HELL

           Hell is real and it is something that many Christians don’t like to think about or many preachers discuss on the pulpit. Jesus spoke about hell to his disciples and his disciples mention it in other chapters of the Bible. John speaks about hell also in Revelation when he received the visions on the island of Patmos. Other religions don’t speak about hell and sometimes speak about reincarnation. Some believe, when we die it is the end of our existence. But as Christians we know that our soul is eternal and one way or another our only two destinations is Heaven or Hell. Whether you believe or not we will all end up in one of these two places at the end of our lives.  

            Luke 16:19-31, There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. “Father Abraham!” he called out, “Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!” “Son,” Abraham said, “remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.” “Father,” he said, “then I beg you to send him to my father’s house, because I have five brothers – to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.” But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” “No, father Abraham,” he said. “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” But he told him, “If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.”   

            We never really learn much about Lazarus or why/how/when he ended up at the rich man’s gate. All we can understand from the passage was that he is suffering and the rich man ignored him. Lazarus, right after his physical death was taken to Abraham’s bosom (NKJV) by angels. It does not mention if he was even buried like it was mentioned for the rich man. But we learn that the rich man is currently in Hell and is being tormented. It seems the rich man can also see Lazarus and Abraham from afar and is able to speak to them. This seems to tell us that we are able to remember things from our earthly life as he calls out to Lazarus and recognizes him. The rich man also mentions his five brother’s still living on earth as well. He wants someone to go back and warn them. It is not till he is in agony from the flames of Hell does he call to Lazarus to dip his finger in the water and cool his tongue. There must be mental torture as well in Hell because the rich man is thinking about his family and that their fate is going to be the same as his when they die. Also imagine having eternity to think about all the things you could have done to avoid this fate, like helping Lazarus who was at his front gate every day. He must have had some idea of who Lazarus was during his earthly life because he was able to recognize him and call to him by his name from Hell. We must repent and change our ways or those past sins may follow us through eternity.  

            Hell is eternal/everlasting and there is no escape. Revelations 14:9-11, If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink with wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name. Matthew 24:46, And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. The rich man was tormented with fire and there is no relief from it, day or night. There is also no escape as Abraham mentions a chasm between the both of them. It is an impassable gulf, whether it being physical or describing the complete separation of Heaven and Hell. Either way when you are on one side of the chasm, there is no way to get to the other side.  

            Hell is a place of torment (Luke 16:23) and agony. Hell is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 13:50). It is blazing furnace (Matthew 13:42) and probably 7x7x7 hotter than the furnace Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego entered. You are surrounded by flames and in agony with the smell of sulfur which probably makes it very hard to breathe. It is a consuming fire, ever-burning flames (Isaiah 33:14). It is an unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43) and where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48). The worms may represent underlying suffering in Hell-the “worm/maggot,” never stops causing torment. Isaiah 66:24, mentions also the final judgement, “for their worm will never die, their fire will never go out and they will be a horror to all mankind.” Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:19, Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  

            Hell is where the presence and light of God are absent. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who do not KNOW (previous post) God and on those who don’t OBEY the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength. If God is not present in Hell then there is no light. Revelation 21:23, The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it and its lamp is the Lamb. The sun or the moon is not needed in heaven, because God’s everlasting glory and light is present. Matthew 25:30, And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness. Any place where God is not present, our lives, our homes, our minds, only darkness will reside.  

            We can escape Hell and the word of God tells us how. Mark 16:16, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Matthew 10:28, Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. God does not want our souls to perish, “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).” We can see a little satire when Abraham answers the rich man when he asks to save his brothers, “If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.”  Isn’t this true of the Jewish nation? Jesus Christ rose from the dead and yet his chosen people do not accept his as the Messiah. They follow all the laws and hear the messages of the prophets, yet their eyes were blinded and hearts hardened to see the Son of God in their mist. Do not be like the rich man but I myself rather have angels take to me to heaven when I die. Matthew 25:41, Then he will also say to those on the left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!” Hell was created as a punishment for the devil and the angels that sided with him during the rebellion against God. We can escape Hell and God’s love and desire is for all of us to spend eternity with him!