To Hell With God's Word?

There's nothing Satan would love to do more than hide the Bible in Hell or at least a discussion about Hell.  After all, if the Bible is hidden, people will never know God's plan and the gospel that frees them from Hell's grip.  And so, we find ourselves in a very serious discussion over the past weeks as to whether or not Hell is really the final destination for those who reject God.  In essence, Satan is trying to hide the Bible in the discussion of Hell and whether or not a loving God would really allow people to suffer there forever.  Satan is trying to hide God's word by teaching us to step outside of God's Word to understand God.  (P.S. Satan has been doing this for a long time!)  The problem is, that's never worked historically and it won't work now.  But many seem to be saying:  To Hell with God's Word.   

Really?

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Here is what God's Word has to say about Hell, eternity, and Itself:

The Rich Man and Lazarus


19 "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side.t The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. '25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' 27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—28 for I have five brotherst—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. '30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. '31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" -Luke 16:19-31 ESV


Judgment Before the Great White Throne


11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. -Revelation 20:11-15 ESV


18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. -Revelation 22:18-19 ESV




8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever. -Isaiah 40:8 ESV

So how can one be saved from Hell?  By recognizing our need for a savior because of our sinfulness.  We can't save ourselves from Hell only God can save us!  That is the hope of the gospel!  We don't have to experience Hell when we put our faith and trust in the only Savior—Jesus.  And according to God's word, there is no better (or other) time to make that decision than right here, right now. 

By Grace Through Faith


1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  -Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV