RE: Can bible really be interpreted as if there is no torment but you cease to exist
February 6, 2012 at 3:31 pm
(This post was last modified: February 6, 2012 at 3:36 pm by Undeceived.)
(February 5, 2012 at 5:28 am)Aardverk Wrote:(February 5, 2012 at 12:02 am)Undeceived Wrote: Hell is a spiritual place, not one God has to go out of His way to create. The torment we receive would be within our souls, not external fire. And by rejecting God, we have chosen it. He gave us free will. This life is meant to divide people who are grateful for God's creating them and those who are not. If you are not grateful, you don't want to be in heaven anyway. You'd rather be sent to hell.
Hello Undeceived.
If I understand this correctly, Hell isn't a real place with fire and brimstone - it is just somewhere in your head. Did I get that right?
Heaven on the other hand, according to you, is a real place that you actually WANT to go to. Did I get that right?
I have two questions.
1. Why do you choose to believe that hell is just a spiritual place inside your head but heaven is actually a real place?
2. Assuming you go to heaven, how do you imagine spending eternity? Bear in mind that there may be some restrictions on sex, especially with multiple partners or same sex partners or even by yourself, you may even have the pleasure of healthy lust removed from you. There is no apparent plan to procreate and bring up children, no need to work, plan, build, create, invent, experiment, learn, travel, there may be some restrictions on alcohol, gluttony, drugs, etc and even if you can get a TV signal up there, you will probably get a bit fed up with all the repeats over eternity. You can probably learn to play the harp and I do hear that you get plenty of time to worship God. Is that your plan for eternity?
1. Hell is a place, so to speak, but not what we usually think of a place being. It is not on earth, and neither is heaven. It is spiritual, meaning you won't have a body to burn or a physical brain to think with. Your spirit will be in torment because you missed Christ when he was staring you in the face.
2. Mark 12:25 says "When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage." We will have been washed clean by Jesus' sacrifice so we won't have the desire to sin. Heaven is not a place in the clouds or another planet with natural law restrictions or body limitations like disease. Philippians 3:20-21 says "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body." Adds Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Heaven is a not a party to drink at, but a place we will be perfectly happy fellowshiping with others and being with God. Imagine the feeling you had when you were first engaged or married (or what it might be) and when or if you held your first child in your arms. Heaven will be joy like that, but infinitely more powerful and unending.
