“The Gates of Hell”
September 16, 2007
Last Sunday, as most of you know, Julie, Eric and I had the opportunity to go on the “Hell’s Gate Jet Boat Excursion”, compliments of Weed Building Supply, Inc. It was a fantastic time. (slides) They told us that the name “Hells Gate” got it’s name because as the early settlers paddled down the Rogue River just outside of Grant’s Pass, Oregon, and came to that place in the canyon where the solid rock walls tower a hundred feet up on either side and the water roars through with a tremendous roar and all the water of the river is forced to go through that narrow gorge, it was as close to Hell’s Gates as they could imagine. Many people lost their life on that river. If “Hell’s Gate” didn’t get them – just on the other side is “Done Rapids” which got its name because if you go through them – you are “Done For”!
We didn’t go through the rapids but we did go through “Hell’s Gates” and back. But we weren’t in a canoe or raft. We were in a jet boat – and we flew right over the rapids and shallow water – safe from danger and harm.
The journey was wonderful, too. We saw osprey, grey heron, deer, and turkey. I took a picture of one of the osprey nests we saw along the way. But the fun was in the journey. They fed us until we almost burst. Slipping and sliding around the river like playful otters was a blast and everyone got soaked.
It was a wonderful experience that Julie and I got to share together – with Eric and 50 other people. But I learned a few things, too. God speaks to us in many ways and I want to share a few thoughts about out excursion.
First of all, there ARE gates of hell – but they aren’t on the Rogue River. The bible says,
“Though you already know this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered His people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home – these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immortality and perversion. They serve as examples of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
Jude 5-7
Jesus said that hell was a place that God originally prepared, not for man, but for the devil and the fallen angels. It is a place of separation from God and all that is good. It is eternal and it is painful. And it is for those, like the devil and the demons, who willfully choose to separate themselves from God. That choice is expressed in rebellion. That choice is expressed in sin.
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
I Corinthians 6:9-11
There is an eternal hell for the wicked – the sexually immoral; adulterers, prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, and so one. And believe it or not, I think hell is an expression of God’s love. God will not violate anyone’s free will – and if you choose to not have a part of God – He allows that. He separates you from Him – as you wish. That final place is what we call hell. The Bible warns,
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment, and if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people… if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly… If this is so, then the Lord knows how to … hold the unrighteous for the Day of Judgment…”
2 Peter 2:4-9
There are gates of hell. We only know what that place is like by God revealing it to us. A few of the prophets spoke of it. Probably Jesus was the only one who could speak about it with authority. He created it. And everything the Bible says about it - let’s us know it is not a nice place. It is not a good place. You won’t find any friends there. You won’t find things like pleasure and love and any creation of God’s there. Jesus used everything we fear or have a dread of to describe this place we call hell. Let’s look at them.
First, Fire. Jesus described hell as eternal fire or a lake of fire.
“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” Matthew 18:8-9
Is Jesus telling us to cut our hand or foot off? Is He telling us to gouge our eye out? No. As horrible and repulsive as that thought is to you – Jesus is saying it is better to do that than go to hell – or be thrown into eternal fire.
Jesus said, at the judgment Day, He will separate the righteous and the unrighteous, and to the unrighteous He will says,
“Depart from me, you who are cursed, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 26:40
In the Book of Revelations the Bible describes Hell as a lake of fire.
“… The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” Rev 19:20
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur…. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Rev. 20:10
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” Rev. 21:8
Is there really a lake of fire? I’m not sure. It may be that God describes hell that way because we are so horrified by fire. Ever seen anyone whose skin has been melted by fire? Ever been badly burned yourself? Imagine that pain eternally. That’s the point. You do not want to go there. We would avoid a place like that at all cost.
But there’s more. Jesus continued His description. He said it is like
2. Worms that never die. Mk. 9:48. Isaiah prophesied,
“They will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched…”
Isaiah 66:24
3. Darkness. Anyone here ever been afraid of the dark? Jesus said,
“… will be thrown outside into the darkness, where their will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12
“…throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30
4. Being cut with a knife. One of the great fears of many soldiers and law enforcement officers is being slashed with a knife. It’s very painful and death doesn’t come easily. Jesus describes hell this way.
“He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites , where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:51
Fire, Worms, Darkness, Cut with a knife, being absolutely alone. Do you get the point? Every basic fear we have, Jesus uses to convince us that hell is not a pleasant place. We don’t want to go there. Did you notice that it is described as a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. In other words, it is a place of great sorrow and pain.
But I have good news. Hell was not created for you – and you were not created for hell. Even better news is that God does not want you to go there. The Bible says,
“He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9b
Do you know that God describes Himself and His relationship with you as one between a Father and a child? Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father, in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9) I don’t know about you – but I love my kids. I cherish them. I love to talk to them. I love to be with them. I want only good things for them. When they suffer – I suffer. When they get hurt – I hurt. When they fail – I fail. But when they laugh – I rejoice. When they do well – I do well. I want them to smile – not frown. I want them to laugh – not cry. I want them to succeed – not fail. I want them to prosper – not just exist. I want them to live in abundance – not live in want.
Now, if I want that for my kids – how much more does God want blessings for you? Jesus said,
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you have an evil nature, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?”
Matthew 7:9-11
I think it is important for us to realize there IS a place of separation that we call hell. The “gates of hell” are real. Some do not believe that – and I’m not going to debate it because the debate is not whether there is a hell or not. It is really – “Is the Word of God True?” I believe it is. So I believe in hell. But it is equally important to realize that God does not want us to go there. He has provided a way out. The most loved verse in the bible says,
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
You are God’s creation and He wants you to spend eternal life with Him. Jesus says,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
How does Jesus do that? How does Jesus take our burdens away? It is so simple. The bible says,
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Hell is for the unrighteous. Hell is for sinners. Jesus came to take our sin away and to make us righteous. Paul wrote:
“In Him we have redemption through His blood.” Ephesians 1:7
You don’t have to fear hell. You don’t have to fear death. Unless- you are not a child of God. But it is so easy to be adopted into His family. You just have to pray a prayer like this:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me. I confess I have sinned against you. Please forgive me. Help me to live for you from now on.
In Jesus Name,
