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Hell, what is it?

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Nathan

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Another thread prompted this discussion. So I figured we could begin by knowing what exactly hell is.

What is it?

Was it created, or did it always exist?

Who goes there?

Why do they go there?

I think we often don't like to talk about it for some reason, but sometimes it's nessesary to understand things.
 
I think it would be useful to define the term. Are you referring to the lake of fire described as the second death? Because some places in the bible refer to "hell" as hades, or Sheol where Lazarus was found in the bosom of Abraham.
 
It was created for satan and the angels who rebelled for a place of punishment from the Creator.

That almost covers the first three questions, but leaves the third wanting.

We know that all who are not found in the book of life also go there - because God is just.

Ezekiel 33:20 (ESV)
Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.

Does justice dictate that the punishment outweigh the crime?

Is man an eternal being from the beginning?

Could justice demand that a man pay for something eternaly, when he never was?

I say that a man who denies Christ will be destroyed in hell - both body and soul. Is destruction permenant or temponary?

Matthew 10:28 (ESV)
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

What is destruction? If something is destroyed does it still exist?
 
I think it would be useful to define the term. Are you referring to the lake of fire described as the second death? Because some places in the bible refer to "hell" as hades, or Sheol where Lazarus was found in the bosom of Abraham.
I wondered if this would be asked.

I am speaking of the second death - lake of fire - the hell Jesus speaks of in Matthew 10:28.
 
What is it?
I don't think there is a really clear description in scripture but, there's enough to know we don't want to be assigned there.
Was it created, or did it always exist?
The only "thing" that always existed is God. Everything else is created.
Mat 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Who goes there?
Everyone who does not inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Those who do not show mercy. (Mat 25:41-43)
Why do they go there?
They chose the path of death rather than the path of life.
Those who do the works of the flesh.
Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
People go there because they choose their own way over God's way.
 
Is God just for sending people there?

Does their punishment result from their sin?

Is the same punishment equal to everyone?
 
That's hades,not the idea of hell as some think
And........... how many of those times are simply the same reference, just repeated in one of the other different Gospel account?
 
Is God just for sending people there?
God has opened heavens doors to whosoever will believe.
Everyone is welcome. Everyone is invited. (Like in the parable of the wedding feast at Mat 22:2ff)
But no one is forced to come.
If anyone does not want heaven, they can have hell.
Those are the two choices: eternal life or second death. Pick one.
Does their punishment result from their sin?
Mat 25:34-36 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
40b..... ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Mat 25:41-43 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
45b .....Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life;
he who does not obey the Son shall not see life
,
but the wrath of God rests upon him.



John 5:28-29 … the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth
those who have done good, to the resurrection of life,
and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Is the same punishment equal to everyone?
Probably not. :shrug

iakov the fool
 
Another thread prompted this discussion. So I figured we could begin by knowing what exactly hell is.

What is it?

Was it created, or did it always exist?

Who goes there?

Why do they go there?

I think we often don't like to talk about it for some reason, but sometimes it's nessesary to understand things.
I believe hell is anywhere where God is not.
 
Another thread prompted this discussion. So I figured we could begin by knowing what exactly hell is.

What is it?

Was it created, or did it always exist?

Who goes there?

Why do they go there?

I think we often don't like to talk about it for some reason, but sometimes it's nessesary to understand things.

Eh, I really think that when "Sheol" got translated as "Hades," Greek mythology creeped in, and then Dante enshrined it forever in the Christian consciousness. I'd say that it's very difficult to draw a description from the Bible itself, since much of what is there shows up in the context of parables, rhetorical language, or fullblown mystical symbolism.

The concept of hell was one of the things that drove me fully away from Christianity a long time ago, so... needless to say I had a very difficult time believing that it existed at all. I only started taking it seriously when I ran into the more ontologically based interpretations, such as the way that someone like N.T. Wright addresses the subject. (Hell is what happens when you reject yourself as made in the image of God.) Viewing it as separation makes sense to me as well, though I don't believe that anything can exist apart from God, so I would see it more in terms of being in God's presence and continuing to reject him.
 
There is only one hell and that is represented by the Greek word gehenna. Perhaps an argument could be made, based on the context, that tartar is also hell, or a certain place in hell, but it is only used once in Scripture, so it remains a bit ambiguous. Some versions translate hades as hell but that is an error on their part.

Is the same punishment equal to everyone?
It looks that way:

Luke 12:46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)
 
Eh, I really think that when "Sheol" got translated as "Hades," Greek mythology creeped in, and then Dante enshrined it forever in the Christian consciousness. I'd say that it's very difficult to draw a description from the Bible itself, since much of what is there shows up in the context of parables, rhetorical language, or fullblown mystical symbolism.

The concept of hell was one of the things that drove me fully away from Christianity a long time ago, so... needless to say I had a very difficult time believing that it existed at all. I only started taking it seriously when I ran into the more ontologically based interpretations, such as the way that someone like N.T. Wright addresses the subject. (Hell is what happens when you reject yourself as made in the image of God.) Viewing it as separation makes sense to me as well, though I don't believe that anything can exist apart from God, so I would see it more in terms of being in God's presence and continuing to reject him.
:thumb I really enjoy N. T. Wright, although I haven't read anything of his for a while.
 
Eh, I really think that when "Sheol" got translated as "Hades," Greek mythology creeped in, and then Dante enshrined it forever in the Christian consciousness. I'd say that it's very difficult to draw a description from the Bible itself, since much of what is there shows up in the context of parables, rhetorical language, or fullblown mystical symbolism.

The concept of hell was one of the things that drove me fully away from Christianity a long time ago, so... needless to say I had a very difficult time believing that it existed at all. I only started taking it seriously when I ran into the more ontologically based interpretations, such as the way that someone like N.T. Wright addresses the subject. (Hell is what happens when you reject yourself as made in the image of God.) Viewing it as separation makes sense to me as well, though I don't believe that anything can exist apart from God, so I would see it more in terms of being in God's presence and continuing to reject him.
Alright, and this being the Theology Forum, where is your scripture address that you base this opinion on? Without scriptural basis uor comment is in the wrong forum. Scripture, please.
 
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