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Heaven always gets better press, but
if any of us reject God's gift of eternal life, there is hell to
pay. While no true child of God would wish hell on
anyone (not even your worst enemy), we are obligated to warn
people of what the Lord says about it.
Jesus took the time in His teachings
to not only talk about the kingdom of God and righteousness, but
also to warn people away from hell. While we may not have
an exact understanding of what eternal damnation will be like,
we do know that the Bible always describes it as a place of
horrible torment and agony of both body and soul. The
warnings are all clear: avoid eternal darkness at all costs.
Essentially, the Bible teaches that
everyone is headed for eternity without God unless they come to
know Jesus Christ. This is not the popular conception
embraced by most generations. But keep in mind that
humankind is cursed as a whole, from Adam and Eve on down.
The New Testament book of Romans (a letter the apostle Paul
wrote in the first century) helps us to more fully understand
the Bible's view of sin and the curse. Inspired by God's
own Holy Spirit, Paul writes about sin in human nature and the
terrible consequences. He also has much to say about God's
grace and mercy in saving all who receive Jesus.
Jesus Christ also had plenty to say
about hell, and about how to be saved from eternity without God.
For example, the Lord says:
"For as the Father raises the dead
and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He
will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all
judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they
honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor
the Father who sent Him.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he
who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has
everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has
passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to
you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the
voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
"For as the Father has life in
Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and
has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is
the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is
coming in which all who are in the 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."
— Gospel of John 5:21 thru 29, NKJV
In the last book of the Bible, John the apostle wrote:
Then I saw a great white throne and
Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled
away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the
dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were
opened.
And another book was opened, which
is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged
according to their works, by the things which were written in
the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and
Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.
And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is
the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book
of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (The Holy Bible,
Book of the Revelation 20:11 - 15, NKJV)
It is well worth your time to become
very acquainted with what the Bible says about hell and facing
eternity without God. There are very large cults right
here in America that deny the Bible's message, including the
truth about hell. You must be very careful to follow the
Lord Jesus Christ and the overall teachings of the Holy Bible if
you want to be prepared to spend eternity with God.
More clip art art on Hell:
Wages of Sin and
Eddie's Unbelief
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