What is hell?

[Soucy]

Then how is it, that:
Luke 16:21-23

Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

[SUP]21 [/SUP]and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [SUP]22 [/SUP]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; [SUP]23[/SUP]and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

In the King James Version, the Greek word Hades is rendered “hell” in each of its ten occurrences in the Christian Greek Scriptures. The rendering at Luke 16:19-31mentions torment, but the entire account is symbolic in meaning.
By what Jesus said about the rich man and Lazarus, did Jesus teach torment of the wicked after death?

Is the account, at Luke 16:19-31, literal or merely an illustration of something else? TheJerusalem Bible, in a footnote, acknowledges that it is a “parable in story form without reference to any historical personage.” If taken literally, it would mean that those enjoying divine favor could all fit at the bosom of one man, Abraham; that the water on one’s fingertip would not be evaporated by the fire of Hades; that a mere drop of water would bring relief to one suffering there. Does that sound reasonable to you? If it were literal, it would conflict with other parts of the Bible. If the Bible were thus contradictory, would a lover of truth use it as a basis for his faith? But the Bible does not contradict itself.

What does the parable mean? The “rich man” represented the Pharisees. (See Lu 16 verse 14.) The beggar Lazarus represented the common Jewish people who were despised by the Pharisees but who repented and became followers of Jesus. (See Luke 18:11; John 7:49; Matthew 21:31, 32.) Their deaths were also symbolic, representing a change in circumstances. Thus, the formerly despised ones came into a position of divine favor, and the formerly seemingly favored ones were rejected by God, while being tormented by the judgment messages delivered by the ones whom they had despised.—Acts 5:33; 7:54.
Jehovah’s Witnesses—Official Website: jw.org

 

[Soucy]

DO NOT BE OVER CONFIDENT

Paul states: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.” Overconfidence about our moral strength is risky. It betrays a lack of understanding of the nature and power of sin. Since people like Moses, David, Solomon, and the apostle Peter fell into sin, should we feel that we are not vulnerable? (Numbers 20:2-13; 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 1 Kings 11:1-6; Matthew 26:69-75) “The wise one fears and is turning away from badness, but the stupid is becoming furious and self-confident,” says Proverbs 14:16. Moreover, Jesus said: ‘The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.’ (Matthew 26:41) Since no imperfect human is immune to corrupt appetites, we need to take Paul’s warning seriously and resist temptation, or we take the risk of falling.—Jeremiah 17:9.

 

[homwardbound]

DO NOT BE OVER CONFIDENT

Paul states: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.” Overconfidence about our moral strength is risky. It betrays a lack of understanding of the nature and power of sin. Since people like Moses, David, Solomon, and the apostle Peter fell into sin, should we feel that we are not vulnerable? (Numbers 20:2-13; 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 1 Kings 11:1-6; Matthew 26:69-75) “The wise one fears and is turning away from badness, but the stupid is becoming furious and self-confident,” says Proverbs 14:16. Moreover, Jesus said: ‘The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.’ (Matthew 26:41) Since no imperfect human is immune to corrupt appetites, we need to take Paul’s warning seriously and resist temptation, or we take the risk of falling.—Jeremiah 17:9.

And that is all about being prideful, arrogant, trusting in ones flesh over God's sovereignty.
[h=3]2 Corinthians 12:1-10[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. [SUP]2 [/SUP]I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven. [SUP]3 [/SUP]And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth [SUP]4 [/SUP]how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. [SUP]5 [/SUP]Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. [SUP]6 [/SUP]For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. [SUP]7 [/SUP]And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. [SUP]8 [/SUP]For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. [SUP]9 [/SUP]And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [SUP]10 [/SUP]Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Three things required of us to understand and be:
Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Not being humble is a disregard for God and the love of God is misplaced as if it is self and alienates one from the grace of God





Therefore daily die to self and be as Paul
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

[ax]

hell is total separation from the presence of God.

 

[Servant_of_Christ]

If you want to know the truth about anything read the bible. It is the most pure truth you can get, it was the first book ever made. Even though man wrote it, god did it through them. There is nothing deceiving in it and brings to light everything. God bless you brother, may you mature in you're faith Jesus loves you and died FOR you. So you can go to heaven with him he came to save the world not to condemn it.

 

[Andyandtheresa]

Hell is where atheists go.

 

[Richie_2uk]

Hell is where atheists go.

What Just Atheists?

 

[homwardbound]

Hell is separation from the creator of all, known to me as Christ's Father. And according to the words of Jesus written down by the witnesses to his death and resurrection, stated these things he said had to come to pass to offer a new life in the
Spirit mind of the believer, to love all. That is the fruit that comes out that is Father's works of love to all through you as in this video
A Girl's Message To All Christians - YouTube
Love you. so in all, all one is left with is to believe or not to, and if you are really loving even to your enemy you have the faith God is desiring for all to have

 

[Mark51]

The ancient Babylonian and Assyrian have been identified mostly as the ancient peoples whose religious beliefs of a “nether world…place of horrors” gave birth to this fallacy. The ancient Egyptian added to this with a “fiery aspect.” Buddhism, in time, evolved a concept of “hot and cold hells.” More importantly, modern translators of the Bible have nurtured this doctrine by not rendering an accurate translations of the Hebrew word “Sheol” (she’ohl’) and the Greek word “Hades” (hai’des) and “Gehenna” (ge’en na); and, within the various editions of the Bible; these same translators are not even consistent in their different applications in the various context of the scriptures. Theological doctrine such as this is one of mankind’s fictional concepts, fears, beliefs, folklore, traditions, superstitions, imaginations, and misunderstandings.

Jehovah warned the human families’ first parents what the results for disobedience would be: death and returning to dust. (Genesis. 2:17; 3:19) Other than the conditions that imperfection brings, no other conditions were given as a warning to be imposed after death. Apostle Paul counseled that death acquits us of our sins; furthermore, he stated that the wages for sin is death-nothing else. (Romans 6:7, 23; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10; Psalms 146:3, 4) Theological doctrine as “Hell/Hades.” is only one of Satan (Opposer) the Devil’s (Slanderer) ploys to mislead many. (Revelation 12:9) Remember that he is the “father of the lie” and the god of this system of things. (John 8:44; 12:31;; Ephesians 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8; ) Appropriately, he is, aptly identified, as the “father of the lie” and the “god of this system of things.” (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19) The correct translations are the common grave or pit. (Job 17:16; 34:15; Psalms 146:4; Ecclesiastes 3:20; Isaiah 14:11) These are only a few scriptures comforting us of the condition of the dead.

Christians, with accurate knowledge, understand that Jesus was in “Hades” for three days but did not suffer torment. (Acts 2:31) The reconciliation the Jesus made between mankind’s sin and his heavenly father ended when he expired on the torture stake. Certainly God would not submit his son to further torment while in the grave. Apostle John aptly identified our creator when he wrote: “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) A loving creator/father would not subject anyone to eternal pain and suffering. There are numerous scriptures that support His many characteristic of love and compassion. The accounts in the following scriptures gives reasoning to this mistranslation/belief.-Deuteronomy 12:31; 2 Kings 16:3, 17:16, 21:6; 2 Chronicles 28:3; Psalms 106:34-39; Jeremiah 7:31, 19:5, 32:35.

　

 

[p_rehbein]

With regards to the question posed in the OP...............

Hell is hell......................

 

[Kerry]

Hell is a lake of fire. The place where all un believers go.

 

[phil112]

Hell is eternal separation from God.

the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [SUP] [/SUP]In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
[SUP] [/SUP]Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power

 

[danalee]

May I suggest you people who wishes to get involve in this thread, It will not matter what your answers will be, it wont matter in anyway, as the OP said clearly that he does not believe, the answers that you give will not appeal to him, and also he does not care. So feel free to waste your time to reply to his thread. However its is your time to waste not mine. He is not asking this for himself. He is not asking to learn from. So people it is up to you if you want to get involved in a thread that answers will by no means be interested by the OP. God bless. God loves you. and be blessed if you really seeking the truth.

Yeah we see a lot of people that just aren't ready for the truth. Stay in God's light. (smiles)

 

[john832]

You're starting with a false theology and forcing it in. It's like cramming clowns in a v-dub. It's still a clown car.

Here is where I started...

Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

die:

H4191
מוּת
mûth
mooth
A primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively to kill: - X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy (-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro [-mancer], X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in [no] wise.


jumped to here...

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

went to here...

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

perish:

G622
ἀπόλλυμι
apollumi
ap-ol'-loo-mee
From G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

Then I went to here...

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

death:

G2288
θάνατος
thanatos
than'-at-os
From G2348; (properly an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively): - X deadly, (be . . .) death.

Swung back to here...

Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

die:

H4191
מוּת
mûth
mooth
A primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively to kill: - X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy (-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro [-mancer], X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in [no] wise.

And ended up here...

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Now which one of these passages is false theology written by a clown?

 

[john832]

Jesus offered a parable about hell. Considering a parable is a principled truth that parallels another. I concur hell is a real place.

Just to let you know, your premise is completely wrong...

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Jesus Christ Himself says that He spoke in parables to conceal the meaning.

 

[john832]

Annihilationism is a deceitful heresy crafted by Satan himself. You need to dump this doctrine, Sir.

1. Malachi 4 is not a reference to the eternal punishment in the lake of fire.
2. Do you see cessation of existence here: Revelation 20:10 (KJV) 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.

OK, you have decided that Mal 4 is not about the Lake of Fire. And? I don't accept your intrepretation as accurate. You have not supported it. Where as...

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Malachi agrees with Peter, but you disagree. Not a difficult decision for me to make.

Let's look at Rev 20:10...

Rev 20:10 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.

1) "where the beast and the false prophet are" is a paraenthetical statement. The rule concerning a parenthetical statement is that it can be removed from the sentence and the sentence must make sense.

A traditional parenthetical statement is a thought enclosed in parentheses that interrupts the normal flow of a sentence. The thoughts presented in a parenthetical interruption are not crucial to the sentence, but directly or moderately relate to the primary statement, according to "The Handbook of Effective Writing" by Walter K. Smart.

So, let's see...

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

So the Devil is the one who will be tormented day and night.

Humans are not immortal, they are mortal and unless given eternal life, they die...

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

At the last trump, humans put on immortality, until then there is only One who is immortal...

1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

The rest of us are mere mortals subject ot death...

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

2) Second point to notice is the word are is italicised.

"Italicized words were first used in 1560 when an edition of the Bible, known as the Geneva Bible, appeared. This Bible had been prepared by the Protestant reformers in Geneva and was translated directly from the original Hebrew and Greek. In it, there were words that had to be added in English to make the meaning plain, although they were not necessary in the original idioms. No language can be translated word for word. The translators, then, distinguished such necessarily added words by italicizing them. The Geneva Bible became the most popular Bible of its time."

"In most cases, italicized words clarify the meaning of certain phrases. However, because these translators were not necessarily inspired by God in their work (though some would claim so), they made mistakes."

From Why Do Many Bibles Show Some Words in Italics?

There are other translations which say...

New International Version:
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

English Standard Version
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

International Standard Version
and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. They will be tortured day and night forever and ever.

There are more translations that also use the past tense for the parenthetical thought contained in verse 10. So how do we establish that it truly is a past tense event for the Beast and False Prophet? Other scriptures show that the wages of sin is death, not life in some other place.

 

[john832]

Guess yours doesn't say this?

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What's your say? Life in some other place?

There you go again. Take the blinders off.

Naw, I think I'll just blindly continue to accept what the scriptures say as absolute truth.

 

[homwardbound]

Hell is a lake of fire. The place where all un believers go.

knowingly chose this choice between God and themselves, for there will be no excuse
Today is the day of salvation choose whom you will believe God or man in all man's gloss that has covered over the amazing propitiation of God through Son Christ. We are forgiven now walk in it out of thankfulness

 

[Nancyer]

I believe that hell will be the complete and utter absence of God. Those who say they don't believe, or don't care, or don't need God will get their "wish" and see what life is like without Him. For I believe God is everywhere, with everyone, always. There is not place that God is not and so to experience that, that would be hell. Those who don't believe or accept don't realize what they have. Some day they will. You never know what you'll miss until it's gone. So they'll experience what's missing and that void will be, I think, beyond torture, beyond loneliness, beyond sadness, beyond any depression we can imagine here on earth. I have no real opinion on the physical aspects of hell.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I believe that hell will be the complete and utter absence of God. Those who say they don't believe, or don't care, or don't need God will get their "wish" and see what life is like without Him. For I believe God is everywhere, with everyone, always. There is not place that God is not and so to experience that, that would be hell. Those who don't believe or accept don't realize what they have. Some day they will. You never know what you'll miss until it's gone. So they'll experience what's missing and that void will be, I think, beyond torture, beyond loneliness, beyond sadness, beyond any depression we can imagine here on earth. I have no real opinion on the physical aspects of hell.

I'm sure that there is truth to what you say. Doesn't Scripture also speak of hell fire?