Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: torbakke@loke.idt.unit.no (Torbjoern Bakke) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Hell Message-ID: Date: 13 May 91 07:55:55 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH) Lines: 55 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article lshaw@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (logan shaw) writes: > [... deleted stuff ...] > > Anyway, looking at this has brought me to the conclusion that perhaps > hell is more of an incinerator and than an eternal torture chamber. It occured to me that it might be both an incinerator and and eternal torture chamber. How is this possible?? Let us se what the bible says: Rev 19.20: "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet .... These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Rev 20.10: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." So - these verses tells us that the false prophet, the beast and the devil will be tormented forever. Maybe they have eternal life, and because of this they will not die, not even in that lake of fire. It is a fire that never shall be quenched, so they will be in the fire forever. These verses does not tell us that human souls will be tormented forever. Let us now read on: Rev 20.14-15: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the SECOND DEATH. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev 21.7-8: "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbeleaving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the SECOND DEATH." What does this tell us? My interpretation is like this: Our bodies and souls are mortal. The lake of fire is the end of everything - it is the second death for the humans that are cast into it. The bible says that it is death, not an eternal life of suffering. I believe that those human beings that end up in the lake of fire will die instantly, they will not be tormented forever. I might be wrong, and I might have overlooked something important, so I certainly would like comments on these thoughts. God bless you all. ----- Torbjorn Bakke (Research Assistant) Internet: torbakke@idt.unit.no Div. of Computer Systems & Telematics torbakke@solan.unit.no Norwegian Institute of Technology Bitnet : TBAKKE@NORUNIT