Bartholomæus;3414949 said:
I don't believe you can find anywhere in the Bible that even mention a hell existing. If there is id like to know where.
Me too.
The closest thing is maybe Luke 16: 22 and forth. But that is clearly not to be taken literally.
This is clearly a parable that is conveyed in symbolisms.
If you read it carefully you can see plainly that it cannot be literal.
"The context and the wording of the story show clearly that it is a parable and not an actual historical account. Poverty is not being extolled, nor are riches being condemned. Rather, conduct, final rewards, and a reversal in the spiritual status, or condition, of those represented by Lazarus and by the rich man are evidently indicated. The fact that the rich mans brothers rejected Moses and the prophets also shows that the illustration had a deeper meaning and purpose than that of contrasting poverty and the possession of riches.
In the parable, the ulcerous beggar, Lazarus, was put at the gate of the rich man, desiring to be fed with the things that fell from the rich mans sumptuous table. Lazarus subsequently died and was carried off by angels to the bosom position of Abraham (a place comparable to that occupied by a person in ancient times when he reclined in front of another on the same couch during a meal). Abraham had a conversation with the rich man, who had also died, was buried, and was in Hades, existing in torments. A great chasm that could not be crossed separated the rich man from Abraham and Lazarus. The rich mans request that Abraham send Lazarus to his five brothers to give them a thorough witness, in the hope of sparing them the same experience, met with rejection on the grounds that these had Moses and the Prophets, and, if unwilling to listen to them, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead. (Insight Volumes WTS)
The rich man represented the Pharisees and the beggar represented the common Jewish people whom the Pharisees despised. Their "deaths" represented a change in their status. The Jewish leaders had the "bosom" position of Abraham as teachers and leaders of God's people, but when Christ came a change took place. These ones lost their favored position because of rejecting the Christ. The common folk accepted Jesus and gained the favored position with God.
The torment came from Jesus teachings. He exposed the Pharisees for the hypocrites they were. They hated him enough to kill him.
Do we imagine that heaven and hell are within speaking distance of each other?
Do we imagine that a drop of water on someone's finger would be enough to cool the tongue of someone in a fire?
You will also have a hard time to find in the Bible that all 'good' people go to Heaven. The Bible mention only a very SPECIFIC number of people going to heaven. Revelation 5:9, 10 and Revelation 14:1.
Since the ones who go to heaven will be "kings and priests", (Rev 20:6) they will need subjects to rule, and sinners for whom to perform their priestly duties. Those who go to heaven are no longer imperfect humans but perfect spirit creatures who are now immortal and incorruptible. They will not be ruling each other and acting as priests for each other. They don't need to.(1 Cor 15:50-53) So their subjects will be humans here on a cleansed earth. (Rev 21:3, 4)
How about the rest of the 'good' people then. The Bible clearly states where they are going to be. Psalms 37: 9,10 and Matt 5:5. These verses explain that most people shall live on the Earth in peace and property.
The restoration prophesies in Isaiah describe how wonderful life will be in the "new earth" under the rulership of the "new heavens". (Isa 65:17-24: 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1-4)
So its not just heaven and hell, bliss and torment. Its a bit more nuanced than that.
Yes, Israel was never promised heaven or hell...just life or death. (Deut 30:9, 20)
Adam was not told that he would go to hell for his disobedience, just that he would go back to the dust.
The Bible says 144.000 go to Heavens to be kings with Jesus and rule over those people that God deems good and deserving to inherit the Earth forever. The evil or ungodly people will be annihilated but not tormented in a burning hell forever.
Also the concept of a loving God that allows people to suffer forever is just plain wrong.
How many people are so hung up about going to heaven that they don't stop to ask..."who are the meek who will inherit the earth"? (Matt 5:5; Psalm 37:9-12)
Hell (hades) is not a place of eternal torment.....it is a place of rest in sleep. (John 11:11) For the ones in hades (the common grave) a resurrection is promised. (John 5:28, 29)
For those whom Jesus consigned to "gehenna" there is no resurrection. Their lives have been terminated. They will never see the light of day again.
What possible purpose is served by keeping the wicked alive only to torment them forever? That is fiendish.
Punishment served a purpose in God's law. It was to lead the wrongdoer to repentance and forgiveness and act as a deterrent for future wrongdoing.. Those in Christendom's hell have no way to repent and no way to gain God's forgiveness. That goes against everything Jehovah reveals about himself and his perfect justice.
