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HELL
It cost the precious blood of our Savior to extinguish the fiery blaze of Hell and save us from a life of eternal torment.
“And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him for this purpose long before the world began, but now in these final days, he was sent to the earth for all to see. And he did this for you.” (1 peter 1:18-20)
For many intellectuals today, Hell may seem to be a place that was made up by the Catholic Church to keep people inline during the dark ages. The popular concepts of Hell can be found in the writings of Roman Catholic writers like the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), author of “Dante's Inferno.”
On the contrary the Bible continually speaks and 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 the Gospel of Luke chapter 16 Jesus Christ gives a shocking picture of Hell. Jesus gives us an illustration of an actual event (not a parable!) "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead'." (Luke 16:19-31)
A similar prototype is recorded in the closing verses of the Book of Isaiah:
"For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, says the LORD; so shall your descendants and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship me, says the LORD. And they shall go forth and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be abhorrence to all flesh." (Isaiah 66:22-24)
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"
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."
Scientist and Bible teacher, Henry Morris also agrees the Bible plainly teaches that Hell is in this earth: "So far as we can tell from Scripture, the present Hell, is somewhere in the heart of the earth itself. It is also called 'the pit' (Isa. 14:9, 15: Ezek. 32:18-21) and 'the abyss' (Rev. 9:2). These writers certainly believed Hell to be real and geographically 'beneath' the earth's surface. . .
To say this is not scientific is to assume science knows much more about the earth's interior than is actually the case. The great 'pit' (Hell) would only need to be about 100 miles or less in diameter to contain, with much room to spare, all the forty billion or so people who have ever lived, assuming their 'spiritual' bodies are the same size as their physical bodies." Henry M. Morris, “The Bible Has the Answer”, p. 220
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. In the book of Numbers chapter 16, the Bible gives the account of people falling into Hell alive! "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:" (Numbers 16:32-33)
I Jesus said explicitly — their worm — not a worm, or the worm — but their worm. The Bible teaches that Christians will one day have a body like the Lord Jesus Christ. Could it be that men and women in Hell take on the form of their father, Satan? (John 8:44) In Revelation 12:3, Satan is described as a red dragon. Could Jesus Christ be referring to the body lost men and women will have for eternity?
The earth’s crust on land is normally 50 miles thick. You’d have to go down 50 miles before the edge of the fire. But in parts of the ocean floor, the earth’s crust is less than a mile thick.
Scientists recently discovered cracks on the ocean floor where fire was leaking out. Do you know what they found around these fire-breathing vents in the crust? Eight-foot long worms, found no other place in the world! The book, The Deep Sea, by Joseph Wallace (p.39), reads, "Perhaps the strangest of ocean creatures recently discovered are “Riftia”, the giant tube worms. Measuring up to 8 feet in length, the worms are only found near deep sea vents.”
Jesus Christ said, "Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched."
Even though the world tries to extinguish the cries and reality of Hell — the truth of Hell echoes throughout our world. We desperately pretend to cover our ears and ignore the "screams, the weeping, the wailing, the gnashing of teeth" but it is there. . . And we know it. We refuse to accept such a place exists. It is there, and we know it! Nothing we can do, nothing we can say, can erase the horror of the reality of hell from our minds.
National Geographic magazine truthfully titled their story on Volcanoes "Going to Hell". When PBS did a series on The Savage Earth, one episode was titled "Hell's Crust: Our Ever Changing Planet". Everything we know. Everything we observe. Echoes the truth of a place called hell. It is there, and we know it!
Revelation 14:10 says, " and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone " And Job 18 describes the "Place of him that knoweth not God" (vs 21), in verse 15 as, "brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation." Do you know what brimstone is? It's sulfur. Where is 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!
Nature magazine discovered (July 2002) what the Bible knew over 3,000 years ago. Inside this earth is "fire and brimstone": "Volcanoes may be more like hell than anyone realized. Eruptions disgorge streams of molten sulfur, the brimstone of evangelical preachers, which burns up before it can be preserved for posterity, new research in the journal Geology illustrates". (Nature, Science Update, July 22, 2002)
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 its fright. No crime scene with all its blood and gore could begin to match its horror.
It will be beyond anything humanly imaginable! You will have all 5 senses in Hell:
YOU will see HELL. . . YOU will smell HELL. . . YOU will taste HELL. . . YOU will hear HELL. . . YOU will feel HELL. . YOU WILL BE HELL. . . Psalm 9:17
The Bible describes hell as a place of: 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." All who enter hell will abandon all hope!
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 during the day or night."
Just look how the Bible warns of the eternity and presence of hell:
- Everlasting fire — Matthew18:8, 25:41
- Everlasting punishment — Matthew 25:46
- Everlasting chains — Jude 1:6
- Eternal damnation — Mark 3:29
- Eternal judgment — Hebrews 6:2
- Eternal fire — Jude 1:7
- Unquenchable fire — Matthew 3:12
- The fire that never shall be quenched — Mark 9:43, 44, 45, 46, 48
- Fire unquenchable — Luke 3:17
- Mist of darkness is reserved for ever — 2 Peter 2:17
- The blackness of darkness for ever — Jude 1:13
I have searched the Bible, from cover to cover and I have studied every occurrence of Hell in the Bible and I cannot find one verse, not one word of hope for someone in Hell! The rich man in hell in Luke 16 never even asks to get out… He knew there was no way out!
What could possibly be worth eternity in hell? No wonder Jesus Christ warned so much about hell! And 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. . . Mark 9:43-47, “ 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: 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: 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! If hell is not real then Jesus Christ was the most deceived man that ever lived! 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 |
"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 dieth 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 and there is a Hell? Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this then judgment”
It is appointed unto man once to die . . . and one day you will die . . . and in Hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments.
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."
Hell was not created 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 say, "But God commendeth 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. . . 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 are telling God… I don’t need Jesus Christ and I’ll pay for my own sins in Hell!
If it was for a few days, a few months, a few years or even a million years, but to be tormented… FOREVER! You will beg for death itself to come and take you away! You will curse the day you were born! Revelation 14:11 says, "The smoke of their TORMENT ascendeth up for EVER AND EVER: and they have NO REST DAY OR NIGHT."
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?" Mark 8:36
God has something far better than words can describe for those who love Him. I Corinthians 2:9 says "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."
Don't wait until you die to find out the truth about Hell! Tomorrow may be too late! Proverbs 27:1 says, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow: for thou KNOWEST NOT what a day may bring forth."
Three people die every second, 180 every minute, since you started reading this — 2000 more people have gone into eternity! An automobile accident . . . A heart attack. . , A stroke. . .One thing is CERTAIN you will DIE… today. . . tomorrow . . . a week. . . a month . . . a year. . . 5 years. . . 10 years. . . 20 years. . . 50 years — ONE THING IS CERTAIN —" it is appointed unto man once TO DIE . . ."
You may have made some terrible mistakes in your life. There may be some things in your life you would give anything to be able to change. But friend, Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins on Calvary over 2,000 years ago. I assure you… If you reject God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ… it will be the worst error you could possibly make!
Has there ever come a time and a place in your life, when you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?
This decision will determine where you will spend eternity!