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

Upon bodily death the body returns to dust and the spirit returns to God, assuming the spirit is righteous of course. (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

If that's true then the it is inferred that unrighteous spirits do not return to God. The spirits that do not return to God are sent to hell. In hell, there's no such thing as eternal life for the body, soul, or spirit.

The below verses refer to spiritual death:


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

Ephesians 2:1
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Thessalonians 1:9
9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

The only way to avoid a spiritual death is through a spiritual rebirth:

John 3:3
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 1:3-5
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Nope, the spirit of God cannot die. It returns to Him. The man’s soul and body can die and be destroyed. He will lose all consciousness of being.

Nope, the spirit of God cannot die. It returns to Him. The man’s soul and body can die and be destroyed. He will lose all consciousness of being.

Here's where I'm at with it: I see it the same way as you do in that we have body, spirit, and soul.
Hebrews 4:12

The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


I also believe that the spirit does not die.

Why do you think that the spirit of man has no consciousness? Is there verses for this? The only ones that I can think of is in reqards to when Adam sinned we became spiritually dead....Which as far as I can tell, means the spirit still exists but is separated from God.

Here is what God says sin did to us:
Isaiah 59
1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Pardon me. I was not clear: the soul, when dead, ends the consciousness of man. Our spirit was given by God and is compatible with Him because it is of Him. It is “a man’s spirit” but only in stewardship. It did not originate with us. It came from God. Our soul was created to be compatible with creation, it is how we deal with the world. Our body manifests the rule of either the soul or the spirit (through His Spirit).

When man dies, the spirit returns to God who gave it. If the soul of the man was subject to the Spirit of God (having died to himself and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior) his soul will live forever with the Lord as well. He will be given a new body that is compatible with an eternal existence.
If the man was ruled by his soul (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) and was unredeemed, upon death his spirit returns to God but his soul will be destroyed in the lake of fire. When this man is destroyed he no longer has being.

Did you know that Jeffrey Dahmer found Jesus in prison before he was murdered. He was an atheist who believed in evolution and that we evolved from slime. He said this belief made a huge impact in his perverse actions. He also said he accepted Jesus through the ministry of Kent Govind or Dr Dino, for those not familiar, who teaches creation science. It changed him, before he was murdered. The least is greatest and the greatest least.

So what happens at the second ressurrection since man is a tripart being? God gives back the spirit or man becomes an evil spirit who cannot die?



And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 KJV



Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 2:2 KJV

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.

.



Muslims believe in the Koran's afterlife, just as Christians believe in the
Bible's afterlife, and Hindus believe in the Bhagavad Gita and/or the Vedas'
afterlife.

None of those holy books, including the Bible, qualify as empirical scientific
evidence.





What empirical scientific evidence do you have that proves-- iron clad, air
tight, and without a hint of sensible doubt --that the Bible is a divine being's
word?

You believe the Bible is a divine being's word because the Bible says it's a
divine being's word; which is really no different than a Muslim believing their
holy book is a divine being's word and/or a Hindu believing their holy book is
a divine being's word because none of you can prove your belief is valid
except by quoting passages from your holy books.

Sakla's request-- that somebody prove the existence of a fiery afterlife
without quoting the Bible --is a reasonable request. It's unfortunate that
so many people on this thread are doing exactly what he asks them not to.
_

Luke 12:45-48
But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

Luke 12:57-59
And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”


Luke 16:19-31
Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. 20And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores 21and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side And the rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’

27‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’

29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’

30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

This last one especially has a lot to say. I know that you don't trust any English translations, so I ask: What do these all say in the greek? You say to argue by our experiences and not scripture. Before I knew God I still had great experiences which I took as evidence that he loved me. Many Islamic people would say the same. So would Hindus, Buddists, Mormons, and Catholics. Yet, all of these people speak of different Gods. Christianity has one God, and if we just have a feeling in our heart, we have no God at all. Either Christ is true or he isn't, it doesn't matter how you feel or believe. When I was a young dude I liked to believe that I was Buzz Lightyear. Long story short, I'm not.

See, God is love. He loves so much that he hates seeing evil. Earlier this week someone did something wrong to my mother. I was ready to send them a very angry evil. So, how must God feel when he sees people murder, adulter, and destroy his creation? Jesus also sad that even calling someone else a fool is murder in God's sight. He said that lusting was adultery in God's sight. How many times have you been unjustly angry or lusted?

The issue isn't God, it's you. You have a low view of what true love is. It hurts, I know. However, I don't say that to just condemn you. I have to go to God every day to confess an evil heart. He doesn't just pardon, he cleanses of sin totally. Go to God, through Jesus Christ. Not some made up Jesus in your head, but the real Christ. Ask Him what the truth is, and search his word. If you want to do it in the Greek, then do it. We need truth, not fiction. Well, I'm praying for you.

I think it is a better punishment and more merciful.i don't believe and scripture states that Satan and the demons are delivered up, that is the " Second Death" It says "Death" it means Satan too. They aren't going to be given the blessing if tormenting humans in hell, that is what they like. Everyone who rejects God and the Gospel get nothing. They Get non existence and that is Death, including Satan. They can die with the help of God, otherwise Jesus wouldn't of said " fear God, who CAN destroy both body and soul in Gehenna, the lake of fire. They are swallowed up in victory. Death and He'll, it states in Revelation. These are not my words or ideas, that is What God says.

I figured I should add one more thing. I have issues with assurance sometimes. I don't doubt God, but I tend to wonder if I have been truly saved or not. Often, I have to go to God every day to get this issue figured out. Even so, I have found him faithful every moment, even in my doubts. While my issues in this area are evil, I know that he can cleanse me. And little by little, he does. I say this mostly to encourage you:

Go to the one God who can cleanse you. Why should we just go to some God made up in our head? I don't want something fake, and hopefully you don't either. So, I just wanted to add that so that you wouldn't feel like I was just saying: "Well, you're just wrong and there is no hope for you. How do you ever think you could come to know God?"

Lord willing, I'm going to get on my knees tonight in Christ's name, I invite you to join me. I don't know how He will respond, but even if He cuts me down then I know it is loving discipline. If you've been worshipping a God made up in your head, I did too. I was a false convert for 17 years. Even so, since He saved me, I wouldn't go back for anything. Sure, it's harder. The way can be discouraging sometimes.

People tend to not like it when I follow Christ over something else. These things being true, I bow my knee with one hope. Christ says "Come to me." I hope that tonight He will take me into the secret places, the Holy of Holies of communion with the one true God. I hope He will do the same with you, even if for the first time.

In case you still aren't convinced (God just started moving on me and I feel there is more to be said): Even now I can hear the same words he said to Israel: "Comfort, comfort my people."

If you saw with a proper vision how wickedly I have treated Him, how little I have loved Him, you would surely think it worthy for God to send me to an everlasting Hell. I certainly know it to be so. Instead, Christ bore that full brunt of eternity on my behalf. And yet, even I have hope of being drawn away in communion with Him tonight.

I've messed up so much, but the one true God is so mighty to save. His hand is not shortened that it cannot redeem, only because he stretched out his arm to slay his only son in our place. So, call out to him. He isn't deaf, unlike some image we concoct in our heads. Now, I'm gonna go to my God and continue reading through Romans.

If He is willing, then I hope to have the Spirit pour His own love into my heart. What a mercy, and what a God. Let us all press on to know, love, and serve the one true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hell isn't eternal; if it was then it would mean that sin will never fully be eradicated. Psalm 37:38 says
"But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;
The posterity of the wicked will be cut off."
Here it makes it clear that sinners and sin either them will be destroyed. If hell was eternal then sin would always exist, and we'd never be rid of it, but God ultimately wants sin to be destroyed.

The reason for so many erroneous interpretations of this, is because of expositors interpretation of the word "Destroyed." The three Greek words olethros, apoliea and apollumi, do not imply annihilation (extinction), but mean complete loss of well being, eternal ruination.

Think about all of the people who committed suicide. They did this with the belief that they would cease to exist and you're saying that God is going to give them their desire. All sin is against God and they will suffer eternal punishment, because that is what God has deemed.

You have explain the scripture which says that the smoke of their torment will ascend up forever and ever. And they that they shall have no rest day of night. One would have to exist in order to experience having no rest day or night.

There is so much scripture which points to eternal punishment that it should not even need to be debated.

In response to Jocund:

HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 684 apṓleia (from 622 /apóllymi, "cut off") – destruction, causing someone (something) to be completely severed – cut off (entirely) from what could or should have been. (Note the force of the prefix, apo.) See 622 (apollymi).

684 /apṓleia ("perdition") does not imply "annihilation" (see the meaning of the root-verb, 622 /apóllymi, "cut off") but instead "loss of well-being" rather than being

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Destruction in red is the word apoleia. Please take notice of what is highlighted in red above. The word does not imply annihilation, be complete loss of well being, eternal ruination.

It's easy to disagree to a post. But back up that disagreement with scripture, as I did above.

Why would you even say "So Jesus is wrong?". It's impossible for Jesus to be wrong.

Jesus was speaking of the angels of not fallen angels like spoke of and said he would be destroyed and never exist again so he isn't going to live any longer in the lake of fire than anyone else will.

And neither have any support for eternal torment. In the quote I provided, he said the unsaved will die, not remain alive as the false doctrine of eternal torment teaches.