HELL YES/HELL NO
In 2014, a Pew Research Center poll found that twenty-nine percent of Catholics, eleven percent of Evangelical protestants, and 40 percent of mainline Protestants said they didn’t believe in the existence of hell.
“Two per cent of Americans firmly believe the Earth is flat, with interesting differences segmented by age, religion, income, and political affiliation. A recent survey found that just 66 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years old have "always believed the world is round." Only Two-Thirds Of American Millennials Believe The Earth Is Round Trevor Nace
Just because you believe something or do not believe something does not make it a fact. If you believe that the Word of God is truth, then you will believe what God says. If you do not, then what God says is not relevant.
Even the demons believed in Jesus and God. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:19 (NIV) “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Mark 1:24 (NIV)
“Of the 1,850 verses in the New Testament that record Jesus’ words, 13 percent of them deal with the subject of eternal judgment and hell. In fact, Jesus spoke more frequently about hell than He did about heaven.” — Robert Jeffress, How Can I Know?
Jesus did speak about hell more than heaven. The following are verses where Jesus gave warnings about hell:
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 5:22 (NIV)
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 (NIV)
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Matthew 11:23 (NIV)
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Matthew 23:33 (NIV)
In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. Luke 16:23 (NIV)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13 (NIV)
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41 (NIV)
It was never God’s plan for anyone to go to hell. Hell was created for Satan and demons. Sin separates us from having a relationship with God. Because we are sinners, we are not automatically entitled to enter into God’s presence therefore we cannot enter heaven as we are. “So heaven is not our default destination. No one goes there automatically. Unless our sin problem is resolved, the only place we will go is our true default destination…..Hell.” (“Heaven” by Randy Alcorn.)
So this brings us to the question, “Once you are saved, are you always saved?” When you surrender your life to Jesus and ask for forgiveness of your sins you are saved. What does saved mean? It means that you have passed from death to life----spiritual death, but this does not mean we have a “get out of hell free” card. We have to be in a state of constant reconciliation with God. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
There is a Nigerian pastor named Daniel who gave a testimony of visiting heaven and hell. He experienced this on his way to the hospital after a car accident where he was dying. This video can be seen on YouTube Nigerian Pastor Who Went to Hell by John Sturm at Eternal Productions.com. When he went to hell he saw people in torment and agony. He saw a pastor that said, “I’m a Pastor and I stole money from the church, I’m ready to repent.” The Angel that guided him told Daniel that if the Book of his life was to be closed today, this would be his portion and Daniel said that it could not be because he himself was a pastor and born again. The Angel said, “Enough, enough, when you were on your way to the first hospital you were asking God to forgive you but you would not forgive your wife and your sins have not been forgiven. It is a matter of reaping what you sow. You cannot sow unforgiveness to your wife and reap forgiveness from God.” The Angel also said that this would be the last warning for this generation. Daniel was resurrected back to life because believers prayed for him and that is why he is spreading this message. It is a true story that is well documented.
You may ask, “What about people that have not heard the Gospel message of salvation?” God is a loving God. If we truly seek Him, He will reveal Himself to us. In many Muslim countries there are thousands of stories of people having dreams where Jesus appears to them and many are receiving the salvation message. If God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross, how can we not believe that He is reaching out to all of us?
It comes down to a matter of choice. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God when they ate from the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. Abraham, Moses and Noah all had a choice to believe God and follow Him. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a choice to allow God to use her womb as a sacred dwelling place in which the Savior of the world would be conceived and be born through her. The disciples had a choice to follow Jesus or not follow Him. Early believers had a choice to live or die for Him. Right now there are people all around the world that are being martyred for their faith.
What is your choice? Will you choose to be born again and become a follower of Jesus Christ? If you already are, are you making an effort to bring others into the Kingdom? We each have a part in the great harvest of souls. We each have a unique calling. Have you ever heard the saying, “Bloom where you are planted?” Wherever God has you at this moment, ask Him what He would have you do.
If there are any skeptics out there, just consider this----Would you choose to believe in Salvation through Jesus Christ and avoid damnation or would you rather take a chance and then find out that Hell is real. There are no “escape” doors in hell.
For those of you who would like to surrender your life to the Lord or would like to re-dedicate your life to the Lord say this prayer:
Salvation Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know You sent Your Son, Jesus to die on the cross so that sins would be forgiven. I believe that Jesus rose on the third day. I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins as I forgive those who have offended me. Jesus, I surrender my life to You. Come into my heart and cleanse it and make me whole by the power of the blood you shed on the cross.
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