, 2006)
The Inventors and Perpetrators of Hell
(Gary Amirault, Acrobat .pdf format)</STRONG>
This explanation contains a list of ancient philosophers who developed the hell myth and a list of famous Christian theologians who continued perpetuated the myth in spite of the fact that it had no Biblical basis.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Savior of the World Series on Hell[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]</B>[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](J. Preston Eby, Web page)[/FONT]

The Real Meaning of the Rich Man and Lazarus </STRONG>
(Ernest Martin, Ph.D.)

What does Hell look like? </STRONG>
(Ernest Martin, Ph.D., Tentmaker Ministries, Gary Amirault, Web site)[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Jesus' Teaching on Hell[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](Samuel G. Dawson)[/FONT]
Most of what we believe about hell comes from Catholicism and ignorance of the Old Testament, not from the Bible. [/SIZE]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Case Against Hell[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](Mercy Aiken, with Gary Amirault) [/FONT]
An article that asks some very important questions about the history of the doctrine of Hell.

The Lake of Fire
(J. Preston Eby)
An examination of the words used in the church in the light of the original Greek and rest of scripture. (such as the Lake of Fire).

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Hell is Leaving the Bible "Forever." </STRONG>[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](http://www.what-the-hell-is-hell.com/HellStudy/HellChart.html) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The word "hell" is disappearing from the pages of English Bible translations and HAS already completely disappeared from many of them. Scholars are beginning to see that a few key ancient words should not have been translated to mean "eternal."[/FONT] [/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Bible Hell</STRONG> [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](John Wesley Hanson, Ph.D.) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A book by Dr. John Wesley Hanson detailing the history of the English word "hell." He also goes into thorough detail discussing the Greek and Hebrew words, Sheol, Gehenna, Hades, and Tartarus.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Origin and History of the Doctrine of Endless Punishment</STRONG> (Thomas Thayer, D.D.) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A book by Thomas Thayer proving the teaching of Hell and Everlasting Punishment was added to Christianity centuries after Jesus walked this earth.[/FONT]





[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif].[/FONT]
 
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