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About Ben Erdman
Expertise
I will attempt to answer any questions that have to do with major Jehovah’s Witness doctrine. I will also try to give an accurate and honest explanation from the "Truth" (the Word of God). I am not a Jehovah’s Witness. I was never baptized. I am a "witness" for Christ. I love talking about God and the piercing Word that He has provided for us. If I don't know the answer to a question I will be more than happy to research it and get an answer. So, let’s talk.
Experience
I have grown up in the religion known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nearly all of my family (immediate and extended) are Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have been to probably hundreds of meetings, several assemblies and have had many in-depth bible studies with Witnesses. I love these people and admire their great zeal to do what they believe is truth. I have done extensive research into this area. I have a great passion in Jehovah’s Witness doctrine and beliefs.
Education/Credentials
I do not have any particular educational credentials that affect this field. I believe that I have been very educated in this field of Jehovah’s Witness doctrine by my own experience and extensive studies. I also believe in my heart that the Spirit of God has educated me in this area and will continue to do so.
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You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Christianity - Restorationism > Jehovah`s Witness > Hell
Expert: Ben Erdman - 11/2/2009
Question
"This is another doctrine that took me along time to come to grips on. I had always agreed with what my family told me. They were always telling me that they could not believe in a God that would allow someone to go to a place called hell for eternity and be tortured there day and night. When I began to understand God and His character, I could see how he created us and what sin is and what our choices are"
Your statement,my question is since you believe God is a loving person would he not have warned Adam of such a place if it exist?
To create such a horrible place of endless torture and not even make Adam aware of it seems to me the God you serve is fendish and evil.I mean when persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them.
God never strikes without warning. Did he deluge the first world in watery destruction without warning? Did he burn out depraved Sodom and Gomorrah in a fiery downfall without warning? Did the Almighty take Egypt unawares as he sent wave after wave of destructive plague through the land? When Jehovah maneuvered the overthrow of Israel and Judah by foreign invasions, were the victims unwarned? Mighty Babylon that ruled like a glamorous queen over peoples and nations, should she have been surprised and caught flat-footed when enemy hosts took her by storm? And what of the desolation that struck Jerusalem during the first century did that blow fall without warning? God said;
"Thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me"
Nevertheless you would have people believe a God of warning who said he wouldn't do a single thing unless he warns create a burning hell fire and not warn Adam who must be there as we speak.
This is your God not Jehovah's Witnesses people like you ,jones,future man and holland are nothing but stumbling blocks to weak witnesses who grew up like you who never were called by Jehovah but only were around the true religion and now call yourself an expert. You probaly will not answer this question
since you have been exposed as a fraud,doesn't matter though because you and I know who your God is ,the God of this evil world.
Answer
Hello Mike and thank you for the question/'s.
You said, "my question is since you believe God is a loving person would he not have warned Adam of such a place if it exist?"
By you asking me this question makes me think of a few things. The first thing is that by you referring to Adam, the first man, you most likely understand that Hell is described elsewhere in the Bible. But since you are referring to Adams time I must ask you a question. Does Moses record everything that took place in the account of Adam and Eve? You seem so sure of yourself that God did not warn Adam. Can you show me scripture where it states that they did not know of this? Or is this a case where if the Bible doesn't say something in particular, we must believe the opposite?
The next thing that I would like to point out is God did warn Adam not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil(Gen. 2:17). What completely this good and evil meant we don't know. But we do have some ideas. I would also like to point out that I don't believe that it would be an act of love necessarily for God to tell Adam about Hell to keep him from going there. I don't think that God wanted to have a relationship with His creation based on fear. I think He created all of us to have a relationship with Him based on love. You must understand. Before Adam sinned, he was in PERFECT fellowship with God. It was so perfect that God walked through the garden with him. Moses does not enlighten us that Adam was told what exactly the full consequences of sinning was. God did not even really begin to describe the consequence of their action to them until AFTER they disobeyed. So, another question for you. Why didn't God fully explain to them what the full consequences of disobeying was BEFORE they had sinned? I mean, we don't have record of God explaining fully before OR after Adam sinned.
Next you state, "To create such a horrible place of endless torture and not even make Adam aware of it seems to me the God you serve is fendish and evil.I mean when persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them."
You know, if I were you, I would be very careful what you are saying. If you know everything there is to know, especially about God, then maybe you would have some room to say something this bold. The fact is, you don't. I don't for that matter. God is not evil no matter how you look at it. If His Word says that he is great and just and righteous and love, then I believe it. In fact, please read the following found in Job 36:26..."26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out." So Mike, please do not jump to conclusions about Gods character. There is so much that we do not understand about Him and you must agree to that.
And by the way, like I said before, God did warn Adam. He warned him not to eat from that tree. That is a warning. I would think that Adam at least knew that God was sovereign. Not only that but that God knew what he was talking about. Don't you? Like I said before, God did warn Adam not to eat from the tree but did NOT tell him all of the consequences of actually doing it.
Regarding your next paragraph, I agree. God did warn them. Just as He warned Adam. But His warnings in these examples were always an immediate consequence that would happen, not eternal. If I am wrong, please enlighten me.
"Nevertheless you would have people believe a God of warning who said he wouldn't do a single thing unless he warns create a burning hell fire and not warn Adam who must be there as we speak."
The first thing I would like to comment on is that your verse that you provided did not say that God wouldn't do a single thing unless they were warned. This I believe is a command that God is giving. Not a promise. Also, you said that Adam must be in Hell as we speak. Again, do you have any biblical reference to this? I never said that he was.
"This is your God not Jehovah's Witnesses people like you ,jones,future man and holland are nothing but stumbling blocks to weak witnesses who grew up like you who never were called by Jehovah but only were around the true religion and now call yourself an expert."
I love my God. I am thankful to have a relationship with God where He calls me His son. I have prayed that JW's would be able to say the same. Jw's are not my enemy. I don't have anything against them. I don't think any of the volunteers that you mentioned do either. I only want Jw's to have what I have. I am fully convicted that it is my Christian duty to share what I have been given. That is why I am here. I believe that God has given me a passion and desire to help Jw's which I never had before. By the way, thank you for the statement about me being a "stumbling block". If God uses me to be a stumbling block to keep Jw's from losing their free gift of grace, then I am honored. I hope that doesn't offend you but that is truly how I feel. Just so you know, I do NOT consider myself as a JW "expert" and I don't think the others do either. That is just a title given to the volunteers. We may know more about specific areas than most Jw's but we do not consider ourselves experts.
"You probably will not answer this question
since you have been exposed as a fraud,doesn't matter though because you and I know who your God is ,the God of this evil world."
Friend, do you know what a fraud is. Please explain how I am a "fraud". I do not claim to be someone I am not. I believe that my profile is completely honest and truthful.
This world is evil and my God is still the God of it. My God is alive and sovereign. He is beautiful and full of love. He is so gracious. He has given His grace to me even though I do not deserve it. I have accepted this grace and I do cry out to Him "Abba, Father". What about you?
Mike, I hope I didn't sound rude or inconsiderate. I do appreciate you "contending for your faith". Please open your heart. I am not here to hurt you or anyone else. I will pray for you friend and continue to pray that God works through me and that I do not deceive anyone.
God bless you,
Ben
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