My biggest problem with the Bible
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Our church teaches that God is omniscient and knows ahead of time what will happen. That means he created this world knowing that billions of humans would burn in hell for eternity, gnashing of teeth blah blah. I don't get that. Does anyone else?"
How cruel. If God has already seen the entire future,
why not just fast forward the video tape and be done with it?
Thankfully, it's not true. God has a plan. He is calling out a people for his
namesake. Bob Enyart asks (I paraphrase) "How many hairs are on the boogie man's
head?"
God does not see a future that does not exist. Read
Battle Royale X: Does God Know Your Entire Future?
(request a written copy) or watch the
Open Theism DVD.
Also see:
Does God Elect Everyone?
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "...[T]he...image of God as the eternal sadist doesn't hold water when combined with the God of love?"
God is holy (Ex 15:11; 1 Sa 2:2) and just (De 32:4; Isa 45:21). When you sin against an eternal God, your punishment is rightfully eternal (Isa. 34:8–10; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 3:12; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 18:8; Matt. 25:41, 46; Mark 3:29; Luke 3:17; John 5:29; Heb. 6:2; Heb. 10:28–31; Rev. 14:10, 11; Rev. 19:3; Rev. 20:10). Swanson, James ; Nave, Orville: New Nave's. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, 1994.
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "The penalty is eternal. You don't think they get to come back to life do you? Oh, wait, you do think they are resurrected unto life eternal, just in a different location."
Human beings were created to live forever somewhere (2
Thes 1:9). We will live forever in the presence of the Lord or apart from him (Isa.
34:8–10; Dan.
12:2; Matt.
3:12; Matt.
10:28; Matt.
18:8; Matt.
25:41, 46; Mark
3:29; Luke
3:17; John
5:29; Heb.
6:2; Heb.
10:28–31; Rev.
14:10, 11; Rev.
19:3; Rev.
20:10).
See:
Eternal Life, Eternal Death (everlasting)
"You are confused."
About what? Mt 25:41, 46.
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "...[W]ow, it looks like people need to sit back and study the literal meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words that so many have translated as "eternal.""
The word αἰώνιος means eternal, an unlimited duration.
The word κόλασις means punishment (Mt
25:46 Word Study).
Hell is described as: everlasting punishment (Mt
25:46), everlasting fire (Mt
25:41), everlasting burnings (Isa
33:14), a furnace of fire (Mt
13:42,50),
a lake of fire (Re
20:15), fire and brimstone (Re
14:10), an unquenchable fire (Mt
3:12), devouring fire (Isa
33:14). Torrey, R.A.: The New Topical Text Book
: A Scriptural Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian
Workers. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos research Systems, Inc., 1995, c1897
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Study to show theyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. In other words, get your definitions from a lexicon, not some author who hasn't done his homework."
You don't know what he means?
"...[E]ternal describes the punishment..."
Right.
The Bible does not say temporary fire. It says everlasting fire (Mt
25:41). Our decision must be made on this side
of the grave. We cannot pray people out of
Purgatory (there is no such place [2
Cor 5:8]
).
See:
Purgatory
"You still don't get it."
Let's get specific, Bob!
I could guess what your point is or you could just make it.
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "Read some St. Augustine."
Response to comment [from a Christian]: " Ya'll keep saying God is love and I know he is from 99.99999% of the Bible..."
God is 100% loving (2 Co 13:11; 1 Jn 4:8). Do you want
him to wink at sin or lower the bar of heaven? Wouldn't that make heaven hell?
If God is not just he is not good." Ronald L. Dart ~ Zech. 7:12
"...He was willing also that many would go to hell too. I don't get this."
Why should evil win? We will have a large family in our
heavenly home filled with others who love their creator (Heb 12:2, Ro 8:18).
"The doors of hell are locked on the inside" C.S. Lewis
The Problem of Pain
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: [The Bible does not say temporary fire. It says everlasting fire (Mt 25:41).] "But it doesn't say anyone will be in it forever."
Hell is described as: everlasting punishment (Mt
25:46). Annihilationism is not biblical.
See:
Is
Hell Really Endless?
[Mt 25:46] "[W]hat is everlasting...?"
The word αἰώνιος means eternal, an unlimited duration.
See:
Mt 25:45 Word Study
"Destroyed once..."
It gets worse.
Re 20:14-15 J Vernon McGee
My
biggest problem with the Bible