(March 10, 2015 at 1:43 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote: How do you go about proving that something in the bible is a metaphor or to be taken literally?

Sometimes, you don't. However, most of the metaphors in the Bible do have some kind of precedent establishing them as such.

For instance, the lake of fire spoken of in Revelation is often cited by "Christians" as proof that the "unsaved" are going to burn forever. This is an obvious fallacy, according to precedent.

For one, John the Baptist baptized people into the same body of water, that being the Jordan River, but he spoke of the one to come (Jesus) who would baptize with fire, which subsequent verses tell us is the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The lake of fire is a body of fire like the Jordan was a body of water, into which those who do not receive the Holy Spirit in this life are baptized. It's a perfectly obvious metaphor when you understand all of the many verses that refer to God and His Spirit as being like fire.

There are plenty of metaphors, particularly in the New Testament, that are exemplified in the Old Testament. It takes a good deal of familiarity with both to be able to make the connections, but they are definitely there.

(March 10, 2015 at 1:58 pm)MilesAbbott81 Wrote: The lake of fire is a body of fire like the Jordan was a body of water, into which those who do not receive the Holy Spirit in this life are baptized. It's a perfectly obvious metaphor when you understand all of the many verses that refer to God and His Spirit as being like fire.

Is this true GC, Drich & prof? (In no order of preference obviously).

(March 10, 2015 at 2:37 pm)TubbyTubby Wrote:

(March 10, 2015 at 1:58 pm)MilesAbbott81 Wrote: The lake of fire is a body of fire like the Jordan was a body of water, into which those who do not receive the Holy Spirit in this life are baptized. It's a perfectly obvious metaphor when you understand all of the many verses that refer to God and His Spirit as being like fire.

Is this true GC, Drich & prof? (In no order of preference obviously).

No takers? The question is open to any theists, even you lurkers out there (I know you're watching!).

(March 10, 2015 at 4:29 pm)TubbyTubby Wrote:

(March 10, 2015 at 2:37 pm)TubbyTubby Wrote: Is this true GC, Drich & prof? (In no order of preference obviously).

No takers? The question is open to any theists, even you lurkers out there (I know you're watching!).

They will only answer if they agree with him

(March 10, 2015 at 4:29 pm)TubbyTubby Wrote:

(March 10, 2015 at 2:37 pm)TubbyTubby Wrote: Is this true GC, Drich & prof? (In no order of preference obviously).

No takers? The question is open to any theists, even you lurkers out there (I know you're watching!).

If it's a lake of fire, what is burning? Fire is not an object, but chemical reaction typically some carbon chain reacting with oxygen. So the "lake of fire" doesn't make sense in this context.

(March 10, 2015 at 8:27 pm)Surgenator Wrote:

(March 10, 2015 at 4:29 pm)TubbyTubby Wrote: No takers? The question is open to any theists, even you lurkers out there (I know you're watching!).

If it's a lake of fire, what is burning? Fire is not an object, but chemical reaction typically some carbon chain reacting with oxygen. So the "lake of fire" doesn't make sense in this context.

Simply nothing

(March 10, 2015 at 8:30 pm)dyresand Wrote:

(March 10, 2015 at 8:27 pm)Surgenator Wrote: If it's a lake of fire, what is burning? Fire is not an object, but chemical reaction typically some carbon chain reacting with oxygen. So the "lake of fire" doesn't make sense in this context.

Simply nothing

The xtians cannot have that. Those wicked atheist cannot be "burning" in hell with a "nothing" fire.

(March 10, 2015 at 8:35 pm)Surgenator Wrote:

(March 10, 2015 at 8:30 pm)dyresand Wrote: Simply nothing

The xtians cannot have that. Those wicked atheist cannot be "burning" in hell with a "nothing" fire.

They better make up something because you need fuel for a fire.
Something evil...something terrible... Ah yes i got it Stalin Wood.

Remember this is a remarkably fast forum.
I eat dinner, take a nap in the bathtub, watch some Youtube, come back here, and you guys are figuring we are refraining from commenting.
No so.
Lake of fire?
Ever seen the inside of a volcano?
That is where O and the pope will end up (the Antichrist and his false prophet).
It says they will be tormented forever (remember they have NOT begun their final deception and persecution of those who will resist them).
Sounds like Hell to me.
I do not know if all the wicked end up with them, there is a Second death later, but the destiny of those 2 is no metaphor.

One note- I do not consider Hell a major topic or deal breaker within Christianity.

So hell is basically the bottom of a volcano i'm not scientist or anything but considering lava destroys everything it touches and lets say you do have a soul it would be destroyed from it.