If God can't have unforgiven sinners in his presence, I can accept that. I think the system God set up was bizarre, but for this question I'm willing to accept it. The question is: why is the only alternative eternal suffering? If sinners who weren't saved by Jesus Christ on Earth can't be in the presence of God, why can't we just be given a second eternal earth or something? Why is the only alternative eternal torture?
2007-09-30 16:42:24 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have you found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.
2007-09-30 16:45:02 · answer #1 · answered by Stigette Of The Dump 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Because you are given only 2 choices.
Why should people be given chance after chance after chance. You have more than a second chance while you are here on earth. You hear Gods words and turn away that was one chance. Some one else tells you of Gods grace and about Jesus, and again you turn away. That is a second chance. Every time you here about God and Jesus, and you turn away, saying there is no God that is another chance that you have had to turn to God. So if you have had that many chances already, what makes you think that you would change your mind just because you were left on earth.
2007-09-30 17:02:37 · answer #2 · answered by jenx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very perceptive question. Actually, your thought about a "second eternal earth" is very similar to what we in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe.
There is not just heaven and hell. There are three kingdoms. The Celestial Kingdom is where God lives. The Terrestrial Kingdom is where people who lived good lives live. The Telestial Kingdom is where the wicked live.
This doctrine comes from a vision that Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had while in a meeting with several members of the church. The record of the vision is now part of our scripture.
2007-09-30 16:55:12 · answer #3 · answered by DaveMc 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Answer: I just don't know
What I think:
I wouldn't leave sinners in Hell, but I guess because God and Heaven is perfect, we have to be perfect. Anyone who truly is a truth seeker will find Jesus I believe. Also since the being of time, sin came with punishment.
EX: If I choose to punch someone out because they provoked me and talked about my mother. Punching is still in the category of WRONG and wrong is in the category of SIN and sin =DEATH
Death is apart from good, everything good, everything God made. In hell there is NO life.
God's only begotton (God in human flesh) Jesus had to be a sacrifice for our sins. (Sin can only be forgiven by a Holy blood sacrifice). Who sacrificed his life for us, beaten to unrecognition when he didn't have to, JESUS
Also God is fair so he gave us a choice to believe in him and not practice evil. If we couldn't choose Good or Evil, that would not be fair, and in turn God would have made an imperfect decision, and God can't make mistakes.
So I believe it is impossible for something perfect to exist with something unperfect. I also believe that when you sin, lie cheat, steal, lust, covetness, jealousy, persecute, curse, murder, you should receive your punishment for the crime, whatever that punishment is.
God is right no matter how I put it. He says the dead will be judged ACCORDING to what they have done on the Earth. I don't believe Hell is as severe for some since the are judged accordingly.
Well this topic saddens me, I just pray that more and more will accept the free gift of life.
2007-09-30 17:23:58 · answer #4 · answered by KAT188 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the answer that no7 gave linnea13 that is what I was taught from birth.The problem with it all is, now that I'm a lot older and have been reading a greater variety of material.
Now days reality comes into play if world leaders don't stop playing games and seriously take some rules for the planet to heart .Before my time is due we will all hope there is a heaven because men are making one hell of a mess.
2007-09-30 16:59:09 · answer #5 · answered by Robert T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because your idea of what hell is, is wrong. Hell is simply being out of the presence of God, eternally. The torment is totally self inflicted. They could be with God if they wanted, but the truth is, they have chosen not to. The torment is created because everyone in "hell" is self centered. Can you imagine living in a place where everyone is self centered? I'd call that torment. It is self-chosen, and self-inflicted torment. God is looking for loopholes to bring people in, not keep people out. There is black and white in this issue simply because you choose to be either with God or not with God.
2007-09-30 16:50:14 · answer #6 · answered by Allandra Kalyn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thats a REALLY good question, and easily answered. The reason its either Heaven or hell is because "WE" (sinners, or all of us human) deserve hell. Jesus took our place on the Cross. He took what we deserve. If you accept him as your Savior, you accept his blood as payment for our sins. That is why "WE" sent him to the cross and not simply the scribes, pontius pilate, judas, etc. Great question, email me if you have any other questions. Please accept Christ into your heart and ask for forgiveness of your sins. Hell is a dark place with eternal suffering, and worstly absence from God.
2007-09-30 16:48:37 · answer #7 · answered by acpar72 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"If God can't have unforgiven sinners in his presence" - where did you get that idea from? God discussed matters with Satan (Job1:6) and Christ had a face to face talk with Satan (Matthew 4:10).
2007-09-30 16:50:18 · answer #8 · answered by cheir 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An Amazing question !! Congratulation bro if there was a prize for best question i would have given it to you.
You can imagine the greediness of the Humans that Even God, the creator himself, can not make a man love him unconditionally. What a shame that when ever we talk of good or bad deeds, we refer them to Heaven or to hell, what a shame.....
2007-09-30 16:56:32 · answer #9 · answered by WiseGuy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The eternal torture is the destruction of non-believers to non-existence. Their memories and their existence will be forgotten forever. This is symbolized by the burning of physical matter into an imaginary lake of fire.
2007-09-30 16:53:21 · answer #10 · answered by Aeon Enigma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell was never design for humans. God sent the Devil to hell for rebelling against God. When humans chose to rebel against God they automatically received the same consequences and God could not change it or he would not be just and therefore be sinning in a form.
2007-09-30 16:52:37 · answer #11 · answered by Ledreru 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋