Originally Posted by
Nines&Twos
It certainly does. This one is a tough pill to swallow.
There was a time when i was younger, I wouldn't argue it...I find I have little more compassion for people than i thought possible.
First off...we know everyone that goes in the lake of fire is blotted out of the book of life. There could be something to that blotting out. It would have to involve those that overcome as well. How will you be able to enjoy ...or even endure an eternity if your old neighbor who was a pretty good ole fella but never believed on Christ.....is over there sizzling like greasy meat in a cast iron skillet? I think we will get briefed when we get there and will have no feelings of injustice in the next life
Revelation 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
One must be careful not to question our Father here....but...that neighbor has to endure what some mass murdering sicko has to suffer? I think there is different levels of punishment as the LORD stated to Pilate... John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Revelation 20:10 seems cut and dry....but who is it addressing? All who those who go in the fire or just Lucifer and his failed regime? Revelation 12:11 is actually talking about folks who have taken the Mark of the Beast etc.
Also Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There's also an acrostic in Psalms that refers to the wicked being like fat on a spit..when it hits the fire...it sizzles, turns to smoke and goes up into the air forever. Acrostics are difficult for people with zero linguistic education (me) to really put much into. I always try to let crystal clear scripture define looking through a glass, darkly scripture
Wisdom says just skip the fire altogether and that's my plan but all of God's word is to be studied and understood if possible. Amen! Our education never ends until we shed this meat suit. This subject has certainly been wrenched on by some religions I won't name and fictitious works like Dante.
I've had another thought but it's a bit ..fringe maybe? Bordering on absurd. In the beginning there was God, The word and wisdom. He spoke and nothing became SOMETHING. (That's what atheistic science can't wrap their feeble noodle around) .....God is a consuming fire. It's no step for him to speak again and something becomes NOTHING. See where I'm going?....just a thought...one I should probably leave alone.