Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How are pre-Christians made perfect? | Heb 11:40 | Rowdy | 114740 | ||
I'm not questioning your use of the scriptures as they are there to give us a glimpse of what Hell is like. All I'm saying is after this world is "burned up" and the whole universe as God created it is destroyed, God's spiritual world is going to be all that's left. There won't be any oxygen or fuel with which to burn the proverbial "fires of Hell." There won't be any "nashing of teeth," at least not any physical teeth that you and I know about. I've studied on this topic for quite some time and have compared this figurative language to that in Revelation and Isaiah. In my opinion it seems that our Lord uses this kind of language when He's trying to describe something for which we don't have a common point of reference. In other words, just as we don't have a clue what Heaven is really going to look like, I don't think God has been able to describe what Hell is going to be like. I don't think you really expect to see "streets of gold," or "palaces of pearl," "seas of glass" in Heaven for the same reasons as stated above, do you?. Those kind of hard, physcial items of earthly elements won't exist either after Judgment Day. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite certain there will be Heaven and Hell and in the mean time, it looks like according to scripture there now exists Hades and Paradise. Now what those actual places look like as to actual details, I don't think the Bible reveals it in the very same kind of details that we're going to recognize when we arrive at one of those places. The things we do know for an absolute fact is that Heaven is going to be wonderful because it's with God and Hell is going to be a very miserable place because it's without God. It seems the figurative language was used to motivate us to respond appropriately: love for Heaven and intense hatred for Hell. I'm sorry, but the only scripture I can recall to support my conclusions on this matter from Peter. 2 Pet 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. I'd be interested in your response. I realize this is kinda radical and you might take a while. God bless. |
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2 | How are pre-Christians made perfect? | Heb 11:40 | bstudent | 114801 | ||
Jesus taught in illustrations not only because it is an effective teaching technique, but to reach the hearts of meek lovers of truth. Thus, much of what he said was lost on the prideful. (Mt 13:10-15,34; 11:25) Studying the Bible is like putting together a puzzle, we find the corner pieces easily, then the flat edge pieces, then perhaps certain less complicated sections, and finally the hardest pieces have nowhere to go except their proper places. The problem with many is that they refuse to put the obvious first and only allow the more difficult verses to conform to these basic truths. God had an original purpose for the earth - that it will be inhabited by righteous people that will join with his intelligent spirit creatures in praising him forever. This has not changed and must be accomplished. (Is 55:11) The earth will thus always be in inhabited and never be destroyed. (Is 45:18; Ps 37:11,29;115:16) It is the wicked that will be torn away from the earth, those ruining the earth. (Ps 37:10; Pr 2:21,22; 2Pe 3:7) You use Isaiah to help explain Revelation. Excellent! Notice Rev 21:1. What is "sea" that is no more? Isaiah 57:20 states:"But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud." Yes, the "wicked" will be no more. Now we start to see that the "new heaven and new earth" must refer to persons as well. After all, why would heaven be destroyed? I think the new heaven is the kingdom of Jesus Christ that will bring to ruin all human governments (Dan 2:44; 1Co 15:24-26)and usher in the peaceful reign promised for the "new earth" of righteous people that shun the current ungodly world and its desires. (1 Jo 2:15-17) I would love to discuss more with you. Others at this website (edb for instance) only try to label persons with conclusions counter to their own, while failing to address specific statements with Scriptural references. I trust you will prove more Christlike and have pity on me if I am misguided. Thanks in advance. |
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