FAQ: Do Swedenborgians believe in Hell or the Devil?
Swedenborg states "a perception of the sphere of falsity from evil that flows forth from hell has often been granted me. It was like a perpetual effort to destroy all that is good and true, combined with anger and a kind of fury at not being able to do so, especially an effort to annihilate and destroy the Divine of the Lord, and this because all good and truth are from Him. But out of heaven a sphere of truth and good was perceived, whereby the fury of the effort ascending from hell was restrained. The result of this was an equilibrium. This sphere from heaven was perceived to come from the Lord alone, although it appeared to come from the angels in heaven. It is from the Lord alone, and not from the angels, because every angel in heaven acknowledges that nothing of good and truth is from himself, but all is from the Lord" (Heaven and Hell n. 538).
"It has been believed heretofore in the world that there is one devil that presides over the hells; that he was created an angel of light; but having become rebellious he was cast down with his crew into hell. This belief has prevailed because the devil and satan, and also lucifer, are mentioned by name in the Word, and the Word in those places has been understood according to the sense of the letter. But by "devil" and "satan" there hell is meant, "devil" meaning the hell that is behind, where the worst dwell, who are called evil genii; and "satan" the hell that is in front, where the less wicked dwell, who are called evil spirits; and "lucifer" those that belong to Babel, or Babylon, who would extend their dominion even into heaven. That there is no one devil to whom the hells are subject is evident also from this, that all who are in the hells, like all who are in the heavens, are from the human race (see n. 311-317); and that those who have gone there from the beginning of creation to this time amount to myriads of myriads, and every one of them is a devil in accord with his opposition to the Divine while he lived in the world" (Heaven and Hell n. 544).
FAQ: How could a loving God cast people into hell?
"And I have the keys of hell and death, signifies that He alone can save. By "keys" is signified the power of opening and shutting; here the power of opening hell, that man may be brought forth, and of shutting, lest, when he is brought forth, he should enter again. For man is born in evils of all kinds, thus in hell, for evils are hell; he is brought out of it by the Lord, to whom belongs the power of opening it. That by "having the keys of hell and death," is not meant the power of casting into hell, but the power of saving, is because it immediately follows after these words:
Behold, I am alive for ages of ages;
by which is signified that He alone is eternal life (n. 60); and the Lord never casts anyone into hell, but man casts himself. By "keys" is signified the power of opening and shutting, in Revelation also (3:7; 9:1; 20:1; also in Isa. 22:21, 22; in Matt. 16:19; and in Luke 11:52). The power of the Lord is not only over heaven, but also over hell; for hell is kept in order and connection by oppositions against heaven; for which reason, He who rules the one must necessarily rule the other; otherwise man could not be saved; to be saved is to be brought out of hell" (Apocalypse Revealed n. 62).
2006-07-19 12:55:05
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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First, it's not a denial of God. It's a disbelief.
Since disbelief means you don't believe that something is true (or for the purposes of this argument exists), no.
You are assuming, as is the case with many Christian people, that athiests somehow share your point of view, but choose to ignore it. Truth is, athiests don't even share that. They believe God is not there, nor are any other gods for that matter.
So, the belief that they are going to hell to burn in flames is just about as ridiculous to them as is the belief that Santa is coming down the chimney to give coal in their stockings.
2006-07-19 12:56:53
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answer #2
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answered by Madame Gato 4
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Let's see if I've got this right. You believe:
* Some magical supernatural dude created the universe in six days.
* Talking snakes.
* Talking donkeys.
* Shepherds staff that turns into an asp.
* Dude stretches out hand and parts the sea.
* Earth's spinning stops dead in it's tracks to give some marauding militant goat herders enough time to finish masacreing their enemies.
* Water magically transformed into wine
* Loaves and fishes magically multiplied.
* People raised from the dead.
* People ascending bodily into heaven (which, by the way, is on the other side of the firmament... the solid structure that seperates the earth from heaven. In other words, on the other side of the sky.)
* First man created from a dust bunny
* First woman created from first man's rib
* A god whose flesh is ritualistically eaten in the form of a cracker
* Magical world-wide flood which destroys all creatures except for a chosen few
* Dead carpenter is gonna come back some day to kick a$$ and take names
* ... and lots, lots more incredibly stupid bullsh*t
... and because I see no compelling reason to think that any of that patently insane nonsense is TRUE, I get to spend eternity burning in an imagined nasty place from ancient mythology.
Ha...
Ha... ha....
Sweet.
2006-07-19 13:38:46
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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I actual have under no circumstances met a unmarried baby that did not believe God became actual, which incorporates the toddlers of atheists. those too youthful, or in the different case unable, to make a range for themselves are not from now on held to blame. See the tale of King David's toddler; David states obviously that this baby is with God. i believe your tale isn't some thing yet a lie, invented in an attempt to discredit Christianity. received't artwork, in spite of the indisputable fact that.
2016-12-01 23:05:32
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answer #4
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answered by faes 4
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Do christians know that their home-schooling adversely effects their spelling and grammar skills?
If your question is ," Do atheist know that their denial of god will send them to hell and they will burn in flames? ", they most likely wouldn't even respond because the question has no merit in the first place.
2006-07-19 13:04:36
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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do christians know that the denial of (instert diety here) will send them to hell and burn in the flames of (enter unique hell here)?
remember? youre an atheist too...you dont beleive in other gods. im just a higher level than you :D
2006-07-19 12:53:01
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answer #6
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answered by johnny_zondo 6
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Are you a Christian?
There is no burning HELL...Hell is the grave.
Even Gehenna, pictured by the lake of fire, is the second DEATH.
No one is alive there.
A burning hell is from Greek mythology.
Adam and Eve are responsible for sending their children to hell, the grave, and if Jesus did not pay for some of us to get eternal life, we would all go to the second death.
Atheist do not know what will happen to them when they die.
2006-07-19 16:14:07
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answer #7
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answered by tina 3
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He might, but who wants to believe in a god that sends people to burn in hell just because they don't follow him? That a murderer who believes in god and begged forgiveness is in heaven while a good person, who happens to be athiest, is burning in hell? Hey, doesn't god sound like all of these fascist, totalitarian leaders? Anyone who didn't follow him was killed? What a coincidence!
2006-07-19 12:58:37
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Do you know your hatred of other people would probably send you to the same? IF it existed. "Saved" or believing 'ain't nuthin' if you act like you do.
We don't even believe in that crap. There is no "denial" and we don't believe in any "hell." Mostly I'm just responding because you are an ignorant bastard.
Prejudice Nazi.
2006-07-19 13:30:02
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answer #9
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answered by Indigo 7
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Christians will burn to hell for following a false religion.
2006-07-19 13:51:53
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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HELL IN KJV
One Hebrew word “sheol” is rendered hell. Definition; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranian retreat), grave, hell, pit. Three Greek words are rendered hell; geenna, hades, and tartaroo. Definition of geenna; a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell. Definition of hades; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell. Definition of tartaroo; (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: - cast down to hell. Tartaroo is used only one place II Pet.2:4.
Christ teaching the Pharisees in Luke 16:19-31 shows us a separation from God is truly what hell is. The “water” is symbolic for God’s Spirit and love. The word “tormented” means distressed in the Greek, not torture. The “fire” is symbolic for the shame and desire not to be separated from God.
So all who die the first death of the flesh return to God Ecc.12:6-7, but on which side of the gulf do they end up?
Hell is not eternal but is done away with in Rev.20:14-15, called both the second death and lake of fire. This second death is non-existence, for death and hell and those not written in the book of life. This second death or lake of fire is like fat drippings that fall into the fire. Just a poof of smoke into non-existence.
Psa.37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
In my mind what’s worse yet is no memory of you, no tears will be shed for you like you never existed.
Rev.21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
So hell is a separation from God and is not eternal torture or burning. Eventually hell will be done away with or passed away and also some souls. Like fat drippings in the fire, a poof of smoke into non-existence, the second death.
2006-07-19 12:53:13
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answer #11
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answered by Anonymous
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