What is hell?

[Jaareshiah]

If God doesn’t want people to suffer physical torment, why has He allowed me to have arthritis? And why has He commanded death by stoning for certain crimes?

And just what is that lake of fire all about in Revelation?

God did not cause the suffering of arthritis that you have, for my mother suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for about 46 years until her death at 68 years old. Many blame God for their problems. Proverbs 19:3 says: "It is the foolishness of an earthling man that distorts his way, and so his heart becomes enraged against Jehovah himself." Is it right to blame God for that which he did not cause, sickness, sorrow and death ?

The fault rests, not with God, but with his archenemy, Satan the Devil. It was he who seduced Eve in the Garden of Eden (1 Tim 2:14) and told the first lie.(John 8:44) Because Adam listened to his wife's voice and ate of the fruit from the "tree of knowledge of good and bad", he introduced sin, missing the mark of perfect obedience.(Gen 3:17) The word sin comes from the Hebrew word chat·ta’th´ (Greek ha·mar·ti´a) and literally means "miss", as in shooting an arrow toward a target but missing it.

The true God, Jehovah, made arrangements to undo the death-dealing effects of Adam's rebellion in the Garden of Eden that has reached down to our day. Immediately after Adam's sin, he made preparation for a promised "seed" that would "bruise" the "serpent, Satan the Devil, in the head.(Gen 3:15) That promised "seed", over the course of 4000 years, was finally revealed as Jesus Christ.(Gal 3:16) Jehovah God laid the foundation for a heavenly government, made up of Jesus and 144,000 individuals from all nations (Rev 7:4; 14:1), that Jesus taught his disciples to pray for (Matt 6:9, 10), " namely, to break up the works of the Devil."(1 John 3:8)

In the Bible book of Revelation, it provides a restoration picture for the earth and mankind, with the apostle John seeing this: "With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also, he says: “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”(Rev 21:3-5)

What God has promised will be a reality, for "it is impossible for God to lie".(Heb 6:18) We are living in the time period, called Jesus (invisible) "presence" in which God will soon usher this promise in.(Matt 24:3, 27, 37, 39) The apostle Peter tied Jesus invisible "presence" with the "last days", saying: "For you know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his ? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.”(2 Pet 3, 4)

Most will never recognize that we are in the midst of Jesus invisible "presence", ruling as king of God's kingdom since 1914, being totally doubtful by saying: "Where is this promised presence of his ? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning." These cannot see the evidence that we are living in a critical and yet momentous time period.(Matt 24:3-14)

Jehovah God is a "lover of justice".(Ps 37:28) Because "he is a lover of righteousness and justice"(Ps 33:5), Jehovah will ensure that "the upright are the ones that will behold his face."(Ps 11:7) These "will possess the earth and they will reside forever upon it"(Ps 37:29), and "will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."(Ps 37:11)

Arthritis will never exist again nor all of the diseases or illnesses that has plagued mankind over the course of 6000 years of mankind's history, for Isaiah 33:24 says prophetically during Jesus thousand year reign (Rev 20:6): "And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people that are dwelling in the land will be those pardoned for their error."

Being a "God of justice", the stoning of anyone who committed wicked acts, such as calling down evil upon God and cursing a chieftain, were condemned.(Ex 22:28) The first recorded instance of spoken blasphemy was that of a son of mixed parentage, who in a struggle with an Israelite man, "began to abuse the Name and to call down evil upon it." Jehovah God decreed the death penalty by stoning for the offender, and he established this as due punishment for any future "abuser of Jehovah's name", whether a native Israelite or an alien resident among them.(Lev 24:10-16) No one will be allowed to disrespect Jehovah God and live forever.

If an occasion arose where a son became absolutely rebellious and incorrigible after repeated warnings and the necessary discipline, stern measure was taken. The son was brought before the older men of the city, and after testimony from the parents that he was an irreformable offender, the delinquent suffered capital punishment by stoning. Such arrangement evidently had reference to a son beyond the age of what is usually considered a young child, for this one the Scriptures describe as “a glutton and a drunkard.” (De 21:18-21)

One striking his father or mother, or calling down evil upon his parents, was put to death. The reason for such strong measures was that the nation might clear away what was bad from their midst and so that “all Israel [would] hear and indeed become afraid.” Therefore, any tendency in the nation toward juvenile delinquency or disrespect of parental authority would be greatly retarded by the punishment inflicted upon such offenders.(Ex 21:15, 17; Matt 15:4; Mark 7:10)

The "lake of fire" in the Bible book of Revelation means "the second death."(Rev 20:14) All of imperfect mankind received the condemnation of death from our forefather Adam.(Rom 5:12) This is not by choice, but is inherited. Of ourselves, there is nothing within our power to save ourselves from death that we received from Adam. Only our Creator, Jehovah God, can remove Adamic death and has promised to do so, as found at Revelation 21:4. However, "the second death" or everlasting destruction, is in effect, chosen by individuals. How so ? Because everyone is a free moral agent, and can therefore chose or reject to "love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ "(Matt 22:37)

Moses told the nation of Israel, just before entering the land of Canaan: "I do take the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you today, that I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the malediction; and you must choose life in order that you may keep alive, you and your offspring, by loving Jehovah your God, by listening to his voice and by sticking to him; for he is your life and the length of your days."(Deut 30: 19, 20)

Most will knowingly or unknowingly, chose "the second death" or "lake of fire", everlasting destruction, for Jesus said: "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it."(Matt 7:13, 14) "Few" will unreservedly chose to "love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ "(Matt 22:37)

 

[Chad]

Go to Hell.

Apologize or expect your account to be closed.

You're a fool for telling someone to go to hell.

 

[Chad]

Lady, you don't have a clue. It is not my fault my mother was pregnant before she was 18. It is not my fault I was born 10 weeks premature. It is not my fault that the ***** donor abandoned me. It is not my fault that I was raised in an atmosphere of verbal abuse and physical neglect. It isn't my fault my mother ignored doctors when I was growing up so now I have congestive heart failure. None of what is wrong with me is my fault. So take your self-righteousness and shove it.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />

Banned. Since you have no decency for those who are trying to help you, that is your problem not ours.

You insult those trying to help you - then you face the consequences with that attitude of yours. You sound like a delinquent child with your selfish, rude remarks.

 

[Jaareshiah]

Jaareshiah: There is no "eternal torment" that the churches have taught for centuries.

Jaareshiah: If no loving human father would hold his child's hand over a fire to hear him scream in dreadful agony, no matter what he did, then how could our Creator

God doesn't want them to go there, he does everything he can to prevent us from going there. He sent his son to die for us so that we wouldn't have to go there. But the fact remains, those who don't accept his son WILL go there.

Rev 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Luk 16:23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'

Mat 13:41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,
Mat 13:42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

Mat 5:29 "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

There are many many more verses about Hell (Hades, Sheol, etc...) It is a real place, it does exist, and some people will end up there.

A loving father does everything he can to keep his children from harm, but sometimes we disobey our fathers and end up getting ourselves in trouble. God is love yes, but he also just and Holy and righteous and will judge all sinners.

The Bible does not teach eternal torment of a "hellfire" that the churches have promoted for centuries. These have distorted and mistranslated Jesus words. For example, how can "hell" be a place of eternal fiery torment and yet itself be "thrown into the lake of fire" if "hell" is a "lake of fire" ?(Rev 20:14) How can "hell" in effect, be thrown into "hell" ? Please provide a logical and reasonable answer from the Bible.

At Matthew 5:22, Jesus said that "everyone who continues wrathful with his brother" to the point of intense and unrelenting anger, being unforgiving, would be liable, not to "hell fire", but to "Gehenna". Jesus again used the Greek word Gehenna (literally geena) at Matthew 5:29, saying that anyone who was not willing to guard their eyes from desiring a woman wrongfully without recourse, would "be pitched into Gehenna."("hell", King James Bible)

The word Gehenna is a Greek form of the Hebrew Geh Hin·nom´, meaning “Valley of Hinnom”. The deep, narrow Valley of Hinnom, later known by this Greek name, lay to the S and SW of ancient Jerusalem, whereby it was a place for the disposal of garbage and carcasses, and fire, perhaps increased in intensity by the addition of sulfur, would be the only suitable means to eliminate such refuse. Where the fire did not reach, worms, or maggots, would breed, consuming anything not destroyed by the fire. On this basis, Jesus’ words would mean that the destructive effect of God’s adverse judgment would not cease until complete destruction, not eternal torment, was attained.

Luke 16:19-31 does not teach that which many feel of "eternal torment", for if individuals had "done their homework", these would have seen that Jesus gave this illustration with the Pharisees in mind. Prior to this, Jesus had just given an illustration concerning a slave who was accused of wasting his master's goods.(Luke 16:1-8) Jesus then said: "Also, I say to you, Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that, when such fail, they may receive you into the everlasting dwelling places."(Luke 16:9)

Who though was listening to Jesus ? Luke 16:14 says: "Now the Pharisees, who were money lovers, were listening to all these things, and they began to sneer at him." How did Jesus respond to their greediness ? "You are those who declare yourselves righteous before men, but God knows your hearts; because what is lofty among men is a disgusting thing in God’s sight."(Luke 16:15)

Jesus now proceeds to give an illustration regarding the Pharisees, showing them up for what they were, greedy money lovers, as "a certain man was rich, and he used to deck himself with purple and linen, enjoying himself from day to day with magnificence." These wanted to enjoy the riches of Jewish society, without regard for the spiritual needs of the common man or ‛am ha·’a´rets (Hebrew), for Jesus now says that "a certain beggar named Laz´a·rus used to be put at his gate, full of ulcers and desiring to be filled with the things dropping from the table of the rich man. Yes, too, the dogs would come and lick his ulcers.”(Luke 16:20, 21)

The “‛am ha·’a´rets “ or “people of the land”, called by the common name of Lazarus, were fed spiritual “crumbs” (King James Bible) by the religious leaders. Though wanting some spiritual nourishment, were fed spiritually only “the things dropping from the table of the rich man” or “crumbs”.

Due to the condemnatory judgment messages against the Jewish religious leaders that Jesus and his disciples were giving out, the religious leaders were experiencing “torments”.(Luke 16:23) They wanted relief, even a little relief, just ‘ a drop of water to cool his tongue, because I am in anguish in this blazing fire’.(Luke 16:24) However, these were not to be spared any of the condemnatory judgment messages from Jesus or his disciples, for these exposed them as wicked and deserving of destruction.(Matt 21:40, 41)

If we take Jesus’ words literally, we would have to draw still other conclusions that would make the illustration strange indeed. These include: That those enjoying celestial happiness are in position to see and speak to those suffering torment in Hades (“hell”, King James Bible). That the water adhering to one’s fingertip is not evaporated by the fire of Hades (“hell”, King James Bible). And, that, although the torment of Hades (“hell”, King James Bible) is great, a mere drop of water would bring relief to the sufferer.

If hell were a place of literal fiery torment, then why did Jonah, while in the “fish’s belly”, say that “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice” ?(Jonah 2:1, 2) How can a fish’s belly be “hell”, as taught by the churches ? Most people never look deep for the “truth” but instead read only on the surface, accepting “orthodox Christianity” and it’s teachings.

At Matthew 13:42, Jesus uses the destructive meaning of fire to show what will happen to those collected out of his kingdom that causes “stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness.”(Matt 13:41) When something is burned up with fire completely, nothing remains but ashes. The item is a total loss, such as a home that burns to the ground.

 

[MelodyC]

Lady, you don't have a clue. It is not my fault my mother was pregnant before she was 18. It is not my fault I was born 10 weeks premature. It is not my fault that the ***** donor abandoned me. It is not my fault that I was raised in an atmosphere of verbal abuse and physical neglect. It isn't my fault my mother ignored doctors when I was growing up so now I have congestive heart failure. None of what is wrong with me is my fault. So take your self-righteousness and shove it.

I am still praying for you.

By the way I have had a very similar childhood. Except I was not just verbally abused by my alcoholic father but he used to hit all of us and on more than one occassion take a loaded gun and point it out our heads threatening to blow one of us off to Kindgom come.

I am partially crippled today after years of sickness and disease but I won't go into all the details of my own health. I can't work and I am reliant on others.

As I said before you are not the only one on this planet that is suffering.

The pit I refer to is one I know myself well enough. It is the self-pity, depression pit. God says His hand is not to short to pull us out of our pits.

You are no longer a child but an adult. You have to stop blamming others for you current circumstances and choices in life. The Bible teaches us to forgive. That releases us from the bitterness of the past so you can move on and get healing.

I am not telling you to get on with it because I don't care but because I do care and I know if you stay hurt and keep blaming others and don't do something to move forward in your life you will remain in the pit of despair where you are currently. I am telling you because I know what it is like to be there and I know what it takes to get out.

Until you make a decision to leave the past in the past and FORGIVE, you cannot find the FREEDOM from bitterness and anger and hurt and rejection.

God isn't an instant magician that makes our world great. Jesus suffered and died and said anyone who comes to him will have to follow in his footsteps. Choosing to become a Christian is not done to make our lives rosey. It is done because we realise our Sinfullness, how much we have done againt God and that there is an eternal consequence for that. Those who sincerely SEEK God will find Him. If you want relationship with God then it will be a hard road to tread. However God promises to be there with us every step of the way helping us.

I know you are angry and I am not upset by your outburst. I hold no hard feelings against you. I'm sorry you misunderstood my intentions.