Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Dell Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bry57 who wrote (104977)	2/25/1999 1:22:00 PM
From: Mohan Marette	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

<--OT-->Say here is an idea,why don't y'all start a thread on religion,theology,hell,heaven,morality,fornication,purgatory,pearly gate and everything in between,yup that sounds like an idea to me.Pardon me for butting in but it is just a thought.

To: bry57 who wrote (104977)	2/28/1999 8:01:00 PM
From: Robert Brooks	Respond to of 176387

**OT** Bryan : I have read with great interest these posts between you and Don M. on the topic of hell. I must first say that I appreciate many of the fine scriptural points that you make, especially those related to the need to gain knowledge and understanding of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). For what did Jesus say was the key to everlasting life? "taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ” (John 17:3). With this in mind, I would like to respond to your use of Jesus illustration of the rich man and Lazarus to prove that hell is a burning place of torment. It is true that this is the one place in the Bible where hádes occurs that causes some persons to believe that the Bible hell is a place of physical torment. But considering the scriptural texts cited by Don showing that Hades is the common grave of mankind, why is Jesus' use of hádes here so different from its use in other places? Because Jesus was giving a parable or illustration and was not speaking of a literal place of torment. (Matthew 13:34). In fact, the Bible record says: “Indeed, without an illustration he would not speak to them, but privately to his disciples he would explain all things.” To show that this was an illustration that Jesus was using to demonstrate a deeper spiritual meaning, consider these points: Is it reasonable or Scriptural to believe that a man suffers torment simply because he is rich, wears good clothing and has plenty to eat? Is it Scriptural to believe that one is blessed with heavenly life just because he is a beggar? Consider this too: Is hell literally within speaking distance of heaven so that an actual conversation could be carried on? Also, if the rich man were in a literal burning lake, how could Abraham send Lazarus to cool his tongue with just a drop of water on the tip of his finger? If Jesus had been teaching by his illustration of Lazarus and the rich man that conscious torment in a fiery hell awaits unrepentant sinners, it is very strange that he made no mention of sin in the illustration. All that is said about the rich man is that he was rich and enjoyed himself with magnificence. That in itself can hardly be regarded as grounds for confining him for eternity in a place of fiery torment. Nothing more is said about Lazarus than that he was a beggar who sat at the gate of the rich man hoping to be fed the things that dropped from the rich man's table. In itself that does not recommend Lazarus for better treatment than the rich man. What, then, was Jesus illustrating? It had to do with classes of people and a change in their spiritual positions. On more than one occasion Jesus gave illustrations that applied to the Jewish religious leaders of his day who opposed the truths he preached to the common people. His preaching so tormented them that they finally had him killed. They well fit the rich man of his illustration. (Luke 20:19, 20, 46, 47) On the other hand, the common Jewish people, who were treated like beggars by the religious leaders, experienced a great spiritual change when they became disciples of Jesus; they were pictured by Lazarus.—1 Cor. 1:26-29. Given the scriptural proofs that Don M. presented regarding hell, isn't this a more reasonable explanation of the meaning of this parable? In your post, you stated that you wholeheartedly stand by your convictions. That is certainly admirable, but keep in mind that Paul was a man of conviction in his persecution of the Jews. He truly believed he was right in what he was doing. However, he wasn't afraid to change after Jesus blinded him and opened his mind to the truth. That is what all of us must do--keep an open mind to the truth! I appreciate your willingness to do so. I look forward to your response in a PM if you so desire. Robert