Isn't ETERNITY in Hell a little harsh?

[FireDragonArmy]

Ok, here the thing. According to Christian faith if one sins and doesn't repent they are punished for said sin by being denied entry to Heaven to instead be sentenced to Hell.

Now I'm wondering, this punishment is forever, right? Am I wrong? It does mean forever, for all eternity, time times a million, a million million years, from now on to infinity and beyond.... and so on.

So am I wrong to think this a little harsh? I mean, geeze, what exactly can anyone do to warrant such horrific punishment. Sure, a person can do a lot bad things in their lifetime. But to warrant everlasting suffering...

Because Hell is everlasting suffering, right? I mean I wouldn't wish that on even the most vicious killer known to man. Not even on Hitler and his cronies, Sure I'd expect some form of punishment fitting the crimes (numerous as they are), but even for an evil bunch like that I wouldn't want it to be forever. I mean, at some point, enough is enough. There's always a point were enough is enough, where the punishment becomes a crime, a line that when crossed makes the punisher the one needing punishment.

I mean, as a mere mortal human I'll freely admit that I personally believe eternity, true eternity is a concept that is beyond any human's comprehension.

We are born, we live and we die, at the very most a human life spans about 100 years, if you're lucky. So ETERNITY is a mere abstract concept for us. Its a term we trow around freely in all sorts of situations but one we really don't understand or what it entails? We're talking millions and millions and a million times more years, an endless everlasting line of time that stretches on and on and on.

So if say, a person, kills another person, and they aren't sorry about it. They go to Hell, but to send them there forever...

Does this apply for all 'sins', like a person who had sex before marriage, a teenager who shoplifted, telling a lie, insulting someone, missed church, worked on a Sunday, being gay, or having had a gay experience, done drugs, got divorced, hit somebody, gossiped, looked the other way, didn't listen to their parents,... All of these are things a lot of people do without feeling like they really did something wrong, or even feel that they don't even need to feel bad about. Or just don't feel guilty or repentant about. Something I totally understand. I mean everyone has done at least one or two of these things without feeling bad about them. None of these things are horrible or evil, least of all things that deserve everlasting suffering and ****ation.

Personally I find this entire concept a little over the top gloomy. So you did some bad things in your little short life and therefore you'll suffer forever??!!! Wow, talk about cold. Does God really care that little? Does He really judge humans so incredibly harshly? I mean it sounds very very cruel.

Take a moment to really think about what everlasting means, forever, eternity, for all times, and so on.

And also think about a time in your life when you felt constant pain about something, physical or emotional or spiritual. Think about how awful it was to endure.

Now Imagine if that pain was forever, without end or relief in sight, just endless and constant, for all of eternity. Does anything warrant such horrible punishement?


So what do you guys all think, is everlasting punishment not a little bit tad to harsh?

 

[above]

There is a hell, but it is empty. Hell is like an atomic bomb. You scare people off with it, but you don't actually use it. =)

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Wouldn't ANY place totally separate from God be hell? (and does total absence of love mean evil/ pain, or does it mean "Nothingness"?)

And if they choose not to follow God, they kinda choose it freely. - And most sins are equally evil, so the type doesn't matter (god can't stand any sin) - Whole point of sending Jesus

But yeah, it's very harsh, in my eyes

 

[doubleedge]

There is no repentance in the grave, nor can God be praised & worshipped from the grave. Heaven is the PLACE of life, while hell is the PLACE of death! Eternal life is to be spared of the second death after judgement while eternal death is the second death after the resurrection!!! Those who live for God, doing The Will of The Lord WILL live forever, while those who live for their own survival, loving their life, shall surely lose it forever!!!

 

[doubleedge]

ALL my research begins with meditation on God's Word!!! I'm sorry if it seems as though I slam "christians". What I attack is not flesh & blood, but is embraced by it. The ONLY TRUE doctrine is The Holy Spirit... by which we may come to know Jesus. U see, spirit is action & causes action!!! NOTHING can move without a spirit! When a thing is moved, ONLY the spirit that moved it (& God) shall know to what end. There are good actions (that which God set in motion & is good), & there are sinful actions which go against God's Will & Command! A sinful action is a choice (excuse) to disobey God's command. Choices are both good & evil (Gen 2:17, 3:22).

 

[doubleedge]

To suffer is to endure... & BLESSED is he that suffer for The Lord!!!

 

[aprodigal1]

if one sins and doesn't repent they are punished for said sin by being denied entry to Heaven to instead be sentenced to Hell.

It is not just one of my sins that condemns me to hell, scripture teaches I was conceived in sin.

Psalm 51:5

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,​

And in sin my mother conceived me.​

Romans 5:12-19 teaches that by Adams sin, all have sinned and have had the sentence of eternal hell imputed to him.

All are condemned to death or eternity in hell on the basis of one sin committed by one human being, Adam. Understanding the imputation of Adam's sin is helpful when one realizes that Paul compares it with the imputation of Christ's "one act of righteousness" V. 18, in order to advance the argument that "as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men" V. 18.

 

[DeeperStill]

There is a hell, but it is empty. Hell is like an atomic bomb. You scare people off with it, but you don't actually use it. =)

Partial truth is untruth.

Even though the word hell is very misunderstood and often used as a catch all word for : Sheol, Gehenna, and Hades, the lake of fire prepared for satan and his demons will be the place where the unsaved will be sent when judged by God. It is the lake of fire. It is an eternal separation from the presence of God. And being sent there is by choice.

Those who do not wish to be in God's presence, by their own rebellion and choice, will be allowed to be separated from Him. They will be sent to the lake of Fire.

it will be used. it is a real place.

T

 

[Slepsog4]

Hell was created for the Devil and his angels. Since humans who do not want to spend eternity with God so choose to spend it somewhere else.

 

[aprodigal1]

Personally I find this entire concept a little over the top gloomy. So you did some bad things in your little short life and therefore you'll suffer forever??!!! Wow, talk about cold. Does God really care that little? Does He really judge humans so incredibly harshly? I mean it sounds very very cruel.

Yes, hell is harsh and eternity there is going to be no picnic. But remember the reason for hell in the first place was to house Satan and his minions that rebelled against God.
Matthew 25:41

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Hell is the ultimate penalty for the ultimate crime, sin and rejecting Jesus Christ.

Sin is far worse then any crime a deranged maniac like Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein or Jeffrey Dahmer can ever commit, and the sad thing is we are all guilty of it.

One sin destroyed a perfect world that belonged to a perfect universe created by a perfect God and the earth and heavens will be judges as well.

2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

One sin also caused one of the most horrific recorded criminal acts in the history of man kind to take place, the suffering and murder of our Lord Jesus Christ. Far more cruel then we will ever know.

So, when understanding the weight of sin. Hell is quite fitting for those who choose to walk in sin.

 

[watchmen]

The lake of fire is a place of eternal torment, but people do not go there for their sin. They go to the lake of fire for rejecting Christ.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

[aprodigal1]

people do not go there for their sin. They go to the lake of fire for rejecting Christ.

I stand corrected, thank you!

 

[wwjd_kilden]

The lake of fire is a place of eternal torment, but people do not go there for their sin. They go to the lake of fire for rejecting Christ.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Well yes, but the reason for Jesus Christ to be sacreficed is our sins, isn't it? So to me at last, the two reasons are one and same. (If we had not sinned, we wouldn't have needed the blood of Christ to set things right).

 

[watchmen]

Yes, Jesus was sacrificed for our sin, and that is more evidence to what I was saying. Our sin is paid for, if we go to the lake of fire it is not because we have sinned, seeing as we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, it is because we chose to by rejecting our salvation through Christ Jesus.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

ah, ok

As we're talking about hell, I've been thinking of something:

The devil tries to ensnare all (and is sadly often successful), and the closer someone is to God, the harder he'll try right? But being close to God one can chase him away. And the "lukewarms" I guess aren't his greatest enemies. So how does he work? Only by deception? or also by force?

leading up to my real question: .. Poeple beeing possessed: are they possesed (to some extent)by own choice, or merely by the demon foring itself upon an innocent? or, iow: Can a demon possess anyone?

 

[Thaddaeus]

Ok, here the thing. According to Christian faith if one sins and doesn't repent they are punished for said sin by being denied entry to Heaven to instead be sentenced to Hell.

Now I'm wondering, this punishment is forever, right? Am I wrong? It does mean forever, for all eternity, time times a million, a million million years, from now on to infinity and beyond.... and so on.

So am I wrong to think this a little harsh? I mean, geeze, what exactly can anyone do to warrant such horrific punishment. Sure, a person can do a lot bad things in their lifetime. But to warrant everlasting suffering...

Because Hell is everlasting suffering, right? I mean I wouldn't wish that on even the most vicious killer known to man. Not even on Hitler and his cronies, Sure I'd expect some form of punishment fitting the crimes (numerous as they are), but even for an evil bunch like that I wouldn't want it to be forever. I mean, at some point, enough is enough. There's always a point were enough is enough, where the punishment becomes a crime, a line that when crossed makes the punisher the one needing punishment.

I mean, as a mere mortal human I'll freely admit that I personally believe eternity, true eternity is a concept that is beyond any human's comprehension.

We are born, we live and we die, at the very most a human life spans about 100 years, if you're lucky. So ETERNITY is a mere abstract concept for us. Its a term we trow around freely in all sorts of situations but one we really don't understand or what it entails? We're talking millions and millions and a million times more years, an endless everlasting line of time that stretches on and on and on.

So if say, a person, kills another person, and they aren't sorry about it. They go to Hell, but to send them there forever...

Does this apply for all 'sins', like a person who had sex before marriage, a teenager who shoplifted, telling a lie, insulting someone, missed church, worked on a Sunday, being gay, or having had a gay experience, done drugs, got divorced, hit somebody, gossiped, looked the other way, didn't listen to their parents,... All of these are things a lot of people do without feeling like they really did something wrong, or even feel that they don't even need to feel bad about. Or just don't feel guilty or repentant about. Something I totally understand. I mean everyone has done at least one or two of these things without feeling bad about them. None of these things are horrible or evil, least of all things that deserve everlasting suffering and ****ation.

Personally I find this entire concept a little over the top gloomy. So you did some bad things in your little short life and therefore you'll suffer forever??!!! Wow, talk about cold. Does God really care that little? Does He really judge humans so incredibly harshly? I mean it sounds very very cruel.

Take a moment to really think about what everlasting means, forever, eternity, for all times, and so on.

And also think about a time in your life when you felt constant pain about something, physical or emotional or spiritual. Think about how awful it was to endure.

Now Imagine if that pain was forever, without end or relief in sight, just endless and constant, for all of eternity. Does anything warrant such horrible punishement?


So what do you guys all think, is everlasting punishment not a little bit tad to harsh?

ok firedragonarmy let me tell you what i think. I think it is not about you I think it is all about God
i think it would not had been too harsh for God to never gave you Life, much less allow His Son to die for someone like You and me. I don't have a problem with hell and the Bible saying that it it increasing in size daily. I believe it too harsh for you to think that you deserve anything better than hell. God gave life and God taketh away. Hell is the only thing that you and I do deserve. That Is why mercy and Grace was poured out at Calvary. i think you need to apologize to God for this post, that is what i think. we love Him because He first Loved us.

 

[SamIam]

ok firedragonarmy let me tell you what i think. I think it is not about you I think it is all about God
i think it would not had been too harsh for God to never gave you Life, much less allow His Son to die for someone like You and me. I don't have a problem with hell and the Bible saying that it it increasing in size daily. I believe it too harsh for you to think that you deserve anything better than hell. God gave life and God taketh away. Hell is the only thing that you and I do deserve. That Is why mercy and Grace was poured out at Calvary. i think you need to apologize to God for this post, that is what i think. we love Him because He first Loved us.

amen to that..............

 

[loveschild]

If a christian sins and doesn't repent they make a wedge between them self and God. They make trouble for them self. They don't get cast into hell for that. Every person in the world will be told of God and they can decide to believe or not. The ones who decide to not believe in God are the ones who go to hell. God doesn't send them there. They send them selves there. God wants no one to go to hell. He loves them all very much and is giving hundreds and hundreds of chances for them to come to him. God bless you, Love

 

[Cup-of-Ruin]

Ok, here the thing. According to Christian faith if one sins and doesn't repent they are punished for said sin by being denied entry to Heaven to instead be sentenced to Hell.

Now I'm wondering, this punishment is forever, right? Am I wrong? It does mean forever, for all eternity, time times a million, a million million years, from now on to infinity and beyond.... and so on.

So am I wrong to think this a little harsh? I mean, geeze, what exactly can anyone do to warrant such horrific punishment. Sure, a person can do a lot bad things in their lifetime. But to warrant everlasting suffering...

Because Hell is everlasting suffering, right? I mean I wouldn't wish that on even the most vicious killer known to man. Not even on Hitler and his cronies, Sure I'd expect some form of punishment fitting the crimes (numerous as they are), but even for an evil bunch like that I wouldn't want it to be forever. I mean, at some point, enough is enough. There's always a point were enough is enough, where the punishment becomes a crime, a line that when crossed makes the punisher the one needing punishment.

I mean, as a mere mortal human I'll freely admit that I personally believe eternity, true eternity is a concept that is beyond any human's comprehension.

We are born, we live and we die, at the very most a human life spans about 100 years, if you're lucky. So ETERNITY is a mere abstract concept for us. Its a term we trow around freely in all sorts of situations but one we really don't understand or what it entails? We're talking millions and millions and a million times more years, an endless everlasting line of time that stretches on and on and on.

So if say, a person, kills another person, and they aren't sorry about it. They go to Hell, but to send them there forever...

Does this apply for all 'sins', like a person who had sex before marriage, a teenager who shoplifted, telling a lie, insulting someone, missed church, worked on a Sunday, being gay, or having had a gay experience, done drugs, got divorced, hit somebody, gossiped, looked the other way, didn't listen to their parents,... All of these are things a lot of people do without feeling like they really did something wrong, or even feel that they don't even need to feel bad about. Or just don't feel guilty or repentant about. Something I totally understand. I mean everyone has done at least one or two of these things without feeling bad about them. None of these things are horrible or evil, least of all things that deserve everlasting suffering and ****ation.

Personally I find this entire concept a little over the top gloomy. So you did some bad things in your little short life and therefore you'll suffer forever??!!! Wow, talk about cold. Does God really care that little? Does He really judge humans so incredibly harshly? I mean it sounds very very cruel.

Take a moment to really think about what everlasting means, forever, eternity, for all times, and so on.

And also think about a time in your life when you felt constant pain about something, physical or emotional or spiritual. Think about how awful it was to endure.

Now Imagine if that pain was forever, without end or relief in sight, just endless and constant, for all of eternity. Does anything warrant such horrible punishement?


So what do you guys all think, is everlasting punishment not a little bit tad to harsh?

Greetings,

There are many misunderstandings about the English word "Hell" and the english word "Eternal". The answer to your questions is in the word of God, not the words of men. For example lets look at the Hebrew word "olam", this word is sometimes translated "forever", olam has biblical meaning of that which cannot be seen by man, or 'beyond what man can see', so that does not necessarily mean a time without ending, it just means a time that cannot be seen or even estimated by man, it is beyond our sight, an indefinite time period. We must always use the Bible to interpret the Bible so lets look at Jonah;

Jonah 2:5-6

"The water compassed me about, even to the soul, the depth closed round about, the weeds were wrapped around my head. i went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever."

OK the underlined word "for ever", is translated from the Hebrew - Olam , Did Jonah have the bars of earth around him for ever? No because not long after Jonah was on dry ground, so it was not literally for an never ending period of time, it means that Jonah could not see or know how long he was going down under the sea for, it was beyond his understanding- it was Olam.

Hope that helps, tough subject to try to come to terms with.

 

[above]

Very good point. That makes sense.