Is hell real? Is hell eternal?

[Les Brewer]

Many out there will more likly except heaven is a real place where people will go when they die and will even except our time in heaven will be eternal. However, many will draw to a big debate about hell and may well say that if it does exsist then it can only be for a limited time! What is your understanding about hell and what would be your answer be to someone who would think hell is not real and if it is then God would never send people there for all eternity?

[gator]

If we look at this from a traditional Greek philosophical point of view, Heaven and hell can be neither proven nor disproven. At this point, it is all just personal opinion. So. Let us expand the resource base a little bit and include science and pseudo-science. Still can't prove or disprove either. So, about the only reliable source I can think of for reference is the Bible. And what does the Bible say about Heaven and hell. There are too many places to provide links but I think it is safe to say that people who believe in Jesus Christ as THE Savior of the world will be saved. Everyone else will be sent off the hell - in spite of what the left wing comedians have to say on the subject.

One example that does come to mind is Jesus parable about Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus, a poor beggar ended up in Heaven for eternity. The rich man, who was only rich on earth, ended up in hell for eternity. He begged for Lazarus to come by and give him just a drop of water to satisfy his thirst. As Jesus continues, He says that it is impossible for the good folks in Heaven to cross the chasm to those in hell. And then, the rich man still tries to bargain with Him by asking that someone be sent to tell his family about this. And Jesus replied that no one will believe because they didn't believe in the past.

Does this bother me? Personally, no. I know where I am going. But it does bother me for family members who are not saved and will never be saved because they "see and are blind" and "hear and are deaf".

It is still a very complex subject and I seriously doubt if I have condensed a two million page book into less than a hundred words.

Cheers

gator

[Les Brewer]

I think that is a great understanding of, is hell real and is hell eternal. Many in the world choose to reject the only sourse that we have that warn's us of the consequences - if we choose to reject. Lazarus and the rich man homes in very clearly of what Jesus wanted us to hear about hell and it's time people would spend there. Amazingly too, 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. The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked/unbelieving are sent after death. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). The just punishment for that sin is death (Romans 6:23). Since all of our sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4), and since God is an infinite and eternal Being, the punishment for sin, death, must also be infinite and eternal. Hell is this infinite and eternal death which we have earned because of our sin.

The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout Scripture as “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12), “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2), a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44-49), a place of “torment” and “fire” (Luke 16:23-24), “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place where “the smoke of torment rises forever and ever” (Revelation 14:10-11), and a “lake of burning sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never ending as the bliss of the righteous in heaven. Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven (Matthew 25:46). The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Psalm 76:10). Those who are in hell will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (Deuteronomy 32:3-5). Yes, hell is real. Yes, hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16, 18, 36).

Like you, it does bother me of the people I know, including family and friends that rejects this.

[gator]

I do have a joke that describes hell very well. Here goes:

A politician dies and is mistakenly transported to the Heavenly Gates. He's waiting for something to happen when St Peter comes along. St. Peter looks him over and says "Well we hadn't expected you up here. I'll phone up and see what I am supposed to do with you."

After a few minutes, St. Peter comes back and says that there is a new policy for questionable people. They are to spend one day in hell and then one day in Heaven before they decide where they want to spend eternity. So, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and sends him down to hell for a day. He opens the elevator door to see the best looking golf course he has ever seen. Most of his friends are standing around the buffet sipping champagne and nibbling on wonderful smelling snacks. He spends the entire day on the golf course. It is impossible to make a bad shot. Out of the eighteen holes on the first round, he got twelve holes in one.

All too soon, his 24 hours is up and he is escorted back to the elevator. Eventually, his 24 hours in Heaven is also up and St. Peter asks him for his choice. So he says: "I mean no disrespect Sir but Heaven is kind of boring. I believe I will choose hell with my friends." So, St. Peter sends him off to his fate.

When the elevator door is opened, he is met with the most foul smelling stench that wouldn't even be imagined on earth. The heat is unbearable. The stench makes it impossible to breath. And something in the air is peeling the skin right from his carcass. He knows that very soon, where skin used to be will be only the agony of this burning acid but it will never never never consume him to the point of him dying. He's already done that. Satan himself comes over to welcome him.

"I don't understand this at all" the politician says, "When I was here a couple of days ago, it was wonderful and beautiful and I couldn't get enough of it."

"Oh there's an easy explanation for that" Satan says - "When you were here the other day, we were campaigning. TODAY YOU VOTED FOR US. WELCOME TO ETERNITY."



gator

[Les Brewer]

I think this joke sums up Satan and how he deceives so many to going too the wrong place!