The notion of unending punishment is so out of sync with people’s ordinary sense of justice that it is easily rejected as preposterous. The traditional view of hell is just not Biblical or rational. The punishment for sin is not prison, it’s capital punishment. Hell is a place of destruction, and I think the Bible says this clearly over and over again.
It’s not clear how heaven could ever truly be heaven if it co-exists alongside an eternal hell. How are we to imagine enjoying heaven when we know that fellow human beings — and perhaps former loved ones — are locked in an endless nightmare from which they shall never awake? How are we to imagine God, who is perfect love, enjoying heaven while he yet keeps the damned in existence for the sole purpose of having them experience hopeless pain? This being a vast majority of mankind, BTW.
Brother Dave Gardner, a comedian with a message in the 1960s, used to ask the difference between a northern Baptist and a Southern Baptist. His answer: the northern Baptist says there ain’t no Hell, and the Southern Baptist says the Hell there ain’t!
There are a lot of things I don’t claim to be able to understand, and the mind of God is one of the big ones.
That is not what the Bible teaches.
“How are we to imagine enjoying heaven when we know that fellow human beings — and perhaps former loved ones — are locked in an endless nightmare from which they shall never awake?”
...By surrendering to, then achieving understanding of, the infinite justice of God in the beatific vision. God’s justice is perfect, but what you speak of is human - not perfect.
The Bible tells us that hell is eternal. It doesn't mean the punishment is eternal, what would be the use of that from a merciful and just God? It means the decision is eternal. My grandfather, a wonderful guy, believed that everyone will go to heaven . . . eventually. Even Satan! This is called the "reconciliation doctrine". Of course, it's nonsense and anti-Biblical.
Hell won't be a physical burning - (we won't have bodies after all). It will be mental and just as terrifying. People will remember all of the terrible things they have done to others and there will be no forgiveness for it. It all belongs to the sinner.
Revelation 20:9 indicates there will be a finality to the sinners and their punishment. And over time they will be forgotten.
How are we to imagine enjoying heaven when we know that fellow human beings — and perhaps former loved ones — are locked in an endless nightmare from which they shall never awake? How are we to imagine God, who is perfect love, enjoying heaven while he yet keeps the damned in existence for the sole purpose of having them experience hopeless pain?
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Your first question is what should drive every Christian to never cease praying for Salvation to be accepted by the Lost. Until the LORD God puts in a person’s heart to ‘stop,’ Christians should CONSTANTLY be praying for the ability to lead the Lost to Christ, to pray that the Lost are in a place where they are willing to admit that they cannot simply ‘opt’ to be good and go to Heaven.
We, Christians, are reminded that one day we will see the Lost through the eyes of our LORD and will fully understand and accept their damnation: We are not taught it will be an easy ride, being a Christian.
Once it’s all over, those of the LORD’s Children will have no memory of those who are in Hell. It’s such a hard concept for us in this day and age to wrap our heads around, isn’t it? That’s why, it’s so, so, important to always carry the message of Christ to folks.
Your second question is actually not that hard, though it does sound harsh; there being a difference.
Such as a parent who grieves when a child or grown offspring suffers during a disciplinary action, the LORD God is there to see it happen, as well, with the Lost.
HOWEVER, once the final act is done, the Lost are where they are because they made the eternal decision to reject the gift of Salvation, or as the earlier Jews, they did not follow the LORD’s commandments prior to the first earthly presence of Christ. Those I speak of are the Jews who would not follow the LORD’s commandments.
As a Christian, I often wonder about those that we ‘feel’ have never heard the word of the Salvation Gift. Yet, I also know in my inner heart that my LORD God’s Son came down to earth so than ‘no man,’ would fail to have the Salvation Gift made clear. So somehow, someway, my LORD God would know a man’s true heart and soul.
My responsibility as a Christian is to be a witness, a Christ-like witness. Unfortunately, I do fail, and fail way too often. Mercifully, my LORD does let me know when that happens.... He’s also the one who allows me to get back off the ground and start the walk, again.
Sorry for the long answer.... I am even truly more sorry if I failed to make any sense....