I suppose no one likes to think about hell. For sure, most of the world lives as if there’s no such thing. I certainly don’t have to list the sins listed in the New Testament. Everyone capable of living independently has some sense of right and wrong. However, people want to do what they want to do, regardless of what Jesus says.
We find this statement in Romans 3:23 — for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all sin, and that’s also a fact. We face judgment and hell, should we die with sins charged against our souls. That means the following:
- You’ll never be with God
- You’ll never know the bliss and joy of heaven
- You will experience unspeakable torment
- You’ll be with the meanest, nastiest, worst of mankind there
- You’ll burn constantly
Jesus had a lot to say about hell. Here’s a list found in Mark 9:42-48:
Mar 9:42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
Mar 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. You should enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
Mar 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.
Mar 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,
Mar 9:48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”
I could mention other Biblical things about hell, but I think we get the point Jesus is making. Hell is not the place to be.
However, I do like this list found in Revelation 21:8 — “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
So, how or when does all this take place? John 5:27-29,
“Joh 5:27 And he [God] has given him [Jesus] authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Joh 5:28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
Joh 5:29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
That “doing evil” thing, what does that mean exactly? It means that if we sin, it’s off to hell. Of course, one can be forgiven of sin by following God’s plan of salvation.
In the future, there will be a time of resurrection for all who have ever lived. This occurs when Jesus appears in the sky, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Check out Acts 1:9 — Jesus ascends to heaven and will one day descend from heaven. There won’t be a rapture and a thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth, as many believe — it’s not in the Bible; people have misconstrued what the Bible says about all this.
Nevertheless, evil people will be cast into hell. It’s hotter there than anyone can adequately describe.
The key point? Don’t be cast into hell. Find out what Jesus says about salvation. It’s more important than anything.
By: Garland Van Dyke
Where: Matthews St. church of Christ, Bay City, TX 77414
Contact us: PO Box 1522, Bay City, TX, 77414
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