What happens when we "go to" hell. I mean what exactally is it do we know whats happening like enternal life but instead of with god ,with out him where would we be.
What happens when we "go to" hell. I mean what exactally is it do we know whats happening like enternal life but instead of with god ,with out him where would we be.
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."The Bible speaks a lot about Hell.
50-some times in the entire bible; 30-odd in the Old and 20-something in the New, maybe 15 in the Gospels. It really isn't a lot.
It's been said that it talks more about Hell than it does about Heaven.
Total urban myth, widely spread but totally false.
I don't know how true that is but I've read a great deal about Hell in the Bible.
Not true at all. The concept of eternal torment is at best, when carefully examined, one, maybe two, verses that are questionable; all the others are a result of misreadings and misunderstanding, reading into what is not there, wrongly implied figures of speech and translation errors. see:
Synonymous Words for Hell
Sheol
Hell is mentioned around "weeping and gnashing of teeth".
Again, see the comment directly above, this is in no way related to what it is wrongly assumed to be. See:
The Rich Man and Lazarus: An Intermediate State?
The Real Meaning of Lazarus and the Rich Man
It's mentioned as a "lake of fire" where unbelievers are cast into it for eternity.
Two different things entirely. See 2 Peter 3:10
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
It's forever.
'Forever" is a physical term restricted to this age, ie this eon (aeon). God is going to destroy everything (except those that are in Christ Jesus), the entire creation and everything in it, including the heavens and the earth, the entire universe (see the 1 Peter 3:10 verse above). He will then create a new heaven and a new earth where everything will be perfect. Where does it say He will save everyone, saved and unsaved, and save and preserve all the unsaved, all the evil, all the sinful after it is all destroyed in Peter's big "flame on" throughout the entire next perfect creation?
No ending... no rest... no day, no night... just torment.
God, through His word and the guiding, leading and teaching of His Holy Spirit indwelling within us spends a lifetime in each of us teaching us to be Christlike, Godly and forgiving. Where does it say God's character is not the same as we are taught to act? Where does it say His anger, wrath and vengeance is without end against even those that never heard even the name of Jesus?
It scares the dickens out of me
Just as it was invented and designed to do, to scare the hell out of the masses to keep them in line for historys' asssorted governments and powers that be and, also, to the keep the church coffers flowing. Common concepts of hell and eternal torment did not come about until the fiction writers and painters of the Middle Ages who sought to please the Catholic church with their beliefs in Purgatory, hell, eternal torment, telling people if they paid them then their prayers would eventually save the dead relatives and friends. Before that the concept was alien to Jewish and Christian alike and non-existent outside of Pagan belief circles.
If men and women were wise... they would take a close look at themselves, repent of their sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
Most true! Jesus said He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. See John 10:10:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Who is the thief that comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy? Certainly not The One that came bringing life abundant.
and avoid this chaotic, unending nightmare.
No where did Jesus give a "believe or burn" message. He brought a simple message, "believe and live abundantly everlasting".
Who is the author of chaos, confusion, stealing, killing and destruction-the author of "unending nightmares"?
For Him to have thrown in the "or else burn" clause would have negated the entire concept of free will for the "or burn" concept is, in effect, an act of coercion, an act whereby someone is forced to do something they would not other wise be so predisposed to do.
because I am afraid for their souls.
Man IS a soul. Man does not HAVE a soul. See: Genesis 2:7
Rev 14:11
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 whoever receiveth the mark of his name.
It says 'smoke' and smoke is a physical characteristic not found in the spirit world.
Smoke rises into the atmosphere until two things happen, the fuel is spent and the smoke dissipates into the atmosphere.
"For ever and ever" is a term only used in realtion to this age.
The flame that burns the "fuel" will go out when the fuel is spent which occurs as described in 2 Peter 3:10:
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
Mark 3:29
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
The rendering of 'blaspheme against' speaks of those that ascribe the Holy Spirit's work, or Christ's work, to Satan (see the context vs 22 on).
"never" in the Greek is 'not' ('ou') and refers to the end of this 'age' which is (Greek) 'eis ton aiona' which we see again in 'eternal' (Greek) "aionios'); linked with "damnation" properly rendered is "judgment". It all points to within this age and they and their judgment ends with the end of this age as recorded in 2 Peter 3:10
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
Hebrews 6:2
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.
This verse has been miserably yanked completely out of context in which it was part of an altogether diffrerent subject and purpose continuing with the beginning of the 6th chapter. This is not at all a right and proper study technique, it is an excellent example of proof texting wherein taking a verse or at times even a two or three word phrase and constructing a theology on the fly.
Nonetheless, the term 'eternal judgment' means the same as previously explained as it refers only to this age the main difference being this discourse refers to refers to the dispensation of the kingdom.
Daniel 11:2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
That is the wrong book, chapter and verse; the correct passage for Daniel 11:2 is:
"And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia."
Matthew 18:8
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Aionios, of or belonging to an age
Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
'Aionios, of or belonging to an age; the fire, the age abiding [fire]';
Matthew 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righhteous into life eternal.
everlasting = aionion; punishment = kolasis.
Punishment lasting to the end of this age.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
we are made up of a body, a spirit and a soul
Its not a fun subject to discuss. Its separation from God and its very much like what the Bible says. People who are unbelievers and come back to life - that were considered clinically dead for a few minutes - say its dark and an extremely gloomy place and very frightening.What happens when we "go to" hell. I mean what exactally is it do we know whats happening like enternal life but instead of with god ,with out him where would we be.
What happens when we "go to" hell. I mean what exactally is it do we know whats happening like enternal life but instead of with god ,with out him where would we be.
Hello, CG,My apologies
"hell" is not eternal. On the contrary, it is temporal. The word "hell" is a rendering of the Hebrew word "sheol." And it does translate as "grave," "hades," and "pit."
I tell you what, you believe that there isn't any place like hades or hell which is described by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31.Dean,
With all due respect, what is retained in your quote above is all that is correct regarding hell and eternal torment (except for the term, "hades", which is pagan and we are to have nothing to do with pagan beliefs, customs or traditions--thus saith the Lord).
Thus you are correct in that 'hell' means the grave for the grave is the "hidden place", the place hidden from view, the unknown place, the place of unending terror for those that die not in the Lord.
As far as Lazarus and the rich man are concerned what Jesus was teaching in this parable had aboslutely nothing to do with either hell or eternal torment. Nothing at all.
It is an analogy to illustrate certain truths contained within the story.
This parable is a satire, ridiculing the stance of the Scribes and Pharisees.
The rich man stands for the Jewish nation (Judah).
Lazarus represents certain of the gentiles.
The dogs that licked the sores represent the rest of the gentiles.
Jesus told the Jews if they would not believe Moses and the prophets they wouldn't believe one that returned from the dead.
Acts 28:28 the rich man refused One that returned from the dead and the gospel went out to Lazarus.
If this parable is describing actual conditions of the future then those in heaven will be able to hold conversations with those in Hell.
People will be able to look across the impassable gulf and see their loved ones in indescribable torment.
Does a man because he is rich, well clothed and fed, represent all sinners in this world?
Is the poor man, covered in sores, representative of all the righteous?
The scriptures say nothing about the rich man being a sinner.
The scriptures say nothing about the poor man being a saint.
If this story is literal then how could we believe that one drop of water on the tip of one finger could alleviate those who are incarcerated in such a fiery torment?
How could a drop of water exist in such a place as this imaginary flaming Hell.
If this story be literal then how does one who has died and is buried possess a tongue to speak?
Do the disembodied 'souls' in the spirit realm have a tongue?
The rich man stands for the Jewish nation who enjoyed God's favour and blessings.
Lazarus represents a people who lay at Judah's gate, those who received not the benefits - Gentiles.
The parable has within it a prophecy that the two characters mentioned are to change places.
The rich man to suffer rejection, pain, poverty and punishment and Lazarus to enjoy comfort, peace and honour in a close relationship; Abraham's bosom.
A covenant relationship with all the promises being fulfilled.
HypoTypoSis