Are you afraid of going to Hell?

[ToBeLoved]

For some people their life is Hell right now on Earth. So it is harder to scare them that there is a worse place to go after they die.

Sad but true. Many people have to hit rock bottom, I think that's why it's called that.

 

[CrystalDragon]

No, I have been that way too. In fact, I've been totally paralyzed by the fear of it. Finally i just had to say if I'm going there I'm going there and making myself miserable in the here and now isn't going to change it.

I tried to push it as far from my mind as possible and only use it if i feel like it could be useful in changing my behavior.

This is a reason why recently I feel religion is damaging and harmful.

 

[DivineD]

John the Baptist’s preaching consisted of announcements of an *imminent* (“who warned you to flee from the wrath to come” Lk. 3:7 and “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees” Mt. 3:10, Lk. 3:9) fiery judgment (cf. Mt. 3:12 “unquenchable fire”) on Israel if she didn’t repent. That *imminent* fire was the fire that came upon Jerusalem in AD 70. See also Luke 12:56 where Jesus warns of the imminent crisis to come upon that generation.

*Gehenna* is commonly translated “hell.” Gehenna is derived from a valley nearby Jerusalem that originally belonged to a man named Hinnom. “This was a valley near Jerusalem, and appears to have held this name perhaps as far back as the time of Joshua. This valley was used by the more idolatrous kings of Judah as a place where they would sacrifice their own children to the god Moloch. It may also have been the location where, in a single night, the Messenger of Yahweh killed a massive number of Assyrians from the army of Sennacherib. Going from there, it was traditionally associated with the location Isaiah refers to in his final chapter ('they shall go out' implies exiting Jerusalem into the valley), where dead bodies are devoured by unquenchable fire (i.e. fire that does not stop burning until it has completely consumed everything in its path) and undying worms (i.e. the maggots that unceasingly feast upon corpses). In ancient Aramaic translations of this chapter of Isaiah, the dead bodies are explicitly stated to be in the Valley of Hinnom, where the wicked suffered the 'second death'. Jesus confirms the traditional association by describing the Valley of Hinnom in the same way Isaiah describes the location filled with unquenchable fire and maggots. The Valley of Hinnom is only ever used by Jesus (with a single, extraneous usage by James) when speaking to his fellow Jews. He uses it especially when warning them about sinning unrepentantly. Jesus uses the Valley of Hinnom because it had become a common symbol for God's divine punishment. In this sense, it is analogous to the lake of fire (especially since both are referred to as the 'second death'). According to Jesus, God is able to destroy both body and soul in the Valley of Hinnom.” (“The History of Hell” by Mark Edward). See Joshua 18:16, 2 Kings 23:10 and 2 Chron. 33:6. I’d like to emphasize Luke 12:5 where it states that after God has killed the wicked ones, He has authority to cast the wicked dead into “hell” (actually, Gehenna), which is why it is called the “second death”—the dead body goes through a second death in the unquenchable fire that devours the dead body until it has been completely consumed.

So to the Jews, the Valley of Hinnom (aka Gehenna) came to mean a place of burning and fiery judgment. Josephus indicates that that very same valley was heaped with dead bodies of the Jews following the Roman siege of Jerusalem AD 70.

There are twelve passages with the use of *Gehenna*. The first occurrence of the word *Gehenna* is in Mt. 5:21-22 in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus warns, “…and whosoever shall say, ‘Thou fool’ shall be in danger of the hell of fire.” When Jesus’ audience heard his use of this word, what came to mind was the Valley of Hinnom, the place of burning and fiery judgment where Yahweh had slaughtered the wicked Assyrians, where Isaiah said the dead bodies of the wicked are devoured by unquenchable fire and undying worms, where the dead bodies of the wicked undergo the “second death.” The other nine passages where Jesus uses the word *Gehenna* are found in Mt. 5:29-30, 10:28, 18:9, Mk. 9:43-45, 23:15, and Lk. 12:4-5. In all, Jesus is speaking to and warning the unrepentant Jews of his generation of what is to come if they do not repent and believe his words.

The eleventh occurrence is in Mt. 23:33 and just three verses later Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation.” Again, this speaks to the imminency of the judgment to come (which included the idea of being thrown into “hell” [actually, Gehenna] upon their death & experiencing the “second death”) upon that generation if they did not repent.

The twelfth and last time the word *Gehenna* is used is found in James 3:6. It’s interesting to note that James uses the word in a very similar context as the first time the word was used: misuse of the tongue. Jesus condemns one who curses another with the tongue and James condemns misuse of the tongue: “…out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing.”

As previously mentioned, the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) is only ever used by Jesus (with the one exception by James) when speaking to his fellow Jews because it had become a common symbol for God's divine punishment, and the nation to which Jesus spoke was about to endure a fiery judgment in their lifetime (i.e. generation). Even in James when he uses the word, he warns of the coming slaughter (Jas. 5:5), the coming of the Lord (Jas. 5:8), and that the judge stands before the door (Jas. 5:9). Jesus was “standing at the door”! Divine judgment was about to come upon these very people, this nation. And the warning of being "cast into the fires of Gehanna" was used with these people specifically because they knew exactly what Jesus meant by it: national judgment is coming.

If you're interpreting hell as only a moment in history then what is the "eternal punishment" in
Matt 25:46 prepared for the devil and his angels and cursed people?
What is the hell the rich man is experiencing in Luke 16:19-31?
If the hell is national judgment day in Mark 9:43-48 than what is the "life" they are entering?

You said "He has authority to cast the wicked dead into “hell” (actually, Gehenna), which is why it is called the “second death”—the dead body goes through a second death in the unquenchable fire that devours the dead body until it has been completely consumed."

A dead body doesn't die twice. What the heck are you talking about? What fire burns dead bodies that are already rotted away or cremated into ash?

In Rev 20:10 "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." What is this forever torment?
And than in Rev 20:15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

[DivineD]

We go on and on about how victorious God is. How is King of Kings and Lord of Lords victorious if he loses the majority of his people? Sounds like a major loss; not a triumphant win.

Christ is victorious because He overcame sin and death and this world and opened the way for His people to enter with Him. The victory of God isn't dependent on us nor does it revolve around us. God doesn't need any of us, we are the ones who need Him. And God doesn't lose any of His people because He already chose and prepared them before the foundation of the world.

"Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." Luke 13:22-24
and "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Mat 7:13

You think we stroll into the kingdom? Jesus tells us to STRIVE or to MAKE EVERY EFFORT to enter the narrow door/road. It's not easy to live in Christ, to love and obey His teachings with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, to love and serve others as we are serving God or ourselves, to continue in repentance. Earlier someone posted the verse that we must WORK OUT our salvation with fear and trembling. Why? Because it's so easy to be deceived by Satan and enter the wide gate of destruction again. And it's a struggle we face till the end of our days.

 

[Theo Book]

Every since I renewed my faith in God and Jesus, I can't stop thinking about it. I also can't stop thinking about everyone else either and about how they are likely going to hell. Am I alone in this?

I am much more concerned over whether or not I DESERVE Hell. THAT would be much worse than going to a Hell I did not deserve, because that would be a reflection on God, not on me. And since God is only righteous, He would make it right, and I would be more blessed because of the correction, than if it went the other way.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Would you rather go to Hell or North Korea?

 

[Galilee63]

Fear God The Most High and trust in Jesus and His Mercy during Confession and during prayer and at all times turning to Jesus and loving Him from your hearts it is through Jesus and His Mercy for those whom turn to Him daily and do not ignore Him whom receive His Mercy because without Jesus Divine Mercy one faces God in His strictness according to His original and to date Holy Commandments of which most of us during life here have in fact broken at one time or another with many sins unrepented and Jesus explained all of these things within His Holy Word both in His Old Testament and His New Testament it is through Jesus to our Father now and for eternity

God our Heavenly Father gifted many of us with strict yet loving Parents in addition to Teachers Priests Ministers Principals in schools and in the old days receiving the cane strap feather duster for wrongdoings through God to stop us from doing wrong on earth and paying for those wrongdoings going to hell without repentance

People kicked up over it and now look at the disrespect the abuse the wrongdoings sins and mess of the young in comparison to other periods in time

Jesus said not only figuratively in many ways in His Holiness it is better to suffer on earth and later Jesus said to the Saints for those sufferings to be offered up to Him for the Holy Souls in Purgatory being cleansed in the unbearable fiery furnace heat than not suffering or sacrificing on earth and going to hell being dragged to hell by the evil one joining him and His evil spirits and for those whom have not seen hell nor the evil they do exist all of it exists

Certain people are shown hell of whom have gone deeper into their love of Jesus Himself The Holy Spirit God our Heavenly Father and whom have sacrificed many earthly things similar to the Nuns Saints Certain previous Priests each Century and Many Popes seeing visions of hell and satans evil spirits at different times

Ego pride vanity craftiness evil coldness degradation impossible to describe against souls people living on earth are some of evils traits with satan sending them out in different ways to attack and work on people until they are finally dragged down with him to his domain

Satan is not just ego in representation figuratively this creature spoke to Jesus in the desert and yet people including Christians to this day don't believe there is hell don't believe satan as an actual physical creature ever existed nor do many believe that Holy Purgatory exists when in fact it very well exists including the souls waiting for transport in large groups to go to the separate levels of Holy Purgatory destined for their souls in Gods Judgement with Jesus and The Holy Spirit some just go straight tumbling down to hell including Children of whom have not received Holy Sacraments and or in Gods Holy Will have so displeased Him without having received Jesus Or Mother Mary's Mercy while here on earth and eternally when thru Parents or some people in their lives such as Catholics or Christians had the opportunity given by our Holy Spirit to turn to Jesus in the ways He offers

Disobedience abuse rudeness sins are accountable for Children as well as adults and look at how many of us raised our Children without at one time or another receiving Gods Blessed Holy Sacraments from our hearts in love and gratitude to our Lord Jesus and thanking Him for dying and suffering for us

How many of us thank or teach Children to thank Jesus God and The Holy Spirit daily from our hearts then adore Jesus in His Blessed Holy Sacrament at His Altars in a quiet room sacrificing our earthly time while He awaits hearts turning to Him

All of these things are taken into account most of all whAt did we do for Jesus God and The Holy Spirit as Catholics and Christians or non Catholic and Christians all mankind are judged infants toddlers Children Teenagers Adults us most greatly of all we have the greater responsibility to spread Gods Holy Word for The Holy Spirit to more greatly speak to hearts thru Gods Holy Word Jesus in prayer and to Holy Spirit God and Mother Mary in prayer and assisting others to receive Gods Blessed Holy Sacraments

Jesus said to mankind thru Saint Faustian thAt on the last day we are accountable for souls because you see we could have been praying daily more for all soul salvation spreading Gods Holy Word more as apostolates of Jesus Holy Spirits and Mother Mary's oh there are many people professing to be Christians of our Lord Jesus in for. Shock when seeing and knowing our Most Holy Divine Mother of God and Her Most Holy Sacred Role of Holy Queen of Heaven and Earth in God our Heavenly Creator having utterly used a wrong excuse that Mother Mary was hardly mentioned in Gods Holy Word yet totally disregarding The Holy Mysteries of The Immaculate Conception The Visitation to Saint Elizabeth this Holy Family of Gods and the Presence of Mother Mary with Jesus in Holiness more than ever read about not to mention Mother Mary's Holy life growing up in God read Revelations more closely and ask The Holy Spirit to reveal Mother Mary's Holy Life

 

[cuja1]

Would you rather go to Hell or North Korea?

Probably north korea as long as it wasn't for an eternity.

 

[Adstar]

Every since I renewed my faith in God and Jesus, I can't stop thinking about it. I also can't stop thinking about everyone else either and about how they are likely going to hell. Am I alone in this?

I do not fear going to the eternal lake of fire.. Why? Because i trust in the righteousness of Jesus and the effectiveness of what He did on the cross to secure my eternal salvation...

Faith is trusting in God so when one trusts in God then they believe that He has achieved what we can never achieve.. When one have Faith in God then ones confidence is based on the perfection of God and not in their own feeble attempts at perfection...

A Christian is like a ship that has it's anchor firmly locked into the bedrock on the ocean floor.. It may be tossed around by the wind and the waves but the boat will never end up being smashed on the rocks of the shore because it is held firm by the bedrock..

A religious person who does not trust in the righteousness of God but in their own attempts at righteousness is like a ship which places it's anchor into it's own hull.. The wind and the waves toss it about and it's crew is in constant stress and struggle to keep it from the shore.. Day and night they are tossed about, They have no rest and they have no peace.. They have only fear and uncertainty...

 

[EmSw]

A religious person who does not trust in the righteousness of God but in their own attempts at righteousness is like a ship which places it's anchor into it's own hull.. The wind and the waves toss it about and it's crew is in constant stress and struggle to keep it from the shore.. Day and night they are tossed about, They have no rest and they have no peace.. They have only fear and uncertainty...

I prefer Jesus' teaching much more.

Matthew 7
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

 

[ToBeLoved]

This is a reason why recently I feel religion is damaging and harmful.

That is why people need to deepen their spiritual relationship with God and strengthen that. Because to depend on man-made rules is not the truest way.

We all make choices about what we let in our lives and what we do not.

 

[DeerGlow]

That is why people need to deepen their spiritual relationship with God and strengthen that. Because to depend on man-made rules is not the truest way.

We all make choices about what we let in our lives and what we do not.

Ah! My verse of the day image relevant to this from a while back is not on this phone.

still, the verse about honoring with lips and their fear being man-made or taught rules comes to mind....

 

[DeerGlow]

That is why people need to deepen their spiritual relationship with God and strengthen that. Because to depend on man-made rules is not the truest way.

We all make choices about what we let in our lives and what we do not.

13 And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, (‭Isaiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ESV)

Found it.

 

[Roseonathorn]

I have wrestled with unforgiveness toward those that have hurt me and people close to me, and I think that it is a sin as well. The thing is I want to forgive but I still feel anger toward them, so I can not honestly say that I have forgiven my adversaries. I have asked the Lord for help in the matter of forgiveness and trust that He will help me. I can only say they know not what they do. I have read somewhere in the bible that we have to forgive other their sin against us or we will not be forgiven. So, Yes I have at times been afraid of Hell, but I must aswell trust God. I have laid the matter in the hands of an allmighty God, because in my own power I come short. I was stupid enough to pray teach me to forgive and have patience in my youth and perhaps someone has taken advantage of it. I know God knows our hearts and intentions. We need to love each other. Love cast out fear. So I try to love, do a loving thing even when it feels unnecessary. God will see it. Love will also change how we see and treat the people around us.

 

[cuja1]

I have wrestled with unforgiveness toward those that have hurt me and people close to me, and I think that it is a sin as well. The thing is I want to forgive but I still feel anger toward them, so I can not honestly say that I have forgiven my adversaries. I have asked the Lord for help in the matter of forgiveness and trust that He will help me. I can only say they know not what they do. I have read somewhere in the bible that we have to forgive other their sin against us or we will not be forgiven. So, Yes I have at times been afraid of Hell, but I must aswell trust God. I have laid the matter in the hands of an allmighty God, because in my own power I come short. I was stupid enough to pray teach me to forgive and have patience in my youth and perhaps someone has taken advantage of it. I know God knows our hearts and intentions. We need to love each other. Love cast out fear. So I try to love, do a loving thing even when it feels unnecessary. God will see it. Love will also change how we see and treat the people around us.

Yeah I'm dealing with that this week. I've found that praying for the people that hurt you helps. I ask God to bless them. I focus on that and it helps but sometimes the anger comes back and I have to pray for them again.

 

[Jesus4Ever]

If you're not afraid of it, you are smug like the Pharisees.

Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, because God is working in us. If we were worthy of this there would be no need for salvation, or for fear and trembling; but we are not. Hell is what we each deserve.

Fortunately, "With God all things are possible."

I actually don't spend much time worrying about myself in Hell. I know it's what I deserve, so if I wind up there, I may moan and weep but I won't complain. I worry more about those I love who don't know it and who aren't willing to learn.

Ha...you act like Hell is just some downside if you don't end up going to the Kingdom of Heaven. But you do know Hell is the worse eternal torture imaginable, right? People down there don't complain, they scream!

 

[ToBeLoved]

13 And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, (‭Isaiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ESV)

Found it.

View attachment 198745

You got the meaning exactly.

 

[ToBeLoved]

I have wrestled with unforgiveness toward those that have hurt me and people close to me, and I think that it is a sin as well. The thing is I want to forgive but I still feel anger toward them, so I can not honestly say that I have forgiven my adversaries. I have asked the Lord for help in the matter of forgiveness and trust that He will help me. I can only say they know not what they do. I have read somewhere in the bible that we have to forgive other their sin against us or we will not be forgiven. So, Yes I have at times been afraid of Hell, but I must aswell trust God. I have laid the matter in the hands of an allmighty God, because in my own power I come short. I was stupid enough to pray teach me to forgive and have patience in my youth and perhaps someone has taken advantage of it. I know God knows our hearts and intentions. We need to love each other. Love cast out fear. So I try to love, do a loving thing even when it feels unnecessary. God will see it. Love will also change how we see and treat the people around us.

You'll get there, to forgiveness. Sometimes it does take a while.

What helped me was thinking about how many times I let God down and knew that I was doing it. That helped me have more grace to others, even after severe hurt. You are right in that many people do not know what they do.

What I do now is don't even let myself get that angry. I nip it in the bud right away. It's not perfect, but it will get easier.

*big hug*

 

[IAMABELIEVER1979]

I am terrified of hell. I am extremely anxious about it, and it is the reason why I am seeking him.

 

[EmSw]

I am terrified of hell. I am extremely anxious about it, and it is the reason why I am seeking him.

Keep seeking Him; you are doing fine.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

And, there is nothing wrong with fearing God.

Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.