Featured The doctrine of Hell

I believe that image we are given in Scripture of Hell is allegorical.

 

You don't have to ask what I said, Evan. That's the good thing about posts. You can simply look at what I typed.

I believe that the picture of Hell we see in Scripture is symbolic.

This is one reason that I reject the idea that Jesus was separated from God in such a manner as the lost will be separated from God. On the Cross, Jesus was sustained by the Spirit. He had faith that the deliverance of the Father. He remained within the Father's love. Those in Hell are separated from the Spirit. They have no hope of deliverance. There is no Light at the end of the tunnel in Hell. It is complete hopelessness. They are outside of Christ.

Hell is a “place” (whatever that means, I do not know). It is the lake of fire (the specifics of which I cannot say). But that fire is allegorical. It is allegory for something eternally worse than fire. Scripture conjures up a terrifying image of men burning for all eternity, the worm never dying, gnashing of teeth, etc. in order to paint for us a horrifying symbol which will pale in comparison to the reality of Hell.

 

Yea...pretty much. That said, I've never been to Avernus, but I've been to Oklahoma. Biggrin

 

I think scripture teaches Hades - yes, Hell - no. Hell is the lake of fire (no one is currently "in Hell" as that follows the Judgment).

Unless you are reading the gospel according to Joyce Meyers. Then Jesus was in Hell for three days being tortured by demons. (not that the belief is unique to Meyers)

 

I've heard that also. Except that it is unbiblical (that Jesus went to Hell to preach to the dead and win souls), I don't know what to say. Those who died in the OT and we're saved were purchased with the same blood as us living today. They died either saved or lost (no sermon needed in Sheol). What did occur was a fulfillment of their faith in the coming Christ.

 

Sorry, but I believe the above is heresy. Hell cannot be corporeal nor is it eternal. God's word clearly tells us the dead in Hell are spirit beings as their bodies are still in their graves.

The bible also clearly says that Hell is NOT eternal but will be cast into the Lake of Fire at the consummation of the ages. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

Jesus was, for three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Or in the grave. He was in "hades" - the abode of the dead. This, of course, referring to His humanity. His human body. His Deity as in Heaven, with the thief from the other cross, and with the Father, and in the Heavenly City, and attending the Heavenly Mercy Seat (Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.).

The whole "Protestant Purgatory" nonsense is without biblical warrant. It is based on the Hyper Dispensationalism of Bullinger and others. The idea that nobody went to Heaven before the cross is silly. Check out Enoch And Elijah. And maybe read Psalms. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23:6). You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You (Psalm 73:24,25).

The idea of a limbus patrum (limbo of the fathers) arose in Middle Ages. It was taught that heaven had been closed to humanity from the time of Adam's fall until the coming of Christ. Catholic heresy.

 

God is not limited by Time. He is the Father of Eternity (Isaiah 9:6).

Christ's sacrifice on the cross is not limited by Time.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.