1st Lesson: Hell: Is it real?

For some reason, hell is a touchy subject in Christianity now a days. I a recent Gallup Poll, 87% of Americans professed a belief in God, yet only 27% said they believed hell is real. Well first off, let me tell you straight up that hell is real. As Christians, we must believe it, because Jesus did. As a matter of fact, Jesus almost exclusively uses the most severe word for hell, Gehenna, in the New Testament. Lets start off by going over what the Bible says about hell.

The Bible uses four different terms that are translated hell in the King James Version. If you have a more modern version taken from the original scripture, such as the NIV, or the TNIV, it may be properly translated. They are:

Sheol-This is a Hebrew word meaning "hollow", or "deep" place. It can mean two different things, either simply "grave", or an actual existence beyond death, or after life. It is used 65 times in the Old Testament and can be translated hell 31 times (ie. Deut 32:22, PS 9:17), grave 31 times (Jon 7:9, 14:13) and pit 3 times. (Num 16:30, 33, Job 17:16). It can be simply defined as the "abode of the dead", and is the place where the dead, both righteous or evil, from before Christ dwell until the Resurrection.

Hades-Hades is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word sheol, with one exception. In the New Testament it was always the abode of the "wicked dead:.

Tartaros- This term is only used in scripture once, in 2 Peter2:4, describing where the fallen angels were cast down into. It is a Greek word meaning " the lowest level of the 9 levels of hell in Greek thought"

Gehenna- This is the hell we are most familiar with, the eternal resting place for Satan, his Angels, and all of those who reject Christ, at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ. This word is almost exclusively used by Jesus, and it originally meant the Valley of Hinnom, outside Jerusalem, where trash and those that were executed by the Romans and not considered worthy of burial was burned. It was a worm, and maggot filled area that would have smelled terrible.

Now, the hell we are talking about in this discussion, is the last one. The Bible says that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. For those of you that believe that Satan is in hell now, that is not biblically correct. Based on Job, Revelation 12:10, Satan is actively roaming the world, and even stands before God accusing believers. Satan angels are the ones that rebelled with him, and were cast out at the same time. How many are there? The Bible said he took a third of the angels in heaven with him. In Revelation 5:11, the "good" angels numbered "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." So if a third was cast out, that would be a whole bunch, as we say here in Kentucky. Some believe (as I do), that these are the demons mentioned in scripture, spirits that people see, and guides that "real" psychics and mediums use. These would also be those that "pose" as other Gods, such as in Wicca, Hindu, and others. They are powerful, but Praise God, not all powerful.

Hell is a place of darkness, and "weeping and gnashing of teeth". A place where the rich man cried in Luke 16:24, "have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." Not a place where I would want to be. For, contrary to what some denominations teach, the Bible says that there is no coming back in the same story. A great gulf, where none can pass from one to the other.

I have went and made this long, haven't I? You have to watch us preachers, we are bad to do that, ha.

So, in wrapping up, is hell real? Does God really send people there? If you take the Scriptures as the very Word of God, (which as a Christian, you should) and believe it to be true, then it is pretty cut and dried: Yes, it is very real! If you are what I call a "selective" Christian, or a "convenient" Christian (this means you believe what is easy for you, or what you agree with, or what you want, and what you don't agree with you throw out the window), then this may be a sticking point for you. Jesus teaches that there will be lots of people that claim Him, prophesy in His Name, and worked in His name would be sent to hell, because He "knows them not", and that everyone that says "Lord, Lord" will not enter into His kingdom. If you don't make it into His kingdom, there is only one other place for you to go. And for those that do not believe, stop for a second.......look around you......listen to the birds.........get real still, and listen to your own breathing......don't worry, we'll wait....hear your heart beat. Do you really think that is all a "mistake" of a monkeys genes? Have you ever seen a monkey jump out of a tree and say "hey, you humans are making it, we are almost extinct, so we are going to evolve into you"?

So now the question I get asked more than any other. How can a loving God, who the bible says "God is Love", and that He "is not willing any to perish" send one of His creations to a place of torment, like hell?

Here is the answer so many cannot come up with. memorize it, for it is a great witnessing tool.

It is true that our God is a loving God. He is Almighty, the Alpha and Omega. He spoke the world into existence. And His love for us is so great that He would send His son to die in our place, so we could be with Him. If He loved us that much, how could He send us to Hell.

God is Love!......But God is also Holy. And Him being Holy, sin can have no presence with Him. He cannot bear to look at it. That is why He had to turn away when Jesus was on the cross, for the sins of the entire world (your too) were upon Him. And we, no matter how hard we try, can never be truly Holy. We may follow as many commandments, follow all the rules our churches place on us, attend church every time the door opens, give thousands of dollars to charity, but we still wouldn't be good enough. We are destined for destruction.

But cheer up friend, this Holy, Awesome God has made a provision for us!!!! Yes, we can never be good enough, but His Son was!! And Jesus said all that know Him, would know the Father. The way to avoid hell, and be able to stand before God unashamed is Jesus. You see, Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man cometh to the Father except through Me".

Man that makes me want to shout!!! When you come to know Jesus (not know about Him, but truly know Him), He stands in for you by covering you with His precious blood. So when God sees you, he sees His provision, not the sinful person we really are. We are all sinners...saved by Grace.

Whew, this is long. Hopefully the next one will be shorter. I plan to talk about "being saved", what does it mean, etc. But, it will be shorter. If you are not saved, and would like to know how, e-mail me. If you want to avoid hell, I cannot save you, but I know a Man who can!

Until next time, remember friends, that God loves you. He cares for you. And He has made Provision for you!!

Jesse