Thou shall not make any graven images

I am a universalist, not an annihilationist. See First Corinthians 3:15.

Of course, the Bible seems to teach all three:

eternal conscious torment

annihilation

universal reconciliation.

The paradigm you choose tells a LOT about how you view God.

a reply to: Lazarus Short

Someone else gets it!

The word "hell" in the King James version is translated from the Greek word hadēs, which means the realm of departed souls. According to Jesus, the dead sleep and know not, so hadēs cannot be a place of torture. It is more a place of rest, a waiting room for Judgement day, if you will.

Greek mythology equated hadēs (the underworld, the place of the dead) with its ruler, Hades. Hades was said to be evil and destructive, so that equated him with the Christian Lucifer (aka Satan), and hadēs became accepted as the realm of Satan.

Somehow that was turned into the Lake of Fire as well. It's often amazing how well humans can mix things up.

Even the Lake of Fire (which is what most preachers call "hell" out of ignorance) does not exist. It will, but that happens at Judgement Day and is not intended for man. Some men will follow Satan into it, of course, but it will be of their own decision.

TheRedneck

originally posted by: godservant
Of that which is above the earth, on the the earth and that which is below the earth.

Not totally sure what graven images meant back then, but sounds like statues maybe...

You could just read the Bible, you know. Book of Deuteronomy.

Deu 4:14 And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.

Deu 4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

Deu 4:16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deu 4:17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

Deu 4:18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:

Clearly referring to the Babylonian Dagon and other fish-type deities. Dagon was a god of prosperity: en.wikipedia.org...

You may recall that the Pentateuch was codified during the Babylonian captivity, and it was important that the people weren't worshiping deities like they had in temples.

There are different kinds of hells, most people would be shocked to find out

a reply to: godservant

Exodus 20:4 says:

“You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form* [Or “representation.”] like anything that is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.”

The waters in seas, lakes, rivers, etc. are below (beneath/under) the earth where people can walk, live and cultivate the earth/land, so these are “the waters under the earth”. It's primarily referring to marine lifeforms there. “The heavens above” is referring to the visible sky, so we're primarily talking birds there. “The earth below” > terrestrial lifeforms.

It was the habit of the people in surrounding nations back then (Egypt, Babylon, Assyria) to worship carved images of things like fishes, bulls, cats, birds, crocodiles, etc. This is what the commandment was about.

An idol is an image, a representation of anything, or a symbol that is an object of passionate devotion, whether material or imagined. Generally speaking, idolatry is the veneration, love, worship, or adoration of an idol. It is usually practiced toward a real or supposed higher power, whether such power is believed to have animate existence (as a human, an animal, or an organization) or is inanimate (as a force or lifeless object of nature). Idolatry generally involves some form, ceremony, or ritual.

The Hebrew terms used to refer to idols often highlighted the origin and inherent worthlessness of idols, or they were derogatory terms of contempt. Among these are words rendered “carved or graven image” (literally, something carved out); “molten statue, image, or idol” (literally, something cast or poured out); “horrible idol”; “vain idol” (literally, vanity); and “dungy idol.” “Idol” is the usual rendering of the Greek word eiʹdo·lon.

Not All Images Are Idols. God’s law not to form images (Ex 20:4, 5) did not rule out the making of all representations and statues. ...

Source: Idol, Idolatry (Insight on the Scriptures)

a reply to: TheRedneck

Not to be a pessimist, but out the big three Greek gods, Hades was probably the most benevolent, but was still a terrifying deity due to his said realm or rule. His Bibical equal would been Yah Weh or Jesus imo, while Zeus was a mixed bag or a vagabond of sorts, an more earthly. Zeus along with Baal might of been the inspiration of Satan for the Book of Job along with being labeled the Abomination of Desolation in the O.T.

Poseidon was the most brutal an cruel, an had the tendency to beat woman or man like the Ocean beats the Shore.

originally posted by: Proto88
Zeus along with Baal might of been the inspiration of Satan for the Book of Job along with being labeled the Abomination of Desolation in the O.T.

Probably the same entity, along the lines of the same weapon; Lightning along with Thor (Nordic Mythology).
Ball : Ball Lightning
Zeus : Lightning
Thor : Hammer of THUNDER Bolts

Same fallen Watcher, just a different alias from Shemyhaza or Shymhz from the Book of Enoch.
[Shame]-ee-ya-haz-ah
Hebrew: shem + ya'ah + aza "of the Name of power".
Me: Shaym-ee-ya-haz-ah

originally posted by: HorrorRoach
a reply to: Lazarus Short

Hell is a place for spiritual alchemy. Burn away your demons with suffering.

(1) Everyone will exist eternally either in heaven or hell (Daniel 12:2,3; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28; Revelation 20:14,15).

(2) Everyone has only one life in which to determine their destiny (Hebrews 9:27).

(3) Heaven or hell is determined by whether a person believes (puts their trust) in Christ alone to save them (John 3:16, 36, etc.).
Key Passages About Hell

(1) Hell was designed originally for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

(2) Hell will also punish the sin of those who reject Christ (Matthew 13:41,50; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).

(3) Hell is conscious torment.

Matthew 13:50 “furnace of fire…weeping and gnashing of teeth”
Mark 9:48 “where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched”
Revelation 14:10 “he will be tormented with fire and brimstone”

(4) Hell is eternal and irreversible.

Revelation 14:11 “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day and night”
Revelation 20:14 “This is the second death, the lake of fire”
Revelation 20:15 “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”