Universalism - Hades, Hell And Length Of An Age?

[Alex05]

Right, I was tempted to stick this in the 'Rants and Replies' section, but since it is also a theological issue, I thought maybe it would be better in here.

 

I know some of you were into Universalism before leaving, so here's something that has left me completely baffled.

 

Christian Universalists talk about Hell being temporary, that all non-believers descend into Hades until the Final Judgement, when they are chucked into the Lake of Fire (Purification) and then they get to spend eternity with God.

 

Here are my problems:

 

- I thought God addressed each person based on his/her individual case, that each person would be purified as long as necessary and then allowed into Heaven. In the bold section, everyone is just lumped into two groups. I was horrified to hear this.

 

- When Jesus establishes the Millennial Kingdom, all non-believers are either in soul sleep (according to some) or in Hades until the end of the 1000 years. Once again, wouldn't all non-believers at this point accept God? Why do all non-believers required to be in soul sleep or in Hades for 1000 years?

 

- I keep hearing talk about the age of ages, eons etc. Jonah was in the whale's belly for 3 days which he referred to as Hades. So why then doesn't every non-believer receive an individual address to their case?

 

I'm writing this on behalf of an e-mail I received which is from a Christian Universalist who believed the following:

 

- When a person dies, they would go to Heaven or to Hell. If they ended up in Hell, God would purify them through the necessary means until the person repented, then they would end up in Heaven.

 

-When Christ returned, everyone living would remain alive for the 1000 years with the resurrected. The wicked would be chucked into the Lake of Fire.

 

I thought Universalism was a nicer doctrine myself, but even these concerns highlighted for me shows a darker side.

 

Thoughts?

[LivingLife]

CU is just fundiville w/o ET. The concept of hell temporary or not just appeases them that have unbelieving dead relatives. If you are BA you get a sorta free pass and don't go though too much "purification"

 

Still a man made doctrine and does not hold to reality.

 

It is is fun watching them and Eters debate playing bible hopscotch.

[owen652]

i don't think that all universalists hold to that doctrine. but yeah, doesn't exactly mesh with 'free will' does it? We are tortured in hell until we are 'purified'? in other words, until we surrender and beg for mercy. nice.

[mwc]

This all sounds somewhat Jewish to me.

 

mwc

[RankStranger]

Good thing it's all bullshit.

[LivingLife]

UR/CU really only addresses the sick ET doctrine. They still argue amongst themselves as to the sanctification doctrine, the trinity, the rapture, revelation. They vary from preterists, to calvinists to armenianists that have found some solace in redefining hell and stuff like aonian to mean not forever and ever but an age of indeterminable duration.

 

This some can take the genesis account literally and others not. Everything disproven by science, become allegorical or poetry.

 

It really does not work for rational thinkers and if you are in it, and are one, you will merely use it as a stepping stone out of the madness.

 

Plus what Rank said in fewer words.

[Alex05]

i don't think that all universalists hold to that doctrine. but yeah, doesn't exactly mesh with 'free will' does it? We are tortured in hell until we are 'purified'? in other words, until we surrender and beg for mercy. nice.

 

I think the issue is about the duration of an age and how ridiculous it is that all non believing people would be stuck in Hades until the so called age expires, which could be in a thousand years.

 

As LivingLife said, age is defined as an indeterminable duration. It doesn't quite fit into the idea of being stuck in Hades with every non-believer for the same amount of time.

 

It's madness.

[bornagainathiest]

Agreed Alex.

 

It is madness.

 

Recently I presented these two conflicting lists to Thumbelina, the most persistent of our 'resident' Christian apologists and an inflexible Annihilationist.

 

THE BIBLE SAYS HELL IS NOT FOREVER

 

http://www.tentmaker...yExplained.html

http://www.hopebeyon...the-bible-mean/

http://www.city-data...ilosophers.html

http://www.mercifult...m/eternity.html

http://www.sundaylaw...ty/lifedeat.htm

http://www.gregboyd....nnihilationism/

http://www.jewishnotgreek.com/

http://www.truthacco...e-of-demons.php

http://www.helltruth.com/

http://www.afterlife.co.nz/

http://grcog.homeste...nally_impen.htm

http://www.friendsof...esurrection.pdf

 

THE BIBLE SAYS HELL IS FOREVER

 

http://www.intellect...rticle3610.html

http://www.bible-res....com/hell5.html

http://home.earthlin...ilationism.html

http://www.bible.ca/...ion-refuted.htm

http://www.tektonics.org/af/annix.html

http://www.ellopos.n...sp?TOPIC_ID=197

http://shalach.org/H...reek%20aion.htm

http://stempublishin...INE/31003E.html

http://www.textexcav...verandever.html

http://www.christian...ber23/1.30.html

http://www.christian...er5/8tb092.html

 

The 'Not Forever' crowd consists of Universalists and Annihilationists. The first assert that sinners leave Hell and the second that sinners are consumed there and totally destroyed. So who's right? As you've observed Alex, it's ALL madness. To this I'll add...

 

'True Believers' can even choose which type of madness they want to embrace as God's Truth. How so? Because the Bible can be read in whatever way suits them.

 

If they think a merciful God permits sinners to repent and leave Hell - then that's God's truth.

If they think God saves sinners from eternal torment by destroying them - then that's God's truth too.

If they think a just God lets sinners suffer for all eternity - then that's God's truth as well.

 

As you say... madness! ALL of it!

 

BAA.