An Inconvenient Truth

This earth is headed for a severe case to global warming.

May I begin with a sincere apology, as you probably have not been given this information before. It is a subject that many feel awkward and uncomfortable talking about, but one of the utmost importance. What you are about to read is information generally withheld by the establishment. It concerns your future, and the future of all mankind… 

Many alive today are on a path that leads to this place. In Hebrew it is called Sheol. In Greek it is called Hades and Gehenna. In English we know the place as ‘Hell’. At this stage I would like to ask you a question, and encourage you to pause and think for a while about what answer you would give. The question is: What is Hell, and what is it like? 

Obviously, Hell finds its origin in the Bible. Do you know what the Bible teaches about Hell, and does what the Bible teach about Hell match what you believe Hell is like? 

This may come as a surprise to you, but the Person in the Bible Who talked about Hell the most was none other than the Author of the doctrine Himself – Jesus Christ. He had a lot to say about Hell. He said that Hell is a real place and warned about the, “Danger of Hell fire” (Matthew 5:22). He taught that Hell is ruled by God. He said we should fear Him Who, “Is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). He also said that Hell is the domain of devils, a place of, “Everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). He also warned most soberly, that Hell will be the destiny of the wicked. He warned that the wicked, “Shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). 

Perhaps the most difficult and sobering passage in the Bible, Revelation 20:10-15, gives a graphic description of Judgment Day: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” 

This is the inconvenient truth that many Christians find hard to talk to people about. I commend you if you are not a Christian and you are still reading this message, as many will be offended at the thought of such a place, and have no doubt treated this leaflet with contempt. Please read on, as there is more you need to know and understand about Hell. 

Jesus described Hell in five ways. First, He described it as a place of darkness and separation. Those who go to Hell will be those to whom Jesus has said, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23). They are, “Cast out into outer darkness” (Matthew 22:13), and separated from God and those who will be saved: “He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” (Matthew 25:33). 

Second, He spoke of fire. Specifically, He spoke of, “the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:43). The Lake of Fire, which the Bible describes as the final destination of the wicked (Revelation 21:8), is described as the, “Smoke of their torment” that, “ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” (Revelation 14:11). In Mark 9:42-48, Jesus made some shocking statements. He said it would be better to choose to have your hand or foot cut off, or your eye gouged out in this life, than to go into Hell with both your eyes, hands, or feet. In the same passage He also said that it would be more preferable for you to be forcibly drowned in the sea than have to be cast alive into Hell (verse 42). Then of course we have the parable that Jesus gave in Luke 16:19-31. Even though Jesus gave this as a parable (or a story), He always spoke of real things when He gave His parables, not make-believe. Such was the torment of the rich man in Hell, that he cried out, “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” (verse 24).

Third, He described Hell as a place of, “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). Often during the American Civil War, when a soldier needed a leg amputated (without the use of anaesthetic) he would have to be pinned down and braced for the coming agony, and have a piece of wood put between his teeth for him to bite or ‘gnash’ on. Such would be the excruciating pain, that to stop him breaking his own teeth, they would give him a piece of wood to gnash on. “Weeping and gnashing of teeth” paints a frightening picture of what Hell will really be like. 

Fourth, He described Hell as a place of punishment. He described it as a place of, “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). The Bible describes a future day when, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Jude 7 talks of, “The vengeance of eternal fire.” 

Finally, He warned Hell would be a place of death and destruction. He warned the religious hypocrites in Luke 13:3 that, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”. The Bible teaches that the wicked will “perish”, or be “destroyed”, but in the light of the previous four aspects of Hell, we understand this death and destruction to be an everlasting death and an everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9). 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to end up in the Hell the Bible describes. Perhaps now you are wondering that if this place called Hell really exists – will you be going there? 

Do I qualify?

Here is a common statement. “Hell is for people like Hitler!” We tend to think of the worst examples of people that have lived and imagine they would rightly end up in Hell. After all, they did so much evil. Well, how much ‘evil’ do you have to do to qualify for Hell? You will be surprised at God’s standard: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) That’s right. Break one of God’s Laws, and you may as well have broken them all. Such is the perfect and uncompromising holiness of Almighty God. After all, how many laws do you have to break to be a lawbreaker? 

However, our lawbreaking goes deeper than breaking just one law. Let me ask you, how many lies do you think you have told in your life? How many times have you stolen? (Even small things in your youth, or late bill payments, wasting time at work, cheating on tests, failing to take library books back and so on, all of which qualify you as a thief). Do you covet, or constantly desire things that you do not have? Are you are never content with all that God has given you, but are instead always chasing a dream? (I want, I want, I want!) What about foul language and blasphemy? Do you use the Name of God Who gave you life as a curse Word? How many times have you broken the Lord’s Day (Sunday) by working, shopping, and the pursuit of the pleasures of this world. Anything and everything other than giving God (your Creator) the one day in seven He deserves. Have you always honoured your parents? Have you ever hated anyone? The Bible says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). That is God’s standard! The same with adultery. Jesus said: “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). 

This is the standard that will be brought against you on Judgment Day. How will you fare in God’s courtroom? Will you be found guilty? If you have the courage to admit your guilt, then realise that the place discussed earlier called Hell is the place where you are headed! Eternal Hell is God’s prison for criminals who have broken His Holy Law. 

How can I be saved?

God has every right to send us all to Hell. After all, we are all guilty! However, God did something amazing to save us from Hell. 2000 years ago, God the Son became a man, in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was God Almighty in the flesh. In His life, Jesus, “Was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was perfect! Yet He was crucified and punished even though He was innocent. How so? This is the key point you need to realise. Jesus was innocent, but punished for OUR crimes. God’s anger at our sin and lawlessness fell on His own Son. It’s like this: we broke God’s Law, but Jesus paid our fine! The Bible says: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). After three days in the tomb Jesus rose from the dead and defeated sin and death. 

What do I do?

Jesus said: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4). I would urge you to humbly confess all of your sin to Almighty God. Then, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). ‘Repent’ means to turn away from doing wrong and strive to do that which is right. Then simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). God gives you this promise if you do, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). My friend, I urge you to do this today. 

Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).