When someone close to me dies I feel grieved just like every other person. One of the first thought that comes to my mind is that, did the person make Heaven or Hell. I believe in the existence of heaven and hell as the destination after one leaves earth according to Gods time.

A wise man said we all have a common past but not a common future.

If one look around and observe the tragedy befalling humans on earth, one would realize that the human life is so fragile. As I thought deeply about the loss of a dear one who was successful by every standard in this life but his stand with God, I wasnt sure but he has left planet earth to return back to his maker.

As I reflected, it became clear that the only way to guarantee a pleasant future after one leaves planet earth is to make a decision for God and to walk in his will. Like someone said if you miss Heaven you cant miss Hell.
Like I humorously tell God, Is better you never created me, than for me to come to this life and after living here, miss heaven and unfortunately make it to the hell fire, the place of no return and everlasting suffering

Friends, I urge you to decide for the Lord Jesus today if you are not yet saved to guarantee your future in eternity.

But Pope Francis has just theorized that there is no hell? I think the Priest is confused and senile. How can he talk all those talks without. specifically talking The Role of Christ vis a vis Satan and their very separate Responsibilities to God and for humans. The Popes religion is Christianity and he has long ceased to be the ultimate interpretation and Understanding of the New Testament, let alone the Septuagint. I doubt if the Roman Catholic knows the God of the Universe any more.

orisa37:
But Pope Francis has just theorized that there is no hell? I think the Priest is confused and senile. How can he talk all those talks without. specifically talking The Role of Christ vis a vis Satan and their very separate Responsibilities to God and for humans. The Popes religion is Christianity and he has long ceased to be the ultimate interpretation and Understanding of the New Testament, let alone the Septuagint. I doubt if the Roman Catholic knows the God of the Universe any more.

Whether the Pope believe that there is a hell or not thats his opinion. Besides the Pope is not the standard for a Bible based Christianity.
But Jesus talked about hell, and he is called the truth. I choose to believe Jesus and the bible which cant mislead me.

I'm on your page. God bless you.

God bless you.

So you think life is all about going to heaven or going to hell?
You think you are born only to die and go to heaven or hell?
So, you would just sit there and wait till you die so that you can go to heaven?
You would spend all your precious time waiting to die and go to heaven?

Hiswordxray:
So you think life is all about going to heaven or going to hell?
You think you are born only to die and go to heaven or hell?
So, you would just sit there and wait till you die so that you can go to heaven?
You would spend all your precious time waiting to die and go to heaven?

You got it wrong. Every man is born with a purpose, whether you fulfill that purpose or not is up to you. Life is a waste if one ends up in hell, after living here on earth fufilling Gods purpose or not.

Jesus said what shall it profit a man after gaining the whole world and losing his soul after.He talked about life hereafter.

And because death is the inevitable end of all mortals on earth, its only wisdom to think deeply about what really happens after death because it doesnt end there, it continues in 2 worlds of Heaven or Hell.

bezimo:


You got it wrong. Every man is born with a purpose, whether you fulfill that purpose or not is up to you. Life is a waste if one ends up in hell, after living here on earth fufilling Gods purpose or not.

Jesus said what shall it profit a man after gaining the whole world and losing his soul after.He talked about life hereafter.

And because death is the inevitable end of all mortals on earth, its only wisdom to think deeply about what really happens after death because it doesnt end there, it continues in 2 worlds of Heaven or Hell.

If every person is born with a purpose then what is the purpose of children who die 4 days after they are born due to defects?

.

bezimo:


You got it wrong. Every man is born with a purpose, whether you fulfill that purpose or not is up to you. Life is a waste if one ends up in hell, after living here on earth fufilling Gods purpose or not.

Jesus said what shall it profit a man after gaining the whole world and losing his soul after.He talked about life hereafter.

And because death is the inevitable end of all mortals on earth, its only wisdom to think deeply about what really happens after death because it doesnt end there, it continues in 2 worlds of Heaven or Hell.

Why not think about now instead of being consume with the thought of the. God has a desire that He wants us to fulfill on earth but because we are too concern about getting heaven and we don't care about our Father's desire. Look at our Father, He is being deprive of that which He desire and all we care about is going to some paradise and enjoying for eternity, that is just selfish.

cloudgoddess:

If every person is born with a purpose then what is the purpose of children who die 4 days after they are born due to defects?

Those children are born with a purpose.God never creates a person with defects.The enemy tampered with Gods creation.Thats why we see defects in children when they are born, moreover thats not the end.God still allows that so that when they come into the world, they could be used to demonstrate the glory and power of God to the sons of men. For instance a child born blind encounters the creative power of God as ministered to by one of his choice servants or prophets and the child receives his/her sight.

Hiswordxray:

Why not think about now instead of being consume with the thought of the. God has a desire that He wants us to fulfill on earth but because we are too concern about getting heaven and we don't care about our Father's desire. Look at our Father, He is being deprive of that which He desire and all we care about is going to some paradise and enjoying for eternity, that is just selfish.

What is Gods desire? Its not limited to man fulfilling his devine purpose on earth. It includes that man walks in Gods will on earth. What is that will?
Do you know?

bezimo:


What is Gods desire? Its not limited to man fulfilling his devine purpose on earth. It includes that man walks in Gods will on earth. What is that will?
Do you know?

No, God's will is that man fulfill God's eternal purpose one earth.

bezimo:


Those children are born with a purpose.God never creates a person with defects.The enemy tampered with Gods creation.Thats why we see defects in children when they are born, moreover thats not the end.God still allows that so that when they come into the world, they could be used to demonstrate the glory and power of God to the sons of men. For instance a child born blind encounters the creative power of God as ministered to by one of his choice servants or prophets and the child receives his/her sight.

God never creates a person with defects.The enemy tampered with Gods creation.
Why would God allow the enemy to tamper with his creations? Isn't he stronger than the enemy? Couldn't he reverse the tampering if he wanted to? There are invasive medical procedures that have been discovered over the years via rigorous scientific research, which can repair some birth defects that would otherwise kill the child or make its life much harder. If secular human hands and minds can do that consistently and reliably, then why doesn't God?

God still allows that so that when they come into the world, they could be used to demonstrate the glory and power of God to the sons of men.
At the expense of the child's pain? God lets a child suffer just to prove something? And why would god have to prove things to people who should already believe in him anyway?

For instance a child born blind encounters the creative power of God as ministered to by one of his choice servants or prophets and the child receives his/her sight.
But there have been extremely few cases (I wouldn't hesitate to say zero independently validated cases) of spontaneous regeneration of sight. And even if there have been a few, it's still a fact that the vast majority of children born blind remain blind for the rest of their lives. There are many blind and otherwise disabled believers who never get healed no matter how many times they pray.

Scientists are still researching ways to aid these sufferers and possibly restore their sight. I have no doubt that in the future many more cures will be developed. But again - these are secular human hands and minds doing the work, using knowledge humanity has accumulated over hundreds of grueling years.

Avoidhellfire:

So what’s your point? The poster has made a good point but you have tried to discredit the post without making any point. If life on earth is not about waiting till you go to heaven then why don’t you tell us what life is about. For not telling us what life is about means you are probably a deceiver and you know the truth that life on earth is about seeking heaven. I have read your posts here and based on your posts it appears you are one of those false preachers. bezimo has gone straight to the point in his post but you on the other hand post long and irrelevant posts like The Gospel In The Eyes Of The Early Believers What Is The Great Commission? What Is Spirituality? The Threshold, The Warlord Of Hero Worship and The Warlord Of Papacy. I know your type, instead of preaching the truth in one sentence like the poster has done, you preach the lie disguised as the truth in a thousand sentences. It looks like you are a prosperity preacher.
If life on earth is not about waiting till you go to heaven then what is life about? Is life about greed, lust, envy, jealousy, covetousness, fornication, adultery, preaching the prosperity gospel, loving money or selling your soul to an evil cult in exchange for worthless cash?

If life on earth is not about waiting till you go to heaven then why don’t you tell us what life is about.
Every human can decide for his or herself what life is about, for themselves. Goals, meaning, value, is all subjective. No two people share the exact same values or meanings. The things you care about matter because they relate to your life and hold value to you. No one has to tell you what you value. Religion preys on the tendency we all have to seek easy answers - it takes less mental energy. We don't want to do the work of figuring out what matters for ourselves, we want someone or something else to figure that out for us. But the truth is your life is about what you make it about, right here, right now, as long as you are alive.

you know the truth that life on earth is about seeking heaven.
Why do we need to seek heaven? What can we have in heaven that we can't have here on earth? And how do you know that whatever is supposedly waiting in heaven will be more valuable than the experiences (like joy, togetherness, love, learning, and growth) that we have access to here on earth?

.

cloudgoddess:


God never creates a person with defects.The enemy tampered with Gods creation.
Why would God allow the enemy to tamper with his creations? Isn't he stronger than the enemy? Couldn't he reverse the tampering if he wanted to? There are invasive medical procedures that have been discovered over the years via rigorous scientific research, which can repair some birth defects that would otherwise kill the child or make its life much harder. If secular human hands and minds can do that consistently and reliably, then why doesn't God?

God still allows that so that when they come into the world, they could be used to demonstrate the glory and power of God to the sons of men.
At the expense of the child's pain? God lets a child suffer just to prove something? And why would god have to prove things to people who should already believe in him anyway?

For instance a child born blind encounters the creative power of God as ministered to by one of his choice servants or prophets and the child receives his/her sight.
But there have been extremely few cases (I wouldn't hesitate to say zero independently validated cases) of spontaneous regeneration of sight. And even if there have been a few, it's still a fact that the vast majority of children born blind remain blind for the rest of their lives. There are many blind and otherwise disabled believers who never get healed no matter how many times they pray.

Scientists are still researching ways to aid these sufferers and possibly restore their sight. I have no doubt that in the future many more cures will be developed. But again - these are secular human hands and minds doing the work, using knowledge humanity has accumulated over hundreds of grueling years.

John 9King James Version (KJV)

9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight

Does this answer your question

Avoidhellfire:


Are you sure you are not the devils advocate? you said that how do you know that whatever is supposedly waiting in heaven will be more valuable than the experiences (like joy, togetherness, love, learning, and growth) that we have access to here on earth? how do you know that the fires of hell will not be hotter that the fire on earth?

This earth is hellish enough for some but people like you are still clamouring for another hell fire after you die. You didn't see any, but out of your desire and wishful thinking you've fancied one up.

You missed the point completely. How is causing suffering just to glorified yourself okay? Her question was not why God would do so at all, but why he would use such a pathetic and heartless means to make such a cheap point such as self glorification.

Would God not be more glorified if no one was born with defects at all?

I'm reminded of a metaphor that Malcolm X once used that America expecting black people to be grateful is like someone sticking a 10 inch blade into your back, then pulling it out by 3 inches (remaining 7 inches still in your back), then expecting you to be grateful that they pulled it out a bit.

bezimo:


John 9King James Version (KJV)

9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight

Does this answer your question

bezimo:


Whether the Pope believe that there is a hell or not thats his opinion. Besides the Pope is not the standard for a Bible based Christianity.
But Jesus talked about hell, and he is called the truth. I choose to believe Jesus and the bible which cant mislead me.

Everything you know about Jesus is from the bible so all you are saying is that you choose to believe the bible.

The next question. How do you know the bible cannot mislead you?

Avoidhellfire:


Are you sure you are not the devils advocate? you said that how do you know that whatever is supposedly waiting in heaven will be more valuable than the experiences (like joy, togetherness, love, learning, and growth) that we have access to here on earth? how do you know that the fires of hell will not be hotter that the fire on earth?

Before you start accusing me of strange labels, how do you know that the devil or hell even exist? Just because you read it in a book (written 2000 years ago by men who had less knowledge about the world than an average elementary school kid today), and then your preachers and parents pounded it into your head before you could even come up with thoughts of your own? Are those valid reasons to be certain about something?

Where is the evidence proving that either of those things are real? How do you know hell isn't just superstition and a figment of human imagination used to fearmonger people into believing in religion? When the concept of hell was created, it was believed to be deep underground. Now we know (because of science) that the only thing under the earth's crust is liquid magma, and an iron core which gives earth its magnetic properties. No devil to be found. Where is the devil? Where is hell? Give me proof, not bible quotes.

PastorAIO:


Everything you know about Jesus is from the bible so all you are saying is that you choose to believe the bible.

The next question. How do you know the bible cannot mislead you?

I see you want to question my convictions

John 17:17King James Version (KJV)

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psalm 119:105King James Version (KJV)

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path

So its impossible for the word of God (The Bible) to mislead me.

PastorAIO:
You missed the point completely. How is causing suffering just to glorified yourself okay? Her question was not why God would do so at all, but why he would use such a pathetic and heartless means to make such a cheap point such as self glorification.

Would God not be more glorified if no one was born with defects at all?

I'm reminded of a metaphor that Malcolm X once used that America expecting black people to be grateful is like someone sticking a 10 inch blade into your back, then pulling it out by 3 inches (remaining 7 inches still in your back), then expecting you to be grateful that they pulled it out a bit.

I am not in a position to defend or question God for his actions because he knows far better than you or me and I guess you are wise eneough to know that.

Your question is likened to the question of Why did God create the being called satan that is troubling mankind or why did God not create all humans black or all humans white so there wont be racial discrimination.

cloudgoddess:

Before you start accusing me of strange labels, how do you know that the devil or hell even exist? Just because you read it in a book (written 2000 years ago by men who had less knowledge about the world than an average elementary school kid today), and then your preachers and parents pounded it into your head before you could even come up with thoughts of your own? Are those valid reasons to be certain about something?

Where is the evidence proving that either of those things are real? How do you know hell isn't just superstition and a figment of human imagination used to fearmonger people into believing in religion? When the concept of hell was created, it was believed to be deep underground. Now we know (because of science) that the only thing under the earth's crust is liquid magma, and an iron core which gives earth its magnetic properties. No devil to be found. Where is the devil? Where is hell? Give me proof, not bible quotes.

I guess you are an atheist who doesnt believe God.

But be aware science has never disproved the bible.
Have you heard of the drilling expedition in Siberia. An atheist was the person leading the expedition, his discovery made him change his belief about God.I would urge you to find out more about that.

Be aware it is safer to believe that hell and God exist and when you leave this world and discover that the bible was true afterall than to not believe and leave this world and discover that you were wrong.Then its impossible to get another chance.

A research was carried out sometimes ago in which 70% of Americans believe that the presence of an evil force in this world motivating people to do evil is real.They dont ascribe it as being the devil, they can call it whatever, but the bible calls it the devil.So the devil is real but God is more real.

I don't think you've still got the main gist.

Nobody on this thread has questioned God or asked you to defend God.

The questions have been 'How do you know ….. '?

What has been called to question are YOUR claims about God? YOUR claims about heaven and hell. YOUR claims!!


They have no basis. You are just making stuff up and fantasising woefully.

The only thing that you've gotten right so far is that I want to question your convictions.

Yes, I want to question YOUR convictions. What are they based on? On the bible? then I asked a simple question. How are you sure that the bible cannot mislead you? After all it is the same bible that the thousands of different denominations with their conflicting doctrines are reading.

bezimo:


I am not in a position to defend or question God for his actions because he knows far better than you or me and I guess you are wise eneough to know that.

Your question is likened to the question of Why did God create the being called satan that is troubling mankind or why did God not create all humans black or all humans white so there wont be racial discrimination.

PastorAIO:
I don't think you've still got the main gist.

Nobody on this thread has questioned God or asked you to defend God.

The questions have been 'How do you know ….. '?

What has been called to question are YOUR claims about God? YOUR claims about heaven and hell. YOUR claims!!


They have no basis. You are just making stuff up and fantasising woefully.

The only thing that you've gotten right so far is that I want to question your convictions.

Yes, I want to question YOUR convictions. What are they based on? On the bible? then I asked a simple question. How are you sure that the bible cannot mislead you? After all it is the same bible that the thousands of different denominations with their conflicting doctrines are reading.

You are asking me how I know, well I found out about it in the Bible.

And if you choose not to know, well that's your choice, I am not here to debate any claim not backed by scriptures.

bezimo:


I guess you are an atheist who doesnt believe God.

But be aware science has never disproved the bible.
Have you heard of the drilling expedition in Siberia. An atheist was the person leading the expedition, his discovery made him change his belief about God.I would urge you to find out more about that.

Be aware it is safer to believe that hell and God exist and when you leave this world and discover that the bible was true afterall than to not believe and leave this world and discover that you were wrong.Then its impossible to get another chance.

A research was carried out sometimes ago in which 70% of Americans believe that the presence of an evil force in this world motivating people to do evil is real.They dont ascribe it as being the devil, they can call it whatever, but the bible calls it the devil.So the devil is real but God is more real.

But be aware science has never disproved the bible.
Yes it has. Multiple times.

Have you heard of the drilling expedition in Siberia. An atheist was the person leading the expedition, his discovery made him change his belief about God.I would urge you to find out more about that.
That was already debunked years ago. Snopes did an article on it: http://www.snopes.com/religion/wellhell.asp

Be aware it is safer to believe that hell and God exist and when you leave this world and discover that the bible was true afterall than to not believe and leave this world and discover that you were wrong.
Pascal's Wager. Has also been debunked. Because believing in the Christian god at the expense of all other 4,000+ gods that have existed throughout history is also a risk. How do you know you won't go to Hindu hell for not believing in Krishna?

A research was carried out sometimes ago in which 70% of Americans believe that the presence of an evil force in this world motivating people to do evil is real.
What exactly does that prove? If you took a survey in the U.S. 100 years ago, most people would tell you they believe that blacks and women don't deserve rights. Donald Trump is leading in the US political polls right now, yet he's clearly a bigot and a racist. Does his popularity make his views valid? Public opinion has never, and will never be equal to facts; regardless of how many people agree on something, their feelings do not make it correct. Objective facts are what allow us to accurately judge what is correct or incorrect.

There are no facts supporting the presence of supernatural evil forces driving human behavior. The facts point to evil deeds being a result of abusive childhoods, exposure to violence from a young age, psychological imbalances, maladaptive learned behaviors, misplaced emotions, and surprise - religious conviction. Of course, most Americans are not literate in these topics, so superstition prevails as it does anywhere else where education is lacking.

You seem to have missed where I referred to the thousands of divergent denominations and asked how you know you're not being misled from your bible in light of these.

bezimo:


You are asking me how I know, well I found out about it in the Bible.

And if you choose not to know, well that's your choice, I am not here to debate any claim not backed by scriptures.

Fear fear fear fear fear fear is the reason why you all still believe.