There are some who believe hell does not exist, but if one believes this then it would be easy to say heaven does not exist as well. Truth is heaven and hell both exist, because God is a God of judgment and expects obedience from His children. We see early in scripture hell is spoken of with God Himself speaking in anger of those who have provoked Him to jealousy. The people were sacrificing to devils and to gods their fathers did not fear, and were unmindful of the Rock that begat them! It is here we first see hell mentioned as God strongly says this is a generation that is perverse and are children who have no faith (Deuteronomy 32:16-22) 16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. 17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. 18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. 19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. 21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
To say hell does not exist is to also say there is no reason to believe in God and we are able to live the way we want without consequence for our actions. To say hell does not exist is to say life is just a free for all and the fate of the rapist and murderer is heaven bound. So the question is why would God create a heaven and not a hell? We see the answer in the story of Lazarus and the rich man which confirms there is a hell and seperation from God ( Luke 16:19-31) 19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
At the final white throne judgment we see satan who has deceived the nations is cast into the lake of fire and brimestone where the beast and false prophet are where they will be tormented day and night. We also see when the books are opened and every single person who has ever lived will be judged according to their works. Anyone who was not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire where death and hell resides (Revelation 20:10-15) 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Theres a “get rid of the fact that there is a hell” movement rampant right now 😞💔
I had no idea about this movement, but in this day and age it is no surprise. Be Blessed.
Julia
One of our boys went to a Nazarene College… And I noticed when we would do Bible study at home he was starting to give indications that maybe there’s not a hell…
Talk about God giving a good opportunity to explain there really is a hell. God always gives us a door to teach His way over mans. Scripture always trumps mans teaching every day! Blessings.
Julia
I remember this was a big issue that we would discuss in Scripture class – along the lines of “how can a Christian believe that God would allow Hell”. I remember the discussions very well and this kinda brought back all those!! 😉
Always good to have your memory jogged. Hopefully this was a positive outcome in your class that hell is a part of Gods plan as much as heaven is. You have a very unique website I always enjoy reading. Take Care and stay strong in your faith.
Julia
Oh yes, that was the conclusion we were all happy with but it was a good heated debate 😉 Thank you! Stay blessed 🙂
I was hopeful you would write back again to say how your discussions turned out. So thankful you came to the knowledge of the truth about hell. Be Blessed Always.
Julia
Thank you!:-)
Yes, “Truth is heaven and hell both exist, because God is a God of judgment and expects obedience from His children.” But hell is not a place of eternal torment where God shall enjoy the suffering of his creatures. Hell comes from sheol which is simply the grave or sepulchre, where dead people are placed in and where they decay and disintegrate into dust.
Your saying “To say hell does not exist is to say life is just a free for all and the fate of the rapist and murderer is heaven bound.” is a very weird one and belongs to several so-called Christians who worship a three-headed god and who are convinced that Jesus saved all people making it possible for all to enter heaven – but that is just a false teaching like their Trinity doctrine is as false.
“Anyone who was not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire where death and hell resides” refers to the old fires outside the city where the dead were burned so that they could not infect others. It was a health safety measure. Those fires were always kept burning so that at an outbreak the bodies could soon be burned and regularly there were dead bodies to be cremated.
There is nothing weird about saying those who rape or murder believe they are still heaven bound as they are deceived and heaven is not the place where they are headed.
YOU WROTE: several so-called Christians who worship a three-headed god and who are convinced that Jesus saved all people making it possible for all to enter heaven – but that is just a false teaching like their Trinity doctrine is as false.
I completely agree with your statement!
YOU WROTE: But hell is not a place of eternal torment where God shall enjoy the suffering of his creatures.
When Revelation 20:10 says those whoare cast into the “Lake of fire” will be tormented day and night for ever and ever I believe that to be an eternal torment!
When you say the “Lake of fire” refers to the old fires outside the city where the dead were burned so that they could not infect others. It was a health safety measure. Those fires were always kept burning so that at an outbreak the bodies could soon be burned and regularly there were dead bodies to be cremated.
I’m not sure where you picked up that teaching as scripture does not teach the “Lake of fire” is fires which burned outside the city, for if that were true your descriptions would appear in scripture right after the following verses………
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14,15).
It does however give us the description that the “Lake of fire” is a place that burns with brimestone, a place where the DEVIL, THE BEAST, and THE FALSE PROPHET will be cast as well as THOSE WHO WERE NOT WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE ( Revelation 20:10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Thank you for your comment.
Julia
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