can people in hell repent and turn to God

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
@Ahwatukee

I love you, brother. It is sad that they are trying to use this thread to denigrate you rather than discuss the Bible.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
@Magenta

I love you too. I have disagreed with big 'Yellow Guy' at times on other matters. I love both of you.:)
 

Journeyman

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2019
2,107
763
113
Here's the thing though. If we are Christians to die is gain, but to live is Christ.

Please don't take me wrong here...I'm not suicidal or anything, but sometimes I look at dying as being a gift. It only means I will not have to live any longer in this evil world and will be able to go and be with the Lord.
I agree with you on this point. In fact if you apply this to earthly life of our Lord Jesus, you'll have a much different and proper understanding of the gospel than what is being taught in many congregations today.

It think the fear of death is really just the fear of the unknown. I can't see how anyone could be afraid of just not existing anymore. But to think for one second that you would go to hell and not be with God and tortured forever...now that is a very scary thought. Much more to fear than just ceasing to exist.
I've already said that the unsaved will kneel before Christ in judgement before they die and what we should be considering is how people will appear before him.

The Prophet Isaiah saw himself as filthy. So did the High Priest Joshua. And these are men who knew the Lord. When Jesus appeared to the Apostle John, he was so overcome with fear that he fainted. And this is someone who walked with the Lord.

What we need to do is know our Lord better. This will also help us have a better understanding of ourselves.
 

Journeyman

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2019
2,107
763
113
I don't know what you mean by this, but in another post you spoke of God being just. I'm sure torment without end is not what the scriptures teach, because God is just.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
4,981
1,261
113
Jonah was not in the fish’s belly "forever" Jonah 2:6.
That verse doesn't mention the whale at all but the word for "for ever" can mean less than forever by definition.

H5769
עלם / עולם
‛ôlâm
BDB Definition:
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H5956
Same Word by TWOT Number: 1631a

So, it can mean many many different things including forever, or a long duration etc.

This is another way how Hebrew expresses something literally lasting forever:

Exo 15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

Here ‛ôlâm is combined with ‛ad and ‛ad means forever, no ending.


H5703
עד
‛ad
BDB Definition:
1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future
1a) ancient (of past time)
1b) for ever (of future time)
1b1) of continuous existence
1c) for ever (of God’s existence)
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H5710
Same Word by TWOT Number: 1565a
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
I don't know what you mean by this, but in another post you spoke of God being just. I'm sure torment without end is not what the scriptures teach, because God is just.
Psalms
2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],
2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

I'm sure torment without end is what the scriptures teach, because God is just.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
4,981
1,261
113
Psalms
2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],
2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

I'm sure torment without end is what the scriptures teach, because God is just.
How is that a just punishment?
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
How is that a just punishment?
God is the very definition of Justice. We don't pick our own little definitions like we pick our favorite flavor of ice cream.

Thus saith the Lord...

Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
4,981
1,261
113
God is the very definition of Justice.
Of course but you are applying an unjust level of punishment to crime/sin. The death penalty is a high punishment but torturing someone forever is not just. Do you think people sentenced to prison should be tortured every second without end?
 
Aug 14, 2019
1,374
307
83
Of course but you are applying an unjust level of punishment to crime/sin. The death penalty is a high punishment but torturing someone forever is not just. Do you think people sentenced to prison should be tortured every second without end?
The thing is.... punishment is according to the dignity of the victim. In this case the victim is an eternal being.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
Of course but you are applying an unjust level of punishment to crime/sin. The death penalty is a high punishment but torturing someone forever is not just. Do you think people sentenced to prison should be tortured every second without end?
Your quarrel is with God, not I.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
4,981
1,261
113
The thing is.... punishment is according to the dignity of the victim. In this case the victim is an eternal being.
No, they are mortals. Only the saved will be immortal (only God is eternal since eternal means to have no beginning so that cannot apply to any created person).
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
4,981
1,261
113
The Angels are not mortal and they are created beings.
The bible says only God has immortality.

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.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
The Angels are not mortal and they are created beings.
In these peoples mind's, "Immortal" is a sacred name for God and therefore may not be used as a descriptive word for anything else. Use the word 'eternal' or 'everlasting".
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
eternal means to have no beginning
Now we must strike that word off our list also. Next we will be told that we can't use the word 'forever' because that might insinuate forever past.