Different Degrees of Hell??

[Parson]

Hi!

Recently, a friend of mine related a sermon that was preached in a campmeeting. The sermon (I am not sure of the title) thrust suggested that there were different degrees of punishment that awaited the lost.

For example, Adolph Hitler would reap a much greater punishment than Joe Sixpack--a good ole boy never meaning no harm.

Having been taught that there is no BIG sin and Little sin, I found the idea of different degrees in hell quite surprizing.

Is this "doctrine" widely preached?

What scriptural support is there for different degrees of hell?

While I have since given the topic some study, I would like the imput of the great scholars that grace this forum.


Blessings


Parson

[mizpeh]

I was always taught all sin is the same, but Paul said he was the chiefest of sinners. And Jesus taught there is an impardonable sin.

I recall someone had a seen hell in a dream and wrote about the sides of the pit and the experiences souls had there were based on their sins. I can't remember who wrote it, maybe Dante?

http://www.enotes.com/inferno

[Michael The Disciple]

I was always taught all sin is the same, but Paul said he was the chiefest of sinners. And Jesus taught there is an impardonable sin.

I recall someone had a seen hell in a dream and wrote about the sides of the pit and the experiences souls had there were based on their sins. I can't remember who wrote it, maybe Dante?

http://www.enotes.com/inferno

It was Jewish scholars who got the idea that ones sins would be brought to them over and over in Hades. A scriptural approach would be the wicked are DESTROYED in Gehanna.

28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt. 10:28

Like Jesus said.

[crakjak]

Hi!

Recently, a friend of mine related a sermon that was preached in a campmeeting. The sermon (I am not sure of the title) thrust suggested that there were different degrees of punishment that awaited the lost.

For example, Adolph Hitler would reap a much greater punishment than Joe Sixpack--a good ole boy never meaning no harm.

Having been taught that there is no BIG sin and Little sin, I found the idea of different degrees in hell quite surprizing.

Is this "doctrine" widely preached?

What scriptural support is there for different degrees of hell?

Blessings


Parson

Scripture tells us that all will receive "a just recompense of reward", so absolutely punishment will compensatory to one's sin.

Now how can any action of humans in a short life of sin be compensatory to billions and billions of years of "endless, unbearable torture"?

Why would God's purpose be punitive instead of redemptive? http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/jesusteachingonhell.html

[mizpeh]

It was Jewish scholars who got the idea that ones sins would be brought to them over and over in Hades. A scriptural approach would be the wicked are DESTROYED in Gehanna.

28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt. 10:28

Like Jesus said.

What Jewish scholars?

The rich man lifted up his eyes in hell and wasn't destroyed with the kind of destruction you are thinking of...complete and utter annihilation. Isa 33:14, Matt 25:46 Just as spiritual death, being dead in sins and trespasses, doesn't mean we no longer are physically alive.

I think Parson is presupposing the eternal torment of the sinner. If the righteous recieve different rewards in heaven then I suppose it is not far out to consider the punishments of hell may also be different.

[Parson]

You are correct in your assessment of eternal torment in hell.

I assume that there are those that hold to soul sleep and annihilation. The differences between everlasting punishment and annihilation would be a great topic to discuss…should anyone be interested.

Regarding different degrees of Hell…I found that the Jewish thinking regarding punishment did reflect different degrees…rather than a carte blanche judgment for all.

This region is allotted as a place of custody for souls, ill which angels are appointed as guardians to them, who distribute to them temporary punishments, agreeable to every one’s behavior and manners.

The phrase “agreeable to everyone’s behavior and manners” does reflect a difference in punishment.

Also, the judgments of the Lord are said to be equitable.

Rev 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

The Greek word for RIGHTEOUS is dikaios which means equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just, meet, right (-eous).

If God’s judgments are EQUITABLE…or just….then one can only assume that there is a difference made in the punishment, depending upon the type of sin.

One makes a great point when pointing out that one sin carries a greater punishment in that it carries no forgiveness…blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Thanks for your thoughts

And I look forward to reading more of your opinions.


Blessings

Parson

[mfblume]

Luk 12:47-48 KJV And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (48) But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

2Pe 2:21 KJV For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

[Parson]

Great points, Bro Blume!

There is a difference between those that knew the Lord's will but did not do it...........and those that did not know the Lord's will.


Parson

[Esther]

Read "A Revelation of Hell" by Mary Baxter

She has a lot of interesting things to say about it.

One I won't forget is how the demons torment those that knew the truth and backslid.

[mfblume]

A "Revelation of Hell"???

Sister please forgive me, and know I am not reflecting on you whatsoever, but only the author of that book.

I read that book, and it was the biggest pack of nonsense I ever read in my entire life. It says that hell is in the shape of a human body and that hells' compartments are along the shape of a man's legs, arms, head and torso. It said that physical portals had to be opened in order for demons to come and go from this human-body-shaped hell.

I doubt very much that devils need portals opened for them to leave a hell, any more than they require us to open windows to let them get out of our houses.

And I doubt very much that hell is shaped like a human body.

[crakjak]

A "Revelation of Hell"???

Sister please forgive me, and know I am not reflecting on you whatsoever, but only the author of that book.

I read that book, and it was the biggest pack of nonsense I ever read in my entire life. It says that hell is in the shape of a human body and that hells' compartments are along the shape of a man's legs, arms, head and torso. It said that physical portals had to be opened in order for demons to come and go from this human-body-shaped hell.

I doubt very much that devils need portals opened for them to leave a hell, any more than they require us to open windows to let them get out of our houses.

And I doubt very much that hell is shaped like a human body.

I agree the aforementioned book is total depravity of mind, defames the nature and the character of God. Only a demented monster could have conceived of such a place.

[Timmy]

A "Revelation of Hell"???

Sister please forgive me, and know I am not reflecting on you whatsoever, but only the author of that book.

I read that book, and it was the biggest pack of nonsense I ever read in my entire life. It says that hell is in the shape of a human body and that hells' compartments are along the shape of a man's legs, arms, head and torso. It said that physical portals had to be opened in order for demons to come and go from this human-body-shaped hell.

I doubt very much that devils need portals opened for them to leave a hell, any more than they require us to open windows to let them get out of our houses.

And I doubt very much that hell is shaped like a human body.

And how about those visits to heaven, that some have written about? One of them has David regretting writing some of the Psalms. Another has a warehouse full of human body parts, ready to be given to people that need them on Earth -- soon as they get the right formula, I guess.

[Sheltiedad]

I would like mine to be about 68 degrees... this way it is just cool enough to be brisk and put a spring in my step.

[Timmy]

I would like mine to be about 68 degrees... this way it is just cool enough to be brisk and put a spring in my step.

LOL! That area would probably be in the foot. (Cold feet? Spring in your step? :dunno)

Me? I'll camp out in an ear. Maybe I'll catch some good rock-n-roll! :rockband

[LordChocolate]

If there is a 7th heaven, would that mean multiple areas of hell as well? Personally, I do not want to ever find out about the hell side. I think hell will be almost as hot as florida or probably hotter.:)

[mfblume]

If there is a 7th heaven, would that mean multiple areas of hell as well? Personally, I do not want to ever find out about the hell side. I think hell will be almost as hot as florida or probably hotter.:)

The bible says nothing about a seventh heaven. :)

[mfblume]

And how about those visits to heaven, that some have written about? One of them has David regretting writing some of the Psalms. Another has a warehouse full of human body parts, ready to be given to people that need them on Earth -- soon as they get the right formula, I guess.

More poppycock! lol Wow.

[Mercy]

If there is a 7th heaven, would that mean multiple areas of hell as well? Personally, I do not want to ever find out about the hell side. I think hell will be almost as hot as florida or probably hotter.:)

Try Houston Texas in August!!! Makes me live right since moving here!!!

[disciple]

Romans 2 (I think verse 13 or 14) says that "those who have sinned without law shall also perish without law". That means that those who never had a chance to hear will still perish but they will perish "without law". It's like the difference between a person who committed a crime but didn't know it was a crime - and the person who had previous intent, who sat down and painstakingly drew up his plans to break the law. Both parties still suffer the penalty of the law, but the latter one will suffer a worse penalty. So, I believe in varying degrees of punishment in hell. "Those who sin w/o law shall also perish w/o law".

JMHO

[nancy]

Luke 12:47&48 will give you the answe to your question, I believe.

[Falla39]

I remember an old song Dad and others USED to sing. The title was "God

Leads His Dear Children Along". Chorus goes something like this.

Some through the waters, some thro' the flood,
Some through the fire, but all thro' the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song;
In the night season and all the day long.

Blessings,

Falla39

[Esther]

A "Revelation of Hell"???

Sister please forgive me, and know I am not reflecting on you whatsoever, but only the author of that book.

I read that book, and it was the biggest pack of nonsense I ever read in my entire life. It says that hell is in the shape of a human body and that hells' compartments are along the shape of a man's legs, arms, head and torso. It said that physical portals had to be opened in order for demons to come and go from this human-body-shaped hell.

I doubt very much that devils need portals opened for them to leave a hell, any more than they require us to open windows to let them get out of our houses.

And I doubt very much that hell is shaped like a human body.

You know I don't know if what she said is truth or not. I see no benefit in her lying about it???

I know that the Messiah came and was missed because He didn't come the way they expected. Perhaps our preconceived ideas of heaven and hell or both wrong.

Personally I don't want to go find out about hell.

[OneAccord]

You know I don't know if what she said is truth or not. I see no benefit in her lying about it???

I know that the Messiah came and was missed because He didn't come the way they expected. Perhaps our preconceived ideas of heaven and hell or both wrong.

Personally I don't want to go find out about hell.


I don't think the woman was lying, per se. I haven't read the book, and have no plans to, but, and if I may ask, From whence does her information come? How does she know what hell is like? By the same token, those who write books about heaven. Where do they get their information (other than the Bible)?

Most claim their information comes by vision or dream, or even what is popularly called "an out of body experience". If it is true they get their "glimpses" of the afterlife from a vison or dream, I won't question it. But, I won't take it as Gospel either.

For one reason, any revelation (vision, dream, etc) that runs counter to God's Word is false. We know that from Gal. 1. If an angel or dream tells us anything that contradicts Gods Word its false. Plain and simple.

Reason #2. Visions and dreams, as demonstrated in the Book of Revelations, are allegories that tell a story or a message. They cannot be taken literally. In Rev. 13, John had a vision of a 7 headed beast rising up out of the sea with a woman on its back. The beast represented one thing while the sea and beast represented something else. The beast was figurative of a future event. Everything in Revelations, as in dreams and visions, are symbolic messages of something God wants us to know. Jesus spoke in parables. He speaks today to us through visions and dreams, but we cannot take what are seen in visions and dreams as literal events or objects. (Joel 2) If we have a vision, or a dream from the Lord, EVERY part of the vision or dream has meaning. Those meanings are not readily apparent, but they have meaning. Don't take what she wrote as Gospel "This is the way it is". Dreams and visions are allegorical in nature and this author may have did her readers a dis-service by failing to make that clear.

Reason 3. Basing a doctrine or a belief on a "supernatural" event like a vision or dream, or even on a Voice we take to be God, is risky at best. Dangerous. Many souls have been decieved by those who build a doctrine on a vision. I could insert a name here to serve as an example, but, out of respect for the departed brother, I won't. But the warning is there: Don't accept something as Gospel Truth that is based on a vision you, or someone else claims to have had.

Reason 4. Question: Around the time this book was published, were there other similar books being published? "Glimpse of Hell", "My Vision of Heaven", "I died and woke up in heaven". Notice how someone writes a sucessful book and, all of a sudden, more people claim similar expereinces? Why is that? The answer is simple: $$$$$$. Like the latest "Lose 50 lbs of Fat in 5 Minutes doing Nothing", one book comes out, starts making money, other writers want a piece of the pie. In short: Caveat Emptor.

[Grandmaw]

Hmmmmmmm....

I've heard of a message that puts a new twist on the topic at hand. What's worse than Hell? Better than Heaven?

Taking your children with you.

[FEEDMYSHEEP]

I would like mine to be about 68 degrees... this way it is just cool enough to be brisk and put a spring in my step.

:jolly That is funny!