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I wrote this once upon a time in response to a query on the existence of hell… But I share it today, because I have realized that sometimes, when evil occurs to someone and eventually forgiveness is extended to the one who did the evil; by the person that was the recipient of the evil… It makes a difference - at least one would hope… Father God gave me this thought this morning… that this is why there is free will and so the good and the evil… So that the opportunity for the extension of forgiveness is unequivocally valid. Additionally, when the person offering forgiveness speaks of the opportunity of avoiding hell - it too, is most certainly true.
Evil has been done to so many, but speaking personally - to me, and I can say most assuredly, I do not desire for anyone to go to hell. For me we exist to proclaim the Good News - there exist Father God, Who gave His only Son, Jesus, as an atonement, (payment), aka sacrifice for all of humanity who are sinful and condemned to hell as punishment. Because of this sacrifice - Jesus, also being 100% man and 100% God, rose from the dead in triumph/defeat over death and hell, (our punishment). Jesus offers His Gift of life - His sacrifice - His Blood - for a n y o n e -e v e r y b o d y- a l l so that they may literally get out of hell. It’s like being given a remedy for illness that will surely kill you…
Like, who wouldn’t take such a GIFT?
Sadly, lots of people, because they simply do not believe in God, nor believe that they commit sins against God, and they surely don’t believe in hell and most times don’t believe in Heaven either… We - believers in Father God, exist to tell others about this unbelievable GIFT, to those who are non-believers… It is a choice. Father God NEVER forces a person to believe that He exists and that His Gift is free…just for the receipt.
This is LOVE.
I think people don’t receive this gift sometimes because they still see and experience suffering, evil… and say, “Where was God?” Folks forget that everyone has choice so we all still sin… BUT GOD, for the believer, the one who is truly repentant - being sorry enough to do a 180 from their sin and live for Father God… This be the work of the third person of the Trinity - the Holy Spirit, (also God)… He is constantly speaking into the lives and ears of the believer - if we listen… Sure we fall off the proverbial wagon but it is the Holy Spirit that calls those- the believers back to TRUE NORTH - back to Father God, and so repentance.
What are you waiting for, what are you chasing after beloved? It is either Father God or the devil… These are the only choices.
Jesus is coming soon for His bride the church - this is the Rapture - so all who belong to Jesus - believers, will be taken away… Should He tarry - not wanting any to perish, (waiting for you to choose Him - but not forever beloved) - then eventually, some folks will die… Either going to Heaven as a believer or to hell - there are no do overs. Once to die then the judgement.
So, this is what I wrote about a tad more than a year ago - perhaps for such a time as this:
It is my thought that one of the many lies that satan whispers is that we always have time… and the most egregious lie is that there are no eternal consequences to sin - that there is no hell penalty… that it’s a made up construct to control the masses, (I’ve heard this argument). Sadly in this way of thinking, the redeemed may not earnestly pursue his forsaken brother, whose very soul is in danger of hellfire… but may merely believe nothingness/annihilation - awaits those forsaken - those who choose not to believe - the nonbeliever… so it’s not really that bad, because God would never penalize/condemn His created beings to such a place. Then the argument would be made - if they choose not the Way of Jesus then they would just simply not exist - which isn’t a penalty. Nonexistence is not a penalty.
There must be a hell - a penalty for unbelievers - those who reject Jesus’ death, blood atonement, resurrection and anticipated return because Jesus spoke of the extreme opposite- Heaven the “reward” for receiving His grace, ALL that He did for humanity.
God IS just - so the two “consequences” must exist.
Hell is indeed an unimaginably horrible place - so horrible that Jesus gave ALL He had to keep unbelievers/sinners from going there, and through His Words we have an understanding, so to share the Good News that ALL are free to NOT go there… But it is a choice.
For follows here are a hodgepodge collection of Scriptures that speak to hell and damnation.
King James Version
Psalm 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Matt. 23:33 …Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Matt. 5:22 … But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mark 3:29 … But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
Mark 9:43, 45 … And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched... And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.
2 Thess 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ...
Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Luke 16:23 [(not a parable)] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom
Psalm 11:6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Psalm 55:15. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
Proverbs 5:5 Her feet go down to death her steps take hold on hell.
Proverbs 7:27 Her house is the way of hell going down to the chambers of death.
Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shall be brought down to hell to the sides of the pit.
Matt. 13:42 … And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Rev. 14: 10,11. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Matt. 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Psalm 116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Final judgment
Rev 20:11-15
11And I saw a Great White Throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into THE Lake of Fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into THE Lake of Fire.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Nina
