Does evil become eternal once evil people reach hell?

[NowHereThis]

Or is goodness the only eternal due to God’s goodness and his eternal existence being the same (by the doctrine of divine simplicity)?

If goodness is the only eternal, then evil must be destroyed. But evil can’t be destroyed by destroying the evil person, because that would be destroying the eternal goodness of existence possessed by that person.

There is one alternative; evil must destroyed the way any other lack is destroyed. You destroy an emptiness by filling it. The only available eternal filler is God’s goodness.

Therefore, isn’t the ultimate destiny of evil people to be healed of their evil, and restored to wholeness?

 

[Aloysium]

. . . Therefore, isn’t the ultimate destiny of evil people to be healed of their evil, and restored to wholeness?

:twocents:

I’m not comfortable with the concept of “evil people” and not sure of what it means to be “healed of . . . evil”.

In terms of reconciling with God, you have to want it; it is not something that can be forced. Some people are not interested in doing God’s will, loving Him totally and their neighbor as themselves.

 

[Robertanthony]

Or is goodness the only eternal due to God’s goodness and his eternal existence being the same (by the doctrine of divine simplicity)?

If goodness is the only eternal, then evil must be destroyed. But evil can’t be destroyed by destroying the evil person, because that would be destroying the eternal goodness of existence possessed by that person.

There is one alternative; evil must destroyed the way any other lack is destroyed. You destroy an emptiness by filling it. The only available eternal filler is God’s goodness.

Therefore, isn’t the ultimate destiny of evil people to be healed of their evil, and restored to wholeness?

When you die, it’s as if there was a picture taken of yourself, you’re no longer free or capable to change what’s on that picture. God wants us to choose him while we’re here, we can’t change our mind once we pass. I don’t agree with the system, but I think this is what we’re looking at. God will make sure nobody forgets that they didn’t choose him. He’s that kind of being. So the answer to your question is “yes”.

 

[Aloysium]

When you die, it’s as if there was a picture taken of yourself, you’re no longer free or capable to change what’s on that picture. God wants us to choose him while we’re here, we can’t change our mind once we pass. I don’t agree with the system, but I think this is what we’re looking at. God will make sure nobody forgets that they didn’t choose him. He’s that kind of being. So the answer to your question is “yes”.

Isn’t this our second chance? We didn’t plunge into eternal hell like the demons upon our rejection of God. He became one of us so that we might come to Him. I can’t imagine those in hell finally loving Him and humanity; seems that their concern would be what it always was: themselves. They did their will, failed to love, failed to repent and got their reward.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

One cannot ‘become eternal.’ This contradicts the very definition of eternal, without beginning or end (and without succession). Rational creatures have a beginning but no end. (See S.T. I, Q10.)

But why resort to the damned? Even if there were no damned, the blessed in heaven have no end, either. So you would still be left with the “problem” of two eternals. But it is really not two eternals, because creatures are not eternal. (St. Thomas says the angels and the deceased are in aeviternity. - see link above)

As a matter of fact, St. Thomas claims that from the standpoint of reason alone (without reference to scripture), God could have created an “eternal” universe – but eternal in this case means an infinite succession of time, and therefore not the same eternity as that which God possesses.

 

[Skye_Ariel]

Hell is forever. Once someone rejects God and dies, their fate is sealed when they get to hell. There is no way back. Period. What you’re asking sounds too much like asking if people who die and go to hell will eventually get out again at some point in the far far future. But the Bible teaches that hell is forever. Once they go to hell their choice is made and forever sealed.

 

[Skye_Ariel]

Isn’t this our second chance? We didn’t plunge into eternal hell like the demons upon our rejection of God. He became one of us so that we might come to Him. I can’t imagine those in hell finally loving Him and humanity; seems that their concern would be what it always was: themselves. They did their will, failed to love, failed to repent and got their reward.

Exactly. This is our second chance and death was actually an act of mercy because God originally made man to live forever and if it wasn’t for Him allowing death, our fates would be sealed with that wrong choice the same way that the fallen angels’ fate was sealed. But we get to make our choice on this earth and then leave this corrupted earth to be with God. Once they get to hell, they are there forever.

 

[Mount_Carmel]

Yes, once a soul enters ‘the pit’ it is for keeps.

What does however make me curious is the purpose of 2 judgments, that when you die and then the final judgment. Surely the final judgment is not to just rubber stamp the first?

 

[thistle]

Or is goodness the only eternal due to God’s goodness and his eternal existence being the same (by the doctrine of divine simplicity)?

If goodness is the only eternal, then evil must be destroyed. But evil can’t be destroyed by destroying the evil person, because that would be destroying the eternal goodness of existence possessed by that person.

There is one alternative; evil must destroyed the way any other lack is destroyed. You destroy an emptiness by filling it. The only available eternal filler is God’s goodness.

Therefore, isn’t the ultimate destiny of evil people to be healed of their evil, and restored to wholeness?

That is Universalism and is a heresy.

Hell is forever and there is no escape for anyone in Hell.

 

[mikekle]

When you die, it’s as if there was a picture taken of yourself, you’re no longer free or capable to change what’s on that picture. God wants us to choose him while we’re here, we can’t change our mind once we pass. I don’t agree with the system, but I think this is what we’re looking at. God will make sure nobody forgets that they didn’t choose him. He’s that kind of being. So the answer to your question is “yes”.

Im not sure I believe that, mostly because God tells us his love for us is eternal, and everlasting, so if it only applies while we are alive, (which is a very short amount of time compared to eternity), then it would not be truly eternal.

I am starting to believe upon our death, God looks at our lives and determines what kind of person we are, and I think some people have a final chance to accept him. If people were sent to hell immediately at death, and we all agree hell is a place without God or any of his love, this would mean a person in hell does not have the eternal love of God anymore, therefore it could not have been truly eternal at all.

 

[TheHolyGhost]

Yes, once a soul enters ‘the pit’ it is for keeps.

What does however make me curious is the purpose of 2 judgments, that when you die and then the final judgment. Surely the final judgment is not to just rubber stamp the first?

To make known to the world all the good youve done and all the bad. To show you the joy youve brought as well as the pain. To inform us of why some people had to suffer in life more than others etc. Youll know where all ypur friends end up and why. To show the just justice and reward them by showing the damned what all your hard work was for and what it was worth. All will be revealed.