Terrifying. Horrifying. I instinctively want to find a way out. Many Christians do. They claim to believe the writings of the men who wrote about the resurrection and miracles but can't accept what they wrote about judgment day. "It is appointed once to die and then the judgment". Christ said "there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth...outer darkness".
I do know this but not much more. I am not a good person by nature. Never was. As self serving as it gets. Made my own rules. Took pleasure in taking pleasure. If there is a Holy and righteous God I am guilty of violating his very nature. I arrived at this understanding late in life.
It is only since then that I have been able to look at myself without blinders. I at least now understand that I would certainly not be qualified to sit among righteous and holy beings. Something would have to be done and I couldn't do it myself. That would be like standing in a bucket and trying to lift myself off the ground. But Christ did something. He forgave my sins. I asked Him to do that and he did. Forever. The proof was, and there are numerous scriptures attesting to this, my spirit was made alive and aware of a change in my nature. Have you ever thought about being possessed? It's real. Spirit beings can possess your soul. Mine is possessed by the Holy Spirit. It's like having a stern and loving father watching over you every second of your life.
So I accept the doctrine of Hell because Christianity has proved itself true to me in so many other ways. Ways I can confirm. Every once in a while I find it necessary to say something about Hell. As a warning. Makes me very unpopular with certain people. As if I'm condemning them. Nope. Just telling them what it says.
Jesus talked more about hell than he did about heaven. This is the clearest account of hell.
(Luke 16:19-31 NIV) "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. {20} At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores {21} and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. {22} "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. {23} In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. {24} 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.' {25} "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. {26} And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' {27} "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, {28} for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' {29} "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' {30} "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' {31} "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
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