As a young Christian I have really (and I mean REALLY) been struggling with this "eternal torture" concept. Now that I am reading the Bible myself more I do see these scriptures that support "eternal death" rather than eternal torture. It's just that there are quite a few people who actually attack this belief and INSIST that hell just has to be a place of never-ending torture.

What I can't understand is how these people who claim hell is eternal torture & burning are totally okay with it. I have to wonder if they really, truly believe it. I mean, just think about someone here on earth being burned alive. It's one of the most horrific things ever, one of the worst, most painful things a human can go through, and of course no one takes pleasure in that happening to ANYONE, no matter what their religion is. But typically, the person who is burned is either rescued, or they die after a few minutes...but hell is supposed to be forever! So really, burning forever!

I personally have attended a church that pretty much teaches that we are all evil and we deserve to suffer in hell forever, so the only way we don't is if we accept Jesus. And let me tell you, this hell doctrine has had an awful impact on my life and terrorized me for years. I felt no joy in being "saved", knowing that 70% of the world (about the percentage that isn't Christian) was going to burn in hell. I was only around 10 years old when I first went to "grown-ups" church service and learned about hell, and I went home crying and thinking God hated me if he thought I deserved that. After that I just tried to forget about it, to bury it, but I'd think about it a lot and at times I'd just cry for all the souls who would have such a horrible fate. I refused to get attached to anyone who wasn't a Christian since it would only bring more pain to my life, knowing that they'd burn in hell unless they converted to Christianity. I remember meeting a really nice Jewish girl back in 7th grade, and when I found out she was Jewish I avoided her as much as possible. I didn't want to become her friend. I feel so awful about it, but it was the only way I could cope with the fact that she was going to hell, according to my church.

Now that I am in a young adults Sunday school class at this church, they don't beat around the bush at all about hell. During the past year I have been going through an awful time in my life and am suffering from depression, because of my hellfire fear. I've always felt that there's nothing to be happy about if most of the world will burn in hell. I couldn't even enjoy the things I used to love to do, I couldn't concentrate on my schoolwork, because I was ALWAYS thinking about people burning in hell. But I started to think, if God really is so loving, why WOULD he keep people alive just to burn them? And why would he bring the rest of us so much pain knowing that so many people, and probably including a few that we know, are suffering so horrendously?

So that's when I started looking into the topic of hell myself, and wondering if the fire and such could be metaphors. At this point I would cry hysterically at least once a day over hell, and I started praying to God, just begging him to show me the truth, and begging him not to torture that sweet Jewish girl I knew and many others. When I came across the eternal death belief I did feel relieved. I'm wondering if my prayers are being answered. But I also start to feel down again when I see people insisting that hell IS eternal torment. I guess I shouldn't rely on humans so much for the answer though, and trust God to show me.

Now, in no way do I think that we humans are perfect, or worthy of salvation. I do believe that nobody is perfect, and all humans have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus died for us and offered the free gift of salvation. So when Jesus comes back, unrepentant sinners will need to be destroyed. But not tortured! Was it not God who gave us all the moral conscience and empathy that makes us not even want to torture an animal, let alone a human? So I don't understand why He would do such a thing.

So I suppose I should stop my blathering, but I wanted to share how this hellfire doctrine has made my life hell! And again, I don't understand how so many people can actually believe in it, but be okay with it, and not react the way I did. I just hope God is really answering my prayers. This past few years of my life, and especially the last year, have been extremely difficult and I am trying hard to overcome my fear and depression over this. I'm still getting there, but I feel I'm doing much better. Thanks you for writing this page because I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who feels reassured that God really does love us!

Source of Article

Snowwy: Frosbel,
I am yet to understand what you are trying to prove by your comment after the write-up.
Are you saying, therefore, that any one that tells the consequences of sin being hell-fire and eternal damnation are 'false' teachers? Or you mean Jesus and Paul never said anything about hell?

Do you mean there was nowhere stated in the NT of the consequences of a life of sin?
God gives everyone 'a long rope to pull' as He does not take pleasure in anyone perishing but calls all to repentance and that is why He has given the free gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

God is not wicked, He is just but He cannot BEHOLD EVIL!!!!! His Son acts as this shield to the evil of the world as long as we trust in Him and live by His grace and shun evil practices, so I think the lady just needs proper education, simple.

frosbel:
As we speak many are suffering the consequences of their sin and for those who have not , there is a day of judgement and punishment.

The gospel is repent or perish, not repent or be eternally tormented.

Let us stick with the bible and throw away tradition.

frosbel: Definition of perish
verb
[no object]
1 literary die, especially in a violent or sudden way:
a great part of his army perished of hunger and disease
suffer complete ruin or destruction:


http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/perish

Snowwy:

Simple question Frosbel, does perish in the bible mean physical death or eternal death?

frosbel:

The English bible was translated from Latin, Greek and Hebrew, using words and terms that closely and more accurately reflected the intent of the authors and meaning of words from the original languages.

Not sure why you are now attempting to redefine the English language to fit into your 'lovely' eternal torment doctrine.

In the bible perish means perish and death means death.

Snowwy:

Simply put, when the bible says that a person will die/perish because he sins and did not repent, you Frosbel, using the oxford dictionary terms that to mean he just dies in his body? That is his final consequence, right? Just physical death.
*Amazing*

Snowwy:

Simply put, when the bible says that a person will die/perish because he sins and did not repent, you Frosbel, using the oxford dictionary terms that to mean he just dies in his body? That is his final consequence, right? Just physical death.
*Amazing*

desiree_xo:
hell=eternal torment and torture forever and ever

frosbel:

Man is a living soul and a mortal one at that.

When he dies he is dead , waiting for the final resurrection and judgement.

If after the judgement he is not found worthy of eternal life aka immortality , he will be condemned to an eternal death in the lake of fire.

I advice that you consider this TRUTH and desist from misrepresenting the character of GOD.

seriallink:

What he meant is second death. That's to die eternally not to be tortured eternally like what Sis desiree wrote up there!

Snowwy:

No one 'dies' eternally. Read the very scripture I quoted from revelation 20:14-15. The second death is the Lake of fire and that in itself is eternal torment.

Christianity is not a walk in the park...you have the opportunity to live right now and repent when you sin, do not wait till after death, I beg of you.

Snowwy:

No one 'dies' eternally. Read the very scripture I quoted from revelation 20:14-15. The second death is the Lake of fire and that in itself is eternal torment.

Christianity is not a walk in the park...you have the opportunity to live right now and repent when you sin, do not wait till after death, I beg of you.

seriallink:

Your post is very funny! You got the wrong guy bro. Go back and read your bible very well!

Are you saying God will give sinners eternal life in hell? They will not die but live in hell for eternity Are humans immortals?

Snowwy:

We can see who has not been reading their bibles.

Read Revelation 14:9-11, Revelation 20:10

If that is not enough for you to understand we are not here for child's play then I cannot help you.
Nice day.

ijawkid:

You still have not answered if ""death"" and hell"" will be tormented too.....

ijawkid:

You still have not answered if ""death"" and hell"" will be tormented too.....

obadiah777: IJAWKID MAN NO SEE YA BREAKLIGHT SEF, WETIN DEY SHELE ? ABI YOU DONE GO APOSTATE

ijawkid:

Hahaahahahahahahaha......

I dey o.....

E be like na you go hide some where wey man no fit take. I see you....

Abi some heathens don capture you??....lol

Logicboy03:


How can Buzugee be captured by heathens. I heard that he had been caputring heathens and re-educating them.


There was this guy that became a born again christian. He was a heathen but after being taken to Buzugee's dungeon basement of horrors holiness, he changed.


After being tied to a cross, being flogged and forced to memorize bible passages, the heathen learnt that Jesus suffered for him.

ijawkid:

Hahaahahahahahahaha......

I dey o.....

E be like na you go hide some where wey man no fit take. I see you....

Abi some heathens don capture you??....lol

Logicboy03:


How can Buzugee be captured by heathens. I heard that he had been caputring heathens and re-educating them.


There was this guy that became a born again christian. He was a heathen but after being taken to Buzugee's dungeon basement of horrors holiness, he changed.


After being tied to a cross, being flogged and forced to memorize bible passages, the heathen learnt that Jesus suffered for him.

seriallink:

I don laugh fall for ground

Na new deliverance method maybe the heathen carry legion of demons

Logicboy03:


How can Buzugee be captured by heathens. I heard that he had been caputring heathens and re-educating them.


There was this guy that became a born again christian. He was a heathen but after being taken to Buzugee's dungeon basement of horrors holiness, he changed.


After being tied to a cross, being flogged and forced to memorize bible passages, the heathen learnt that Jesus suffered for him.

ijawkid:

Lmao.....

Logicboy you no well @ all......

Then you better not let buzugee meet you one on one.....lol....