QUESTION:

 

I read your web site 10 reasons of why there is no hell.  It is very informative and interesting. My question to you is if you don't believe in hell how could you beleive in heaven or even a God?  Do you really believe that there is a place we float to when we die?  Do you beleive that there is a omnipotent being that created the billions of people on this planet, all the animals, insects, plants, we can even go as far as to say all the planets, the sun, the universe to say.  Not to speak he has control over all that at one time, sounds a little sci-fi.  Then he knows what we all are thinking, feeling, and talking to us, and knows the numbers of the hairs on once again the billions of humans on this earth.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not against religion if someone wants to beleive in God and it makes them a better person to be part of something that's great.  I just wanted to share something to you becasue I was wondering how could someone not beleive in hell, but have a religious beleif.  Hope i didn't offend you in any way.

ANSWER:

Why does it seem strange to you that I can have a solid faith in a loving and omnipotent God, while at the same time denying the reality of an eternal hell? If God is creating us in His image (Genesis 2), then wouldn't it make perfect sense to also believe that His discipline is for the purpose of correction? What good purpose would it serve for God to cast the wicked away forever into a fiery furnace? How would that bring any glory to His Name?

I once saw an episode of The Simpsons called Left Below, which was a spoof of Tim LaHaye's Left Behind series. In it, Homer got "saved" and was raptured into glory, and his family was "left below" to suffer through the tribulation period. When Homer was able to see his family in agony, he remarked to God that he couldn't enjoy heaven knowing that his family was suffering so much. So of course, God turned back the hands of time and gave Homer a second chance on earth with his family - a typical Hollywood ending.

Just a silly cartoon perhaps, but also one which shared a great deal of insight. If the concept of an eternal hell is real, then how could anyone enjoy heaven? On the other hand, if the most wicked and vile men were transformed, then that would indeed bring glory to God's Great Name. And this is precisely what the Scriptures declare:

"ALL the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and ALL the families of the nations shall worship before Him. For dominion belongs to the Lord, and He rules over the nations. Yea, to Him shall ALL the proud of the earth bow down; before Him shall bow ALL who go down to the dust, and he who cannot keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve Him; men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation, and proclaim His deliverance to a people yet unborn, that He has wrought it." (PSALM 22:27-31)

"ALL Thy works shall give thanks unto Thee, O Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of His kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord upholdeth ALL that fall, and raiseth up ALL those that are bowed down." (PSALM 145:10-14)