Well done. I have been fascinated by the descriptions of the last / great Judgement. It is clearly multilevel and interactive with the whole of humanity, both the righteous and unrighteous. So that it appears that the whole of the history of the world and humanity will be replayed for all to see. We shall know fully as we are fully known. The queen of the south will rise up.... A person of faith. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah will rise up .... People condemned for their sin. Every idle word, every hidden thing. The image is of the whole of humanity seeing all that is done by everyone. It also seems that we will understand all the hidden aspects of creation, how the world comes together. I think this is necessary for us to know what each person's actions flow from, what influences, and what struggles. Paul says we will judge angels. Again, our full knowledge will go to the total influences that come into their rejection of or obedience to God. This total knowledege will allow us to join in Christ's judgment of the world. Every human will understand the actual level of obedience, love, hatred, rejection for each person and angle / heavenly being. Each person will know, understand, and be in full agreement with the judgement given to them. Yes, the flames of regret will be very hot, what I could have done with what was given to me, and the reality of what I actually valued and loved. The glory that will be revealed in us will be so much better than 10 cities we cannot imagine it. Yet, no one will be jealous, or feel out of place. The doors to the New Jerusalem will always be open yet nothing evil will enter. The difference between good and evil will be open and transparent to all humanity. I think that it is impossible to understand the eternal quality of the lake of fire or of the new heavens and earth without passing first through judgement.
Thank you for writing. I found this very enlightening. The LDS view of Hell is not too dissimilar from some of your options listed above. In fact, we believe that rather than a strict Heaven and Hell, even the wicked will inherit a measure of eternal glory, with the possible, (unclear, I'm speculating) ability to further reconcile themselves to God through eternity.
God so ordered the world such that those that end up in hell (or non-existence among the conditional-immortality interpretation) are only those who would choose to reject God in all possible worlds.
Well done. I have been fascinated by the descriptions of the last / great Judgement. It is clearly multilevel and interactive with the whole of humanity, both the righteous and unrighteous. So that it appears that the whole of the history of the world and humanity will be replayed for all to see. We shall know fully as we are fully known. The queen of the south will rise up.... A person of faith. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah will rise up .... People condemned for their sin. Every idle word, every hidden thing. The image is of the whole of humanity seeing all that is done by everyone. It also seems that we will understand all the hidden aspects of creation, how the world comes together. I think this is necessary for us to know what each person's actions flow from, what influences, and what struggles. Paul says we will judge angels. Again, our full knowledge will go to the total influences that come into their rejection of or obedience to God. This total knowledege will allow us to join in Christ's judgment of the world. Every human will understand the actual level of obedience, love, hatred, rejection for each person and angle / heavenly being. Each person will know, understand, and be in full agreement with the judgement given to them. Yes, the flames of regret will be very hot, what I could have done with what was given to me, and the reality of what I actually valued and loved. The glory that will be revealed in us will be so much better than 10 cities we cannot imagine it. Yet, no one will be jealous, or feel out of place. The doors to the New Jerusalem will always be open yet nothing evil will enter. The difference between good and evil will be open and transparent to all humanity. I think that it is impossible to understand the eternal quality of the lake of fire or of the new heavens and earth without passing first through judgement.
Thanks for this. I was surprised by how thoughtful and honest it was.
Thank you for writing. I found this very enlightening. The LDS view of Hell is not too dissimilar from some of your options listed above. In fact, we believe that rather than a strict Heaven and Hell, even the wicked will inherit a measure of eternal glory, with the possible, (unclear, I'm speculating) ability to further reconcile themselves to God through eternity.
"God, however, can cause people to believe or take whatever action He desires."
Disagree. Can't make a square circle; can't force a free choice by definition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM29opD9XoE
God so ordered the world such that those that end up in hell (or non-existence among the conditional-immortality interpretation) are only those who would choose to reject God in all possible worlds.