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If you are not a Christian you will not ESCAPE God’s wrath on the Day of the Lord.
I need to ask you two questions:
If you were to die today…would you know for sure that you wouldn’t end up in Hell?

If you were to die today…and you were to stand before Jesus and he were to say to you…”Why should I not throw you into Hell…what would you say…?

Just out of curiosity, what is this obsession with a vengeful God (or Lord) "casting" non-believers into the fires of hell? It seems to me such a negative message by which to spread one's faith.

I would think that one would have better success by spreading a more positive message. The "follow me or you shall die a horrible death" message is a real turnoff to those who might otherwise be made believers with a more positive message.

In fact, I get the impression that some of the more ardent Christians are almost in rapturous glee over the prospect of the non-believers (including a lot of very decent people) being condemned to an eternity of fire and damnation. Why is this? Maybe somebody could explain it to me.

There are many Christians who spread a more positive message. They do not believe in a vengeful and even hateful God who is going to sweep to Earth someday and throw millions of good people into the fire.

They do not believe in a vengeful and even hateful God
who is going to sweep to Earth someday and
throw millions of good people into the fire.

Then they do not believe the Bible.
and they don't know the God of the Bible.

This is the heart of the gospel.

What do you think Christ came and died for?
To SAVE sinners from this fate!
If someone's kid was playing with matches
would you tell the parents?

If a friend was ruining his life with drugs or booze
would you warn him?

The vast majority of mankind will refuse salvation
and go to an eternal seperation from God,
because the word of God tells us so.

But we have an obligation to warn every soul we meet
that they are in need of salvation.

Without Christ, they will spend eternity in hell,
whether they choose to believe it or not.

1.) I just want to keep a fair and balanced view of what the Scriptures say. To much are our preaching, witnessing, and etc. is one sided suggesting that all God is is love... and how can a loving God throw anyone in Hell. To much of that message sends the wrong message to the unsaved. 2.)Jesus talked more about Hell than he did about Heaven. 3.) Jesus himself set down the parameters for salvation in John 3:36 -- "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, FOR GOD'S WRATH REMAINS ON HIM." We always quote John 3:16 but rarely do we see John 3:36. The Gospel is not "politically correct." God is not and does not want to be "sensitive" toward sin and the world's rejection of His Son.

Matthew 24:4-- Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.

Matthew 24:5-- For many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Messiah! and they will lead many astray.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi and other high-ranking Muslim clerics who approve of killing for their religion come to mind.

Why is it when some people read the scripture as it is written in the Bible, they can't handle it, and accuse people of being "obsessed with a vengeful God"?

"There are many Christians who spread a more positive message. They do not believe in a vengeful and even hateful God who is going to sweep to Earth someday and throw millions of good people into the fire."

Yeah, you're right. Too many Christians and Churches put out a 'touchy feely' message because they know if they preach the true Gospel, it will scare people away. I think this is wrong and sends the wrong message. People walk out of church feeling no guilt or shame over the sins they commit daily.

People like to think Jesus is like some hippie wearing love beads and flashing a peace sign but St. Mark Chapter.13 tells it differently.

" ardent Christians are almost in rapturous glee over the prospect of the non-believers (including a lot of very decent people) being condemned to an eternity of fire and damnation. "

I'll have to agree that I have known people like this also. They think they have the right to do God's job and have already decided who is going to hell and who is not. I truly despise those bumper stickers that say 'In case of rapture this car will be unoccupied.' Quite presumptuous on their part, I would say.

The phrase in bold below is the crux of the difference between yourself and Christians who preach a "vengeful" God:

...There are many Christians who spread a more positive message. They do not believe in a vengeful and even hateful God who is going to sweep to Earth someday and throw millions of good people into the fire.

There are no "good people". No one is righteous, not even one. We are all filled with our own selfish desires and are unswervingly willing to tell God "forget it, I'm doing it MY way, old man". Even when we try to do good, it falls short of God's standard. The Lord told Isaiah "the best works of a man are as filthy rags to me."

God will not cast a single good person into the fire-he would be unjust if he did so. But only one man is good: Jesus, the God-man. If we have faith in Him, he clothes us in his goodness so that we can stand before God blameless. Were it not for Christ, all men from first to last would be justly cast into eternal punishment.

>>In fact, I get the impression that some of the more ardent Christians are almost in rapturous glee over the prospect of the non-believers (including a lot of very decent people) being condemned to an eternity of fire and damnation.<<

I think you have a point here. I don't believe I have a "rapturous glee" over lost people going to hell, but I will keep my attitude in check. Thanks...