The History of Hell states: “From the beginning of recorded history people all over the world have believed in an afterlife with two principle destinations, and Hell has inspired more interest than Heaven.”
The book, ‘The Formation of Hell’ is highly relevant to a lively debate currently waged among theologians and philosophers. Traditional views of hell are again receiving serious attention.
Discover Magazine quoted a geologist who said, “It’s quite clear that the core of the earth is a more hostile environment than the surface of the sun.”
Although science has tried to disprove the Bible, it has substantiated that at the center of the earth lies a molten, volcanic domain. This very well could be the place that Jesus called the “Lake of fire” in Revelation chapters nineteen and twenty. Jesus also said in Mark 9:44, “The fire is not quenched.”
Some people say, “If there is a hell, it will be a devil of a party.” What people who do not believe in a hell are really saying is, “No devil equals no sin. No sin equals no guilt. No guilt equals no need to repent. No repentance equals no need for God.” Very comforting to a lifestyle that serves self above others.
John Lennon, in his ballad “Imagine”, invites people to visualize an existence where there is no Heaven, no Hell, no religion, and everybody is “living for today.”
This is what the Bible means when it says that people became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21) The Gospel is hid from those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, and lest somehow, as the serpent (devil) deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (II Corinthians 4:3-4, 11:3)
Satan creates a religion without a Redeemer, and builds a church without Christ; while calling for worship without the Word of God. The devil’s job is to deceive the world; and his deception that there is no hell, or that it at least it will be one hell of a party, is a clever trick. He is not called an angel of light, without reason.
Billy Joel sings that sinners are much more fun than saints, but the Bible disagrees. Heaven will have no more pain, heartache, or tears. Hell will be a place of weeping and torment from memories of all the wrong decisions that you chose to make outside of God.
Kathy Griffin says, “I know that I’m going straight to hell. I have my handbasket all decorated.” She is very good at making others laugh, but you can see the emptiness in her eyes, and hear the sadness in her voice. There will be no laughing in Hell.
Paul teaches us that the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering are for the purpose of leading us away from hell and into heaven, through Jesus Christ. By refusing to obey Jesus and His Word, we store up for ourselves tribulation, anguish and wrath. (Romans 2:4-9)
Proverbs 5:12, 21-23 says, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths….He is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.”
“To those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” Titus 1:15
It is not God who condemns people to Hell. We condemn ourselves to Hell when we defy and refuse to obey the God who created us. Peter cloaked himself and jumped into the sea trying to hide his sinfulness from the Presence of a Pure Christ.
Proverbs 4:14-15 says, “Do not enter the path of the wicked…avoid it, do not travel on it.”
Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind….they are inventors of evil things.” Romans 1:28-30
The rich man who died and went to hell, in Luke chapter sixteen, cried out in torment for water to quench his thirst. Lazarus, beggar, died and was carried by heavenly angels to Abraham’s Bosom and comforted for all that he had to do without during his life on earth. Jesus said there was a great gulf between the two worlds and one could not pass over from one into the other. The rich man requested that the beggar be released to go and warn the rich man’s brothers. Jesus replied that though one arose from the dead to testify, they would not believe unless first they believed Moses and the Prophets.
God has given everyone access to the Bible, if only they would open its pages and ask God for spiritual understanding of His message to their hearts.
At another time, Jesus said we would have one that judged at the end of our lives; His Word that He had spoken to us, and our own words, would also excuse or accuse us at that judgment.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for you and I; so that we would never have to go to a place called Hell. We, in turn, need to make a sacrifice back to Him; by offering Him our lives and our very bodies to be a Temple for His Holy Spirit to dwell in while we are living on this earth.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart. These, O God You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
How refreshing to listen to words spoken by someone who has been broken and humbled before their God. No taste of the fleshly mind, only of the Spirit of God flowing through them. If these people bless us, how much more must they bless their Heavenly Father?
Jesus is coming soon. The world is wrapping up its preparations for the last world war. Soon everyone will know for sure about heaven and hell; as each knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings and the Creator of all things.
Why not use your tongue to confess Him now as you bow your knees before Him? He knows how to fill the emptiness and heal the brokenness of your soul.
