How Do You Define Heaven and Hell?

Published on April 21, 2004 By JillUser In Religion

I used to think there was really only one outlook on Heaven and Hell. Heaven was the whole Pearly Gates scenario and Hell is the Fire and Brimstone scenario. I have always thought those deinitions were too simplistic to buy. I also fall short of grasping the concept of eternal bliss or eternal torture. I find it hard to think of anything I would want to do forever or anything that I think is bad enough to warrant eternal torture.

This leads me to wonder what other people regard as Heaven and Hell. Sherye mentioned that she thought that Heaven was being in God's presence and Hell is being deprived of Him. What is your take on the subject?

I tend to think that they are the ultimate in parental reward and punishment claims, i.e. if you behave we will get a toy (promising Heaven) or if you don't behave you are going to get a spank (threatening Hell). Heaven is the carrot some need and Hell is the stick others need. Maybe they are just stories to keep us in line.

Comments (Page 4)

dwill00484

on Apr 26, 2004

First off to prove or disprove anything about the Bible we need to establish that it is a reliable source. When we studied history we saw that many people living in the fourteen hundreds thought the earth was flat. However turn to Isaiah 40:22. The book of Isaiah was written in the eighth century B.C.E. that was about 2200 years before these people were alive.
Also look at Job 26: 7. This text was written in the 15th century B.C.E.(which adds another seven hundred years before the fourteen hundreds) It reads: “[God] is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing.

So we can see its contents are scientifically sound on matters that human researchers discovered only at a later date. Also the fact that Job and Isaiah knew of these truths gives evidence that they were indeed inspired by a higher power, God.

There are many archeological findings that support the Bibles historical accuracy. This is just one example. The existence of King David was for many years found only in the writings of the Bible. In 1993 an inscription referring to the “House of David” was found in the ruins of the ancient Israelite city of Dan. The inscription was part of a shattered monument from the ninth century B.C.E., commemorating a victory over the Israelites by their enemy.
Events covered in the Bible are linked to specific people and dates. (1 Kings 14:25; Isaiah 36:1; Luke 3:1, 2) And whereas ancient historians nearly always exaggerated the victories of their rulers and hid their defeats and mistakes, the Bible writers were candid and honest-even about their own serious sins.-Numbers 20:7-13; 2 Samuel 12:7-14; 24:10

Professor William F. Albright, an archaeologist who spent decades excavating in Palestine, once said: “Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition of the value of the Bible as a source of history.”

There are many prophecies that have been fulfilled in full detail. Remember use your reference material along with your Bible.

The fall of Babylon.
Isaiah and Jeremiah both foretold Babylon’s fall to the Medes and the Persians. Remarkably, Isaiah’s prophecy about this event was recorded some 200 years before Babylon was conquered! The following aspects of prophecy are now matters of historical record: the drying up of the Euphrates River by diverting its waters to an artificial lake (Isaiah 44:27; Jeremiah 50:38); a careless lack of security at Babylon’s river gates (Isaiah 45:1); and the conquest by a ruler named Cyrus.—Isaiah 44:28.

The Hebrew Scriptures contain scores of prophecies fulfilled in the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. For example, more than 700 years in advance, Micah foretold that the Messiah, or Christ, would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-7) Micah’s contemporary Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be struck and spit upon. (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67) Five hundred years in advance, Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15) More than a thousand years beforehand, David foretold circumstances associated with the death of Jesus the Messiah. (Psalm 22:7, 8, 18; Matthew 27:35, 39-43) And some five centuries in advance, Daniel’s prophecy revealed when the Messiah would appear as well as the length of his ministry and the time of his death. (Daniel 9:24-27) This is just a sampling of the prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Why does any of this matter to us? Because God has promised that we can have what Adam and Eve lost. Yes He said through Isaiah (Isaiah 55: 10,11) that His purpose for man and the earth will never change. Everlasting life on a paradise earth will be delightful. “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Psalm 37:29) “The wilderness and the waterless region will exult, and the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron.”—Isaiah 35:1.

This has not even scratched the surface of the valuable knowledge found in God's word the Bible. Remember that knowledge is the key to everlasting life on a peaceful earth. There will be no hunger, no sickness, no sorrow, no pain and even the wild animals will be at peace with mankind. (Rev. 21:3,4)

Keith Perry

on Sep 23, 2004

I truly believe that we are in "Hell" and that when a good hearted man/woman of god passes, they will rise to the heavens, and others will stay here and rot.
...sounds "movie oreinted" but that is how I feel.

JillUser

on Sep 26, 2004

I don't think that sounds "movie oriented" at all. Sounds like as good of a theory as any.

The Crusaders

on Sep 27, 2004

Could Lucifer the lightbearer who fell from heaven not be what we have named him as the devil or satan...but an alien creature who did wicked things to man and therefore was given the title of lord of evil?

JillUser

on Sep 28, 2004

The Crusaders, now that sounds "movie oriented"!

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