Hell for eternity?

Question

I have a hard time believening god would let people burn in hell for eternity. I mean what if an atheist like me who never did anything that bad in life died?

I just cant imagine a some buddhist guy who has been good all his life being tortured for eternity for a few sins?

Answer 1

Yeah, that's just one of the things I find wrong with Christianity. I think God must have a huge ego if he wants everyone to worship him, and sends people to suffer eternal damnation if they don't.

I'm a good person, I just don't believe in the Christian god, or any other god or goddess for that matter. Why is that so wrong?

Answer 2

I absolutely agree with you. I was raised and taught in Catholic schools. At a very early age I began to question the Church's teaching that if you weren't a Catholic or didn't accept Christ as your savior you would go to hell. I thought about people who never heard of Christ, people of other religions who lived good lives and were decent, loving human beings and could not accept the fact that they would be condemned to hell for eternity. It made no sense to me. It still makes no sense to me. At present I am leaning heavily towards atheism and have no regrets I try my best to be good and to help others when I can. If there is a god and if he wants to send me to hell for the way I am and think, then I really don't want any part of such a being.

Answer 3

From this question, if I had to guess, I would say you are more agnostic, but I could be wrong. However, to answer your question, it is NOT about the good works. If we spent all our lives doing "good" in our eyes, but did not accept Jesus as our Savior, we would still not get to Heaven. Jesus clearly said,

John 14:6
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Having read that, we know that there is no other way to Heaven than through Christ Jesus. Know this: Hell is real. God doesn't want us to go there. It is a place of miserable pain, torture, fire, and darkness, originally created for the fallen angels, but now anyone who sins and is not saved goes there too. And that is where our "good works" alone will take us. Are good works bad? No. But in themselves they will not get you to heaven. The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. And there is no such thing as "never [doing] anything bad in life". We were born as sinners; we come from the womb into a life of sin, and continue in such a life until we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Don't tell me you've never hated, lied, or stole before.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish [go to hell] but have eternal life [in Heaven].

The inserts in the previous verse are mine, but perhaps they can put the verse into a new perspective for you. Christianity is not a "religion", or man reaching to God. Christianity is God reaching to man through Jesus Christ. And don't be confused, because as much as they would like to label themselves as such, Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses and such are NOT Christians. I really hope this helps, may God bless you and open your eyes!

Answer 4

James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also [Gal 5:6; James 2:17, 20] faith without works is dead."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

It comes down to this, there is only one "formula" to be able to enter heaven. Despite how illogical it all seems, how wrong it may look and sound, and how "inhumane" God can look...God never promised us a rose garden. But He did promise us we would have a choice, this world or Him. And with that choice, we would either choose heaven or hell. And the only choice to get you into heaven, is through Him; by choosing Him.

So the "formula" looks like this:

1) Repent and ask for forgiveness of all your sins and sinful natures.
2) Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

Repentance + Jesus Christ = Forgiveness and Heaven

Period. End of story. Like it, or don't like it. The truth is not meant to be liked, it is meant to be the truth. Period.

James 2:18 "But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faithby my works.' "

Answer 5

Yes it doesn't make any sense. Punishment without chance of reformation. Unless you understand it as a very long time - in which case it feels like eternity. The Vedic texts, particularly the Srimad Bhagavatam describe it in that way. By the way, hell is just a minor topic of the Srimad Bhagavatam - it's main focus is on the positive aspect - devotion to God.

Answer 6

You're dealing with a God who has the means to enforce capital punishment for stealing fruit.

If you're such a righteous person then why do you die? The wages of sin is death.

... he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36b)

You are right now under God's wrath, and taking your next breath only by God's arbitrary mercy. He is putting up with you, disgusting as you are in his sight, offering you a full pardon. Now if you won't accept his gift, what do you want him to do with you?

You sin against a God who lives forever, you burn forever. What's wrong with that?

Answer 7

Hello Flash Virus
Your an atheist, ok. I will not try to change that. Sometimes I don't wonder why people are atheist. The Protestant and Catholics have told so very many lies to the world about what the bible does or does not say. Hell, no wonder thinking people like yourself tend not to believe. In the first place there is not now nor will there ever be an ever burning hell where sinners are tormented or will be tormented for ever and ever. You seem to have the idea that if there is a God, He would not do that. Your correct He will not. Hell is a creation of man.

The English word hell is written 23 times in the New Testament King James version. It is translated 11 time from the Greek word hades {hah'-dace} which means grave.
It is translated 12 times from the greek word geenna {gheh'-en-nah} which should have been rendered "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". ". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.
It is the place of the future punishment of those that will not enter into the Kingdom of God. A one time punishment for their sins, not an eternial punishing.

An Italian Florentine poet, Durante degli Alighieri, better known as Dante Alighieri or just Dante, June 1, 1265 – September 13/14, 132, created the idea of the hell that is taught to the world. Through his stage play la Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy) the whole world has been and is being decived about a place that does not exist nor will it ever come into being.. The Divine Comedy describes Dante's journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso). It was only a play, the works of the imagination of a man. However the Roman Catholic Church took the idea and ran with it and has long since convinced an unsuspecting world that the writings of Dante are indeed an acurate rendition of a place of eternal punishing of all evil people. God is in total disagreement with the Catholic Church and all other that preach and teach that there is an ever burning hell, a place of eternal punishing, a place where the evil go after death.

Please read what God tells us about the punishment He is going to provide.

Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day is coming, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day thats coming shall burn them up, say's the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Malachi 4:3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, say's the LORD of hosts.

Those scriptures need no interpretation. They say what they say, and mean what they say. The book of Revelation tells us the same thing.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. I have no doubt that you are smart enough to read and understand thes scriptures. I wonder why so called christians cannot do the same.

You didn't ask but here is an extra. If you will note verse twelve it says the dead. These next verse verfy that everyone that has ever died except Jesus is still dead. They will be until the time ot the resurrections. Yes resurrections not single.

No one is in heaven and no one is going there. Check this out. Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The saints are to rule on earth, not in heaven. You now know and understand things which christians don't know nor understand.
Ok, i'm on a roll. The Protestants and Catholic come on strong once a year. They tell those that will listen that Jesus was placed into the tomb late Friday just prior to sunset and rose early Sunday morning. Count with me Flash Virus, Friday evening till Sunday morning just prior to sun up is two nights and one day. Look and see what Jesus said. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Do not listen to the excuses the christians make for their lie about this. They will only make your disbelieving stronger. Now, watch this. At least once a year, the christians tell us about the three wise men made a visit to see Jesus in the barn, manger. Now watch this.

Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Did you grab that? They entered a house. Jesus was no longer a baby, but a young child. It tells of three gifts, not three wise men, Magi.
Two could have given three gifts each. Twelve coulld have done the same thing. Jesus not once tried to save anyone. Just in case an atheis as yourself has heard the quote spare the rod, spoil the child, not in the bible.

I'll stop with this one. Every year prior to December 25th, the christians rave on and on about Baby Jesus being born on the 25th of December. Let's all celebrate his birthday by making purchase of many, many gifts which we cannot afford and give them not to Jesus, let's give them to each other. Watch this.....Jesus was killed in the month of April, at the time of passover when he was 33 and 1/2 years of age. Count until he would have been 34 years old.
There you go......You already know much more that christians. If by chance you desire to know more go to.

Tomorrow's World

Garner Ted Armstrong

Key of David

Some good stuff, all free. It may just boggle your mind.

Answer 8

Well, do you believe that God with give you eternal happiness in Heaven based on just a few good deeds done over just one lifetime? Why doesn't anyone complain that the concept of eternal Heaven is unfair?

If someone didn't like God and his rules, or want to be with him, then wouldn't an eternity of being stuck in Heaven with a god that you hate be just another form of Hell? A person who does not like his creator will eventually be unhappy anywhere God puts him.

Also, try to look it it from God's point of view. If you were God, and had created a person who came to hate you and was ungrateful for everything that you did, wouldn't life with that person be unbearable? Wouldn't you eventually have to push that person out of your life forever?

.................................
Hell is God reluctantly granting non-Christians their wish.

Ultimately, life and every desirable thing comes from the God who created every molecule that we see, feel, enjoy and misuse. Even sin’s fickle pleasure, that elusive shadow of the real thing seized while defying him, is possible only because the Son of God lovingly created his haters with the ability to experience pleasure.

Non-Christians push Jesus aside, yet in his extravagant love Jesus keeps giving and giving. They don’t want him meddling in their lives, but he keeps forcing himself upon them, showering them with gifts of life and pleasure. In hell they finally get their way. To be granted separation from the Source of every good and beautiful thing, however, is a terrifying prospect.

A different view: In the western world the concept of a God of love pops up so often that we forget the source of this notion. The only way of truly knowing that God is love is through the revelation of Jesus and the Bible, both of which lovingly and emphatically warn of hell’s grim reality.

Answer 9

I understand your feelings.

But, let's think about it this way. God is perfect in justice. Say we had judges that allowed criminals to walk free because 364 days out of the year they were good people, but only one day a year they killed someone. Being "good" isn't a defense or excuse.

We all sin. We have transgressed against a perfect Father. We cannot be good enough to earn salvation. But, we have a God who offers it freely throug the completed work of Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

In the bible, it says that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God...hence why Jesus came to die on the cross to save us, if we so choose to profess beleif in him and accept him as a personal lord and savior...

God is loving and kind, but he is also Just and Fair. He can't stand to be around sin...that's why, for those who choose to not profess that they are sinners, and can only be saved by the blod of christ will - sad but true - go to hell. Gandhi, wonderful man, great pacifist...but because he didn't accept christ, he is in hell...

as humans, we are born into sin...and no man except christ, can make it through life unscathed by our culture...there is no such thing as "only a few sins". each day, we sin many many times....it's impossible.

get it? i mean, i hope i'm not, like, totaly rambling here....but that's what i've been taught and what i've read in the Bible...

Answer 11

It is true. People who die without having been saved by believing in Jesus Christ as their savior, who have not been forgiven for their sins by God through Jesus Christ, go to hell. They suffer in hell until hell is cast into the lake of fire, where their suffering continues for all of eternity.

One sin makes you ineligible for heaven unless you are forgiven for that sin, and forgiveness only comes through Jesus Christ. The single sin is all it takes. And we all sin. One sin makes you imperfect, and imperfection will not reside in heaven.

If you have trouble imagining this, try to imagine what hell must be like and see if you have a change of heart. Ask God to forgive you through His Son Jesus Christ and repent of your sins and you won't have to find out the hard way.