There is no hell.

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

No hell . . . interesting concept. John Lennon posed the question 'What if there's no heaven." That got a lot of play. What if hell was more of a state of being rather than a place?

Go Cards!

 

[Stryder06]

What is the point of eternal exile if the person can't experience it because they're gone?

Everything the bible says points to eternal damnation, eternal separation...these mean nothing if the person can't experience it.

You guys are ignoring key verses that speaks of this in your efforts to try to make God look like something he's not thinking that will fill the pews.

Thats not it at all. The effects of the punishment is what the bible stresses. We're not ignoring key verses, rather we are looking at what all the verses regarding hell and damnation say. And many of them refer to totally destruction of the wicked and satan. They shall be burned up both root and branch.

Christ is not going to make them suffer forever, however they will be punished according to that which they know. The fire will cleanse the earth of both sin and sinners. Thats all. No one is trying to fill the pews with soft teachings. If anything more people prefer to hear that when they die they will go to heaven. Not that when they die, nothing happens.

 

[GuardianShua]

No hell . . . interesting concept. John Lennon posed the question 'What if there's no heaven." That got a lot of play. What if hell was more of a state of being rather than a place?

Go Cards!

In regards to the word "heaven-s," it literally means place-s. I hear of people saying that they could never worship a God who would torture living being for all eternity. So that is also something to take into consideration. What need would there be for such a thing? would not that make our God more evil than anything we could ever do wrong.
Job 34:10
"So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I hear people say that God is horrible for allowing plagues and tsunamis and hurricanes. Does that mean that we should believe that He isn't in control of those things?

Our limited human understanding of God doesn't limit Him in any way.

Just because someone says "oh, your God is a mean God who puts people in hell" doesn't make him a mean God. He's also the God that sent his son to be put to death for OUR sins.

You do believe that Jesus died on the cross, right?

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

In regards to the word "heaven-s," it literally means place-s. I hear of people saying that they could never worship a God who would torture living being for all eternity. So that is also something to take into consideration. What need would there be for such a thing? would not that make our God more evil than anything we could ever do wrong.
Job 34:10
"So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.

ALMIGHTY.....used 10 times in NT......9 times in Revelation......

2 Corin 6:18 And I shall be to ye as a father and ye shall be to Me as sons and daughters is saying Lord Almighty/panto-kratwr <3841>.

Reve 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega [*beggining and end] is saying Lord the God, the One-being and the One-was and the One-coming, the Almighty/panto-kratwr <3841> .[2 corin 6:18]

3841. pantokrator pan-tok-rat'-ore from 3956 and 2904; the all-ruling, i.e. God (as absolute and universal sovereign):--Almighty, Omnipotent.
3839. pante pan'-tay adverb (of manner) from 3956; wholly:--always.
2904. kratos krat'-os perhaps a primary word; vigor ("great") (literally or figuratively):--dominion, might(-ily), power, strength.

 

[GuardianShua]

You do believe that Jesus died on the cross, right?

Yes.

 

[Stryder06]

I hear people say that God is horrible for allowing plagues and tsunamis and hurricanes. Does that mean that we should believe that He isn't in control of those things?

Our limited human understanding of God doesn't limit Him in any way.

Just because someone says "oh, your God is a mean God who puts people in hell" doesn't make him a mean God. He's also the God that sent his son to be put to death for OUR sins.

You do believe that Jesus died on the cross, right?

God does allow for things to happen such as earthquakes and tsunami's and tornado's. I believe that those things are small portions of his wrath being poured out on this planet.

Eternal punishment is one thing, but eternal punishing is something else. God will punish sinners and put an end to sin, not allow it to continually exist in hell.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

God does allow for things to happen such as earthquakes and tsunami's and tornado's. I believe that those things are small portions of his wrath being poured out on this planet.

Eternal punishment is one thing, but eternal punishing is something else. God will punish sinners and put an end to sin, not allow it to continually exist in hell.

Punishment can't be eternal if it ends.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Punishment can't be eternal if it ends.

Reve 14:11 And the Smoke of the Tormenting of Them is ascending into Ages to-Ages. And not they are having rest Day and Night those worshipping the Wild-Beast,........

Reve 22:5 And night not is being there; and need not they are having of a lamp and light of sun. That Lord the God shall be lighting them, and They shall reigning into the Ages of the Ages.

1.without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing (opposed to temporal ): eternal life. 2.perpetual; ceaseless; endless: eternal quarreling; eternal chatter. 3.enduring; immutable: eternal principles. 4.Metaphysics. existing outside all relations of time; not subject to change

 

[Stryder06]

Punishment can't be eternal if it ends.

Exactly. Hell isn't forever. Besides the fact that it would make God sadistic, the world is what is going to be burned. "Hell" can't last forever because that means that the world would be burning forever, and since we are going to be leaving on this planet in the new Jerusalem than it cant be burning forever. And yes that is scriptural.

 

[ThomasDa]

The smoke ascends forever. It doesn't say their torment lasts forever.
The eternal punishment is eternal death. They are dead forever; that's eternal punishment. not eternal punishing.

 

[Gary51]

God doesn't cause that pain. People with their unbelief do.

What an absurd statememnt.

 

[Gary51]

Oh I believe He's in control of everything. I also believe that He, in no uncertain terms, has said that if you do not believe you will end up in hell where there is eternal suffering.

This kind of mindset is so sad.

 

[ThomasDa]

Kind of like "don't cast your pearl before swine"?

 

[Gary51]

The smoke ascends forever. It doesn't say their torment lasts forever.
The eternal punishment is eternal death. They are dead forever; that's eternal punishment. not eternal punishing.

Yes, their smoke will ascend forever, and this is why....

We are made of matter, the whole universe is made of matter. Matter cannot be destroyed. Every atom from the begining of time still exists, matter simply cannot be destroyed, it can only change form. Therefore burnt flesh will turn to smoke and ash and will exist as long as the physical universe exists.... and that will be forever.

The spirit and awarness in man, is not made of matter.... Therefore that part of man can be destoyed.

 

[ThomasDa]

I think you meant is matter.

 

[Gary51]

I think you meant is matter.

You've lost me.

 

[ThomasDa]

The spirit and awarness in man, is not matter.... Therefore that part of man can be destoyed. Oh I get it now. My bad.

 

[Gary51]

The spirit and awarness in man, is not matter.... Therefore that part of man can be destoyed. Oh I get it now. My bad.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I've come across this person before. And indeed she would not have read your post. She has a closed mind, and automatically rejects anything outside of what her husband tells her.

My advice... don't bother.

Kind of like "don't cast your pearl before swine"?

Real nice guys. Real nice. That's some great Christian attitudes ya got there. I'm sure Jesus is real gosh darn proud of you!!!!!!!1