...and this question is about the belief that Hell is an actual place with fire, agony, and brimstone--not just a state of being wiped out of existence for all eternity.
Well, actually, I guess this is two questions rolled into one. First of all, who is in charge in Hell? I'm guessing the answer here is Satan, Lucifer, whatever you want to call him. If that is the case, then I raise my next question: Satan's goal is to spread ill-will, wickedness, etc. throughout the world, right (maybe I'm wrong, here)? If that is the case, then why would Satan punish someone for doing HIS work? That is, assuming that people go to hell for being wicked and not following God's rules and whathaveyou.
2006-12-19 08:38:52 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
fci pitch: Rewarding someone for doing bad doesn't sit right with me, either. Also, being an agnostic, I am ready to admit that I do not have all the answers. But to me, it just seems that if ill-will is Satan's goal, then it just doesn't seem logical that he would punish someone for helping him out with that. But then again, maybe I'm looking at it wrong.
2006-12-19 08:47:23 · update #1
In ancient Jewish tradition Satan is simply an angel doing the work that God assigned to Satan to do.
The word Satan means challenger. With the idea of Satan challenging us, or tempting if you will. This description sees Satan as the angel who is the embodiment of man's challenges. This idea of Satan works closely with God as an integral part of Gods plan for us. His job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it becomes clear to us that there can be only one meaningful or logical choice.
Contrast this to Christianity, which sees Satan as God's opponent. In Jewish thought, the idea that there exists anything capable of setting itself up as God's opponent would be considered polytheistic or setting up the devil to be an equally powerful polarity to god or a demigod.
Oddly, proof for The Christian satan/devil mythology is supposedly found in the ancient Jewish texts that were borrowed to create the bible. One can’t help but wonder how Christians came up with such a fantastically different interpretation of Gods assistant Satan in their theology.
Other hints about Satan’s role in human relations can be seen if you look at the name Lucifer. It’s meaning in the original tongue translates as Light bearer or light bringer. Essentially the bringer of enlightenment. The temptations of the Satan idea bring all of us eventually into Gods light. Hardly the Evil entity of Christian mythology.
Love and blessings
don
2006-12-19 08:41:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Satan's goal is to separate man from God. Satan was cast down for rebelling against God and wanting be a god in his own right. Hell was created as a punishment for Satan and his fallen angel supporters. The Bible says that, in the end, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, along with all those that reject Christ as the Savior. Christians purport that lake to be hell. Theoretically, Satan currently roams the face of the earth, since the Bible calls him the ruler of the earth and darkness.
2006-12-19 08:44:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know you got an answer from a Jewish perspecive, but this one is from a Christian perspective. The Bible does not say much about who is in charge of hell (I have not yet come across it, but the Bible is a big book), but many would assume it...well, manages itself, or maybe angels, not sure. Satan will not be in charge because he will be in the worst section, recieving his punishment. You are on the right path regarding Satan's role, but he does all this so that those he misleads are punished with him.
2006-12-19 08:47:46 · answer #3 · answered by discombobulated girl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When people have out of body expierences, I believe that they can travel in many different places.
For example, you could go and see your mother in her house, your father at work, your children at school; or you can go above the clouds, fly over towns and so on, even go into outter-space.
It is merely possible that many hundred years ago, that people thought that hell was real fire and brimestone that they saw when they had an out of body expierence as they decended below the Earths crust.
They could easily believe it to be hell, when really, it isn't. In fact, they are in no danger at all.
I hope this answer a question you may have.
2006-12-19 08:46:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hell is a real place, look at Luke 16:22-31 in the Holy Bible.
God is in control of everything,even Hell, see 2 Peter 2:4 .
2006-12-19 08:55:32 · answer #5 · answered by bigslick60 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God is in charge of Hell. satan is just one of the prisoners. Satan happens to be on paroll right now as part of God's grand plan.
Satan's plan is to take as many people to hell, as he can. Not that people are important to him, Satan just wants to get god more pissed, because Satan thinks he can run the show better.
2006-12-19 08:44:33 · answer #6 · answered by Slave to JC 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, i do feel that it is unnecessary to say "hell" in most situations..AND ALL of us Americans do not do it. Its very generalizing. I am American and we are not ALL about John Wayne. That was a long time ago and not in this generation. We do not all ride horses and shoot bow and arrow. That is an old stereo type of Americans. Its sort of saying all Brits have bad teeth..NOT all Brits have bad teeth.. I suppose a small population does..but not ALL.
2016-05-22 21:52:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Ruler of Hell will be Cain (he who killed able). Satan does not punish those who follow him. Those who follow him are punished by their own actions. Evil does not equal Happiness and therefore Hell will be not being happy in heaven which will equal unhappiness. Satan doesn't necessarily want us to follow him, he just wants us to not follow God's true gospel.
2006-12-19 08:45:38 · answer #8 · answered by Presagio 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Satan roams this world to and fro seeking whom he may devour. He allready knows the outcome, satan will be cast into the lake of fire. He wants to bring as many people with him as possible. He blinds and deceives as many as he can from the truth. We are all sinners and the only way for us to enter the gates of heaven is to have a sacrifice for our sins. He is Jesus Christ. All who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. All you need to do is to change your mind on who Jesus is and what He did for you on the cross.
2006-12-19 08:44:20 · answer #9 · answered by defenserocks41 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The ruler of Hell is not Satan/Lucifer, it's God. He made it because he knew he would be rejected and as nothing unholy can be in his prescence because it would be consumed, he had to punish those people because he is perfectly just. Perfectly merciful as well. If he was not merciful, we would all be burning in Hell. However, since he is merciful, some of us get to live eternally with him, in his presence, forever and ever. Satan enjoys watching people burn in their sins. He wants people to reject God and follow him instead. He is the 'Father of lies.' He lies to lots of people, and if they listen to his lies, they get the consequences- Hell. That's the short and sweet of it.
2006-12-19 08:45:17 · answer #10 · answered by L-dog =) 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋