What In Hell Do You Want?

GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION

(1 Corinthians 14:33)

Is it just me or does there seem to be much confusion today about whether Hell actually exists, and if it does, what its various names mean, what Hell is like, and who goes there? 

I believe the answer to these questions is “Yes,” so I have titled this Blog, “What In Hell Do You Want?”

So, if God is not the author of confusion, who is?  The answer is found in The Holy Bible:

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).  [Emphasis Added]

According to The Holy Bible:

1. Hell has many names and meanings;
2. Hell is described;
3. Who goes to Hell and Why is clarified so there is no place for confusion;

If you have visited my Blog seeking the Truth about Hell, I am glad that you have because the desire of my heart is to shed the Light of God’s Truth on erroneous beliefs and teachings regarding this and other confusing and controversial subjects.  Based on what The Bible says and the testimonies of eyewitnesses who died, went to Hell, and whom God allowed to return to warn people, I do not wish to see anyone go to hell … including myself.

Before proceeding, I wish to expose and refute three lies of Satan that have been published on the Internet:

1.   That God created hell for people.  In Truth, He created hell for the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41);

2.  That God sends people to hell.  The Truth is, with a lot of help from Satan, the Deceiver, people unwittingly send themselves to hell by willfully rejecting Jesus Christ as Savior (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9);

3.   That a literal place of eternal torment called Hell (sheol, hades, tartarus, gehenna, outer darkness, etc.) DOES NOT EXIST!  While I hate to burst anyone’s idealistic bubble, the Truth is that Satan, his demons and his human subjects (false prophets, teachers, etc.) are responsible for conceiving and spreading this lie!

All three lies contradict the Truth of God’s Word which references Hell over 130 times.  In addition, we must not overlook or devalue the personal testimonies of eyewitnesses who died, went to Hell, and were allowed and commissioned by God to return, to warn people that hell is REAL.  The fact that God has allowed these people to return and share their experiences testifies to how much He Loves us! 

Just because millions of people have bought into Satan’s lies (false doctrinal teachings) does not change the fact that Hell, an eternal place of torment, DOES EXIST!  Such people will come to believe in hell while they are alive and while they can be saved to keep from going there, or they will believe in hell after they die and find themselves there and can do nothing.  I cannot erase the following haunting image from my mind:  that when an unbeliever dies and goes to hell, Satan is waiting to welcome him grinning from ear-to-ear and gloating, “Gotcha!”  The real tragedy is that once a soul enters hell, there is no hope or way of escape (Luke 16:19-31).

THE HOLY BIBLE—

MAN’S ONLY SOURCE OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH

This is a good place to ask another relevant question:  WHAT IS TRUTH?  As a Christian and minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I can state with 100% confidence that my faith and convictions are founded and rooted in the Divine Revelation imparted by The Holy Spirit that The Holy Bible is indeed the written Word of God Almighty.  Since God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), the testimony of His Written Word constitutes irrefutable evidence that brings to a swift conclusion, every pathetic debate of fallible man that contradicts the Truth of God’s Word.  Why are unbelievers (non-Christians) unable to believe the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  The answer is:  Since the god of this world (Satan) has blinded their minds, “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18).” 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:19-21).

For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

THE BIBLE IS TO BE READ, STUDIED, RIGHTLY DIVIDED & REVERENCED

The Internet is being inundated with publications written by people that are unknowingly receiving insights and revelations from Satan.  They are also taking Scriptures out of context to support and promote their personal interpretations of The Bible.  Believing that they have received a great revelation from God, these people spread their deadly doctrines and heresies that pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  I am very concerned that millions of people are swallowing this garbage and being led astray from the Truth, just as the Apostle Paul was concerned when he wrote:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).

O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  (Galatians 3:1)

I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-8).

The Apostle Peter warned about “private interpretation” of the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:20).  Born-again Christians, as they READ, STUDY and MEDITATE the Word of God, are guided into all Truth by The Holy Spirit (John 16:13):

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received The Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

God takes His Word seriously, so much so that He included the following WARNING:

For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).

THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES MEN INTO ALL TRUTH

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you (John 16:13-14).

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me (John 15:26):

And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

SATAN IS THE FATHER OF LIES, FALSE DOCTRINES & HERESIES

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? even because you cannot hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the Truth, because there is no Truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the Truth, you believe Me not. Which of you convinces Me of sin? And if I say the Truth, why do you not believe Me? He that is of God hears God's Words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God (John 8:42-47).

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15).

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (Matthew 24:11).

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1).

As stated previously, the Internet is inundated with false doctrinal teachings and heresies.  One particular LIE that is spreading like wildfire is the heresy known as Universal Salvation, the idea that there is no such thing as eternal hell or annihilation and that ALL people go to Heaven when they die. 

If an unrepentant sinner who rejects Jesus Christ is allowed to enter into Heaven on the basis that he was a good person during life, this constitutes confusion and contradicts God’s Written Word.  If unbelievers are allowed into Heaven, then the Son of God died on Calvary’s cross in vain.  This devalues Jesus’ sacrifice and the purpose of His shed Blood which is to redeem mankind from the curse of spiritual death!  If unbelievers are allowed into Heaven, there would have been no reason for a Plan of Salvation or a Redeeming Savior since EVERYONE on planet Earth would go to Heaven when they die, including unrepentant murderers, pedophiles, etc.  

As previously stated, According to The Holy Bible:

1. Hell has many names and meanings;
2. Hell is described;
3. Who goes to Hell and Why is clarified so there is no place for confusion.

A study of the Hebrew and Greek texts is warranted to reveal the Truth about Hell!

1. HELL HAS MANY NAMES AND MEANINGS

The Biblical Differences Between The Names and Meanings of

Gehenna—Sheol/Hades—The Grave—Tartarus—Paradise

1. Gehenna (Grk) is mentioned 12 times in The Bible.  It translates as Hell and always references the Lake of Fire (Matthew 5:22,29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5; and James 3:6).  Gehenna is described as “furnace of fire” (Matthew 13:42); “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46); “the mist [gloom] of darkness” (2 Peter 2:17); the “hurt of the second death” (Revelation 2:11 cf. 20:6,14; 21:8); “a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 21:8) and the place of “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12; 25:30). 

Gehenna or the Lake of Fire or Hell is a literal place of everlasting fire that God originally created as a place of punishment for Satan (a created Archangel christened Lucifer) and the angels that followed him when he led a rebellion against God in Heaven (Matthew 25:41).  Gehenna is the future, or final, Hell because it is where all of the wicked from all ages will eventually end up.  Satan, his fallen angels, and all unsaved humanity will spend eternity there in torment, where “there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42). 

The Lake of Fire will one day hold an innumerable multitude, beginning with the Beast (Antichrist), and the False Prophet, who at the end of the Great Tribulation period, will be “cast alive into a lake burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:19-20).  Joining them will be the unsaved of the nations who survive the Great Tribulation (Matthew 25:31-32,41-46).  Also, when Jesus Christ returns to earth, the unsaved Israelites (unbelieving Jews) who survive the Great Tribulation and who will not be allowed entrance into the Millennial Kingdom, will join their Gentile counterparts in the “place of everlasting fire” (Ezekiel 20:33-38; Matthew 7:21-23; cf. Matthew 24:29-31,45-51).  Then, at the end of the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Satan will be “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).  Finally, the unsaved dead of all ages will be raised and judged at the Great White Throne by Jesus Christ and then cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

2. Sheol/Hades—The Old Testament Hebrew word Sheol is referenced in The Bible 65 times.  The Greek word Hades, referenced 11 times, is Sheol’s New Testament equivalent.  Both Sheol and Hades refer to the present hell which is a temporary place of torment where souls of the lost go to be tormented until the Great White Throne Judgment, when they will be resurrected and cast into the Lake of Fire.  The conversation which took place between the Rich Man and Lazarus occurred in Hades (Luke 16:19-31) and confirms that Hell is a place of eternal torment from which there is no relief or escape.
3. The Grave—Many people are being misled by an erroneous teaching that Sheol/Hades refers to the grave, which is giving them a false sense of security that a present Hell does not exist.  The common word for grave in the Old Testament is queber which is referenced 64 times and translates as “grave,” “sepulcher,” and “burying place.”  Consider the following differences between Sheol/Hades (Hell) and Queber (The Grave):

1.     Nowhere does The Bible say that a body goes to Sheol, but it does say a body goes to Queber;

2.      Sheol is never said to be located on the face of the earth, but Queber is;

3.      Man is never said to put anyone into Sheol, but rather into Queber. 

Additionally, Sheol cannot be a burial place, as shown in Genesis 37:26-36.  When Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, his brothers stained his coat with blood to deceive their father, Jacob, into believing that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.  Jacob, who would not be comforted by his sons and daughters, said, `for I will go down into the grave (Sheol) unto my son mourning’.  Thus his father wept for him” (v. 35).  Clearly, Queber (The Grave) and Sheol (Hell) are not the same thing, nor are they located in the same place. 

4. Tartarus (Grk) is mentioned one time by the Apostle Paul to reference “the angels that sinned” that God delivered to Sheol/Hades to await final judgment (2 Peter 2:4).
5. Paradise—was at one time located in Sheol/Hades, but is not presently.  Before the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Sheol/Hades was where everybody went when they died.  This place was divided into at least two sections; one was a place of torment while the other was a place of blessing, also called Abraham’s Bosom, as referenced in Luke 16:22-25.  Jesus Christ went ”into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9), or Sheol/Hades, where He spent three days and three nights while His body was in the grave (Matthew 12:40).  As Jesus hung on the cross, He told the penitent thief that he would soon join Him in Paradise, as recorded in Luke 23:42-43.  When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, He took the Abraham’s Bosom saints (who were in Paradise) into Heaven with Him.  We know that Paradise is now in Heaven because the Apostle Paul, who spoke of a man who was “caught up in paradise” where he “heard unspeakable words” (2 Corinthians 12:3-4).

2. HELL DESCRIBED

1.	A devouring fire and everlasting burnings	Isaiah 33:14
2.	A furnace of fire	Matthew 13:42
3.	A lake of fire	Revelation 19:20
4.	A place in the heart of the earth	Matthew 12:40
5.	A place in the lower parts of the earth	Ephesians 4:9
6.	A place of damnation (Gehenna)	Matthew 23:33
7.	A place of disembodied spirits (Hades)	Acts 2:31
8.	A place of everlasting punishment	Matthew 25:46
9.	A place of fire and brimstone	Revelation 14:10
10.	A place of outer darkness, of weeping and gnashing of teeth	Matthew 8:12
11.	A place of pains (Sheol)	Psalm 116:3
12.	A place of separation from the presence of God	2 Thessalonians 1:9
13.	A place of sorrows (Sheol)	Psalm 18:5
14.	A place of torment (Hades)	Luke 16:23
15.	A place of wailing and gnashing of teeth	Matthew 13:42,50
16.	A place originally prepared for the devil and his angels	Matthew 25:41
17.	A place that included Paradise	Luke 23:43
18.	A place where body and soul are destroyed (Gehenna)	Matthew 10:28
19.	A place where Hell and destruction are never full (Sheol)	Proverbs 27:20
20.	A place where Jesus Christ spent three days and three nights	Matthew 12:40
21.	A place where Jesus Christ’s soul was not left (Hades)	Acts 2:31
22.	A place where people there can see people in Heaven	Luke 16:23
23.	A place where punishment is eternal	Revelation 20:10
24.	A place where the angels that sinned were cast down (Tartarus)	2 Peter 2:4
25.	A place where the body and soul suffer (Gehenna)	Matthew 10:28
26.	A place where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched	Mark 9:44
27.	Has a mouth and enlarges itself (Sheol)	Isaiah 5:14
28.	The bottomless pit	Revelation 9:1-2

3. WHO GOES TO HELL AND WHY

1.	Abortionists	Proverbs 6:17; Ex. 20:13
2.	Abusers (emotional, mental, physical, sexual, spiritual, verbal)	Proverbs 18:21
3.	Abusers of animals, children, the elder and handicapped	2 Timothy 3:3; Matt. 18:6
4.	Abusers of themselves (addicts, self-mutilation)	1 Corin. 6:9-10; Rom. 6:16
5.	Adulterers	1 Corinthians 6:9-10
6.	Agnostics	John 8:19
7.	All who have not been “born again” spiritually	John 3:3; Titus 3:5
8.	All who reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord	John 14:6; Mark 16:16
9.	Angry people	Proverbs 29:22
10.	Arrogant, Boastful & Proud People	2 Timothy 3:2; Jude 1:16
11.	Atheists	Hebrews 11:6
12.	Backbiters, Gossipers & Slanderers	Romans 1:29-30
13.	Betrayers	Mark 13:12
14.	Bitter People	Hebrews 12:15
15.	Blasphemers	2 Timothy 3:2
16.	Christians who are spiritually lukewarm	Revelation 3:16
17.	Christians who disobey God’s Word and don’t repent	Matthew 7:21; James 1:22
18.	Christians who have a form of godliness but deny the power	2 Timothy 3:4
19.	Complainers	Jude 1:16
20.	Con Artists, Extortionists & Thieves	1 Corinthians 6:9-10
21.	Controllers, Dominators, Intimidators & Manipulators         (is the same as practicing witchcraft)	Galatians 5:20
22.	Corrupt Disputers of Perverse Things	1 Timothy 6:5
23.	Corrupters of the Word of God	2 Corinthians 2:17
24.	Coveters	1 Corinthians 6:9-10
25.	Cruel, Fierce & Heartless People	2 Timothy 3:3
26.	Cult Leaders & Their Followers	1 Timothy 4:1
27.	Deceivers	2 John 1:7
28.	Defiled	Hebrews 12:15
29.	Deniers of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son	1 John 2:22-23
30.	Despisers of Good	2 Timothy 3:3
31.	Disobedient & Disrespectful to Parents	2 Timothy 3:2
32.	Drunkards	1 Corinthians 6:9-10
33.	Effeminate People (Homosexuals, Lesbians and Transvestites)	1 Corin. 6:9-10; Mark 10:6 Rom.1:26-27
34.	Envious People	Galatians 5:21
35.	Evil-doers	John 5:29
36.	Evolutionists	Romans 1:25
37.	Exploiters & Victimizers	2 Timothy 3:6
38.	False Accusers & Witnesses	2 Timothy 3:3
39.	False christs	Matthew 24:24
40.	False Prophets	2 Peter 2:1
41.	False Teachers	2 Peter 2:1
42.	Fearful, Faithless People	Heb. 11:6; Revelation 21:8
43.	Fornicators (sex outside of marriage)	1 Corinthians 6:9-10
44.	Haters	Galatians 5:20
45.	Haters of God	Romans 1:30
46.	Heretics & Seditionists	Galatians 5:20
47.	Hypocrites	Matthew 23:13-33
48.	Idolaters (All who love things and people more than God)	1 Corinthians 6:9-10
49.	Lawless	1 Timothy 1:9
50.	Lewd & Obscene People	Galatians 5:19
51.	Liars	Revelation 21:8
52.	Lovers of money	Matthew 19:24
53.	Lovers of pleasure and sin more than lovers of God	2 Timothy 3:4
54.	Lovers of their own selves (Narcissistic and self-centered)	2 Timothy 3:2
55.	Mockers & Scoffers	2 Peter 3:3; Jude 1:18
56.	Murderers	Galatians 5:21
57.	Occult & Witchcraft Practitioners (mediums, witches, etc.)	Galatians 5:20
58.	People who commit evil deeds in secret	Mark 4:22; Ephesians 5:12
59.	Persecutors & Tormentors	Matthew 5:44
60.	Perverters of Justice	Isaiah 5:20; Proverbs 17:15
61.	Pimps & Prostitutes	John 8:1-11
62.	Pornographers	Mark 4:22; Ephesians 5:12
63.	Profane People	1 Timothy 1:9
64.	Rebellious People	1 Samuel 15:23
65.	Resisters of The Truth	2 Timothy 3:8
66.	Revelers & Revilers	1 Corinthians 6:9-10
67.	Satan-Worshippers	Matthew 4:9
68.	Seducers	1 Timothy 4:1
69.	Sexual Deviants & Perverts (bestiality, incest, pedophiles,         rapists, sex-traders, etc.)	1 Corinthians 5:1-5
70.	Shedders of Innocent Blood	Proverbs 6:17
71.	Sinners	1 Timothy 1:9
72.	Sowers of Discord and Strife	Proverbs 6:14,19
73.	The Beast, False Prophet and Satan	Revelation 19:20
74.	Traitors & Trucebreakers	2 Timothy 3:3
75.	Unbelievers	Revelation 21:8
76.	Unforgiving	Matthew 6:15
77.	Ungodly	1 Timothy 1:9
78.	Unholy	2 Timothy 3:2
79.	Unrepentant Sinners	Luke 13:3
80.	Unthankful	2 Timothy 3:2
81.	Whoremongers	Revelation 21:8
82.	Wife Beaters & Mutilators	Ephesians 5:25
83.	Willful, Unrepentant Sinners Outside & Inside The Church	Luke 13:3
84.	Without Natural Affection & Mercy	Romans 1:31
85.	Workers of Iniquity	Luke 13:27
86.	Worshippers of False gods and Religions	1 Corinthians 10:21

I Ask Again …

“WHAT IN HELL DO YOU WANT?”

Recommended Reading:

Baxter, Mary K. A Divine Revelation of Hell. New Kensington: Whitaker House, 1993. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/divine-revelation-of-hell-mary-k-baxter/1100623143?ean=9780883682791