The Hell of the Bible Explained!

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CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
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#21
Some deny the existence of hell, but the Bible clearly teaches it, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

MANY MISUNDERSTAND the subject, and some still hold to the heathen doctrine of eternal torture, which was attached to Christianity early in the Dark Ages, and so they believe in hell as viewed by the heathen instead of in the hell of the inspired Word of God.

  • It's important that we examine carefully and learn thoroughly the Bible teachings on hell. The only Old Testament word translated hell is sheol, to which the New Testament word Hades corresponds. In the King James Version the Old Testament word, sheol and the New Testament word, hades are translated hell 41 times, grave 32 times and pit 3 times. Frequently when translated hell, the margin reads, “or, the grave,” or vice versa (Psa. 49: 15; Jonah 2: 1, 2).
  • Contrary to the idea that hell is a place of fire and torture the Bible says, “there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom, in the grave [sheol], where you are going”; “in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave [sheol] who shall give You thanks”; “the grave [sheol] cannot praise You: death cannot celebrate You” (Eccl. 9: 10; Psa. 6:5).
  • Good people, as well as bad, go to sheol (hell) at death. Jesus “poured out His soul to death” (Matt. 26: 38), and descended to hell, but “His soul [His being] was not left in hell” (Acts 2: 27, 31).
  • In Old English the word hell simply meant to hide or to cover. To "hell potatoes" meant to plant and cover them with earth. The word hell is properly used as signifying the secret or hidden condition of the dead. It had no reference whatever to a place of torture until that meaning was attached to it from heathen superstitions and theologians of the Dark Ages.
  • When God told Adam of sin’s penalty, He did not say “In the day that you eat of it you shall live forever in torture,” but He told him the truth: “you shall surely die, i.e., cease to live” (Gen. 2: 17).
  • Contradicting God, Satan told the first lie (John 8: 44), “You will not surely die” (Gen. 3: 4), by which he has since deceived many into believing that the dead are not really dead, but that at death they live on, and without waiting for the resurrection day (John 5: 28), go directly into heaven or into eternal torment.
  • The Bible states plainly that “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18: 4); that “the wages of sin is death” [cessation of life, not life in torment]. On the other hand, the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6: 23) through Jesus Christ.
  • Do you not see, that if the penalty against Adam and his race had been eternal torment, Jesus would have had to suffer an eternity of torture to redeem the human race? On the contrary, the “wages of sin is death,” “Christ died for our sins,” He tasted death for every man; and He “was raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4). God through Christ ransoms all, not from eternal torture, but “from the power of the grave [sheol]” (Hos. 13: 14).
  • Eventually “all that are in the grave shall hear His [Jesus’] voice, and shall come forth” (John 5: 28, 29 RSV). When sheol or hades delivers up all who sleep in Adamic death, sheol and hades will forever cease to exist. “O grave [sheol] I will be your destruction.”
  • Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth by God “as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) then; the fire that is not burning any longer did destroy those cities, and brought upon them destruction. These will be awakened in the world’s judgment day (John 5: 28). However, they will not be reinstated to their former wicked condition.
  • The word translated “tormented” in Rev. 20: 10 should have been rendered “tested” or “examined;” the devil, the beast and the false prophet will be examined forever by the righteous, and recognized as deserving destruction.
  • The wicked “shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1: 9). Moreover, they “shall go away into everlasting punishment” [not everlasting life in torture, but death], (Matt. 25:46); “for sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1: 15); everlasting death is everlasting punishment. But the righteous only will have life eternal (John 3: 36).
  • “God is love” and He desires us to “worship Him in spirit and in truth,” out of love for Him, not because of fear of punishment now and in the hereafter.
“Perfect love casts out fear” [dread]. (1 John 4: 8-12)​

I can't take seriously one who has to insult to make his opinion seem valid.
You try to be subtle with your accusation of the " heathen doctrine of eternal torture."

It was Jesus who said in Matthew 25:46

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” ESV

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” NKJV
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” NLT


Are you calling Jesus a liar or suggesting he spoke untruth here? You are pulling text out of Context like most trolls do.

The topic you have brought up before, so you must be doing this for kicks.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,111
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#22
Anytime Jesus speaks, HE is the Supreme Authority. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus said there is eternal punishment, aka torment.

Those who dig their heels into anything else or teach otherwise are foolish and should not be taken seriously. They can word salad all they want, but it is false to teach there is no eternal torment for those who die without Christ. When Jesus said, there is.

Jesus was no pagan.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,111
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#23
God is a God of equity - an eye for an eye. How much sin does a man have to commit to justify eternal punishment? In fact God will show mercy over justice at times, he never goes the opposite way. The eternal punishment doctrine is why people become atheists - they see God as an unjust tyrant.
LOL, what a bunch of nonsense. FYI, God sent HIS Only Son to Die for the sins of the world. Those who try any other way than Christ are insulting the living God. Atheists run from God because of the sin in their lives; they love to do more than surrender to God. FYI, atheists believe they are god. Those in sin receive from sin their reward, and God made a way out. For an atheist to say God is unjust is like the devil saying God is a liar. Take that garbage somewhere else. Hell is real; you had better deal with it because it will deal with you.
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
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#24
The eternal punishment doctrine is why people become atheists -
This is absurd. And the opposite of reality.

You believe exactly as the "pagan" atheists. That when you die, you are annihilated, and no consciousness exists.
 
Jun 2, 2022
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#25
This is absurd. And the opposite of reality.

You believe exactly as the "pagan" atheists. That when you die, you are annihilated, and no consciousness exists.
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#26
This is absurd. And the opposite of reality.

You believe exactly as the "pagan" atheists. That when you die, you are annihilated, and no consciousness exists.
Agreed.

1 Corinthians 15:
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
 
Jun 2, 2022
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#27
Agreed.

1 Corinthians 15:
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Who exactly is questioning the resurrection of the dead in this post ?
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
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#29
Who exactly is questioning the resurrection of the dead in this post ?
If people are annihilated, as the atheists believe, how are some going to face a greater punishment than others as Jesus Himself attests?

Matthew 23:13-14

New King James Version

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.


Matthew 11:22

New King James Version

22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.


Without any condescension meant at all, it's ok to say you were wrong and misunderstood the text.
 
Jun 2, 2022
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#30
If people are annihilated, as the atheists believe, how are some going to face a greater punishment than others as Jesus Himself attests?

Matthew 23:13-14

New King James Version

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.


Matthew 11:22

New King James Version

22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.


Without any condescension meant at all, it's ok to say you were wrong and misunderstood the text.
Who exactly is saying when you die you get annihilated? You are creating strawman arguments.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,152
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#36
Who exactly is saying when you die you get annihilated? You are creating strawman arguments.
If not annihilation, then where does one go who rejects Jesus?
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
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#38
Not when they die which is what you said, they have to face judgement
So how do some face a GREATER punishment, and find it LESS tolerable, if they ALL are cast into the Lake of Fire and annihilated?
 
Jun 2, 2022
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#40
So how do some face a GREATER punishment, and find it LESS tolerable, if they ALL are cast into the Lake of Fire and annihilated?
There might be some punishments before they are annihilated - I don't know, but it certainly is not an eternity of such