It saddens me how much this doctrine has affected and in many cases alienated believers, because they actually employed their minds to thinking about it. Atheists sometimes lob attacks against Christianity via the doctrine of hell, and it's not like they don't have any foundation. This notion betrays all we know about the loving representation of God seen through Jesus our Lord. That a gracious God would perpetually torment and torture human beings created in His own image, beings whom he loved so much that he gave his only Son for. That a Just God would use torment and torture as a means of punishment, as if he had such an insatiable wrath that he could never satisfy his lust for violence that he had to punish beings born with a sinful nature perpetually for eternity. These are troubling thoughts, and while it does serve us well to put our focus on the cross, we can't just brush this issue aside as the thought of this reality is too grave to bear for those loved ones who do not know the Lord.
I personally disagree with this doctrine, and have been so outspoken on this forum on this matter because of negative impact the Eternal Conscious Torment doctrine has had on the Church, not only to outsiders, but also alienating those within. It is emotionally untenable, and Scripturally unsound and in my opinion an afront to the goodness of God.
If any believer studies the very long and very manipulated doctrines, few of same in agreement, by power mongering religious authorities they'd have to throw away most of what they have been fed. Just trying to get 2 believers to agree across the board always proves impossible.
And there are spiritual reasons for that that remain unrecognized by the majority. That's how well the space in general is manipulated in this present age.
It's not an issue of the people, but what the problems of the people really are that is detailed in the scriptures.
And yes, it's a real phenomena that is exemplified by this particular position. Most christians make God in Christ out to be the ultimate double dealing hypocrite. Heaping mounds of forgiveness upon themselves for their sins whilst simultaneously condemning everyone who doesn't believe like them.
That mindset is a direct result of the demonic influences people carry in their hearts.
Beyond that however it is also part of the overall direction God Desires, to openly reveal such things.
If I didn't believe all things work for a Perfect end result that resides in The Hands of God Alone I'd have cast aside christianity long ago. The people involved, when push comes to shove, are a hateful condemning self serving paranoid lot. They couldn't love each others or their neighbors if their life depended on it. They'll feign love out of one side of their mouths and condemn you in the next breath.
This particular doctrine delivers the ultimate in hateful manipulation into every handler of the Word. And yes, they themselves get burned right here, right now, in the process. There is no lower form of hatred toward another person available than to condemn them to burn alive forever if they don't believe 'exactly like you.'
The dark powers of the heart DO fully deserve to land in the Lake of Fire. And on that basis I too believe in eternal torment.
The Tempter will land in the Lake, period. That operator does affect all of us. So the doctrine needs to be applied personally, first. And few are able to 'go there.' Because they would actually have to tell the truth to themselves. It can't be done. The resistance factor is off the charts. Their tongues and hearts are purposefully tied up.
God in Christ will apply the cure for everyone who has called upon Him. It may not be in this present life, but they will go free of the Tempter and all of his influences that currently reign.
When Paul tells us that he had evil present with him (Romans 7:17-21), WHO would that be? Paul or the Tempter? Do the math.
When Paul tells us that he had a messenger of Satan in his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7), WHO will be saved and more importantly WHO will not?
When Paul shows us that there is a vessel of honor and a vessel of dishonor in the same LUMP that Paul called ME that will be destroyed,
why is it so hard to see the obvious?
These are the paths that Paul led me to observe.
Some will turn.
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and
to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
We have to recognize that all of us were under that power to begin with. And that the power is a real one, even after salvation. When we don't, we end up as hypocrites. Openly forgiving the entirety of ourselves when that just ain't about to happen, nor is it possible.
So, yeah, it is a rather complex matter isn't it?
