“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

In the women’s study that I attend, we are studying the book of Luke. We are in Chapter 3, which is the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry. As people begin to come to him for baptism he says to them “you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” This is the very first time that we see John speaking to people during his ministry. Then, in verse 9 he tells them “The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” This is his way of saying that there is a fiery judgement awaiting those who are not serving God and producing spiritual fruit.

John the Baptist spoke quite a Hell fire and brimstone message, but it was the one that he was called to give. He was convicting people of their sin and preparing the way for Jesus and redemption.

Unfortunately in this day and age, we do not typically hear sermons or teachings on Hell. People do not want to be convicted of their sin or reminded of the coming judgement, so the modern day church has watered down the truth.

In preparing for this blog, I was shocked to find that the number of times that the word Hell actually appears in the text of various, modern day translations of the bible diminishes more and more with each new translation – King James – 54; New King James 32; New Living Translation 17; English Standard Version – 14; New International Version – 13.

I should not have been shocked however, as this is exactly what the scriptures say will happen “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 2 Timothy 4:3.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to share a message similar to John the Baptist, but to do that we need to know what the scripture says about Hell. So, lets look…

“This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:49-50

“and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10

“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Revelation 14:11

“And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.” Luke 16:25

Hell will be a place of spiritual (because we are separated from God), emotional (because we are separated from family), and physical (because of the lake of fire that awaits) torments.

And as abysmal as all of this sounds, God still desires that none should perish…”For God so loved the world that who so ever believes in Him will not perish, but have ever lasting life.” John 3:16; The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

Once we die, we will each have a one way ticket somewhere, either Heaven or Hell. But we get to choose our destination. You see, God wants us all in heaven with Him. But, those who will be in Hell have chosen Hell, by rejecting the only one who could save them and who already paid the price – Jesus Christ.

My question to those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ is, are you so secure in your own salvation and the fact that Hell is no longer a threat to you that you have grown complacent in telling others about the one who can save them from Hell? Those around you, friends, neighbors, family member all need to hear that Hell doesn’t have to be their destination and it isn’t what God desires for them. Will you tell them, or will you (wrapped safely in your heavenly eternity blanket) sit idley by and watch the world and those you love and care about literally going to Hell? What is the worst that can happen, they get mad at you? Who are you trying to please, them or God? Galatians 1:10 – Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or an I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Aren’t their eternal souls more important than whether they are mad at you or not?

I pray that today we would be more motivated than ever to tell those around us about the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. I pray that we would be hungry to share our savior with those around us and desire that He would rescue them from the torment that awaits those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you are not sure where you are going or you are pretty sure you know that you are going to hell, but think that you are too bad to be forgiven. I was once you! John 3:17 was the verse that God used to tell me that it wasn’t too late for me…For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Jesus didn’t come to condemn you, He came to rescue you. He LOVES YOU and wants a personal relationship with you…please, please, go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. I so desperately want to spend eternity in Heaven with you!! Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know, so that I can be in prayer for you. If you have questions or just want to chat, reach out to me!

Luv ya!