why do christians speak of hell as "lake of fire"?? how can fire hurt a soul??

Question

if i go to hell in spirit, how am i going to be hurt with physical pain...extreme high temperatures may affect your physical body but i doubt they would affect your soul...so why must i be scared of a lake of fire if i am going to be a spirit???

i will have a body??? wow! i quit you are always making something new up just to validate your point

Answer 1

Revelations 20:10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.


12And 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.

13And 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.

14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.


Christ will judge the secrets of all men according to the gospel. Who shall dwell with devouring flames?

Answer 2

The thing to remember is that the descriptions used, especially in the NT are to make hell undesirable. To get the closest thing that people would be aware of on earth - such as burning in eternal fire - so that people would be able to understand more of what hell is.

The fire used to describe hell isn't like the fire that we use on a daily basis.

Hell is also described as eternal darkness. So common sense here would say that you can't have fire and darkness at the same time.

These are terms used so that one can feel the terror of hell while alive. But hell is not a physical place. It cannot be since the soul is not physical.

Though there are some Christians who take these descriptons literally.

Answer 3

When these thoughts started, people where thinking that we would come back in our body (read the prophesy of the valley of the dry bones Ezekiel 37: 1-14) and that we would be judged and sent either to Heaven or Hell with our newly revitalized bodies. It is only later that the view of the spiritual judgement came and hell with all it's Circles, Minotaurs, frozen lakes and valleys made a bit less sense.

I suggest that you read Eric by Terry Pratchett, you'll have fun.

Answer 4

Read the bible. In order for someone to ascend into heaven or hell they have to have both body and soul. That is why we die. Our physical state is inpure, and when we die we go unto nothingness until the return of jesus. "And then will all the dead rise, and those of evil sleep as God reigns for a thousand years". Hell is nothingness not a lake of fire. Depends what branch of christianity you are reffering to, but to the point Its a symbol.

Answer 5

The only way to explain something that is unexplainable is through parabolic language we may understand using earthly physical objects/concepts. If fire is used to display what hell is like, you can be sure the reality will be a lot worse.

Answer 6

Romans 1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

You will receive a body fit for Hell and the Lake of Fire which will be tormented ever second by flames and the worm that never dies will gnaw on your body but it will not destroy it but you will feel every bit of pain.
Luke 16:24
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Luke 16:23-25 (in Context) Luke 16 (Whole Chapter)
Luke 16:25
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luke 16:24-26 (in Context) Luke 16 (Whole Chapter)

Revelation 14:10
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Revelation 14:9-11 (in Context) Revelation 14 (Whole Chapter)
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 20:9-11 (in Context) Revelation 20 (Whole Chapter)

Answer 7

Because it is the most painful thing humans can think of. The rulers want you to fear hell so you won't cry when they exploit your labor. There have always been a few religious nuts willing to spread the message of hell to the common people and ignite religious devotion and OBEDIENCE. It is all a scam.

Answer 8

that is a good question! Also a fleshly body would burn up on entrance into a lake of fire.
Why did Adam get off so light , "for dust you are and to dust you return" the rest of us who didn't start sin gets tortured?
that isn't fair.

Answer 9

k.here goes again.
The way I understand it.Wouldn't want to 'mis guide' any one.
The soul is what gives personality.What makes you.....you.Kinda like being in a dream where you feel everything.Its a different relm.When you die your soul passes through it.It is eternal.The body dies.Hope that helped.

Answer 10

I don't know much about a hell,but I got sunburned over the weekend and I'm in pain,cant imagine what hell is like..