I have my own view. I think "Hell" is the unfortunate side of those who ally with any which way but with God. They want to live independent of God.
But why would they make such a choice to start with? Free Will gave the angels a single opportunity to go with God or independent from God. And man, though he is given the same choice, somehow has the option already predetermined at birth because his ancestors before him have made decisions that reflect in their posterity.
When someone chooses to make life decisions independent of God, the fruit of those choices result in children who exist in a spiritual atmosphere apart from God. They naturally choose to live independent of God, though they may, at times, choose to cooperate with God.
I think those who are predetermined to separate from God do not have to be at the extreme end of punishment. They can be born as children who have never had the choice to do wrong things, though they have that predisposition within them. I'm sure, if they are to go into eternal punishment, that the punishment will reflect the lack of wrong they have ever done.
In other words, I don't believe Eternal Punishment are all people strug up on violins played by demons, nor do I believe their flesh is cooked eternally in fire. What the "fire" means is that they will be forever removed, with their belongings, from the New Earth. They will remain with this loss for all eternity.
But we don't know what is really out there in "Outer Darkness?" For children who have done little wrong, they may not have the light of New Jerusalem, but they may indeed have a measure of light that affords them something equivalent to who they are, but not be punished for what they did not do.
But why would they make such a choice to start with? Free Will gave the angels a single opportunity to go with God or independent from God. And man, though he is given the same choice, somehow has the option already predetermined at birth because his ancestors before him have made decisions that reflect in their posterity.
When someone chooses to make life decisions independent of God, the fruit of those choices result in children who exist in a spiritual atmosphere apart from God. They naturally choose to live independent of God, though they may, at times, choose to cooperate with God.
I think those who are predetermined to separate from God do not have to be at the extreme end of punishment. They can be born as children who have never had the choice to do wrong things, though they have that predisposition within them. I'm sure, if they are to go into eternal punishment, that the punishment will reflect the lack of wrong they have ever done.
In other words, I don't believe Eternal Punishment are all people strug up on violins played by demons, nor do I believe their flesh is cooked eternally in fire. What the "fire" means is that they will be forever removed, with their belongings, from the New Earth. They will remain with this loss for all eternity.
But we don't know what is really out there in "Outer Darkness?" For children who have done little wrong, they may not have the light of New Jerusalem, but they may indeed have a measure of light that affords them something equivalent to who they are, but not be punished for what they did not do.
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