Surely even the most evil people who ever lived (Hitler, Stalin etc.) don't deserve to be horrifically punished for eternity. I am of the opinion that most religious people have really thought about what ETERNITY really is.
2007-03-30 05:35:54 · 22 answers · asked by jeff7272 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They can't; it doesn't make logical sense for a person to be punished for an infinite amount of time for a finite amount of sin.
2007-03-30 05:42:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
You are absolutely right, and there would be no justifying eternal torture. How some people can think that we are there in Heaven, having a great 'ol time, and in the background you hear bad Uncle Henry screaming as he fries like bacon.....
Whats wrong with that picture? Well, according to the manuscripts, everything is wrong with it. Nobody will be eternally tortured in "hell"; it simply isn't written. The verses such ideas are taken from are not understood by the reader. Anyway, there will be no hell at all until after Christ ushers in the 1000 yr. period of teaching. After that teaching period, the judgement occurs; then those who don't make it will follow Satan into the "lake of fire", which will only exist for as long as it takes for a person to walk into it, and be turned to ashes from within.
The only thing that is forever and ever, is the smoke that would rise up, forever and ever (smoke does that - its an idiom).
The person who walks into the lake of fire, which is a special fire that consumes the soul as well as the spiritual body, is blotted out from existance - its as if the person never existed at all, no memory of the person will remain. Thats why there will be no tears cried by relatives and friends, etc.
I hope this clears things up for you....
2007-03-30 12:49:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, those little children in China, India, etc. who never knew Christ before they died are now condemmed to spend ETERNITY burning for the sins of their parents who didn't teach them THE WAY.
Even for the rest of us, why would 70 or 80 years on earth, wearing wool & linen together be a reason to spend ETERNITY in hell?
I spend a mere 40 hours/week working and it seems like an eternity. Think of that as 24/7/365 for EVER. Just too much to comprehend.
What I never understood was if there's no sex in heaven, there would be no feeling either. Then how would anyone sent to hell feel anything either? How would they know they were in hell?
2007-03-30 12:53:06 · answer #3 · answered by bandycat5 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have to justify it. The Gospels record the words of Jesus talking about it. Also, Hell was not created for people - it was created for Satan and the angels who rebelled with him against God. Unfortunately, people also CHOOSE to go there by their own rebellion against Gods' commands and HIS provision of a Savior.
And yes, I have thought about what eternity really is and it is mind-boggling.
And yes, we ALL deserve Hell because, "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
2007-03-30 13:15:56 · answer #4 · answered by mikey 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are either with God, or against Him. He says that very clearly many, many times in the bible. If you don't abide by his laws, why would you want to be around Him anyway? Here's an ideal - we try our best with our children, even after they are adults and can make choices on their own, we see them make bad choices, we hope they learn from them, we offer what we think is good advice hoping they use it, and if they do, it is good. God will give us many chances to repent, it will be up to us to choose to do so.
As for justifying eternal damnation: eternal damnation is justice, if you want to follow the devil and continue to perform evil acts, then be happy with your end result. If someone likes dishing out pain, they should be able to take it. I bet Hitler stuck to his hatefulness right to his own death.
2007-03-30 12:49:21 · answer #5 · answered by Curiosity 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hi,
The hell that some people preach just doesn't exist, and can not be found in the Bible. The Lake of Fire in the Book of Revelation simply means total destruction. If you burn something up...it's gone. The Lake of Fire means total destruction...nothing more and nothing less. Once satan is cast into the Lake of Fire...he's gone forever!
2007-03-30 12:46:52 · answer #6 · answered by skiingstowe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Eternal damnation is just. You have your entire life to choose between accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and Be with Him forever, or you can go on your own wickedness and be eternally separated from God. The worst thing about Hell is that God is not there. If you don't want to go to Heaven, you don't have to, but you only have one other choice. Everyone has sinned, Everyone deserves Hell, but Jesus shed His blood to pay the punishment for our sins, we can accept his death as our payment or we can pay for ourselves. how much more justice do you want?
2007-03-30 12:48:23 · answer #7 · answered by Teresa 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Of course, according to Christian faith, one has only to say he is sorry and accept Jesus Christ as his personal saviour and poof! No eternal damnation. Sorry, Jews. Hitler said he was sorry. Aw shucks, it wasn't so bad, was it? Let's just forgive him, because, after all, his faith was strong. Sorry Ghandi, but you never accepted Jesus. It's fire and brimstone for you, buddy. Hey, I didn't make up the rules. Some other really good liar did that.
2007-03-30 12:44:47 · answer #8 · answered by Konswayla 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The notion that hell is eternal is not necessarily a scriptural one. Many Christians believe in the eventual reconciliation of all souls to God.
2007-03-30 12:42:45 · answer #9 · answered by completelysurroundedbyimbeciles 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't have to justify eternal damnation, God did that for me. He created man to worship Him. Man rejected Him and His truth, and substituted worship of the creation rather than the Creator. Man chose evil and sin over holiness. If a man chooses to commit a murder, should he be allowed to just say "Oh gee, I'm really sorry"? God put a price on sin. He also made a way to be redeemed from sin. You either accept His gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, or you (again) reject His truth. What do you choose?
2007-03-30 12:43:48 · answer #10 · answered by Steve 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋