Does Hell Exist?

Hi all. This post was inspired by Sophie's which said that there was no hell. I think we all need to take this very calmly. Now there is indeed a lot of misunderstanding on the subject. But what I will shortly present is what the Bible teaches.

1. Hell DOES exist.

2. Hell DOES NOT burn forever.

These subjects, and mostly the second one is VERY controversial. There is a hell that will DESTROY the wicked by fire. There will be fire and such on. But the only thing ETERNAL about hell is its effects. To believe in the eternity of the wicked in hell, one must believe that man's soul is immortal, and that is not the case. That leads into a whole different subject. I thought that I'd share these thoughts to help clear up the misunderstanding.

Almighty God be with you all.

Common there is nothing controversial here, only it is what you believe in. Bible says it is an everlasting fire, so for me it is no controversial matter.

I am using Daniel's article here:

2 Peter 2:4-5 says, "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment."

Mark 9:46 describes hell as: "Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched."

Matthew 8:12 says, "But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Isaiah 66:24 reads: "And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind."

Daniel 12:2 describes the duration of hell: "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt."

Luke 16:22-24 uses a parable to describe hell: "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So 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.'"

Luke 12:5 says, "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."

Mark 9:47 says, "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell."

Matthew 23:33 reads: "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"

Revelation 19:20 talks about the fiery lake: "But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."

Is Hell mentioned in the Bible

OK I see that there is misunderstanding. Lets settle it once and for all.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT ALL.

This IS a controversial subject, but I will make my position clear. Now this subject required close examination, because some texts appear to be contradictory. In Matthew 25:41 Jesus warned that unsaved sinners will enter the "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Many read this and say, "That settles it for me! The lost will sizzle forever. Don't even try to convince me other wise. Yet Jesus Christ also declared, "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."

Another example of APPARENT contradiction is the fate of Lucifer himself. Revelation says that "the devil," along with "the beast," will be "tormented day and night forever and ever" in the lake of fire. Rev.20:10. Some respond, "There's more proof! Satan will never cease frying like an egg in a skillet!" Yet Ezekiel chapter 28 reveals a different picture. Originally discussing the ancient "king of Tyre" (Ezek.28:12), God's prophet then looks behind the scenes and identifies Lucifer himself. "The anointed cherub." God declares, "I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you...you have become a horror and shall be no more forever." Ezekiel 28:18,19. So which one is it? Will Lucifer be "tormented day and night" throughout the endless ages or will he be ashes and "no more forever?"

David wrote about the fate of the unsaved as well:
"As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence of God." Psalms 68:2.
"For yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more." Ps.37:10.
"The enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadow, shall vanish, into smoke they shall vanish away." Ps.37:20.

John the Baptist proclaimed about the Messiah:
"He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matt.3:12

Paul wrote about those who "obeyed not the Gospel" :
"These shall be punished with everlasting destruction." 2 Thess.1:9.

OK now let’s take a close look at the book of Jude, right before Revelation. At the beginning of his letter, Jude urged Christians to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (verse 3). Next he warned of “certain men” who were planting false doctrines inside the early church (see verse 4). In verses 5 and 6, Jude warned of the consequences of being led astray. Then he warned about “the vengeance of eternal fire” (verse 7). This is what we must examine, humbly and reverently.
Here’s the entire verse:
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, 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.” (Jude 7)
Notice carefully: it was the physical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that “suffered the vengeance of eternal fire,” not just the people. In addition, their punishment is “set forth as an example” of what will happen to the unsaved. In 2 Peter, we find an almost identical verse, yet Peter inserts one tiny, significant detail. Look closely:
“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto all those that after should live ungodly.” (2 Peter 2:6, italics added).
What was the net result of that “eternal fire” which fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah ? Those cities became ashes. But that’s not all. Describing “the punishment of the sin of Sodom,” Jeremiah said that those evil cities were “overthrown as in a moment” (Lamentations 4:6, italics added). Now put the pieces together. By comparing Jude 7 and 2 Peter 2:6 with Lamentations 4:6, we discover plainly that the “the vengeance of eternal fire” was so incredibly hot that it reduced Sodom and Gomorrah “into ashes” in “a moment” of time. Now think about it. Are Sodom and Gomorrah still destroyed? Yes. But are they burning now? Obviously not. Then what does “eternal fire” mean? By comparing Scripture with Scripture, it means that the fire came from God and that the punishment lasts forever, not the flames. And again, both Jude and Peter called this punishment “an example” of what will happen to all the lost.

In addition to Jesus Christ, Jude, and Paul, John the Baptist also warned about “unquenchable fire” engulfing the unredeemed. On the surface, one might assume John was referring to ceaselessly burning flames. But he wasn’t. Calling the saved “wheat” and the lost “chaff,” the wilderness prophet announced that God’s Messiah would “thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12, italics added). Thus “unquenchable fire” isn’t fire that burns forever, but fire that can’t be snuffed out by man. It burns up the chaff until there is nothing left.

Thats it for now. Thank you for reading and let us be humble and put all preconceived ideas away, even though it may be hard.

A site that helped: http://www.thetruthabouthell.org/

God bless!

Really your reply is pathetic and mislead others. You quoted Jude and 2 Peter but I think you forgot to read the warning that holds true for you.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 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; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (2 Peter 2:1-7)

Surely your article and your stance does prove one thing that Peter said, "damnable heresies". Therefore, your heresy is mere satan's deception and nothing else. I have already answered your question in the article titled Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth: What is the Truth?

God bless you and your family

-

Common, you are a False Teacher because what I read in the Bible is:

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

In the book of Isaiah, it is said, that "the worm of those that have transgressed God’s law, and die impenitently, shall not die, nor their fire be quenched." The Apostle Jude tells us of the profane despisers of dignities in his days, that "for them was reserved the blackness of darkness forever." And in the book of the Revelation, it is written, that "the smoke of
the torments of the wicked ascendeth for ever and ever."

Consider this!
And if we believe the witness of men inspired, the witness of the Son of God, who had the Spirit given him, as Mediator, without measure, is still far greater: and in St. Mark’s gospel, He repeats this solemn declaration three several times, It is better for thee to enter into life maimed;" that is, it is better to forego the gratification of thy lust, or incur the displeasure of a friend, which may be as dear to thee as a hand, or as useful as a foot, "than having two hands and feet, (that is, for indulging the one, or disobeying God to oblige the other) to be cast into hell, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched"…

I hope and pray that you got the answer.

Hallelujah! False teachers always fall to pieces before the God and so it will be in hell forever and ever.