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

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Duckybill

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Aug 16, 2021
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Three verses say he will be destroyed. You have one verse that is using forever and ever in a figurative way. He can't be destroyed AND be tortured in hell forever can he?
It does not say "figurative" nor imply such. Do you also believe John 3:16 is "figurative" when is says "eternal" life? Jesus said "everlasting fire", "everlasting punishment", "everlasting destruction" and TORMENTED "forever and ever".
 

GRACE_ambassador

Well-known member
Feb 22, 2021
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Midwest
Why would we send someone to prison for 25years for being "bad" for 5minutes? That is an unfair prison system.
And, just HOW FAIR was it For God's sinLESS SON to be PUNISHED For the SINS
of the whole world. We had better figure out God's RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE
Before
leaving earth, Correct?
God's Simple Will!
 

Tinkerbell725

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Jul 19, 2014
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Philippines Age 40
Three verses say he will be destroyed. You have one verse that is using forever and ever in a figurative way. He can't be destroyed AND be tortured in hell forever can he?

Yes he can burn forever day and night with no rest in hell because it is what the verse says. That is meant by destruction not annihilation. Can you imagine gold? If you put it in fire it will just melt but not totally gone. Their worms cannot die. Yes it is just one verse but you cannot ignore it.
 

ewq1938

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Oct 18, 2018
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It does not say "figurative" nor imply such.
When three verses say will be destroyed and no longer exist, and ONE verse "seems" to say otherwise, it's very clear it's one verse being misunderstood. The forever and ever is not literal just like it's been used elsewhere in scripture regarding fire and things being burned. The fire of hel;l is eternal buty the people cast into fire ARE NOT ETERNAL and will be destroyed and not exist.
 

ewq1938

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Oct 18, 2018
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Yes he can burn forever day and night with no rest in hell because it is what the verse says. That is meant by destruction not annihilation. Can you imagine gold? If you put it in fire it will just melt but not totally gone. Their worms cannot die. Yes it is just one verse but you cannot ignore it.

No one ignores it. I am simply understanding it correctly. It's using intentionally exaggerated language. The devil won't be tortured forever. Three scriptures assure us devil will be destroyed and no longer exist. No one is alive in the lake of fire, Jesus promised that only the saved would receive life. The unsaved will die not remain alive forever.

.
 

Ahwatukee

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Mar 12, 2015
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When three verses say will be destroyed and no longer exist, and ONE verse "seems" to say otherwise, it's very clear it's one verse being misunderstood. The forever and ever is not literal just like it's been used elsewhere in scripture regarding fire and things being burned. The fire of hel;l is eternal buty the people cast into fire ARE NOT ETERNAL and will be destroyed and not exist.
Show us the scripture which says, "no longer exist."

Did you not read the definition that I provided for you regarding the Greek words which state that they do no imply annihilation?

The translated word "destroyed" does not mean cessation of existence, but eternal ruination, to be completely cut off, loss of eternal well being.
 

Duckybill

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Aug 16, 2021
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When three verses say will be destroyed and no longer exist, and ONE verse "seems" to say otherwise, it's very clear it's one verse being misunderstood. The forever and ever is not literal just like it's been used elsewhere in scripture regarding fire and things being burned. The fire of hel;l is eternal buty the people cast into fire ARE NOT ETERNAL and will be destroyed and not exist.
Seems?

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.

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."
 

ewq1938

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Oct 18, 2018
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forever does not mean forever?

I was stuck in traffic forever today...forever doesn't mean forever literally. Same idea here:

Isa 34:8 For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
Isa 34:9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
Isa 34:10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

Isaiah uses the same language concerning Edom and Edom is not still burning and people do pass through that area yet the verse says none shall pass through that area forever and ever. This is an intentional exaggeration and should be understood in that way just as Rev 20:10 should be.

Another example:

Exo 21:6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

Not literally forever of course. It simply means "a long time", ie: the rest of his life, an intentional exaggeration.

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Sodom and Gomorrha are not still burning therefore this eternal fire does not imply the target burns eternally but that this fire exists eternally whether it has something to burn or not and since God is a consuming fire it makes sense that it is eternal because God is eternal.
 

Ahwatukee

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Mar 12, 2015
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Yes. Since other passages say outright that the devil will be destroyed and not exist anymore, we know being tormented day and night forever is not literal.
Making those words "not literal" is just a way of ignoring the truth of what is plainly stated. By using that manner of interpretation, one could circumvent any scripture they wanted to by just saying "It's not literal." Do you interpret the Lord's promise of salvation and eternal life in the same manner? If the answer is no, then why do you do it to the rest of His word?
 

Magenta

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Jul 3, 2015
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forever does not mean forever?
Making those words "not literal" is just a way of ignoring the truth of what is plainly stated. By using that manner of interpretation, one could circumvent any scripture they wanted to by just saying "It's not literal." Do you interpret the Lord's promise of salvation and eternal life in the same manner? If the answer is no, then why do you do it to the rest of His word?
Please check out this post, and then further down the page, posts #348 and 349 :)
 

Ahwatukee

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Mar 12, 2015
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I was stuck in traffic forever today...forever doesn't mean forever literally. Same idea here:

The example above is hyperbole and is not to be applied to the word of God here. When you have other supporting words that seal in the meaning, then you cannot claim them to be non literal.

My gosh, man! How could God ever get the point of eternal anything across to you if you don't believe what is written. How else could He get the idea of eternal across to you? What else would God have to include in the context in order for you to understand that He means eternal, everlasting, never ending?
 
Aug 20, 2021
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Isa 34:10 this is babylon and is the great harlot on 7 mountains of the hearts of mankind also is the 7 deadly sins the 7 continents of the world babylon is sin and is destroyed forever
 

Ahwatukee

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Mar 12, 2015
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Yes. Since other passages say outright that the devil will be destroyed and not exist anymore, we know being tormented day and night forever is not literal.
No, it is not 'we' who know, but 'you' who thinks you know that being tormented day and night forever as not meaning literal. It seems as though you have abandoned all logic and reasoning. Even when I put the definition right in front of your face, you still ignore it.

Once again, it is because of your misunderstanding of the translated word "Destroyed," which does not mean annihilation or cessation of existence. If you'd look at the Greek word you would understand this.

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Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven. And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!"
=====================================================

So in the scripture above, it states that the angel raises His right hand to God and swears by Him who lives "forever and ever." Does that mean that God does not live forever? Does it mean that God's existence is temporary? If forever and ever is not literal in its meaning, then it must be applied here in regards to God's existence, right? Of course we know that is not true in that, when it says that the angel swears by Him who lives forever and ever, it means God exists without beginning or end, eternal.
 

Magenta

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Jul 3, 2015
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My gosh, man! How could God ever get the point of eternal anything across to you if you don't believe what is written. How else could He get the idea of eternal across to you? What else would God have to include in the context in order for you to understand that He means eternal, everlasting, never ending?
The Greek word “aion” has been erroneously translated to “eternal” or “everlasting," However, the word “aion” does not mean an indefinite span of time. It is an age, and “aionian” is “age-lasting,” or “to an age.” The Hebrew word “olam,” translated “everlasting” is also obscured in its true meaning. There are many examples where “everlasting” does not mean what you think.

Context natters. Precept by precept and line by line matters. You know yourself that many words are not meant to be taken literally. You also know that not all words are properly translated into English. Where in your belief system, when God has made all things new, when the old has passed away never to be remembered, do you have God placing His torture chamber of leftovers from the previous creation? God is eternally Self existent. Man's life is inextricably tied to His. Only those who put on immortality through faith in Christ live forever after. Pretending only you believe what is written is sheer arrogance on your part. Have you read the multitude of Scriptures that state something will be forever and yet that same thing comes to an end? Clearly you lack understanding. Go read the posts made on this. The link is above in post 832. There are three posts total with a plethora of instances showing forever is not always what you claim.
 

Duckybill

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Aug 16, 2021
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Yes. Since other passages say outright that the devil will be destroyed and not exist anymore, we know being tormented day and night forever is not literal.
Mark 9:43-48 (NKJV)
43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 46 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- 48 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'
 

ewq1938

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Oct 18, 2018
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Mark 9:43-48 (NKJV)
43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 46 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- 48 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'

And where in that is people being tortured forever? The fire is never quenched and worm doesn't die but it doesn't say the people don't die, does it? Do you even read the verses you post? Have you read what Jesus said?

John_3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Do you know what not seeing life means? "shall not see life" means will not be alive.


So, no, no one is going to stay alive in hell fire. It's never been true. It was made up scare people into going to church and paying money so church leaders could get rich.
 
Aug 20, 2021
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it's just that their is only one teacher one that can give understanding some have ears but cannot understand eyes but cannot see maybe he can only understand after someone prays for him. isa 58:5