What Did Jesus Teach About Hell?

What did Jesus teach about Hell?

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is a fictional character created by author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.Many of you are aware of who this individual is, but may not be familiar with his name.Lewis Carroll’s true name was Charles Dodgson, and he was the author of Alice in Wonderland (Carroll was his pen name).I have said that he was the son of an Anglican minister, that he had served as an Anglican deacon, and that he was a well-known novelist.His beliefs on hell, on the other hand, are the reason why his name is cited in this article.In reality, his views on the teachings of Christianity on hell are still widely held today by the general public.

  1. He despised the concept of hell so much that he declared that any acceptance of an eternal punishment after death necessitated ″the loss of believing in a God, and the adoption of Atheism″ in order to be acceptable.
  2. Hell is slowly but steadily dying among Christians, and it has almost disappeared from the modern world as a result.
  3. In addition to increasing numbers of adherents, a huge majority of individuals in other religions believe that there is some other sort of retribution, or that there is none at all, after death.
  4. Universalism is the most widely accepted variant.

This is the idea that everyone will go to paradise at the end of their lives.Everything leads to God and if hell exists, it will only exist for a very brief period of time, according to the Bible.As a result of the strength of this concept, it is backed by a large number of well-known personalities in the media and in Christianity.

  • ″Latter-day Saints do not think that your opportunities ever expire, even after death,″ according to prominent radio talk show presenter Glenn Beck and his co-author, Keith Ablow, in their book The Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life.
  • They will only come to an end when you have fully comprehended and rejected the truth via your own genuine exercise of free will.
  • Moreover, there is no ‘lake of fire’ in this case.″ Rob Bell, one of the most well-known pastors in the United States, said in his book Love Wins that no one will go to hell.
  • Universalism, on the other hand, is not the only alternative that skeptics of hell consider when attempting to explain what happens to ″sinners″ when they die.
  • People who do not believe in conditional immortality, also known as Annihilationism, are taught that those who do not believe will go to hell, suffer for a limited period of time, and then be utterly annihilated, thereby becoming nonexistent.

″According to the larger picture, we are asked to believe that God endlessly tortures sinners by the million, sinners who perish because the Father has decided not to elect them to salvation, though he could have done so, and whose torments are supposed to gladden the hearts of believers in heaven,″ writes Clark Pinnock, an advocate for this belief.″The thought of a retribution after we die is cruel and brutal,″ argues John Loftus, a former pastor who has now become an atheist, in a statement that perfectly summarizes the current belief in hell.Throughout this series on hell, I will analyze the various critiques of it as well as the several alternative beliefs on punishment after death that have been developed.

  • However, in order to kick off this series, I’d want to start with the fundamentals: Jesus’ teachings.
  • Christians’ beliefs about hell are nearly completely based on Jesus’ teachings on this extremely important subject, and this is true to a large extent.
  • What did Jesus have to say about the afterlife?
  • More than any other figure in the Bible, Jesus teaches about hell and the afterlife.
  • It is worth noting that the Greek terms for ″hell″ do not exist in any of Paul’s letters (more on this in another article).
  1. Early in Jesus’ ministry, he begins to preach about the afterlife.
  2. ″Anyone who says, ‘You idiot!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell,″ Jesus warns his audience in the Sermon on the Mount.
  3. ″Anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell″ (Matthew 5:22).
  4. In verses 27-30 of the same chapter, Jesus reiterates his warning against carnal thoughts, saying: It has been brought to your attention that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I will tell you that anybody who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart, according to my beliefs.
  5. You should rip out your right eye and toss it away if your right eye is causing you to stutter.
  6. The loss of a single portion of your body is preferable than having your entire body hurled into the fires of damnation.
  • And if your right hand is causing you to stumble, chop it off and toss it away immediately!
  • The loss of a single portion of your body is preferable than the loss of your entire body in hell.″ Jesus is implying that it is preferable to suffer momentary hardship in this world than to suffer eternal tragedy in the age to come, according to his teaching.
  • Later in Jesus’ mission, he reiterates these cautionary words.
  • ″Woe to the world because of the things that lead people to stumble!″ declares Jesus in Matthew 18:7-9.
  • Such things must happen, but woe betide the one who is responsible for bringing them about!
  • If you find yourself stumbling because of your hand or foot, chop it off and toss it away.

To be born with one or both hands or both feet and be thrown into everlasting fire is preferable to being born with one or both hands or both feet and being put into eternal fire.In addition, if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and toss it away immediately.In order to avoid being hurled into the furnace of hell, it is preferable for you to commence life with one eye rather than with two.Hell was utilized by Jesus as a motivator for people to take painful steps now in order to avoid suffering a destiny far worse than physical death in the future.To be clear, Jesus is not implying that you should actually take out your eye or chop off your hand.

  1. When he speaks, he employs compelling images to convey his message to his audience.
  2. Keep in mind that the disciples were sinners as well, yet they did not physically tear out one of their own eyes.
  3. The teachings of Jesus about hell are still being taught today.
  4. The Bible says in Matthew 10:28, ″Do not be terrified of those who murder the body but are unable to kill the soul.″ Instead, be terrified of the One who has the ability to annihilate both soul and body in hell.″ In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus speaks about Lazarus and the wealthy man, two characters from the Bible (not the same Lazarus that Jesus brought back to life in John 11:38-44).

The wealthy man and Lazarus both perish in this tale.Lazarus is carried to heaven to live with Abraham, where he will remain for the rest of his days.The rich guy is sent into hell, where he suffers in anguish.We get a good image of people in hell who are cognizant and undergoing anguish in this section.In Mark 9:43, Jesus warns that the fire of hell will never be extinguished.

  • His next statement comes from the Bible’s Isaiah 66:24, which states that ″their worm does not die, and their fire does not go out.″ ″Everything shall be salted with fire,″ he declares after that (verse 49).
  • The Greek term for ″hell″ does not appear elsewhere in the Gospel of John.
  • The teaching of it, on the other hand, is present.
  • When it comes to eternal life, Jesus declares in John 3:36 that ″whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath will stay on him.″ Although it is evident that everlasting life will remain forever, many people desire God’s wrath to be reduced to something that will only exist for a brief period of time.
  • In other sections of John’s gospel, the Greek word for ″remains″ appears to be best read as everlasting, so why would it not be regarded as eternal in this verse?
  • To conclude this post, I’d like to quote Matthew 25:46.
  • This passage is extremely crucial in order to have a thorough comprehension of Jesus’ teaching that hell is an eternal punishment.
  • ″Then they will go away to eternal torment, while the righteous will go away to eternal life,″ according to this scripture.
  • It is quite simple to comprehend.
  • If hell is only going to last for a short period of time, then heaven will also only be around for a short period of time.
  • If paradise exists in perpetuity, then hell exists in perpetuity as well.

The two are in a parallel relationship with one another.They will either stand or collapse as a group.As Moses Stuart once remarked, ″Either we accept the unending misery of Hell, or we give up the unending happiness of Heaven,″ he was referring to the choice between heaven and hell.Hell, according to Jesus, is a real location where people who reject him will experience endless pain for all of eternity.

  1. In his teachings, Jesus did not offer any explanations or reassure his followers that ″don’t worry, everyone will get to paradise.″ Jesus was direct with his audience, telling them that they either believed in the Son of God or they would spend an eternity in hell.
  2. This should compel every single Christian to tell everyone they know about Jesus Christ and the redemption that he provides to those who come to him in faith.
  3. What are your thoughts?
  4. Do the teachings of Jesus on hell have any significance for Christians?
  5. Please leave a comment below, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
  6. ″Eternal Punishment,″ written by Lewis Carroll and published in the Lewis Carroll Picture Book.

R.Albert Mohler Jr.’s ″Modern Theology: The Disappearance of Hell,″ in Hell Under Fire, edited by Christopher W.Morgan and Robert A.Peterson, is cited as an example of modern theology.Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2004, p.22.

  • In Stanley N.
  • Gundry and William Crockett’s Four Views on Hell, Clark H.
  • Pinnock’s ″The Conditional View″ is included as an example of a conditional view.
  • Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996, page 136.
  • Why I Became an Atheist: A Personal Narrative by John Loftus Prometheus Books, Amherst, Massachusetts, 2008, p.
  • 394.
  1. In Hell Under Fire, edited by Christopher W.
  2. Morgan and Robert A.
  3. Peterson, Robert W.
  4. Yarbrough contributes an essay titled ″Jesus on Hell.″ Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2004, p.
  5. 73.
  6. See also Luke 12:5 for further information.
  • See, for example, John 6:27, 56; 8:35; and 12:34, among others.
  • Yarbrough wins by a score of 74-75.
  • Several Exegetical Essays on Several Words Relating to Future Punishment, by Moses Stuart, published in 1847.
  • Yarbrough (Yarbrough, 1976) quotes this passage.
  • Did you enjoy it?
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What Did Jesus Teach about Hell?

There are a total of ten articles in the What Did Jesus Teach? series.

Jesus: The Great Theologian of Hell

Despite the fact that no other Bible spokesperson lays greater emphasis on hell as the ultimate outcome of God’s judgment of condemnation than Jesus, this is true.The great theologian of hell was none other than God’s Son.The Christian, on the other hand, should not find it unusual that Christ had more to say about hell than any other human being.When Jesus made the comparison between hell and the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem (also known as ″Gehenna″), which was a massive public waste dump where dead corpses and debris were burnt in constantly burning flames, the term ″Gehenna″ became widely accepted as a name for hell.Hell was also described as a jail and to the outer darkness, according to Jesus.He was the one who compared hell to ″a fire″ at least twenty times in his writings.

Lazarus and the Rich Fool

Luke 16:19–31 is a classic passage from Jesus’ own voice that speaks about damnation.The misuse of wealth serves as the broader framework for its instruction.However, while explaining the other-worldly environment in which this teaching took place, Christ widened the scope of the notion of hell.The text tells the story of a wealthy man who made the ultimate fool of himself by luxuriating in his money while disregarding real faith in God and devotion to mankind, eventually ending up in hell as a result of his godless greed.The chapter has the appearance of a parable, but it is not officially referred to as such.Although Jesus’ primary aim in writing this discourse was not to depict the afterlife of unbelievers, the Lord does end up providing us an insider’s view of hell, condensing significant features of what is taught on this subject elsewhere.

No Exit Door

One of the most fundamental principles Jesus taught in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus was that there is no way out of hell.″Between us and you, a wide gap has been fixed, in order that anyone who would pass from here to you may not be able to, and none may cross from there to us,″ Father Abraham explains to the writhing victim of his predicament (Luke 16:26).In God’s eternal decree, the distinction between eternal paradise and everlasting hell is established as a matter of course.The term ″fixed″ in Luke 16:26 roughly corresponds to the meaning of the phrase ″cast in concrete″ in English.In God’s eternal decree, the distinction between eternal paradise and everlasting hell is established as a matter of course.As Luke 16 demonstrates, when an unbeliever becomes conscious of this tragic reality immediately after his own death, it is already too late for him to humble himself before the gospel of Christ and the cross, which he has rejected hundreds or thousands of times; it is too late for him to confess Jesus as Lord; and it is too late for him to beg for divine mercy.

  1. Scripture ensures that every human being has the chance to benefit from God’s favor during his or her whole lifespan.
  2. ″…
  3. not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,″ says the Lord in 2 Peter 3:9, demonstrating his immense patience.
  4. People, on the other hand, will die after they have gone through the threshold of death and have not come to know Christ.

Sufficient Warning

Another point stated by Jesus in Luke 16:27–30 is that God’s Word provides ample warning to people about how to avoid hell’s punishment.When the cure was no longer able to personally assist him, the rich guy realized what he needed to do.In his request for a messenger to alert his family so that they could avoid his predicament, he experienced his first-ever altruistic urge, which he described as ″amazing.″ He is informed, however, that testimony from ″Moses and the Prophets″ are displayed in front of all living men (v.29).God’s revealed Word has all of the information we need to understand our sin and the grace of a Redeemer.″Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it,″ Jesus proclaimed in Luke 11:28.

  1. There is a big irony in this situation, so pay attention.
  2. The wealthy man insisted that something more than God’s Word was required, maybe a miracle sign from on high.
  3. He even went so far as to anticipate the specific form of miracle that would communicate better than God’s written Word: the resurrection of a person from the dead, which would gain massive public attention.
  4. What a blunder!
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The same Jesus who related the events of Luke 16 rose from the dead not long after he finished presenting this gospel lesson.And what was the outcome?The Lord Jesus Christ was received as their living Lord by a small group of individuals in the local vicinity of Jerusalem.

  • Although most people laughed, they returned to their sports pages or glanced at the financial market news to find out what had happened on that specific typical day in their lives.

What Happens After I Die?

Michael Allen Rogers

What Happens After I Die is an useful manual that answers one of humanity’s most fundamental questions: what happens after I die.Provides a succinct summary of biblical teaching on the nature of death, the marvels of paradise, and the actuality of hell.Unbelief resolutely rejects every historical evidence of Christ’s existence.One who was warned that a family will undoubtedly respond to the supernatural marvel of a messenger from the tomb turned out to be that miracle-working messenger.And he’s still being shunned by the community.

All Bad News?

Assume that the Bible didn’t tell us anything about hell.Could the Scriptures truly become more ″kind″ or compassionate if we did this?Is it true that suppressing painful truths demonstrates that you genuinely care more about the fates of others?Luke 16 reveals that the one and only representative who most insistently presented a horrible alternative to gracious divinely authored redemption is the same glorious Lord who died and rose again to save us from eternal damnation.Scripture is unwavering in its assertion that there is no way out of damnation.The gospel of God’s love and mercy, on the other hand, demonstrates a way out before one is admitted.

  1. ″Truly, truly, I tell to you, whomever hears my word and trusts in him who sent me has everlasting life,″ Jesus said in John 5:24.
  2. He is not brought before the court of law, but has passed from death to life.″ What a beautiful vow you’ve made!
  3. However, Jesus made it clear that you can only pass from death to life in this life before entering an irrevocable chamber of unimaginable agony.
  4. This implies that anything you do with Christ right now will have eternal consequences.

Michael Allen Rogers (DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) has served as senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, since 1994.He is the author of Baptism and the Covenant of Grace, which was published by Fortress Press in 2012.

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Did Jesus Say There is a Hell?

Many individuals nowadays believe that the notion of hell is out of date, that it is a remnant of the past that has fulfilled its function and can now be safely abandoned.Hell, on the other hand, cannot be disregarded so lightly by people who are interested in what Jesus taught.In fact, no other biblical character mentions hell more frequently than Jesus Christ does in his teachings.Jesus Christ, as the one who was God manifested in human flesh, is the only one who truly understands hell.In order to better understand hell, let us first examine the many terminology and imagery that Jesus employs to depict it, and then consider what he really says about it.

Definition of Hell in the Bible

Hades and gehnna are the two most commonly used terms to describe hell.Even though Hades was the Greek name for the land of the dead, Jesus used it to allude more specifically to the hellish region of torture (Luke 16:23), which was meant to be the polar opposite of heaven (Matt 11:23).Originally, the term gehnna refers to the Hinnom Valley, south of Jerusalem, where child sacrifice had been performed for hundreds of years (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:32).As a representation of hell at the time of Jesus, gehnna was so terrifying that he cautions his followers to ″fear him who may kill both soul and body in hell″ (Matthew 10:28).Imagery on Fire This term is frequently used by Jesus in conjunction with fire, which is a well-known symbol of hell.Thus, it conveys the dread of the location, as in Matthew 5:22, when Jesus cautions that ″anyone says, ‘You idiot!’ will be subject to the flames of Hell.″ Imagery of the Darkness Another popular representation of hell is complete darkness.

  1. Jesus cautions people who refuse to enter the kingdom of God via repentance and faith that they will perish in the process ″The individual will be cast into the outer darkness.
  2. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that location ″ (Matt 8:12).

What Did Jesus Actually Teach about Hell?

For the sake of simplicity, we might say that hell is a realm of conscious, perpetual agony where people are punished by God as a result of their wrongdoing.Yes, hell is ″the everlasting fire reserved for the devil and his angels″ (Matt 25:41), but it is also ″the eternal fire prepared for those who join the devil and his angels″ (Matt 11:20–24) in their rebellion against God.The torment of hell is severe that Jesus declares, ″I will not go there.″ ″If you find that your hand is causing you to sin, chop it off.It is preferable for you to begin life with one hand than to enter hell, where you will burn in an unending fire, with two hands ″ (Mark 9:43).Those who do not walk through the small door of faith and repentance in Jesus (Luke 13:24) will find themselves in a region of crying and gnashing of teeth (Revelation 21:8).(Luke 13:28).

  1. People from all walks of life will stand before Jesus Christ at the end of human history, and he will separate humanity into two groups: the ″sheep″ (those who exhibit their faith in Jesus via their good acts) and the ″goats″ (those who did not trust in Jesus Christ).
  2. In contrast, the sheep will be granted eternal life, whilst the goats ″shall be sent into endless damnation″ (Matt 25:46).
  3. Because hell is a real and unspeakably dreadful place, Jesus employs harsh words to describe it.
  4. But Jesus didn’t just warn people about the evils of hell; he also provided a route out.

In his perfect obedience, Christ lived a sinless life on the cross, died a sacrificial death for our sins, and rose from the dead in order to triumph over sin, death, and the devil.Rather than the eternal punishment that everyone deserves for their wrongdoing, he encourages everyone to place their confidence in him in order to receive eternal life (John 3:16-17).

Is the Bible’s Language about Hell Literal or Metaphorical?

For those who believe in hell, ″there’s some doubt,″ according to seminary lecturer Andy Naselli (who may be heard in the video below). ″I’m not certain if it’s a literal or metaphorical interpretation — there are compelling reasons for both. ″The analogies that the Bible use to depict hell convey a reality that we cannot readily identify to here on earth.″ Photo courtesy of Unsplash

What Did Jesus Teach About Hell?

So, what did Jesus have to say about Hell?″If your eye is causing you to sin,″ Jesus instructed, ″throw it out.″ It is preferable to have one eye and enter God’s kingdom than to have two eyes and be sent into hell, in my opinion.″The worms never die there, and the fire never goes out,″ says the author.—MARK 9:47, 48, New International Version of the Bible.The Bible also mentions a judgment time during which Jesus would cry to the wicked, ″Depart from me, ye cursed,″ and they will burn in an eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, according to another passage.These individuals will likewise ″go out to eternal damnation,″ according to the prophet.

  1. According to Matthew 25:41 and 46 in the New American Bible.
  2. At first look, Jesus’ remarks above may appear to be promoting the concept of hellfire, which is not the case.
  3. Without a doubt, Jesus did not mean to contradict God’s Word, which declares unequivocally that ″the dead have no knowledge of anything.″ —Ecclesiastes 9:5, New International Version.
  4. Then, to what, exactly, was Jesus alluding when he talked of someone being ″thrown into hell″?

Is the ″everlasting fire″ that Jesus forewarned about actual or metaphorical in nature?What does it mean for the wicked to ″go out to eternal punishment″ in this context?Let’s take each of these questions one at a time and evaluate them.

  • Which of the following did Jesus allude to when he said that a person had been sent ″into hell″?
  • The ancient Greek term for ″hell″ in Mark 9:47 is Geenna, which means ″hellfire.″ This word derives from the Hebrew Geh Hinnom, which literally translates as ″Valley of Hinnom.″ The Valley of Hinnom surrounded the ancient city of Jerusalem on all sides.
  • It was utilized for child sacrifice during the time of the Israelite rulers, which was a heinous ritual that God forbade.
  • God has stated that individuals who engage in such acts of false worship would be put to death by him.
  • The Valley of Hinnom would later be referred to as ″the valley of slaughter,″ since it was the location where ″the carcasses of this people″ were left to rot.

(Jeremiah 7:30-34, New International Version) It was as a result of Jehovah’s prophecy that the Valley of Hinnom would become a location for the mass dumping of dead corpses, rather than the torture of living captives.The Valley of Hinnom was utilized as a waste dump by the citizens of Jerusalem during Jesus’ day.They dumped the remains of some heinous criminals into this dump and maintained a fire going in the dump all of the time to dispose of the debris and carcasses that accumulated.

  • When Jesus talked of the never-ending worms and the unquenchable fire, he was most likely referencing to Isaiah 66:24, which is a passage from the Old Testament.
  • ″Their worm shall not die, nor shall their fire be quenched,″ according to Isaiah, when it comes to ″the carcases of the ones who have transgressed against.″ (KJ) Jesus and his audience were well aware that these passages in Isaiah were referring to the handling of the bodies of those who did not deserve to be buried.
  • As a result, Jesus chose the Valley of Hinnom, also known as Gehenna, as an appropriate metaphor of death without the prospect of resurrection.
  • His warning that God ″can annihilate both the soul and the body in Gehenna″ brought home the importance of this statement.
  • (Matthew 10:28, New American Bible) Gehenna is a metaphor of endless death, not perpetual pain, as is commonly believed.
  1. Is the ″everlasting fire″ that Jesus forewarned about actual or metaphorical in nature?
  2. Remember that ″the eternal fire″ spoken to by Jesus and referenced in Matthew 25:41 was prepared ″for the devil and his angels,″ as the verse states.
  3. Do you believe that actual fire has the ability to burn spirit creatures?
  4. Or was Jesus referring to the phrase ″fire″ in a metaphorical sense?
  5. Certainly, ″the sheep″ and ″the goats″ spoken in the same speech are not literal representations of two different categories of individuals; rather, they are word images that symbolize two different types of people.
  6. (Matthew 25:32-33; Mark 10:32-33.) To use a figurative example, the wicked are utterly consumed by the eternal fire that Jesus spoke of.
  • What does it mean for the wicked to ″go out to eternal punishment″ in this context?
  • According to Matthew 25:46, although most translations use the term ″punishment,″ the underlying meaning of the Greek word kolasin is ″monitoring the development of trees,″ or pruning, which involves cutting off any unnecessary branches.
  • As a result, while the sheeplike ones gain everlasting life, the unrepentant goatlike ones suffer ″eternal punishment,″ which is defined as being cut off from all life for all time.
  • What Are Your Thoughts?
  • Humans do not have an immortal soul, according to what Jesus taught.
  • He did, on the other hand, preach about the resurrection of the dead on a regular basis.

(1 Corinthians 11:25; John 5:25-29; Luke 14:13-14) Why would Jesus claim that the dead will be resurrected if he felt that their souls had not perished in the first place?God did not teach that he would cruelly punish the wicked for all of eternity, as Jesus said.As Jesus stated, ″God so loves the world that he gave his only Son, so everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.″ (John 3:16, New American Bible) Why would Jesus indicate that people who do not believe in him will perish in their sins?Isn’t it possible that he truly believed they would suffer in a flaming inferno for the rest of their lives if he hadn’t spoken so?In the Bible, the concept of hell as a place of suffering is not mentioned at all.

  1. Instead of being Christian doctrine, it is a pagan belief disguised as a religious teaching.
  2. (See the box under ″A Brief History of Hell″ on page 6 for further information.) No, God does not torment individuals in hell for the rest of their lives.
  3. What impact can discovering the truth about hell have on your relationship with God?
  4. The following is a brief history of the origins of Hell in Pagan beliefs: The ancient Egyptians believed in a flaming inferno that was punishable by death.

People who ″shall be flung down headlong into the pits of fire; and…shall not be able to escape therefrom, and…shall not be able to run from the flames,″ according to the Book m-uat, which was written in 1375 BCE, are described as such.″ According to the Greek philosopher Plutarch (c.46-120 C.E.

  • ), individuals in the lower realm ″raised a crying scream as they were subjected to frightful torments and shameful and agonizing chastisements.″ ″ SECTIONS OF JUDAISM HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.″ ″The souls are eternal, and they remain forever,″ according to the Jewish historian Josephus (37-c.100 C.E.
  • ), who wrote that the Essenes, a Jewish sect, believed.
  • ″This is similar to the Greeks’ point of view, in which they assign evil souls to a dark and tumultuous cave, full of never-ending penalties.
  • ″ BEGINNINGS OF ″CHRISTIANITY″ INTRODUCTION According to the Apocalypse of Peter, written in the second century C.E., the wicked will be engulfed by an insatiable fire, which will consume them.
  • ‘Ezrael, the angel of anger, drags men and women into a pit of darkness, the hell of mankind, where they are chastised by a spirit of fury,’ the passage said.″ At the same time period, the Greek prophetess Sibyl is quoted by the writer Theophilus of Antioch as prophesying the penalties of the wicked: ″Upon you blazing fire shall come, and ever and ever ye shall constantly burn in flames.″ Among the words that Theophilus considers to be ″genuine, and beneficial, and just, and profitable to all men″ are phrases such as these.
  • Hellfire was used to justify violence in the Middle Ages, and it is being used today.
  • ″As the souls of heretics are hereafter to be eternally burning in hell, there can be nothing more proper than for me to imitate the Divine vengeance by burning them on earth,″ said Mary I, queen of England (1553-1558), known as ″Bloody Mary,″ after burning nearly 300 Protestants at the stake in her reign.
  • ″ A RECENTLY DISCOVERED TERM Since the early 2000s, several Christian groups have made changes to their doctrine on hell.
  • For example, the Doctrine Commission of the Church of England said in 1995 that ″Hell is not perpetual pain, but rather the ultimate and irreversible choice of that which is utterly and absolutely hostile to God, with the sole end being total non-being.″ ″EXPLAIN WHAT ″THE LAKE OF FIRE″ IS.″ ″The Devil will be tossed into ″the lake of fire,″ where he will be ″tormented day and night for ever and ever,″ according to Revelation 20:10.
  • The King James Version of the Bible says: The Bible states that if the Devil were to be tortured for all eternity, God would be obligated to keep him alive; yet, the Bible also states that Jesus would ″destroy him.″ ″ (Hebrews 2:14, King James Version) A fiery lake symbolizes ″the second death,″ according to legend.
  • ″ (Revelation 21:8; Revelation 21:9) The death referred to in the Bible as ″death as a result of Adam’s sin″ is not the same death from which one may be rescued by the power of a resurrection.
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(15:21, 22) 1 Corinthians 15:21 Because the Bible does not state that those who are trapped in ″the lake of fire″ will be released, ″the second death″ must refer to a different form of death, one that is permanent..In what sense are those who are condemned to ″the lake of fire″ to perpetual torment??

  1. Sometimes the phrase ″to torture″ can be translated as ″to constrain.″ When Jesus encountered the devils once, they screamed out, ″Are you here to afflict us before the time?
  2. ″ ″ (Matthew 8:29; Luke 8:30, 31; King James Version) Thus, everyone who is trapped in ″the lake″ will be subjected to the ″torment″ of endless constraint, also known as ″the second death.″ ”

What Did Jesus Teach About Hell?

Despite the fact that no other Bible spokesperson lays greater emphasis on hell as the ultimate outcome of God’s judgment of condemnation than Jesus, this is true.The great theologian of hell was none other than God’s Son.The Christian, on the other hand, should not find it unusual that Christ had more to say about hell than any other human being.When Jesus made the comparison between hell and the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem (also known as ″Gehenna″), which was a massive public waste dump where dead corpses and debris were burnt in constantly burning flames, the term ″Gehenna″ became widely accepted as a name for hell.Hell was also described as a jail and to the outer darkness, according to Jesus.He was the one who compared hell to ″a fire″ at least twenty times in his writings.

Lazarus and the Rich Fool

  1. Luke 16:19–31 is a classic passage from Jesus’ own voice that speaks about damnation.
  2. The misuse of wealth serves as the broader framework for its instruction.
  3. However, while explaining the other-worldly environment in which this teaching took place, Christ widened the scope of the notion of hell.
  4. The text tells the story of a wealthy man who made the ultimate fool of himself by luxuriating in his money while disregarding real faith in God and devotion to mankind, eventually ending up in hell as a result of his godless greed.
  5. The chapter has the appearance of a parable, but it is not officially referred to as such.

Although Jesus’ primary aim in writing this discourse was not to depict the afterlife of unbelievers, the Lord does end up providing us an insider’s view of hell, condensing significant features of what is taught on this subject elsewhere.

No Exit Door

  1. One of the most fundamental principles Jesus taught in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus was that there is no way out of hell.
  2. ″Between us and you, a wide gap has been fixed, in order that anyone who would pass from here to you may not be able to, and none may cross from there to us,″ Father Abraham explains to the writhing victim of his predicament (Luke 16:26).
  3. In God’s eternal decree, the distinction between eternal paradise and everlasting hell is established as a matter of course.
  4. The term ″fixed″ in Luke 16:26 roughly corresponds to the meaning of the phrase ″cast in concrete″ in English.
  5. As Luke 16 demonstrates, when an unbeliever becomes conscious of this tragic reality immediately after his own death, it is already too late for him to humble himself before the gospel of Christ and the cross, which he has rejected hundreds or thousands of times; it is too late for him to confess Jesus as Lord; and it is too late for him to beg for divine mercy.

Scripture ensures that every human being has the chance to benefit from God’s favor during his or her whole lifespan.″…not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,″ says the Lord in 2 Peter 3:9, demonstrating his immense patience.

People, on the other hand, will die after they have gone through the threshold of death and have not come to know Christ.

Sufficient Warning

  1. Another point stated by Jesus in Luke 16:27–30 is that God’s Word provides ample warning to people about how to avoid hell’s punishment.
  2. When the cure was no longer able to personally assist him, the rich guy realized what he needed to do.
  3. In his request for a messenger to alert his family so that they could avoid his predicament, he experienced his first-ever altruistic urge, which he described as ″amazing.″ He is informed, however, that testimony from ″Moses and the Prophets″ are displayed in front of all living men (v.
  4. 29).
  5. God’s revealed Word has all of the information we need to understand our sin and the grace of a Redeemer.

″Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it,″ Jesus proclaimed in Luke 11:28.There is a big irony in this situation, so pay attention.He insisted that something more than God’s Word was required, possibly a miracle sign from on high.

He even went so far as to anticipate the specific form of miracle that would communicate better than God’s written Word: the resurrection of a person from the dead, which would gain massive public attention.What a blunder!The same Jesus who related the events of Luke 16 rose from the dead not long after he finished presenting this gospel lesson.And what was the outcome?The Lord Jesus Christ was received as their living Lord by a small group of individuals in the local vicinity of Jerusalem.Although most people laughed, they returned to their sports pages or glanced at the financial market news to find out what had happened on that specific typical day in their lives.

  • Unbelief resolutely rejects every historical evidence of Christ’s existence.
  • One who was warned that a family will undoubtedly respond to the supernatural marvel of a messenger from the tomb turned out to be that miracle-working messenger.
  • And he’s still being shunned by the community.

All Bad News?

  1. Assume that the Bible didn’t tell us anything about hell.
  2. Could the Scriptures truly become more ″kind″ or compassionate if we did this?
  3. Is it true that suppressing painful truths demonstrates that you genuinely care more about the fates of others?
  4. Luke 16 reveals that the one and only representative who most insistently presented a horrible alternative to gracious divinely authored redemption is the same glorious Lord who died and rose again to save us from eternal damnation.
  5. Scripture is unwavering in its assertion that there is no way out of damnation.

The gospel of God’s love and mercy, on the other hand, demonstrates a way out before one is admitted.″Truly, truly, I tell to you, whomever hears my word and trusts in him who sent me has everlasting life,″ Jesus said in John 5:24.He is not brought before the court of law, but has passed from death to life.″ What a beautiful vow you’ve made!

However, Jesus made it clear that you could only pass from death to life in this life before entering an irrevocable chamber of indescribable agony.This implies that anything you do with Christ right now will have eternal consequences.What Happens After I Die?by Michael Allen Rogers was used as a source for this article.The original version of this story published on Crossway.org.

What Did Jesus Say About Hell?

  1. To read more, please visit this page.
  2. What did Jesus have to say about the afterlife?
  3. Jesus spoke extensively about both locations.
  4. Throughout his sermons, he referred to Heaven and Hell as actual, physical locations, and he characterized both of these locations as being the eternal dwelling place for the human soul.
  5. Furthermore, Jesus taught that every person has a decision to make, and that choice will decide their everlasting destiny in the hereafter.

Several pictures of Heaven may be found in the Bible (particularly in Rev chapters four and five), but there are no clear graphic portrayals of Hell (learn about what the Bible does disclose about whether Hell is a genuine place: Is Hell a real place?).Jesus spoke about Hell, however we are not given a clear picture of what he was talking about.As a result, Jesus spoke more about Hell than any other person recorded in the Bible, and in doing so, He disclosed adequate material for our comprehension as well as specific warnings concerning the horrors of Hell.

It’s noteworthy that the apostle Matthew documented more of Jesus’ teachings on Hell than any of the other Gospel writers, which is significant.That shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the fact that Jesus is presented in Matthew’s Gospel as the future Messiah and King.Matthew records more detail on the Kingdom of Heaven than the other gospel writers, and as a result, he also records more information about the last resting place of the deceased than the other writers.When it comes to Hell, Jesus mentions it nine times in Matthew, compared to three times in Mark and Luke and none at all in John, which is a significant difference.Consider the Gospel stories in order to hear Jesus’ remarks about the location where unregenerate individuals will spend the rest of their lives.

Jesus’ Words About Hell and Eternal Judgment

The Gospel of Matthew, Direct References
  1. 5:22 (Matthew 5:22) Nevertheless, I declare to you that anyone who is enraged with his brother without a valid reason will be subject to the judgment. And anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be subject to the wrath of the council. However, anyone who says, ″You fool!″ will be subjected to the wrath of God.
  2. 5:29 (Matthew 5:29)
  3. Because it is more beneficial for you that one of your members perish than for your entire body to be cast into hell, if your right eye is the source of your sin, remove it and cast it from you (Matt 5:22-29).
  4. In addition, if your right hand is the source of your wrongdoing, cut off its circulation and remove it from you
  5. because it is more advantageous for you that one of your members perishes than that your entire body be cast into hell.
  6. 10:28 (Matthew) ″Likewise, you need not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the One who has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell
  7. 11:23 (Matthew)
  8. Likewise, you, Capernaum, who have been elevated to the heights of heaven, will be dragged low to the depths of hell
  9. for if the wonderful works that have been done in you had been done in Sodom, they would have survived to this day
  10. 16:18 (Matthew 16:18)
  11. In addition, I declare in your presence that you are Peter, and that on this rock I will build My church, and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
  12. Mat 18:9 (Matthew 18:9)
  13. And if you find that your eye is causing you to sin, take it out and toss it away. It is preferable for you to begin life with one eye than it is for you to enter life with two eyes and be tossed into hell fire.
  14. 23:15 (Matthew 23:15)
  15. Hypocrites, scribes and priests, you have no place in this world. As a result, you journey over land and sea to gain a single convert, and after you have converted him, you make him twice as much of a son of hell as yourself.
  16. 23:33 (Mat 23:33)
  17. A horde of vipers, a nest of serpents! How do you avoid being sentenced to eternal damnation in hell?
The Gospel of Mark

In Mark, Jesus only addressed hell three times in a single section of text. His message of caution was evident in that verse, as He warned of the perils of Hell and the presence of flames of fire.

  1. In Mark 9:43, if your hand is the source of your sin, chop it off. It is preferable for you to be born with one hand than to be born with two hands and go to hell, where you will burn in an unquenchable fire for all eternity.
  2. In addition, if you find that your foot is causing you to sin, get it amputated. It is preferable for you to start life with one foot rather than two, than to be tossed into hell, into a lake of fire that will never be quenched.
  3. In addition, if you find that your eye is causing you to transgress, pluck it out! I believe that it is preferable for you to join the kingdom of God with one eye than to enter with two eyes and be tossed into hell fire.
The Gospel of Luke
  1. 10:15 (Luke 10:15) Luke 12:5 says that even though you are elevated to heaven, you will be sent into hell because of your sins. However, I will demonstrate to you who you should be afraid of: If you have any doubts about who you should fear, it is the one who has the authority to hurl you into hell after He has slain you. I repeat, you should dread Him.
  2. Luke 16:23 (NIV)
  3. Moreover, while he was in anguish in hell, he opened his eyes and saw Abraham a long distance away, with Lazarus in his bosom
Jesus also spoke of hell using other terms, such as “destruction,” “fire/flame,” and “condemnation/perishing.”
  • 7:13 (Matthew 7) You must enter via the small gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to disaster, and there are many who enter through it.
  • 7:19 (Matthew 7) All of the trees that don’t produce decent fruit are chopped down and burned in a bonfire.
  • 13:40 (Matthew)
  • Because of this, at the conclusion of this era it will be similar to how the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire.
  • And will toss them into the furnace of fire (Matt 13:42). Wailing will be heard, as well as gnashing of teeth
  • Matthew 13:50 and they will be hurled into the furnace of fire. crying and gnashing of teeth will be heard throughout the building.
  • 18:8 (Matthew 18:8)
  • If you find that your hand or foot is causing you to sin, chop it off and toss it away. It is preferable for you to start life crippled or maimed than to be born with two hands or two feet and be put into the lake of fire forever, according to Matthew 22:13. There will be crying and gnashing of teeth, when the king orders his men to bind him hand and foot and carry him out to the outer darkness
  • Matthew 25:30 (KJV). Then he sent the unprofitable servant into the utmost darkness of the world. When the time comes, there will be crying and gnashing of teeth
  • Matthew 25:41 He will also say to those on the left, ″Depart from Me, you cursed,″ and they will be cast into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. See Mark 9:44-48, where Their worm does not die, and the fire does not go out
  • and Mark 12:40, where they devour widows’ houses and make long prayers under the pretense of being religious. These will be subjected to much harsher criticism
  • Luke 13:3 (NIV) No, I tell you
  • nevertheless, unless you repent, you will all perish as well.
  • Luke 16:24 (NIV) Immediately after that, he screamed out and begged Father Abraham to have compassion on him and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because he was being tormented in this inferno.
  • And they will come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation
  • John 5:29 and come forth
  • 15:6 (John 15:6)
  • In the case of anybody who does not follow Me, he is put out like a branch and withers
  • and they gather them and throw them into the fire, where they are burnt.
See also:  What Are The Three Gifts Given To Jesus

Hell is a Real Place

  1. The location is genuine, and we don’t want anyone to go there without our permission.
  2. The reality of Hell should motivate us to communicate the message of saving grace with everyone we come into contact with.
  3. Only by turning to Jesus in faith and placing one’s confidence in His finished work on the cross to atone for one’s sins would anybody be able to escape the perils of Hell.
  4. Inform others about the merciful forgiveness of sins that Jesus extends to them, as well as the new and eternal life that He intends to give to them through His sacrifice on the cross.
  5. To read the tract, simply click on the image.

When you are unable to communicate the gospel via your words, you might communicate it by leaving pamphlets that inform others about God’s grace.When you hand out a tract, always remember to pray for the little gospel message that is included therein.Pray that it will be discovered by someone who is in desperate need of Jesus’ saving grace, and that the person would have a delicate heart and open ears to accept the gift that Jesus longs to offer them via this gift.

Even a short tract, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can aid in the transformation of a broken, sinful individual from darkness to light.ALSO READ: What Did Jesus Have to Say About Eternity?

The Truth about hell

″And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…″ Luke 16:23 What you’re about to read is hard to believe… We’re going to examine the place the Bible calls hell. We’ll present documented evidence for a place called hell. Don’t take what you’re going to read lightly. YOU COULD BE IN SERIOUS DANGER! The Bible continually warns of a place called hell. There are over 162 references in the New Testament alone which warns of hell. And over 70 of these references were uttered by the Lord Jesus Christ! In Luke 16, Jesus Christ gives a frightening picture of hell: 22… the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, Father, that Thou would send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Luke 16:22-28) HELL IS A PLACE OF FIRE The man in Luke 16:24 cries: ″…I am tormented in this FLAME.″ In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: ″And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.″ In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says: ″Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting FIRE,…″ Revelation 20:15 says, ″ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE.″ THE BIBLE GIVES THE LOCATION OF HELL When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He descended into hell. In Acts 2, Peter is speaking, verse 31, ″… seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in HELL″ When Jesus Christ died His soul went into hell. And in Matthew 12:40, Jesus Christ says: ″For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly: so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the HEART OF THE EARTH. ″ The Bible is clear — Hell is inside the earth! Ephesians 4:9, says of Jesus: ″Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH.″ On page 85 of Beyond Death’s Door, Dr. Rawlings said, patients who described hell said, ″… this place seems to be UNDERGROUND or WITHIN THE EARTH in some way.″ The Birmingham News, April 10, 1987 had an article entitled ″Earth’s Center Hotter Than Sun’s Surface, Scientists Say″. The article stated that scientists have recently discovered, ″THE EARTH’S INNER CORE HAS A TEMPERATURE OF OVER 12,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT!″ Have you seen pictures of a volcano erupting, spewing a lake of fire from inside the earth — consuming everything within miles just from the heat? When Mount St. Helens erupted in May 18, 1980, it was described by reporters, ″when HELL surfaced upon the earth.″ The book, Volcanoes, Earth’s Awakening (p.91) describes an erupting volcano as ″descent into HELL″. Thousands of years ago, the Bible described a place called hell in the heart of the earth that matches exactly what science is discovering. YES! THERE IS A PLACE CALLED HELL! In Numbers 16, the Bible gives the account of people falling into hell alive! Numbers 16:32-33 says, ″And THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive INTO THE PIT, and the EARTH CLOSED UPON THEM:″ Inside this earth, this very moment, there are millions of lost, tormented souls — burning, weeping, wailing — without any hope whatsoever! In Mark 9:46, Jesus Christ says about hell: ″Where THEIR WORM dies not, and the fire is not quenched.″ Jesus said explicitly — THEIR worm — not a worm, or the worm — but THEIR worm. And Jesus Christ said, ″Where THEIR WORM dies not, and the fire is not quenched.″ Revelation 14:10 says, ″… and He shall be tormented with fire and BRIMSTONE…″ And Job 18 describes the ″… PLACE of him that knows not God″ (vs 21), in verse 15 as, ″… BRIMSTONE shall be scattered upon his habitation.″ Do you know what brimstone is? It’s sulfur. And do you know where sulfur or brimstone is found? INSIDE THIS EARTH! According to the book Volcanoes by Pierre Kohler (p. 43), when Mt. St Helens erupted in 1980 — 150,000 tons of sulfurous gas was ejected! Job is the oldest book in the Bible, written over 3,000 years ago, and yet Job knew what science wouldn’t know for years — inside this earth is brimstone! HELL IS A PLACE OF TORMENT Jesus says of the man in Luke 16: 23 ″And in hell He lift up his eyes, being in TORMENTS… ″ 24 ″… for I am TORMENTED in this flame.″ 28 ″…PLACE OF TORMENT.″ It is humanly impossible to comprehend the Bible description of hell. Nothing on earth can compare with it. No nightmare could produce a terror to match that of hell. No horror movie could describe it’s fright. No crime scene with all it’s blood and gore could begin to match it’s horror. You’ll see HELL… You’ll smell HELL… You’ll breathe HELL… You’ll hear HELL… You’ll feel HELL… It’ll be beyond anything humanly imaginable! The Bible describes it as),weeping (Matt 8:12), wailing (Matt 13:42), gnashing of teeth (Matt 13:50), darkness (Matt 25:30), flames (Luke 16:24), burning (Isa 33:14), torments (Luke 16:23 everlasting punishment! Jesus Christ says in Matthew 25:41, ″Depart from me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING FIRE, prepared for the devil and his angels.″ In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: ″And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.″ HELL IS FOREVER! All who enter hell — abandon all hope! The horror of hell — for even one second is unbearable — but FOREVER! Jesus says in Matthew 25:41: ″… Depart from me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING fire,…″ Rev. 14:11: ″The smoke of their TORMENT ascends up for EVER AND EVER: and they have NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT.″ What could possibly be worth eternity in hell? No wonder Jesus Christ warned so much about hell! No wonder Jesus said in Mark 8:36, ″For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?″ Jesus Christ took hell very serious… Jesus Christ says in Mark 9:43-47, 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Jesus Christ took hell so serious — He could say without the slightest hesitation — to remove your eye, cut off your hand or foot, if that would keep you out of hell! Jesus Christ knew exactly what He was talking about! How did Jesus describe hell? Jesus Christ spoke more on hell than any other subject. Just look at how Jesus described hell: WHAT JESUS CHRIST SAYS ABOUT HELL! ″fire″Matt 7:19, 13:40, 25:41″ everlasting fire″Matt 18:8, 25:41″eternal damnation″Mark 3:29″hell fire″Matt 5:22, 18:9, Mark 9:47 ″damnation″Matt 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47″shall be damned ″Mark 16:16″damnation of hell″Matt 23:33″resurrection of damnation″John 5:29″ furnace of fire″Matt 13:42, 50″the fire that never shall be quenched″Mark 9:43, 45 ″the fire is not quenched″Mark 9:44, 46, 48″Where their worm dies not″Mark 9:44, 46, 48″wailing and gnashing of teeth″Matt 13:42, 50″weeping and gnashing of teeth ″Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30″torments″Luke 16:23″tormented in this flame″Luke 16:24 ″place of torment″Luke 16:28″outer darkness″Matt 8:12, 22:13″everlasting punishment″Matt 25:46 WHAT IF JESUS IS RIGHT? Hebrews 9:27 says, ″And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this THE JUDGEMENT:″ it is appointed unto man once to die… and one day — YOU will die… And in hell He lift up his eyes, being in torments… As you leave your body — you realize something is happening. You hear a sound… getting louder and louder… screaming…weeping… wailing. Terror and fear beyond anything you could imagine overtakes you. ″This can’t be happening!″ you scream. Your nostrils are filling with the awful stench of burning souls. Your face ignites from the heat. Flames are now blazing from your eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth — every opening in your body, flames are roaring out. Your body is sizzling and crackling from the flames. Your body is now madly thrashing and convulsing from the horrible pain. ″Why don’t I die?″, you scream. You begin weeping and gnashing your teeth with the millions. ″When will this pain stop?″ But you know it will never stop… The darkness is so terrifying, it begins engulfing you. You feel something moving in the darkness… something horrible is happening. ″No! No! This can’t be happening″ you scream — as your worm is emerging. You begin cursing the day you were born. You scream — ″Oh God, why didn’t you warn me?″— but you remember the preacher pleading with you to receive Jesus Christ. You remember reading that gospel tract. You cry — ″God don’t you care?″ — but you remember John 3:16 ″For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son,…″ ″God is a God of love — He won’t allow this″, you cry — but you remember John 3:36, ″… he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.″ And you soon realize, that Jesus Christ was right — there is a place called hell. AND YOU ARE THERE — FOREVER! But God is a God of LOVE… Why would a GOD OF LOVE send me to hell? Yes, God is a GOD OF LOVE — but God is also a HOLY GOD. A HOLY GOD demands payment for sin. Otherwise God would NOT and could NOT be HOLY. Because God is holy sin MUST be condemned. Joshua 24:19 says, ″.. He is a HOLY GOD;… He will NOT forgive your transgressions nor your sins.″ BUT FRIEND I HAVE GOOD NEWS! God does NOT want you in hell Hell was not made for man. Matthew 25:41 says, hell was, ″… prepared for the devil and his angels:″ Because God is a GOD OF LOVE, and He LOVED YOU so much, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to die a cruel death on a cross to pay the price a HOLY GOD demands for your sins. Romans 5:8 says, ″But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.″ God does not send someone to hell. You choose hell when you reject Jesus Christ. When you refuse God’s love gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ… YOU CHOOSE HELL! Millionaire Ted Turner, said in an interview, ″I’m looking forward to dying and being cast into Hell. That’s where I belong.″ You say — he’s a fool! But friend, when you say ″No″; to Jesus Christ and His payment for your sin — you are saying the same thing! You’re telling God — I don’t need Jesus Christ — I’ll pay for my sins in hell! If you reject God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ ONE DAY YOU WILL BE IN HELL! What could possibly be worth eternity in hell? No wonder Jesus Christ said in Mark 8:36, ″For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?″ John 3:16 says, ″For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shou

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