Originally posted by robbie carrobie
There is no concept of hell, purgatory, eternal torment and damnation for the wicked or ungodly anywhere in the original Hebrew scriptures nor in the Greek scriptures, the source of these present day church teachings seem to stem from a bastardisation of the original Hebrew/Greek words for the common grave of mankind, as a direct result of inaccurate ...[text shortened]... tand, accurately the scriptures which the purport to support! I defy anyone to prove otherwise!
You are right. Put simply hell is the grave.
Unfortunately Christ came along and confused the concept with the following story. Some say it cannot be literal and its a parable. But every parable has a literal and a spiritual interpretation. Whats your view.
Luke 16 : 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.