Where is Hell, exactly?
Much is being said about hell, but very few knows where it is, some speculate - do you know where hell is? -exactly? the Bible does! You must be able to convincingly prove its location through many verses.
I have been confronted by various opinions when it comes to, the location of hell! The location of hell remains a mystery to many and there are various misinterpretations. Most people just don’t know. Some think they know and they quote one or two select verses to prove their point, but their personal interpretation of these verses clearly contradicts the rest of scripture
Some believe in a place of purgatory, a place where the wicked are temporarily being burned - immediately after death. They say the unrighteous dead are awaiting the Judgment in purgatory, reserved to be transferred to hell. These believers also believe that you could pray someone out of purgatory into paradise. (very convenient) Others say, not so, there is not such a thing as purgatory; neither such a thing as praying someone out of purgatory. But, in essence, they unconsciously agree with much of this teaching. They say - the unjust will go to a temporary place of punishment; they will be punished there until the judgment. After the judgment, they would be condemned to everlasting torment in hell- and don’t forget there are those who believe that hell is in the center of the earth - Wow!? Many disagree; they say hell is a state of mind. Yet, others say, there is no such thing as hell; The devil and the concept of hellfire it’s a figment of our imagination - so they say. Let us not forget there are those who believe that everybody will go to heaven. There are even those who hang on to the philosophy that we die only to come back as another person or animal, determined by the merits of our deeds (reincarnation) This is why I never use the word, karma, loosely- it is a dogma!
I would say - If you believe in the doctrine of hell, surely you must be able to prove where hell is - Biblically! Verse by verse scripture by scripture! (Isaiah 28:10) Right?
This will be an intensive Bible study; be sure to trust and believe in the Bible and not the theories and opinions of others, neither your preconceived ideas. Have an open mind would you? – This is a reasonable request, wouldn’t you say?
So, My question is: where is it, where is “the hell”? Is your answer founded and supported by clear evidence from the Word of God? Or is it hearsay; does you Bible contradict itself? If it does, it means that you are misinterpreting it. The Bible never contradicts itself!
The answer is clearly spelled out in the Bible:
Let’s agree on one thing, According to the Word of God, There is a heaven to win and a hell to shun. There will be a hell and there will be punishment. (Matt 25:41) The punishment is not meant to work repentance. The punishment is the final fate of the unrighteous.
A few questions need to be dealt with in order to get the big picture. So, let’s ask some questions: You might disagree with the answers; if so, blame God, it’s His Word of truth! Isn’t it?
So, let’s ask: Is the hell fire burning right now; are the unrighteous being punished and burning in hell right now?– Check your Bible:
When Jesus walked the earth, the demons asked Him "Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" (Matt. 8:29) (At least the demons had their theology straight!) They knew that hell would be a future event!
From the Word of God we can clearly see - The evil angels are "reserved unto judgment" (2 Peter 2:4) The verse is mentioning - that great day (Jude 6) “the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished"(2 Peter 2:9) Exactly what does reserved mean? And this verse states, they will be punished after being reserved, anyway "the day of judgment" literary means "the day of decision"
You might think that God takes pleasure in burning the wicked, as so many do. Speaking about the wicked, in hell, I have heard statements like “Burn baby burn” (this phrase comes from the mouths of “born again” Christians. They are telling me how a loving and caring God will delight himself and enjoy punishing the wicked) But God says, the soul which sins shall die but I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked" (Eze. 18:31, 32)
You might not like to get an eye opener, but here it comes:
"the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:4) What do you read? I read - The Wicked Will Die (dead). Not so? And you will come right back at me and say: that’s old Testament! Yes, so it is, do you want to get rid of it? Don’t take that chance!
But I bet I can prove it from the new Testament. So, let’s see; "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23) Ask yourself this question – Exactly what does this word “death” mean? Does it mean everlasting life in another location? I beg to differ!
However, it would be foolish for me to base my whole theology on just one verse; so, let’s study:
Sinners are "worthy of death" (Rom. 1:32); Sin ends in death (Rom. 6:21); and it bringeth forth death" (James 1:15) God said, I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth" (Eze. 18:31, 32)
David, contemplating the future, is looking forward to a time, when sin would be no more, He states, "Evildoers shall be cut off" (Ps. 37:9); and "The wicked are cut off" verse 34.( Ezekiel 28:16.)
(Ps. 37:20); "The wicked perish at the presence of God" (Ps. 68:2), "The wicked shall not be." - "whosoever believeth in him should not perish" (John 3:16) (you know what perish means, don't you?)
And what about the burning then? 4. The Wicked Will Be Burned Up. (Mal. 4:1)What does burned up mean? It means, till it can burn no more, right? They will be bound "in bundles to burn them" (Matt. 13:30), "the tares are gathered and burned" (Matt 13:40)
Most agree that “the earth shall be burned up" and purged with fire, but they refuse to accept this doctrine when it refers to the wicked.(2 Peter 3:10) John calls it "the second death" (Rev. 21: 8) Not the second eternal life "All the wicked will be destroyed" (Ps. 145:20) (Mark 1:24) They will be "punished with everlasting destruction" (2 Thess. 1: 9);
So, how about the devil, is he not burning people right now? NO, and a thousand times, no. For one, if he was, he would be part of God's staff - wouldn’t he. Anyway the Bible says, He will be destroyed (Heb. 2:14) would you accept the clear teaching of the Bible?
But they shall be burned up, (2 Peter 3:10; Matt. 3:12) (Rev. 19:20; 21:8), They shall be destroyed, (Matt. 21:41; Mark 1:24), and they will be consumed (Acts 3:23, R.V.) They shall not only be "consumed," and they shall be no more. They will burn until they "consume away," (Ps. 37:20), (Ps. 73:20-22) Isaiah says that "the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble" (Isa. 40:24) And Malachi also declared that in that day the wicked "shall be stubble" (Mal. 4:1) (What is stubble?)
Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed (Gen. 19:29) "overthrown as in a moment" (Lam. 4:6) And they were turned "into ashes" (2 Peter 2:6) These cities are used as an example, as an object lesson, telling us that this experience is "an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." And "the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude1:7) Ask yourself, Is Sodom and Gomorra still burning? Obviously not! But the results of the punishment is eternal and forever. In the same way, according to this verse, the punishment is eternal.
And you would come back at me and say, The bible clearly says being "in danger of eternal damnation" the wicked will be "punished with everlasting destruction" (Mark 3:29);"Depart ye cursed, into everlasting fire" (Matt. 25:41); "and these shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matt. 25:46); (2 Thess. 1:9); "suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7)
Forever and ever, pertains to the eternal result of the cleansing. (sin will not rise a second time) (Nahum 1:9) It is not eternal conscious suffering for all time to come; punishment will be forever complete and final. Or do you suppose God will punish you twice for the same crime. Ask yourself, What does the word “second death” mean? This is a death that will last forever and ever. This is Bible this is truth! If you say otherwise you are actually agreeing with the devil, He said - you will not surely die (Gen 3:4) What did the devil actually say, what does this mean. He was saying - You will not, really die! Apposed to God who said – you shall surely die. In context, What has happened here? (This is where Adam and Eve had lost their immortality) Saying that the dead goes to a temporary place of hell is saying they have immortality in themselves (exactly where did they Get immortality and everlasting life from) immortality is given at the resurrection when this mortal puts on immortality. (1cor 15:54) Reasoning like this is like going to a grave and saying; you are dead and buried, but you did not really die and you are not really dead! But God said, the graves will open! I have a very good question for you; At the resurrection, for what reason would the graves have to open if you are not there? (Eccl 9:5) That would be senseless! won't you say?
We also read of “eternal judgment” (Heb.6:2) Now ask yourself this very important question. Will we stand before the Judgment seat of God, eternally, forever and ever? No, of course not, that would be ridiculous. Judgment will be final and complete.
So, it is clear, This is not a process of everlasting torture and punishment, But a final death penalty. And the death will last forever. Sin will be, no more! Take note, if hell were to exist after the new earth was created, guess what? Sin is still there! (Nahum 1:9) Do you believe that God will destroy everything, recreate a new world without sin, leaving the devil and the unjust somewhere in the newly created universe?
Look at this: what does forever mean in this context: Samuel stayed in the tabernacle, forever.(or until his death) Jonah stayed in the fish forever (it must have felt like an eternity) (Jonah 2:6) (1 Sam. 1:22), a slave served his master forever (Till he died) (Ex. 21:6) They kept the Passover forever (Ex. 12:17) The smoke of Babylon rose up forever (Rev. 19: 3); that the wicked "shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10); and that "the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever" (Rev. 14:11) (Isa. 34:8-10): These verses is used in the context kind of like saying: I’ve been waiting forever! Or, it’s taking forever, (or it will continue till it is completed) depending on the context!
So, let’s examine the nature of the punishment “And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. (I think none means none, doesn't it? (this includes the wicked, right?) Take a good hard look, this fire is referred to as " unquenchable fire” (Ps. 92:7) it will not stop burning untill it has burned up everything!
If you are still kicking against these clear verses, I guess you have preconceived ideas and you are refusing to acknowledge the plain truth of the written Word of God, hanging on to a myth, a church doctrine or tradition? (Matt 15:9)
No, be real careful with your exegesis - look at the following:
There will be a time when things shall be no more (Rev. 21:4) Everlasting life is a gift of God (Rom. 6:23) The wicked do not have eternal life; they "shall not see life" (John 3:36); "no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15) (God gives eternal life, do you suppose he will give the wicked an immortal body to exist forever – I don’t think so!)
Think about it. If God is Good and God is love, why are you accusing Him of being cruel, vindictive, merciless, and brutal; a tyrant, burning people, harshly, throughout all the ages of eternity? Now, you are saying God will be heartless and this mean, tormenting people (some are your loved ones) while having a party in heaven? Come on get real! This would be no heaven and no party at all! (especially when you think of the fact that some of your loved ones could be there, burning mercilessly) Is this view fitting for a God of infinite Love? No, the inhalation of the wicked will be out of character for God, this is why the Bible says - God will rise up "that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act." (Isaiah 28:21)
God will recreate, the devil will be no more and we will see a new heaven and a new earth. We will get to go there with everlasting bodies and we will eat from the tree of life. We need to earn the right to be able to eat from the tree of life; Rev 22:14 How? by accepting Christ as your savior of course. The tree will be there for healing of the nations. (Rev 22:2) (So, work this out for yourself and ask yourself -what will heal the unjust. what will give them the ability to be able to stay alive, forever?) (where did the population of hell get such a body?)
Remember this - Only God has immortality (1Tim 6:16) And those who refuse to believe in Him will perish (John 3:16) Do you believe these verses (ONLY GOD)
So, What have we learned so far? Now we know, hell is not yet, it is a future event. The devil is not there yet, he is here on earth, tempting us. (1 Pet 5:8) We do not have immortality, not yet! We will receive immortality at the last trump (1cor 15:53.) And God will rain fire on the wicked. (Psalm 11:6) Besides, the wicked stays in their graves till after the millennium (Rev 20:5)
What do you think? God throws the wicked in hell and burn them for ages before he gives them their sentence. (really now, do you think God is unjust) I don’t think so! What do you imagine against the Lord? (Nahum 1:9). So it is clear. The wicked will perish at the resurrection of the dead because they cannot exist in the sinless "presence of God" (Ps. 37:20); (Ps. 68:2) The wicked will be turned into stubble (Mal 4:1) They will be burned into carcasses (Matt 24:27, 28) (Rev 19:-17 18) and there would not be nothing left of them. (Mal 4:1) They will be ashes under our feet (Mal 4:3) (What is ash - is it not the leftovers of something that was consumed by fire - burned up?)
So, to conclude: Where is hell? Hell fire will burn on earth, and after the thousand years. God will rain fire on them and consume them with the brightness of His coming (2 thess2:8) (Rev 6:16) They will burn in hell fire and their lives will be consumed away. (Rev 25:41) (Rev 19:20) death and hades will be that last enemy that will be destroyed (1cor 15:26)
I know, you will be quick to point out. What about the rich man and Lazarus. Actually, Mary had her theology straight here. When Jesus came to resurrect Lazarus, she did not understand His reasoning, Based on her theology, she said. He will be resurrected on the last day. (John 11:24) Besides, the PARABLE of Lazarus and the rich man was given, to explain to us, that the rich do not have the inside track when it comes to everlasting life-not true?
And you would throw the verse at me. (To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord) Really? Wrong! Look at the verse, what is it saying? It is saying, read it for yourself for a change?
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Cor 5:8) Paul is saying, (I am willing to be absent from the body and present with the Lord-) (at the second coming), Paul applies this theology throughout his writings (1Thess 4:16) How do you read?
To prevent any confusion, let me place some things in chronological order: The angels will announce the end (Rev 14:6-7) Jesus will return. (Rev 14:14) The righteous dead in Christ (those who are sleeping the sleep of death) (Rev 14:13) -The dead will remain in the grave, till the end of the world. (Job 21:30,32) (Matt 13:40-42) They will rise first. They will join the righteous living and together they will depart to heaven, taking part in the Judgment (1Thess 4:13-17) (Rev 20:4) The unrighteous on the other hand won’t be able to stand God’s glory, and they will be killed by the brightness of His coming. They will remain dead (2 Thess 2:8) for one thousand years (Rev 20:6) God has said, He will not make a full end though, not yet (Jer 4:7) In the meantime, we will be in the new Jerusalem, in heaven. The unrighteous dead will remain in their graves while the books are opened. They will not live, till after the millennium (Rev 20:5) After this thousand year period, satan will be released from his prison to deceive the unrighteous and they will attack the city. (Rev 20:7-9) (Rev 19:19) God will bring the righteous to the earth in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2) At this stage the unrighteous will be resurrected (2 Thess 2:8) God will sit on His white throne and proclaim judgment. The devil will be captured (Rev 19:20) and the unrighteous also. All of them will all be annihilated, with fire, dying the second death (Rev 20:11-12 & 21:1) (Rev 21:8) and the earth will be remade (Rev 21:4, 5) Death and hades will be consumed in the lake of fire. The devil, and the wicked, will be no more, neither the fire (Rev 25:41) (Rev 19:20) (Isaiah 47:14) This will be the end of sin, sinners, and the devil! (Rev 20:15) (Psalm 37:10,20)(Ezek 18:20) (Mal 4:1,3) (Ezek 28:18,19) (Nahum 1:9)There will be no place for the unrighteous (Rev 20:11) (No place is no place (not anywhere)- right? - (Just checking!) (Nahum 1:9 Rev 21:6.) We will have everlasting Joy after this (Rev chapter 22) and we will be with God forever. (1Thess 4:17) (Rev 21:1)
It needs to be stressed. We should not serve God because of our fear of hell. This is not love at all, this is fear. Sincere love, loves God, for who He is, not for what He would do to you. The subject of Hell is distorted and it shifts our focus from love to fear! Personally, I so want to be with God, I will give everything, to live for Him when the end comes, and to be with Him forever. Why? Because I do not want to miss out on His Love! Will you love God for the sake of Love?
Should you choose to refuse this message, take it up with God, it is His Words, not mine! But it is your decision!
Keep in mind, and never forget this: We serve God for His love and what he has done for us at the cross. or do you serve God to escape his vengeance because of what He would do to you in hell? - Do you serve God because of His Love towards you or your fear of Him?
Please embrace your God of Love a God to be a friend of not a God to be afraid of. Will you decide to pray and give your life to Him right now-Why not?
