Comments on: Is Hell Real? http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/ An attempt to write about how I am feeling at the moment about God, nature, family, friends, animals, and other important -- and not so important -- things. Thu, 17 May 2012 11:38:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: e-Mom http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-3396 e-Mom Mon, 19 Jun 2006 07:54:49 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-3396 I have an interesting book called "Four Views on Hell" edited by Crockett and Gundry, published by Zondervan. Essentially, there are four views of hell being debated by theologians today: Literal (Walvoord); Metaphorical (Crockett); Purgatorial (Hayes) and Conditional (Pinnock). It's a good informative read. My personal view? Like the Pinnock, the venerable John Stott and others, I believe Scripture is very clear about unsaved souls being "burned up" like chaff; the annihilationist view. I see the metaphor of utter destruction repeated over and over in Scripture. (Sodom and Gomorrah is one example.) Eternal torment is reserved for Satan and his minions (Revelation), because they are fallen <i>eternal</i> spirits. By contrast, mortal souls are NOT eternal (that's Greek philosophy). Only the saved are filled with the eternal Spirit of God; only the saved are immortal, and destined for eternity. So why are unsaved humans utterly destroyed? Because unbelievers have refused the loving, forgiving, outstretched hand of God. I have an interesting book called “Four Views on Hell” edited by Crockett and Gundry, published by Zondervan. Essentially, there are four views of hell being debated by theologians today: Literal (Walvoord); Metaphorical (Crockett); Purgatorial (Hayes) and Conditional (Pinnock). It’s a good informative read.

My personal view? Like the Pinnock, the venerable John Stott and others, I believe Scripture is very clear about unsaved souls being “burned up” like chaff; the annihilationist view. I see the metaphor of utter destruction repeated over and over in Scripture. (Sodom and Gomorrah is one example.) Eternal torment is reserved for Satan and his minions (Revelation), because they are fallen eternal spirits. By contrast, mortal souls are NOT eternal (that’s Greek philosophy). Only the saved are filled with the eternal Spirit of God; only the saved are immortal, and destined for eternity. So why are unsaved humans utterly destroyed? Because unbelievers have refused the loving, forgiving, outstretched hand of God.

]]> By: Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-3044 Bill Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:11:40 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-3044 Thanks for visiting -- and joining the discussion. Faith is indeed not about intellectual belief -- but a relationship with God and others. Thanks for visiting — and joining the discussion. Faith is indeed not about intellectual belief — but a relationship with God and others.

]]> By: Thomas http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-3034 Thomas Wed, 14 Jun 2006 01:45:37 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-3034 C.S. Lewis was an accomplished logician and loved to develop proofs, but all proofs erode absent the assumptions on which they are based, which themselves cannot be proved. So we are left with faith. It's so good to know that you don't have to be brilliant to know God. He isn't linear anyway and our puny attempts to describe or pidgeon hole Him and His ways are fruitless. Nor does He send anyone anywhere for being "wrong." It's just so sad that so many neo-Calvinists are so focused on mechanics and so absent the Holy Spirit. Christ said Believe IN me, not believe ABOUT me. Get it? C.S. Lewis was an accomplished logician and loved to develop proofs, but all proofs erode absent the assumptions on which they are based, which themselves cannot be proved. So we are left with faith. It’s so good to know that you don’t have to be brilliant to know God. He isn’t linear anyway and our puny attempts to describe or pidgeon hole Him and His ways are fruitless. Nor does He send anyone anywhere for being “wrong.” It’s just so sad that so many neo-Calvinists are so focused on mechanics and so absent the Holy Spirit. Christ said Believe IN me, not believe ABOUT me. Get it?

]]> By: John Dekker http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-3004 John Dekker Tue, 13 Jun 2006 05:04:24 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-3004 Excellent! Excellent!

]]> By: Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-3002 Bill Tue, 13 Jun 2006 01:52:48 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-3002 I checked out the book from the library today -- hope to take it with me when I go to the beach next week. I checked out the book from the library today — hope to take it with me when I go to the beach next week.

]]> By: John Dekker http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-3000 John Dekker Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:44:36 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-3000 Actually, that's not how Lewis portrays it. No, the problem was that they were <i>wrong</i>. Actually, that’s not how Lewis portrays it.

No, the problem was that they were wrong.

]]> By: Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-2989 Bill Mon, 12 Jun 2006 17:49:09 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-2989 And you find out that there’s a Theological Society in Hell. ;) I guess the problem is they spend tpoo much time "theorizing" and too little time living! And you find out that there’s a Theological Society in Hell. ;)

I guess the problem is they spend tpoo much time “theorizing” and too little time living!

]]> By: John Dekker http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-2935 John Dekker Mon, 12 Jun 2006 01:32:59 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-2935 Oh, absolutely! It's by C. S. Lewis, for a start. :) The setting is a busload of people going from hell to heaven. It brings out the idea of hell being separation from others, and emphasises that people in Hell choose to be there. And you find out that there's a Theological Society in Hell. ;) Oh, absolutely! It’s by C. S. Lewis, for a start. :)

The setting is a busload of people going from hell to heaven. It brings out the idea of hell being separation from others, and emphasises that people in Hell choose to be there.

And you find out that there’s a Theological Society in Hell. ;)

]]> By: Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-2934 Bill Mon, 12 Jun 2006 01:18:15 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-2934 No -- that's one I have not read. Would you recommend it? No — that’s one I have not read.

Would you recommend it?

]]> By: John Dekker http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/comment-page-1/#comment-2933 John Dekker Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:58:34 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/2006/06/08/is-hell-real/#comment-2933 I assume that you've read <i>The Great Divorce</i>? I assume that you’ve read The Great Divorce?

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