Quote by DarkIngramThe Bible
states that when a person dies, "the spirit itself returns to the true God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Does this mean that a spirit entity literally travels through space into God's presence? Not at all! The way in
which the Bible uses the word "returns" does not require an actual movement from one place to another. For
instance, unfaithful Israelites were told: "'Return to me, and I will return to you,' Jehovah of armies
has said." (Malachi 3:7) Israel's 'returning' to Jehovah meant a turning around from a wrong course
and again conforming to God's righteous way. And Jehovah's 'returning' to Israel meant his turning
favorable attention to his people once again. In both cases the "return" involved an attitude, not a literal
displacement from one geographic location to another...
Similarly, at death no actual movement from the earth to the heavenly realm occurs when the spirit "returns"
to God. Once the life-force is gone from a person, only God has the ability to restore it to him. So the spirit
"returns to the true God" in the sense that any hope of future life for that person now rests entirely with
Jehovah God...
Consider, for example, what the Scriptures say about Jesus Christ's death. The Gospel writer Luke relates:
"Jesus called with a loud voice and said: 'Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.' When he had said
this, he expired." (Luke 23:46) As Jesus' spirit went out of him, he was not literally on his way to heaven.
Jesus was not resurrected from the dead until the third day, and it was 40 days later that he ascended to heaven. (Acts
1:3, 9) At the time of his death, however, Jesus confidently left his spirit in his Father's hands, fully trusting
in Jehovah's ability to bring him back to life... :D
The Bible refers to this animating force as "spirit." (James 2:26) That spirit can be compared to the electric
current that activates a machine or an appliance and enables it to perform its function. Just as the current never takes
on the features of the equipment it activates, the life-force does not take on any of the characteristics of the
creatures it animates. It has no personality and no thinking ability...
Since the dead have no conscious existence, hell cannot be a fiery place of torment where the wicked suffer after
death... ;)
Yup! That's correct! :D
It seems to me that you're arguing that what the Bible says doesn't actually happen. Instead, if we do without
the long and questionable explanation that the spirit is an "animating force" we have,
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." -
Ecclesiastes 12:7
That there is a spirit and a body that are both separate entities.
We also know that the Bible is completely coherent and that everything it says is true. Therefore:
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:
for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return." - Genesis 3:19
"return unto the ground" must then refer to the body as written in Ecclesiastes 12:7. Much simpler isn't
it?
And the following are also true:
"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to
go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:" - Mark 9:43
Apparently there's fire in hell, and it will never go out.
"And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can
do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea,
I say unto you, Fear him." Luke 12:4-5
Apparently there is a condition worse than mere 'death'. And that condition is death and going to
hell.
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false
prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." - Revelations 20:10
And there is such a thing as eternal torment.
Quote by DarkIngramFinally,
you've one correct answer here... :)
but...
And lastly... I am a Christian of the Methodist denomination, and I recognise that even among our brothers and sisters
there are disagreements on scripture, how much more true that would be between me, and you, a Jehovah's witness.
Why else would there be different denominations of Christians?
Understanding this, I warn you not to be dogmatic about your own interpretations. Do you really understand everything
written in the Bible so perfectly as to declare others 'correct' or 'wrong' for that
matter?
Quote by rufflesiaHell is not
present now. Hell will be made AT THE END OF THE AGE. There is nobody burning in hell now. The dead are sleeping. If
some of the dead were in heaven and some in hell now, then wouldn't be the second coming of Christ be
contradicting? "...for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those
who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 6:28. If people
were already in heaven/hell, where would we "rise" to?
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and
they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." -
Revelations 20:13-15
From these verses we can see that hell does exist BEFORE THE END OF AGE. (forgive me for shouting but it's to
mirror your emphasis) How then do we "rise" you ask? From my understanding... we must look at the ressurection
of Jesus.
1. His spirit returned to God after his bodily death.
2. His spirit was reunited with his body on the 3rd day.
(If anyone wants an explanation on these 2 deductions, ask)
So... the spirit goes to heaven or hell, and the body stays on earth. In the verses of Revelations 20:13-15, the body is
the one that is ressurected. That explains how we are able to "rise" even after death.
Quote by rufflesia"A
little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found." Psalms 37:10. HELL
IS NOT BURNING FOREVER. God will not let the evil burn and burn and burn forever and ever. They will perish in "a
little while".
"For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little
while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be]. But the
meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." - Psalms 37:9-11
If you look at this verse in it's context, you can see that it's context is earth. So "For yet a little
while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be]."
refers to the wicked on earth.