Is hell even required?

T

TouchTestimony

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Is hell even necessary? I understand that God can't be in the presence of unholiness (except when he came to earth?) and I know that he's Just, so sinners can't go to heaven. But he's also merciful. Hell, then??
 
The Jews believed in Sheol.This has been translated hell or Hades.
The old testament is filled with descriptions of Sheol.Many Bible commentators say it is equal to mythology's Hades.It's not though,
There is much information about Hades(none of it in the bible).
The only information we have on Sheol is from the bible.

"the grave",or Sheol.
There is no torment or knowledge.
It is just like the atheist heaven,NOTHING.

Hades is NOT the same as Sheol
Hades and hell are from Greek mythology.
And so is Tartarus.
Jesus spoke of Gehenna,which is the garbage dump outside Jerusalem
where there worm dieth not and the fire never ceases.
Jesus said we sleep.
Why would death hell and the grave be emptied of it's inhabitants in Rev. and then the dead judged and then thrown back in hell?
No ,it says death hell and the grave are thrown in the lake of fire.
So if the judged spend eternity in hell then do they have to go through the lake of fire to get there?
By the way my God is an all consuming fire.
Rather than form some loose doctrine out of misunderstanding I personally have chosen to leave the punishment to God.
Jews started entertaining the mythological concepts(Khabalah,Zohan etc..) years before Jesus appears.That's one reason Paul warned:
Titus 1:14. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Many times in the old testament God refers to other god's as though they were real.Then usually there is a disclaimer when he says something like "though they are no gods at all".Not a contradiction,more like sarcasm.

The story of beggar Lazarus and the Rich man(name not known)
does suggest(not prove) our "sleep" may come with dreams of some sort.The rich man in torment wanted to cool his tongue(what is set on fire of hell?).And even wanted Lazarus to serve him in the afterlife.
The rich man is not named because his name is not in the Lamb's book of life.He is cast into utter darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus said we sleep,people who experience near death and remember it have a widely various
experiences of it.So many things are left a mystery until the appointed time.
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Ecclesiastes 9:5,6 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

If we are born in trespass and sin then we were born dead.
We didn't exist before Christ died for us.We were actually born when we believed on him.

Eph. 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this
world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Eph 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions
Col 2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus
2 Thes 1:10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed-- for our testimony to you was believed.
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This says I was basically born dead walking the earth in that death body of sin.Under domination of the Spirit of the AIR.
Then I was buried with him through baptism.(past tense been buried)
I was raised(past tense) with him through faith in the power of God.
Christ is seated at the right hand of God.We are seated with him and in him.
This happened 2000 years ago.The trigger to make it happen for me wasn't around until my time though.
Even though I am with him now,I know he is coming again to be glorified "in his saints."
Jude 1:14 Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.

According to Scripture he is coming "with" his saints to be Glorified "in" his saints.
 
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Dear thiscrosshurts.

Have to agree especially with:

"Rather than form some loose doctrine out of misunderstanding I personally have chosen to leave the punishment to God."

It is far too difficult a matter to form a doctrine on.
 
I really wrestle with those verses in Ephesians.

I have put forth the proposition that this heavenly being that sits in Christ at the right hand adds a layer of confusion.
What is he.Is he me?Is he the new creature or am I(or both)?
Is he one of the cloud of witnesses?
Is he depicted in Revelations
Does he tie in to the "One is taken,one is left"stories that Jesus told?
Etc........

There are enough verses that tell me the wicked will be
punished,but vengeance is his.
I'm not supposed to punish evil I have been instructed to overcome it with good.So I think I have enough on my plate already
 
It helps to understand the ages and which dispensation we are in now when trying to make sense of what is written. We are in the dispensation of Grace and the age of ekklesia, thee body of Christ.
 
with "I'm not supposed to punish evil I have been instructed to overcome it with good.", that's a tall order, no?

an eye for an eye, quid pro quo, that's it then?
 
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