8 Huge Myths About Hell

[Blain]

Unfortunately, I agree. It is obvious that these lies are coming straight from Satan. This reminds me of the garden, when God said, "in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die." Then Satan came along and said to Eve, "you will not certainly die" and she believed him over God. It is the same with most Biblical issues today and Satan has found so-called Christians as his foot soldiers to spread these lies. The comma's in the wrong place? Really? They make Jesus sound like Shakespeare in the park. "Truly I say unto you today, you will be with me in paradise." Did Jesus really need to tell the guy what day he was giving him that information? Someone needs notify all of the major translators, because not one of them has the comma after the word "today." Anything to distort the truth of scriptures.

Isn't paradise where all the saved believers are before the final resurrection? Just like how hades is supposed to be the holding place for the unsaved?

 

[Ahwatukee]

I've always wondered if there will be a worse punishment for the false teachers, but I haven't found any scriptures confirming this.

Hades is the temporary place where the unsaved are being held right not, while they wait to meet the Judge on judgment day, and then Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire. It's interesting that in Rev 20:12 it says they (unsaved) will be judged according to what they've done, which seems to hint at there being levels of punishment, although difficult to comprehend as it will be a place of eternal torment for all.

Hello Katy-follower,

This scripture popped into my head regarding false teachers:

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a divine curse! As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you embraced, let him be under a divine curse! - Galatians 1:8-9

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves." - 2 Pet.2:1

And for those distorting Revelation:

"I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. - Rev.22:18

In any case, I'm sure that it will not go well with them when they stand before God at the great white throne for their false teachings

 

[Ahwatukee]

Isn't paradise where all the saved believers are before the final resurrection? Just like how hades is supposed to be the holding place for the unsaved?

Hello Blain,

Good to see you back out on the forum. Yes, paradise/heaven, is where the spirits of those in Christ have gone. However, the word "paradise" is not unique to just referring to heaven. For example, both Eden and the place under the earth, that place of comfort, where Abraham and Lazarus were are also places of paradise. Remember when Jesus told the man next him "today you will be with me in paradise. Well, he was referring to the area of Sheol/Hades, that same place where Abraham, Lazarus and all the other OT saints were, which was that place of comfort on the other side of that chasm where on the other side the rich man was in torment. After Christ's resurrection, he took the OT saints out of there and led them to heaven. Now when a believer in Christ dies, his/her spirit departs and goes to be in the presence of Christ. However, when the unrighteous die, the still go down into Hades.

 

[jaybird88]

Myth #7: Hell holds people who will one day be released.

A seventh myth is that there are people in hell who will eventually be released and granted entrance into heaven. As much as we might wish this were true, it isn’t. The Bible does not teach the doctrine of universalism, that is, the idea that everyone will eventually be saved and given eternal life in the new heaven and new earth.


Myth #8: In hell, people will be rid of God.

Finally, there is the myth that in hell people will be rid of God and have no experience of him. That is not true. It is true they will have no experience of God’s loving and gracious presence, but they will most assuredly experience his presence in justice and wrath. In fact, we read in Revelation 14:10 that they will be tormented “in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb,” that is, in the presence of Jesus Christ. As John Piper has said, Revelation 14:10 is not saying that “those in hell have the privilege of seeing what they enjoy, but that they have the remorse of seeing what they rejected.”

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/8-huge-myths-about-hell.html

not sure i agree with the last two, sounds like myth supporting the myth.

 

[pottersclay]

Budman yet another good post. This subject has been on my mind all this week. I've been confronted with these thoughts from others while witnessing to others.
The biggest myth that goes along with your post is that Satan rules in hell. That God and Satan are two super powers that fight each other and that man is caught in between. Also that Satan gets pleasure out of tormenting souls.
I think this thought was started by the R.C C as the paintings that they display depict such a story.
Many unbeleivers are familiar with this myth along with Satan being equal with God in power and abilities.
I have been contemplating starting a campaign to go against this horrible myth and would like to use some of this content in this thread.
Blessings to all the brothers and sisters for your input.

Potter

 

[PennEd]

In relation to the nature of hell, annihilationists misunderstand the meaning of the lake of fire. Obviously, if a human being were cast into a lake of burning lava, he/she would be almost instantly consumed. However, the lake of fire is both a physical and spiritual realm. It is not simply a human body being cast into the lake of fire; it is a human’s body, soul, and spirit. A spiritual nature cannot be consumed by physical fire. It seems that the unsaved are resurrected with a body prepared for eternity just as the saved are (Revelation 20:13; Acts 24:15). These bodies are prepared for an eternal fate.

Eternity is another aspect which annihilationists fail to fully comprehend. Annihilationists are correct that the Greek word aionion, which is usually translated “eternal,” does not by definition mean “eternal.” It specifically refers to an “age” or “eon,” a specific period of time. However, it is clear that in New Testament, aionion is sometimes used to refer to an eternal length of time. Revelation 20:10 speaks of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet being cast into the lake of fire and being tormented “day and night forever and ever.” It is clear that these three are not “extinguished” by being cast into the lake of fire. Why would the fate of the unsaved be any different (Revelation 20:14-15)? The most convincing evidence for the eternality of hell is Matthew 25:46, “Then they [the unsaved] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” In this verse, the same Greek word is used to refer to the destiny of the wicked and the righteous. If the wicked are only tormented for an “age,” then the righteous will only experience life in heaven for an “age.” If believers will be in heaven forever, unbelievers will be in hell forever.

Another frequent objection to the eternality of hell by annihilationists is that it would be unjust for God to punish unbelievers in hell for eternity for a finite amount of sin. How could it be fair for God to take a person who lived a sinful, 70-year life, and punish him/her for all of eternity? The answer is that our sin bears an eternal consequence because it is committed against an eternal God. When King David committed the sins of adultery and murder he stated, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…” (Psalm 51:4). David had sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah; how could David claim to have only sinned against God? David understood that all sin is ultimately against God. God is an eternal and infinite Being. As a result, all sin against Him is worthy of an eternal punishment. It is not a matter of the length of time we sin, but the character of the God against whom we sin.

A more personal aspect of annihilationism is the idea that we could not possibly be happy in heaven if we knew that some of our loved ones were suffering an eternity of torment in hell. However, when we arrive in heaven, we will not have anything to complain about or be saddened by. Revelation 21:4 tells us, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” If some of our loved ones are not in heaven, we will be in 100 percent complete agreement that they do not belong there and that they are condemned by their own refusal to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 3:16; 14:6). It is hard to understand this, but we will not be saddened by the lack of their presence. Our focus should not be on how we can enjoy heaven without all of our loved ones there, but on how we can point our loved ones to faith in Christ so that they will be there.

Hell is perhaps a primary reason why God sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. Being “extinguished” after death is no fate to dread, but an eternity in hell most definitely is. Jesus’ death was an infinite death, paying our infinite sin debt so that we would not have to pay it in hell for eternity (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we place our faith in Him, we are saved, forgiven, cleansed, and promised an eternal home in heaven. But if we reject God’s gift of eternal life, we will face the eternal consequences of that decision.

https://www.gotquestions.org/annihilationism.html

While I agree with just about all of this, I think even the memory of the lost will be blotted out of us.

 

[garee]

From what you said above, you obviously don't. Death is not annihilation or extinction Deade. This can be deduced from cross-referencing and comparing scripture. As I demonstrated, the event of the rich man and Lazarus shows that two men died and were buried, but their spirits were conscious and aware, one in comfort and one in torment. As I said, people who interpret the rich man and Lazarus as a parable, do so because it destroys their belief of a person ceasing to exist at the time of death. All that you have done is repeat existing false apologetics. While saying, "show us the proof." Then when it is provided you just circumvent or distort it. For example, we tell you about the rich man and Lazarus, and you say "it's a parable!" Then we tell you about Christ saying to the man next to him "truly I say, today you will be with me in paradise" and you say "the comma's in the wrong place, etc.. Excuse after excuse!

I would suggest back to Genesis where corruption is defined. In dying a person becomes dead or ye will not surely die .the other alternative.

Death or spirit life?

Dead is dead the result of dying. Perhaps we can look where death started when God corrupted the present world.
Dying leads toward death, not longer life.

Both the flesh and the spirit we are born with in is corrupted. Leading toward death

Why would some think we will not truly die? Sounds like a rehash of the garden .Has God changed his mind and the temporal spirit ( threescore years and ten which he gave) is now eternal?

Whose voice to we listen to?

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Gen 3:4


The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psa 90:10

If a person is not given a new incorruptible spirit they simply will not rise to new spirit life. God is not a God of no mercy.

There are two kinds the kind of mercy. One that comes with a new spirit and the kind that a person dies he has no new spirit that could rise again

Causing one to suffer forever and ever for their sin and dismiss the other is merciless .Not the kind of God I would want to serve.

Hell is a living suffering it is shown in Jonas and paralleled in another parable in the new testament according to the living suffering of Christ .

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.Jon 2:1

God does not hear the prayer of those who have no new spirit life a man must be born again .

The dead feel no pain, deader than a door nail is the description of death. Not, you shall surely not die.

 

[longtrekker]

In relation to the nature of hell, annihilationists misunderstand the meaning of the lake of fire. Obviously, if a human being were cast into a lake of burning lava, he/she would be almost instantly consumed. However, the lake of fire is both a physical and spiritual realm. It is not simply a human body being cast into the lake of fire; it is a human’s body, soul, and spirit. A spiritual nature cannot be consumed by physical fire. It seems that the unsaved are resurrected with a body prepared for eternity just as the saved are (Revelation 20:13; Acts 24:15). These bodies are prepared for an eternal fate.

Eternity is another aspect which annihilationists fail to fully comprehend. Annihilationists are correct that the Greek word aionion, which is usually translated “eternal,” does not by definition mean “eternal.” It specifically refers to an “age” or “eon,” a specific period of time. However, it is clear that in New Testament, aionion is sometimes used to refer to an eternal length of time. Revelation 20:10 speaks of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet being cast into the lake of fire and being tormented “day and night forever and ever.” It is clear that these three are not “extinguished” by being cast into the lake of fire. Why would the fate of the unsaved be any different (Revelation 20:14-15)? The most convincing evidence for the eternality of hell is Matthew 25:46, “Then they [the unsaved] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” In this verse, the same Greek word is used to refer to the destiny of the wicked and the righteous. If the wicked are only tormented for an “age,” then the righteous will only experience life in heaven for an “age.” If believers will be in heaven forever, unbelievers will be in hell forever.

Another frequent objection to the eternality of hell by annihilationists is that it would be unjust for God to punish unbelievers in hell for eternity for a finite amount of sin. How could it be fair for God to take a person who lived a sinful, 70-year life, and punish him/her for all of eternity? The answer is that our sin bears an eternal consequence because it is committed against an eternal God. When King David committed the sins of adultery and murder he stated, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…” (Psalm 51:4). David had sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah; how could David claim to have only sinned against God? David understood that all sin is ultimately against God. God is an eternal and infinite Being. As a result, all sin against Him is worthy of an eternal punishment. It is not a matter of the length of time we sin, but the character of the God against whom we sin.

A more personal aspect of annihilationism is the idea that we could not possibly be happy in heaven if we knew that some of our loved ones were suffering an eternity of torment in hell. However, when we arrive in heaven, we will not have anything to complain about or be saddened by. Revelation 21:4 tells us, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” If some of our loved ones are not in heaven, we will be in 100 percent complete agreement that they do not belong there and that they are condemned by their own refusal to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 3:16; 14:6). It is hard to understand this, but we will not be saddened by the lack of their presence. Our focus should not be on how we can enjoy heaven without all of our loved ones there, but on how we can point our loved ones to faith in Christ so that they will be there.

Hell is perhaps a primary reason why God sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. Being “extinguished” after death is no fate to dread, but an eternity in hell most definitely is. Jesus’ death was an infinite death, paying our infinite sin debt so that we would not have to pay it in hell for eternity (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we place our faith in Him, we are saved, forgiven, cleansed, and promised an eternal home in heaven. But if we reject God’s gift of eternal life, we will face the eternal consequences of that decision.

https://www.gotquestions.org/annihilationism.html

I always thought hell was forever - never crossed my mind it wasn't...but my curiosity was piqued sometime back (here on CC actually) when someone posed the (false) notion that it might not be...

It's been ages (eons lol) since i've read up on this - thanks for the great refresher and posting the thread.

 

[Katy-follower]

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves." - 2 Pet.2:1

In any case, I'm sure that it will not go well with them when they stand before God at the great white throne for their false teachings

V17: (False teachers) "These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever"

In V4 it mentions the angels from Genesis, who were cast into chains of darkness. The "angels in chains" are mentioned in the same chapter that speaks solely of false teachers. No chains are mentioned in V17, just darkness, and hell is described as outer darkness anyway.

There may not be a connection, but the chains got me thinking that maybe this will be the same punishment for the false teachers. Just a guess as there's no real confirmation of that.

Also, wondering in the greek if that word means literal chains, or is it figurative of the darkness they've been cast into?

 

[Katy-follower]

A while back I watched a documentary on Alcatraz, and what stayed with me to this day was when they spoke of the Oriental cell, which was considered a severe punishment for misconduct. An inmate would be locked in this cell, in pitch black darkness, for one or two days, not seeing any light during that time. Even the worst inmates feared that cell.

Instantly this made me think of hell, which is described as outer darkness, but being eternal, unlike the two day experience at Alcatraz, and obviously the darkness is just one aspect of it too.

 

[Nehemiah6]

There may not be a connection, but the chains got me thinking that maybe this will be the same punishment for the false teachers. Just a guess as there's no real confirmation of that.

The connection between false teachers, the evil angels which had illicit intercourse with women, and the inhabitants of Sodom & Gomorrah are sexual sins. False teachers were promoting licentiousness and still do.

Also, wondering in the greek if that word means literal chains, or is it figurative of the darkness they've been cast into?

While we may not full understand the meaning of those chains, they must be of a nature which ties down spirit beings perfectly, just like the chain which will tie down Satan for 1,000 years. We do not know how God makes spirit beings captive, but these evil angels had to be kept in a special prison (Tartarus) so that would would not be free to repeat the sins that they committed in Noah's day.

 

[RickyZ]

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire


The lake of fire has not even been made yet

The scriptures speak of death and hades being thrown in the lake yes but it doesn't say it hasn't been made yet and I would know I have seen it personally myself

Assuming you are speaking of a vision/dream of the lake that you have seen, is it possible that in the vision/dream you were present in another time? Or in heaven where there is no time?

 

[RickyZ]

Well the way I see it if everyone is rewarded according to what they have done here on earth for his kingdom then I would assume vise versa would be for those in hell.

And i think that goes as far as God giving this creation in it's natural state apart from Him, to those who loved it more than Him.

 

[Gabriel2020]

It has already been prepared,and is in deep deep deep deep deep deep deep outer darkness ready for Satan and all those he have decieved.

 

[Katy-follower]

The connection between false teachers, the evil angels which had illicit intercourse with women, and the inhabitants of Sodom & Gomorrah are sexual sins. False teachers were promoting licentiousness and still do.

While we may not full understand the meaning of those chains, they must be of a nature which ties down spirit beings perfectly, just like the chain which will tie down Satan for 1,000 years. We do not know how God makes spirit beings captive, but these evil angels had to be kept in a special prison (Tartarus) so that would would not be free to repeat the sins that they committed in Noah's day.

Yes, I believe this also. I know some reject the idea that the angels were involved in that way.

Jude:
"And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 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"


This wasn't the dialogue though. If you look back on my post #39, we were discussing whether false teachers might get a worse punishment, hence why I brought that other scripture up, as I noticed it mentioned the angels in the chains and seemed to be suggesting that was the same doom of the false teachers also. It was just a thought.

 

[Katy-follower]

Got to share this here. It made me laugh ... from the thread "When I was little I thought..."

I heard that if you went to hell and stoked the devils fire for 100 years you can go to heaven. I cant remember where I got this idea from but it seemed a good deal at the time. Why it was only a hundred years I have no idea perhaps the coal was rationed.

Just thought I'd mention that I no longer hold this Theology. In answer to your questions. I'm not sure how many shovels there are to go round so pitching in could be a problem. If there is only one you might be waiting in a very long line. Also when its time to leave do you have shower facilities or do you reach the Pearly gates covered in coal dust?

 

[garee]

Right from Genesis we can see that lying spirits have no form. It was the lying spirit in the beginning that used the form of a creature to lure away mankind to do the will of the counterfeiter.

It would be his goal I believe to convince men he does has form. it would be much easier to sneak around and confuse the things of God as those of men A good example would be found in Mathew 16 showing us how the antichrist as a lying spirit works to seduce men into believe we do need and out representative in order to believe the Spirit of Truth as if God was a man as us.

Remember the Catholics use peter to represent the key that the gates of hell could never prevail against turning things upside down with his lying legion of spirits.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the "things that be of God", but "those that be of men".Mat 16:22

Angels are administering spirits .They are not made of the dust of the field as beast of the field as mankind.. They have no DNA therefore are not able to reproduce.

The angels that left there first place of habitation are not subject to the gospel key . Rather than administering spirits to the saints as sons of God they are proved as lying spirits again as that which does not have flesh and blood . This is as though we did wrestle against flesh and blood to begin with.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

When looking at the signified language in the book of Revelation as parable. Again you cannot see lying spirits as angels. It is signified he saw them and the key signifies the gospel the truth of God . The bottom pit speaks of the never changing power of the gospel , it like a chain bind lying spirits from deceiving the sons of God as those who follow after the Spirit. The gospel works two ways .To one it binds them not releasing from the lie and to the other it open the gates of hell and sets us free. His Truth sets us free.

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

God can use literal chains in parables to make a hidden point as he does in all parable. But literal chains could never resist the will of God when dealing with lying spirits.

Below he uses chains to help aid us in understanding the unity of lying spirits. When asked its name, singular, he replied Legion to show us when one appears you get the whole 9 yards of lies . . A fact that is useful in looking into other occurrences as the foundation of necromancy dealing with workers with familial spirit that men seek after in idol worship.,

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. Luk 8:28

The gospel does all the loosening and binding.

 

[garee]

This wasn't the dialogue though. If you look back on my post #39, we were discussing whether false teachers might get a worse punishment, hence why I brought that other scripture up, as I noticed it mentioned the angels in the chains and seemed to be suggesting that was the same doom of the false teachers also. It was just a thought.

I think the punishment is the same .Never to rise to new spirit life forever and ever. Sort of like the reward everyone gets the same pennies worth, eternal spirit life in an incorruptible new heavens and earth

 

[Blain]

Assuming you are speaking of a vision/dream of the lake that you have seen, is it possible that in the vision/dream you were present in another time? Or in heaven where there is no time?

True i never considered that it wouldn't surprise me

 

[Blain]

The thing about the whole hell is or isn't eternal thing I want more than anything for it not to be eternal but no matter how badly i wish it wasn't sadly it is. Sure it's nice to think that people won't have to endure suffering for eternity and you know even to day sometimes I pray to God to save a man I met in hell from his torment out of everyone in there he was the one person I just couldn't bare to see suffering anymore and even though I knew his punishment was eternal I still cannot hope but to hope that God would in his mercy answer my prayer