Bible-Goers Answer This One ?

Question

The large majority of people who have ever existed could not have learned of the Bible or Jesus Christ. And many people afterwards have found other religions or no religion at all to be more convincing, sometimes while being very virtuous. Do all these people really deserve eternal torment because of that?

Answer 1

HMMM, good point.

Answer 2

Well, the answer is found in Romans, if I understand it correctly...
Let me back up. It doesn't sound like you have much knowledge about Native Americans hand-me down stories... There are stories that sound very much like the tower of Babel, and the great flood. ( A little off the Bible's account of it, but still the basics are there. Now - think about it - we all got off that boat.)
Back to Romans 2:12-16 "All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law, who will be declared righteous. (Indeed when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge mens secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."
And although I am too tired to look it up to give you a verse, there's a verse that says that everyone will have a chance to choose Him. When Jesus died He went into the belly of the earth and gave the ones who'd died before Him a chance. How he chooses to do it now it not something to worry about, He said He would and He will.
Now, He DIDN'T say -- " Those who choose to ignore and intentionally misinterpret, change, make up false religions and make fun of the Word of God will be overlooked." He was saying that those who have not heard will be given a chance, and those who know the law will be held accountable for their knowledge.
Now that you KNOW....!


Update for Ramall: Since you asked us to send this to you here it is, and it didn't take me even 1 hour... I'm sure you will keep your money though.... Ok, read REVELATION 20:11-15 I won't quote the whole thing, but it says that death and hell gave up their dead, and each person was judged, then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. If anyone's name was not written in the Book of Life, they are also thrown into the lake of fire. Oh, back up to 20:10 where it talks of the lake of burning sulfer where the devil and the false prophet are, and how it burns for "ever and ever." Theres more, just get into Revelations.

Answer 3

The bible says when you die all your sins are forgivin. SO if you didnt learn anything and had no knowledge how is that a sin? If you did and you refuse to learn and you die, you are still forgiven. All I have learned does not mention once that you automaticly burn in hell. It says there is a judgement to Gehenna but that is after the second death. You would probably need to read the bible on your own, and come to a better understanding of it. The only people who explain the bible in a loving way that gives all mankind hope are the Jehovahs Witnesses. Talk to them. I dont believe that god is so cruel to put his children in a place of torment and not give them a way out.

Answer 4

If they are sincere in their search, and not simply trying to find a reason to discredit God, knowing full well in the back of their minds that He does exist, and He does deserve their worship, then these people would be included in the ressurrection of the righteous (those who have consciously [sp?] dedicated their lives in a true manner towards God) and the unrighteous (those who died ignorant of the truth about God) (Acts 24:15). Those who deliberately refuse God after learning the truth about Him will still not burn in a fiery Hell. The Bible says the dead cannot hurt us, nor can they suffer (Ec 9:5,6). Many people think that Jesus' references to Gehenna in the Bible are evidence of a fiery pit of torment, but few realize he was simply drawing an analogy between the state of things thrown into that ancient city garbage pit of his time (which incinerated all things in it with fire) and the eternal destruction of those who God deemed wicked and rebellious, of which no man could return from; not burn forever in.

Answer 5

To answer your question the bible clearly teaches that all will have to give an account of their deeds one day wether they be good or evil. As for those who have never been given a bible or told about God and are still good it is the Holy Spirit working in them to be good the bible says that none of us can do anything good by ourselves. It is not possible. In addition nature and creation testify to a higher power and if we study them we will know that there is a God "higher power" somewhere who created all these things. The message is shared in many different ways as you can see but we are all judged by the "light" or truth that we have and what we do with them.

Worry not about the people before because nothing can be done to help them but make sure since you have a chance to believe and to know for yourself that you take advantage of that opportunity.

Answer 6

Nobody will ever get eternal torment. that is a lie of Satan that the good preachers are perpetrating to this day to make God look bad and it is working. You will not find anywhere in the bible that says anyone will live in Hell for eternity. It may feel like eternity to them but their fate is death, to be burned up, to be ashes. Many places that speak of death and being burned up but show me one place that says you can have eternal life in Hell and I will give you $10,000 cash money. If you can do it in the next 24 hours, I will even double it. This can be your contract that you can take to court if I do not pay up if you can find just one. I can do this because there is NO such thing in there. That is the lie that is being told to make God look bad and it is working. Check it out.

Answer 7

That's a great question. I'm not sure where you gathered your facts referring to the large majority of people who could not have heard. The same bible you're asking about in this question is also the bible that tells us in Romans that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It goes on to say that all the earth will hear.

This God that myself and others believes in is not a mean, dictating, punishing God who would make anyone "deserve" anything, But rather, he is the source of pure love (Genesis chapter 1) which is the very thing we're all looking for. The very void inside all of us is in fact the love of God. God wants every human to come to him(1 timothy 2:4).

I understand why you would ask this because it does seem with all the evil in the world that one could blame God but in reality we must look inside. We really do get exactly what we give. For those of us who choose to give love, we get love. For those who choose evil, they get evil. But the bottom line is.....choice. If it wasn't choice then yes, God would be a dictator. But since it is choice, then those who choose get to enter into a win/win relationship. The choice is yours and mine.

Thanks for the question

James

Answer 8

I'll answer this question in reverse order. Hell is translated from the Hebrew Sheol, literally means the grave. From the Greek, hell is Gehenna, meaning the place of eternal destruction (not destructing). Both mean the same thing, eternal separation from God; not the place of eternal punishing.

With respect to the first part of your question, Paul writes in Romans 2:14-15 that there are those who live by God's law without know God or His laws. These, Paul writes, are a law unto themselves are are counted amongst the saved.

As God is our judge, He must and will consider all aspects of our lives (for those who have not had the opportunity to know Him and those who have had him misrepresented and thus turned away from God). (Rom. 2:16)

Answer 9

The law has been written on everyones heart.
So for those who have not heard of Jesus nor been given the opportunity to believe on Him then they will be judged according to their heart. God is merciful and gracious.
BUT if you have hard the gospel message and reject Him you reject eternal salvation No one gets tot he Father but through Jesus. He will love you right up to the gates of hell, but unless you turn and repent and accpet Jesus as your Lord and saviour you will suffer eternally. God is Holy and Just and no sin is found in Him. The only thing that can cover our sins is the blood of the lamb.

Answer 10

If you want to go by what the Bible says, it states, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me."

Again, by the Bible, that's pretty clear-cut.

We won't know for sure until we're dead, but I would rather believe that there is a God and find out there isn't than the other way around.

Answer 11

The answer is in Romans 1...
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.