What Jesus said about ... hell.
"I will show you whom to fear: fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, He is the one you must fear!" Luke 12:5
Jesus has often warned people about the dangers of going to hell. One of His graphic descriptions of the place is in His parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus at his gate.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived
in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus,
covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s
table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came
when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The
rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he
looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he
called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity 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 fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in
your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad
things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides
all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those
who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from
there to us.’ Luke 16:19-31.
In this story Jesus makes the point that not only does hell exist, but it is also a place of eternal fire and that there is a great chasm between hell and Heaven; implying that once there you cannot get out.
Today, many people do not believe in hell, or that it is a place of fire. They scoff at the very idea and don't even believe in the devil.
So we need to ask ourselves: was Jesus lying when teaching about hell? Or was He using imagery that the people of the time would have understood? Like when He said, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" John 14:2
And if we are spirits, (souls), then do we need a physical place such as a house or a burning fire?
All these questions, and more besides, are academic and many wiser people than me have debated them over the ages with no satisfactory explanation.
So, how about my views as not such a wise person: Perhaps hell is a place where we will know for certain that God exists. We will witness His eternal limitless love for mankind, yet we will be forever excluded from that love.
What do you think?
"If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell." Matthew 5:30
NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
ReplyDeleteI have a very vague view of Hell. One not clear. YOu hint of mental torture, seeing the goodness and blessings of God and HIS people, but suffer because you chose differently. IO know one day we may understand, but today, using this human mind, I cannot see God enjoying watching HIS creations BURNING for eternity. However I have no doubt of hell, whether it is as I have heard all my life or not. I know one thing for sure, it ain't gonna be nice and comfy, and NO ONE will enjoy missing heaven.... (I am going there, I have a book offering me my money back if I miss it. Just saying!)
ReplyDeleteLove from this side I am enjoying your insights....
Thanx for your kind words, Jack, and for mentioning my book "How to get to Heaven or your money back!"
DeleteNo one knows what it's like in hell because no one has returned from there and told us. One thing for sure. Hell exists - because Jesus said so many times in His teachings. To go to hell there must have been a complete breakdown in relationship with God. No one goes to hell by mistake. People go there, (or sleep-walk there), by deliberately ignoring God and excluding Him from their lives. Sadly, many people today are in this position.
God bless you and your family.
Love and kindness always. ❤️
ReplyDeleteGod bless, CM.
DeleteMay not a soul be lost in that terrible place, but it is our choice, isn't it? We choose to put God first, or we don't. May I always put the Lord first. Blessings, Victor!
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a conscious decision that people make which leads them (willingly) to hell.
DeleteGod bless, Martha.
This parable is one of few that I recall vividly from childhood. No, Jesus never lied. This I believe.
ReplyDeleteYour suggestion is certainly plausible -- and terrifying.
Yes, I too remember this parable of the rich man and Lazarus at his gate - we were taught it when very young. It is so memorable and graphic.
DeleteThank you, Mevely, for your kind review on AMAZON of my book "The Bitten Apple Connection". You're very kind.
God bless you and your family.
...I hope that hell is a big place, there are plenty of world leaders are going there!
ReplyDeleteWe should not wish anyone there.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
I believe literally what the Scriptures say about hell and I am secure in my understanding that I will not be going there because I believe Jesus has paid the price for my sins and calls me His own. In addition to the physical aspects of hell, and the sure understanding that there has been a God all along, hell will be the absence of God.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, hell is the absence of God. Wilfully so by those who do not want God in their lives.
Delete“The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” "The doors of hell are locked from the inside" C S Lewis
God bless, Barbara.
Oh I believe in hell as a very real place where people will be forever separated from God. No one has to go there though!!
ReplyDeleteAmen K. I agree.
DeleteGod bless always.
Hell is not a place anyone wants to go. My question is why as a young person does the Catholic Church terrorize children with their visions of hell. Surely they wouldn't understand and they never explained it. It makes you afraid and scared. The church needs to find a new way to inform people. You really can't rely on their parents considering the status of the world today.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Bill. Yes, the Catholic Church and school did frighten us about hell. I guess at the time it was their way of teaching. These days hell and the devil are rarely mentioned in sermons. The Church has gone totally the other way and are neglecting their duty of warning thei congregations about Satan and eternity in hell.
DeleteGood point well made, Bill. God bless.
Hell sounds like and has always sounded that something so bad and so scary and so ugly. No one in their right mind would want to go there - but some people don't get the truth.
ReplyDelete"No one in their right mind ..." The thing is, Chatty Crone, that in today's society too many people, in their right mind, have made the decision that God does not exist. It follows that, in their mind, Heaven and hell do not exist, nor the devil nor anything else. In their mind, once we die it is the end. No after-life. No eternity.
DeleteWith this mindset, there's a vacuum in their lives, (and minds), which is filled with materialism, greed, instant gratification and false happiness and have-it-all and have it now.
... in their right mind"? Clearly not, in my opinion.
God bless you always.
Agreed, it is an awful thing to be so excluded. I would love to be able to be a Christian Universalist and believe everyone goes to Heaven, but Jesus was quite clear.
ReplyDeletePeople exclude themselves through self-will and their choice. God does not send people to hell. They volunteer to go there.
DeleteGod bless, Mimi.
I believe in the literal interpretation of Hell. It is a real place and it’s interesting to me, so many will say, “If your God is so loving how could he send people to hell?” Yes my God is loving - He is also Holy. Throughout scripture He always warns and warns unbelievers - even during the tribulation there will be those who can still accept Jesus. Sadly many will not. Now to me, that shows a loving caring and holy God who cannot justify sin. It’s not in Him. He is the Creator God that must be acknowledged and worshipped.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. God is a loving Father; but He is just also. If people do not want to accept Him, if they do not want to love and obey Him, then He will let them go.
Delete"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." C S Lewis.
God bless Shasta Home - Debby.