>>842056
>I disagree that hell is eternal. With how merciful, loving, and forgiving God is, why would anyone believe such a thing?
Human souls are eternal. After you die, your soul will leave your body and face god. If you sinned during your lifetime, you soul is tarnished and you cannot be with god. This state of exclusion from god's presence is the greatest of all torments, because god is the source of all holiness.
If you were righteous during your lifetime and followed god, he will let your soul be with the heavenly host, and you will be able to "see" god personally (the beatific vision). Being able to gaze at and worship the greatest of all divine beings for eternity is the ultimate reward for a faithful, righteous life.
"Time" as we know it simply means change. Because humans are made from matter+energy, and matter+energy is constantly changing, we experience time. Beings that do not change (souls, angels etc.) do not experience time. When your soul leaves your body, you stop experiencing "time" as we know it and you face the consequences of whatever state your soul is in at your death (sin or righteousness) for eternity.
>Are most Christians really okay with never seeing the majority of the people they know and love ever again?
Even if the majority of people you know are not Christian, that doesn't mean that they will not one day see the truth. There have been cases in which Jesus and mary appeared to people in a vision, so it could also mean that Jesus or mary might visit someone on their deathbed and let them see the light.
I pray that my atheist grandfather is with god and that he knew god before he passed away.
Rev 21:4 states that there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.