"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." —2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9
The Bible, God's holy Word, teaches that there is a literal place called
Hell, which burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur). Most theologians agree
that Hell is located somewhere in the heart of the earth, evidenced by
numerous Biblical references; such as:
Psalms:55:15 — “...and let them go down quick into hell...”
Ezekiel 31:17 — “They also went down into hell...”
Amos 9:2 — “Though they dig into hell...”Psalm 11:6 — “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.”
Wicked Herod had John the Baptist beheaded. Herod's sister-in-law had John martyred for preaching against her adultery with Herod. What do you think God is going to do to Herod's brother's wife in Hell? The Bible teaches that God will put the most wicked people into the hottest parts of Hell...
Deuteronomy 32:15 and 22, “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. ... For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
Notice the words, “and shall burn unto the lowest hell.” We are all blessed of God, saved and unsaved alike. Luke 6:35b says that God is “kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” But God's mercy will end the very moment that a sinner dies in their sins without Jesus Christ.
So many people today have been misled by false prophets to believe that a God of love would never send anyone to a place of eternal punishment and torment. Yet we see suffering all around the world, horrible suffering, and no relief for millions of people. Sin is the culprit. Jesus plainly stated that, “...the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). If you believe in God, then you should definitely believe in the Bible, His Word, and take heed to the teachings therein. It is tragic that so many people who profess to believe in God and the Bible, outright reject the plain Scriptural teachings of judgment, damnation and eternal punishment . . . “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Are you really willing to take a chance that God didn't mean what He said?
Here is an excellent quote from the mighty man of God, Dr. Lee Roberson, concerning eternal punishment . . .
“Somebody says, 'The thought of Hell is so horrible.' Well, my friend, so is cancer, so is tuberculosis, so is the grave. Someone said, 'I believe sin ought to be punished, but not for eternity.' That's your view, not God's.
Again another says, 'I don't believe in the wrath of God.' Then you don't believe your Bible. The Bible says the wrath of God abideth on the one who doesn't believe in Jesus Christ. He is lost forever.
Now, these things come to us out of the Word of God. The teaching of eternal punishment should give us a hatred for sin. We ought to hate sin. The reason we have changed so much in this day in all of our churches is that we are not hearing much on this subject. Therefore, we endorse sin. We engage in sin. We camouflage the sin in our lives and allow things to go by, instead of hating sin as God wants us to hate sin . . .
The teaching of eternal punishment should give us a passion for the souls of men.”
SOURCE: Dr. Lee Roberson, from the book, Disturbing Questions... Solid Answers, chapter 16, pgs. 196-198; copyright, Sword of the Lord publishers, 1978
I recently visited a Baptist church. I was saddened by what I saw. They used the New International Version [NIV] of the Bible, which is a perverted version. To no surprise, the church had adopted a Lordship Salvation stance on the Gospel, as do nearly ALL NIV churches. The pastor's sermon was weak, lacking substance and it was obvious he didn't want to offend any Catholics in his service. His sermon was about the Gospel, i.e., the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The church is located in a highly Catholic area. The problem with the pastor's message is that every Catholic believes that Jesus died, was buried and rose again. Yet, they're all going to Hell because they've ADDED good works, keeping the Sacraments, praying the Rosary, water baptism and church membership to their faith. It's high time for America's preachers to start exposing Catholicism for what is truly is—a prisonhouse of false religion!
All across the world, churches no longer warn
lost sinners about the coming divine judgment against sin—of the eternal
damnation promised to those who die in their sins without Christ (Romans
1:32; Revelation 21:8). Eternal damnation is a very unpopular teaching in
today's apostate, intolerant and politically correct society. God makes no
apologies for His Word and neither should we. The Bible wasn't written to
cater to the political agendas of our day. Homosexuality is just as much a
sin today as it was 4,000 years ago. Abortion is just as much a sin today as
it was 4,000 years ago. Witchcraft is as much a sin today as it was 4,000
years ago. God hasn't changed. The Bible hasn't changed. It is sinful men
who have changed for the worse.
The Biblical doctrine of eternal punishment may not be very popular today, but it is God's Word nonetheless. Those who obey the Gospel will be safe, just as Noah moved with fear in building the ark . . . “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Oh, listen my friend, the thought of eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire should scare you deeply. You have every reason to be afraid, greatly afraid. It is a horrifying thought. Think about it for a moment . . . burning in the fires of Hell, separated from Jesus and all your family, being lonely and disappointed for all eternity, knowing that you could have went to Heaven FOR FREE if you'd only trusted upon Jesus Christ and the blood that He sacrificed for your sins . . . “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
You Need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. I beg you, don't wait another minute. Cry out to God now whoever you may be. Acknowledge your guilt of sin. Own up to God that you are a horrible sinner, guilty, and without excuse. Turn to the Lord by faith and trust upon Him in your heart to forgive your sins, place all your confidence in Christ because of His work of redemption, and allow the blood of Jesus to cleanse away your sins, “. . . and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Amen!
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man...” —Colossians 1:27-28
