Does Anybody Believe in Hell?

[Fraction]

Oh in not way do I dare to say Satan has equal power to God. I couldn't even say a percentage either. I just think that Satan tries to deceive us and tries to turn humanity from God. With sin mostly, and deceiving is the other half.

Satans only way to even upset god is to drag a human to hell, to lead them away from God. Other than that Satan is nothing. Satan has no power to the saved Christian. He is in no way equal or even close.

When I say hell is on earth, I meant that both God and Angels are here, along with Satan and demons. Gods power is by far stronger, but Satan does have an influence on the evil in this world.

So the war will continue to rage on until the second coming. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[Konquistador]

You are very funny,THE TOPIC IS ,IS HELL REAL? hell is not here on earth,earth is our play ground.our place of struggle,our noble price is either heaven or hell. our journey here on earth is just like a pilgrimage,when pharaoh asked Jacob in genesis 47:9 how old are you? he answered saying,the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years,these alone who make you understand that here on earth we are on a journey,and after that we have a permanent place which is either heaven or hell.

Genesis 47:9 says nothing about a "permanent place which is either heaven or hell", nor do any of the surrounding verses, in any of the 5 Bible translations I have, nor any other online translations. I don't know what Bible you are referring to, but it must be one of the "interpretive" books, not a translation. There's a big difference.

If you carefully read the many places where Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God or Heaven, and include the parables which either precede or follow these statements, you will notice that Jesus uses the present tense and when he uses the future tense it is a direct continution of what he just said about the present. Ditto when he spoke of hell. In fact, Jesus used the word for the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem frequently when he spoke of Hell, NOT the Hebrew/Aramaic word for hell in Judaism (Sheol).

It is also important to note that not all Jews, perhaps not even a majority, believed whatsoever in an afterlife before or during the time of Jesus. The Sadducces, the most powerful leaders in the time of Jesus, most certainly did not, while most Pharisees did believe in an afterlife. If you look at Jesus' statements about the Kingdom of God and know that he understood a significant number of his audience did not believe in an afterlife, you can see how Jesus brought them along by talking about Heaven and Hell being earthly things that continue in a future life. And there is dispute among past and current theologians whether Jesus included the concept of Hell in an afterlife at all and only meant bad things in the present when we don't follow what God wants from us.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

It is also important to note that not all Jews, perhaps not even a majority, believed whatsoever in an afterlife before or during the time of Jesus. The Sadducces, the most powerful leaders in the time of Jesus, most certainly did not, while most Pharisees did believe in an afterlife.

Yes,very important:
Researching the culture changes due to the pressure of Hellenism shines much light on many of the things Jesus said and what they would have meant to his immediate audience.
It was a time of turmoil and many Jewish sects bought into Hellenistic beliefs.There were many religions forming that mixed Greek Mythology,Greek philosophy and some form of Monotheism.

Titus 1:14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
1 Tim. 4:7 Don't have anything to do with godless myths that old women like to tell. Rather, train yourself to live a godly life.
2 Tim. 4:4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

The Jews were steeped in mythology and cults chasing the "keys to the universe".These influences increased greatly after the invasion of Alexander 300 years before Jesus.

 

[Konquistador]

Yes,very important:
Researching the culture changes due to the pressure of Hellenism shines much light on many of the things Jesus said and what they would have meant to his immediate audience.
It was a time of turmoil and many Jewish sects bought into Hellenistic beliefs.There were many religions forming that mixed Greek Mythology,Greek philosophy and some form of Monotheism.

Titus 1:14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
1 Tim. 4:7 Don't have anything to do with godless myths that old women like to tell. Rather, train yourself to live a godly life.
2 Tim. 4:4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

The Jews were steeped in mythology and cults chasing the "keys to the universe".These influences increased greatly after the invasion of Alexander 300 years before Jesus.

Although I generally don't like single verses out of context, your quotations show perfectly that the writers of the NT books were well aware of the culture of mythology of the time, and how it impacted the thinking of Christians at the time. Excellent!!

 

[lioncub]

I believe that the wicked will be punished forever.

Mt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

[redeemed4life]

I believe that Hell is a very real place and that the individual experiencing it is conscious and very much aware of what is going on. In the Bible especially in the Gospels and Revelation, the topic of Hell is brought up by Jesus Himself. Hell was originally created for the Devil and His angels for the sin they committed against God. Yet, Hell is a punishment for those who refuse to accept Jesus' gift of salvation. The Devil and his angels have no second chance and cannot be redeemed, but the good news is that humanity can still have that chance even though it is sinful. The only way this can happen, is by the individual choosing God and accepting the gift of salvation and living a life patterned after Jesus' example. Hell is a real place because, the individual is conscious, and in Revelation says that the individual (s) will be tormented and gnashing of teeth for eternity. Punishment for the non-believer is Hell, and it lasts for eternity. There is no way out of it once you get there. Popular beliefs of the reality of Hell say that once you go there you are annihilated and you are burned up, and cease to exist. Others say that there is purgatory, where you suffer for your sins and pay back God for awhile, then you are allowed into Heaven. Others say that you are reincarnated, you die then you come back as someone else. But, the Bible says none of that. There is no way out of Hell. It lasts for an eternity, forever. Either you choose God and live for Him and go to Heaven, or you refuse God and live a life of godlessness and go to Hell. Its important to note, that when you become a Christian, you still will sin. Your life does not become perfect. But, you have been given a new nature that replaces the sinful nature, where you will want to please God over the desires of the flesh. It is by accepting Jesus and allowing him to take your punishment, so you will not need to be punished for an eternity in Hell. God does not want anybody to perish and He does not send anybody to Hell. If you choose to refuse God's gift your sending yourself to Hell.

 

[B-A-C]

Hell. This means many things to many people.
Perhaps it is tunnels beneath the earth filled with fire, lava and little red demons with pointy tails and pitch forks. Perhaps it is just the ground that we lie in.
Perhaps it is a temporary holding place the soul goes until the judgement. (Not as in purgatory, once you are in hell your fate can not be changed)
Some say these Greek views, some say these are misinterpretations. But no matter which of the things above you believe....

There is also a Lake of Fire. This isn't a Greek notion. This isn't a misinterpretation. Some people will go there.

Rev 19:20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
Rev 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Rev 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

 

[amadeus2]

Every christian believes in hell....(Unless they are reading the Reader's Digest instead of the Bible)

Well our actions do speak to God much louder than any words we can speak. Many people pay lip service to God's existence and what He has done for us, but that is all we do, we are probably coming up a bit short in the end of the matter. Help us dear Lord!

 

[B-A-C]

Well our actions do speak to God much louder than any words we can speak. Many people pay lip service to God's existence and what He has done for us, but that is all we do, we are probably coming up a bit short in the end of the matter. Help us dear Lord!

Thank God for grace

Psa 103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 

[james1523]

I believe in Hades (holding place for the souls of the unbelieving dead), and I believe in Lake of Fire (the dumping ground outside Jerusalem where unbelievers and angels and satan burn for ever..this was the place where children were sacrificed), . King James version translated both places as the Saxon word "hell"...but I don't believe such a place exists.

 

[bestrfcplayer]

Myself, I believe we all have a personal hell and personal demons, but he'll as in eternal tourture, its a concept that I have trouble with. As for those who do not believe in Jesus, I think that as long as they live a good, moral life (IMO, homosexuality is not a sin) and follow the natural law, then I think that they'll be in heaven.

 

[Eddy Fire]

Myself, I believe we all have a personal hell and personal demons, but he'll as in eternal tourture, its a concept that I have trouble with. As for those who do not believe in Jesus, I think that as long as they live a good, moral life (IMO, homosexuality is not a sin) and follow the natural law, then I think that they'll be in heaven.

i note you don't mind the reward but you reject any form of perishing
you are not the only one
but please understand that your belief about relying on being good and rejecting Jesus is anti-truth
and to be very honest with you
if that is what you think it is no wonder you have trouble with the concept of hell
Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and all have sinned there is no other way under heaven whereby men must be saved for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal everlasting ageless life
-----------------

on another note: someone told me that the man who invented the Jehovah's Witnesses was the son of a pastor or preacher and the son did not like the concept of hell and could not accept it
so............................
he invented a cult for all those who reject truth might be able to huddle up together and agree against the Truth and think mistakenly that they knew better
and there are plenty of others (groups/cults) that declare to be the inspired and more knowedgable and wiser ones who equally reject the Lord and His perfect Justice and holy love

don't be like a JW even if you use another name or title for the same stupid thinking
don't reject the Lord Who died to set you free and prevent you from perishing

 

[denise04]

jesus spoke mNy times of hell being eternal. hell is a real place as earth and you cant enter heaven being gay

 

[Strangederby]

Can you enter heaven if you condone torture?

 

[Brighthouse]

Torture and Tortuous,are two different meaning,tortuous meaning one having many twists and turns in there life,devious.Torture is something I believe all people have gone through in there life,be it in there minds or in body.So it is a given that acceptance comes from all going through some sort of this,but never to cause this for another. But why would a non believer such as you have stated be concerned with heaven anyway Strangederby? Hence to me why many are in torture of there own creation. I sure was before being saved from it.The purpose here is to draw people to the solution for there torture rather then staying in it.

The choices we make in life determines where are minds choose to dwell in. I do not know why you choose not to believe anymore,we all have our reasons,or as was true to me our excuses. But once Jesus himself has truly touched you in your life you have no more reason to torture others,or become tortured yourself. For what one gives,one truly receives! I know this is a fact! ( gal 6:7-10) It does not matter if one believes this or not,it is a law which holds true for all people,believers or unbelievers. So I find your question a strange one,unless you are just looking to argue with someone about the obvious?

 

[Eric E Stahl]

The rich man believes in hell!
[h=2]Luke 16[/h] 19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
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.
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.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 

[Butch5]

And does anybody believe that in the time it took to read this, as many as 5 (or more) people just went there because they died without accepting Jesus Christ, the sacrifice made for our sins? I often ask myself, "If I really believe this, why am I not shouting God's Plan of Redemption from the rooftops" ?

When people use the English word hell, it usually has the connotation of the place where people are somehow alive without a body and are suffering eternal conscious torment. If that's what you mean by hell, the answer to your question is no, I don't believer that. That's a concept the came into Christianity from Greek Philosophy. The Bible doesn't teach that idea. Many people think it's in the Bible because of a poor translation of the Greek word "aion" which is wrongly translated forever.

 

[Sue D.]

Actually -- God's Word Does teach the existence of hell. That has been in another thread.

There Are those who want to put the existence of a real hell onto a poor translation of a Greek word into English.

The existence Of hell // Hades / Gehenna / Sheol // Is definitely real -- Will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone at the time when Eternity will last forever. And that is per Revelation 20 or so.

God's Word Is the inspired word of God Not from Greek Philosophy.

It would be wise to heed that which God has chosen to share with us. It's indeed real and will last forever.

And born-again believers Should be 'shouting God's plan of redemption from the rooftops."

 

[Br. Bear]

And born-again believers Should be 'shouting God's plan of redemption from the rooftops."

Definitely!

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:27-28


Bless you Sue ....><>

 

[Bethlehemstar]

Well, we were raised with a very Evangelical background, which taught about hell, fire, brimstone and the Lake of Fire.