Christian Myth 2: The Wicked Suffer in Hell What is the origin of this myth? “Of all classical Greek philosophers, the one who has had the greatest influence on traditional views of Hell is Plato.” -- Histoire des enfers (The History of Hell), by Georges Minois, page 50.
“From the middle of the 2nd century AD Christians who had some training in Greek philosophy began to feel the need to express their faith in its terms… The philosophy that suited them best was Platonism (the teachings of Plato).” – The New Encyclopedia Britannica (1988), Volume 25, page 890.
“The teachings of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire.’ The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994 edition, page 270.
What does the Bible say? “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, … for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.” – Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10, Revised Standard Version.
The Hebrew word Sheol, which referred to the “abode of the dead,” is translated “hell” in some versions of the Bible. What does this passage reveal about the condition of the dead? Do they suffer in Sheol in order to atone for their errors? No, for they “know nothing.” That is why the Patriarch Job, when suffering terribly because of a severe illness, begged God: “Protect me in hell (Hebrew, Sheol).” (Job 14:13; Douay-Rheims Version) What meaning would his request have had if Sheol was a place of eternal torment? Hell, in the Biblical sense, is simply the common grave of mankind, where all activity has ceased.
Is not this definition of hell more logical and in harmony with Scripture? What crime, however horrible, could cause a God of love to torture a person endlessly? (1 John 4:8) But if hellfire is a myth, what about heaven?
Compare these Bible verses; Psalm 146:3,4; Acts 2:25-27; Romans 6:7, 23.
FACT: God does not punish people in hell.
Who opposes Jehovah God? A creature named Satan does. Satan, in the original language of the Bible means Opposer. But Satan has another name as well; Devil. Satan, the Devil. Why the second name? Because Devil means Slanderer. Therefore, this powerful spirit creature who opposes Almighty God is the Opposer of God, and the Slanderer of God as well.
What does it mean to be a Slanderer? It means that Satan tells lies about Jehovah God. Here is the first lie told about Almighty God;
Jehovah God speaking; Genesis 2:17 But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.”
Satan speaking through a serpent in the Garden; Genesis 3:4 At this the serpent said to the woman: “YOU positively will not die.
Satan the Devil (Slanderer) thus called Jehovah God a liar, and slandered His Holy Name.
Can we prove that Satan actually spoke to Eve through the Serpent? Yes, in the Bible.
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
How else has Satan the Slanderer lied about Jehovah God to the people of this world? One of the principle ways is by lying about the nature of Almighty God. We are told in the Bible that God is a God of love; in fact, we are told that God IS love;
1 John 4:8 He that does not love has not come to know God, because God is love.
The above verse is very important, both for understanding Jehovah God, and for understanding our obligations on this earth; to love. To love is the primary command that Jesus the Christ brought to the earth as his message to mankind. He that does not love has not come to know God. Period. And anyone that would believe that a God of love would torture someone forever in hellfire also does not know God, for this is slander of Almighty God in the extreme.
Everyone should note that every religion of man teaches hellfire and eternal damnation in one form or another – EXCEPT the Bible. This is one of the primary differences between the Bible and all other ‘religious’ books that exist. It also shows that anyone who accepts/teaches/speaks of hellfire and damnation, and yet claims to be a ‘Christian,’ is also a slanderer of Almighty God.
Chose your friends wisely. Do not be misled, bad associations spoil useful habits (1 Corinthians 15:33).