Why do Christians believe in a place of torment called Hell?

I have always been close to God my entire life and the God I know does not plan to torment people who reject him for all eternity. I know what is taught and the scriptures that those who teach this use, can you tell me how a wonderful and loving God would torment forever. Putting something bad to sleep forever and out of its misery, like a dog with rabies, is merciful. Please explain without scripture (because I know the verses well) ...explain by your experience and relationship with God what he revealed to you about this. I don't understand, the God I know is not like this. I do believe there is a judgment and evil people who reject him will not have a good end, but not that way.

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Favorite Bible Verse Isaiah 54:5-"My maker is my husband, the Lord of Hosts, is his name"

Not for nothing, but I'm thinking if you take care of that problem in your life, you may come to a better understanding of Scripture, and find the answer to the question you asked.

Stop rejecting God's word and get saved today...time is running out for you.

Many of us here will be praying for your salvation, and you too should pray to the One True Living God of the bible.

When you say you've been close to God your entire life does this mean you were never His enemy? never dead in trespasses and sins? that there was never a time when you crossed over from being a sinner to being saved? never born again?

We GO by scripture, that's what we do. We do not go by human emotions or philosophies. Sin is the only tormentor of mankind.

No, I came to the knowledge of my sin when I was 21 and repented and Got saved 20 years ago. But, I always felt close to God even before that. Even before I ever heard of Jesus I would tell God I was sorry as I child. I was never raised in church and didn't read the bible until I was 21, I'm 43 now. For some reason, I always felt compelled and overwhelmed by my actions and would repent, even before I ever heard of those words. I have always loved God even as a small age. I know the Bible well and know the scriptures very well too, but I don't believe that those who reject Jesus are tormented forever in hell. It doesn't seem to line up with the God I know, despite people's interpretation of what scripture says. I have translated the bible and I believe the idea of torment in hell is an interpretation of what it says in English, not the original language.
I got saved 20 years ago and baptized. I just don't believe that believers are interpreting the scriptures regarding torment in hell accurately. Matthew 10:28 is very clear that God destroys your body and soul. I believe that Gehenna is this action, not a place of torment. I believe God completely destroys your existence and you cease to exist anywhere. I don't believe that this will be painless, just not forever, perpetually like what is taught.

For your consideration: God is very clear that until this day of Judgment, we are all in the grave asleep or sheowl... Daniel 12:2 "and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt". When evil people die, they leave a memorial of there actions or everlasting contempt. It doesn't say everlasting torment. God will take these memories from us, We will forget them, but God will not. The idea of lethal injection I believe came from God, because he states in Matthew through Jesus , that both their body and soul will be destroyed. Daniel 12:2 is clear that all who have died, will be awakened AGAIN for the judgment. Isaiah 43:4 is clear that everything that is evil and this creation will roll up like a scroll, including the host of them that rejected him and they will dissolve and disappear forever. That is Gehenna or the lake of fire, what we called Hell. It is a very fast action, with forever results...not forever torment. I'm sure they will see there actions and rejection of God and his gift of Jesus as they dissolve away into non existence. Until that day, Jesus is clear we are sleeping. When the little girl died, the people were crying and Jesus kindly rebuked them when he said in Matthew 9:24- "Go away, the girl isn't dead, she is sleeping." This lines up with Daniel 12:2, which states again, "many who sleep in the dust of the earth, awake." Obviously, for the judgment. No one is in heaven yet and hades was for the demons, not us. We die or "sleep" as Jesus said.

Did you know that Jeffrey Dahmer found Jesus in prison before he was murdered. He was an atheist who believed in evolution and that we evolved from slime. He said this belief made a huge impact in his perverse actions. He also said he accepted Jesus through the ministry of Kent Govind or Dr Dino, for those not familiar, who teaches creation science. It changed him, before he was murdered. The least is greatest and the greatest least.

Sorry, typo... I meant "Kent Hovind"

I believe in what is called [sometimes derogatorily] as the WIDER MERCY. I do not believe the more traditional evangelical [Catholic and Protestant] is correct i.e. the sheep are the church and the goats are everybody else. And I can reason it from scripture, we absolutely must go by scripture. I will get my thoughts in line and do a blog.

Never-the- less there are goats, is there a difference between goats and sheeps? between tares and wheat? between vipers and doves?

Are you able to see the state, the condition of a child torturer and murderer's soul? the inner man of a genocidal dictator? you see the outer man, why he looks just like you, he seems a thoroughly good chap with excellent manners. But he is sated with evil.

What will God do with such? God is a Creator, He is not an Uncreator, the souls He has created will go on for eternity whether in life or in death. People are already living in torment in this age without God and without hope in the world ... are you blaming God for that? why doesn't He just put them to death and end their misery now?

At the end of the day you have to trust God and trust His judgements, acknowledge that He is wise above the wisdom of man and that on that day everyone will get what they deserve. I totally believe that.

My experience is pretty much the same as yours. I believed Jesus loves me from childhood Bible classes in the summer, and this was my own faith until the entering of the Holy Spirit at 25 years.
I was given a vision at about the age of seven, and it stuck with me as a kind of anchor to the Father, though I was not yet Bible taught. Then when the Holy Spirit entered into my heart, I could red the Word and understand for the first time, and I have been convinced ever since. No, I do not understand all of the Word, but that wonderful gift of faisth has taught me to beleive even when I do not quite understand something. Yes, our blessed m Maker is good all of the time, and He comes to each of us as we need Him.

I uidnersstand your salvation, and people whould realize that the Lord knows each of us in the manner each needs. Only the Almight can accomplish this. Yo know tey are always telling us He is our personal Saavior, and I think it would be nice if they believed it.

Then why does Jesus state that God destroys both body and soul in Gehenna...if those who reject him aren't destroyed completely? I don't think he was lying.

I mean, your soul is the complete embodiment of who you are, including your concsiousness. He says it is destroyed, not anywhere.

People have thrown off the doctrines of the bible, they do not believe in eternal punishment, it was the devil who first said to Adam "you'll be ok, God will not punish you" he was encouraging Adam to sin.

And with the warnings being thrown off people are becoming unbelievably wicked and cruel.

I think dissolving will be painful and being shown why while you dissolve...this is a punishment with forever results. I am not in disagreement that God will punish and this decision is permanent and Jesus says to fear him or rather God, the only one who can do this. Obviously, it will be horrible or Jesus would not have said "be afraid." But, he doesn't say this punishment is perpetual torture, but a painful punishment with eternal death of your soul and body. I believe the quoted words of Jesus, over any other words found in scripture, not quoted directly by Jesus. There will be a Judgment and punishment...just not perpetual torment. Jesus never quoted that! People enjoy that sort of idea, not God.

Death of your existence is eternal punishment. You forever don't exist and will never be with God, because you aren't there anymore. That is terrifying to me!

some people are quite attracted to that idea

You think that is better than eternal damnation? Do you believe that there is still hope once in hell? There is no hope for satan and his minions. Satan is an eternal being. He can't die even if he wants to so he will burn in hell forever.

We were corrupted. But our God is pure and holy. Jesus came down to Earth to shed His blood to purify us once again so we can be in the presence of God again. I don't think God is cruel. It is just impossible for humans who are dead to sin and are corrupted to be with God. A cruel God will not sacrifice to get His people back. He is a merciful God but His wrath is also a righteous wrath.

Gen 6:6
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Despite God's regret about creating humans, He did not give up on us.

I think it is a better punishment and more merciful.i don't believe and scripture states that Satan and the demons are delivered up, that is the " Second Death" It says "Death" it means Satan too. They aren't going to be given the blessing if tormenting humans in hell, that is what they like. Everyone who rejects God and the Gospel get nothing. They Get non existence and that is Death, including Satan. They can die with the help of God, otherwise Jesus wouldn't of said " fear God, who CAN destroy both body and soul in Gehenna, the lake of fire. They are swallowed up in victory. Death and He'll, it states in Revelation. These are not my words or ideas, that is What God says.