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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of heaven than believe in the existence of hell. According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. T...
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Albert Perkic
Supporter
Jesus talks about TWO resurrections, He said "Do not marvel at this, for the time is coming in which all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of LIFE, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of CONDEMNATION John 5:28,29 See also Daniel 12:2. Revelation 20:5,6 also talks about TWO deaths. It says "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the FIRST resurrection. Over such the SECOND DEATH has no power...". The first death is the natural death we die. But the SECOND DEATH is the one that is eternal. In other words we can't reverse it. It is FINAL. "The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades (the grave) delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades (the grave) were cast into the lake of fire. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH. Revelation 20:13,14. As Jesus said those who reject God and His grace are risen to be condemned or punished. And the punishment is the SECOND DEATH. Revelation 20:14. HELL IS THE SECOND DEATH, not eternal life in Hell. Jude 13 talks about those 'who did not believe' and "for whom is reserved the BLACKNESS OF DARKNESS FOREVER ". It is devoid of light and life and consciousness. Like the blackness and lifelessness in outer space. The bible talks of the fate of the wicked: " For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven' And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be STUBBLE. And the day which is coming shall BURN THEM UP, Says The Lord of hosts, " THAT WILL LEAVE THEM NEITHER ROOT NOR BRANCH " Malachi 4:1 Leaving the wicked as stubble with neither root or branch seems like the second death is quite permanent to me. Don't you? The punishment is eternity WITHOUT LIFE not eternity with life in 'Hell'. Otherwise it would not be the second DEATH would it? Hell happens on earth, listen: " They went up on the breadth of the EARTH and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And FIRE CAME DOWN out of heaven and DEVOURED them ". Revelation 20:9 After death and hades were cast into the lake of fire immediately Revelation 21:1 speaks of God creating a new heaven and a new earth. For God to recreate the new earth it must destroy the 'old earth' including Hell and Death. Hell is real, but yet future and it is FINAL.
Shantkumar S. Kunjam
Supporter
Being a Bible believing Christian I fully believe in the existence of hell. Yet my interpretation of hell is different from all others. Let us see what will be in hell. 1. Satan will be in hell (Rev. 20:10). 2. The anti-Christ and the false prophet will be in the hell (Rev. 19:20). 3. The ungodly people with all their sinful natures of Rev. 21:6, 27; 22:15 will be in hell. 4. Death and Hades will be in hell (Rev. 20:14). 5. All the demons will be in hell. Let us also see what will not be there in hell. 1. God will not be there in hell. 2. God's angels will not be there in hell. 3. All godly people will not be there in hell. 4. No influence of the Holy Spirit will be there in hell. Hence all the good things of Gal. 5:22-23 and Phil. 4:8 will not be in hell. I have also come to believe that all the false religions with their ungodly practices will be in hell. The fact that Death and Hades will be in hell, has made me believe that thought there will be no annihilation in hell, yet there will be death. As in some religions there is a belief of reincarnation, it may be possible that in hell people will die and get reincarnated again. People will remember the past, and possibly could visualize what are in future for them. Let us just visualize in our mind what the present world would be like when all the things that will not be in hell are suddenly removed from this world. For me the terribleness of the would be situation is beyond my wildest imagination. And I think most probably this is what is meant by the lake of fire and brimstone. So the the hell is not some where out there, but each unbeliever is carrying the hell within themselves, though at present it is controlled by the power of God's Spirit. In fact living away from God of the Bible is already living in hell. When all these people carrying hell within themselves are removed from God and what is godliness, collected in one place and their all hellishness is burst open to its full potential will be, I cannot imagine what it will be like. People have willfully rejected God's goodness and mercy while God's influence was still present, how can they will turn to God when there will be no influence of God in hell. Impossible. So in the terribleness of hell, death and life, or rather, existence in Hades and then in hell, then existence in hell and then in Hades may go on and on endlessly, suffering ever increasing pain. Let us not meddle with our lives here on earth. Let us turn to God in Jesus Christ and have the hope of eternal life with God and what is godly.
Priscilla Quarles
Supporter
Christians are suppose to represent God in the earth because God is not in this world. If God was in this world it would be like heaven: no murder, small babies dying, drugs, alcohol, etc. God gave the earth to mankind (Psalm 8:4-8). Now just imagine all the Christians have gone out of this world, you would then have hell. That is what hell is all about: a place without God and his representatives. Jesus says I come so that you might have life and more abundantly. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10)
Vincent Mercado
Supporter
The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire." The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs. God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance".
Jean-Paul Max
Supporter
Hell is REAL just as the Heaven. I STRONGLY believe that it is situated inside the Earth, called 'Sheol' in Hebrew and 'Hades' in Greek. I know that the Earth's core (center) is a solid iron ball having a diameter of some 3000 Miles (or Km, I don't exactly remember) which serves as a magnet responsible for the Earth's gravity. So I believe that the Hades is located some 500 to 1000 Miles deep under the Earth's crust and it's span should be between 1500-2000 Miles from the surface of the iron ball to the crust; considering the diameter of the Earth, 8000 Miles. This is a TEMPORARY place for the wicked who denied Christ or rejected the Gospel. Immediately after death, those who did not accept Christ as the Son of God and Creator of ALL things go to this place just as those who believed Christ as the Son of God and Creator and the Eternal Emperor of the Universe will go to Paradise and stay there until the Final Judgment which will take place after the Millennial Rule of Christ Yeshua from Yerushalem. So after the Final Judgment some (I mean, more) people will find their Destiny in the Eternal Fire and some (I mean, less) people in Eternal Joy with Christ in New Jerusalem! Amen.
ROSEMARY LUTCAVAGE
Supporter
We were all created in the image of God, meaning we ALL now have an eternal destiny, we are not eternal beings because we were created. However, our final destination will be one of only two places. The parable, if indeed a parable, would be the only one in Holy Writ with names given. I’m of the belief it actually happened. Either way Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s bosom, the rich man was sent to hell where his senses were intact and he was indeed being tortured. We can either try to “save ourselves” by the keeping of the law (by which NO MAN will be justified) and it is by the law one will be judged. One must keep perfectly all 613 laws without breaking one and in our fallen star that is simply not possible. The other choice is to “believe on the name of Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved”. For it is by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the free gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Only in Christ Jesus alone will we stand before the holy, righteous, sovereign GOD and only if the Righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us will we be counted worthy to enter. 2 Corinthians 5:21. The “second death is spiritual death not physical, just as being “born-again is a Spiritual birth & not a physical one. Our souls are eternal & we will either pay our own sin debt or accept the sacrifice that Jesus Christ paid in full to purchase us. Revelation 19 is talking about the second resurrection because they do not resurrect to life. They resurrect to be judged according to their works. You may say so do we..... we are judged according to our works at the BEMA seat to determine the rewards we acquired while living our lives and the works we do we the correct motive, all for the Gory of God - not ourselves. Our salvation is secure ONLY in Christ Jesus and His finished work at the cross. Accept it or deny it, allow your sin debt to be paid in full by the covering of the blood of Jesus or deny Him and pay the wages for your own sin death. These have already died their first death, their physical death. The Great White Throne Judgement is Judgement on whether they accepted and believed on Jesus Christ for eternal life. If not, they have a huge debt owed to an Eternal God that demands justice and eternal spiritual death is that penalty. In Revelation 20:15 (and many other places) the Scriptures very plainly state that after Satan has been thrown into the fiery pit that burns with fire and brimstone forever and ever, so will be the fate of those that followed him and rejected Christ, it goes on to say and the smoke of their TORMENT will rise as an aroma unto the Lord because justice has been served. We all are sinners and we all have a great debt to pay, that we are unable to pay because we can never live to the perfect, holy and righteous standards of God Almighty. That’s the whole reason He sent His Son as a ransom, to purchase back, by His perfect, priceless and sinless sacrifice ONCE AND FOR ALL, those who are willing to humble themselves and admit they need a Savior and accept the ALL SUFFICIENT Sacrifice He took in our place, clearly freeing us of all charges against us. Our choice: pay your own wages for death which is hell for eternity because you rejected Jesus OR accept Jesus today as your Savior having already paid your sins IN FULL, and spending eternity with Him forevermore! Choose wisely, this is YOUR ETERNITY you are gambling with. Believe what is written. Hell is spoken of almost two times more than heaven in Scripture. God bless you all ❣️
Iliani Tuikenatabua
Supporter
The "eternal fire" of hell is one hot topic! It has been misunderstood by the majority of people for many centuries. Here are examples and scripture to show its true meaning. "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Matt 25:41) It is not the fire itself but its effects that are everlasting as in Jude 7: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."(Jude 7) Note that "everlasting fire" (Matt 25:41) and "eternal fire" (Jude 7) are from the same original words. Of course, Sodom and Gomorrah are not still burning yet they "are set forth for an example" of the results of a sinful course. "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" (2Pet 2:6) The wicked will be burned up not burning forever in an eternal fire. "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts." (Mal 4:3) "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." (Psa 37:20) The punishment is everlasting destruction: "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thess 1:9) It is the destruction, not the process that is forever. The Bible's use of terms like eternal and everlasting can be understood better by some examples. Further examples of forever to show its meaning "And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever." (Exo 21:5-6) In this case, the slave is opting to stay with his master and serve him for as long as he lives and it is termed forever. "But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever." (1 Sam 1:22) Of course, Samuel only abided there for a limited period of time. "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God." (Jon 2:6) In Jonah's case forever was only a few days although it may have seemed like an eternity. By one count, "forever" is used 56 times in the Bible to describe things that have ended.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
In Christianity, hell has traditionally been regarded as a place of punishment for wrongdoing or sin in the mortal life, as a manifestation of divine justice. Nonetheless, the extreme severity and/or infinite duration of the punishment might be seen as incompatible with justice. However, hell is not seen as strictly a matter of retributive justice even by the more traditionalist churches. For example, the Eastern Orthodox and other churches see it as a condition brought about by, and the natural consequence of, free rejection of God's love. Matthew 25:46 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Jesus speaks of the eternal fire of hell. Though some would like to shorten the duration of this state, Jesus’ words are very clear. He uses the same adjective to describe both punishment and life in verse 46. If hell is not eternal, neither is the new heaven and earth. 166 [e] aiōnion αἰώνιον; eternal Adj-AFS See Strong’s Concordance. Adj-AFS means Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular EVERLASTING - ev-er-last'-ing (olam, `adh; aidios, aionios): "Everlasting," in strictness, is that which endures forever; either that which has no beginning and will have no end (in which sense it is applicable to God only), or that which, having a beginning, will have no end, but henceforth will exist forever (thus of beings created for immortality; see IMMORTALITY). Figuratively also the term is applied to objects of impressive stability and long duration, like mountains, hills (e.g. Gen 49:26; Hab 3:6). Of the terms indicated as rendered by this word, `olam in the Old Testament and aionios in the New Testament, literally, "age-long," generally bear the full sense of "eternal" (always as applied to God, His mercy, His covenant, His kingdom and to the eternal life of believers). Hence, in the Revised Version (British and American) the rendering "everlasting" in the King James Version is, in the New Testament, uniformly changed to "eternal" (e.g. Matthew 18:8;25:41,46; Lk 16:9; 18:30; Jn 3:16,36, etc.; Acts 13:46; Rom 6:22; 16:26; Gal 6:8; Heb 13:20). Believing the truth about hell also motivates us to persuade people to be reconciled to God. By God’s grace, those of us who are trusting Christ have been rescued from this horrible destiny. How can we love people and refuse to speak plainly to them about the realities of eternal damnation and God’s gracious provision of salvation? Clearer visions of hell will give us a greater love for both God and people.
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