Is the biblical concept of Hell an actual physical place or is it just a "symbolic" idea. What is it really like there??? Fire, brimstone, torture, gnashing of teeth, etc???? I know that there have been supposed accounts from people who had near death experiences of something really terrible, but I haven't heard too many. There also was the account of the children of Fatima who supposedly trembled uncontrollably after being shown a glimpse of Hell. Is it actually something like Dante's inferno or something all together different? Can anyone suggest any websites, books, movies, or video games that might give an accurate potrayal? Thanks.
2006-12-04 12:01:24 · 50 answers · asked by LanceMiller77 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no
2006-12-04 12:02:44 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Brooke 6 · 3⤊ 6⤋
As the history of the last 3000 years or so has evolved, people pretty much don't believe hell is a real place, any more than they belive heaven is. During the times that people were keeping records of the people of the tribes in which they lived, (2000years ago + or -) little was known about much of anything beyond the next civilization next door == either one's friends or one's enemies. No one knew the planet was round (the Egyptians had it figured out by about 700 bce but the concept was lost for almost 1000 years...). So as science has been discovered and rediscovered, and things explained thru science, people have become less inclined to believe things that are not provable thru the scientific method. At this time in our history, we know about light years, black holes, a solar system, universes, galaxies--things people of 2000 years ago could not even imagine. So, there are no accurate portrayals of things that never existed, sorry....
2006-12-04 13:03:06 · answer #2 · answered by April 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On your research bar just type in "is hell eternal torment." Names of websites will come up. Check out a few of them. Then compare what they say with the Bible. I believe differently than 95+% of Christians on that issue. I'm not a JW, but I think they are more right on that issue than Christians.
Some verses say "eternal punishment." Other verses say "death" is the punishment." When you put thise two together what do you get? Death is being DEAD. Eternal means forever. So the "punishment" is being "dead forever." What happens when you throw something into a fire....it burns up. I believe the Lake of Fire is symbolic for when people are cast away from God's presence and go into nothingness.
As far as the children of Fatima go, you shouldn't take people's experiences into account when deciphering the word of God. People often lie, they have imaginations, and hallucinations.
So, hell is real and symbolic. People are destroyed there, so it is real. But it's not an actual burning furnace, not as an earthly furnace, anyway. And while the death , being dead is eternal, the pain is not.
2006-12-04 12:22:28 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think anyone really knows. It is not possible to determine if some of the language in the Bible is literal or symbolic. I believe I once read that Hell means separation from. And if someone was separated from God and all his attributes, it would be horrible beyond measure. Myself I tend to think in terms of realms instead of places. A lot of people will say all the horrible descriptions are literal but there's no way to prove that. You can experience things spiritually and mentally that are pretty gruesome.
2006-12-04 12:08:54 · answer #4 · answered by neptune 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that hell is the grave of mankind.. that there is no literal place of torment where you burn forever. In the Bible, Jehovah is deeply disturbed by the worshippers of Bael throwing their children into the fire as sacrifice... why would He then do the same? Romans 6:23 says that the wages sin pays is DEATH, but the gift God gives is EVERLASTING LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord. So I believe we have two choices: live forever, or stay dead forever when we die. That's hell.. eternal death and therefore eternal seperation from God. You might want to cantact your local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and ask them your questions. They will happily look up the information you need and study with you from your own Bible in your own home., Good luck in your search for the truth! :)
2006-12-04 12:09:32 · answer #5 · answered by themom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Near Death Experiences" can be pretty subjective though, as far as I know. People claim to see all sorts of things in those types of experiences; it doesn't necessarily mean that the things or places witnessed actually exist. I'm not all convinced that a lot of those experiences aren't at least partly generated by the mind. They're interesting accounts but they certainly don't prove "Hell" in my opinion.
2006-12-04 12:05:57 · answer #6 · answered by . 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no there no hell,get positive this will help you.think of GOD,Jesus,and Mary,and the white light of the Holy Spirit.you ask for books to read well here are some;Sylvia Browne`s her web site at; www.sylvia.org.she is relay good and don`t forget the Montell William show she is there ones a week look up in your Ty guide...and there`s James Van Praagh his web site at;www.vanpraagh.com and Doreen Virtue,Ph.D. her web site at,www.angeltherapy.com and i hope this gives you some little information.
2006-12-05 13:11:20 · answer #7 · answered by cilia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I don't ever want to find out..., but Hell from reference is the complete absence of God. That means nothing good is there and there is no love, no joy, no peace, no happiness, nothing that is of good. It is also described as a place of endless darkness and void. As for weeping and gnashing of teeth they must realize it, but its too late. Pray for people that they will not ever see it, especially your friends and family.
2006-12-04 12:12:43 · answer #8 · answered by TAHOE REALTOR 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Different religions and cultures have different opinions on this. Some believe it is a metaphorical place, that the bible is a metaphorical depiction of life. Some belief it doesnt' exist at all.
Personally I believe, Hell is on earth. We are all doomed to hell until we climb our way out. Life is the challenge, once we conquer it, climb out of "hell" then, we can make our way into heaven.
2006-12-04 12:08:37 · answer #9 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus spoke of Hell more than any other person in the Bible. Hell is a place of eternal torment where those who don't turn from their sin and trust in the Savior go. Jesus paid our fine in God's courtroom, we can accept his payment by repenting and putting our trust in Him. If we don't repent, then God's wrath pours on us and not His son b/c we didn't accept His sons sacrifice. People go to Hell b/c they broke His law (the ten comandments) which he wrote upon everybody's heart by use of their conscience. Whether someone believes in God or not doesn't matter, they are without excuse b/c he gave them a conscience. con means with. science means knowledge. with knowledge, they broke his law and unless they cling to the savior they'll suffer the consequences.
2006-12-04 12:11:22 · answer #10 · answered by kujo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes the Bible describes it as this:
Matthew 8:12
But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:42
They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mark 9:44
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
(and it is mentioned 3 times in Mark)
Revelation 20:15
If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
-It also says in Revelation that it is a place of torment....when God speaks of throwing Satan and the false prophets in the lake of fire- it says "They will be tormented day and night"
2006-12-04 12:05:25 · answer #11 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋