A Picture of Hell

In this our present generation, hardly anyone trembles at the Word of God, or even before God. We have become self-absorbed, a proud race, telling ourselves we don't need God. We no longer fear God, and in turn, have no respect for Him, glorying in our achievements and our own knowledge. We continue to bring God down to a more human level, an impersonal God.

We continue to turn from God, and from His Word. We allow ourselves to forget that "few will enter in", and for those that do not enter heaven, there is a place prepared for them. A place of final judgement and eternal home for the wicked and unsaved.

There is a difference between hell and the lake of fire. Hell is a place for the wicked dead, but the lake of fire is eternal, never-ending punishment. The wicked dead shall remain in hell, until the Great White Throne Judgement, when hell shall give up it's dead to be judged. Once judged, these wicked dead shall then be cast into the lake of fire.

The lake of fire will be filled with horrors that we can't imagine.

(1) Mt. 8:12 "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth".

A place outside the realm of all light, a place outside any hope of light. Imagine a place where there will never be even a glimmer of light, never, only total and complete darkness. A darkness where the sun is unknown, where the moon and stars never shine, a darkness prepared that is beyond the reach of any light.

(2) Mt. 13:42, 49-50. "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

I don't believe the physical pain that we can now experience, will compare to the pain of what those who miss heaven will be like. The mental pain alone will be unbearable, an insanity of which we can't imagine. An insanity that will be alive in each person, every day, for all of eternity. The "wailing" of minds living in a mental hell.

"...gnashing of teeth". I believe that this is speaks of the physical pain the lost will endure. Can you imagine the pain that will cause them to gnash their teeth? A pain so intense, so horrible, all they can do is gnash their teeth together. Filled with hopeless and rage, they grind their teeth on each other, suffering in the pain. Can you imagine an eternity of knowing you will never receive relief, that you are beyond hope?

(3) Mark 9:44. "Where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched".

It is here, that the horror of eternal punishment reaches an indescribable level. The words "the worm" means a maggot or grub which feeds on dead bodies. We are talking about tormented, dying bodies, now being invaded and eaten by worms that cannot die.

"...the fire is not quenched". A fire that is beyond anything known today by man. On earth, we only know of fires that consume, so they will go out when nothing is left to burn. Hell and the lake of fire are both unquenchable fires, fires that will never burn out or die. Fires that will burn for eternity, and burn at an indescribable temperature.

(4) Rev. 19:20. "...cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone".
Rev. 20:15. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Brimstone is defined as burning sulfur. A destructive chemical when it burns, and is terrible in its heat and terror. In its native form, sulfur is yellow, but it turns to red and them to black, as heat is applied. It boils at 445 degrees Fahrenheit, and comprises most of what is found in volcanoes. I don't think we can begin to imagine the horror of what this will be like.

Our generation must once more awaken to "thus saith the Lord", and turn back to God. Only in God, is there hope and only in Him will we find peace. It is time to once again, turn to a God that cannot fail. Until the next time.