Has Hell Disappeared?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

So wrong. Scripture speaks a lot about the fear of God. Most always in the sense of fright and alarm.

The following two verses contain the word "phobos" (fear) in the Greek. In both cases the word "fear" has a different meaning, why? What tells us that the word "phobos" is to be understood differently in these cases?

Matthew 28:4

Acts 9:31

... and, which type of "fear" is negated and cast away by the promise of 1 John 4:18? Or, does 1 John 4:18, actually contradict the behavior of the disciples in Acts 9:31?

It's the same exact word in the Greek all three times. Yet John tells us one of the examples is a "bad" kind of fear. How can a person possibly tell the difference between the two?

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

So wrong. Scripture speaks a lot about the fear of God. Most always in the sense of fright and alarm.

So, are you in affect saying that God wants His children to live in fear? I thought it was just the opposite. Didn't Jesus come to save us and bring us peace? And I believe we must warn the lost of the consequences of sin, which is death.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Cindy

It does for some, Prax. But God's message is I love YOU so much, I sent MY son to die for YOUR sins. Out of His great love, He draws us to Him. That does not mean however, that we can sin without consequences. I don't think Hell as most believe it to be, was made to scare people to God. Fear is torment in and of itself. You can't live for God and live in that kind of fear.

As I said, Jesus preached a lot about what happens to those that are not saved. See the entire chapter of Mat 24. See also Mat 7 and Mat 22 and Mat 25

Jesus also told us
Luk 12:5 But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him.

Paul didn't just preach Love either. He said he warned them of things. It wasn't all love. He also spoke to churches about the coming judgment and destruction

2Th 1:7 and to give rest with us to you who are troubled, at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven with the angels of His power,
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
2Th 1:9 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2Th 1:10 when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that Day.
2Th 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of the calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
2Th 1:12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

See, they warned people about the sin of unbelief and the consequences, This was typical., Point to man's condition, the direction man's condition will take them and the solution, God's Love

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

As I said, Jesus preached a lot about what happens to those that are not saved. See the entire chapter of Mat 24. See also Mat 7 and Mat 22 and Mat 25

Jesus also told us
Luk 12:5 But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him.

Paul didn't just preach Love either. He said he warned them of things. It wasn't all love. He also spoke to churches about the coming judgment and destruction

2Th 1:7 and to give rest with us to you who are troubled, at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven with the angels of His power,
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
2Th 1:9 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2Th 1:10 when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that Day.
2Th 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of the calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
2Th 1:12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

See, they warned people about the sin of unbelief and the consequences, This was typical., Point to man's condition, the direction man's condition will take them and the solution, God's Love

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

As I said, Jesus preached a lot about what happens to those that are not saved. See the entire chapter of Mat 24. See also Mat 7 and Mat 22 and Mat 25

Jesus also told us
Luk 12:5 But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him.

Paul didn't just preach Love either. He said he warned them of things. It wasn't all love. He also spoke to churches about the coming judgment and destruction

2Th 1:7 and to give rest with us to you who are troubled, at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven with the angels of His power,
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
2Th 1:9 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2Th 1:10 when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that Day.
2Th 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of the calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
2Th 1:12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

See, they warned people about the sin of unbelief and the consequences, This was typical., Point to man's condition, the direction man's condition will take them and the solution, God's Love

True, however, it is when this warning is extrapolated to eternal torture in a custom design terror chamber that it is erroneous!!!

Using the word of God, to manipulate and scare the H--- out of folks. That is what Jesus called "...holding the truth in unrighteousness..."

[geekette]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Fear makes some people look at their lives and realize they need a savior. Love draws them to God

Erm, no. This is bringing up very bad memories. It's not always how you say, and I'll be blunt, most of the time, it's fear, fear, fear over the pulpit, and scant love.

Fear can push an already-depressed person to (or over) the edge. I think preachers assume that everyone sitting before them is in reasonably good mental health and, to be blunt, that's not the case. Some people can be irreparably harmed by such preaching.

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by geekette

Erm, no. This is bringing up very bad memories. It's not always how you say, and I'll be blunt, most of the time, it's fear, fear, fear over the pulpit, and scant love.

Fear can push an already-depressed person to (or over) the edge. I think preachers assume that everyone sitting before them is in reasonably good mental health and, to be blunt, that's not the case. Some people can be irreparably harmed by such preaching.

Wow, this is a GREAT point!! My goodness, the mental scarring that has been done. I had a sick feeling when I read your post.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by geekette

Erm, no. This is bringing up very bad memories. It's not always how you say, and I'll be blunt, most of the time, it's fear, fear, fear over the pulpit, and scant love.

Fear can push an already-depressed person to (or over) the edge. I think preachers assume that everyone sitting before them is in reasonably good mental health and, to be blunt, that's not the case. Some people can be irreparably harmed by such preaching.

God can heal. God wants to heal and restore.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by geekette

Erm, no. This is bringing up very bad memories. It's not always how you say, and I'll be blunt, most of the time, it's fear, fear, fear over the pulpit, and scant love.

Fear can push an already-depressed person to (or over) the edge. I think preachers assume that everyone sitting before them is in reasonably good mental health and, to be blunt, that's not the case. Some people can be irreparably harmed by such preaching.

These are easy cases for me. We can apply systematic desensitization
cognitive-behavioral therapy programs for secular remedies or in the case of biblical approaches, we use forgiveness. God tells me if I forgive, I may qualify and ask Him for forgiveness. When the killer ambushed the little amish girls in the school house, the elders did a large campaign of forgivness for the killers widow and family. They did tear down the school. Healling and restoration are thrilling.

[Praxeas]

speaking of light, implies there is a darkness. Speaking of heaven implies there is a hell. Speaking of salvation implies there is something to be saved from. Paul speaks of warning people...you don't warn people about good things but rather of bad things.

Jesus spoke about hell. Jesus spoke about sin.