End of the World Predictions
Eternity is Forever
Is Hell Real? - Is the fire of hell literal, symbolic or both?
"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" (Mark 9:45) Is this speaking of a real living hell?
Imagine for a moment that the "fire" of hell is not real but just symbolic. In other words, if you went to hell, you would not spend eternity walking through a molten lake of literal fire (as in Dante's Inferno) but you would still suffer some kind of "fiery" torments. If this were true, then please understand that those fiery torments will be in reality, no less torturous than any symbol used to describe them!
The real eternal torment which the fire of hell symbolises, must be at least as terrifying and as painful as the experience of a person being thrown live into a literal lake of fire that never goes out!
Can you see then that there is no relief in believing that the "fire" of hell is just a symbol for God's wrath against unrepentant sinners. If the fire of hell is just symbolic, and there is no real literal fire, then you are still left with the terrifying reality which this fire represents. If the fire of hell was not a real literal fire, you are still left with eternal, conscious torment forever separated from the loving presence of God with no hope of escape or relief from this everlasting and painnful punishment! The torments will still be real because the Bible says they will bring forth from you wailing and gnashing of teeth!
Have you ever had such pain that it produce wailing and gnashing of teeth? In hell, this is eternal!
There is no comfort in seeing the fire of hell as merely symbolic and not literal. The reason is that whatever the nature of the flame in the spiritual dimension of the afterlife (a flame that will bring torment not only to wicked humans but to wicked spiritual beings) and whatever kind of bodies the wicked are raised with (John 5:29), the suffering of those tormented by this flame is real and therefore hell's fire is real. We see this in the story of the rich man and Lazarus...
In hell, the rich man cried out, "I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME!" (Luke 16:19-31)
Hell is a real place! Hell fire is real! Hell is to be avoided at all costs!
Please also realise that ultiimately it is not hell you need to fear! It's the one who had the power to create hell and send people to hell, forever!
Quick summary of how the Bible describes hell
If you go to hell, you won't be going for the weekend.
There is no hope of getting out - ever!
In the brief references below, it is clear that hell is a literal PLACE (regardless of whether the fire is literal or not) that people will be sent to. It is a place of fire, torment, damnation, wailing and gnashing of teeth, outer darkness and everlasting punishment
Hell is a real place of "fire": Matt 5:22; 18:9, Mark 9:47; Matt 7:19, 13:40, 25:41; Matt 13:42, 50.
Hell is a place which is 'eternal", it will exist forever: Mark 9:43, 45; Mark 9:44, 46, 48; Matt 18:8, 25:41.
Hell is a place of "damnation". Damnation is not good: Matt 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47; Matt 23:33; Mark 3:29; you won't escape through death because there is a "resurrection of damnation" John 5:29.
Hell is a place where there will be much "wailing and gnashing of teeth" Matt 13:42, 50, Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30.
Hell is a place of "torment" Luke 16:28, Luke 16:23, Luke 16:24.
Hell is a place of "outer darkness" Matt 8:12, 22:13.
Hell is a place of "everlasting punishment": Matt 25:46.
Hell is a place you don't want to go because if you got there, you will never get out. Hence the saying, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here!"
It's not Hell you should fear!
The Bible says, fear has to do with torment and punishment BUT God's perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:17-18). Hold on to that as you read on and discover more about hell fire and why you should fear God who alone has authority to cast you into hell.
Is Hell real? Everything in the Bible says it is. Because you will die one day, you need to check this out now. Please read on and discover the truth about hell. This is not something you can afford to be wrong about. Especially if you're already on a highway to hell!
Jesus said, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him" (Luke 12:4-5). Only God can throw you into hell and only God can save you from hell.
The Bible says God is a "consuming fire" and "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:29-31). That's why Jesus first disciples said, "knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Corinthians 5:11). Yes, we are trying to persuade you. Can you see why? God is Holy and he has set aside a day when he will judge all people's with righteousness and truth. It will be God's day of justice.
