What is the purpose of Hell?

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by easter

Well either way I wouldn't want to end up in Hell and then cast into the lake of fire.
I have a hard time thinking of a loving Father sending someone to a place as horrible as burning for eternity.Our minds can't comprehend the fairness but God's word says for eternity and so we can't argue this.Even if it don't seem right to us.
There are mystery's in God's word that there is no way of understanding until we are able to ask him face to face.We don't know the whole picture and he does.We have to take his words by faith.To trust in our Father and his judgements.

We all go to hell,

Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Hebrew 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Hell is Religions revenge upon those who disagree. It is, and has been used to strike fear into the hearts of the rebellious, or those who backslide or reject our Doctrine.

If Hell, or Eternal torment in flame for the wicked, is in fact real, the Old Testament would have warned man about this place since the beginning.

Why does Hell suddenly appear in the New Testament?? Because MAN got his little sticky fingers upon the PEN, knowing the ignorance of the common people and their slant towards superstition.

Hell gives Religions Hierarchy power. It keeps people in fear. It causes Mankind to perceive the Creator as ruthless, heartless, and unable to stop treachery.

Remember, Hell is in other Faiths besides Christianity. This place where none of us has ever been (we talk like we've been there), contradicts a God who has mercy and compassion upon people who don't stand a chance or struggle to understand.

My question to others about this place is; If 99+% of people on Planet Earth (Apostolics believe, only those Born Again will make it) are going to burn for Eternity, don't you think God would have put a stop to this mess?? Why would God allow us to populate millineum after millineum, so He can then hurl almost every human being ever born into this unfothamable torture??

This makes no sense....

Yup!

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I think it's because all are states of being separated from being in fellowship with God.

This could be said for the living.

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I think we take this for granted like many Trinitarians take the doctrine of the Trinity. The Greek texts, as they are understood in Greek, don't necessarily require that a punishment be eternal in duration. Sometimes it can mean that it is eternal in it's effect. For example, when I was a young boy my father beat me with a belt for cursing him. It was an eternal punishment in that I will never forget it and it has set me straight... I'll not curse my father again.

Also, the terms "eternal" and "everlasting" are based on the same Greek word, "aionios". This word can also be used for periods of unknown or troublesome duration the way we use the term "forever" in the English language. For example, one might say, "We stood in line forever..." The word "forever" doesn't literally mean forever in this sense, it simply means a period of unknown duration or of specific trial.

Also put into consideration that the word Jesus used in Matthew 25:46 for "punishment" is the Greek word "kolasis", meaning to "punish" in the sense of setting straight. It's root is "kolas" meaning to "prune". It's used in extra biblical Greek writings to denote pruning a bush or tree in order to cause it to be more fruitful.

Yup!

[easter]

Originally Posted by DerechHashem

Yup!

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Judaism teaches a Hell of refinement and eternal correction (punishment) for the wicked. They don't burn or suffer forever, it is believed that they will be purified.

I find it interesting that when Jesus died he decended into Hell and preached to the spirits in prison who were sometimes disobedient from the time of Noah. Here he took captivity captive and set them free. This would indicate that at least for these souls there was a second chance after death. If God is no respector of persons... could a soul conceivably repent and be set free after being sufficiently punished?

This Judaic belief came on scene after the Priests were killed off. They were taught these concepts under Greek tutalege.

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

He wont send them for eternity. They will be cast into the lake of fire. They will suffer for a long time. Then their soul will die just like Yeshua said. Matt. 10:28

Send them? Ainios only seems like a long time in torment.

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by Aquila

What would be God's purpose in destroying them forever?

Will Heaven be Heaven when every redeemed soul will have lost the majority of everyone that they ever knew to being vaporized by God?

Sounds a little worse the way you put it, but yes heaven will be heaven even with the destruction of the wicked.

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Truly this post is that of one who abhors the New Testament we have been given. Apart from it we are left to merely speculate the things of Elohim. One should be so glad we do have it that we may know the way to life. First off the doctrine of the punishment of the wicked is most certainly found in the OT.

1: For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3: And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 4:1-3

This is indeed the same judgment that John the Baptist, then Yeshua, then the apostles preached about.

10: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matt. 3:10 John Baptist

28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in gehenna. Matt. 10:28 Yeshua Messiah

This punishment is eternal only in that once the souls of the wicked die thats it. They are dead for all of it.

Some must think YHWH approves of sin against his will. He warns very clearly all throgh his word the soul that sinneth it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4

Absolutly!

[DerechHashem]

Originally Posted by easter

If Hell was not a real place(IF MAN MADE UP THE EXSITENCES OF HELL)
or if souls burn up and die away then what was the reason Jesus died on the cross?

For his sheep.