Anyone should please feel free to express divergent views from what is written below. I'm here to learn and to share.
There are certain things written in the comment below which are rather unsettling and unimaginable. I simply quoted the Bible verses to support the views expressed. The question as to who goes to hell or not is open to debate.
Thanks.
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Nice one Mikecpking. The omission in your comment is about "hell" and "the lake of fire."
@agape101: There's a sharp contrast between "hell" and "the lake of fire" which many believers are shock to discover when they study the Bible.
There' one judgment at the Great White Throne which is yet to take place, but the ungodly and careless ones are some where in torment, awaiting the day of deliverance for judgment at the Great White Throne.
What is the difference between "Hell" and "The lake of Fire"?
Read below:
In discussing the subject of hell, some pertinent questions can be raised such as: Where is hell located and What's the nature of the fire burning in it? Will hell last forever?
Where is hell located? The Bible states in clear terms that hell is located in the lower part of the earth. It's the belly of the earth where some souls (for some reasons) are held bound pending judgment at the Great White Throne. Please note that series of events will take place before judgment at the Great White Throne. One of such events is the second advent and millennial reign of Christ on earth.
Bible passages that support the notion that Hell is located in the lower part of the earth:
Isaiah 14:9
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. Isaiah 14:8-10.
Isaiah 14:15
Ye shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:14-16
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. Ezekiel 31:15-17.
Ezekiel 31:17
They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen. Ezekiel 31:16-18.
Amos 9:2
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down: Amos 9:1-3.
What's the nature of the fire burning in Hell?
The fire burns but consumes not the souls therein. Hell indeed is a terrible place to be. Below are some Bible passages that hint of the nature of fire burning in hell.
Mark 9:43
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: Mark 9:42-44 (in Context) Mark 9 (Whole Chapter)
Luke 10:15
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
Is hell forever, that is: will the souls therein burn forever? NO!
All the souls in hell shall be delivered up for judgment at the Great White Throne. Below are the Bible passages:
Revelation 20:13
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. Revelation 20:12-14 (in Context) Revelation 20 (Whole Chapter)
Rev 20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:13-15 (in Context) Revelation 20 (Whole Chapter)
Who goes to hell?
All non-believers who had the privilege to hear but rejected the gospel of Christ shall go to hell. All careless Christians who die in sins (never appropriate the blood of Jesus before death), all selfish people, and several other classes of people - some believers and non-believers alike will go to hell for various reasons.
Matthew 25:1-end - The parable of the five foolish virgins and unprofitable servants set before us how some believers will miss reigning with Christ when He returns. Some servants of God, too, due to their "Green Pasture and Still Waters" ministration will go to hell because they misled the saints! If need be, I can explain what I mean by "Green Pastures and Still Waters Ministration"
Bible reference to clergies who will go to hell:
Matthew 7:21-23:
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he 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 perform many miracles?' 23. Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The people referred to in verses 21 to 23 are clergies who mis-used the anointing of God upon their lives. They were not those who partnered with the devil to run their ministry (Those ones are going to hell anyway because they have no part in God's kingdom). The error of clergies who mis-used God's anointing is that they devoted their ministry to preaching the gifts of God instead of God the Giver.
Their flocks are intimated with the idea of "give" as opposed to "make." Human beings want God to "give" them all sorts of things - Granted! God wants to give, but most importantly, He wants to "make us" to become Christ like. So all what the clergies preached bordered around Green Pastures and Still Waters (Breakthroughs). Their ministry did not produce mature Christians who go all the way with God in the path of righteousness. The message of the cross that is necessary in pursuing God's will is foreign to them. To their flock, God is nothing more than the Santa Claus! Many, indeed, are on the broad way!
On Lake of Fire:
"Lake of fire" is a different subject from hell, though many Christians assume that both refer to the same place.
Where is the lake of fire, and what does the Bible say about it?
Lake of fire is the fire burning before the God Almighty. When The Bible says "our God is a consuming fire" it's referring to the fire that burns before or around Him.
Biblical references to the manifestations of Lake of Fire on earth:
Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Exodus 19:18
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exodus 24:17
And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
Leviticus 10:1-2
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
1 Chronicles 21:26
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
2 Kings 1:10
And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 2 Kings 1:9-11
2 Kings 1:12
And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 2 Kings 1:11-13
2 Kings 1:14
Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. 2 Kings 1:13-15 (in Context) 2 Kings 1 (Whole Chapter)
So from the few Bible passages above, it's can be seen that there's a fire that burns in God's presence. This fire is different from the fire that burns in hell.
What's the nature of the lake of fire? Does it consume or burn endlessly like the fire in hell?
That's another subject worth exploring.