How Does Going to Hell Look Like?

reply to post by NewAgeMan

Jesus himself has indicated that His return will be such that no one will be able to point in any particular direction and say there he is!

It's something that is sudden, all at once and from everywhere, even coming on the clouds of the heavens as the world turns.

That does not mean He will return as a spirit. That is completely unbiblical.

The Bible says He will return the same way and in the same place that he left AS HE PROMISED (acts 1:11). If Jesus does not come back the way He promised in Scripture then we cannot trust the Scripture on what it says about anything about Him.

I wonder if you also deny that Christ took up the same body in which he died at the resurrection?

reply to post by RevelationGeneration


Do you take everything in the Bible as fact?
Remember when it was written humans didn't understand the world and came up with what they thought at the time....we have moved on, the message is good but it seriously needs updating or it will die off.

RevelationGeneration
reply to post by NewAgeMan

 

What do you mean? Jesus is a person not a Spirit and He is returning in bodily form.

When he comes back, as per your interpretation, how big do you think he'll be, about 5'11"? Or will he start out HUGE just to scare the crap out of everyone, then shrink down to normal size, on landing? Will it be televised? I understand he'll come from east to west, on the clouds of the heavens like the rising sun, but from what particular direction I wonder, and at what speed.

Seriously, in spite of all the spiritual realities I'd outlined in previous posts above, which is what they are, as a way of seeing God, ourselves, our fellow man and the cosmos in the right way, in heart, mind and soul and spirit - I do believe that Jesus also resides in an abode of living light called heaven in full bodily form, but with a magnificent spiritual dimension, to intercede on our behalf. I hope to meet him some day in fact, personally, so I know God's a person, but I also know that God is Spirit who remains unchanging from age to age, yet who filled a human being to the full without measure in order so that we might be reconciled to God.

You assume much too much about my views, and in your purely literalist reality/worldview, what will you do if some of these things turn out to have been spiritual allegories pointing to a great and deeper reality? Will you call God a liar?

That's the thing with hanging your hat on a strictly literalist interpretation, because it could be a way for the evil one to separate you from God when it turns out that some parts are not entirely true or accurate in a literal sense.

Atheists love to point out that if any part of the Bible as it's taken literally isn't true, that the whole thing must be thrown out, which is utterly absurd, but people like you help their case and may even be doing so either knowingly or unwittingly.

Yours is the sin of Bibliolatry or worshiping the letter of the word over the spirit it was meant to convey, which is a spirit of Love.

RevelationGeneration
reply to post by NewAgeMan

 

The Bible says He will return the same way and in the same place that he left AS HE PROMISED (acts 1:11). If Jesus does not come back the way He promised in Scripture then we cannot trust the Scripture on what it says about anything about Him.

I wonder if you also deny that Christ took up the same body in which he died at the resurrection?

There you go, my point exactly that I just made in the post above. You might just be working for the wrong side as an unwitting dupe.

There is other scripture that does not say that at all and makes it very clear that it's not particularized, and that no one will be able to point in any particular direction and say "there he is!" or "here he comes!".

He did not die at the resurrection, so yes he took up the same body, of course, and neither did he "twin" at the cross (with his better half going straight up), to embark on a life of excess and self-indulgence and self-gratification although God knows if anyone deserved to, it was Jesus, after everything that he'd been though, but that kind of thing just wasn't in his character, thus my idea about his annual celebration of the winter solstice, perhaps even as a reminder to himself to keep himself in line! LOL (he can handle it, don't worry for me re: SACRILEGE!)

I also think that during his post-tomb encounters with his friends that he employed the art of disguise, but like everything he did, he had a perfectly good reason and hey what they can do to a man once they could try a second time..! no what I mean is when they were permitted to recognize him as he broke bread, which is highly symbolic.

There's more to this story than meets the eye, including the literalist eye. Also, the Gospels were written as Apocrypha, meaning not that they are "untrue" in the modern sense of that word, but that they both reveal and hide, and I've found that they reveal as much or even moreso by what they hide as what they reveal, all of which makes the person of Jesus even more compelling, and more sympathetic (in both directions from him to us and us to him).

Oh he was God in the flesh alright, but not in the way that you would understand it.

What a sent-calling, what a hero, and more!

I've sought and followed Jesus so closely he's shared things with me about himself and life that would never occur to you in a million years in your "worship" of him as a God and nothing less.

I know him as a true friend, and a brother, albeit an elder brother, he's everything anyone could hope for, and then some, but it cannot be discovered and discerned along purely literal, doctrinal lines.

My Jesus is really alive, not a concept or just a description.

I'm not sure that you even really know him, because if you did you would see clearly how much I love him and have sought him out, and you would not be ridiculing or criticizing me according to your scriptural prowess. No the things I'm saying would intrigue you and you would want to investigate them and explore them, and weigh them with evaluative discernment and not just the dead letter of your Biblioatry.


P.S. And yes, with the Santa conjecture, I do realize that I've engaged in a little bit of what might be called Biblical fan fiction, but I'm not trying to re-write the story or add anything to it, but I sure do like to speculate about those hills yonder beyond the cross of a room (see my avatar) in contemplating the resurrection life. For me it's a calling to have the courage, to be happy, as much as to be willing to suffer for the sake of what's right and true.

reply to post by NewAgeMan


According to the bible people who deny that Jesus rose in the flesh or is not coming back in the flesh, by saying He rose as or is coming back as a Spirit or in some other form other than His physical body, are of the spirit of anti-Christ. This is what the Jehovah witnesses believe. Just like that website you linked to which is a load of new age baloney.

I'm not trying to sound offensive but It seems to me that you try to add your own weird, baseless, new age hippie beliefs to the Bible.

2 John 7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

John considered it one of the ultimate denials of the message to deny flesh of Christ either before or after His resurrection.

I would strongly urge you to pray and meditate about this.

Christ will return in the same material body that he resurrected in. This is not merely my interpretation but what the bible teaches.

Edit: since you edited yours:

Oh he was God in the flesh alright, but not in the way that you would understand it.

I would love to hear this.

I've sought and followed Jesus so closely he's shared things with me about himself and life that would never occur to you in a million years in your "worship" of him as a God and nothing less

Now I sense pride speaking. But I'd be highly interested to know by which means Jesus has shared things with you. Yes I worship Him as God and so should you if you truly believe in Him. You're the one who seems to be denying His humanity when you claim He is returning as some sort of spirit creature - not me.

Yours is the sin of Bibliolatry or worshiping the letter of the word over the spirit it was meant to convey, which is a spirit of Love.

Believing what the Bible says about itself is not bibliolatry.

reply to post by RevelationGeneration


I've shared enough and more than enough. The spirit tells me not to get into this any further with you.

The love of Jesus doesn't dwell in you as far as I can tell.

Do you think that your scriptural understanding can save you from hell, the same one that you are assuring everyone else, me included, that we are destined for, along with the fine details of the nature of our torment that you are so well versed in?

Of course, as much as I have a dislike for you, I wouldn't wish that kind of thing upon my worst enemy, ever.

I will not stop working though to try to introduce and express the loving invitation of Jesus to others, both in word and in deed, but not to try to gain brownie points or anything so foolish.

I am a sinner, but in spite of myself, I love God and he loved(s) me, and is with me. He has protected me, and safeguarded me through trials and tribulations you can't imagine i.e.: dark nights of the soul.

Good bye. And no I won't tell you anymore or about the how or why or wheretofors as to how I've discovered the things I've discovered, and it's not the kind of story one ought to share in public anyway. Some things are better left unsaid and you know "pearls before swine" and all that, you understand I'm sure.


Best Regards (as much as I am able to muster right now),

NAM aka Bob
In Christ.

P.S. Yes, I realize I may have hurt your feelings a bit, and it pains me to have to do it, but as we all know sometimes "that which hurts, instructs" (Benjamin Franklin) and, that there is also a great and loving hand capable of wiping away the tears from our eyes.

Or did it effect you in the least? if not, then it is I who really worry, for you. I will pray for you. Sorry if I was so harsh, but I think you need a bit of a Christian ass-kicking of sorts, for all the right reasons.

reply to post by NewAgeMan


Which "spirit" is this though? If it's the same spirit who told you Jesus is not returning in His physical body I would be very cautious that you are hearing God's voice and not that of the devil.

I love you enough to tell you the truth which you resist because I believe you are not truly saved and born again of The Holy Spirit. Instead you have accepted one of the many false Christ's the bible forewarns about and fashioned a God in your mind.

I will pray for you in the hope that you come to know the real Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

reply to post by RevelationGeneration


Oh the irony.

I just hope you're open to a great joke told by God at both of our expense, in the final analysis.

That's the way God rolls. He's as humorous as He is loving. Did you know that about him? If you don't I will pray for you that you will at least be open to that possibility. And no, just for the record I'm not referring to some sort of evil laughter nor the spirit of the evil one who's a hater, don't buy into that or project that kind of thing on me, please and thank you.

Oh and would you be ok if it were to turn out that you are mistaken about the 97.5% thing? Would it be ok if the real God has another plan than to continually allow the bulk of all humanity to go into everlasting torment, eternally?

Could you accept that, I'm not saying that I'm right, only that God is free, even free from what prophets might haven written down and He can do what he wishes, and there's always a way to keep a promise from another angle, especially when we're talking about God.

Be open, I'm serious. Don't close yourself off to possibilities when for God all things are possible. You cannot use God's word against him and when you meet God there will be no reference Bible at hand.

Best Regards,

NAM aka Bob
In Christ.

reply to post by NewAgeMan


I thought a spirit told you not to continue talking with me?

God never contradicts Himself, so He’ll never do something contradictory to Scripture. Do you know God is also as just as He is loving? A just judge will not let sin go unpunished. It is not my wish for anyone to go to Hell, but that's why I share the gospel with them. Regarding the prophets here's what Jesus said about Moses: "But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" - John 5:47

~RG~

reply to post by RevelationGeneration

People will experience real physical pain in Hell, it won't just be bad feelings I'm afraid.

That isn't a bad thing.

reply to post by AthlonSavage


Ah, one who thinks that almost everyone is going to hell, and another who's more than ready and willing to inflict the torture. You guys make a good pair.

NewAgeMan
reply to post by AthlonSavage

 

Ah, one who thinks that almost everyone is going to hell, and another who's more than ready and willing to inflict the torture. You guys make a good pair.

Actually Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:14 that few people ever make it to heaven...

If you believed in Him you would believe His words!

reply to post by RevelationGeneration


Will you call God a liar to his face if He has interpreted his own word, in the final analysis in a way and a manner that defies your own expectation based on your understanding of his word?

I only say this because there must be a fatal flaw in your argument in so far as God is a God of love who it pleased to share his kingdom with all his children (looking around), who did not create this world and humanity, as a great funnel into hell when they fall short of his glory, In other words the work of Christ must exceed in some way, your present understanding, which is why I shared with you "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis, to help you see another way, because indeed there is not enough time to "save" them all by "the great commission". It just doesn't make any sense, your view.

And you yourself might get locked into the wrong position, if you are not open-minded to all possibilities, where by human resources alone, what is impossible is possible for God.

I had to say something, because to be honest, I'm more concerned about you, than "them" as it relates to this issue. You may be in error, even in grave error.

reply to post by RevelationGeneration

If you believed in Him you would believe His words!

Jesus was a Salemans Jerk, know one will get to heaven.

reply to post by RevelationGeneration


Well, because of my love for him and increasing understanding of his ways, I'll be doing my best if given the opportunity to convince him otherwise.

Frankly I believe that Jesus crashed the gates of hell, to give everyone the opportunity to find God and heaven in the end, and in truth there may be only ONE who cannot be trusted having been proven untrustworthy time and time again.

I don't think that hell was made for human souls.

God can change his mind too, or like I said, keep a promise without violating his integrity, even if it means doing so in another way than we might have expected by a strict literal interpretation.

It's not a happy Gospel you preach my friend, and it sets an impossible standard.

AthlonSavage
reply to post by RevelationGeneration

 

If you believed in Him you would believe His words!

Jesus was a Salemans Jerk, know one will get to heaven.

..until they learn to spell and compose a proper sentence.

reply to post by NewAgeMan

..until they learn to spell and compose a proper sentence.

Jesus was made up by the Romans, it all a fictional story the church has been using for thousands of years to get you to handover your meager fortune.

reply to post by AthlonSavage


That's totally false. Stop trying to peddle it. We tried to kill him once isn't that enough?

reply to post by NewAgeMan


You won't be convincing God of anything... You will be on your knee's begging for mercy unless you repent and trust in the real Christ of the Bible. The Gospel is offensive to those who are perishing...

God does not change his mind in an eternal sense.

reply to post by NewAgeMan


I have news for you. We are not all God's children and not everyone will get to share His kingdom.

You preach a type of new age universalism which is completely foreign to the bible.

As far as I'm aware C.S. Lewis was an orthodox anglican and didn't believe that either.