Survey of Hell

i had a though cross my mind the other day as i was restocking the shelves at the bookstore. many of the books that are out today are centered on God's grace and love, and many of them do not temper the love with the wrath. My question is not meant to be a shot at anyone, i simply am curious.When was the last time in your local church, that you hard a message regaurding hell? A message even menitioning hell (as a real place not as a circumstance)? thanks/

many of the books that are out today are centered on God's grace and love, and many of them do not temper the love with the wrathIt would seem like there is also very little material on God's judgments which I view as God's early warning systems - ways to alert mankind to the reality of eternal judgment. I view present judgments as God's way of drawing people to himself - and that is LOVE in the hightest degree (not merely tempered love). It is God's way of helping us avoid the final no-second-chance judgment - hell. It is too bad that we are "not allowed" to interpret the events in our world, or various experiences as judgments sent or allowed by God. People assume that God's judgment (his wrath) and his love are two opposites. So we adopt a new verson of Christianity that is "love only" but has that has sanitized the full scope of God's love including away references to judgments and hell. Meanwhile we make our own early warning systems - attempts to prepare for disaster, etc. But they don't protect us from hell. And they don't help us see our need for Christ. Diane

I view present judgments as God's way of drawing people to himself Would you have a biblical basis for this view?

Would you have a biblical basis for this view?Those who believed God as a result of his judgments: The Israelites: "And when the Israelites sawthe great power of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians,the people FEARED THE LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant."[Ex. 14:31]The Egyptians: "The officials of Pharaoh who FEARED THE WORD OF THE LORD, hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside." [Ex. 9:20] Moses: "I fell prostrate before the Lordfor forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water,because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the Lord's sight and so provoking Him to anger.I FEARED THE ANGER AND WRATH OF THE LORD for He was angry enough with you to destroy you!"[Deut. 8:18The sailors: Note how the sailers reacted when they realized that almighty God had sent the storm as a judgment for Jonah’s sin. "At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to him and made vows to him" [1:16]The early church:Note how God’s severe judgment on Ananias and Saphira affected the church: Following each of the two deaths, "Great fear seized the people!" [Acts. 5:5,11] After that, no one else dared join them, (to play church) even though they were highly respected by the community. Nevertheless, "more and more (who were authentic) were added to their number." [Acts 5:13] The Prodigal Son: The famine in the foreign land where the Prodigal son was living brought about the salvation of the son. . No doubt the famine would have been regarded as divine judgment on the pagan nation. It seems like God’s refining fires/judgments destroy those who refuse to repent, but bring salvation and maturity to the penitent. A warning for the people: The book of Ezekiel lists many horrible judgments that were about to befall Israel for her stubborn rebellion. The purpose of these judgments was to give them a God-consciousness. That is why the clause, "Then they will know that I am the Lord" occurs sixty-five times in the book.All people: "The wrath of God IS being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." Since what may be known about God (ex: in nature, regarding the truth about his wrath) is plain to them because God has made it plain to them.For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen.... so that MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. [Rom. 1:18-2The apostle Peter gave an example: "He made [Sodom and Gomorrah ] an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly." 2 Pet. 2:6Just as God sent judgments in the past, he will also send future judgments – including the Eternal Lake of Fire. So repent, and call upon the name of the Lord. My main point: Since God is the one who sent judgments in the past, he is also the one who sends future judgments. I am wondering, Is our present day complacency about hell related to our view of God's judgments? "He will punish those who think the Lord will do nothing, either good or bad." [Zeph.1:12]Diane

Would you have a biblical basis for this view?Could also add this one.Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

I haven't heard a message about hell for some time, but it cannot be ignored as an integral part in God's plan, a tool in the hand of the Almighty. Even more than preaching hell to bring sinners to repentence, I think after man is convinced of his sinful illness (Mar 2:17)he needs to see Jesus for whom He really is (Holy God), and how He will excercise judgement upon those whom have rejected Him. This picture in Revelation 1 always prompts me to repentence:Rev 1:13-18 And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, having been clothed to the feet, and having been girded with a golden girdle at the breasts. And the hairs of His head were white as white wool, as snow, and His eyes as a flame of fire; and His feet like burnished brass having been fired in a furnace; and His voice as a sound of many waters; and having in His right hand seven stars; and a sharp, two-edged sword proceeding out of His mouth, and His face shining as the sun in its power. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet, as dead. And He put His right hand on me, saying to me, Do not fear. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and I became dead; and, behold, I am living forever and ever. Amen. And I have the keys to hell, and of death. True repentence will only happen when we see that we are really wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (Rev 3:17)It seems the church in America closely resembles the church in Laodicea, rich, in need of nothing, proud and lukewarm, in danger of being spewed out. We must shout the message today as it is in Rev 3:19, "be zealous, and repent". Our loving Savior stands at the door and knocks.

Thanks Taco for this one: 1s. 26:9...for when thy JUDGMENTS are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. the NIV says: When your JUDGMENTS come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. It would seem obvious that JUDGMENTS play a key role in drawing sinners to God. The next verse reinforces that truth: 10 Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; I noticed that the Message translation uses the word, "decisions" instead of "judgments". That's like taking the fire out of the word: 9. When your DECISIONS are on public display, everyone learns how to live right. 10 If the wicked are shown grace, they don't seem to get it. (The Message) Isaiah 26:9 reinforces my belief that it is the divine JUDGMENTS that help sinners know that hell is real. However - don't they first need to recognize them as such? If so, then we Christians are not doing anyone a favor by substituting other explanations (ex Mother Nature,etc), or avoiding the subject.Diane

Recently I had a vision where I was in hell, I experienced the seperation from God and saw family members there that are not walking with God. I had this vision about 3 weeks ago. I said while there 'how can this be, I was only just listening to D. Wilkerson preaching online, how could this be?'It was without a doubt the most frightening thing I have experienced to date! I didn't want to sleep for days afterwards worried that I would go back there. It was a very real experience and the feeling and reality of it all was sobering! I have warned the family members involved but one mainly has scoffed at it. I was scared out of my mind for weeks!!!The most frightening part of this is that I had a concept of it being eternal while there and that there is no more chances, no more oppertunity's to repent. THIS WAS IT! I was there and thought, 'this is no dream' when I woke I was surprised and told my wife right away.It is a place of lost hopelessness, forever damed. I saw my brother blistered and heard his cry's. I will never forget it and my spirit crys with pain thinking on it.

I am wondering, Is our present day complacency about hell related to our view of God's judgments? I can't help but notice that with that the New Testament 'judgments' are in a minority. There is, of course, judgment in the church in 1 Corinthians but what of national judgments? The NT is remarkably quiet on the topic of national judgment. Is this because it is non-territorial. The OT has the land of Israel as its context while the NT has the Church as its context.

I can't help but notice that with that the New Testament 'judgments' are in a minority. There is, of course, judgment in the church in 1 Corinthians but what of national judgments? The NT is remarkably quiet on the topic of national judgment. Is this because it is non-territorial. The OT has the land of Israel as its context while the NT has the Church as its context.I suspect that you are correct. Israel was judged as a nation under the law; other nations were judged in relation to Israel eg Egypt (although they were also at times held account for their own wickedness eg Sodom and Ninevah).God has judged sin at calvary and has appointed a day in which he will judge all men by the Man Christ Jesus. He calls us to judge sin in the church and one day we (as those who are one with Christ) will judge the world.I am sure that the law of sowing and reaping affects the nations today. But is it the day of judgment for them? This is a day when God is calling out a people for his name from among the nations.

I view present judgments as God's way of drawing people to himselfBro Ron asks:Would you have a biblical basis for this view?.I think that messages on Hell serve the purpose of awakening careless sinners, but when it comes to bringing them to saving faith it has to be the manifestation of God by the Holy Spirit that leads the person to genuine salvation. Messages on Hell have their place and are much needed to awaken sinners- but the wrath of God will only foster obedience so long. It takes the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit- made welcome in the Temples made without hands to demonstrate true Christianity. Fear of Hell simply runs out of gas at some point.Which leads me to wonder if we are the living epistles we need to be in order to rightly lead folk to Christ. I mean, are we the full package? Will we give without hesitation? We will be moved with compassion as a matter of course? Will we walk in a genuine holiness birthed of a deep love for God and not just a competitive spirit that seeks to be holier than our fellow brother or sister? Will we manifest Christ evidently among the people we encounter in all facets of who He is? God Bless,-Robert