Why do Christians believe in a place of torment called Hell?

  • 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.

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
4,981
1,261
113
you did not have one biblical verse to support your claim? The People in Sodom slept with anything. They found out soon enough they were not men
But they did think the angels were humans and that is because angels do look human even though they aren't. Satan has a body because all angels do and he will eventually be wrapped up in a chain and imprisoned in a bottomless pit and in time he will be released.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,999
4,311
113
But they did think the angels were humans and that is because angels do look human even though they aren't. Satan has a body because all angels do and he will eventually be wrapped up in a chain and imprisoned in a bottomless pit and in time he will be released.

perversion creates a false narrative of Homosexuality, trangender, idolatry, etc...
 
Aug 22, 2021
66
37
18
Angel is messenger, light represents the truth that is why the devil comes as an angel of light but is no light at all he is deceptive and lies.
Yes, that's the conclusion i came to from meditating on that verse. I think we're on the same wavelength there.
 

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
Your titles were added later. They are not part of the original script/text.

I do appreciate your offer, though. Does Luke 12:13-21 have a title?

What about Luke 7:40-50?

They are not part of the original text but I agree with the editors or whoever put the titles. The were not meant to add to the text but are there just for study guide. And I agree with what they thought of the Lazarus and the rich man, that it is not a parable.

The title of Luke 12:13-21 is the Parable of the Rich Fool. Luke 7:40-50 has no title but the title of Luke 7:36-50 is Jesus at home of Simon the Pharisee
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,685
29,025
113
They are not part of the original text but I agree with the editors or whoever put the titles. The were not meant to add to the text but are there just for study guide. And I agree with what they thought of the Lazarus and the rich man, that it is not a parable.

The title of Luke 12:13-21 is the Parable of the Rich Fool. Luke 7:40-50 has no title but the title of Luke 7:36-50 is Jesus at home of Simon the Pharisee
There are other parables that have no added heading saying they are a parable, nor are they introduced in the inspired writing as a parable. Do you not think they are parables also?
 

glen55

Active member
Jul 10, 2021
168
26
28
69
The dualistic name changes like Saul to Paul had a excellent reference about the destruction of something sinning, most think its a person never saved by what's destroyed, its happening to everyone, one thought is all it takes for failure so hell is allegory for failures we all go through.

Angels emotions are good and bad that manifest. The true grace saves all man because we all are sons of god before creation. Jesus was allegory that happens in man, we all came down and became man, born by womb for a body for becoming man and blinded to who we are, everyone had to come down like Jesus taught us inside to wake us up like Saul was blind and then woke up by God in him.

Man can sin every day and become a beast but is never lost, God's love defeats the natural minded man. And is happening every day.

Ecclesiastes 3:15:

“That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.”
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
Genesis 20:11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
Genesis 22:12
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Genesis 42:18
And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
Exodus 1:17
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

There are many more verses. In Hebrew the concept of fearing God is grave respect for him.

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=fear+God&version=KJV
So you're trying to change the FEAR of God into respect for God. Even though YOU quoted the fear of God several times but nothing that says "respect".
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
Proverbs 2:5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:5

Easy-to-Read Version

5 If you do this, you will understand what it means to respect the Lord, and you will come to know God.
Are you saying you don't FEAR God? God said those who don't fear Him are fools.

Proverbs 2:5 (NKJV)
5 Then you will understand
the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
I looked for it and did not find it. So, what is the text you had in mind, friend.
Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
Hi, sorry to butt in, i'm new and want to try answering the original question. Basically not all Christians do believe in a place of torment called Hell. The word Hell has European pagan origins. The word is used in English Bibles as a translation of 4 different words; Hebrew Sheol translated into Greek as Hades- the abode of the dead which also has pagan origins. Tartarus- the Pit where Satan and his angels will be imprisoned, and Gehenna where Jesus said evil people's soul are destroyed after the Judgement ie, eternal non-existance.
They will certainly wish they were destroyed.

"They will be tormented day and night FOREVER and EVER."
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
Jesus used parables to teach true things. Saying it is just a parable does not mean what Jesus taught was false.

Jesus' parables are short stories that teach a moral or spiritual lesson by analogy or similarity.

" Parables use everyday objects to teach deeper philosophical truths which most people could never grasp otherwise. Jesus uses them to teach more profound Divine eternal matters by which non-Christians cannot comprehend. A parable does not necessarily hide the lesson; rather, it teaches in such a way that it can be grasped better by those who are opened to the understanding required for learning and application. It is the intangible wrapped in the tangible. It is beyond logic, metaphor, allegory, or abstract reasoning; it is stimulating the person's interest to open his/her eyes and ears and engaging his mind to seek truth, rather than himself, as a means of grasping the lesson God has for him (Matt. 13:52; 2 Tim. 3:7 ). "

http://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=78397
https://www.christianbiblereference.org/jparable.htm

Luke 16 does not say nor even imply that it's a parable no more than John 3:16.
 

NOV25

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2019
977
386
63
I have always been close to God my entire life and the God I know does not plan to torment people who reject him for all eternity. I know what is taught and the scriptures that those who teach this use, can you tell me how a wonderful and loving God would torment forever. Putting something bad to sleep forever and out of its misery, like a dog with rabies, is merciful. Please explain without scripture (because I know the verses well) ...explain by your experience and relationship with God what he revealed to you about this. I don't understand, the God I know is not like this. I do believe there is a judgment and evil people who reject him will not have a good end, but not that way.
https://www.gotquestions.org/annihilationism.html
Annihilationism is the belief that unbelievers will not experience an eternity of suffering in hell, but will instead be “extinguished” after death. For many, annihilationism is an attractive belief because of the awfulness of the idea of people spending eternity in hell. While there are some passages that seem to argue for annihilationism, a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about the destiny of the wicked reveals the fact that punishment in hell is eternal. A belief in annihilationism results from a misunderstanding of one or more of the following doctrines: 1) the consequences of sin, 2) the justice of God, 3) the nature of hell.

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 the 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.
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
The parable thing shows me that you caused Cognitive Dissonance in their thinking. Congratulations.
Lots of folks will wish it was just a parable. Alas, BILLIONS of humans will be alive in the fire, just like the rich man, "forever and ever" with the Devil and his angels.
 
Aug 22, 2021
66
37
18
"They will be tormented day and night FOREVER and EVER."
Well THEY, the Devil, False Prophet and the Beast, had no humility or respect, were quick to shoot of at the lip in anger, slow in understanding, lacking any light,love or compassion, and spitefully twisted and used God's Word as a weapon for their huge narcissistic egos. Who would want be be around pityful hopeless creatures like them ?
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
you have no way of knowing where people here are going. so, please stop it. And Claim down.

I already have readers calling me.
Belief in the everlasting fire is not required for residency therein. Hell will be filled with BILLIONS of people who don't believe in Hell.
 

Duckybill

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2021
1,145
221
63
Well THEY, the Devil, False Prophet and the Beast, had no humility or respect, were quick to shoot of at the lip in anger, slow in understanding, lacking any light,love or compassion, and spitefully twisted and used God's Word as a weapon for their huge narcissistic egos. Who would want be be around pityful hopeless creatures like them ?
BILLIONS of humans will spend eternity with Satan and his angels.

Matthew 25:41-46 (NKJV)
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:
46 And these will go away into
everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Revelation 20:10 (NKJV)
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And
they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.