Here are a few questions about the common Orthodoxy of Eternal Damnation.
If some people will end up in eternal torment, is God unable or unwilling to save them? Logically, it must be one or the other. No tricky appeal to free-will can alleviate the tension of the question.
He would that all men would be saved. Many think of themselves as more important or even more logical or wiser than God; yourself would be a prime example, since many Scriptures clearly state that the fate of many will be eternal conscious torment. God is just. He is love, but He is also just. Those who violate His Laws must be punished, unless they believe upon His salvation, only available through Jesus.
If we determine our destiny by our free will, then is not our will stronger than God’s will? How do we deal with passages as in Romans 9 that says we cannot resist His will?
Essentially, in Romans 9:19, Paul asks, "Who has resisted His Will?" but in Romans 9:18, he stated what God said in The Old Testament:
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Obviously, God hardens the will of those who are lost for His Purposes.
If some people will be tortured eternally, which is apparently the will of Satan, how is Satan a defeated foe? Doesn’t eternal torment make Satan a partial victor?
You don't read your Bible much, do you? Satan wanted to be like The Most High. He thought he could effect a coup of Heaven. :duh:
How can there be “no more tears” if some people will be tormented forever?
Because those who cry in hell will have all their moisture consumed by fire. Another no-brainer.
How can we say that “His mercy endures forever!” if His mercy for us, in the most practical and real terms, ends if we do not choose to follow Christ before we die?
If you reject Him too many times, eventually His Patience with you will wear out. Everyone is given chances to be saved. No one will have ANYTHING to accuse God of on the day of judgment. Every lip will be completely silent. His Judgment is perfect.
Given the Bible’s revealed standards of righteous and justice (which are clear and not mysterious at all), how is unending punishment just reward for temporary sin? Again, the Bible is clear on standards so saying “God’s ways are not our ways” or “It’s a mystery with God” is only an avoidance of a hard question. The question must be Biblically answered with justification from Scripture.
I'd have to use the chapter you pointed out above, Romans 9...
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
If God “gives up” on those who do not choose Jesus before death, how does the parable of the 100 Sheep, with 99 found and the master leaving the 99 to find the one lost one, make any sense?
He was talking about a Rabbi (Pastor) leaving his flock to bring in the one who wandered away from Truth. The folks who are genuine Christians here on TOL aren't here mostly to study theology (IMHO) but to snatch folks like yourself out of the fire of heresy into the Light of His Glorious Truth.
Why does God give up on people after death?
I don't believe that He does. Jesus went and preached to those who were asleep. I think that pretty much proves He doesn't.
If eternal Hell is the price for disobeying God and living in Sin, why did God hide that from Adam and Eve and promise a different penalty? Why did God hide the most horrific fate possible, torture in Hell forever, from mankind for entire Old Testament period (probably 4,000 years)?
Who knows. Probably because there was no salvation ready yet?
How does the idea of Col 1:15-20 “restore All Things” (Ta Panta - The universal All in Greek) make any sense if some things are permanently and irrevocably isolated from and unrestored to God forever?
Sorry, but triumphing over evil and punishing evil-doers forever is complete and utter reconciliation. He said that He will cause us to dance in the blood of our enemies.
Why must an omnipotent, omniscient God, who describes Himself as “Love”, settle for not having everything that has ever been made love and worship Him? Why must He settle for a divided creation in which some live in abundant joy and others live in mind-numbing torture? Is God really that weak or does He want that kind of reality?
He chose to create us, in spite of those who reject Him.
Why do we think that our “will” is so absolutely free, when it is affected by every little thing around us and we rarely respond from thought alone, but often from instinct built in us from birth?
No one has a gun to your head. In this country (I presume that you're a United States citizen) we are truly free. If you were Christian, I'd say you were TRULY free. You're a Universalist, which excludes you from orthodoxy. Universalism is clearly heresy.
How can God be “All in All” as Revelation states He will be in the end if All is not in complete harmony with Him and His character of love, joy, peace, etc.?
Answered above. Completely resolved because God is triumphant.
Why did God create a place of unending torture in the first place?
Scripture says that He created it for Satan and his angels (those whom he deceived).
How is God glorified in unending pain that does not lead to being restored to righteousness and a loving relationship to Christ?
How is He not? They're no longer in our way or of any threat to anyone. They're getting what they deserve. God makes an open show of them. He puts His Foot on their neck. Selah.
