Originally posted by Rajk999
After some discussion with Sonship, the issue of torment is becoming clearer. Here is what I think the bible says about who are the prime candidates for torment:
1. Spiritual Beings - Devil or Satan, False Prophet and the Beast, described in Revelation. These face eternal torment simply because they are eternal beings and cannot die.
I note that you say that this is what you think this time rather than the overly dogmatic tone you usually use. So you
think and suggest you are open to correction.
Some progress.
Now, how would you go about proving the Antichrist (a man) cannot die?
The same is true for the False Prophet.
How would you prove that the nature of these two human beings is like the angelic nature of Satan ?
Oh, the Antichrist is called
"the MAN of sin" (Second Thessalonians 2:3) . So I know he must be a man.
I read nothing to suggest that the False Prophet is not also a man in
Revelation.
Secondly, what reason would you give that the fate of those who are sent to the lake of fire in
Revelation 20:15 is substantially different from the Antichrist, the False Prophet and Satan in the same lake of fire in
Revelation 20:10 ?
Other than pure speculation I see nothing to suggest they have a fundamentally
different experience in
verse 15 as those three in
verse 10.
While degrees of punishment do seem God's way according to His judgment of creatures' culpability the basic uncomfortable result of eternal judgment seems common to all who go there to the lake of fire.
2. Evil Christians who have been given everything and then turned away from the holy commandment given to them, and reverted to a life of sin and evil.
Those in
Hebrews 6 who turn away from Christ to go back to animal sacrifices, it says are NEAR A CURSE. It does not say that they are cursed. Watch the word of God.
"And yet have fallen away, to renew to themselves again unto repentance, crucifying again for themselves the Son of God and putting Him to an open shame.
For the earth, which drinks the rain which often comes upon it and produces vegetation suitable to those for whose sake also it is cultivated, partake of blessing from God.
But if it brings forth thorns and thistles, it is disapproved and near a curse, whose end is to be burned." (Hebrews 6:6-8)
The contrast here is
"blessing from God" verses
"near a curse" .
It does not read as
"blessing from God" verses
"cursed".
It reads
"blessing from God" verses
"NEAR ... a curse".
You told me what you think is the case. I in turn tell you what I think is the case and teach as the case.
"[N]ear a curse" is not eternal damnation. But it is a discipline, and that severe.
Furthermore what is burnt up is the vegetation produced FROM the ground there and not the ground itself. The works are burnt up. The Christian (in this case going back to offer Old Testament sacrifices instead of believing in Christ) are burnt up.
"For the earth, which drinks the rain which often comes upon it and produces vegetation suitable .. partakes of blessing from God.
But if it brings forth thorns and thistles, it is disapproved and near a curse, whose end is to be burned."
The earth is not burnt up. The bad vegetation of thorns and thistles are burnt up. This cannot be a pleasant experience for the backslider. So their feeling will be that this discipline will be
"NEAR a cursed".
The eternally lost in
Matthew 25:41 are
"you who are cursed".
The backslidden Christians of
Hebrews 6:8 are
"near a curse."