First of all, the Bible is inconclusive in its teaching on the subject
of hell...

When some reference to hell appears in posts on this NG (almost on a
daily basis), it almost invariably reflects a "hell" that doesn't come
so much from the Bible and theology, but rather from "Faust" and
cartoons, folklore, and popular cathedral art. So, if you would be
willing to humor one old Christian theist, by your leave I would
appreciate your consideration of another approach to the subject.

First of all, the Bible is inconclusive in its teaching on the subject
of hell which has resulted in three entirely different theories.

(1) CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY holds that those who are lost will be
annihilated and cease to exist altogether, since God "alone has
immortality" (1 Tim. 6.16). The words 'perish', 'destruction,' and the
'second death' in reference to hell are understood as total extinction,
since God cannot allow evil to remain forever in His universe.
2 Thess. 2:10 "those who are to perish, because they refused to love the
truth and so to be saved."
Matt. 7:13 - "...the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to
destruction, and those who enter by it are many."
Rev. 2:11 - "He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death."

(2) UNIVERSALISM declares that finally _all men_ will in some way be
saved and _all evil_ will be restored to its original state of goodness.
John 12:32 - [Jesus said] "and I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men to myself."
Colossians 1:21-22 - " For in him [Christ] all the fullnes of God was
pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things, whether on
earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
1 Tim. 2:4 - "God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth."
2 Pet. 3:9 - "The Lord ... is forebearing toward you, no wishing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

(3) ETERNAL TORMENT is the view that endless suffering will be the state
of the lost, and this based on rigid and literal interpretations of such
passages as:
Rev. 20:10 - "the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of
fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they
will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Mark 9:47 - [Jesus said] "If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out;
it is better for you to enter kingdom of God with one eye than with two
eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm dos not die, and the first
is not quenched." The idea of eternal torment is one of the most
appalling conceptions which has ever afflicted man's mind. No normal
person can seriously hold it in regard to anyone they care for, and it's
high time for it to be abandoned by all Christians.

But the horror of hell remains, for hell is the complete and final ruin
of human personality. When we see people who feed on themselves in
malice, hate, meanness and evil, we get a clear glimpse of hell. Life
becomes rotten from within. A completely self-centered person is
usually quite self-satisfied and unaware of what real goodness is.
OTOH, Heaven is the joy of outgoing in love and fellowship and service
to others. Hell, its opposite, is a constant shriveling back into
self-love--the perishing of self in its own emptiness, a second death.
That's really about all that can be reasonably said from the Bible's
inconclusive teaching on the subject.

The difference between heaven and hell has been described this way. In
hell everyone is seated around a huge table with every imaginable good
thing one could want to eat. However, it must be eaten with very long
handled spoons, and everyone at table is sweating, straining, and in
great misery trying to get food into his mouth--but, alas, the spoon
handle is too long. In heaven is the same scenario, a table loaded with
delectible food of all imaginable sorts. However, there they all are
having a glorious time feeding each another with their long handled
spoons.

First of all, the Bible is inconclusive in its teaching on the subject
of hell which has resulted in three entirely different theories.

When some reference to hell appears in posts on this NG (almost on a
daily basis), it almost invariably reflects a "hell" that doesn't come
so much from the Bible and theology, but rather from "Faust" and
cartoons, folklore, and popular cathedral art. So, if you would be
willing to humor one old Christian theist, by your leave I would
appreciate your consideration of another approach to the subject.

First of all, the Bible is inconclusive in its teaching on the subject
of hell which has resulted in three entirely different theories.

(1) CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY holds that those who are lost will be
annihilated and cease to exist altogether, since God "alone has
immortality" (1 Tim. 6.16). The words 'perish', 'destruction,' and the
'second death' in reference to hell are understood as total extinction,
since God cannot allow evil to remain forever in His universe.
2 Thess. 2:10 "those who are to perish, because they refused to love the
truth and so to be saved."
Matt. 7:13 - "...the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to
destruction, and those who enter by it are many."
Rev. 2:11 - "He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death."

(2) UNIVERSALISM declares that finally _all men_ will in some way be
saved and _all evil_ will be restored to its original state of goodness.
John 12:32 - [Jesus said] "and I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men to myself."
Colossians 1:21-22 - " For in him [Christ] all the fullnes of God was
pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things, whether on
earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
1 Tim. 2:4 - "God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth."
2 Pet. 3:9 - "The Lord ... is forebearing toward you, no wishing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

(3) ETERNAL TORMENT is the view that endless suffering will be the state
of the lost, and this based on rigid and literal interpretations of such
passages as:
Rev. 20:10 - "the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of
fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they
will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Mark 9:47 - [Jesus said] "If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out;
it is better for you to enter kingdom of God with one eye than with two
eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm dos not die, and the first
is not quenched." The idea of eternal torment is one of the most
appalling conceptions which has ever afflicted man's mind. No normal
person can seriously hold it in regard to anyone they care for, and it's
high time for it to be abandoned by all Christians.

But the horror of hell remains, for hell is the complete and final ruin
of human personality. When we see people who feed on themselves in
malice, hate, meanness and evil, we get a clear glimpse of hell. Life
becomes rotten from within. A completely self-centered person is
usually quite self-satisfied and unaware of what real goodness is.
OTOH, Heaven is the joy of outgoing in love and fellowship and service
to others. Hell, its opposite, is a constant shriveling back into
self-love--the perishing of self in its own emptiness, a second death.
That's really about all that can be reasonably said from the Bible's
inconclusive teaching on the subject.

The difference between heaven and hell has been described this way. In
hell everyone is seated around a huge table with every imaginable good
thing one could want to eat. However, it must be eaten with very long
handled spoons, and everyone at table is sweating, straining, and in
great misery trying to get food into his mouth--but, alas, the spoon
handle is too long. In heaven is the same scenario, a table loaded with
delectible food of all imaginable sorts. However, there they all are
having a glorious time feeding each another with their long handled
spoons.

methodios (Denny)

When some reference to hell appears in posts on this NG (almost on a
daily basis), it almost invariably reflects a "hell" that doesn't come
so much from the Bible and theology, but rather from "Faust" and
cartoons, folklore, and popular cathedral art. So, if you would be
willing to humor one old Christian theist, by your leave I would
appreciate your consideration of another approach to the subject.

First of all, the Bible is inconclusive in its teaching on the subject
of hell which has resulted in three entirely different theories.

But the horror of hell remains, for hell is the complete and final ruin
of human personality.

When we see people who feed on themselves in
malice, hate, meanness and evil, we get a clear glimpse of hell.

Life
becomes rotten from within. A completely self-centered person is
usually quite self-satisfied and unaware of what real goodness is.

OTOH, Heaven is the joy of outgoing in love and fellowship and service
to others.

Hell, its opposite, is a constant shriveling back into
self-love--the perishing of self in its own emptiness, a second death.

The difference between heaven and hell has been described this way. In
hell everyone is seated around a huge table with every imaginable good
thing one could want to eat. However, it must be eaten with very long
handled spoons, and everyone at table is sweating, straining, and in
great misery trying to get food into his mouth--but, alas, the spoon
handle is too long. In heaven is the same scenario, a table loaded with
delectible food of all imaginable sorts. However, there they all are
having a glorious time feeding each another with their long handled
spoons.