We are continuing our study of eternity, and over the last few days specifically looking at the topic of Hell. What do the Scriptures say about those consigned to Hell—who will go there? The Book of Revelation says:
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).
The verse above teaches that people who are cowards, people who are liars, and those who are unbelievers in Christ, at the second resurrection, will be sent to a lake that burns with fire and brimstone. I do not know whether the lake is a literal lake of fire, or if the lake of fire is a figurative picture of a state of being. I do not care to find out! Either way, what we do know about the lake of fire is that it is a place that will be full of torment and destruction. The Bible also describes Hell as a place of eternal darkness (Jude 1:13). We have a choice to be consumed by the Light or by the Darkness. We will embrace one or the other for eternity.
Think about the nature of light and darkness. Light promotes health and well-being. Plants need light to survive. Light exposes, and it also nourishes. It supports life. It illuminates. Darkness covers and hides. It is an absence of light. Psychologists tell us that prolonged darkness can cause depression and other maladies. It is not healthy for people to live with a lack of light. The lake of fire will be a place of darkness.
Today, it is considered unpopular to even talk about such a place of darkness. Who would deserve to go there? Let me ask you this: How many murders does it take to be a murderer? One! How many lies does it take to be a liar? One! How many sins does it take to be a sinner? One! We are all in need of a Savior, and there is none other than Jesus who can save you from your sin and its penalty.
The way to God is first to realize our need for a Savior. Paul the Apostle put it this way, "There is no one righteous, not even one…there is no one who does good, not even one" (Romans 3:10-12). Paul says that no one will be declared righteous by keeping a system of works (The Law, Romans 3:20). He states that righteousness apart from the law has been made known, i.e., the substitutionary death of Christ for you and in place of you. This righteousness is imparted to you when you repent (turn away from sin and turn to Christ) of your sin and receive the person of Jesus Christ to sit on the throne room of your life. This trust in Christ is the only way out of going to a place of torment (Acts 4:12). When you believe in Jesus, your name is written in the book of life (Revelation 21:27), a record book of all those who have turned their lives over to Christ and received Him into their lives to forgive their sin. Those whose names are not found in the book are tormented in the lake of fire:
And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
He also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will 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 goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:10-11, Emphasis mine).
My prayer is that you may never go to such a place. Believe and place your trust in the Lord Jesus—do it today! Keith Thomas
Taken from the series Insights into Eternity. Click on study 4 or this link: The Truth About Hell
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