THE ONE THING THAT MATTERS is ...God
What matters to you?
Lots of things matter to me.
Pretty much everything.
Suffering really matters.
So does eternity.
Will some People suffer in hell forever?
WILL SOME HUMANS BURN AND SUFFER IN HELL FOREVER? PERHAPS. PERHAPS NOT. (I think it is unlikely)
(FOR VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT CHECK OUT THE VIDEO PAGES ON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSALISM)
God is a righteous and just God. He will punish people for their sins. But will He punish severely forever?
Does anyone want excruciating pain that goes on forever and ever and ever with no hope that it will ever end for anyone? I don't want anyone to go through that. Not even Hitler -- maybe he should suffer a long time, but should he suffer severely forever? How can anyone sin enough in eighty or one hundred years that he or she should suffer excruciating pain forever and ever and ever?
Perhaps no humans will suffer in hell forever.
There is a theory that says the humans who go to hell will suffer there until their sins are paid for, then they will burn up and be gone out of existence. I find that very unlikely. I think that a biblical case can be made in which people may eventually be let out of hell. The Bible NEVER explicitly says that EVERY person who goes to hell will suffer and be punished there FOREVER. Many might disagree with me on this next point, but as far as I know, the Bible also never explicitly says reincarnation never happens, or that people never get a chance to come to Christ after they die (I am convinced that no truly good person will burn in hell forever). I think we should pray for the salvation of people who have already died (even if we think they were already on their way to Heaven) -- I prayed today that Hitler would be saved if possible. Why write people off who have died as though they will suffer and burn in hell forever with no second chances when the Bible never explicitly says that? Maybe they will get a chance to live again, maybe they won't; maybe they will get a chance to choose Christ after they die, maybe they won't.
IMPORTANT: We can't count on getting a second chance after this life is over-- the Bible never says we will get one.
It is my current opinion that: 1) No human will burn and suffer in hell forever and ever. 2) Eventually, ALL suffering will end. 3) Eventually ALL created beings (even the devil) will be brought to a place of restoration and joy (even if some of them will have to suffer a lot in hell beforehand).
"It is a fearful thing to be in the hands of an angry God." - the Bible
"You will not be let out until you have paid the last penny." - the Bible
************************ UPDATE: AUGUST 2020 ************************
I AM NOW CONVINCED THAT NO ONE (NOT EVEN THE DEVIL) WILL SUFFER HORRIBLY IN HELL FOREVER.
Please don't assume though that no one will suffer for their sins. God has said in the Bible, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."
On the subject of universal reconciliation, I highly recommend the book Heaven's Doors by George W. Sarris.
BE HOLY!
The Bible teaches we are to earnestly (like a hunter chasing after prized prey) pursue... holiness. Without it, no one will see the Lord.
Also according to the Bible, we are to be holy as God is holy.
Holiness is being set apart exclusively for God -- for His purposes and to please Him. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DIFFICULT!!! Jesus said, "My yoke is easy, My burden is light." Pulling alongside Jesus is easy, the load He asks us to carry is light. The Bible says God's commands are not burdensome.
I highly recommend reading the first chapter of Andrew Murray's book Absolute Surrender more than once.
HEAVEN WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING!
Jesus the Christ said whoever does not give up everything for Him is not worthy of Him. He also said whoever does not hate mother, father, sister, brother, and child, compared to how much we love Him (we must even hate our own life) is not worthy of Him.
The Bible teaches that we are to "count the cost" of being Jesus' disciple and that it will cost you everything. IF YOU WANT THE BEST ETERNITY THAT GOD HAS TO OFFER, YOU MUST AT LEAST BE WILLING TO GIVE UP (AND MAYBE EVEN ACTUALLY GIVE UP) EVERYTHING THIS LIFE HAS TO OFFER.
I think a good starting place for most people is to want God to make them more willing to give up everything for Him. I'm not to the point where I'm willing to give up everything. In many ways I'm not even close, but God has been a very gentle master to me. I'm not close to perfect. If I'm going to be a perfect Christian, then God is going to have to work a miracle in me to bring it about. But I definitely want to be a blessing to God.