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Without fail, every single person who professes a strong belief in the eternal torments of hell for non-Christians are staunch Christians themselves who are secure in their conviction that they are saved. I've never heard one non-religious person, atheist, etc ever profess belief in hell.
Why would you expect an atheist who doesn't believe in God, or in life after death, to believe in hell?
Yes. Christians believe what the word of God says about the unbeliever's eternal destination in the lake of fire.
And yes, Christians believe what the Bible says concerning the fact that anyone who believes in/on Christ has eternal life.
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The consequence appears to be that these pro-Fundamentalist fire-and-brimstone thumpers sit on their perches high above everyone else, passing judgment on those who don't meet their standards and expectations of what it takes to enter heaven. It's a form of pride, like they are saying, "I'VE met God's criteria for getting saved. You haven't, therefore you are on your way to burning in the eternal fires of hell." It's really very sad to see these Fundamentalists so arrogantly condemning non-Christians and I'm sure it doesn't please God. But they justify their arrogance by saying they are only doing God's work trying to get them saved before they land in hell-fire for eternity.
No. That's your perverse reaction to Biblically revealed truth. The Bible plainly teaches that those who do not come to Christ for eternal life will be eternally separated from God. Everyone is born into this world already condemned, and it is only through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross that that condemnation is removed.
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
1 Thess 1:6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7] and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8] dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9] These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
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One theologian described it this way:
That person is a false teacher who disregards and denies what has been plainly revealed in the Scriptures simply because he doesn't want to face reality.
Why would you expect an atheist who doesn't believe in God, or in life after death, to believe in hell?
Yes. Christians believe what the word of God says about the unbeliever's eternal destination in the lake of fire.
And yes, Christians believe what the Bible says concerning the fact that anyone who believes in/on Christ has eternal life.
No. That's your perverse reaction to Biblically revealed truth. The Bible plainly teaches that those who do not come to Christ for eternal life will be eternally separated from God. Everyone is born into this world already condemned, and it is only through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross that that condemnation is removed.
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
1 Thess 1:6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7] and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8] dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9] These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
That person is a false teacher who disregards and denies what has been plainly revealed in the Scriptures simply because he doesn't want to face reality.
Good job Mike! -- "Let those who have eyes and ears see and hear what the Lord is saying" ... Otherwise, "The things of God remain foolishness to the natural man, because they are Spiritually discerned' ... and only those born again in Jesus Christ have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
In the context of the original OP Question, I perceive, from Bible descriptions, that 'hell' is the worse thing we can possibly imagine with our earthly minds. What, for example, could be worse than 'being aware of the pain of burning forever with no hope of escape?' But, hell is probably not as we literally imagine it, anymore than heaven's 'streets' are paved with gold. Regardless of their actual condition, those who condemn themselves to hell, will wish for all eternity that they could simply suffer the physical pain of burning. What does that actually mean. I don't know. Just as 'eye has not seen nor mind conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him' ... we, likewise, don't really fully grasp the reality of hell.
"They spew forth flames of molten rock, contaminated with the thoughts of men."
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Originally Posted by pcamps
And call it the word of God
Syncretistically, they blend or mix the Lake of Fire and judgment with sewage; dumping it into the river of life. For those who believe in hell... "Ashes to ashes" and "dust to dust" have a whole different meaning.
"Fear of death is the worst thing, imaginable or conceived."
Good job Mike! -- "Let those who have eyes and ears see and hear what the Lord is saying" ... Otherwise, "The things of God remain foolishness to the natural man, because they are Spiritually discerned' ... and only those born again in Jesus Christ have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
In the context of the original OP Question, I perceive, from Bible descriptions, that 'hell' is the worse thing we can possibly imagine with our earthly minds. What, for example, could be worse than 'being aware of the pain of burning forever with no hope of escape?' But, hell is probably not as we literally imagine it, anymore than heaven's 'streets' are paved with gold. Regardless of their actual condition, those who condemn themselves to hell, will wish for all eternity that they could simply suffer the physical pain of burning. What does that actually mean. I don't know. Just as 'eye has not seen nor mind conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him' ... we, likewise, don't really fully grasp the reality of hell.
Thanks John. Heaven and 'hell' (the lake of fire), eternal life in the presence of God and neverending existence away from the presence of God, blessing and cursing are all polar opposites. God designed man to have fellowship with Him. There are only two options for man. Eternal life with God, or neverending existence away from the presence of God. Those who choose to reject the invitation to come to Jesus Christ for eternal life have by default the lake of fire as their eternal abode . Whatever the precise nature of the environment in that place, it will be a place of unending torment and suffering. It does seem that there will be degrees of punishment in hell. It also seems that the torment will be both external (the rich man in agony in the flame [whatever its nature] in the 'torments' side of Hades in Luke 16:24 which is a temporary place of confinement until the great white throne judgment) and internal with the 'worm that doesn't die' indicating internal torment. The gnashing of teeth indicates anger. There will of course be an unending sense of hopelessness with the depression I'm sure will accompany it. I have known depression and have tried to imagine what the depression of those in the lake of fire will be like knowing that they are forever lost. Daniel 12:2 says that those in the lake of fire will be in disgrace and in everlasting contempt. It is a place to be avoided, but so very many will be there forever.
Why would you expect an atheist who doesn't believe in God, or in life after death, to believe in hell?
Yes. Christians believe what the word of God says about the unbeliever's eternal destination in the lake of fire.
And yes, Christians believe what the Bible says concerning the fact that anyone who believes in/on Christ has eternal life.
No. That's your perverse reaction to Biblically revealed truth. The Bible plainly teaches that those who do not come to Christ for eternal life will be eternally separated from God. Everyone is born into this world already condemned, and it is only through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross that that condemnation is removed.
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
1 Thess 1:6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7] and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8] dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9] These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
That person is a false teacher who disregards and denies what has been plainly revealed in the Scriptures simply because he doesn't want to face reality.
Oh, boy--here we go.
God is going to send 90% of humanity into the eternal fires of hell in unspeakable pain and torment even though they never had a chance to hear Jesus' name, or if they did, were culturally bound to stick to their own faith. Why? Because they are His children, of course, and He loves them with an undying love. Or is "DYING" love more appropriate.
Nowhere in the entire Bible does Jesus or God specifically say He going to torment people for all eternity. It's all deliberate mistranslations, innuendos and obfuscations of words like "ages long". Eternal torment is a pagan concept that wormed its way into the scriptures, helped along by nuts and sadists like Augustine, Justin and Tertullius because they needed a couch, they were so hung up with psychological problems. That's historical fact. the Fundamentalist Corporate machine has benefited tremendously from this heresy down through the centuries. It has brought them power, wealth, and prestige and has kept the masses ignorant of the truth, just like they want the masses to be. If I were in that business I would be preaching eternal torment as well.
God is going to send 90% of humanity into the eternal fires of hell in unspeakable pain and torment even though they never had a chance to hear Jesus' name, or if they did, were culturally bound to stick to their own faith. Why? Because they are His children, of course, and He loves them with an undying love. Or is "DYING" love more appropriate.
Nowhere in the entire Bible does Jesus or God specifically say He going to torment people for all eternity. It's all deliberate mistranslations, innuendos and obfuscations of words like "ages long". Eternal torment is a pagan concept that wormed its way into the scriptures, helped along by nuts and sadists like Augustine, Justin and Tertullius because they needed a couch, they were so hung up with psychological problems. That's historical fact. the Fundamentalist Corporate machine has benefited tremendously from this heresy down through the centuries. It has brought them power, wealth, and prestige and has kept the masses ignorant of the truth, just like they want the masses to be. If I were in that business I would be preaching eternal torment as well.
It has nothing at all to do with mistranslations. Theologians who are quite well versed in the original languages understand that the Bible states quite clearly that the unbeliever will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
And no, the Bible has not been corrupted making the original message lost. God has preserved His word dispite the errors and variations in the manuscript copies. None of which alters any point of doctrine in the Scriptures even though individual verses may be affected. No doctrine is built on any single verse.
The simple fact is that you refuse to accept what the Scriptures plainly state.
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Good job Mike! -- "Let those who have eyes and ears see and hear what the Lord is saying" ... Otherwise, "The things of God remain foolishness to the natural man, because they are Spiritually discerned' ... and only those born again in Jesus Christ have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
