| Axe To The Roots: 50 Questions To Challenge Traditional Christian Beliefs |
HELL & HEAVEN
by LC
This world just doesn't make sense. You look outside and this place appears right at times, but
look real close and you find there is nothing of value here, except people. All that your eyes can
see is passing away. Can you ever find peace in this world if your hope is in it? Where can you
look and not find crisis? Thomas quoted Jesus as proclaiming, "The Kingdom of Heaven is
within you."
Behold religion closely and you will find turmoil within their ranks, as well. Squabbling, divisions,
differences and unspeakable crimes have torn apart the walls of religion, exposing their
man-made foundations and ideas. Often times, we see hurting people who are looking for life's
answers, trapped within their visible and invisible walls. Hurting people do not need religion in a
crisis; they need love and truth. The fact that there is any crisis at all within religion's walls
should say to us that its' doctrines might not line up with truth. Have you ever considered that?
Have you ever examined your christian beliefs and thought to yourself, "These seem good, but
I can't help but feel there is something wrong or maybe even missing?" Could it be a small voice
within you whispering the truth in your inner most being? And if so, could it be this same, small
voice causing you to desire what is true, by allowing you to finally see what is false? Have you
succumbed to believing doctrines you were taught by others? Are you even open to hearing
what is true or has your mind been made up? Has what you heard within your heart come into
conflict with the teachings you have received from others, but you decide to follow others beliefs
instead? Is the basic christian doctrine true as it is portrayed by the religious and believed by
millions today?
Those are just a few questions that I have come to ask myself while trying to discern what Jesus
was teaching us. When people discuss hell, they seem to have varying beliefs. What I find to
be interesting is that many cannot comprehend any of their loved ones spending eternity in hell,
yet they believe in it. My brother often tells me, "If my family and friends are not going to be in
heaven, then why would I want to be there without them?" If heaven is eternal, then it is available
now to all and never has been unavailable to us. And if heaven is eternal, then it is true and what
is true cannot have an opposite, such as an eternal hell. Have you ever run into a person who
tries to convert you to their religious beliefs, usually through the fear of missing heaven and
ending up in an eternal hell? If you have, then may I suggest questioning them about their beliefs
regarding hell? There are too many contradictions taught to people about hell and it may not
even be recognized when the error is plainly exposed! All we need to do is follow our train of
thinking through to the obvious conclusion and it begins to become clearer that these doctrines
just cannot be correct. I will assist in pointing out some errors through the following questions,
while you work to figure out the truth for yourself!
Question Twenty Two: If hell is an eternal place of torment, why did Jesus set the captives free
from the time of Noah...the same people whom the flood waters were meant to destroy?
(I Peter 3:18-20)
Question Twenty Three: If hell does exist eternally, why would Jesus possess "keys to hell
and death," knowing that keys are needed only to unlock something? What need would there be
of even having keys if they are not needed to unlock? If the keys were only used to lock
something up for all of eternity, why wouldn't the keys be destroyed, if no longer needed?
(Rev. 1:18)
Question Twenty Four: Let us assume there is an eternal hell and some we know and love will
be there in torment, while we are in heaven. How could God wipe away all tears from the eyes of
us in heaven if we have lost loved ones in the fires of an eternal hell? Could we ever be at peace
or do you suppose God would just erase our memories of those we knew and loved, but have
perished? Could you ever forgive God for doing that to someone you love? (Rev. 7:17;21:4)
Question Twenty Five: If it were true that once a person finds himself in hell he is trapped in a
prison of torment without hope, why would Jesus state that "the gates of hell shall not prevail?"
(Matt. 16:18)
Question Twenty Six: Why did Bible translators use the word "eternal" in the scriptures when
the Greek word properly translated means "for a set period of time" (an age), properly meaning
hell has an end? And why are the Greek words hades and gehenna translated as "hell" in the
King James Bible, when hades simply means the place of all departed souls, good or bad (the
other side of the grave), and gehenna was just a local trash dump outside of Jerusalem?
(Mark 3:29; Jude 1:7)
Question Twenty Seven: Some teach fire in the scriptures to be of the devil and part
of his torment upon the godless in his future dwelling place called "hell." If fire is of
the devil's hell, why would Jesus say, "all will be salted with fire?" Why does the
writer of Hebrews state, "Our God is a consuming fire?" (Mark 9:49; Heb. 12:29)
Axe To The Roots 50 Questions To Challenge Traditional Christian Beliefs (Continued)
by LC
This world just doesn't make sense. You look outside and this place appears right at times, but
look real close and you find there is nothing of value here, except people. All that your eyes can
see is passing away. Can you ever find peace in this world if your hope is in it? Where can you
look and not find crisis? Thomas quoted Jesus as proclaiming, "The Kingdom of Heaven is
within you."
Behold religion closely and you will find turmoil within their ranks, as well. Squabbling, divisions,
differences and unspeakable crimes have torn apart the walls of religion, exposing their
man-made foundations and ideas. Often times, we see hurting people who are looking for life's
answers, trapped within their visible and invisible walls. Hurting people do not need religion in a
crisis; they need love and truth. The fact that there is any crisis at all within religion's walls
should say to us that its' doctrines might not line up with truth. Have you ever considered that?
Have you ever examined your christian beliefs and thought to yourself, "These seem good, but
I can't help but feel there is something wrong or maybe even missing?" Could it be a small voice
within you whispering the truth in your inner most being? And if so, could it be this same, small
voice causing you to desire what is true, by allowing you to finally see what is false? Have you
succumbed to believing doctrines you were taught by others? Are you even open to hearing
what is true or has your mind been made up? Has what you heard within your heart come into
conflict with the teachings you have received from others, but you decide to follow others beliefs
instead? Is the basic christian doctrine true as it is portrayed by the religious and believed by
millions today?
Those are just a few questions that I have come to ask myself while trying to discern what Jesus
was teaching us. When people discuss hell, they seem to have varying beliefs. What I find to
be interesting is that many cannot comprehend any of their loved ones spending eternity in hell,
yet they believe in it. My brother often tells me, "If my family and friends are not going to be in
heaven, then why would I want to be there without them?" If heaven is eternal, then it is available
now to all and never has been unavailable to us. And if heaven is eternal, then it is true and what
is true cannot have an opposite, such as an eternal hell. Have you ever run into a person who
tries to convert you to their religious beliefs, usually through the fear of missing heaven and
ending up in an eternal hell? If you have, then may I suggest questioning them about their beliefs
regarding hell? There are too many contradictions taught to people about hell and it may not
even be recognized when the error is plainly exposed! All we need to do is follow our train of
thinking through to the obvious conclusion and it begins to become clearer that these doctrines
just cannot be correct. I will assist in pointing out some errors through the following questions,
while you work to figure out the truth for yourself!
Question Twenty Two: If hell is an eternal place of torment, why did Jesus set the captives free
from the time of Noah...the same people whom the flood waters were meant to destroy?
(I Peter 3:18-20)
Question Twenty Three: If hell does exist eternally, why would Jesus possess "keys to hell
and death," knowing that keys are needed only to unlock something? What need would there be
of even having keys if they are not needed to unlock? If the keys were only used to lock
something up for all of eternity, why wouldn't the keys be destroyed, if no longer needed?
(Rev. 1:18)
Question Twenty Four: Let us assume there is an eternal hell and some we know and love will
be there in torment, while we are in heaven. How could God wipe away all tears from the eyes of
us in heaven if we have lost loved ones in the fires of an eternal hell? Could we ever be at peace
or do you suppose God would just erase our memories of those we knew and loved, but have
perished? Could you ever forgive God for doing that to someone you love? (Rev. 7:17;21:4)
Question Twenty Five: If it were true that once a person finds himself in hell he is trapped in a
prison of torment without hope, why would Jesus state that "the gates of hell shall not prevail?"
(Matt. 16:18)
Question Twenty Six: Why did Bible translators use the word "eternal" in the scriptures when
the Greek word properly translated means "for a set period of time" (an age), properly meaning
hell has an end? And why are the Greek words hades and gehenna translated as "hell" in the
King James Bible, when hades simply means the place of all departed souls, good or bad (the
other side of the grave), and gehenna was just a local trash dump outside of Jerusalem?
(Mark 3:29; Jude 1:7)
Question Twenty Seven: Some teach fire in the scriptures to be of the devil and part
of his torment upon the godless in his future dwelling place called "hell." If fire is of
the devil's hell, why would Jesus say, "all will be salted with fire?" Why does the
writer of Hebrews state, "Our God is a consuming fire?" (Mark 9:49; Heb. 12:29)
Axe To The Roots 50 Questions To Challenge Traditional Christian Beliefs (Continued)
| Content copyright 2002-2009 Jesus Religion .com |
"Not all who wander
are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
Axe To The Roots:
Jesus: Crucifixion,
Resurrection & Return
Sin, Satan & the
Antichrist
What is Death
Hell and Heaven
Hell and Heaven (cont'd)
The Church
Truth & the Word of
God
Love, Power & Health
are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
Axe To The Roots:
Jesus: Crucifixion,
Resurrection & Return
Sin, Satan & the
Antichrist
What is Death
Hell and Heaven
Hell and Heaven (cont'd)
The Church
Truth & the Word of
God
Love, Power & Health