Rob Bell, who wrote 'Love Wins', the very controversial book about heaven and hell and the fate of every person who ever lived - has also made it to the Time Magazine's top 100 most influential people for 2011. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2066367,00.html
Did you think Rob Bell was the first one to come up with the idea that hell is more of a state of circumstance, rather than a literal place of eternal torment? Think again - far from it! There are not just a few who have come to these same conclusions. In ten plus years of personal study, I too came to these same conclusions. Then I began to discover others more 'educated' and 'prominent' than my humble self, who shared my views on the whole subject. Praise be to God.
This book, Hope Beyond Hell, shares information about the concept of hell, and names some of the many religious ministers and scholars, including the Pope of all people, who have denounced the medieval concept of hell as a literal place. Hell is a circumstance of the mind, and it's something that can be worked through, God has provided a way for all people to traverse this dilemma.
A little excerpt from 'Hope Beyond Hell' by Gerry Beauchemin - page 176:
"Any human or demon can destroy lives. So could God, of course. But only God can create, transform, and restore. What do you think would give God greater pleasure and glory, destruction or restoration? Shall we restrict His possibilities by placing limits on His power and purpose? What would you expect from an all-powerful and all-loving God? I would expect the unexpected, the impossible, and that alone which reaches the highest and most noblest of thoughts!"
"To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think." (Ep. 3:20)
"He will swallow up death forever and will wipe away tears from all faces (Is 25:8)
...continuing on Page 177:
"I have good news for you. Positive signs indicating Christianity is already well on its way out of the dark ages of terror are beginning to emerge."
from page 178:
R. Albert Mohler Jr. in Modern Theology: The Disappearance of Hell, pointed out:
"In 1995, the Church of England Doctrine Commission released The Mystery of Salvation, an official report commended by the House of Bishops. The report embraced a hope of universal salvation, arguing that it is "imcompatible with the essential Christian affirmation that God is Love to say that God brings millions into the world to damn them."
--Eternal damnation is 'imcompatible' with God. Indeed. :)
Page 179: (I didn't know this!)
