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THE PLACE CALLED HELL - NO. I

By George W. Sinquefield

Matthew 10:28 (KJV)
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

        Many people seem obsessed with the subject of hell. We hear some talk of "going to hell and back." They speak of certainties as being "sure as hell." Things that seem impossible as occurring when "hell freezes over." And bad experiences are said to "hurt like hell." Many others inject profanity into their conversation by adding a casual or angry reference to hell. The more hell shows up in casual conversation, the less it is actually thought about in religious circles.

        Do you believe there is a hell and that those who refuse salvation through Christ, our Savior, will go there when they leave this world? We hear little about hell today. When did you hear a sermon on hell? When did you have a Sunday School lesson on hell?

        People do not want to hear about hell. I had preached on hell for some three or four Sundays. The lady who was our pianist came up the next Sunday and said to me, "Are you preaching on hell again? I've heard all I care about hearing on hell."

        Some say, "I hate hell." So do I but if a preacher is to be true to God's Word he has got to preach on hell and warn the lost sinner. I hate snakes but my hatred does not exterminate them. I hate fleas, mosquitos, ticks, rats and flies but we still have them. I hate lying, dishonesty, infidelity, idolatry, sham but again, my hatred does not exterminate them. If hate were an exterminator we could get rid of all the things we hate but it is not.

        Italy's Roman Catholic philosopher, Ettore Albino, said, "A certain satisfaction with this world has replaced the aspiration of heaven. A consumer society gives man happiness, even if it is superficial Nobody wants to hear of hell. The subject of hell has become as present in street talk as it is absent in Sunday sermons."

        Dr. Herschel Hobbs, a noted Greek scholar and speaker on the Baptist Hour a few years ago said, "The very idea of hell strikes a revolting chord in the minds of many. They ask with searching pointedness, "How do you reconcile a hell of torments with a loving God?" This question through history has been raised innumerable times and the frequent raising of it has given rise to many sects and cults who, being unable to answer it honestly, decided to ignore the whole affair by denying its existence."

        Permit me to make the words of another mine. "I am anxious to emphasize one thing only: the fact of hell. The man of clear vision faces facts because they are facts, and not because he likes them or wants them to be facts. Side-stepping the unpleasant in reality is one of the great feats of this generation. It is cowardly, hypocritical, and disastrous. What we do not like we push aside as error, a phantom of the mortal mind, an illusion, a mirage. By doing so we plow straight ahead into catastrophe. The fact that we do not want it to be there doesn't keep it from being there.

        Our generation is continuously seeking for some comfortable adjustment. We want a lounging chair religion. We want to go to heaven along the road of selfishness, greed, worldliness, sensuality, appetite, passion, and all the rest of the sordid pottage for which we are constantly selling our birthrights. and above all, if we miss heaven, we want to side-step hell. We have decided that the best way to do that is not to have any hell. So we do what Russia tried to do with God; we simply throw hell through the window! Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

        One has said, "Hell fire is a riot of imaginative genius, it is the feeblest form of sentimentality to believe in heaven, just as it is a terrible folly to believe in hell."

        The Russian theologian Berdyaw said, "It is remarkable how little people think about hell or trouble about it. This is the most striking evidence of human frivolity." What he wrote more than 50 years ago is even more true today than when he penned it. "The more hell shows up in casual conversation, the less it is actually thought about." Humanity can never get rid of hell by wishing it out of existence. Hell is real whether we want to hear about it or not.

        A doctor told his wealthy patient, "I'm sorry, but my examination shows that you have cancer." The patient, whose money had always been able to buy any desired favor, screamed at the doctor, "Don't you dare tell me I have cancer! I pay you too much money for that!" But the doctor sadly replied, "Simply ignoring your condition does not change the facts. I can tell you anything you want to hear, but you still have cancer and will die probably within six months." Some say only the feeble-minded, the ignorant believe in hell. Nothing is further from the truth.

        Dr. R. A. Torrey: "I claim to be a scholarly preacher. I have a right to so claim. I have taken two degrees, specializing in Greek in one of the most highly esteemed universities of America. I have also studied at two German universities. I have read the Bible in three languages every day of my life for many years. I have studied a large share of what has been written on different sides of the question in English and in German. I have written between thirty and forty different books which have been translated, I am told, into more languages than the books of any other living man. I say this simply to show that I have a right to call myself a scholarly preacher. Yet I believe the old-fashioned Bible doctrine regarding hell."

        Dr. Larry Lewis preached at the Alabama Baptist State Convention some time back and had this to say, "I have a terrible fear that an awful malady has smitten Southern Baptists and has sapped our strength and has zapped our vitality and our witness and our work for the Lord. And do you know what it is? It is the malady of unconscious universalism. (Universalism teaches that all will be saved.) Its the malady of a heart that really is not convinced that people without God are that bad off."

        By the way many professing Christians live, we could easily believe that they do not feel that people without Jesus are lost and on their way to hell. A religious sect which is growing fast today denies there is a hell. I clipped the following from one of their publications. "A doctrine of Christian belief which has been much distorted by the dark age superstitions is that which pertains to the punishment of those who disobey the divine law. We have seen the plain teachings of the Bible to be that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). We have found the scriptural definition of death to be a state of unconsciousness -- symbolically described as sleep. We also found that the death penalty applies to the "soul" or complete being, and is not limited merely to the disintegration of the human organism.

        Universalists is another religious group who believe that eventually everyone will end up in heaven. There are several scriptures that they believe supports their thinking.

1 Peter 3:18 through 1 Peter 3:20 (KJV)
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1 Peter 4:6 (KJV)
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

1 Timothy 2:5 through 1 Timothy 2:6 (KJV)
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Acts 3:21 (KJV)
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV)
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Philippians 2:9 through Philippians 2:11 (KJV)
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 1:20 (KJV)
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

        They take these out of context and try to make them teach that which they're not intended to teach. It is very dangerous, extremely dangerous, to use a few difficult passages to try to override many that are very clear.

        Once on an American troopship during World War II, a group of soldiers crowded around the chaplain and asked, "Sir, do you believe in hell?" "No, I do not," replied the chaplain. "Well, then will you please resign, for if there is no hell, we don't need you and if there is a hell we do not wish to be led astray."

        Preachers, and all Christians, must warn the lost if we're to be true to the Bible. We do not do people a favor when we remain silent about the subject of hell. When we do preach on hell as eternal for the lost, we are called "narrow," "harsh," and "cruel." As to being narrow, I have no desire to be any broader than Jesus was. As to being cruel -- is it cruel to tell man the truth? Is it cruel to warn people on a ship that the ship has sprung a leak and the passengers must get to the lifeboats? Is it cruel to tell a city of an approaching storm? Is it cruel to arouse sleeping people to the fact that the home is on fire? Is it cruel to declare to people the deadliness of certain diseases? Is it cruel to pull a blind person out of the way of a speeding automobile? As one has said, "I would rather be called cruel for being kind then be called kind for being cruel." God help us to be deadly serious about hell for hell is no joking matter.

        Someone spoke jokingly to D. L. Moody about the suffering of the wicked in hell. Moody did not laugh about it. Rather he said, "You might at least speak of that with tears in your eyes."

        Dr. Lee Scarborough said, "When we preach on the wrath of God, on the doctrine of hell we must do it with heart compassion." A church was in need of a pastor. A candidate came who preached on hell. The next Sunday another candidate came whose sermon was also on hell, and his fundamental teaching was the same as the first one. When the members of the church were called upon to vote, they voted for the second candidate. When they were asked why, the answer was, "The first one spoke as if he were glad that people were going to hell, while the second seemed sorry for it."

        Those listening to us may never hear another sermon. Perhaps you have heard the story of the preacher who paid a visit to the penitentiary on one Saturday. He was shown throughout the wards and the main auditorium. Just before leaving, the warden asked him if he would like to come back on Sunday and give a message to the inmates of the penitentiary. The preacher agreed. He went back to his hotel, but he was disturbed about the service and so he returned to the penitentiary. He found the warden. He said, "I would like to ask a few questions." He was taken into the assembly hall. As he stood on the platform, he looked out over the empty auditorium. The warden said, "This is where you will be preaching. Every seat will be taken."

        The preacher looked down to the front. Two chairs right in the front of him were draped in black. The warden said, "The men who sit there will be listening to their last sermon. They are going to the electric chair in just a few hours after they hear you."

        The person who laughs at hell is a fool. There are all kinds of fools mentioned in the Bible. There is the slandering fool.

Proverbs 10:18 (KJV)
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

        There is the atheistic fool who says there is no God.

Psalm 53:1 (KJV)
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

       There is the meddlesome fool.

Proverbs 20:3 (KJV)
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

        There is the hypocritical fool.

Luke 11:39 through Luke 11:40 (KJV)
39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

        But the greatest fool is the one who mocks at sin and hell.

Proverbs 14:9 (KJV)
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

        The person who laughs at hell-fire is a fool, for he is mocking God.

Galatians 6:7 (KJV)
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

       The man who laughs at hell-fire is a fool because he is mocking at the warnings of God. Throughout the Bible, God warns man of sin, judgment and hell.

        A friend of Martin Luther came to him one day to advise that he had overheard two men discussing their plans to slay him. Then the man took from his pocket a picture and said, "Here is a picture of one of the men who made this statement. I want you to take this picture and look at it often and keep his likeness in mind, that you may beware of this man, for he's the one who seeks to take your life." The Bible more clearly paints many pictures of warning. God never suggests any horrible doom until there has been a well established warning.

        If there is no hell then Calvary was a mistake and Jesus died in vain. It was the one great objective that caused the Son of God to leave the portals of glory above and step down to a sin cursed world, and that was to redeem a sinning world from the jaws of hell. Hear Him say, "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." And hear Him as from Golgotha's brow comes the cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" From the cross He was taken and sealed in a tomb and He burst asunder the bands of death, for they could not hold Him, and came forth triumphant and showed Himself able to give life to those who put their trust in Him. Calvary was a success! The atoning work was finished! The way of salvation from an everlasting Hell had been paved. But Calvary, with all its cost and sacrifice, was the blunder of all ages if there is no hell. And in the face of Calvary, I say there is a hell!

        Just what is hell like. If we want the truth, we must turn to the Bible, God's Word. We are wise to assume no more and no less than the Bible says about hell."

I.    Hell is a place of fire and brimstone.

        We'll let Jesus tell us about it.

1.    A lake of fire
Matthew 5:22 (KJV)
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 18:8 (KJV)
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

2.    Unquenchable fire
Mark 9:43 through Mark 9:44 (KJV)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
3.    Everlasting fire
Matthew 18:8 (KJV)
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Mark 9:43 (KJV)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

4.    Fire and brimstone
Revelation 21:7 through Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
5.    Flames of fire
Luke 16:24 (KJV)
24 And he cried and said, 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.
6.    Furnace of fire
Matthew 13:41 through Matthew 13:42 (KJV)
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
        You ask, "Will it be literal fire? Let me ask you, "What is literal fire? You may say that, "It is something at the end of a match. It is something that is hot. It is combustion." You do not understand fire in this life and you start questioning God's statements about the fire of hell. Some say these descriptions of hell are just pictures. May we never forget that the reality is far worse than the picture. A storm is far worse than the picture of a storm. The same is true of: a forest fire, an automobile wreck, a train wreck or a plane crash.

        One writer says: "Jesus probably used the word fire as a metaphor. Someone asks what's a metaphor? It's a likeness or a similarity set forth as a reality. Jesus, for example, said, "I am the door." He didn't mean he was a literal door, but he meant he was like a door. He said "I am the vine." He didn't mean he was a literal vine, but he meant he was like a vine. He said, "I am the good shepherd." He meant he was like the good shepherd. On one occasion he described King Herod, Herod Antipus, as a fox. He didn't mean that he was a literal fox, but that he was like one, cunning, and treacherous, and wile. Over and over again in God's Word we have metaphors. It is possible that Jesus used the word fire metaphorically. Why did he do that? God is an infinite God and hell is an infinite place but we are finite creatures, and here is an infinite God attempting to describe to us what cannot be described. Now, how is he going to do it? I don't believe there is an absolute description of either heaven or hell in the Bible. All of it has to be reached by analogy and metaphors, and God has to say it's like this and it's like this and it's like this. He must reason from what we know into the area where we do not know. The Bible talks about heaven as having jaded walls and golden streets and gates of pearl. Are we to understand that literally or is that simply John's way of telling us that heaven is far more wonderful than anything we've ever comprehended or anything we've ever known. That's what's involved. And, when you read the Bible about hell, this is God's way of telling us that hell is far worse than anything we've ever considered. The nearest thing to it in our vocabulary is fire. The nearest thing to it in human experience is that of a burn.. This is the language of our Lord. He uses it over, and over, and over again in order to describe hell. If hell is just one tenth as bad as any description found in the Bible, that would be enough to say I don't want to go, but the truth of the matter is it's a thousand times worse than any description found in God's Word. Worse -- just like heaven is far more beautiful and wonderful than any description found in the Bible."

        Another states: "Men may debate whether or not hell is a real fire. But even if you insist that it is not, that should give you no comfort. The Bible uses the most terrible suffering to describe the horrors of hell. Therefore, if hell is not fire it is something worse."

        Charles M. Howard said, "You say to me, 'I've come now to feel that the language about the eternity of hell is only figurative language?' I don't have a minute to argue with you, for in every case I have observed, in the New Testament figures as well as the Old, the figure is always somewhat less than the truth it vehicles. Jesus said, 'I'm the light of the World.' I know He's not a ray of light from the sun, the center of our solar system. But never light strikes your human retina that electrifies and cleanses and glorifies and energizes like the light of the Son of God when you say the irrevocable "yea" to Him. He's better than light. He says, "I am the vine." I know He's not a grapevine, but did ever a vine ever abide in its parent like we abide in Him as we look away to Him who is the Author and Finisher of our faith? The figure is less than the truth it vehicles. If you're counting on going to hell, for your sake I hope it is literal. For I'm afraid it's far worse than any figure of speech could ever portray."

        It's important to remember that the Bible often uses fire as a symbol. In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, our works (or doctrines) are portrayed as "wood, hay, straw" that will be consumed by the fire of judgment or as "gold, silver, precious stones" that will endure the fire. In James 3:5,6 the tongue is a "fire," causes "fire," and is itself "set on fire by hell." Hebrews 12:29 declares that "our God is a consuming fire." Jude 23 speaks of people who have been doctrinally misled and are in need of being snatched "out of the fire." In all of these references the fire is symbolic.

        In Revelation 20, the expression "lake of fire" occurs three times to denote the final destiny of God's enemies. As a result, some sincere Christians have portrayed hell as a place where people will writhe and scream in pain for all eternity. But even Johathan Edwards, who in his famous sermon on hell, "Sinners in the Hands of and Angry God," pictured sinners as worms shriveling in the fire, made it clear that he did not think of hell as literal fire and brimstone. He used these figures to portray the pain that will result from separation from God, the emptiness of a totally self-centered life, and the accusations of a guilty conscience.

        Years ago an old Scottish preacher was passing a glass factory just before going to the church to preach. As the door was ajar, and it was still some time to the service, he stepped inside. One of the large furnaces had just been opened. He gazed into the quite, blue, and purple masses of flames until it nearly seared his face. As he turned away, unaware of anyone being present, he exclaimed, "Ho, mon, What shall hell be like?" A stoker standing in the shadow heard him. Several nights later at the church a man came up to him. "You don't know me, but the other night when you stepped into the furnace room I hear what you said. Every time I have opened that furnace since then, the words ring in my mind, "What shall hell be like!" I have come tonight to find the way of salvation so that I will not have to find out what hell is like."

II.     Hell is a place of torment.

        Webster defines torment as "extreme pain." Six times the word torment is used to describe the state of the wicked or the state of the dead who die without Christ. In Luke, chapter 16 the word is used four times.

Luke 16:23 through Luke 16:25 (KJV)
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, 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. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Luke 16:28 (KJV)
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Revelation 14:9 through Revelation 14:11 (KJV)
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Revelation 20:10 (KJV)
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

        Jehovah's Witnesses say, "The Bible does say a great deal about hell, even the expression "hellfire" is to be found in the sacred record. Yet, upon investigation it is found that the Bible hell is not a place of torment at all, but is merely the condition of the dead; and that condition we have discovered, is one of unconsciousness."

        One cannot be tormented unless consciousness is present. Hear Jesus again:

Matthew 25:46 (KJV)
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

       The import of everlasting punishment in this verse is simply this, "And these shall go away into everlasting, conscious, suffering torment." That is what hell is.

Matthew 25:30 (KJV)
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

        When a person is in severe pain, he weeps and grits his teeth. He can hardly bear it and that is what Jesus is saying.

III.    Hell is death -- spiritual, eternal death.

        Hell has for its fiercest torture the separation of the soul from God. The lost are at the present time in a state of spiritual death. Paul, writing to the Ephesians referred to the Gentiles as, "excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them." What is salvation? It is God sharing His life with the repentant sinner.

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV)
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

       Now hear what Jehovah's Witnesses say about this matter. "The whole picture is one of destruction rather than of torment. Even the mention of the worms die not, intensifies this picture of destruction; as these worms are unquestionably those which infest all dead carcasses. The translators of this passage, of course, believed in the theory of eternal torture and they did the best they could to give us a translation that would seemingly lend support to their suppositions. Hence the "unquenchable" fire and the "undying worms" give the text an appearance that convinces some that eternal torture in a hell of fire must indeed be the fate of the wicked.

        If we will but use our common sense, however, we shall find that the passage presents no problem of this kind at all. Any fire that completely consumes that which is being burned is properly called an unquenchable fire. A fire that continues to burn until all combustible material at hand is consumed is a fire that is not quenched, yet it is not an eternal fire. So Jesus was here illustrating the fact that sinners would not be able to escape the full penalty of sin, which is death, or destruction -- that the fires of destruction will not be quenched. Also that in case the symbolic fire did not for any reason complete the work of destruction the ever present "worms" would. Hence from every standpoint we can see that the Master was here using a symbol of destruction which again bears out the united testimony of the Scriptures that the "wages of sin is death."

        The Bible says, "Let God be true but every man a liar" -- Now what does God say about this.

Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

       This means that one who is lost is living in a state of spiritual death, is separated from the life of God, the life Jesus came to give.

John 1:4 (KJV)
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 5:40 (KJV)
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

John 6:33, 35 (KJV)
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 10:10 (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1 John 5:12 (KJV)
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 20:11 through Revelation 20:15 (KJV)
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

        Fear not the first death for it cannot hurt you if you are a child of God. Jesus has removed the sting of death. He went through the gate of death and changed it into the gate of life. All the first death can do is release us from our physical body so we can go to be with the Lord and enjoy the blessings He has in store for us.

        But a word of caution to those who are lost those who have never repented of sin and trusted Jesus as Savior. The first death cuts off any chance to repent and be saved. It closes once and forever the door to salvation. One who is lost when he experiences the first death will be lost forever and that is the second death. The Bible urges sinners to be saved today -- now.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

        A skeptic once said, "There is one thing that mars the pleasures of my life." "What is that?" inquired a friend. He said, "I an afraid the Bible is true. If I could know for certain that death is an eternal sleep I should be happy; but the fear that the Bible is true is the thorn that pierces my soul, for if the Bible is true I am lost forever."

        There is a hell but, praise the Lord, you can be saved from it if you'll accept Jesus as you Savior. Most people, however, are merely ignoring the long term possibilities of their own choices. They are either counting on the hope that God is too loving to send them to hell, or they are assuming that they aren't bad enough to be sent there. Many are so preoccupied with trying to survive day-to-day struggles that they have chosen not to worry about the future.

        Dr. William G. Coltman tells the story about a mother who was crossing a prairie with her babe in her arms. As she journeyed along, she saw in the distance a dark cloud of smoke, small at first, but gradually increasing in size until it grew to immense proportions. She knew it was a prairie fire. She saw she could not possibly escape the scorching and singing tongues of flame because it was traveling with lightning like speed. So she prepared for the inevitable. As the roaring flames like merciless demons approached she threw herself across the hole in the ground. In a moment it was all over. Later her charred body was found over the spot, but the baby was alive. She had given herself for her baby. Her sacrifice saved the baby from a fiery death. Likewise Christ died to save us from eternal death.

        Nothing is clearer in the Bible than that one determines in this life his eternal destiny. If he separates himself from God in this life he will be separated from God for eternity. If he receives God into his life then he will live with God for eternity. One's destiny is not decided in the judgment; it is simply confirmed. One's eternal destiny is self chosen.

        B. H.Carroll: "You say that you will not let God Almighty have His way. Then God Almighty will never save you soul. There is no more hope of you salvation than there is of expecting that this earth in one moment shall be converted into a diamond. You are just as certain for hell as if you were there today."

John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.