Originally posted by me: http://thepoliticsforums.com/threads/3168-Is-Hell-Eternal?s=c1bae3dbc9269787318ea3353a2690e3 I am saintmichaeldefendthem.
No I haven't become a Universal Salvationist.
And yes I know the teaching of my church and that of most mainline Protestant denominations.
My question doesn't dismiss the well entrenched doctrines and supporting scriptures that characterize hell as eternal in nature. Every bit of that can be true, but it can also not be the final word on the subject. I certainly don't question the justice by which God can hold true to his promise and carry out his just sentence upon the unregenerate in every detail. God is holy and there is no unrighteousness in him.
My question pertains specifically to people who, by all accounts, were deceived, not the fallen angels who deceived them in full lucidity of the consequences of their actions. My question pertains just to people, created Imago Dei and just a little lower than the angels, whom God so loved that he came in the form of us, dwelt amongst us, and died for our sins in hopes that all men would be saved.
I would state emphatically that God has every right to carry out his sentence, but I also note the many times where he hasn't. He decreed 490 years of captivity upon Israel at the hands of the Babylonians, yet brings them out of exile 7 years early. He scattered the Jews among the many nations, and yet makes way for them to eventually become a nation again and showers his favor upon them during the intervening centuries. So my question is, is there room for parole in God's system of final judgment?
Time and time again, I see God's justice wrought upon those who practice unrighteousness, but time and time again, I also see that Mercy has the final word. As you can quickly gather and as I said from the start, the teachings of the Catholic Church and the beliefs of most Protestants aren't undone by this question. To teach the eternity of reprobation is to teach the truth right from holy Scripture but I think it cannot eliminate the possibility that God will go back on his word and eventually spare those suffering the torments of hell and offer them another chance to receive his love. It certainly is within his proven character to do so.
Please don't jump all over me, you Bible thumping fundamentalists! I'm just asking a question.
No I haven't become a Universal Salvationist.
And yes I know the teaching of my church and that of most mainline Protestant denominations.
My question doesn't dismiss the well entrenched doctrines and supporting scriptures that characterize hell as eternal in nature. Every bit of that can be true, but it can also not be the final word on the subject. I certainly don't question the justice by which God can hold true to his promise and carry out his just sentence upon the unregenerate in every detail. God is holy and there is no unrighteousness in him.
My question pertains specifically to people who, by all accounts, were deceived, not the fallen angels who deceived them in full lucidity of the consequences of their actions. My question pertains just to people, created Imago Dei and just a little lower than the angels, whom God so loved that he came in the form of us, dwelt amongst us, and died for our sins in hopes that all men would be saved.
I would state emphatically that God has every right to carry out his sentence, but I also note the many times where he hasn't. He decreed 490 years of captivity upon Israel at the hands of the Babylonians, yet brings them out of exile 7 years early. He scattered the Jews among the many nations, and yet makes way for them to eventually become a nation again and showers his favor upon them during the intervening centuries. So my question is, is there room for parole in God's system of final judgment?
Time and time again, I see God's justice wrought upon those who practice unrighteousness, but time and time again, I also see that Mercy has the final word. As you can quickly gather and as I said from the start, the teachings of the Catholic Church and the beliefs of most Protestants aren't undone by this question. To teach the eternity of reprobation is to teach the truth right from holy Scripture but I think it cannot eliminate the possibility that God will go back on his word and eventually spare those suffering the torments of hell and offer them another chance to receive his love. It certainly is within his proven character to do so.
Please don't jump all over me, you Bible thumping fundamentalists! I'm just asking a question.