The Church's view of the Lake of Fire

[JacktheCatholic]

Polycarp was possibly a disciple of John, and he affirms that hell is eternal. Before his martyrdom he was told to renounce Christ or be cast to the beasts. Polycarp told them to bring the beasts. To that the proconsul said, "I will cause you to be consumed by fire, seeing you despise the wild beasts, if you will not repent." Polycarp replied, "You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why do you tarry? Bring forth what you will."

Yes Polycarp was taught by John the Apostle. Can any one today claim such a great teacher on Heaven and Hell? I think not.

But if you know Hell is real and that when the scriptures say eternal then it means eternal then I would say you are on the right path.

 

[Saint Melania]

The Orthodox teaches there is a hell, but God's presence and love is there too, because God is everywhere.