Welcome! Yes, we know that you have seen the cartoons of hell, a cavern with flames leaping from behind rocks, filled with people
guarded by a devil (complete with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. Sorry, you have been misled. Before we get started
on your tour, we would like to clear up a few misconceptions you may have. That will make your tour more.....informative.
Satan (the devil)is not in charge of hell. On the day he is cast into hell,
he will be just like everyone else there.
Hell is not an "anti-heaven"
set up for the pleasure of those who reject God's rulles. It is a place of constant punishment where every inhabitant
will suffer. Matthew 13:42
Have you ever heard the phrase? "I would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven!"
Nobody in hell will reign over anything or anyone.
Yes, it is gloomy and dark
here, in spite of the agonizing heat and flames. You know, a clean burning fire does not put out much light.
THE REASON FOR
HELL
Oh, you don't
know the reason for the existence of hell? Well, you can learn that from theBible...... and yes, we do believe in the Bible. After all, it has
been proven correct throughout history hasn't it? If you wanted to find out more, you should have checked out the
Clarifying Christianity page entitled "How Do You Know The Bible Is True?" when you were still on Earth and a live. Oh well, if you
have not read it, let me fill you in. A few passages will tell you what you need to know.
Passage 1 - "Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and
his angels."Mathew 25:41
Notice that these people are
being made to go into an everlasting fire actually prepared for others - the devil and "his angels." We understand
from other Bible text that all the people who go to hell actually chose to go there and share the the devil's punishment.
Some people are surprised to learn that some of the angels will be going to hell.
Passage
2 - "For if God spared not
the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
2 Peter 2:4
It makes more sense if you know
that the devil was originally an angel known as Lucifer.Isaiah 14:12 In fact, he believed himself to be the strongest of the angels.
Because of his pride, he rebelled against God and a third of the angels joined him in that rebellion. Ezekial 28:1-19 After the rebellion, Lucifer had a name change and is
now known as Satan. This is true for the devil's angels also, who are now called demons. The original Greek
word translated "hell" is tartarow (Tartarus) - the only time this word is used in the Bible. So you now
understand that angels do sin, and that some of them are being held right now in Hell awaiting judgment for their actions
(sins) against God.
Passage 3 - "It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing
good than for doing evil. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; by which also he went and preached uto the spirits
in prison; Which sometime were disobendient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark
was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you
also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." 1 Peter 3:17-22
Notice in verse 19 how
"He (Jesus Christ) preached to the "spirits in prison?" Those spirits are the sinning angels in Tartarus.
This text also adds one more piece to the puzzle - these angels sinned during the days of Noah. You may have noticed
that it said the same thing in 2 Peter 2:5, but it was not as obvious there. Since we know that Satan is free now, along
with many of his demons, we know that the "spirits in prison" did not end up in Tartarus because of the rebellion
Satan led in heaven. They are being held in Tartarus because of a different rebellion that took place in the days of
Noah. That is, they were imprisoned earlier than the rest of the demons for taking part in a second rebellion.
Passage 4: Jude 1:6-7And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hadth reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even
as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange
flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
We find out that these angels originally had positions of responsibility
(a domain). Then they left their own abode (heaven) and gave themselves over to sexual immorality like the inhabitants
of Sodom and Gomorrah. We also learn that they will be judged and receive punishment (vengeance) by fire in a manner
similar to that received by Sodom and Gomorrah. It should clear by now that the devil and his angels have had punishment
coming for a long time - and some, but not all of them, have already been imprisoned in the portion of hell called Tartaroo,
waiting for that punishment. Satan will also be imprisoned before he ends up in hell.
Passage
5: Revelation 20:1-2 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,
and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed
a little season.
The original Greek word here is abussoV (abussos), which some Bibles call the Abyss.
Satan and his demonshave punishment coming and we know God will
prepare a punishment of fire for them - nothing remotely closed to what rained on Sodom and Gomorrah - hotter - like hell,
think of hell as the temperature of our Sun, (The Sun's outer visible layer is called the photosphere and has a temperature
of 6,000°C (11,000°F).)
Passage 6: Revelation 20:7-15 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, God and Magog, to gather them together
to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breath of the earth, and compassed
the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And
the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and
shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 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.
Did you notice how "Death and Hell" are personified starting in verse 13? They both "delivered
up the dead who were in them." It is as though death and hell swallow people. Notice how death, hell, and
everyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life get thrown into the same hell that Satan and his demons deserve.
There you have it - how people end up in hell. Although hell is an awful place not meant or designed for people, most
people choose to go there.
Actually, YOU choose to go to hell by not choosing
to go to heaven! That is:
You can
choose to get your life and soul right with God through Jesus Christ and spend eternity in heaven.
or
YOU can
continue to live as you like in sin and away from God and spend eternity in hell. By the way, you cannot continue
to live in sin (against the will and laws of God) and call yourself a Christian. Here is what continuing to live
in sin looks like and where it WILL take YOU:
Passage 7: Luke 16:19-31 19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen
and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and
longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22"The time came when the beggar died and the
angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell,[a] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called
to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because
I am in agony in this fire.' 25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime
you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And
besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor
can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus
to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place
of torment.' 29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30"
'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31"He
said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'
"
Here is how it works. When YOU accept Jesus
Christ as YOUR personal Savior (This is the only way to be saved, there is no other way).
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6) YOUR name is written in the Book of Life. OK how
does this happen:
And
they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever
unto them throughout their generations.
And
his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were
taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those
that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?
When
the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word,
and healed all that were sick:
And
when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out
of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that
And
the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub,
and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. no man might pass by that way.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)
2). Be willing to turn from sin (repent).
Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
(Luke 13:5)
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every
where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)
3). Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.
"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)
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ
died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)
4).
Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
What to pray:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood
and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should:
1).
Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)
2). Talk to God in prayer every day.
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)
3). Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and
serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)
4). Tell others about Christ.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature." (Mark 16:15)
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid
upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
Faith Temple Church Of God In Christ * 7158 South Peoria Street * Chicago, Illinois
* US * 60621
If you have a spiritual need and wish prayer, please feel free to contact us @
773-846-3127 or 773-846-8700. You may also email us @ faithtemple71@sbcglobal.com.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR SITE. MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.