Does It Exist?
You Had Better Believe It Does...
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was asked a question by a heckler, about someone who had passed on. The Bishop replied, "I do not know the answer, but when I get to Heaven I will ask him." The man replied, "But what if he isn't in Heaven?" The Bishop answered him, "Well then you ask him."
These same denominations teach that the Bible is the "Sole Rule of Authority," that it was handed down by GOD, and is therefore to be believed.
Well, if the Bible is to be believed, it has to be believed in its entirety and not simply what we want to believe.
There are at least 54 verses in Holy Scriptures that reference hell by name. Explain to me why Holy Scripture would even mention na non-existent place so many times?
Hell, Gehenna, Tartarus, exists. It is the abode of condemned souls, the devil, and demons. It is the place of eternal punishment. GOD does NOT send anyone to hell. Each of us decides with our own free will whether we will spend eternity in Heaven or in hell.
Here is just a sample of the verses which reference hell :
Psalms 9:17, 21:10, 55:15, Proverbs 7:27, Sirach 9:17, 21:9-10, Isaiah *5:14, 30:33,*34:10, 66:24, Ezekiel 31:16-17, Ezekiel *32:27, Matthew 3:12, 10:28, 13:49-50, 18:8-9, 23:33, 25:41-46, Mark 9:42-48, *Luke12:5, Philippians 2:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, 2 Peter 2:4, 9, Revelation 14:11,*20:9-15, 21:8Here are some verses to remind you that hell surely does exist:
Hell and death were cast into the pool of fire: Revelation 20:14 Hell and destruction are never filled: Proverbs 27:20 Hell has enlarged itself: Isa 5:14
Wow! Those last two verses hit hard and should be a wake up call. Apparently there is lots of room left for all the people sending themselves there. Do you still believe there is no hell?
Jesus Christ made several statements regarding the existence of hell.
Do you believe what He said in Scripture? Matt 25:41, "Then He will say to those on His left hand, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels'."
Matt 25:46, "And these will go into everlasting punishment, but the just into everlasting life."
Matt 13: 41-42, "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all scandals and those who work iniquity, and cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth."
If you deny the Word of Christ, you deny Him. The Catholic Church teaches that hell really does exist.
Please read the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
CCC 1033-1037.
The best answer I have heard to give a person who has said he or she does not believe in hell is, "Well you will when you get there, as you look down and say - Where am I?" By then it is too late to do something about it isn't it? Why not start now and turn to GOD and avoid this place.
That is, just in case it does exist...
Written by Bob Stanley, May 5, 1999
Updated on May 10, 2001
4 comments:
Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words.
This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation. (2Timothy 2:8-15)
There are a number of HUGE problems with this idea that God intends to torture billions of people for eternity--if it were true, then NO ONE would be safe. A being capable of inflicting this much pain is not the sort of being you could ever trust to make an exception for anyone else, not for long.
I've actually written an entire book on this topic--Hell? No! Why You Can Be Certain There's No Such Place As Hell, (for anyone interested, you can get a free ecopy of Did Jesus Believe in Hell?, one of the most compelling chapters in my book at www.thereisnohell.com), but if I may, I'd like to share with you one of the many points I make in it to explain why.
Let's say you end up in Heaven trying to sing endless praises to a God who is, simultaneously, torturing billions of others. Unless you are given a de facto lobotomy (in which case, YOU would no longer be YOU, so you might as well have not had a soul to begin with), you would have to begin wondering, "When am I next?" and the joy of Heaven would be lost, replaced by gloom and foreboding! Why? Because you could never rely on a God who is so mean to be honest about making any exceptions.
After all, which is more difficult? For God to actively cause so much immense pain, for so many, for so long, or to go back on whatever promises he made to a few others that he would not put them in Hell too at some point?
It would be like accepting an invitation to live as a guest with one of these maniacal men we've been hearing about lately who kidnap, imprison, rape and torture young girls in secret basements. Can you imagine such a guy, simultaneously, having some other young lady as his dinner date, and treating her with respect and care? And even if he did for a while, wouldn't his true nature unleash itself upon her at some point in time, as it has on so many others? Of course!
Thankfully, the real good news which Jesus actually brought us tells us that God is nothing like this!
If one is willing to look, there's substantial evidence contained in the gospels to show that Jesus opposed the idea of Hell. For example, in Luke 9:51-56, is a story about his great disappointment with his disciples when they actually suggested imploring God to rain FIRE on a village just because they had rejected him. His response: "You don't know what spirit is inspiring this kind of talk!" Presumably, it was NOT the Holy Spirit. He went on, trying to explain how he had come to save, heal and relieve suffering, not be the CAUSE of it.
So it only stands to reason that this same Jesus, who was appalled at the very idea of burning a few people, for a few horrific minutes until they were dead, could never, ever burn billions of people for an eternity
Rick Lannoye said...
..to a God who is, simultaneously, torturing billions of others...
Dear Rick,
God doesn't "send" anyone to hell... they chose hell for themselves by rejecting Him over and over throughout their lives.
Eternal life with God in heaven is a free gift; God sent his own son Jesus to die for our sins but we have to say yes to that gift.
Free will means that we can either accept what Jesus has done or we can say no thanks.
I believe God chases us our whole life, trying to get us to turn to Him and those who have died apart from His love and graces have exercised their right to say no.
God bless you
Michael Gormley
Rick Lannoye said...
If one is willing to look, there's substantial evidence contained in the gospels to show that Jesus opposed the idea of Hell. For example, in Luke 9:51-56...
Dear Rick,
The reproof he gave to James and John for their fiery, furious zeal (v. 55): He turned with a just displeasure, and rebuked them; for as many as he loves he rebukes and chastens, particularly for what they do, that is irregular and unbecoming them, under colour of zeal for him.
1. He shows them in particular their mistake: Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of; that is, (1.) "You are not aware what an evil spirit and disposition you are of; how much there is of pride, and passion, and personal revenge, covered under this pretence of zeal for your Master."
Note, There may be much corruption lurking, nay, and stirring too, in the hearts of good people, and they themselves not be sensible of it. (2.) "You do not consider what a good spirit, directly contrary to this, you should be of. Surely you have yet to learn, though you have been so long learning, what the spirit of Christ and Christianity is.
Have you not been taught to love your enemies, and to bless them that curse you, and to call for grace from heaven, not fire from heaven, upon them?
You know not how contrary your disposition herein is to that which it was the design of the gospel you should be delivered into.
You are not now under the dispensation of bondage, and terror, and death, but under the dispensation of love, and liberty, and grace, which was ushered in with a proclamation of peace on earth and good will toward men, to which you ought to accommodate yourselves, and not by such imprecations as these oppose yourselves."
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