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You didn't understand a thing that I explained to you, did you?
So if a Christian did not believe that some people will stay in hell and be eternally punished/tortured, and instead believed in Annihiliationism or Universal Reconciliation, is that heretical thought?
I do not believe in an eternal Hell, nor do I adhere to Annihilation (as it is currently understood) or Universalism. In the SDA denomination, annihilation involves soul sleep. Jehovah Witnesses believe the same. This had many implications, one of which is that we don't have an immaterial soul. They think the soul is the fleshly body that goes into the grave (Sheol). But Sheol is much more than a grave; it is the underworld. Many scriptures support this.
I believe the those who are Christians go directly to heaven and those who aren't go to Hades (which is not Hell), it is like a prison that holds criminals awaiting judgment day. The Abyss (or Bottomless Pit) holds a portion of demons who are locked up and held until they are released to wreck havoc during the Great Tribulation period.
Hell is the Lake of Fire and is more of an event than an eternal place. It is a physical place, not spiritual. Fire is fire and it burns things up. At the end of the Bible, Hades and death are thrown into the Lake of Fire and are destroyed.
Universalism teaches that everyone will be saved; therefore, party hardy, do what you want_ rape, pillage and plunder, it doesn't matter, we all get saved. Hogwash! Jesus would not have had to die for our sins. There are too many scriptures addressing judgment and the end of the age. The wages of sin is death and sin will be judged.
The key to understanding words like eternal, perish, destruction, and everlasting is to examine the Greek. Eternal is an English word and usually means without beginning or end. But it is derived from aion, aionios or aionion which have variable meanings according to how it's used. It can mean an age or ages, lifetime, generation(s),epoch of time, or world.
God, His domain and our salvation go forward into eternity. But this temporal world will have an end and if it is used to describe anything that is temporal, it cannot mean the same.
Everlasting should be translated as age-lasting or age-during which is not infinite.
We also know what the words perish or destroy mean: to put an end to, terminate, annihilate. Therefore a soul or spirit cannot be destroyed infinitely. There maybe a process of destruction, an extended time period, but an end is definite. It's like implying that there is an indestructible destruction or imperishable perishing.
When souls and spirits are thrown into the Lake of Fire (and this should mean Satan and his demonic horde as well), they will be destroyed and that is the true meaning of annihilation, not some temporary soul sleep.
How would God be glorified by sustaining souls being tormented in and eternal torture chamber by a mere 80 years or sinning or maybe even only 20 years? God's justice has been displayed throughout history and nowhere in the Bible do I see an eternal hell supported by this pillar of justice.
So, IMHO, you are not a heretic if you do not believe in an eternal hell. Hundreds of years ago, yes, but not now. Actually Martin Luther had a problem with accepting this doctrine. He might have included it in his 95 Thesis if it wasn't for Calvin telling him not to go there and leave it alone.
I don't agree with Calvins's TULIP either.
I devoted two chapters in my book, "Hell ... If I Know", to the nature of Hell. My avatar is actually the cover of my book.
calling me a heretic cause I don't believe Jesus is God is just as slanderous as me calling you a moron for believing 3 is one. heretic is a word that's meant to insult and hurt, just like moron is.Maybe some of them do mean that. If they called you "ridiculous" or "dead wrong" would you interpret that as meaning "You're not a Christian?" If so, why should such mistaken name-calling upset you so. But if we return to the thread here--and what the question it asks actually is--as opposed to speculating about what someone who might use THAT word is thinking--the answer is "No." It doesn't make you a non-Christian.
Yes, heretics, not non-Christians.
calling me a heretic cause I don't believe Jesus is God is just as slanderous as me calling you a moron for believing 3 is one. heretic is a word that's meant to insult and hurt, just like moron is.
I don't believe in the spurious scriptures and interpolations of scriptures inserted to change the word of God. And that is the major proof that Jesus is God.Do you believe the Bible?
I don't believe in the spurious scriptures and interpolations of scriptures inserted to change the word of God. And that is the major proof that Jesus is God.
Do you believe the Bible?
Falsifying the Word of God dealing with faith, baptism, and repentance is obviously heresy, ie, a big part of "repentance" is Rom.3:18, "fear" construed with Matt.10:28, "afraid" thus removing forever and ever in torments is a big no no!
Can"t wait till you folks hit 74 or so, ie, being even implicitely called a moron, stupid, heretic, and etc. doesn't penetrate one's elephant skin except being called "late for dinner."
Old Jack that believes the context of translated Bible Texts.
John 1:1, 14 and John chapters 14, 15 and 16. Anything spurious there ?
Ain't that far away from that! I've been around the world three or two times.
yes there is, most all Christians take the word to be the preincarnate Christ, thus they have changed the word of god that says 'the word was God' to 'the preincarnate Christ was God.' The word is a term for the word of God, not for any preincarnate Christ.John 1:1, 14 and John chapters 14, 15 and 16. Anything spurious there ?
I traveled outter island in Hawaii if that counts?
Hate that milage...need a new body.
Old Jack
I too have been around the block a time or two. I learned to read when FDR was president and I remember VE and VJ days.
I received my MA in teaching using my G.I. Bill long ago, and consider you still one of my profs. I know this won't go to your head so don't mind encouraging you.
The only complaint I have is I have to keep buying note pads and pens and printer ink.
Old Jack still taking notes.
Flaming
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I was more thinking about when I undergo my future crematory experience, ie, I talked to the person operating voicing my concern of my skull not totally evaporating...he assurred me they have a hotter fire than before, and all turns into vapor and a little dust for next of kin..I thanked him.
My point: Matt.10:28, "afraid" When one completes partying out in/out of the churches only to vaporize + a little dust, there's no "terrifying fear" (forever in the lake of fire tormented inwardly and outwardly) due to distressing the Kingdom of God., ie, one can be complacent, indifferent, and disobedient with no forever consequences? Doesn't work this way...like in today's time.
"destroy both soul (no vaporizing here as invisible) and body in Gehenna." Summarizing this is not a childlike fear, the motive of filial obedience, but the terrifying fear of God's holy, burning wrath wich would have to strike us if we yeilded to the fear of men and denied His Word and His will.
On Gehenna as a designation for hell, the place of the damed, "Soul and body in Gehenna" implies the bodily resurrection of the damned....nooooo poofing!
Old Jack just thinking out loud again.
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