Heaven or Hell? You choose

*God* has a better plan - it's called "redemption". Fortunately, He isn't some loser who bit off more than he could chew and must resort to burning the evidence of his massive failure like some back alley shyster.

Scripture God uses fire to *purify*, yes? Don't the epistles talk of the benefits of "fiery trials"?

Fire good.

The Lake of Fire is not some body of literal fire, or the sun, or anything other than what scripture defines the symbol of "fire" as:

"Our God is a consuming fire" - Hebrews 12 (an echo of Deuteronomy 4:24)

"Is not My word like fire?" - Jeremiah 23

He makes "His ministers a flame of fire" - Hebrews 1 (also Psalm 104)

fiery trials = sharing in the sufferings of Christ - 1 Peter 4

Israel's captivity in Egypt = "an iron furnace" - Deuteronomy 4:20

A "fiery law" proceeded from God's right hand - Deuteronomy 33

God apparently set Israel "on fire", and they didn't even realize it - Isaiah 42



Note that per Revelation 14, those cast into this "lake" are "in the presence of the Lamb". He Himself is likely the fire that purifies.

The only thing that it burns up is the old, corrupt nature and its debris. . .


Fire will expose and test each person's works. . ."if it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" - 1 Corinthians 3

"By mercy and truth iniquity is purged". . .Proverbs 16

"The wicked will see it and be vexed, He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The *desire* of the wicked will perish" - Psalm 112

The glory of the LORD seemed like a consuming fire to the children of Israel - Exodus 24

It was by fire that He revealed His Law to them. Moses went right up to it, but the masses were afraid. . .
"For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die" - Deuteronomy 5

-->> Fire was equated with hearing His voice

The process of "fire" leaves us in ashes. . .a scriptural symbol of humility.

All through the Laws of Moses, fire is what made the offerings acceptable and pleasing to God.


After Israel defeated an enemy, all the gold, silver, brass, iron, tin and lead were to be purified by fire. . .
Paraphrased, "Everything that can withstand fire must go through fire, by which it shall be made clean. Any other materials which *cannot* withstand fire must be purified by water." - Numbers 31


Mankind is full of people who live after the dictates of their senses and instincts. . .for many, their "god" is their belly. To exist as a mere bodily self - eating, mating, and dominating others - makes us little more than an animal (the "beast"). The remedy is "execution", as illustrated in the burnt offerings of the old testament, which point toward our death sentence on the cross. The enthroned lower nature must be put to death by metaphorical fire.

God has invested too much in all this (His Son) to just torch us and close the file.
There comes a day when undergoing the purification process is no longer optional and the time arrives to move forward and stop being primates.

I choose to use my BRAIN that 'god' gave me to think LOGICALLY about your stupid "choice".

God gave me the power of doubt (my brain). I doubt the authenticity of a religion that was created out of a power hungry Roman Empire in its death throes.

So "god" will send me to hell for that?

No. I think not. Because "god" gave me the power to doubt.

Lisa Lisa,

When Revelation 6:15-17 happens, we will all believe the
same (okay, not all, free will is involved) as Jesus desires.

Pray for conversions, pray for souls to receive the grace to
find God, even at the moment of their death.

God is perfectly loving and perfectly just. He can turn our prayers into saving 'grace' to touch hardened hearts.

Ah, the mystery of grace and free will.


love,

Mary

Of course I believe it, and none of those dates had anything to do with the Lord and His word the Bible.

No man knows the day or hour that Jesus is returning, nobody.

I'm choosing heaven for sure.

I'm afraid I might be denied entry if I keep saying the f-word though. I've got to work on that.