The Reality And Eternity Of Hell

Hell is a subject many people don't even want to think about, much less talk about. In fact there are many people, (pastors included, I'm sorry to say), who do not believe that Hell is literal, or even exists at all. Many believe Hell is here on earth, and many believe you can buy your way out of Hell. All of this is nonsense. Hell is literal, is real, is eternal. You cannot buy your way out and it is not here on earth.

If you were to take a Bible where the words of Christ were in red, and go through it, you would discover that Jesus spent one third of His ministry on the subject of Hell. Hell was not originally created for man. It was made for Lucifer, (the Devil,) and the fallen angels, but because of mankind's rejection of the commands and statutes of God and the original sin of Adam and Eve which caused each person to be born into sin, the gates of Hell were thereby opened and waiting for all. (See our tape entitled "Hell-Not Created For Man.")

Let's look at it from a logical point of view. Without Hell, there can be no Heaven. Without Hell, there is no justice, and God is a God of justice. Without Hell, there would be no free will. Without Hell, there would be no reason for judgment.

Man was given a free will by God. He has the right and ability to choose to serve the Lord and so spend eternity with Him in Heaven, or to choose to serve the world and the Devil and so spend eternity in Hell. Those who refuse to believe in Hell call God a liar and cause the Blood of Christ to become a useless and vain sacrifice.

It comes down to this, whether or not a person chooses to believe in Hell or not, does not nullify it's existence. Without Hell, Adolph Hitler, and all those like him, would be seated next to the saints as we worship God. Without Hell, or Satan and his demonic minions, God would then be the author of all evil; rape, murder, incest, arson and all manner of mayhem.

God, the Holy Spirit, speaking through Timothy, speaks of the end times and the 'doctrines of demons' which will deceive people and send them to Hell. Jesus warned the people over and over again to be ready. Why? Because He did not want them to go to Hell.

Allow me to give you some modern day analogies to better explain the concept of Hell. I am a firefighter with one of the local fire departments. Every day I face the possibility of having to go into a structure that is completely on fire. Without the necessary training and equipment, I could easily get hurt or killed in a blazing inferno. Let me give you some basic facts about structure fires. In a fully involved structure fire, there are different heat levels from the floor to the ceiling. From a kneeling position, the levels of heat can range from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but at ceiling level those heat levels can reach in excess of 5000 degrees Fahrenheit. To give you an example of how intense the heat can get (and how dangerous,) allow me to share this with you; if you were to stand upright in a building that was completely engulfed in fire, the heat would be so intense it would melt the helmet and the SCBA components right off your head in 35 seconds.

As a firefighter, I deal with these kinds of things on a regular basis. I am required to go into these structures, into this heat for the purpose of saving lives and property and I have, on occasion, rescued victims, pulling them to safety from burning buildings. My department provides protective clothing for me to wear from head to toe and breathing apparatus so I can go into these burning structures in relative safety. I might get a little warm, but if I put on all the proper equipment and gear, I won't get burned.

Relate this in a spiritual way to God giving us the proper equipment for saving people from the fires of Hell. Just as my department gives me the proper tools for fighting fires and for saving people's lives, so too, does God (in Ephesians, chapter 6,) give Christians the proper tools and protective armor for fighting off the fiery darts of the Enemy (Satan,) and for giving Life to those who would hear the Word of the Lord. For the gospel is truly life to those who hear and believe its message of hope and salvation in Jesus Christ, and because of that trust and faith become born again. For Jesus said that no one would see the Kingdom of Heaven unless they were born again.

I remember one time at a crusade my Dad was doing in Trinidad, the Lord gave him a vision of a toolbox being given to a man, filled with the spiritual tools he would need to fulfill that which God had called him to do in his calling and ministry. God is no respecter of persons. What He does for one person He will do for another. All that is necessary is for you to receive the necessary 'tools' for abundant life, and for avoiding the fires of Hell is; 1) confess that you are a sinner, 2) repent of your sins and ask God to forgive you, (which He promises He will do,) and 3) ask Jesus to come into your life and be your Lord and Savior. If you do these things, and believe in faith that you have received what you have asked for, you will have the necessary garments to be free from Hell for all eternity.

I would urge you to go to the pastor's column on this website and read my Dad's article called "A Price So High" for it describes in great detail the sacrifice that Jesus made for your sake, that you might have abundant life and in the end, go to be with the Lord in Heaven, avoiding spending all eternity in Hell. You need to consider carefully the reality of Hell. The Bible speaks of it throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Hell is described as a place of "utter darkness," and of "fire and brimstone" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." And in case you have heard someone say, "I'd rather go to Hell so I can be with all my friends," I have to say this is the dumbest statement ever made. Hell is not some big, never-ending party. There will be no one with you but the demons who will torment you without ceasing. The only things you will hear from your friends is how much they hate you for allowing them to end up in Hell when you had the opportunity to lead them down the right path into an eternity in Heaven. Think about it.

Like I said in the beginning, God gave you a free will. The choice is yours to make and there is not a lot of time left to make it, so please don't hesitate. Do you want the tools to fight the spiritual fires? They are yours for the taking. All you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you from sin. Ask Him to give you the tools which you desire and He shall.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions on this article.