Eternal Hell

[godsquadgeek]

According to a Barna Group survey, a majority of Americans (76 percent) believe heaven exists. Forty-six percent of those describe it as “a state of eternal existence in God’s presence,” while 30 percent view it as “an actual place of rest and reward where souls go after death.” Another 14 percent think heaven is just “symbolic.”

 

[godsquadgeek]

Wouldn't that duration be eternal, by definition?


Of all the things we know about hell, we can be quite certain that this will not be the case.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

That sounds like Mickey Robinson. Very inspiring testimony.

Quite.

The word "Hell", while somewhat vague, is correct.

Dr. Maurice Rawlings, a cardiologist, has witnessed numerous patients during and after their near-death experiences and reported his findings inBeyond Death’s Door. After interviewing 300 patients immediately after resuscitation, Dr. Rawlings says that nearly half of them reported seeing a lake of fire, devil-like figures, and other sights reflecting the reality of hell. “There is a life after death,” Rawlings said, “and if I don’t know where I’m going, it’s not safe to die.”
He also discovered that when patients who had described their experiences in hell vividly were asked about those experiences a few days later, they couldn’t recall them. This may explain why many researchers find only “good cases.” He believes some patients change their story because they’re embarrassed to admit where they’ve been, even to their families, while those who had heavenly visions remember and report the details.
So don’t get a false sense of security that what follows death is always a pleasant thing. Hell is a very real place — one that you really don’t want to go to when you die.
Voltaire, the famous French author, philosopher, and atheist, was once asked if he would say something to comfort a friend who was dying. Voltaire responded, “I don’t think I can do that. The thought that there might really be a hell plagues me continually.”

 

[Jim Parker]

After interviewing 300 patients immediately after resuscitation, Dr. Rawlings says that nearly half of them reported seeing a lake of fire, devil-like figures, and other sights reflecting the reality of hell.

That's interesting.
Only hell is not the "lake of fire." Hell (Hades) gets thrown INTO the lake of fire.
Rev 20:14a Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
And the mind is liable to do some pretty weird things when it's shutting down.

He also discovered that when patients who had described their experiences in hell vividly were asked about those experiences a few days later, they couldn’t recall them.

That's interesting too.
I've heard of others who can remember it vividly and in detail for the rest of their life. I believe Spurgeon was one but that was not a near death experience; it was a vision from God.

St. Irenaeus, (2nd century) the disciple of Polycarp, the disciple of the apostle John, in Against Heresies book 1 chapter 10, Irenaeus writes:

"...He may send “spiritual wickednesses,” and the angels who transgressed and became apostates, together with the ungodly, and unrighteous, and wicked, and profane among men, into everlasting fire;..."

and in book 3 chapter 4 Irenaeus writes:

"...the Savior of those who are saved, and the Judge of those who are judged, and sending into eternal fire those who transform the truth, and despise His Father and His advent."

https://bradkelly.wordpress.com/201...ieve-in-a-literal-hell-of-eternal-punishment/

And, of course, an even better source:
Jesus said that he will say to the unrighteous: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mat 25:41)

So, there you have it, boys and girls......


iakov the fool

 

[KevinK]

How about the notion that there are in fact two lakes of fire? I don't know if Scripture accomodates this, but Bill Wiess saw it up close in his famous vision, in fact many have reported seeing it in their visions and NDEs.

A "small", temporary lake of fire in the current Hell (whatever you call it), which will be eventually thrown into a bigger, hotter lake of fire (nicknamed "Gehenna" after the burning refuse pit) along with the rest of Hell.

This actually ties in well with the astronomical analogues, with Hell at the center of the Earth, which scientists believe is at a tremendous temperature. Eventually the entire planet will be pulled into a super-noving Sun, i.e. a bigger, hotter fire.

 

[godsquadgeek]

That's interesting.
Only hell is not the "lake of fire." Hell (Hades) gets thrown INTO the lake of fire.
Rev 20:14a Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
And the mind is liable to do some pretty weird things when it's shutting down.

That's interesting too.
I've heard of others who can remember it vividly and in detail for the rest of their life. I believe Spurgeon was one but that was not a near death experience; it was a vision from God.

St. Irenaeus, (2nd century) the disciple of Polycarp, the disciple of the apostle John, in Against Heresies book 1 chapter 10, Irenaeus writes:

"...He may send “spiritual wickednesses,” and the angels who transgressed and became apostates, together with the ungodly, and unrighteous, and wicked, and profane among men, into everlasting fire;..."

and in book 3 chapter 4 Irenaeus writes:

"...the Savior of those who are saved, and the Judge of those who are judged, and sending into eternal fire those who transform the truth, and despise His Father and His advent."

https://bradkelly.wordpress.com/201...ieve-in-a-literal-hell-of-eternal-punishment/

And, of course, an even better source:
Jesus said that he will say to the unrighteous: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mat 25:41)

So, there you have it, boys and girls......


iakov the fool

Yes technically hades is hell, but once that hell became obsolete the real hell became the lake of fire. Get it?

 

[artful horizon]

Revelation 20 The Final Judgment
11 And I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them [for this heaven and earth are passing away]. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth]. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades (the realm of the dead) surrendered the dead who were in them; and they were judged and sentenced, every one according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire [the eternal separation from God].

 

[Bubba]

Matthew 25:46 YLT
" And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during."

Does anyone find it strange that the literal translation does not use forever or eternal, in this translation? In fact, except for referring to God, you will find it difficult anywhere in the New Testament our English use of eternal and the Greek equivalent. Why did Matthew use a word for punishment in the literal Greek that is more of the sense of correction (Kolasis) instead of punitive (Basanos)? Could this chapter and those prior to this one be referring to the soon judgment of the Jews with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD ? Where this verse could mean an age of punishment for the Jews, where God gives them over to judgment and places a period of stupor upon them (Romans 11).

 

[Razeontherock]

Matthew 25:46 YLT
" And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during."

Does anyone find it strange that the literal translation does not use forever or eternal, in this translation? In fact, except for referring to God, you will find it difficult anywhere in the New Testament our English use of eternal and the Greek equivalent. Why did Matthew use a word for punishment in the literal Greek that is more of the sense of correction (Kolasis) instead of punitive (Basanos)? Could this chapter and those prior to this one be referring to the soon judgment of the Jews with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD ? Where this verse could mean an age of punishment for the Jews, where God gives them over to judgment and places a period of stupor upon them (Romans 11).

Correction, for an "age," yes I have noticed that and am with you. Preterism, that this is fulfilled? Not so much.

 

[Butch5]

this is a thread on the eternality of Hell.

this article proves that the current pope has disavowed eternal hell:

https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/pope-francis-there-no-hell

Jude 7 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

what are your thoughts?

Gehenna or the Lake of Fire where the wicked will be thrown is not eternal. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied of a time when Gehenna would once again be made holy to the Lord.

38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. (Jer. 31:38-40 KJV)

 

[Butch5]

they are all hell yes? Torment, and the lake of fire are both hell. I am assuming destruction you mean the grave, but the grave does not have unquenchable fire, so that would not apply. here is a chart that I use, a larkin chart:

This isn't accurate. It looks like mythology.

 

[Randy]

this is a thread on the eternality of Hell.

this article proves that the current pope has disavowed eternal hell:

https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/pope-francis-there-no-hell

Jude 7 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

what are your thoughts?

Jesus is the head of the body of Christ and where Jesus and the Pope differ one must choose who to follow as you can't serve two masters.

In regard to judgments given I would state it will be Jesus's words that prevail.

Below suggests because the people of Sodom and Gomorrah died before the light of the gospel message and
the law of Moses they were were judged according to the flesh not the spirit. A more bearable judgment.

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For 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. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.e For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

With the light of the gospel message comes accountability to all people.
Justice to the nations.

 

[ezra]

24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

this is a very staunch statement should be very sobering . i happen catch jay Vernon McGee other day . he said so many thought they wasnt bad enough to be saved

 

[Razeontherock]

this is a very staunch statement should be very sobering . i happen catch jay Vernon McGee other day . he said so many thought they wasnt bad enough to be saved

And that mindset still exists today. My Sister, for example.

 

[Randy]

this is a very staunch statement should be very sobering . i happen catch jay Vernon McGee other day . he said so many thought they wasnt bad enough to be saved

God is just. Jesus stated if He had performed the miracles in those towns they would have repented. Again they died before the light of the gospel message had been given and before the law and commandments had been given to Moses.

Hope and the wrath of God are both part of the gospel message. Just as there were curses and blessings in the first covenant.

Its not just the Jews who are held accountable for ones own sin.
"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.-With light comes accountability.

 

[Jim Parker]

How about the notion that there are in fact two lakes of fire? I don't know if Scripture accomodates this

Scripture does not reveal but one lake of fire.
I don't put any stock in visions that do not agree with scripture.
Individual mileage may vary.

iakov the fool

 

[billybalke]

Scripture does not reveal but one lake of fire.
I don't put any stock in visions that do not agree with scripture.
Individual mileage may vary.

iakov the fool

Amen!

 

[Randy]

At that lake of fire is the everlasting outcome of the unrighteous. Just as the Holy City with God and His Christ is the final outcome of those who have been made righteous and cleansed by the blood of the lamb.

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”