What is Hell

[BD17]

Is hell an actual physical place where sinners will suffer in eternal fire, or does it mean we will be eternally seperated from God? I ask because there are some who I have discussed that believe it is only an eternal seperation from God, that there will be no actual physical pain for a person in Hell.

If that is true than how do you convince an atheist, or any unbeliever for that matter that they will suffer hell(Eternal seperation from God) if they do not turn to Christ as their redeemer and repent. The way I see it they are already seperated from God and do not fear that as it is. So why should spending an eternity in the exact same state they are already in be intimidating or even fearful for them?

 

[PJ]

Here's a few relevant verses, BD17 ...

Psalm 55:15
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Matthew 18:9
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Mark 9:43
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched

Luke 16:23
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

 

[BD17]

Thank you PJ, I too agree hell is a physical place with real pain, why do you think people have tried to make less bad than it should be or is?

 

[webdog]

Thank you PJ, I too agree hell is a physical place with real pain, why do you think people have tried to make less bad than it should be or is?

...fear.:tear:

 

[StefanM]

I don't know the exact quality of hell (having never been there, nor planning to! ), but I do know that the scriptures clearly indicate significant suffering.

Now, whether the flames are figurative or not, I do not know, but if they are figurative, they are figurative of some form of intense suffering.

Bottom line: hell will be hell--i.e. eternal conscious torment.

 

[Jim1999]

Separation from fellowship with God. I really don't care how one paints it, or dramatizes its effects.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Melanie]

The absence of God..............total desolation

 

[Not_hard_to_find]

If that is true than how do you convince an atheist, or any unbeliever for that matter that they will suffer hell (Eternal seperation from God) if they do not turn to Christ as their redeemer and repent. The way I see it they are already seperated from God and do not fear that as it is. So why should spending an eternity in the exact same state they are already in be intimidating or even fearful for them?

The difference will be that then they will know they are separated, so it's not the same state. Until they can accept the possibility that God does exist, they cannot imagine an existence without Him. Besides, we can't change a person or their beliefs -- they must do that themselves. We just provide a witness, along with prayer.

 

[Jim1999]

Keep in mind that I say "separated from fellowship with God" and not isolated from God. God is omnipresent; He is everywhere, and God will be there to torment them day and night....the unending tickle of the sole of one's feet...I can't even imagine that.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[BobRyan]

The fiery hell of Matt 10 "destroys BOTH body and soul" and it is a literal place with real people and real fire.

Jude 7 points out that Soddom and Gomorrah are examples of physical cities literally subjected to "eternal fire" of hell.

 

[Jim1999]

Now that's ironic..the "eternal" fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. No one to-day can even locate where the two cities were.

The biblical use of the word "fire" is generally always a figure of speech.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[BobRyan]

Here are 3 posts showing the Bible position on the place, and "literal" extent of hell as it really burns really people in real fire for real time causing real torment and suffering in real fire and brimstone in the real presence of Christ and the real presence of His saints (Rev 14:10).

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost...&postcount=101

 

[BobRyan]

Now that's ironic..the "eternal" fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. No one to-day can even locate where the two cities were.

The biblical use of the word "fire" is generally always a figure of speech.

Cheers,

Jim

Abraham was not "a figure of speech".

Lot was not a "figure of speech"

Lot's family were not "a figure of speech"

The Angels sent to destroy the cities were not "A figure of speech"

Jude 7 is not using " a figure of speech" referencing the real cities and the real life fact of their destruction by real eternal fire.

The dead sea and its pillars of salt - shows a destructive event powerful enough to lower the level of the land in that area. Many have concluded that "the cities of the plain" were there.

In Christ,

Bob

 

[gekko]

Separation from fellowship with God.

wow. all i can say is wow. how watered down is that? what a watered down cliche of what it really is. i dont know what it really is. but im pretty sure the sciptures are more detailed on hell then "separation from fellowship with God"

would you say that to an unbeliever? "separation from fellowship with God" ?