What is hell where does it come from and what really is the purpose?
First we need a deeper understanding of God and what he has said.
In Proverbs he said there are seven things I hate God put it this way exactly.
" These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren." (Proverbs 6:16-19)
What is a proud look and where does it originate from?
The heart maybe, what do you think? Why was pride mentioned first?
Now if these are the things that God looks to punish first and the beginning of judgements how will this judgements be meeted out?
How we live our lives will directly be related to our final judgements (this is Hell)
Example:
1) A Proud Look
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)
"...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6b)
Example 2:
Rich man and Lazarus
There was a certain man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table, moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame. Luke 16:19
God Built a garden of Eden and the whole world now represents the horn of plenty.
We here in America could grow enough food to feed all that are starving in other countries.
How is your charitable heart today? Are you the rich man who will not help the poor man?
Jas 1:27 -
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Gal 2: 9 and recognizing the R69 grace that had been given to me, James F21 R70 and Cephas R71 and John, who were reputed R72 to be pillars, R73 gave to me and Barnabas R74 the right R75 hand F22 of fellowship, so that we {might} {go} R76 to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
10 {They} only {asked} us to remember the poor--the very thing I also was eager to do.
Notice verse 10
The seven things God hates will never do this James says it is the pure and undefiled religion. Hows your church doing in this department?
The rich mans punishment was to live as he had not lived God is Just "This is Hell"
Whats the purpose? Why would this happen? You say a loving God would not do this.
A loving God has to do this just as a loving parent has to punish his children and raise them up teaching them to be a good human.
One more step so things will become a little clearer to you.
Lu 12:47 - [In Context|Read Chapter|Original Greek]
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Lu 12:48 - [In Context|Read Chapter|Original Greek]
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Notice much is given much is required
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"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. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Here is final judgment and it is made real clear how we live so shall we die.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living and just God.
Matthew Chpt 5
1 Now, perceiving the throngs, He ascended into the mountain. And, at His being seated, His disciples came to Him.
2 And opening His mouth, He taught them, saying,
3 "Happy, in spirit, are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
4 "Happy are those who mourn now, for they shall be consoled.
5 "Happy are the meek, for they shall be enjoying the allotment of the land.
6 "Happy are those who are hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 "Happy are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.
8 "Happy are the clean in heart, for they shall see God.
9 "Happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 "Happy are those persecuted on account of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
Does any of these sound like the seven things he hates?
Your sins will find you out. Luke 23:32-43 Numbers 32:23
23 "If, then, you should be offering your approach present on the altar, and there you should be reminded that your brother has anything against you,
24 leave your approach present there, in front of the altar, and go away. First be placated toward your brother, and then, coming, be offering your approach present.
25 "You be humoring your plaintiff quickly while you are with him on the way, lest at some time the plaintiff may be giving you up to the judge, and the judge to the deputy, and you should be cast into jail.
26 Verily I am saying to you, By no means may you be coming out thence till you should be paying the last quadrans.
Notice you will not come out until you have paid all you owe.
Is punishment forever? One of the afore mentioned verse's is a mistranslation
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life
The word eternal is a mistranslation the proper word is eon which means an undetermined amount of time that is in Gods hands
The word torment is also a mistranslation and should be chasting or correction.
The rich man will stay in his judgment until God knows he has learned his lessons
And if you will read this he is already begging for mercy for his family. But has yet repented for what he did to Lazarus.
It may take many stripes for some and only a few for others.
I personally hope I receive few and not many.
So what does God want from us to avoid all this correction.
1st John Chapter 3:
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
I hope as you read this the Lord our savior will open your mind to receive him
Lets not kid ourselves there is also a death penalty this is the second death. "God is just"
Micah chapter 6
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
