Misc. Hell Responses

Because the thread Spectators in Hell got so long, over 1000 comments, I opened up something more manageable (for me) to address a few comments.

Some of these I remember and will comment on, with limited discussion.

So you choose to subscribe to the most grotesque interpretation of each symbol you can think of, would that be fair to say?

" Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

For everyone shall be salted with fire." (Mark 9:48,49)

FMF:

Why isn't "fire" a symbol for destruction ~ that's what fire does - it utterly destroys things permanently.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The word apllumi and apolea - is translated destroy, destruction, perdition, perish, waste, loss in the Bible. These terms do not mean to bring to an end the substance of an article. They mean to render that article useless, or of no value.

There is afterward bi value to the article according to its original intended purpose. Examples:

Sheep lost (Matt. 10:6; Luke 15:4,5)
Skin withered (Matt. 9:17)
Ointment wasted ( Mark. 14:4)

The meaning of the lake of fire is the lost of one's well being not the lost of being.

The antichrist and his false prophet are cast into the lake of fire at the beginning of the thousand years of Christ's reign (Rev. 19:20) . They are still there when Satan is cast into it after the final rebellion (Rev. 20:10) . One thousand years of burning did not render them nonexistent. That "THEY" (plural) will be tormented day and night forever and ever indicates those two are still there.

After a billion years, we can see what the effect would be different. The concluding words there "they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever," communicates that not only existence continues but consciousness also.

And the proverbial expression "day and night" communicates uninterrupted punishment with no cessation.

We will look at the phrase forever and ever latter.

From verse twelve onwards in Revelation, we are confronted with one symbol or metaphor after another for the remainder of the book. It is therefore more likely that the 'fire of hell' is likewise a metaphor rather than a literal statement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are angels and demons and people who do not want to have anything to do with God. They long for an existence without God.

God will prepare "a place" for these creations of His. He wants and has to communicate the awfulness of that place - that state. And He does in the Bible.

It is God's responsibility to reveal that what these rebels want is not going to be to their liking. He will give them what they want but He lets us know beforehand that it is terrible.

So we should ask God to soften our hearts to His plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. And it is very effective to simply begin to thank Him for sending the Son of God that we may be saved.

What if the pain of being in the presence of the One who so loved them is worse than the pain of damnation ? When the lost realize the truth of what they have spurned for no reason, probably to be in the lake of fire will be escape from the light of seeing Who they have rejected.

Some people will read this with a very macho attitude. They really prefer to have an existence without God. But recently I noticed Psalm 10:

"For the wicked man boasts of the desire of his soul,
And the rapacious man curses, even despises Jehovah.
The wicked man, according to the haughtiness of his countenance, Says, He will not require it;

All his thoughts are this: There is no God! " (Psalm 10:3-4)

"But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12)

I wonder if this 'outer darkness' is an alternative to the 'lake of fire', where hell is simply loneliness, isolation and separation from God.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
"But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12)

I wonder if this 'outer darkness' is an alternative to the 'lake of fire', where hell is simply loneliness, isolation and separation from God.

" The work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one's work of what sort it is.

If anyone's work which he has built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward.

If anyone's work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Cor. 3:13-15)

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke

"But I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will recline at table with Abraham an Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens,

But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

Your enthusiasm for this horrible erroneous doctrine would be almost admirable if it wasn't so sad.

Originally posted by divegeester
Your enthusiasm for this horrible erroneous doctrine would be almost admirable if it wasn't so sad.

I believe that if God reigns everywhere yet some creatures want nothing to do with God, He prepares a place for them. That is a place where there is the absence of His blessing.

I already have absolutely nothing to do with this "god" you weirdos speak of.

Is this "place" he is "preparing" as "bad" as where I am now? Or worse?

Also, in what way is he "preparing" this place?

Will he be doing the decorating himself?

Originally posted by Great King Rat
Also, in what way is he "preparing" this place?

Will he be doing the decorating himself?

"Then He will say also to those on the left, Go away from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire PREPARED for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:41)

Originally posted by sonship
You have not pointed out to me the erroneous part.
You did mention little devils, butt-cheeks, pitchforks jabbing away.
And you are adept to speak of horrible screams and paint pictures of Jesus enjoying the view.

You have added these special touches to erect an emotionally charged strawman. But I don't count any of these as your teaching something "e ...[text shortened]... ly serious aspect of eternal punishment that I think deserves some discussion.

Cont. latter

Originally posted by sonship
This I take as a "tickle my curiosity" question.
The word [b]"prepare" I take from the Bible itself:

"Then He will say also to those on the left, Go away from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire PREPARED for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:41)

That is all I really know or need to know, such an eternal fi ...[text shortened]... e ("eternal punishment" (v.46)) is prepared by the One who has the power and authority to do so.[/b]

Originally posted by divegeester

" And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? And Saul said, I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines wage war against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, neither through the prophets nor by dreams,

Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do." (1 Samuel 28:15)

"Now when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul." (v.12)

"And he said to her, What is his appearance? And she said, An old man is coming up and he is wrapped in a cloak.

Then Saul knew that it was SAMUEL ..." (v.14)

Originally posted by sonship
If a billion or more people choose to follow Satan to his destiny, then a billion or more do.