I've heard more recently that the reason that eternal hell torture dungeon exists is because there is no other place for believers to go, because people being immortal have rejected God, who is light and all things good, therefore the only place left for them are the horrors of hell.
hell exists because the punishment for sin is death, not because there is no other place for believers to go.
At one point I was sucked into this because it lets God off the hook that he didn't create hell. But if this is true then why doesn't God who is all powerfull and can do the impossible, put them people out of their misery and just simply destroy them?
incorrect, god did create hell. God is all powerful but is in fact incapable of sinning. What is meant by "the impossible" are the supernatural things that normal humans won't ever be able to do. The impossible does not mean breaking the law.
In fact the gospel does state that God does indeed have this power to destroy a soul.
Don't fear them who can kill the body but afterward cannot do any more thing, but fear him who can both destroy body and soul in hell.
Also another scripture says that he will not be angry forever. So there is no reason left for these people to suffer needlessly in hell.
I will need too find the scripture reference
Because god stated that everyone who goes to hell are put in there for all eternity. If god did make anyone stop existing, then he would have lied which is impossible since god cannot sin. Just because god is not angry does not mean that the punishment ends. If the punishment were to end for people in hell, then god lied to us. People do not suffer needlessly in hell, they deserve it, god's judgment is correct, and beyond our understanding. So do you believe that jesus lied to us in saying that punishment in hell is not eternal? How can you "believe in him" if you do not trust what he has said?
It appears that you are looking at scripture to back your own beliefs instead of looking at scripture to find the (correct) belief. There were many warnings against doing this type of stuff in the bible.
nes, have you looked at some of the terms you are using, i.e., "hell" and eternal? I recommend you read White Wing's post closely. You also say death is the penalty for sin. Correct. So from where do you add "hell" in that equation? Which is it? Did God say in the OT because you sinned you will surely die, or because you sinned you will surely go to hell? By looking at more accurately translated scripture (not the KJV or its derivatives) did they even know anything about the concept of an eternal punishment in the OT? Do you know when the concept of hell came about? Where the word comes from, what it means?
Also, do you know that Jesus actually used the term kolasis aonian, in essence, temporary correction? As far as "looking at scripture to back you own beliefs, many warnings", etc., interesting, as I believe that's what mainstream/orthodoxy has done for many years - at least since the Dark Ages, when Christianity was hijacked by the "church" of Rome and "decided" for everyone "what the truth is" - and now protestantism follows right along, mostly without even being aware of it. And yes, the scriptures do say "by your traditions, you make the Word of God of no effect".
Hopefully we're all praying about what to believe, for God to open our eyes and show us - rather than just following what we've always been taught to believe, or coming up with our own imaginations. James.
I might not be helping your argument here but feel the need to say something. I have heard this saying about no Old Testament belief in hell. I would agree. Certainly not in the mainstream traditional sense. From my understanding ancient Israelites believed in Sheol. It wasn't believed to just mean grave but
a place of gloom and despair, a place where one can no longer enjoy life, and where the presence of YHWH himself is withdrawn. It is a wilderness: a place of dust to which creatures made of dust have returned. Those who have gone there are 'the dead'; they are 'shades', rephaim, and they are 'asleep-Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, 88-89
The "living soul" (nephesh hayah) turns into a "dead soul" (nephesh met). "The person remains identifiably the same, but enters a different, diminished, inferior state of existence." Vermes, The Resurrection, 12.
Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the shades rise up to praise you?
Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
Are your wonders known in the darkness,
or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness? (Psalm 88:10-12)
For Sheol cannot thank you,
death cannot praise you;
those who go down to the Pit cannot hope
for your faithfulness. (Isaiah 38:18)
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who can give you praise? (Psalm 6:5)
It wasn't until the second temple was built that these thoughts began to change. The Sadducees felt this was a Greek influence...pagan influences upon their faith. But, as we remember Jesus clearly corrected them.
By the time of Jesus most Jews believed in resurrection.
One of the stronger Old Testament Biblical supports of the resurrection is Daniel 12
At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
So, while the Old Testament never taught an eternal flaming torture as I have read, there was a thought in ancient Jewish culture of Sheol being Godless and with consciousness.
