Hell & The Lake of Fire: Biblical Commentary and Warnings
Satan took away the fear of God’s Judgment with Eve. He told her she would not surely die. She chose to believe the voice of the devil and chose not to believe the voice of Almighty God. She sinned and later died, just as God said—even though she had chosen not to believe it would happen. This deception worked with Eve, and indeed, Satan does deceive the whole world (Rev 12:9).
The Deception of False doctrines
There are many cults and false religions in this generation that choose to believe the lies of Satan. Some say there is no such place as hell. Some say it is hell living on this earth. Some admit that there is a hell; however, they believe God sends no one there. There is even a certain denomination that claims there is a purgatory. They teach that most people go there instead of hell, and that, ultimately, most will be in heaven. All these false ideas and doctrines, which contradict the Word of God, come from the devil. Their intent is to take away the fear of God’s Judgment.
The Biblical Necessity of the Fear of the Lord
Once this fear of God and His Judgment is removed, then people go forth willfully and sin. According to the Scriptures, the fear of the Lord is essential for understanding:
- Job 28:28: “And unto man he said, Behold, the FEAR OF THE LORD, THAT IS WISDOM; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
- Prov 3:7: “Be not wise in thine own eyes: FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART FROM EVIL.”
- Prov 16:6: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”
A Place Called Hell: The Story of the Rich Man and the Beggar
HELL is the ETERNAL DESTINY of MOST People (Matt 7:13-14, Matt 7:21-23, Phil 3:18-19). When an unsaved person dies, they perish to a place called hell. In hell, they are tormented day and night in the flame. Their tongue, in some manner, is set on fire. They will retain their memory of the past. While people on earth are thinking that person has gone to a better place, they are actually crying out in torment words like, “I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME.”
Hell vs. The Lake of Fire
It is important to understand that Hell and the Lake of Fire are not the same. Hell—the pit—is a waiting place for the final judgment. The following table clarifies the distinctions based on biblical commentary:
| Term | Biblical Description |
|---|---|
| Hell (The Pit) | A waiting place of torment; located down in the center or bowels of the earth. |
| The Lake of Fire | The final destiny of those who perish; eternal wrath. |
| The Great White Throne Judgment | The final judgment occurring before the transition to the Lake of Fire. |
The Reality of God's Judgment
Some say it is wrong to scare people with such teaching. This statement is contrary to God’s Word. The draft notes that there appear to be various levels in hell, which some have described as being like a volcano, but a person’s spirit does not die. The final destiny of most: many perish, and few will be with Jesus. This is confirmed in the Scriptures: only a few inherit eternal life.
How Do We Escape God’s Eternal Wrath?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the way of escape. For those concerned about their soul, the central question remains: What must I do to be saved? We must examine ourselves through the 11 biblical tests of genuine salvation to determine if we are saved or self-deceived.