You are a living soul (Genesis 2:7).
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
(1 John 1:8, NTFE)
Why am I not a Christian?
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You are a living soul (Genesis 2:7).
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
(1 John 1:8, NTFE)
That's an interesting take. Why do you think people want to live forever? You'd think after seventy or more some odd years, people would prefer to be blissfully unaware for a change.
The important thing is where it comes from; not that it comes from me.
There’s no future in death.
I’ve found through conversation that people want to live forever for a wide variety of reasons. When I meet people I try to discover what their hope is.
I’m in my late 60’s. My mind is active and alert. I have a purpose in life. “Blissfully unaware” strikes me as a lack of purpose. Alzheimer’s disease is the dreadful connotation the phrase raises in my mind.
But why would people care about purpose after death? What I'm trying to say is, life is tough. We go through so much here. One would assume that people would prefer to have a long rest afterwards.
Big instead it seems they would prefer to just continue on literally forever. Part of me just finds it strange.
Experiencing life with no purpose after being bodily resurrected from the dead would be a dreadful prospect. A fate worse than death.
The resurrection body won’t be like the body we have now. It will not have the same limitations.
Being burned to death and becoming extinct isn’t something I would look forward to.
Do you have a family? Anyone else that you love?
Some people don’t. I’m glad that you do.
So your question isn’t just about yourself. There are others in your life to take into consideration.
Why would it matter? People make their choices. I have family members that believe and some that don't. In the end, I think all we really have is ourselves and the choices we've made.
It doesn’t matter to you what happens to them? It doesn’t matter to them what happens to you?
It’s true that everyone has to decide for himself or herself.
“Weeping and gnashing of teeth”
Do you think you’ll be thinking about them as you’re about to be destroyed forever?
It matters, but I can't control what happens to anyone in the hereafter.
No. The majority of my family aren't believers. So I won't be alone.
Who can control what happens to someone in the hereafter?
No one? God? Messiah? Satan? Angels?
I’ve thought often about the descriptive term “wailing and gnashing of teeth”.
You won’t be alone. But there will be “wailing and gnashing of teeth”. What will you (and / or they) be wailing about? What will you (and / or they) be gnashing your teeth about?
***
What kind of work do you do?
God's the boss. So I'd say he's probably in charge.
Nothing. You said I'll be destroyed, remember?
Pool service. Why?
God has given the authority to Messiah.
Before you are, the awful scene -> “wailing and gnashing of teeth”. You. Them. Everyone in your circumstance waiting to be thrown alive into the fire that will consume you.
What are you / they wailing about? What are you / they gnashing your teeth about?
Are you angry? Are you afraid? Are you relieved? Do you have regrets?
There are safety reasons for pool service, aren’t there?
Jesus said he and the farther are one. So when I say God, I also include Jesus.
I would be afraid, of course. I would be angry, primarily because a divine being should be able to do better. I don't think I would have any regrets. In the circumstance, I'm certain that I would still hold the view that I couldn't make myself believe something even if I really wanted to.
There would be relief in the sense that I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore either way. Destruction is preferable to eternal torture. Do you think we'll actually get to plead our case, or is the judgment simply a formality?
Yes, in commercial pools. Private pools, it's up to the owner.
Strider324
New Member
Wouldn't be cool if Christians could find any consistent agreement on what happens to us retched unbelievers?
"You're going to gnash your teeth as you burn for eternity!"
"No. You're going to gnash your teeth for some reason - then be thrown into the Lake of Fire to suffer for a while - and then be destroyed!"
"No. You'll be sent to Hades temporarily to await judgement, and then cast into hell for eternal punishment!"
"No. Your suffering consists only of being separated from god!"
I suppose that's the logical result of thousands of denominations - all of them believing different things from the same bible.
"You're going to gnash your teeth as you burn for eternity!"
"No. You're going to gnash your teeth for some reason - then be thrown into the Lake of Fire to suffer for a while - and then be destroyed!"
"No. You'll be sent to Hades temporarily to await judgement, and then cast into hell for eternal punishment!"
"No. Your suffering consists only of being separated from god!"
I suppose that's the logical result of thousands of denominations - all of them believing different things from the same bible.
He did. God and Messiah are one in will and purpose. God has appointed Messiah to judge the world.
That addresses you. What about your family members who are with you?
Are you worried about it?
That’s in keeping with God’s character.
I believe there is a wideness in God’s - and therefore in Messiah’s also - mercy. I don’t see the judgement as nothing more than a burning party.
If you are allowed to plead your case, what would you say to Messiah?
Do you find satisfaction in providing safety for your customers? Do you experience anguish when customers reject the safety service you’re able to provide and know that they need when they decide to turn it down?
Assuming they are with me, I imagine they would be just as irritated by the situation as I. It wouldn't be like a stroll in the park.
No.
I'd ask him why he feels it necessary to destroy me for simply not being able to believe in something. I can't force myself to believe anything. So that kind of punishment is widly over the top and petty beyond belief.
I don't experience anguish over the choices my customers make. I don't really find satisfaction in providing safety. I do find satisfaction in the customer being satisfied though.
So, angry with God and with Messiah. I think there’s going to be a lot of that, but I think there will be anger at self too. You’re right that it won’t be a stroll in the park. It will be a terrifying experience.
Have you read the parable of Lazarus and the rich man?
So when you said “there would be relief in the sense that I wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore either way” you’re not worried about it now but expect to be worried about it, briefly, then?
You want to be destroyed, don’t you? Would you tell him that?
Why will you be angry with God and with Messiah when they‘re going to grant your desire to cease to exist forever?
Terrifying situation, wouldn’t you agree @Riven? Can you imagine being trapped in that? Wouldn’t you escape it if you could? Wouldn’t you want your loved ones to escape it if they could? If you couldn’t escape but you could warn your family members to avoid coming into the area, wouldn’t you? Would you warn your neigbors?
There won’t be any help coming in Gehenna. No one will put out the fire there. It will burn until there is nothing left for it to consume.
Strider324
New Member
Christianity - securing its control over its victims by the force of the 2 most powerful promises in history - the Bribe of Eternal Life, always tied to the Threat of Eternal Suffering. Well played, church fathers....
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