But I do believe in Hell. Just not an everlasting, forever burning hell.
The story of Lazarus is a parable used to emphasize a point. Many facts make it clear that this is a parable. Here are a few:
A. Abraham's bosom is not heaven (Hebrews 11:8-10, 16).
B. People in hell can't talk to those in heaven (Isaiah 65:17).
C. The dead are in their graves (Job 17:13; John 5:28, 29). The rich man was in bodily form with eyes, a tongue, etc., yet we know that the body does not go to hell at death. It is very obvious that the body remains in the grave, as the Bible says.
D. Men are rewarded at Christ's second coming, not at death (Revelation 22:11, 12).
E. The lost are punished in hell at the end of the world, not when they die (Matthew 13:40-42). The point of the story is found in verse 31 of Luke 16.
Parables cannot be taken literally. If we took parables literally, then we must believe that trees talk! (See this parable in Judges 9:8-15.)
Here are some more verses that contradict and ever burning hell:
"For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be." "The enemies of the Lord ... shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." Psalm 37:10, 20.
"Rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28.
"The soul that sinneth, it shall
die." Ezekiel 18:20.
"They went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Revelation 20:9.
The wages of sin is death not a forever torment in hell. An eternal burning hell with people forever in pain is contrary to the loving nature of God.
JuJuBoo said:
I see. If the fire is never ending, then how long is it? When is the fire burning? How do you interpret other scriptures that describe Hell or Hades?
I'm sorry, I'm asking a lot of questions because I haven't met a lot of Christian's that don't believe in Hell.
How do you interpret the following scripture?
Luke 16
*** 19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
*** 22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell,[c] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
*** 25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
*** 27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
*** 29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
*** 30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
*** 31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "
FYI, I'm goin to bed! I'll finish tomorrow night.
