There are many today who say they are Christians but refuse to believe the Bible when it does not suit them. However, since the Bible is the Word of God, we must take all things stated therein as divine revelation -- “Gospel truth”.
While the subject of eternal damnation in Hell is unpleasant, it must be faced by absolutely everyone. The primary reason for the preaching of the Gospel is to save sinners from Hell. Otherwise Scripture would not say “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...” (1 Tim 1:15). In view of the danger and jeopardy of Hell, God now commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 17:30;16:31).
The Bible does in fact warn sinners over and over again about the wrath of God and eternal damnation and torment in Hell. There is no such thing as sinners ceasing to exist (as falsely taught by Annihilationists). That is what Satan would have people believe.
It is unfortunate that the King James translators translated three different Greek words (Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus) by the same English word “hell”, and then compounded the confusion by translating the Hebrew word Sheol as “the grave” or “hell”, when Sheol is the same as Hades (the abode of departed souls and spirits). But only the Greek word Gehenna is used for eternal Hell -- the Lake of Fire -- “where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth”, and “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched”.
It is primarily the Lord Jesus Christ who spoke of Gehenna (Hell) since He is the one who created Hell for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:41), where it is called “everlasting fire” because it is for the eternal torment of the devil, the beast, and the false prophet (Rev 20:10). The Scriptures in which He mentioned Gehenna are Matthew 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:8.9; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,45,47; and Luke 12:4,5. James 3:6 has the same word. All the other times the word “hell” occurs in the New Testament, it is a reference to Hades (other than once to Tartarus). Hades is a precursor to Gehenna. The Lake of Fire is only mentioned in the book of Revelation (19:20; 20:10.14,15), and it is the same as Gehenna.
Christ’s warnings about the eternal damnation of Hell
The Lord Jesus Christ (along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit) is the only ones who can tell us the truth about Hell. Therefore we are to give serious attention to what He has said.
The jeopardy of Hell is even in what we say
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: 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. (Mt 5:22)
Physical mutilation and death are preferable to Hell
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell... 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... Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 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. (Mt 5:29,30;10:28; 18:8,9)
Anything other the the Gospel is a guarantee of Hell
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Mt 23:15)
Hell is synonymous with damnation
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Mt 23:33)
The fire and torment of Hell never cease
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mk 9:43-48) [Note: the “worm” is a metaphor for torment, just as worms gnawing on a live person’s body would be constant torment).
The reality of Hell should put the fear of God into every soul
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Lk 12:4,5).
While the subject of eternal damnation in Hell is unpleasant, it must be faced by absolutely everyone. The primary reason for the preaching of the Gospel is to save sinners from Hell. Otherwise Scripture would not say “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...” (1 Tim 1:15). In view of the danger and jeopardy of Hell, God now commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 17:30;16:31).
The Bible does in fact warn sinners over and over again about the wrath of God and eternal damnation and torment in Hell. There is no such thing as sinners ceasing to exist (as falsely taught by Annihilationists). That is what Satan would have people believe.
It is unfortunate that the King James translators translated three different Greek words (Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus) by the same English word “hell”, and then compounded the confusion by translating the Hebrew word Sheol as “the grave” or “hell”, when Sheol is the same as Hades (the abode of departed souls and spirits). But only the Greek word Gehenna is used for eternal Hell -- the Lake of Fire -- “where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth”, and “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched”.
It is primarily the Lord Jesus Christ who spoke of Gehenna (Hell) since He is the one who created Hell for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:41), where it is called “everlasting fire” because it is for the eternal torment of the devil, the beast, and the false prophet (Rev 20:10). The Scriptures in which He mentioned Gehenna are Matthew 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:8.9; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,45,47; and Luke 12:4,5. James 3:6 has the same word. All the other times the word “hell” occurs in the New Testament, it is a reference to Hades (other than once to Tartarus). Hades is a precursor to Gehenna. The Lake of Fire is only mentioned in the book of Revelation (19:20; 20:10.14,15), and it is the same as Gehenna.
Christ’s warnings about the eternal damnation of Hell
The Lord Jesus Christ (along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit) is the only ones who can tell us the truth about Hell. Therefore we are to give serious attention to what He has said.
The jeopardy of Hell is even in what we say
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: 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. (Mt 5:22)
Physical mutilation and death are preferable to Hell
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell... 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... Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 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. (Mt 5:29,30;10:28; 18:8,9)
Anything other the the Gospel is a guarantee of Hell
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Mt 23:15)
Hell is synonymous with damnation
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Mt 23:33)
The fire and torment of Hell never cease
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mk 9:43-48) [Note: the “worm” is a metaphor for torment, just as worms gnawing on a live person’s body would be constant torment).
The reality of Hell should put the fear of God into every soul
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Lk 12:4,5).
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