Why does God send people to an eternal hell

[Guest]

Just to give my two cents on the issue.

The Bible says that the lake of fire is eternal, but it never says that souls will be there forever. Also...

Matt 25:46

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

NKJV

Rev 20:10-15

10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

NKJV

We must speak the Words of God acurately... the weight of Words so spoken will be of priceless and of eternal value! Love Steven

Amen Steve

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:47-48

Good News

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Bad News

Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Isaiah 5:14

>>>>>()<<<<<

Woe To Those Who Mock

Yea, hath God said Genesis 3:1

[Botz]

Just to give my two cents on the issue.

The Bible says that the lake of fire is eternal, but it never says that souls will be there forever. Also...

Philippians 2:9-11

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

And Romans 10:9

9If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

From this I think it is safe to say that there are only two options. One, the souls of the unbelievers will eventually perish or all of these unsaved souls will one day be saved and no longer in the lake of fire.

There is another option you might consider....that all those that come before Jesus, the great and the small, will fall prostrate before Him, and then be sorted like sheep and goats, to the left and the right... but maybe you missed out this passage

Matthew 25:31

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

D-9, who do you profess Jesus Christ to be? Is He Lord, God incarnate, and your Salvation?

peace,

dave

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Actually, it is about you because Salvation is a personal issue between yourself and God. His Word has defined Salvation and to know Him is to know His Word.

There's a reason that you're a Seeker D-9 and it's because you don't agree with our Statement of Faith. Which is basic Christian Orthodoxy.

We cannot know scripture nor understand the mind of God of unless we acknowledge the primacy of His Word and what it has to say about Salvation. Ultimately God wants us to know Him and if we know Him we will agree about the basic issues. You are having an issue with a basic issue which is the permanency of hell and it's origin and basic nature.

Your understanding of the nature of hell is directly related to your udnerstanding of God. You can't undersatnd the nature of hell without understanding the nature of od. You can't study hell and know God. You must know God and then you will know the nature of hell. God is the focus.

Scripture records this;

Jer 9:23

¶ Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

Jer 9:24

But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD.

He is the Lord God who exercises lovingkindness (in calling all men every where to repentance with the message of His Gospel of Outrageous Grace and Good News), Justice (in meeting out Justice day by day and for eternity), and Righteousness (there is none Righteous, no one does what is right, Save the Lord). These charecteristics of His nature are equal. Yet in not knowing Him you will mischarecterize one or the other. You might even try to charecterize Him by your own righteous standard which the Word records a filthy rags.

So yes, let's stay on topic.

Peace,

Dave

[enoob57]

Just to give my two cents on the issue.

The Bible says that the lake of fire is eternal, but it never says that souls will be there forever. Also...

Matt 25:46

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Sigh. Not this again. Every time this starts the thread is eventually closed down or deleted from public view, but here we go again. The phrase "everlasting punishment" is from the Greek phrase "kolasin aionion". Aionion is equivalent to an "age" or "eon", not "everlasting". Kolasin does mean punishment, but its definition doesn't stop there, it is corrective punishment or chastisement. It is punishment to purify/correct/prune, which intrinsically implies an ending; when whatever is corrected the punishment stops as that is the purpose of the punishment/chastisement. So "everlasting punishment" is literally translated as "an age long chastisement".

Rev 20:10-15

10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

NKJV

We must speak the Words of God acurately... the weight of Words so spoken will be of priceless and of eternal value! Love Steven

Yes, read closely, the devil is thrown into the lake of fire "forever", however it doesn't specify how long people will be there. Back in Matthew 25, verse 41 states that these unrighteous people going to "everlasting punishment/age long chastisement" in the fire prepared for the devil and his angels. I'll take a wild guess and say that is the same fire Rev 20 talks about. So I do think we can accurately say that the punishment the unrighteous will experience is not eternal.

Quote from FresnoJoe

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:47-48

The fire doesn't need to be quenched, many view the fire as God (God is a consuming fire Heb 12:29), and the "worm" is a worm/maggot that eats the dead/sin. It is basically saying that you cannot escape God's full judgment and punishment. This passage doesn't imply that anyone will be tortured forever in the lake of fire - or at least you can accurately describe the passage without attributing an everlasting torture doctrine, whether it be everyone eventually receives salvation or those in the lake of fire are destroyed completely. Which I think makes more sense given the Philippians and Romans verses I posted earlier.

You error in this fact that there are only two types of children! Those of God and those of satan

John 8:44-47

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

NKJV

So what Dave is saying to you is if the simple doctrines are causing you to stumble are you born of God! We have no doubt of the doctrine of eternal damnation nor after the sacrifice of Christ Jesus the fact of why it is eternal separation! You see the hope of all who have Christ living in them in the Person of The Holy Spirit is the eternal separation from sin and ungodliness (ALL THAT IS IN THEM AND ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD).... we do not seek uniqueness in our doctrine but that of the ancient path of the testaments (His Holy Word) for this is His Will for all who seek Him!

Jer 18:15

15 "Because My people have forgotten Me,

They have burned incense to worthless idols.

And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways,

From the ancient paths,

To walk in pathways and not on a highway,

NKJV

Love Steven

[enoob57]

Where does scripture say people will be in hell for eternity? It doesn't.

Your argument is now with God and not with man-

Rev 14:9-13

9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."

NASU

Love Steven

[Guest]

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2

>>>>>()<<<<<

Rev 20 goes on to say that death and hell/the grave are thrown into the lake of fire. Then those without Christ are thrown in. It doesn't say they will burn for eternity. In fact scripture says that the lake of fire is the "second death."

Yes

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:45-46

Into Hell

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:13-14

And Back Out To The Judgement

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

And Back Into The Eternal Lake Of Fire

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

And Partly Because We Know Eternity Is Such A Long Long Time

And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isaiah 66:24

We Will Weep As We Plead, See Jesus

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 126:5-6

Flee The Sure Wrath To Come

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Flee From Your Wages

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Flee To Jesus

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37

Believe

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25

Amen!

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Your misunderstanding is in your misunderstanding of what Christ has accomplished for the child of God.

His victory is complete. He's defeated hell, death, and the grave.

It is appointed once for every man to die. Right?

Heb 9:27

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

But after this the Judgment.

Re 20:15

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Every man will physically die. Every man will also be raised from that death. Some to everlasting shame, some to the Righteousness of Christ Jesus and life.

Because physical death is the consequence of sin, it is not inevitable to the redeemed.

1Co 15:51

¶ Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

However, it is to those outside of Christ's victory. That is the second death. Lacking the Victory those ressurected to death will remain dead.

Scofield;

Re 20:14

2 second death

Second death, Summary: "The second death" and the "lake of fire" are identical terms Re 20:14 and are used of the eternal state of the wicked. It is "second" relative to the preceding physical death of the wicked in unbelief and rejection of God; their eternal state is one of eternal "death" (i.e. separation from God) in sins Joh 8:21,24. That the second death is not annihilation is shown by a comparison of Re 19:20; 20:10. After one thousand years in the lake of fire the Beast and False Prophet are still there, undestroyed. The words "forever and forever" ("to the ages of the ages") are used in Heb 1:8 for the duration of the throne of God, eternal in the sense of unending.

Heb 1:8

But unto the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Jesus Christ reigns in victory over His enemies forever and ever.

Which puts to the Sword the translation of aion as an "age of judgment." God's reign over His enemies is perpetual.

Study God and His Word and not the Doctrine of hell. Then Light will be shed.

peace,

Dave

[Botz]

Where does scripture say people will be in hell for eternity? It doesn't.

Your argument is now with God and not with man-

Rev 14:9-13

9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."

NASU

Love Steven

Reread my post. Hell and the Lake of Fire are 2 different things.

Revelation 20

13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Hell delivers up the dead. Then the dead are judged. Then those without Christ are cast into the Lake of Fire.

Rev 20

15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So Hell is not for Eternity. The lake of fire is.

That is correct KatyAnn, as stated in Scripture...it is the the 'Lake of Fire' that is eternal, and into which Satan, the Beast and the False Prophet are hurled, and when Death and Hell have delivered up their dead, they too are cast into the Lake of Fire, and finally everyone whose name cannot be found in the books when they appear before the Great White Throne, will also be cast into the Lake of Fire.

It is evident that the Lake of Fire is a holding place for Immortal Beings, and the Devil was cast into it for a thousand years, and then released for a season, before once again being thrown back into it forever. Rev 20:1-3; 10.

You could make the point that Hell is made redundant and Death is defeated, not destroyed when it is thrown into the Lake of Fire...because the very nature of the Lake seems to be one of an Eternal Region for all things eternal, but that will never regain access to the region of the New Heavens and the New Earth.

[Ebwly]

Ok so I'm a christian but I do have my doubts sometimes and lately several questions have been plaguing my mind. Heres one:

Why does God send people to hell? I know that we're all sinners and we dont deserve heaven, but why hell? I also understand that God is a just God and he is eternal and can't stand sin, and that our souls are eternal too, but I don't understand how burning forever and ever and ever is a just punishment.

First of all, you need to understand that God sends noone to hell. The bible clearly states that 'God takes no delight in the death of the wicked.' In fact, when they built Rome, they didnt start off by building jails! no, they started off by building a city. Same with God. He started off building heaven and earth. Hell was not part of original creation. Also, God is a just God, and there is evidence in the bible that there will be different degrees of punishment in hell.

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Also, as for the question of how a finite life on earth can warrant eternal punishment, you have to realize that the length of punishment is not meant to fit the length of time that a crime was committed. e.g. say I break into your house and steal all your furniture. Sure that might take me a whole day, but my jail term wouldn't be that long. However, if I murdered someone by shooting them, the actual deed is committed in less than a minute, but I will very likely get life in prision. therefore, the punishment fits the severity of the crime, not the length of time the deed was committed. And you may not realise it now, but the greatest sin a human being can commit against God his creator is to break the greatest law, and jesus said that the greatest law is 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength.' therefor we are all sinners and guilty of Hell, because we have all committed the ultimate sin - rejecting our Maker, and attempting to be our own God. That is why Hell is a separation from God, and not only is it necessary, but eternity in hell is a proportionate length of time for a crime as severe as that.

Unless of course, you have Jesus! =)