Destroyed by fire or tortured forever?

[TomPJr]

The idea that the lake of fire will burn up everything that is thrown into it is wrong. The Spirit is eternal, and will go on in spite of the intense heat. Notice what Revelation 20:10 says. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, AND SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER." This is the same lake of fire where sinners will go. Revelation 20:13-15

13 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.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

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

Notice that it says "hell delivered up the dead." This is not speaking of the grave as some mistakenly teach, but the hell the rich man was held prisoner in, in the parable given by Jesus. Notice what is said about him in Luke 16:22,23

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus at his bosom.

Those who die in their sins today go immediately to hell. Their physical bodies return to the ground and sleep, but their spirits go to a place of torment known as hell to await the final judgement. When the time comes, the spirit will be reunited with the physical body which will experience a ressurection, and God will judge that person according to their works. The sinners that were in hell will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented along side the devil, the beast and the false prophet. Your doctrine does give a bit of comfort to sinners, but unfortunately for them, it is not true. My advise is that everyone repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Then you won't have to worry about who is right and who is wrong in this debate.

obviously you didn't take the time to read my whole post with thoughtful consideration to the points I made.

The bible says that the dead know not anything. They are unconscious. They don't even dream.

Forever in the bible usually only means as long as a thing may last. Jonah was in the whale "forever"

Soddom and Gommorrah was burned with the unquenchable eternal fire. However they're not still burning.

There are many places in the bible where the term forever actually have an end.

It's kind of like when one of us say's "I've been here forever". It's a figure of speach.

IF God is going to punish the wicked endlessly, then why does it say that he will destroy them. He will make them as if they never existed.

The bible says that they will perish, not live on endlessly being tortured. God will burn them up. like the chaff on the thressing floor they will be burned up and will be turned to ashes.

We don't have immortality yet. only the righteous recieve it.

I like your last statement....we should repent so we don't have to worry about it.

I tell you though... that I am much more motivated to love a God that will not torture me endlessly throughtout eternity.

That is why I love God....I know that he is merciful...

If he did punish people for billions, and billions of years(that being just the beginning) I could only serve him out of fear.

That wouldn't be very merciful of God to do that would it?

and,

what kind of heaven would it be if you knew others, even some that you may have known and loved, were being coninually burned?

TomPJr:

Such a simplistic, humanistic view, and without evidence of knowledge of the Word of God in the matter.

Why don't we look at what the bible says rather than insult one another. That only makes people not want to hear you.

Why don't you look at the bible texts that I've posted when I started this thread, and show me how I mistranslated them?

Actually I don't want to hear people who misinterpret scripture to suit their failure to accept God's Word, and put their own spin on it. I am being obedient to disregard and throw off such proposed views.

well I can say the same about you, but what does that prove,a nd who does it edify?

It only gives you comfort to wallow in your ignorance.

You are barking up the wrong tree, mister. You don't call people ignorant! God is edified in my life, thank-you very much. His Holy Spirit gives me eyes to see what is truth and what is error. Ask Him and He will do the same for you. The crux of the matter is: do you follow after it, holding it close and dear, or do you discard it like some scrap?

Well who do you think you are then? You basically called me ignorant. Saying that I misenterpret and put my own spin on it.

I rather do just the opposite.

I take the scriptures as a whole, not just a few verses that seem to reflect what I have been brainwashed to believe.

Ignorance is a lack of knowledge. the bible prophesied about people claiming to be wise, and that they were actually fools.

I don't wish to fight with you F.A.

I believe that we are fellow servants in Christ.

I know that neither one of us is perfect and that we don't know everything. I am more than willing to see things from your point of view. who knows, maybe I'll learn something.

If I am wrong I want to be shown.

I wish you and others had the same desire. What if you are wrong. Will you remain close minded and not even consider that it is a possibility?

[EricH]

OK,

Once again, we just don't seem to be able to control ourselves. We are closing this thread