HELL

The "Hell Is A Myth" Myth

By Dr. John E. Russell

10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is {the book} of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one {of them} according to their deeds.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15, NASB).

The idea that everyone will be saved is a noble one, because it is God's will that all be saved. Tragically, all will not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I am grateful that Pastor Bullock preached the reality of hell. It was under his ministry at Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi, that I was "scared" into accepting Christ as my Savior. I was only seven years of age when I was converted.

Pastor L. R. Shelton kept me uncomfortable when I was not living for the Lord. I appreciate his "being true to my soul," as he said it. Through his radio ministry, this New Orleans pastor reminded me that I was not serving God.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16, KJV).

God loves everyone. That is why he sent his Son to die for us. However, if people do not accept Christ as their Savior, what can God do with them? He could not allow evil, unregenerate people to be with him forever—heaven would become hell.

Therefore, we need to be afraid of God's judgment and not of what people may do to us. Proper fear is our friend—we are moved to right choices. Jesus said,

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One [God] who can destroy both body and soul in hell [Gehenna]. (Matthew 10:28, NIV).

We have a place for sociopathic people: prison. If evil people were allowed to murder, steal, rape, or sell drugs, society would be chaotic. Society cannot function without prisons or capital punishment or both. Prison not only keeps evil people from hurting law-abiding people, but it also acts as a deterrent. Some do not do evil because they know the consequences of breaking the law.

God also has a prison for people. It is called Hell. He places incorrigible people there. Jesus said that Hell was prepared for the devil and his fallen angels:

41 "Then He will also say to those on His left [the unsaved], 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; (Matthew 25:41,NASB).

Jude also writes about this part of hell for fallen angels. It is a special prison for spirit beings who decided to become evil:

6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day (Jude 1:6, NIV).

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell [Greek, Tartarus], putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; (2 Peter 2:4, NIV).

The English term "Hell" needs further explanation. It has its roots in the Old Testament. "Abraham's bosom," is a Jewish term synonymous to Paradise. The word "Paradise" comes from the Old Persian word pairidaeza. It is translated by the Greek words peri ("around") and teichos ("a wall"). Periteicho was chosen to translate the Garden of Eden (Hebrew) into Greek in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Paradise was a compartment of Hades, the place of departed human spirits. (Hades is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Sheol.) Paradise was the place where believers' spirits were taken.

Jesus used Gehenna as a symbol of everlasting torment. The word Gehenna is a transliteration of the Greek word geenna, which is a transliteration of the two Hebrew words, ge + hinnom, "Valley of Hinnom". The Valley of Hinnom is located immediately south of Jerusalem. Ancient Israel sacrificed infants to the false god Molech in Tophet, a part of the Vallley of Hinnom—they roasted infants alive in the heated arms of the idol.

Later, Josiah—a good king of Judah—destroyed the idol Molech. Josiah stopped the practice of infant sacrifice and the area was made into a garbage dump. It was not a sanitary landfill like we have today. Bodies of humans and animals, plus filth were dumped there. Because of the rotting material, perpetual fires were kept going. Thus Jesus words,

48 Where their worm [skolex, "maggot"] dieth not and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48, KJV).

In short, Jesus used a gross garbage dump to represent hell. Gehenna was both physically and morally repulsive to the Jews of Jesus' day. The idea of worshipping any pagan idol was very repulsive to the Jews of Jesus' day. Sacrificing little babies to Molech was unconscionable and vile to them. The stench and visual filth was sickening. Jesus used a strong metaphor to describe the terrible place of eternal separation from God.

Unbelievers are in anguish in Hades. Jesus taught about hell through the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man [Dives]:

23 In hell [Hades]. . .he [Dives] was in torment. . . Abraham [was] far away, with Lazarus by his side." (Luke 16:23, NIV).

Dives was in Hades in torment (odynomai, literally "in anguish"). This word is used only by Luke, and means "deep sorrow, grief or anguish" (Vincent, Word Studies In the New Testament, 1:399).

In the Second Resurrection, unbelievers' spirits will be taken from the temporary prison in Hades, given a body and be cast into the lake of fire—see the text above (Revelation 20:11-15). The lake of fire is commonly called Hell.

When believers die, Angels immediately take their spirits to the Lord and their mortal bodies return to the earth. Paul writes,

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—
8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8, NASB).

In the First Resurrection, those trusting in Christ and his Word will have their spirits united with an immortal body and be caught up to be with the Lord forever in Heaven:

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, NASB).

The difference between an eternity in Heaven or Hell is the simple choice of accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. We must choose to believe in him in order to be saved:

Whoever believes in him [Christ] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:18, NIV).

2 I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2b, NIV).

16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17, NASB).

37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out (John 6:37, NASB).

Conclusion:

God loves you and wants you to live in Heaven with him forever. He has done his part and now it is up to you. It is your decision. Please make the right decision and receive Christ as your Savior now—don't put it off. Here is how:

1. God loves you. Realize that God loves you and desires for you to be at peace with himself:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Not only did God tell you that he loves you, but he proved his love by sending his Son to die for you! His love is also expressed by the full and high quality life he has planned for you now—as well as in the life to come. Jesus said,

10 The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10, NIV).

Why is there so much evil in the world and why do so many people not have peace?

2. Sin separated you from God. Because people are sinful, they are cut off from God and his peace. The Bible teaches and human experience confirms that we are sinful:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).

We were created for fellowship with God, but that fellowship was broken when we sinned. Sin brought us spiritual death, sickness, physical death and turmoil:

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23, NIV).

No human accomplishment will give us peace with God. How do we become reconciled with God and experience his peace?

3. Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Jesus Christ is God's only provision to forgive our sin, set us free and give us love, peace and joy. Jesus died for us—he took our penalty of death:

7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us [italics mine] (Romans 5:7-8, NIV).

Christ is the only way to peace with God:

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6, NIV).

It is not enough to know that God loves us, that sin has cut us off from God and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

4. You must receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. The Bible states that,

12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:12-13, NIV).

We are saved by faith and not by our own works:

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so no one can boast.
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

If we choose to receive the truth about Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit will give us faith to trust him as our personal Savior. Then, when we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit will give us a spiritual rebirth. Jesus called this being born again:

7 You should not be surprised at my saying,`You must be born again' (John 3:7, NIV).

This is the most important experience that you will ever have. God will set you free and he will bring new life into your being. This new life will make you more like the Lord Jesus.

Christ stands at your heart's door, but you must open the door:

20 Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20, The Living Bible).

You can receive Christ in your heart right now. Pray this prayer from your heart:

Almighty God, I confess that I have sinned against you. I ask you to forgive me. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27, NASB).

Tell someone that you have accepted Christ as your Savior. Please email me and tell me the good news also.

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