Why hell must exist

[Jericho]

The existence of hell is a concept that some find difficult or unwilling to grasp. They are unable to reconcile the seeming paradox of such a place existing alongside a loving God who wants the best for us. Alternate explanations have existed to explain it away. However, I believe that not only does such a place exist, but that it is necessary. I will give my theological justifications for the existence of hell while also addressing some of the common criticisms. My reasoning is based upon free will, rather than determinism, playing a major role in how God deals with humanity and by taking a literal interpretation of scripture (by literal, I don’t disregard such things as symbolism and idioms). If either of those precepts cannot be agreed upon, then a consensus cannot be reached.

Let’s start at the beginning. When Adam sinned, it caused a spiritual separation between him and God. And because Adam was the first, the master template if you will, all humanity became separated from God and born into a fallen state at birth. The result of this fallen state resulted in a physical death followed by a second death, which is the final judgment and the lake of fire (Rev 20:14, 21:8).
The reason for this second death is because God and sin cannot mix. It would be like trying to mix oil and water, an impossibility. A fallen being cannot withstand being in the presence of a holy God. That meant that humanity, when they physically died, could not automatically ascend to heaven with God. A divine intervention was needed.

The remedy, of course, was sending Jesus to atone for the sins of humanity. He became the perfect sacrifice to bear the wages of sin and pay the price in our stead. And because of His divinity, He was able to atone for everyone's sins, past, present, and future, simultaneously, once and for all. But just because He paid the price for all does not mean that it comes automatically. We still have to receive it. God has opened the door, but it’s up to you to walk through it. It must be our choice to accept that pardon or not because God wants people to come to Him willingly. So, He has offered humanity a choice: to live with him for eternity or to live apart from him for all eternity. Those are the only two possible outcomes.

Before I continue, I would like to dispel the erroneous assumption that everyone wants to be saved and go to heaven. That is not true. There are countless people who want nothing to do with God (Jhn 3:19). Such individuals would never be content in heaven being around a God they have no interest in serving. Our heaven would be their hell. Moreover, they would have no desire to be around believers who willingly worship God. There would be eternal contention between the two groups, making it no different than how it is on earth.

So, what does God do with those who don’t wish to spend eternity with him? They cannot go to heaven for the reasons already established, and He will not violate their free will choice. Besides, why would God want to spend an eternity with someone who doesn’t want to spend an eternity with him? The only solution is to give them a place of their own. But how do we reconcile the reality of souls going to a place of eternal torment? And I would distinguish between being tormented and being tortured; they are not the same thing. We can do so in several ways.

 

[Jericho]

First and foremost, it’s not God’s will that anyone should perish (2Pe 3:9), and hell was not originally created for humans but for Satan and his fallen angels (Matt 25:41). If it’s not God’s will for anyone to perish, then whose will is it? This is where human free will comes into play. As previously mentioned, salvation is a choice. God will not violate our free will and force anyone to be saved. It is therefore not God who sends people to hell, but the free will choices people have made that determine their eternal destination.

But one may ask, what if they change their mind after they die? Is it fair that they should spend eternity in hell for the decisions they made in this short life? I don’t believe they can. Once they step out of time, they step into eternity. In an eternal present there is no more “time” to change. The choices that we made in this life become solidified. Also, sin, by its very nature, hardens a person’s heart. If their hearts were turned away from God at death, they will be turned even more so once sin is fully blossomed and unrestrained. So, not only can’t they change their minds, they won’t want to. They may experience regret, but that’s not the same as being repentant.

Second, it’s true that God is a God of love, but that’s only one facet of His character. God is also a judge. If hell didn’t exist or lasted a temporary duration, then there wouldn’t be any true justice or accountability for our actions. It would mean that someone like Hitler, who never repented, should receive the same reward as someone like Paul, who repented of his sins and faced many persecutions for his faith. That would not be just. Moreover, there would be no incentive to do good in this life if there was no such thing as eternal justice, recompense, and accountability.

Third, hell is not a terrible place because God made it terrible. Hell is terrible because God is not there. Just as cold is merely the absence of heat and darkness is the absence of light, hell is the absence of God. It is the antithesis of everything He is. God is love, so hell is devoid of love, kindness, and compassion. God is life, so hell is a place of death. God is light, so hell is a place of darkness. God is merciful, but in hell, there is no mercy. And so on. On this fallen earth, bad things happen, but good things happen too. We experience pain, suffering, and loss, but we also experience joy, hope, and love because God hasn't abandoned us. But in hell, there’s none of that. Nothing good ever happens in hell because it’s completely devoid of God's presence. But why couldn’t God give them a paradise of their own? For the same reasons as already stated. Without God, it wouldn't be paradise. God is life and the “glue” that holds everything together. Without him, paradise would quickly descend into hell.

Fourth, imagine you were locked in prison with the worst human beings imaginable with no guards around and anarchy reigned supreme. If faced with that situation, it would be preferable if everyone, including yourself, was confined in chains. At least that way, there would be a little sense of security and safety. Now, imagine if you were confined in hell with not only the worst humans who have ever lived but also with the worst demons in existence. Except this time, it’s multiple magnitudes worse than any prison on earth because the full extent of evil is expressed. The worst horrors on earth wouldn’t even compare to the horrors the beings in hell can inflict on one another. When hell is thrown into the lake of fire, the flames serve to constrict and immobilize the beings in hell, much like chains in a prison, to contain their evil. That is a far better fate than what they could do to each other. However, I believe the severity of the flames will be proportional to each individual’s capacity for evil. Someone like Jack the Ripper, for example, would not suffer to the same degree as the average Joe. In this way, the flames of hell can be viewed as a form of mercy.

Fifth, the flames are there for them to atone for their sins. For those who have accepted Christ, our sins have already been forgiven. Jesus, in his divinity, was able to atone for our sins in ways we cannot. The lost souls in hell who haven’t accepted Jesus’ atonement must atone for their own sins. Plus, we can't assume that once they die, they will stop sinning. They will still have the capacity to sin and to an even greater degree. However, they have no animals to shed their blood to make at least a temporary atonement like they did in the Old Testament. The only thing they have left to sacrifice is themselves. The problem is because they are not divine like Jesus, they can’t permanently atone for their sins. That means they have no other choice but to perpetually atone for their sins as a self-sacrifice.

But what about the people who never heard the gospel, one may object? Why should they go to hell for their ignorance? There are three groups of people who have ever lived. Those that have heard the gospel and accepted Christ, those who have heard the gospel and rejected Christ, and those who never heard the gospel and died in ignorance. The latter group is the one we want to focus on.

The Book of Romans reveals to us that God is revealed in nature (Rom 1:20), and each of us has a God-given conscience (Rom 2:14–15). We are all born with an innate sense of right and wrong; it’s what we do with what’s revealed to us that matters. For some, more has been revealed than to others, like those who have heard the gospel and rejected it. For them, they will be held to a higher standard. For others, like the American Indians who never heard the gospel, I believe their ignorance will be taken into consideration to a degree and grace may be granted. After all, Abraham and Moses never heard the gospel, but does anyone doubt they are in heaven now? That’s not to say that ignorance alone is enough to be saved. They will be judged on how much they knew and what they did with it. I believe grace is also given to babies, small children, the mentally handicapped (those incapable of knowing right from wrong), and anyone else who has died before the age of accountability, which varies with each individual (the concept for the age of accountability can be found in Deu 1:39, Isa 7:15-16, Rom 7:0, and 2Sa 12:22-23).

To conclude, hell is, in essence, a byproduct of free will apart from God. God has given us the gift of free will because he wants us to love him willingly. Love, by its very nature, can’t be forced or coerced; it must be freely given. But in doing so, God also knew that there would be those who would reject and rebel against him. Hell is the only solution to the problem of free will. The only alternative is if God were to create us without a free will, but then we would never be able to experience true love, and we would just be like puppets in God’s divine play. So, to put it simply, hell exists because it has to.

 

[quietthinker]

First and foremost, it’s not God’s will that anyone should perish (2Pe 3:9), and hell was not originally created for humans but for Satan and his fallen angels (Matt 25:41). If it’s not God’s will for anyone to perish, then whose will is it? This is where human free will comes into play. As previously mentioned, salvation is a choice. God will not violate our free will and force anyone to be saved. It is therefore not God who sends people to hell, but the free will choices people have made that determine their eternal destination.

But one may ask, what if they change their mind after they die? Is it fair that they should spend eternity in hell for the decisions they made in this short life? I don’t believe they can. Once they step out of time, they step into eternity. In an eternal present there is no more “time” to change. The choices that we made in this life become solidified. Also, sin, by its very nature, hardens a person’s heart. If their hearts were turned away from God at death, they will be turned even more so once sin is fully blossomed and unrestrained. So, not only can’t they change their minds, they won’t want to. They may experience regret, but that’s not the same as being repentant.

Second, it’s true that God is a God of love, but that’s only one facet of His character. God is also a judge. If hell didn’t exist or lasted a temporary duration, then there wouldn’t be any true justice or accountability for our actions. It would mean that someone like Hitler, who never repented, should receive the same reward as someone like Paul, who repented of his sins and faced many persecutions for his faith. That would not be just. Moreover, there would be no incentive to do good in this life if there was no such thing as eternal justice, recompense, and accountability.

Third, hell is not a terrible place because God made it terrible. Hell is terrible because God is not there. Just as cold is merely the absence of heat and darkness is the absence of light, hell is the absence of God. It is the antithesis of everything He is. God is love, so hell is devoid of love, kindness, and compassion. God is life, so hell is a place of death. God is light, so hell is a place of darkness. God is merciful, but in hell, there is no mercy. And so on. On this fallen earth, bad things happen, but good things happen too. We experience pain, suffering, and loss, but we also experience joy, hope, and love because God hasn't abandoned us. But in hell, there’s none of that. Nothing good ever happens in hell because it’s completely devoid of God's presence. But why couldn’t God give them a paradise of their own? For the same reasons as already stated. Without God, it wouldn't be paradise. God is life and the “glue” that holds everything together. Without him, paradise would quickly descend into hell.

Fourth, imagine you were locked in prison with the worst human beings imaginable with no guards around and anarchy reigned supreme. If faced with that situation, it would be preferable if everyone, including yourself, was confined in chains. At least that way, there would be a little sense of security and safety. Now, imagine if you were confined in hell with not only the worst humans who have ever lived but also with the worst demons in existence. Except this time, it’s multiple magnitudes worse than any prison on earth because the full extent of evil is expressed. The worst horrors on earth wouldn’t even compare to the horrors the beings in hell can inflict on one another. When hell is thrown into the lake of fire, the flames serve to constrict and immobilize the beings in hell, much like chains in a prison, to contain their evil. That is a far better fate than what they could do to each other. However, I believe the severity of the flames will be proportional to each individual’s capacity for evil. Someone like Jack the Ripper, for example, would not suffer to the same degree as the average Joe. In this way, the flames of hell can be viewed as a form of mercy.

Fifth, the flames are there for them to atone for their sins. For those who have accepted Christ, our sins have already been forgiven. Jesus, in his divinity, was able to atone for our sins in ways we cannot. The lost souls in hell who haven’t accepted Jesus’ atonement must atone for their own sins. Plus, we can't assume that once they die, they will stop sinning. They will still have the capacity to sin and to an even greater degree. However, they have no animals to shed their blood to make at least a temporary atonement like they did in the Old Testament. The only thing they have left to sacrifice is themselves. The problem is because they are not divine like Jesus, they can’t permanently atone for their sins. That means they have no other choice but to perpetually atone for their sins as a self-sacrifice.

But what about the people who never heard the gospel, one may object? Why should they go to hell for their ignorance? There are three groups of people who have ever lived. Those that have heard the gospel and accepted Christ, those who have heard the gospel and rejected Christ, and those who never heard the gospel and died in ignorance. The latter group is the one we want to focus on.

The Book of Romans reveals to us that God is revealed in nature (Rom 1:20), and each of us has a God-given conscience (Rom 2:14–15). We are all born with an innate sense of right and wrong; it’s what we do with what’s revealed to us that matters. For some, more has been revealed than to others, like those who have heard the gospel and rejected it. For them, they will be held to a higher standard. For others, like the American Indians who never heard the gospel, I believe their ignorance will be taken into consideration to a degree and grace may be granted. After all, Abraham and Moses never heard the gospel, but does anyone doubt they are in heaven now? That’s not to say that ignorance alone is enough to be saved. They will be judged on how much they knew and what they did with it. I believe grace is also given to babies, small children, the mentally handicapped (those incapable of knowing right from wrong), and anyone else who has died before the age of accountability, which varies with each individual (the concept for the age of accountability can be found in Deu 1:39, Isa 7:15-16, Rom 7:0, and 2Sa 12:22-23).

To conclude, hell is, in essence, a byproduct of free will apart from God. God has given us the gift of free will because he wants us to love him willingly. Love, by its very nature, can’t be forced or coerced; it must be freely given. But in doing so, God also knew that there would be those who would reject and rebel against him. Hell is the only solution to the problem of free will. The only alternative is if God were to create us without a free will, but then we would never be able to experience true love, and we would just be like puppets in God’s divine play. So, to put it simply, hell exists because it has to.

Far too many words Jericho.
You know the adage, 'the more the words the less the meaning'

 

[Jericho]

Far too many words Jericho.
You know the adage, 'the more the words the less the meaning'

It's a lengthy post for sure, but I wanted to leave no stone unturned.

 

[bdavidc]

First and foremost, it’s not God’s will that anyone should perish (2Pe 3:9), and hell was not originally created for humans but for Satan and his fallen angels (Matt 25:41). If it’s not God’s will for anyone to perish, then whose will is it? This is where human free will comes into play. As previously mentioned, salvation is a choice. God will not violate our free will and force anyone to be saved. It is therefore not God who sends people to hell, but the free will choices people have made that determine their eternal destination.

But one may ask, what if they change their mind after they die? Is it fair that they should spend eternity in hell for the decisions they made in this short life? I don’t believe they can. Once they step out of time, they step into eternity. In an eternal present there is no more “time” to change. The choices that we made in this life become solidified. Also, sin, by its very nature, hardens a person’s heart. If their hearts were turned away from God at death, they will be turned even more so once sin is fully blossomed and unrestrained. So, not only can’t they change their minds, they won’t want to. They may experience regret, but that’s not the same as being repentant.

Second, it’s true that God is a God of love, but that’s only one facet of His character. God is also a judge. If hell didn’t exist or lasted a temporary duration, then there wouldn’t be any true justice or accountability for our actions. It would mean that someone like Hitler, who never repented, should receive the same reward as someone like Paul, who repented of his sins and faced many persecutions for his faith. That would not be just. Moreover, there would be no incentive to do good in this life if there was no such thing as eternal justice, recompense, and accountability.

Third, hell is not a terrible place because God made it terrible. Hell is terrible because God is not there. Just as cold is merely the absence of heat and darkness is the absence of light, hell is the absence of God. It is the antithesis of everything He is. God is love, so hell is devoid of love, kindness, and compassion. God is life, so hell is a place of death. God is light, so hell is a place of darkness. God is merciful, but in hell, there is no mercy. And so on. On this fallen earth, bad things happen, but good things happen too. We experience pain, suffering, and loss, but we also experience joy, hope, and love because God hasn't abandoned us. But in hell, there’s none of that. Nothing good ever happens in hell because it’s completely devoid of God's presence. But why couldn’t God give them a paradise of their own? For the same reasons as already stated. Without God, it wouldn't be paradise. God is life and the “glue” that holds everything together. Without him, paradise would quickly descend into hell.

Fourth, imagine you were locked in prison with the worst human beings imaginable with no guards around and anarchy reigned supreme. If faced with that situation, it would be preferable if everyone, including yourself, was confined in chains. At least that way, there would be a little sense of security and safety. Now, imagine if you were confined in hell with not only the worst humans who have ever lived but also with the worst demons in existence. Except this time, it’s multiple magnitudes worse than any prison on earth because the full extent of evil is expressed. The worst horrors on earth wouldn’t even compare to the horrors the beings in hell can inflict on one another. When hell is thrown into the lake of fire, the flames serve to constrict and immobilize the beings in hell, much like chains in a prison, to contain their evil. That is a far better fate than what they could do to each other. However, I believe the severity of the flames will be proportional to each individual’s capacity for evil. Someone like Jack the Ripper, for example, would not suffer to the same degree as the average Joe. In this way, the flames of hell can be viewed as a form of mercy.

Fifth, the flames are there for them to atone for their sins. For those who have accepted Christ, our sins have already been forgiven. Jesus, in his divinity, was able to atone for our sins in ways we cannot. The lost souls in hell who haven’t accepted Jesus’ atonement must atone for their own sins. Plus, we can't assume that once they die, they will stop sinning. They will still have the capacity to sin and to an even greater degree. However, they have no animals to shed their blood to make at least a temporary atonement like they did in the Old Testament. The only thing they have left to sacrifice is themselves. The problem is because they are not divine like Jesus, they can’t permanently atone for their sins. That means they have no other choice but to perpetually atone for their sins as a self-sacrifice.

But what about the people who never heard the gospel, one may object? Why should they go to hell for their ignorance? There are three groups of people who have ever lived. Those that have heard the gospel and accepted Christ, those who have heard the gospel and rejected Christ, and those who never heard the gospel and died in ignorance. The latter group is the one we want to focus on.

The Book of Romans reveals to us that God is revealed in nature (Rom 1:20), and each of us has a God-given conscience (Rom 2:14–15). We are all born with an innate sense of right and wrong; it’s what we do with what’s revealed to us that matters. For some, more has been revealed than to others, like those who have heard the gospel and rejected it. For them, they will be held to a higher standard. For others, like the American Indians who never heard the gospel, I believe their ignorance will be taken into consideration to a degree and grace may be granted. After all, Abraham and Moses never heard the gospel, but does anyone doubt they are in heaven now? That’s not to say that ignorance alone is enough to be saved. They will be judged on how much they knew and what they did with it. I believe grace is also given to babies, small children, the mentally handicapped (those incapable of knowing right from wrong), and anyone else who has died before the age of accountability, which varies with each individual (the concept for the age of accountability can be found in Deu 1:39, Isa 7:15-16, Rom 7:0, and 2Sa 12:22-23).

To conclude, hell is, in essence, a byproduct of free will apart from God. God has given us the gift of free will because he wants us to love him willingly. Love, by its very nature, can’t be forced or coerced; it must be freely given. But in doing so, God also knew that there would be those who would reject and rebel against him. Hell is the only solution to the problem of free will. The only alternative is if God were to create us without a free will, but then we would never be able to experience true love, and we would just be like puppets in God’s divine play. So, to put it simply, hell exists because it has to.

The bottom line is this. When speaking of hell we let the Word of God define it. Not our imagination. Not our logic. Not our assumptions. “Your word is truth” ~John 17:17. Scripture presents hell as eternal judgment for those who die in their sins, salvation as the free gift of God through Christ alone ~Romans 6: 23, and the gospel as the only means by which anyone is saved. Anything outside that is adding to the Word, and God warns us not to do that ~Proverbs 30:5-6.

Hell exists because God is holy, righteous and just. Scripture never presents hell in a philosophical or speculative context. It simply declares what God has revealed. Sin results in death ~Romans 6: 23, and every person stands guilty before a holy God ~Romans 3:19. God is perfectly righteous, He must judge sin. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” ~Genesis 18:25. Hell is that judgment. Jesus calls it “everlasting fire” ~Matthew 25: 41, “outer darkness” ~Matthew 8:12, and a place where the punishment never ends ~Mark 9:43-48. The lake of fire is the final and eternal judgment for all those who reject God’s grace through Christ ~Revelation 20:10-15.

Hell exists because God has made salvation crystal clear. He “commands all people everywhere to repent” ~Acts 17: 30, and He provided one way of rescue through His Son. “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” ~John 3:16. Those who refuse Christ die in their sins ~John 8:24. Scripture never presents hell as a place for people who wanted God but could not find Him. It is the final consequence of persistent unbelief and rebellion. Jesus said people “loved darkness rather than light” ~John 3: 19, and those who refuse Him choose the only alternative to life, which is judgment.

Hell exists because God’s justice is perfect. If wickedness was never punished God would not be righteous. But He is righteous in all His ways ~Psalm 145:17. Hell is not a contradiction of God’s love, it proves His holiness. At the same time His love is displayed in that He sent Christ so no one has to go there ~John 3:17; ~1 Timothy 2:4. Hell is real because sin is real, judgment is real, and God’s Word is true.

 

[marks]

To conclude, hell is, in essence, a byproduct of free will apart from God.

Real love can only result from real choices. Real choices must have real consequences.

Much love!

 

[Debp]

Scripture never presents hell as a place for people who wanted God but could not find Him. It is the final consequence of persistent unbelief and rebellion. Jesus said people “loved darkness rather than light” ~John 3: 19, and those who refuse Him choose the only alternative to life, which is judgment.

I believe that a person who is truly seeking God will find the Lord. When there is that hunger in one's heart to know God, that miracle can occur to draw someone to Jesus Christ. Also, I believe people can even call out to the Lord on their death bed and be saved. They might have little understanding but the Lord will accept even the smallest amount of faith.

Some here have family members that are in a religion where they never heard about the true Jesus, but a different Jesus (not the Savior). So I think they get concerned about their loved ones. But we must pray for our loved ones to come to know Jesus. Just as Jesus reached you, He is able to reach your loved one. @ArkangeMikail

13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

 

[One 2 question]

The only alternative is if God were to create us without a free will, but then we would never be able to experience true love, and we would just be like puppets in God’s divine play.

Paul used the picture of clay. But puppets is another that could be used.

I have been chosen to be redeemed, independent of my will. This act of love towards me was what God initiated not me. I responded in love for Him and turned from my rebellion against Him. We love eachother ever since. This is true love.

So yes, God first in love chose me. I responded by choosing to repent and exercise faith.

 

[One 2 question]

First and foremost, it’s not God’s will that anyone should perish (2Pe 3:9)

And that we won't. No one will perish. All will repent and be reconciled to our Creator.

 

[One 2 question]

God has given us the gift of free will because he wants us to love him willingly. Love, by its very nature, can’t be forced or coerced; it must be freely given.

One fantastic gift that doesn't have an expiry date is the irresistible love of our Creator. Within this gift is the atoning blood of the Lamb of God.

Eventually God's love will become irresistible to every being in the lake of fire. They ALL will willingly repent. God will reconcile them to Himself. All this being according to the Creator's script.

 

[One 2 question]

Once they step out of time, they step into eternity. In an eternal present there is no more “time” to change. The choices that we made in this life become solidified.

I'm very glad to say, this is not truth. They will change their mind and will seek their Creators mercy and grace. And they WILL find it. This is because God scripted their reconciliation. This is the ultimate revelation of the greatest character trait of God, LOVE, for God is what? LOVE!

 

[Jericho]

One fantastic gift that doesn't have an expiry date is the irresistible love of our Creator. Within this gift is the atoning blood of the Lamb of God.

Eventually God's love will become irresistible to every being in the lake of fire. They ALL will willingly repent. God will reconcile them to Himself. All this being according to the Creator's script.

Universalism then. I did address that to a degree. Here's the problems I have it with:
-I don't see scriptural support for it.
-There would be no such thing as justice if people who have done evil their entire lives get to share in the same rewards as the righteous.
-There would be no incentive to do good if everyone gets a free get out of hell card.
-If you believe in free will, then it entails not everyone will want to be saved as darkness hates the light.
-It forces salvation on people, which is contrary to God's nature and negates those who willingly come to Him.
-If you imply they will repent because they don't want to be in the lake of fire, then that is not true repentance.

 

[Aunty Jane]

@Jericho ...can you tell me which “hell” you are referring to?
Is it “sheol”....”hades”...”Gehenna”....”tartarus”...or “the lake of fire”...?

The Hebrew word “sheol” is translated as “the grave”, yet the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) translates it as “hades”....if “hades” is translated as “hell”....
What do you make of that?

 

[Jericho]

@Jericho ...can you tell me which “hell” you are referring to?
Is it “sheol”....”hades”...”Gehenna”....”tartarus”...or “the lake of fire”...?

The Hebrew word “sheol” is translated as “the grave”, yet the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) translates it as “hades”....if “hades” is translated as “hell”....
What do you make of that?

I haven't done a deep dive into that, so I can't say for certain. But some of it may be different names to describe the same thing. There's also the idea that hell is comprised of different compartments. If that is true, then "hell" is a broad term that encompasses those individual compartments.

 

[Aunty Jane]

I haven't done a deep dive into that, so I can't say for certain. But some of it may be different names to describe the same thing. There's also the idea that hell is comprised of different compartments. If that is true, then "hell" is a broad term that encompasses those individual compartments.

A deep dive is what is called for when so many words are actually translated as one “Hell”......if they were all just one destination, then Jesus would have clarified it.

If you dive into the Greek and Hebrew words used in the Scriptures, something completely different emerges.
What for example, did “sheol” mean to an ancient Israelite?..as opposed to what it meant to a first century or modern Jew?
As corruption grew in Judaism, so it did in Christianity....(Jesus and his apostles foretold it) ideas were borrowed and made to fit Scripture, as long as you weren’t a Bible student.....and as long as you have only studied church “theology” instead...you would never know the difference.

When you study the Bible, all the contradictions appear...those doctrines that don’t add up, and are contrary to what the Bible teaches.

The whole idea of “hell” as a place of conscious torment for the wicked, is based on the validity of the immortality of the human soul. You first have to ascertain what a “soul” is biblically speaking, rather than relying on the theological ideas of Christendom.

What was the first lie told in Eden? When God told Adam that he would “surely die” if he disobeyed....it was the Devil who told the woman that they “surely would not die”.

Because the Jews never had a belief in an immortal soul, but rather the biblical teaching of the resurrection, there was no “life after death” as if an immortal spirit part of man ascended to either heaven or hell upon death.
A resurrection is the raising of the dead...a return to life, not a continuation of it. How can you resurrect someone who is not dead? How can souls be tormented if they are not conscious?

We are told that when Adam was created, that was when God started him breathing, he then “became” a “soul”...which in the Bible means “a living, breathing creature”. Souls are not spirits.

God told Adam that if he disobeyed, that his life would be taken away from him...the “soul” that was Adam would cease to breathe, and would die. (Ezekiel 18:4) That is how all “souls” expire...both animals and humans. What did King Solomon have to say about that?

Eccl 3:19-20...
“for there is an outcome for humans and an outcome for animals; they all have the same outcome. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit. [breath] So man has no superiority over animals, for everything is futile. 20  All are going to the same place. They all come from the dust, and they all are returning to the dust.”

This is what Jews believed....Jesus was Jewish.

So the first foundation of the existence of a “hell of eternal conscious torment” is removed.....there is no such place because the dead are actually dead.

Eccl 9,5; 10...
“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten. . . . .Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave [sheol] where you are going.”

If you look that up in the Jewish Tanakh you will see that the word “sheol” is translated as “the Grave”....not an individual grave, but one place where all of Adam’s descendants will end up....the common grave of all mankind.

It is these very graves from which Jesus calls all the dead. (John 5:28-29) They haven’t gone anywhere...
They are just “sleeping” as Jesus said Lazarus was. (John 11:11-14)

What do you think?

 

[Paul Christensen]

It's a lengthy post for sure, but I wanted to leave no stone unturned.

Hell is actually the holding place where the unconverted go to await the final judgment. We see that in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man is in hell according to Jesus, but the final judgement has not yet come, and the lake of fire is in the future. It is the lake of fire that is designed for the devil and his angels, and for those who align themselves with the devil by rejecting Christ.

People who go to hell, rather than Paradise to await the final judgment, go there through their own fault. Although salvation is for all, not all choose to believe the Gospel and embrace Christ as Saviour. God doesn't send them there. He gives them the choice, and they choose hell rather than Paradise through their unbelief.

 

[Paul Christensen]

And that we won't. No one will perish. All will repent and be reconciled to our Creator.

This is Universalism, not Scripture.

 

[Hiddenthings]

The existence of hell is a concept that some find difficult or unwilling to grasp.

It is one of the many pagan doctrines that has been burdened with non-biblical notions, ensnaring weak minds and spreading like a canker throughout the Christian world.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Hell is actually the holding place where the unconverted go to await the final judgment.

Where will we find that mentioned in the Bible?

We see that in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man is in hell according to Jesus, but the final judgement has not yet come, and the lake of fire is in the future. It is the lake of fire that is designed for the devil and his angels, and for those who align themselves with the devil by rejecting Christ.

First of all, “the rich man and Lazarus” is a parable, not a literal account. Taken literally it is ridiculous. Do you imagine that “heaven and hell” are within speaking distance to each other? And that a drop of water on a man’s tongue would cool them in a blazing fire? The scenario is clearly figurative.

The rich man is in “hades”, which is not any kind of “hell”...it is the grave.
The “grave” in Hebrew is “Sheol” and as it says in Eccl 9:5 10, it shows that the dead are in an unconscious state in that place.
Jesus also said of his friend Lazarus, that he was “sleeping” and that he was going to “awaken” him (John 11:11-14).....wherewas Lazarus before Jesus raised him?.....he are out of his grave because it is the place where the dead ”sleep”. They are not consciously existing somewhere apart from their body.

People who go to hell, rather than Paradise to await the final judgment, go there through their own fault.

Since “hell” (hades) is the grave, those awaiting a resurrection, don’t know anything until Jesus calls them out of those graves. (John 5:28-29) No one has a choice about going to the grave....it’s somewhere we all go.

“Gehenna” OTOH is also translated as “hell”, but it is a place where death is permanent. It s an “everlasting punishment” to be cut off from life forever. Why does it have to involve everlasting torture in flames?

Although salvation is for all, not all choose to believe the Gospel and embrace Christ as Saviour. God doesn't send them there. He gives them the choice, and they choose hell rather than Paradise through their unbelief.

The choice is actually “life or death”...it never was “heaven or hell”. What was Adam told if he ate the forbidden fruit?.....only that he would die...nothing more.

Can you tell me what purpose is served by such an awful place?
God’s law to Israel involved penalties that were in line with the severity of the crime. The highest penalty under the law was death...no punishment involved torture of any kind. And all less serious crimes always had the option of repentance and forgiveness....and compensation was paid to the victim.

Christendom’s “hell” is the work of a sadist....not a God of love.

 

[One 2 question]

This is Universalism, not Scripture.

Personally I'm not into universalism or identityas a universalist. Recently I had to ask what this was.

The Spirit revealed this to me a number of years ago directly, not from the scriptures or any of the bibles. And it has changed my view of the Creator and His created beings.