The Bible tells us that Hell was created for the devil and his angels – not for humans.
Humans were created to have a loving relationship with God.
However it seems that humans have their own free will and can choose to follow the devil and his angels.
It seems that there is an inate ‘value’ in a human life. Far beyond what we can comprehend. Jesus didn’t just have to die ie: his pulse had to stop – or else he could just have slit his wrists. But rather he had to prove ‘obedience to the point of death’.
My take is as follows:
Man is created.
Man is a selfish being.
God cannot exist in a relationship with an unloving species.
Jesus takes on the form of man and demonstrates that man can love unconditionally in obedience to god.
As such he shows us the way.
As for others going to hell, I am undecided on this. You see, I think that hell is reserved for those who reject God and by proxy reject Christ – however, I do not think that anyone does reject him.
I think that Musilims, Buddhist, Atheists etc reject the ‘notion’ of Jesus as understood from their POV.
They do not reject the ‘truth’ (in Christ) because they have no revelation of it.
They truly do not KNOW christ – they may know OF him, ABOUT him etc, but there has been no ‘revelation’.
I think that hell is for those who, after having the revelation, reject Christ.
Of course I am so convinced of Christ that I believe that there are very few people in history who, after having a TRUE revelation, actually reject Him.
francis thomas said
The Bible was referring to HELLFIRE in the sense of the lake of fire burning with brimstone and sulfur aptly described as the second death in Revelation. Following from your point, Solomon stated that when we die our body return to dust and our spirits or life force returns to God. The reason why the Bible describes the Throne Judgment as final is because He is all knowing. When mankind is resurrected at the last judgment, the Almighty God already knows those who will reject him and His Christ. This is why He has a Book of Life.That is why our Lord and Master Jesus Christ told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Abraham while in Paradise (the place and state of those asleep in Christ) stated that even if one were to come from the dead to speak to the rich man’s brother they will not believe. Now we know of only one – Jesus who have come back from the dead. Jesus used this parable to show that as the Judge of the earth He knows ultimately those who will believe and receive him whether or not they know Him or He has revealed Himself to them.
P.S. Hellfire or the second death will completely destroy the Devil, his angels and those who reject God and Jesus. It is not a place or state of eternal torment. That will be everlasting life in torment and we know that the faithful are the only ones promised eternal life. Bless you because Jesus reigns.
David Rudel said
The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is not about hell at all.
See the article at http://www.biblicalheresy.com/Articles.html