Does Hell exist?
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The rich man in Hell.
By French artist Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902)
By French artist Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902)
HELL!
Is there a Hell? There are 264 chapters in the New Testament. They tell us 234 times there is a place of eternal punishment. Not only that, but they also tell us the name of that place. The Bible calls this dark prison Hell (Matthew 11:23, 16:18, Luke 10:15, 16:23, Acts 2:27, 2:31, Revelation 1:18, 6:8, 20:13, 20:14).
Jesus told us that Hell exists (Matthew 5:29). He described it as a "fire" (Matthew 5:22, 13:42, 18:9, 25:41, Mark 9:47) that never stops burning (Matthew 18:8, Mark 9:48). A place where the wicked (Psalm 9:17, Matthew 23:33), receive "everlasting punishment" (Isaiah 33:14, Matthew 25:46). Hell is so frightening, so nightmarish, Jesus told us not to fear murderers who can kill the body. "Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
Jesus told this story to the Pharisees. It described the conditions in Hell.
"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, as was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31)
Is this a true story, or was Jesus making a point? Either way, the implications are numbing and clear. The faithful will spend eternity in paradise, while the unfaithful face a deadly punishment. Many disagree over the nature of Hell. Some call it Hades, Gehenna, "a lake of fire" (Revelation 19:20), or Sheol. Call it what you may, it is clear, wherever and whatever Hell is, the Bible wants us to know it is a place of punishment. Can we be spared? Read Romans 10:9
Hell! The prison house of despair.
Here are some things that won't be there.
No flowers will bloom on the banks of hell.
No beauties of nature we love so well;
No comforts of home, music, and song.
No friendship of joy will be found in that throng;
No children to brighten the long weary night;
No love nor peace, nor one ray of light;
No blood-washed soul with face beaming bright.
No loving smile in that region of night;
No mercy, no pity, pardon, nor grace,
No water: O God, what a terrible place!
The pangs of the lost no human can tell,
Not one moment's peace - there is no rest in hell.
Hell! The prison house of despair.
Here are some things that will be there:
Fire and brimstone are there we know,
For God in His word hath told us so;
Memory, remorse, suffering, and pain,
Weeping and wailing, but all in vain.
Blasphemers, swearers, haters of God,
Christ rejecters, while here on earth trod:
Murderers, gamblers, drunkards, and liars,
will have their part in the lake of fire;
The filthy, the vile, the cruel, and mean,
What a horrible mob in hell will be seen.
Yes, more than humans on earth can tell,
Are torments and woes of eternal hell!
Catherine Dangell
Is there a Hell? There are 264 chapters in the New Testament. They tell us 234 times there is a place of eternal punishment. Not only that, but they also tell us the name of that place. The Bible calls this dark prison Hell (Matthew 11:23, 16:18, Luke 10:15, 16:23, Acts 2:27, 2:31, Revelation 1:18, 6:8, 20:13, 20:14).
Jesus told us that Hell exists (Matthew 5:29). He described it as a "fire" (Matthew 5:22, 13:42, 18:9, 25:41, Mark 9:47) that never stops burning (Matthew 18:8, Mark 9:48). A place where the wicked (Psalm 9:17, Matthew 23:33), receive "everlasting punishment" (Isaiah 33:14, Matthew 25:46). Hell is so frightening, so nightmarish, Jesus told us not to fear murderers who can kill the body. "Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
Jesus told this story to the Pharisees. It described the conditions in Hell.
"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, as was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31)
Is this a true story, or was Jesus making a point? Either way, the implications are numbing and clear. The faithful will spend eternity in paradise, while the unfaithful face a deadly punishment. Many disagree over the nature of Hell. Some call it Hades, Gehenna, "a lake of fire" (Revelation 19:20), or Sheol. Call it what you may, it is clear, wherever and whatever Hell is, the Bible wants us to know it is a place of punishment. Can we be spared? Read Romans 10:9
Hell! The prison house of despair.
Here are some things that won't be there.
No flowers will bloom on the banks of hell.
No beauties of nature we love so well;
No comforts of home, music, and song.
No friendship of joy will be found in that throng;
No children to brighten the long weary night;
No love nor peace, nor one ray of light;
No blood-washed soul with face beaming bright.
No loving smile in that region of night;
No mercy, no pity, pardon, nor grace,
No water: O God, what a terrible place!
The pangs of the lost no human can tell,
Not one moment's peace - there is no rest in hell.
Hell! The prison house of despair.
Here are some things that will be there:
Fire and brimstone are there we know,
For God in His word hath told us so;
Memory, remorse, suffering, and pain,
Weeping and wailing, but all in vain.
Blasphemers, swearers, haters of God,
Christ rejecters, while here on earth trod:
Murderers, gamblers, drunkards, and liars,
will have their part in the lake of fire;
The filthy, the vile, the cruel, and mean,
What a horrible mob in hell will be seen.
Yes, more than humans on earth can tell,
Are torments and woes of eternal hell!
Catherine Dangell