Heaven vs. Hell vs. God's Address

[tackattack]

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I was specifically quoting your post 7.. where you clearly don't give a shit

One school of thought is that Jesus has been around as long as God, and wasn't birthed to Mary, but through Mary. Lots of Christians believe in the Bosom of Abraham concept where there's a catholic style purgatory for both the good and the damned. Some rare instances describe someone being taken up to Heaven, but they wouldn't have been able to get there of their own I'm guessing. Regardless I think Hell is empty.. and Heaven prior to the incarnation was scarce, and since has become either about the same, but most likely almost as void.

First let me respond to the post 7 issue (which you didn't Quote Box - which is why I didn't know what your were referring to).
I was merely defending myself against a ridiculous accusation by colubridae (no doubt you've seen his brand of "intelligence" in his thread 'For Tackattack'), that I was trying to promote Deism. Thus my remark about me not giving two shits about what people believe. I think most who know me know that I have never tried to "sell" Deism as a more viable belief structure than anyone else's. (and to your credit, I have never seen you trying to "sell" your beliefs either)

...and yes, I have always been interested in the bizarre concepts of Heaven and Hell and enjoy hearing about the many different theories on them. The thread was designed to get people like you and the other believers to put your two cents in. If that makes me a jerk who likes to hear myself talk ... than I spose there is little I can do about that.

Now, putting that tiresome matter behind us - on to your very interesting response ...
I have never heard of this theory that Jesus was around long before Mary. That makes the idea of the Trinity even more confusing and confounding than it already is. Where did Jesus come from than? How can he and the father be ONE in the same? It was hard enough grappling with that when Jesus had an origin. I would like to know more about this theory cause it is definitely new to me. Which is a rare thing indeed.

Regarding Hell being empty and Heaven being nearly void. Can you elaborate a bit more? Are you saying that there are 100 billion souls or so waiting for judgement or are you saying that souls have already gone to hell and died off? and whatever theory you hold to - do you have a Biblical backing for this? Also, are you saying that all souls, regardless of their 'final destination' are in a holding pattern together? As in the same location?

*no sarcasm meant* (well, not yet anyway - I'm genuinely interested)

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perhaps I forgot my smileys, anyways.
OK here's the theory. In the beginining There was God, the word (logos - messenger), and the power (Holy Spirit) or represented later the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God having a messenger would explain the supposed contradiction of Jesus saying no one has ever seen God, and Moses getting delivered the message face to face. Now this should simplify the trinity for you, and it is in congruence with the immutability of God and the trinity. There were three, one of those three (the messenger) came to deliver the word to us and he was to be called Jesus because he was to save his people from sin. That's all plenty scriptural.

The second part is far more confusing. I'll express my belief and not comment on to what percentage that applies, but I feel all of my fellow worshipers feel the same way if they've thought about it at all. I believe prior to Jesus, there was a definitive concept of Sheol from Judaism. It's a waiting room of sorts for boh the good and bad. Jesus clearly states that dying is like sleep and the Spirit rests supporting the Christian mortalist view. I believe the following:
1-The soul is not inheritly immortal (that's platonic influence and coutner scripture)
2-When we die, with a few exceptions most of us probably either remain at rest (sleep) in the grave or go to Sheol.
3-Then upon the second ressurection we are judged and Go to either heaven or cast into the fires.

I can't say whether Jesus took those souls prior to his sacrifice are still in Sheol, or they went to the place of the saint in heaven, but I feel they were there at one point.