THE ETERNAL FLAMES OF FIRE ALREADY EXISTS – IT IS CALLED; HELL
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Die ewige vuur bestaan alreeds – dit is die Hel”
Let me start right away by saying that the Word (the Bible) as I read it, do make us thoroughly understand, that hell do exist.
I didn't count it myself, but theologians who are smarter than me and who have done more specialized studies on this matter, tell me that the Word mention hell 167 times.
Before I get to that, just the following:
Firstly, some people are easily misled and deceived (out of ignorance) by others about the Word – and then claim that there is no such thing as hell.
Secondly, some people are abused by satan – and then claim in his service that there is no such thing as a hell, because God is not so cruel and unloving.
The following passage from the Word certainly applies to the latter people:
JAMES 3:6
6And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; (now, while they live and preach lies) the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna). (which now exists)
There is also the following fact that we must take careful note of:
No one speaks more about Hell and its reality in the Word of our Lord, than Jesus Christ – and as I always say:
There is no one who has ever walked this earth who can speak with more authority about hell than Jesus Christ.
However, I mentioned that the Word clearly show us that hell – like heaven – is a reality, and I share with you the following few examples:
MAT 25:41 41“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons);
Do you see what you have read?
MAT 25:41 … 41“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons);
Hell is already there.
Hell is not going to start one day.
It is already there waiting for satan and his angels.
Yes, also for those who, like angels of light, as false apostles/teachers, distort Jesus ' gospel and preach falsehoods:
2 COR 11:13-15
13For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds.
Furthermore, we read:
JUDE 1:7
7just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and sensual perversity. They are exhibited [in plain sight] as an example in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.
Do you see –
The people of Sodom and Gomorrah are not going to suffer the punishment of eternal fire anywhere in the future. They are already undergoing it:
JUDE 1:7 ….. in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.
Then Jesus tell us about the rich man and Lazarus and the story is so rich in truths that we need to know, but I only share with you what is relevant in my answer to you:
LUKE 16:22-25
22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
Jesus begins this narrative with the following words:
LUK 16:19 19“Now there was a certain rich man who was habitually dressed in expensive purple and fine linen, and celebrated and lived joyously in splendor every day.
As I always tell people:
Jesus says, "there was a rich man" and for me, when Jesus says, "there was a rich man." Then you can know, there was a rich man:
Jesus says on occasion to His enemies:
MAT 23:32-33
32Fill up, then, the [allotted] measure of the guilt of your fathers’ sins. 33You serpents, you spawn of vipers, how can you escape the penalty of hell?
Then, finally, I share with you these two more examples: and the first is where, to put it this way, Jesus was very personally involved:
1PET 3:18-20
18For indeed Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit; 19in which He also went and preached to the spirits now in prison, 20who once were disobedient, when the great patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons [Noah’s family], were brought safely through the water.
In the Book of Revelation, we read:
REV 20:10 10And the devil who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and burning brimstone (sulfur), where the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.
Someone will ask: What then if we all one day stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ – How can there be already people in hell, as we read in the Word?
I explain this among other things, in two other writings with the names:
What happens to me after the grave?
What happens to us at the judgment of the great day?
Which you can find on my website, or just e-mail me and I will gladly send it to you.
Greetings,
Sakkie