KEY SCRIPTURE: Matt 10:28 KJV “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Hell is a topic most people are not very comfortable with. Some people make fun of it, saying that, it is just a religious idea to control and condition the adherents. Anyone who trivialises it is toying with a matter which is very serious and also very fearful. You would do yourself a great deal of good to have an open mind to these matters.

The Lord Jesus made lots of references to hell in His days of ministry. The word hell has a Hebrew translation and Greek as well. The Hebrew word for hell was Sheol. It had the following meanings. Underworld, grave, pit, and hell. It also had the following meanings: a place of no return, where the wicked are sent for punishment, and the righteous are not abandoned to it.

In the ancient or New Testament Greek. The word hell had two words being used for it. They are Gehenna and Hades. The term Gehenna although has come to be accepted as future punishment for all the rebellious, was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. The filth and dead animals were cast there and burnt. Some teach that this is all that hell is about, a damping place where the whole thing is burnt.

The other word for hell was Hades. It is called the place of departed souls, grave, or hell.

In the various words used for hell, we see that they all portray the following meaning, grave, a place of punishment for the wicked, or a place for departed souls.

What did the Lord say about hell?

We would consider a number of scriptures that the Lord made a number of references about hell. Matt 5:22 KJV ….. and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” The Lord says whosoever tells his brother or neighbour, thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire. To say one is a fool is a negative judgment and that put you in danger of hellfire. Hell in this context is not a grave but a place where the individual would be conscious of the fire. The very next verse admonishes us to make sure we bear no offenses, grudges, or any quarrel with others, so long as we claim to worship the Lord. The unresolved offense can lead you to hell if you die in that state.

We consider another reference the Lord made about hell. Matt 18:9 KJV And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

The Lord talked about life, which refers to living in glory. Hell in this verse also refers to living after death.

Dear one, may you not wave off these statements as ordinary religious statements. To be continued

CONFESSION

Father, I receive your word with every sense of submission. I will always act in obedience to your word, so my future destination would be guaranteed.

THOUGHT: IT IS SAFER TO ACCEPT THE REALITY OF HELL.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 5:14 KJV” Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”

Prov 5:5 KJV Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.