| Hell (Part 4) In order to gain a more, shall we say, in depth understanding it is helpful to review parts 1, 2 and 3 before proceeding into this more advanced treatment of HELL. Jesus makes mention in specific gospel texts (Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, and Luke 20:47)of those who will be worthy of "the greater damnation". This seems to indicate that there are deeper levels of hell -- levels of suffering and torment, if you will. These recipients of greater damnation are those who seduce and subvert in the name of God. Religious hypocrites. There are some references to those who will be left outside of the greatest party of all time, The Great Marriage Feast of the Lamb of God (as the Bible calls it), those who are bounced out of the guest line and left in a place called simply, "outer darkness" will be in horrible suffering. It is here where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth". Imagine the anguish of those souls who reflect upon their comparatively short lives here on earth and face an eternity of deprivation in the afterlife. Torture comes in many forms. Part of the relief in temporary pain is the fact that we know it's temporary. Imagine pain that will never go away; Pain that will continue forever and ever. The mere thought of eternal pain makes the pain worse, until it is amplified in the soul exponentially. Here in this life, cravings for example, can be satisfied, but imagine that craving with no body to seek satisfaction through. A craving that has controlled the soul through it's appetite for a lifetime. These are all levels of hell. How could a loving God do this to His creations? I am not going to sugar-coat this at all. If you've reviewed the first 3 Parts of the this series, then you've already seen that God is terrible. He is all-powerful. He is Justice personified. You do not want to get on His bad side. But He is also merciful. How can these two extremes co-exist? Only through one loophole. That loophole is His love. That love that is so great that it motivated Him to meet the demands of His own justice by paying the penalty. By paying the debt for all those who violated His divine laws. The bible says, "we have an advocate with the Father" (I John 2:1), a lawyer who pleads our case. That advocate is Jesus; The Son of God; The second person of the trinity. And your rejection of this divine court appointed attorney is the only thing that can send you to the eternal electric chair. Think about that. Don't point and ask about the starving natives in Biafra... their destiny is in the hands of a merciful God... don't blame your religious, hypocritical bad experiences with churches... don't say there's no hope for you... God is urgently trying to get your attention with this message right now. You need to let Him get hold of your life and repent of all that would keep you from following Jesus Christ, reading His Word, and following the lead of the Holy Spirit. Pray to Him now while there is still time and receive His forgiveness and mercy. There is only one escape from the judgement of God. And that's Jesus Christ and His resurrection life becoming one with yours. Be infused with Him. Let nothing stop you or get in the way. Get hold of God's pronouncement of "NOT GUILTY" today. |