that is, if there is a heaven/hell....
2007-01-20 10:49:49 · 21 answers · asked by tandypants 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Such an interesting question!
The options for my mom, for instance are two. Either she KNOWS I'm being tortured forever and somehow god changes her nature so that she's no longer empathetic to others (which is sad because that was one of Christ's neatest attributes). Or God engages in a little brainwashing so mom is ignorant of the tortures God is allowing me to go through. (Doesn't she wonder where I am, or does God erase her earthly memories too?)
2007-01-20 10:53:15 · answer #1 · answered by Laptop Jesus 2.0 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
This is a difficult question to answer. In fact, on this side of eternity, we do not have all the wisdom and insights we need too fully answer it. But there are some scriptural considerations that help us keep this question in perspective.
First, God Himself has promised that He will take away all pain and remove all our tears (Rev 21:4). It is in His hands. We can rest assured that God has the power and ability to do as He has promised. It is a fact that we will be happy in heaven. God has promised it.
Second, we will be aware of the full justice of God's decisions. We will clearly see that those who are in hell are there precisely because they rejected God's only provision for escaping hell. They are those to whom God ultimately says, "They will be done."
Third, we will recognize that there are degrees of punishment in hell, just as there are degrees of reward in heaven. This gives us an assurance that the Hitler's of human history will be in a much greater state of suffering than, for example, a non-Christian moralist (Luke 12:47-48).
God is perfectly wise and just. He knows what He is doing! You and I can rest with quiet assurance in God's wisdom and justice.
2007-01-20 23:29:47 · answer #2 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do believe in a heaven and a hell.
This is a extremely insightful question.
I too have wondered the same. Because I do not know the answer, I try hard to make sure all my friends, loved ones, and others know the truth about Jesus so that hopefully I will not have to find out the answer.
2007-01-20 18:55:27 · answer #3 · answered by Mike 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
thank you for posting a question that shows another fatal flaw in the bible.
heaven would NEVER be heaven for me if i knew my parents or any of my brothers or sisters weren't there with me, but were in hell suffering eternally.
sword/lord claims to know a fact about heaven -- that you will not know or remember those things when you are there. interesting that he has this insight and factual knowledge about heaven. a place that has never been proven. wow, what knowledge...
...and even more interesting: calling a place "heaven" if you don't even know or remember your loved ones once you are there.
sword/lord and his self-important "factual" comments are exactly why christians turn me (and others) off of christianity.
2007-01-20 18:53:09 · answer #4 · answered by jen1981everett 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's a good question! as a Christian I have thought about that from time to time and I don't believe that it is humanly possible to be happy knowing those I loved are in such pain. But I know this, He loved them more, He died for them, I have to trust that He will make a way. He has made a way through everything else.
2007-01-20 19:03:54 · answer #5 · answered by james p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, BECAUSE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE HAPPY IN HEAVEN. YOU WILL NOT KNOW IF THEY GO TO HELL. BUT WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN YOU WILL RECONGNIZE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IF THEY ARE NOT THERE YOU WILL NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE MISSING. BUT, PEOPLE IN HELL WILL ALWAYS HAVE A MEMORY ABOUT THIER PAST LIFE ON EARTH. THE DEVIL WILL TORTURE THEM DAY AND NIGHT. PEOPLE IN HELL WILL ALWAYS HAVE A REMINDER OF WHY THEY ARE IN HELL...........AND YES HEAVEN AND HELL DOES EXIST
2007-01-20 19:30:36 · answer #6 · answered by mizzpretti 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun!
The former things will be forgotten
It is important that people deal with their eternal destination while they have opportunity. Time is short.
2007-01-20 18:53:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tough question. The love that we feel from God and the perfection of heaven will pale in the relationships we have on earth. In the story Jesus told of The Rich man and Lazarus the beggar that the rich man and Lazarus could see each other. The choice ultimately comes down to the personal choice that we make and not what others make. Believe and love God and follow his son that he sent to die for all mans sins.
"100 per cent of us die, and the percentage cannot be increased." - C.S. Lewis
"Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it." - C.S. Lewis
2007-01-20 18:57:38 · answer #8 · answered by Pilgrim in the land of the lost 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dad died 20 years ago. When he died he was not a believer. That was very hard for me, because I know that he is not going to be in heaven with me when I die. God, when those of us who accepted Christ, get to heaven, He will wipe away all tears from my eyes.
2007-01-20 19:52:29 · answer #9 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The standard response I've gotten to that question is that supposedly, when you're in heaven, you forget about all your family members who are in hell, so you don't worry about them. I have no idea why people are OK with that, though.
2007-01-20 18:56:56 · answer #10 · answered by . 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋