What is hell?

[Johann]

If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth.

The Final Judgment
Mat 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Mat 25:32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Mat 25:33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Mat 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Mat 25:38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Mat 25:39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Mat 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Mat 25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Mat 25:44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’
Mat 25:45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
Mat 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”


Pretty self explanatory.

Johann

 

[1Way2God]

Pretty self explanatory.

Johann

Yes it is:

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

 

[MedicBravo]

@Christina2000
I want to add that you can NOT use verses by themselves without the preceding and post verses and make an effective argument or discussion. It's like hearing something but not the fully story and then spreading false info or rumors and then one looks like a fool b/c they make some assumption without the full story.

Matthew 25 concerns Jesus' Olivet Discourse
34-40 - The judgment and reward of those on the right hand.
41-46 - The judgment and condemnation of those on the left hand.

All actions have consequences; good or bad. Godly judgment is just judgment whether we like the outcome or not. "Yes, Lord. Your will be done." even if you or someone you care about is on the "bad" end of judgment.

Many say Satan and his demons are already in Hell but I've been following a pastor for a couple of years and others who say Hell is empty right now. Satan has full reign of Earth and that should be horrifying. Hell is a prison not some Sandals resort for evil.

Hell is not just absence of God knowing 100% He exists. Jesus preached on Hell being "fire and burning" among other things and spoke on it more than anyone. The seriousness of a damned soul is not a light thing.
If you truly care for another, especially a random stranger in another country you do not want them there no matter how bad they are.
IMO, that is what Jesus managed to teach the Disciples and yet we know they failed (but succeeded) and had a hard time of it. He taught them the standard we can obtain.

Lastly, Hell does will not have some hierarchy as Hollywood and pop culture might have you believe. The Bottomless pit is another place and Satan will be put there temporarily before finally being thrown into the Lake of Fire with the Antichrist and False Prophet. Hell was not made for humans. Any who end up there are in effect "trespassers".

 

[Beetow]

Well; I really don't think Matt 25:31-46 depicts the "final judgment" rather it
depicts a culling from the herd of Tribulation survivors relative to their treatment
of the Jews during a time of unequaled Antisemitism. If the Jews thought they had
it bad in the Holocaust: something worse is yet to come.
_

 

[MedicBravo]

@Beetow
No but the Left hand being judged by God is part of the process.

 

[Jonathan_Gale]

@Christina2000
I want to add that you can NOT use verses by themselves without the preceding and post verses and make an effective argument or discussion. It's like hearing something but not the fully story and then spreading false info or rumors and then one looks like a fool b/c they make some assumption without the full story.

Matthew 25 concerns Jesus' Olivet Discourse
34-40 - The judgment and reward of those on the right hand.
41-46 - The judgment and condemnation of those on the left hand.

All actions have consequences; good or bad. Godly judgment is just judgment whether we like the outcome or not. "Yes, Lord. Your will be done." even if you or someone you care about is on the "bad" end of judgment.

Many say Satan and his demons are already in Hell but I've been following a pastor for a couple of years and others who say Hell is empty right now. Satan has full reign of Earth and that should be horrifying. Hell is a prison not some Sandals resort for evil.

Hell is not just absence of God knowing 100% He exists. Jesus preached on Hell being "fire and burning" among other things and spoke on it more than anyone. The seriousness of a damned soul is not a light thing.
If you truly care for another, especially a random stranger in another country you do not want them there no matter how bad they are.
IMO, that is what Jesus managed to teach the Disciples and yet we know they failed (but succeeded) and had a hard time of it. He taught them the standard we can obtain.

Lastly, Hell does will not have some hierarchy as Hollywood and pop culture might have you believe. The Bottomless pit is another place and Satan will be put there temporarily before finally being thrown into the Lake of Fire with the Antichrist and False Prophet. Hell was not made for humans. Any who end up there are in effect "trespassers".

Ultimately, this depends on each one's personal definition of heaven and hell and how they visualize. Most Christians and even heathens believe that we go to heaven or hell, but that's really not biblical. According to Luke 16:19-31, Lazarus and the rich man, after we die we all go to Hades, aka the grave, the righteous end up in Abraham's bosom, the wicked in the burning coals, and in between is a "great gulf". When Christ returns, the righteous will rise and reign with him for a thousand years in the "kingdom of heaven" - right here on EARTH. After that there's the New Jerusalem and the Lake of Fire, of course, but the millennial kingdom must come FIRST, that is the real DAY of the Lord, for "a day with the Lord is like a thousand years". Most people are misguided by amillennialism or post-millennialism, they just spiritualize this part of the Scripture and dismiss it as irrelevant.

 

[Beetow]

Insensitive folk who come from the womb unable to feel compassion, are in very
grave danger of the sum of all fears.

• Matt 5:7 . . Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

• Jas 2:13 . . For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy.

As an experiment, keep an ear attuned for people who respond to the news of
someone's misfortune by saying "It could've been worse." That's a sympathy
challenged person.

NOTE: There are a number instructional web sites offering lists of helpful do's and
don'ts to assist sympathy-challenged people to at least respond properly to others'
misfortunes.
_

 

[1Way2God]

Insensitive folk who come from the womb unable to feel compassion, are in very
grave danger of the sum of all fears.

• Matt 5:7 . . Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

• Jas 2:13 . . For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy.

As an experiment, keep an ear attuned for people who respond to the news of
someone's misfortune by saying "It could've been worse." That's a sympathy
challenged person.

NOTE: There are a number instructional web sites offering lists of helpful do's and
don'ts to assist sympathy-challenged people to at least respond properly to others'
misfortunes.
_

1 Timothy 5:20
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

 

[Beetow]

God cautioned Cain:

• Gen 4:7 . . If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do
what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must
master it.

"to have you" indicates complete control over one's life so that Cain wouldn't just
be slipping into sin now and then, rather; sin would become his lifestyle should he
become independent enough to allow ignoring God to become a habit.
_

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings,

1 Timothy 5:20
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

this verse, which is overly quoted by modern, half-beat, would-be Christians, was given to Timothy by the Apostle Paul. I think, from memory, that the Apostle was instructing Timothy regarding the overseeing of the Church which is a far 'higher' position that anyone here at TalkJesus has either attained to or has been called to.

What happened to, 'humble yourselves, therefore'?

And Let him who is without sin cast the first stone?

Too many want to shoot down others, but forget that it is only by grace that they might have received any forgiveness themselves and been given any Biblical knowledge or instruction. All have sinned...that means all.

Yes, sin must be rebuked but if you have nothing in your own eye, no matter who you are (meaning anyone reading this), be careful how your yield your sword.

I am reminded of youngsters who learn a few nifty defence moves and then think they are super-heros and can take on the greatest villains. They even get to having slight delusional imaginations and fantasize about opposition that is not there.

A temptation all have, is to think more highly of themselves than they ought... and to not esteem anyone higher or better than themselves.

Why waltz 'into hell' if you have received enough and sufficient grace to exercise the same?


Jesus is the Lord


Bless you ....><>

 

[complete]

When studying Mathew 25, verses 41 to 42 I am wondering what is hell and who is in charge there? I always assumed it is the devil but now I need clarification.
If the eternal fire is prepared for the devil and his demons, that puts a new slant on things.

I always thought hell was where God is not present, so that fits the long term. Yet the devil and his followers are not yet in hell, so where do the unbelievers go meanwhile? How can the devil receive their lost souls?

'Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat:
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: ... '
(Mat 25:41-42)

Hello @Christina2000,

Having read the verses quoted above, you asked the question in your subject heading, 'What is Hell?' .
With the many responses you have received: do you now know, scripturally, what 'hell' is?
What is your conclusion?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

'Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat:
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: ... '
(Mat 25:41-42)

Hello again, @Christina2000,

It is interesting to note that this passage that you were studying, before asking the question heading this thread, is a prophecy regarding events that will take place at the end of the age. Therefore it is not a reference to hell, but to the fires of end time judgment. Also notice that it is the fire itself that is referred to as 'everlasting',

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

Hello @Christina2000,

Hell itself is the place of the dead: being a translation of four different Greek/Hebrew words, picked by the translators because it best suited the meaning of all; for it means, 'to hide away', which is what is done to a dead body. Only when it is used to translate the word Gehenna, does it have any reference to fires and judgment, because it refers to end-time judgment, and used by our Lord Himself. Those fires are also, 'the place of the dead': for it is the dead that are cast into them; for their punishment is final utter destruction, with no further hope of resurrection. They have been judged and found wanting, and this is their final end.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Beetow]

• Rev 20:13 . . I saw the dead, and they were judged, every one of them

That verse says that "every one" of them were judged. Well; I don't know precisely
how many every one will eventually number, but let's say that it's 100,000.

If each of these 100,000 cases were to take an hour to complete, we'd be looking
at roughly 4,167 calendar days, i.e. 11½ years-- that's if the judging by a solo
judge goes around the clock 24/7/365.

According to Daniel 7:13-14, John 5:22-3, and Acts 17:31, Messiah has been
designated to preside at the event. However, there's reason to suggest that he
won't be handling every case himself.

• 1Cor 6:2-3 . . Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the
world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law
courts? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? (cf. Matt 12:28)

The old testament's Levitical priests served in rotation, i.e. tours of duty, so to
speak. It's possible that Messiah's followers will serve as judges with him in the
same manner, which will expedite his case load considerably.

There's a few points related to that scene worth special mention.

1» According to Jude 1:14-15 the dead will be given a fair trial.

2» According to Matt 12:36, every word that the dead have spoken will be used as
evidence both against them and/or for them; not just their serious words, but also
their careless words.

3» The scene doesn't depict one future out of a variety of possible futures; no, it
depicts the actual future.

A Danger Foreseen
Is Half Avoided.
Cheyenne Proverb
_

 

[Johann]

Greetings,



this verse, which is overly quoted by modern, half-beat, would-be Christians, was given to Timothy by the Apostle Paul. I think, from memory, that the Apostle was instructing Timothy regarding the overseeing of the Church which is a far 'higher' position that anyone here at TalkJesus has either attained to or has been called to.

What happened to, 'humble yourselves, therefore'?

And Let him who is without sin cast the first stone?

Too many want to shoot down others, but forget that it is only by grace that they might have received any forgiveness themselves and been given any Biblical knowledge or instruction. All have sinned...that means all.

Yes, sin must be rebuked but if you have nothing in your own eye, no matter who you are (meaning anyone reading this), be careful how your yield your sword.

I am reminded of youngsters who learn a few nifty defence moves and then think they are super-heros and can take on the greatest villains. They even get to having slight delusional imaginations and fantasize about opposition that is not there.

A temptation all have, is to think more highly of themselves than they ought... and to not esteem anyone higher or better than themselves.

Why waltz 'into hell' if you have received enough and sufficient grace to exercise the same?


Jesus is the Lord


Bless you ....><>

The scene doesn't depict one future out of a variety of possible futures; no, it
depicts the actual future.

...and eternal, conscious destination.

Johann

 

[Beetow]

• 1Kings 22:18-23 . . I saw Jehovah sitting on His throne, and all the host of
heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. And Jehovah said: Who will
entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said this while another
said that.

. . .Then a spirit came forward and stood before Jehovah and said: I will entice him.

. . . And Jehovah said to him: How?

. . . And he said: I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his
prophets.

. . .Then He said: You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.

. . . Now therefore, behold, Jehovah has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all
these your prophets; and Jehovah has proclaimed disaster against you.

That scene depicts a very strange alliance. God actually recruited a creature from
the demon world to do some dirty work for Him: a black op, so to speak. That
suggests to me that the demon world is neither totally useless nor totally in Satan's
control; some are actually assets, which can be defined as something useful in an
effort to foil or defeat an enemy, e.g. a piece of military equipment, a spy, or an
assassin.

It's likely that God still manages some of His affairs like that even today when He
wants certain individuals destroyed without getting His hands dirty. For example
from post No.1 it's seen that some folks are on a road to Hell while others are on a
road to something better, i.e. the few and the many. I really have to wonder if
maybe some of those many on the road to Hell weren't talked into going that way
by spirits recruited by God to do it for Him. Now that's scary. Can you just imagine
the horror of being targeted like that and not aware of it! (cf. 2Thess 2:8-12)
_

 

[Beetow]

Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot released a sentimental song back in 1975
that speaks volumes about sympathy. Its lyrics are very touching. Here's a few that
I feel especially appropriate when talking about things like sickness, death, and the
hereafter.

Rainy day people always seem to know when it's time to call.
Rainy day people don't talk, they just listen till they've heard it all.
Rainy day lovers don't lie when they tell 'ya they've been down like you.
Rainy day people don't mind if you're cryin' a tear or two.

I sometimes wonder how much sympathy one can expect in the fiery netherworld. I
mean; sure they'll understand how we might feel about the unfortunate
circumstances in life that led us down there, but once you're there, everyone's
pretty much in the same boat and they're all longing for sympathy too.

In point of fact, I'd not be surprised if the competition for sympathy down there is
on the level of dog eat dog; and likely a fair number of sympathy hoarders
demanding total market share of it. I can just hear their feigned indignity; like this:

"Oh, stop whining already! Don't be such a baby. I deserve a lot more pity than
you. I've been down here for two millennia and you've only been down here for a
decade. What've you got to cry about? You should be grateful that your time down
here is shorter than mine."

I'd imagine that after a few years in that place the only sympathy that people can
feel after a while is sympathy for themselves because nobody is getting out down
there; they're all lifers so it's not unlikely that the only humanity that inmates pay
forward in that place is misery.
_