Replies

While there is no question that according to the scriptures there is torment and “gnashing of teeth” for the wicked, and glorification for the righteous, and that this judgment comes from God, these destinies are not separate destinations. The Bible indicates that everyone comes before God in the next life, and it is because of being in God’s presence that they either suffer eternally, or experience eternal joy. In other words, both the joy of heaven, and the torment of judgment, is caused by being eternally in the presence of the Almighty, the perfect and unchanging God

So then, your concept of heaven and hell is pretty much the same condition as prevails now, with believers and unbelievers working and at leisure together except one understands and enjoys being in the presence of god and the other understanding and not enjoying the presence of god. All other things are equal since they are all in the same physical location.

Do those in torment enjoy the privileges of a renovated heaven and earth? Are they subject to disease and man’s inhumanity while the believers are exempt from these discomforts in their presence? Who enforces peace in a world populated by believers and unbelievers in the presence of God?

Isn’t your god more a God of wrath by subjecting the unbeliever to live in the presence of those enjoying the benefits of salvation? Seems like He’s rubbing salt in the punishment and causing envy and jealousy.

So then, [the Eastern Orthodox] concept of heaven and hell is pretty much the same condition as prevails now, with believers and unbelievers working and at leisure together except one understands and enjoys being in the presence of god and the other understanding and not enjoying the presence of god. All other things are equal since they are all in the same physical location

There is no joy at being left in spiritual darkness for all eternity. It's most definitely not "the same condition as prevails now." The unrepentant souls are not promised a picnic.

Imagine being blind, and never seeing sunshine, being deaf and not hearing sounds, being cold and not having slothes, being bujrnt bynthe sun and not being able to move. But God doesn't send us there. We do. Our words and deeds condmen us (and that is biblical), the way Adam and Eve condmened themselves by their choice.

We won't even know each other (we will "be just like angels"); how are we oging to know those who are not spiritually even there, even it they may be physically alla round us?

But hopefully, we will have enough compassion not to take pleasure in their eternal darkness.