a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife
25
votes
7answers
2k views
Did Jesus spend time in Hell between the crucifixion and resurrection?
The Apostles Creed makes reference to Jesus descending into Hell. I have heard it claimed that His time spent in Hell was part of His redemptive work--in other words, that was necessary for Him to ...
20
votes
7answers
3k views
Are some people created to go to Hell?
This answer presents the following statement:
God is in control and I believe that His will has always been done. So to say that He's never failed.
So, are some people are destined to go to ...
19
votes
6answers
496 views
Is Hell eternal, or do some/all escape it?
In his recent book, Love Wins, author and pastor Rob Bell caused quite a bit of controversy (and anger) by making the argument that Heaven is the state that we are in when we follow God's will and ...
14
votes
7answers
654 views
Why should a sinner suffer forever in hell fire?
In my little knowledge I believe any form of punishment is a way of curbing crimes or wrong doings and for others to learn not to do wrong. When this life ends some would be in heaven and the rest in ...
14
votes
2answers
150 views
Is there any scripture or literature exploring why God chose not to annihilate Satan?
For that matter, why aren't we annihilated if we reject Jesus? Particularly if there is no posthumous "second chance?"
For the record, I resonate with C.S. Lewis' notion that, perhaps, the "doors of ...
12
votes
3answers
332 views
What exactly IS Hell?
I'm not disputing that Hell exists, what I want to know is WHAT IS HELL?
In my opinion there are only two possible answers, but you might inform me of something else. Many people have argued that ...
12
votes
4answers
751 views
Do I get a second chance to believe in Jesus after I die?
As if some people couldn't get far enough away from them on earth, several verses in the Bible seem to indicate that there will be preachers even in Hell.
1 Peter 4:6 (ESV)
For this is why the ...
12
votes
5answers
1k views
Does the Bible support the idea of a temporary holding place?
A friend once talked about the idea that there are two temporary "holding places", so to speak. If a person died and would go to Heaven, but that time had not yet come, they would go to a temporary ...
11
votes
4answers
745 views
If God is omnipresent, is he also in hell? [duplicate]
Using the 'separation from God' concept of hell - how can God be in all places yet still place a soul into a chasm of separation.
11
votes
6answers
346 views
How can Heaven exist if we know that people in Hell will suffer?
Suppose for the following scenario that both the Christian Heaven and Hell exist.
My mother is a good Christian and loves me dearly.
I am an atheist, and will therefore go to hell upon death. [If ...
10
votes
5answers
302 views
Why do Christians appeal to personal gain and inducing fear when attempting to “convert” people?
I have many times witnessed christians trying to convince or convert atheists or people of other religions to christianity as well as all sorts of arguments and quarrels regarding christianity. I'm ...
10
votes
7answers
322 views
Good person going to hell simply for not believing?
The scenario is as follows:
Believer, average life, many mistakes/sins. Asks forgiveness and tries everyday to be better. Goes to heaven.
Non-believer, better life than the believer, fewer mistakes ...
9
votes
6answers
660 views
Does God's omnipresence extend to hell?
One of those attributes of God is his ability to be everywhere at all times. I'm not debating that it is an attribute of his, I'm just wondering how we know that.
I ask, because I've been going ...
9
votes
2answers
183 views
Is there a Biblical basis for the belief that a living person may visit heaven or hell?
As you may know there are many books where people have said they had been in hell and in heaven, and that even Jesus guided them. And that sounds a lot like Divine Comedy.
I'm pretty sure that's not ...
9
votes
3answers
85 views
Did Dante's Divine Comedy describe or define Christian views on the afterlife?
Dante's Divine Comedy, the 14th century epic poem describing a journey through the various levels of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven and the persons or types of persons who inhabit each level (including ...
9
votes
1answer
126 views
Eternal existence in hell?
I've heard particular denomination claim that although hell is definitely a real place and hell itself will burn forever; people who are condemned to hell don't actually exist forever in hell but ...
8
votes
2answers
448 views
Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in annihilation?
What is the official position of the Jehovah's Witnesses in regards to hell, specifically the doctrine of annihilation which says that people will not go on existing, that eventually God will just ...
8
votes
1answer
217 views
What do 1st century extra-biblical sources say about hell?
Do we have any information about what 1st century Christians and Jews believed about hell? I know what the Bible says on the subject, and am curious about the extra-biblical context.
7
votes
3answers
483 views
Which is hell: punishment, or revenge?
Let me first explain my understanding of these words (punishment & revenge):
Punishment is typically when you do something to one person to make things better for society, or for that person. It ...
7
votes
2answers
149 views
Who goes to hell in LDS theology?
According to LDS teaching, who goes to hell, and why?
I've heard that only really bad people and ex-Mormons will go to hell. Is this true?
7
votes
3answers
118 views
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”?
In all Christian bibles the translators wrote this verse in the same language and translated it. ( Maybe its Hebrew which Í don't know) but why only Mark 15 vrs 34 in the whole, is it because when ...
7
votes
3answers
199 views
Is the phrase, “Heaven is the presence of God, but Hell is the absence of God” an orthodox viewpoint?
Is the phrase, "Heaven is the presence of God, but Hell is the absence of God" an orthodox viewpoint?
By orthodox I mean orthodox with a lower case o, not an upper case O, as in Orthodox.
I used ...
7
votes
1answer
441 views
Heaven/Paradise/Sheol, Hell/Hades/The Lake of Fire
What is the difference between Heaven/Paradise/Sheol
How about Hell/Hades/The Lake of Fire?
Are they synonyms, are they different places?
6
votes
1answer
74 views
What is the origin of the account of Lucifer found in Milton's Paradise Lost?
In Paradise Lost, Milton describes how Lucifer rebelled against God and was cast into Hell as a result. I've always wondered about the origin of this account since as far as I know, it's not mentioned ...
6
votes
1answer
651 views
Abraham's Bosom after Jesus
Abraham's Bosom as I understand was the Saint's portion (Paradise) of Hades while on the other side of a great chasm (gulf) was a portion of Hades described as torment. Does this place known as ...
6
votes
3answers
289 views
Is there Biblical support for Hell?
One of the common tenets of Christian Universalism (as well as Annihilationism) is the non-existence of Hell as an eternal punishment for non-Christians, that everyone has been granted salvation ...
5
votes
7answers
353 views
Could Hell be seen as a reward?
I live in a very atheistic land. People hate religion because the main religion in my province has abused the people. Thus sometimes when I speak to friends and coworkers I present Hell as follows.
...
5
votes
3answers
114 views
What is the Lake of Fire?
Revelation 20:14 is what I'm talking about. It is only confusing because nearly every translation says something like this:
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the ...
4
votes
7answers
294 views
Are there any conditions which make oneself completely unredeemable in the eyes of God?
I am curious if there are any actions or conditions which "seal your fate" so to speak, such that should you do them—no matter how much you repent or accept Jesus or pray—that you are doomed forever ...
4
votes
4answers
156 views
Is prayer to Jesus required for salvation?
According to the Bible, will those who have heard about Jesus (and, perhaps, even believed that Jesus existed or that he had a special role) and yet have never prayed directly to Him (i.e. never ...
4
votes
2answers
115 views
Harrowing of Hell
From the Apostle's Creed we know that Jesus descended to Hell.
Dante's Inferno also mentioned how Hell might look like.
What kind of Hell was it that Jesus went to?
Was it,
Mark 9:48
where
‘the ...
4
votes
3answers
241 views
Does my monk go to heaven? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What happens to people who have never heard about Jesus?
I have found this very basic question perplexing to different pastors, rectors, and members of churches: If ...
4
votes
1answer
141 views
The soul's progression through purgatory
Does anyone know of any folklore in Christian mythology about what happens to the soul as it progresses through purgatory and into heaven? (Plus, of course, for systems that hold universal ...
4
votes
3answers
192 views
What of all those who just don't know
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 14:6
I am the way and the truth and the life. ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Will people in hell be able to remember people in heaven?
I've heard many times that once you go to heaven, you'll no longer remember your past life, or those that never made it to heaven.
Does the same apply in hell?
3
votes
1answer
152 views
Are there any denominations that teach a Hell that is not a place?
To be more specific (and also more broad), are there any major groups within Christianity that consider Hell not to be a specific place, but rather a specific state of being?
I expect the list to be ...
3
votes
3answers
178 views
How is the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus interpreted?
I have always been puzzled by this in Scripture.
Can someone clarify these points:
If Jesus was speaking of reality then 'The End' had technically already come. Is this correct?
From Hell it would ...
3
votes
0answers
23 views
Did everyone go to hell before Jesus died for our sins? [duplicate]
I've seen a couple of answers in this site which explained the meaning of "Jesus died for our sins". In these answers I gathered that Jesus (a representation of God himself) died so we could be ...
3
votes
1answer
44 views
Does purgatory have a symbol?
I haven't found it on the internet. Are there any symbol for purgatory, or related to purgatory?
2
votes
2answers
58 views
Harshness and nihilism
I hope you will allow me to ask another question. We all know that there are many harsh statements in the Bible (Matthew 12:31-32, Hebrews 10).
Sometimes, these harsh statements are along the lines ...
2
votes
2answers
70 views
Do Rob Bell and Tullian Tchividjian represent sides of any prior Christian controversy?
Both Rob Bell and Tullian Tchividjian have each taken heat for talking too much about grace.[*] Here is, for example, an interview on John Piper's objections to Rob Bell, and here is David Murray's ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
According to reformed theology, is there any valid reason to desire to be saved besides it glorifies God?
Question:
According to reformed theology, is there any valid reason to desire to be saved besides it glorifies God?
As a result:
According to reformed theology, is it valid to desire to be saved ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Torment of Unbelievers vs those who take the Mark of the Beast
Revelation 11:10-11
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone ...
2
votes
0answers
80 views
If God is a God of love, why does God not make all souls in hell cease to exist? [closed]
If God is omnipotent, and a God of love, why does God not make all souls in hell cease to exist, and did it ever happen? Also, wouldn't a loving God end their suffering? Thank you for your answers.
1
vote
3answers
201 views
Does a Christian have to believe in Hell?
I do remember I've read somewhere that modern Christians are no longer required to believe in Hell. Like, it's optional. I've now googled but no such info appeared again. Therefore asking knowlegeable ...
1
vote
0answers
41 views
What is the place where Jesus went after death? [duplicate]
After Jesus died, he went to the place of the Dead.
1 Peter 8:19-20
19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago ...
0
votes
0answers
67 views
Will a totally unaware person (about god,heaven,hell,sin) will go to hell? [closed]
I'd like to know if a person for example lived his life away from society and never learned about god and heaven and hell or sin, will he go to hell? or what does the bible says will happen to him?
-1
votes
0answers
48 views
Will a person with no knowledge of God/Jesus/Christianity be saved? [duplicate]
If a person was unable to have any any information about the bible, the story of Christ and because of reasons like, living in a tribe or any reason that didn't gave him any chance to learn about ...
-1
votes
0answers
60 views
Are people destined to go to hell by default until they accept Jesus as savior? [closed]
I just read/heard about the age of reason used in canon law. How is this applied? And since we are sinful at birth by original sin, are we supposed to go to hell before the age of reason. What about ...
-4
votes
2answers
78 views
What's the justification of eternal torture in hell?
Most of the world ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture.
Can the belief in hell be justified against the Convention in those countries?
The punishment is to encourage and enforce ...
