HELL IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR YOU

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism) DIP, BA, (Theology) MA, PhD

HELL IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR YOU

... "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame”...{Luke 16:23-24}

INTRODUCTION:

Norway, a country on the European Continent, which is situated in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, presently harbours a point known as “hell” in its village of Lanke Styerdal; which has a population of about 1500 people. The village has become a minor tourist attraction because of its name, as visitors besiege the place for sight-seeing.

                 The Norwayian word “hell”, from which the Lanke Styerdal village derives its name stems from the old norse, hellir, which means “overhang” or “luck”, and offers a lot of funware and pleasantries. But, the “”hell” which the Holy Bible talks about is an unfavourable place of everlasting punishment for sinners who would not repent during their life time on earth, and situates outside the geographical location of this world.

NATURE OF HELL

According to Louis Berkhof, some view “hell” as merely a condition, but GOD’S WORD pictures it as a real place, and describes it as “furnace of fire” {Matt. 13:42}, “Lake of fire.” {Rev. 20:14} and a “prison,” {1 Peter 3:19}. Hell is also described as a “place of torments,” {Luke 10:23-24}, a “place of gnashing of teeth,” {Matt. 13:14}, and a “place where worms do not die,” {Matt. 9:43-44}.

NAMES OF HELL

The Bible uses various names for “hell”, which really highlight its nature. In line with this, it refers to hell as:

{1} Grave: The word “grave” is translated from Hebrew                                                                                                                                                                                                       word “shoel,” which means a place for the departed dead, the righteous or wicked.

{2} Gehenna: The word “gehenna” is cited   in {Matt. 5:22} and is used figuratively as a name for the place or state of everlasting punishment. Geographically, this place is physically located at the south side of Jerusalem, where rites of the heathen god “molech,” was celebrated, {1             Kings 11:7}

{3} Hades: The word “hades,” means unseen, the place of departed souls. The New Testament describes it as a       place of torments and conscious suffering,{Luke 16:23-   31}

{4} Tartaros: The word “tartaros” is a citation from {1Peter 2:4}, which implies the deepest abyss of hades- a place of confinement, prison for the fallen angels, {Jude6}.

SUBJECTS OF HELL

Berkhof also remarks that, at the final state, the wicked {or sinners} will be consigned to the place of everlasting punishemnt, called “hell.” Originally, “hell” was not prepared for man, but for the devil and his angels. However, according to the Bible, all those who would not repent, but continue in sin, will, as well, suffer the torments of “hell” with Satan and his demons, {Matt. 25:41}.

ESCAPE FROM HELL

Hell is eternal prison for sinners who wouldn’t repent or surrender their lives to JESUS. But, it is not the WILL of GOD that anyone should perish, but that all should repent, {2Peter 3:9}.Therefore, for one to escape the  damnation of hell, one must:

{1}           REPENT: “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” ...{Acts 3:19}.

{2}           FORSAKE: “He who covers his sins will not prosper.                                                                                                                                                                                  But      whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy,” {Prov. 28:13}.

{3}           RECEIVE: “But as many as received HIM, to them HE                                                                      gave  the right to become children of GOD, those who believe in HIS NAME, {John 1:12}.

{4} CONTINUE: “Then JESUS said to those Jews who believed HIM, “if you continue in MY WORD, you are MY

disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”  {John 8:31-32}.

In conclusion,... “what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? {Mark 8:36-37}. DON’T REGRET IN HELL!

REFERENCES:

Hell, Nord- Trendelag-Wikipedia

-the free encyclopedia.

Berhof, Louis {1953} Systematic Theology,

The Banner of Truth Trust, U.S.A

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