Wednesday 17 September 2008

Reality Check: Hell, the eternal torment

Many people don't like hearing about hell. Few people talk about hell nowadays.
But let's do some reality check here.

As with any time when you consider the reality, what you want to think or want to believe is not what is important. The truth matters, the reality matters.

So, if indeed as some suppose, hell does not exist, or the biblical description of hell is not real, or put another way, the people who reject Jesus does not end up in hell, then sure, why would you have to live for Jesus?
But, if hell is real, and all who reject Jesus will be condemned to hell, and there will be eternal punishment for them, then you ought to come and reconcile with Jesus. You may not have thought about this issue much before, or ignored it purposely for a while, but I challenge you to think about it, before it's too late. If hell is indeed real, then it doesn't matter what you think, you will end up there unless you turn, put your trust in Jesus and follow Him.

What really matters is the reality of hell. Whether you think you will end up there (or not) isn't much of an issue, what really matters is whether you will end up there or not. What you think, or wish to believe has no significance in the face of reality. Reality matters.

So, do you believe in hell? Don't you think this issue is significant enough for you to pause what you were doing and investigate further into what the Bible says?

2 comments:

Timothy Wonil Lee said...

Hi,

Your take on John 3:16 in relation to the doctrine of hell was interesting. While I heard of the view you maintain about hell before, it was first time that I heard the case argued from John 3:16. I am also aware of at least one Christian theologian who is respected among many Evangelical Christians including myself who believes that non-Christians will perish like you said, instead of suffering in a place of unending, conscious torment.
However, as far as I can see from the Scriptures, it is plain to me that the eternal reality of hell, a place where unbelievers will suffer for eternity, exists. For example, Mark 42:48.
It is not easy for me to accept how our merciful and good God would have such a place in His universe, but whether it is easy for me to understand or accept is irrelevant. I will trust and accept what God has revealed in the Bible even when it goes against my own thoughts.

Grace be with you.

GraceHead said...

Rev
20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

God created the heavens (Heb 1:10), and promised to destroy them (Mt 24:35, Mr 13:31, Lu 21:33, Re 21:1).

There is no such thing as Mark 42:48. Perhaps you meant chapter 9 of Mark: "48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. "

Does a man have enough flesh to feed a worm that does not turn for eternity? Does a man have the fortitude required to feed a fire that is not quenched? Is that the point? Certainly not ... for Jesus is quoting a prophet when He said that in Mark 9.

Isa 66:24 -
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.


What is written? That these are suffering? Or that they "LOOKED" upon their "CARCASES"? A carcass is NOT alive. A carcass is a dead body.