"See you in Hell tonight !" call out the patrons of a night club which chose this name for the publicity. Others, equally as flippant, say they want to go to Hell -- "Look at all the famous company I'll be in !"
Don't delude yourself ! There is no "company" in Hell. Only hatred. Total separation from everyone. Yes, there are many famous heroes in Hell, but they will give you no enjoyment. Hell is total suffering and agony -- unrelieved by any joy whatsoever and totally alone.
"Go to Hell !" say many with ease and frequency. Yet they say that they aren't sure whether there is a Hell. They live and act as if death ends everything. But their very use of such language shows that deep within them they feel that those who are wrong should be punished.
And this is exactly why there is a Devil's Hell: because GOD is good. Goodness is gone if it tolerates badness (evil). To maintain HIS goodness, GOD must completely triumph over evil.
There is a GOD. There is a Heaven. There must also be a Hell. GOD is a GOD of justice as well as love. HE has clearly revealed that this is HIS nature, and man plays the fool when he thinks that he can set up the rules in the universe which GOD has created.
It is impossible to describe Hell in languages which we can understand. People suffering excruciating pain or mental torment say that they are "in Hell." You've heard that "War is Hell." These are only partly right. On Earth there is still relief in drugs or sleep, and there is always hope. In a Devil's Hell there is absolute physical and mental suffering -- and there is NO HOPE.
The Bible uses the ideas of total darkness and the pain of burning to give us some conception of Hell:
"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."
(Matthew 25:41)
"The same shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of GOD . . . and he shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone."
(Revelation 14:10)
"Bind him hand and foot, and take him
away, and cast him into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth."
(Matthew 22:13)
Of whom do these verses speak ? The answer is clear:
"The wicked shall be turned into hell."
(Psalm 9:17)
"He that believes and is baptized shall
be saved; BUT he that believes not
shall be damned."
(Mark 16:16)
"For if we sin willfully after that we
have received the knowledge of the
truth, there remains no more sacrifice
for sins, but a certain fearful looking
for of judgment and fiery indignation."
(Hebrews 10:26,27)
"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell ?" was the question JESUS asked in Matthew 23:33. But the Bible gives a clear answer:
"Repent (turning to GOD from your sin) ye;
for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
(Matthew 3:2)
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which
I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and
wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according
to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE
rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:"
(1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4)
"Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and
thou shalt be saved."
(Acts 16:31)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD
JESUS and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD
hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. For with the heart man believes unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. . . For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."
(Romans 10:9-10,13)
Have you ever read of those confined for years in total darkness? Have you ever been severely burned? Imagine suffering these fearful physical tortures plus the anguish of knowing that it is forever and that you are permanently separated from GOD and everything that is good.
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living GOD."
(Hebrews 10:31)
FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME !
The Bible says that "the goodness of GOD leads thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4). If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith, and receive CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR, pray this simple prayer or one like it:
LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.
Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our SAVIOR. The LORD JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
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