question on hell judgement...

wiggbuggie · #1 Jun 8, '12, 9:02 pm

The idea of a loving God sending a soul to an eternal place of physical torment for finite amount of time bothers me. But a thought came to my mind and I was reading in the cathechis was it said on hell. The articles mentions that hell isn't really a place of torment but a state an eternal seperation from God. Also I was reading the book of wisdom few days ago and in the early chapters it talked about how the wicked will be forgotten like they never existed and the rightous will live on eternally with God. Now atheists think that when we die thats it we cease to exist. Is that was hell is? eternal death without God not the literal fire and torment some people make it out to be? And the rightous and believers will have the gift of enternal life with God face to face.

teachccd · #2 Jun 8, '12, 10:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiggbuggie

The idea of a loving God sending a soul to an eternal place of physical torment for finite amount of time bothers me. But a thought came to my mind and I was reading in the cathechis was it said on hell. The articles mentions that hell isn't really a place of torment but a state an eternal seperation from God. Also I was reading the book of wisdom few days ago and in the early chapters it talked about how the wicked will be forgotten like they never existed and the rightous will live on eternally with God. Now atheists think that when we die thats it we cease to exist. Is that was hell is? eternal death without God not the literal fire and torment some people make it out to be? And the rightous and believers will have the gift of enternal life with God face to face.

Scripture is very clear that during the Last Judgment all will rise and see God. (Matthew 25) That includes the just and the unjust. Those in hell will have seen the infinite grandeur of our almighty God and then be separated with that for all eternity. That is worse than fire or any other physical torment one could imagine. God does not place anyone in hell. One would have to choose that eternal separation by a complete rejection of God. God's love is so grand that He will allow one to remain in that rejection for all eternity. C.S. Lewis describes hell as a room locked from the inside. You place yourself in that room here on earth and God allows that choice to remain. Your choice,not His.

wiggbuggie · #3 Jun 8, '12, 10:34 pm

yes I agree with some of what you said. The weeping and gnashing of teeth thats spoken in the gospels are people who will see God in his glory and everlasting kingdom but will be denied entry then they will die a second, eternal death.

wasserfall · #4 Jun 9, '12, 12:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiggbuggie

yes I agree with some of what you said. The weeping and gnashing of teeth thats spoken in the gospels are people who will see God in his glory and everlasting kingdom but will be denied entry then they will die a second, eternal death.

They will not cease to exist. They will exist eternally in a state of pain and despair.

Also, although the pain of loss is the primary torment of hell, the pain of fire is a secondary torment of hell, so it is absolutely true that the damned will burn in hell for all eternity.

It may be true that hell is not properly a place, at least not at the present, because the souls of the damned are immaterial, and don't require a physical location to exist. But after at the general judgment, all people will be resurrected and will regain their bodies. The damned will then be cast, both soul and body into hell, and at that time hell will have to be a physical place, as it will contain physical bodies.

**thistle** · #5 Jun 9, '12, 4:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiggbuggie

The idea of a loving God sending a soul to an eternal place of physical torment for finite amount of time bothers me. But a thought came to my mind and I was reading in the cathechis was it said on hell. The articles mentions that hell isn't really a place of torment but a state an eternal seperation from God. Also I was reading the book of wisdom few days ago and in the early chapters it talked about how the wicked will be forgotten like they never existed and the rightous will live on eternally with God. Now atheists think that when we die thats it we cease to exist. Is that was hell is? eternal death without God not the literal fire and torment some people make it out to be? And the rightous and believers will have the gift of enternal life with God face to face.

God does NOT send anyone to Hell. Those who go to Hell have freely chosen to go there when they reject God by committing a mortal sin and dying unrepentant.

**JRKH** · #6 Jun 9, '12, 4:47 am

Theologians have obviously struggled with this question continually over the centuries. The only conclusion I am able to come up with is that the exact nature of these things is unclear. Just as heaven is beyond description (eye has not seen, ear has not heard...) so too hell must be beyond our understanding on this side of the veil.
Because of this, God, in his loving way, attempts to communicate some understanding to us using terms and images that we CAN understand. Terms and images that call forth horror and revulsion and a desire to avoid that fate at all costs.
Regardless of whether these terms and images closely match some physical reality or if the reality is something quite different, the sense remains the same. Seek one (heaven) avoid the other (hell).

Peace
James

kaneata · #7 Jun 11, '12, 6:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiggbuggie

And the rightous and believers will have the gift of enternal life with God face to face.

I think that's what heaven will be, being in God's presence, seeing Him face to face, knowing Him, absolutely nothing could be better! We haven't been able to experience that love yet. Hell then would be a state of knowing that you will never be in God's presence, the total absence of love, a state of all that is evil and dark.