23 minutes in hell (13 page)

The Bible tells us to search the scriptures, and in doing so, there is a piecing together that often must take place in order to obtain an answer. In Isaiah 28:13 we read: “The word of the LORD was to them, ‘Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” Proverbs 2:4 says to seek for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as you would seek for “hidden treasures.” Proverbs 25:2 states, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” (KJV). So let’s look at some Scripture verses.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:51, “…and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (See also Luke 12:46.) The Greek word “dichotomeo” means, “to cut; to bisect; to cut asunder; 1) of the cruel method of punishment used by the Hebrews and others of cutting one in two; 2) cut by scourging, scourge severely.”[9]

These two verses are talking about the severe punishment inflicted on those in hell. Some theologians say that it does not literally mean cut in pieces or cut in two, but merely extreme torment or being cut off from God. That may or may not be. Either way, it defines the fact that hell is torment.

The next four verses describe what the Lord will do to those on the earth who rebel against His Word. However, is it possible that these verses serve as an inclusive punishment of hell also? I say this particularly because in the first three out of the four verses we will look at, the first line of the verses does directly talk about hell or Judgment Day.

For a fire is kindled in mine anger and shall burn unto the lowest hell [Sheol]…. They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with poison of serpents of the dust.

—Deuteronomy 32:22–24, KJV

The first verse is about hell; the second is about torment on the earth. However, “devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction” and “teeth of beasts” could be descriptive of hell also.

He has set me in dark places, like the dead of long ago. He has hedged me in… made my chain heavy. Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer… blocked my ways with hewn stone… made my paths crooked… been to me a bear lying in wait, like a lion in ambush. He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces.

—Lamentations 3:6–11

For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him!… And a serpent bit him!

—Amos 5:18–19

… therefore they forgot Me… I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.

—Hosea 13:6–8

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces.

—1 Samuel 2:10

The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me.

—2 Samuel 22:6

… his soul draws near the Pit, and his life to the executioners.

—Job 33:22

… you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces.

—Psalm 50:22

… delivered him to the torturers.

—Matthew 18:34

… will cut him in two…. shall be beaten with many stripes.

—Luke 12:46–47

… nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

—1 Corinthians 10:10

… opened the bottomless pit… came out… locusts… teeth of lions… [description of demons out of the pit—they have the teeth of lions].

Revelation 9:2–8, KJV

Notice the repeated use of “lion” and “torn to pieces” and “tormentors” and “destroyers.” Who is doing the tearing in pieces, and who are the tormentors? Who is doing the “beaten with many stripes” or the “destroying”?

Revelation 9:7–12 describes demons from the bottomless pit. In Pastor Chuck Smith’s book “What the World Is Coming To”, he states: “…had a king over them, which is the angel of the abyss [Satan] whose name in the Hebrew tongue is “Abaddon,” but in the Greek tongue has his name “Apollyon”…. Both of these names mean ‘destroyer.’ Satan is a destroyer. He is the king over these demons.”[10]

Dr. Grant R. Jeffrey, in his book “Journey Into Eternity,” draws an analogy and paints a picture for us with these words:

Consider for a moment the companions who will share Hell with those who stubbornly resist God’s mercy to the very end—Hitler, Stalin, plus every other murderer and torturer in history…. Consider for one horrible moment what a normal citizen would experience if they were condemned to live in the worst penitentiary in North America, totally at the mercy of the wicked, perverted prisoners. Imagine that there were no guards or cell bars to protect you from the rage and cruelty of the merciless criminals who shared your jail… . However, those who reject the salvation of Jesus Christ to the very end of their lives will face a situation far more horrible than the one suggested.[11]

Proverbs 15:29 says, “The LORD is far from the wicked.”

Hell is a place that is void of all good, because all good things come from God. Everything we enjoy, such as fresh air, clean water, food, sunshine, freedom, health, pleasant temperatures, beautiful scenery, relationships, and so on, would not be possible if it were not for God. The Bible says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father” (James 1:17).

Dr. Charles Stanley, a senior pastor for thirty-five years of a large and well-respected church, has said: “People in hell will be separated from God and all that is good forever.”[12]

I believe many of these verses that describe punishment of the rebellious on the earth are also revealing clues of what is entailed in hell’s sufferings. However, if these verses are pertaining only to the suffering those without God will experience on the earth, then how much more severe will it be in hell? I leave it for you to come to your own conclusions.

I hope this research has helped you become more aware of what the Bible has to say about this subject. Again, my experience is only to draw attention to God’s Word.

Chapter 10 Notes

1. John MacArthur, “Hell—the Furnace of Fire,” Tape #GC2304 http://www.jcsm.org/StudyCenter/john_macarthur/sg2304.htm (accessed September 19, 2005).

2. Lutzer, “One Minute After You Die,” 25.

3. Smith, “What the World Is Coming To,” 95.

4. Chuck Missler, “Return of the Nephilim,” 66/40 Radio Broadcast with Chuck Missler, available as an audio CD, VHS Video, or DVD from Koinonia House Online at http://www.khouse.org/6640/BP052 (accessed August 1, 2005).

5. Jude 6–7.

6. Vincent, “Fire and Brimstone,” 142–143, 149.

7. Sumrall, “Run With the Vision,” 119–129.

8. Matthew 5:20; Revelation 20:14.

9. “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance,” PC Study Bible V3.2F (www.biblesoft.com: BibleSoft, 1998), s.v. “dichotomeo.”

10. Smith, “What the World Is Coming To,” 97.

11. Jeffrey, “Journey Into Eternity,” 221.

12. Stanley, “Charles Stanley’s Handbook for Christian Living,” 248.

Appendix A

Scripture Index

Appointed or assigned

1 Kings 20:42 — Thus saith the LORD… a man whom I appointed to utter destruction… (KJV).

Job 21:17 — The sorrows God distributes in His anger…

Proverbs 31:8 — … all such as are appointed to destruction (KJV).

Matthew 24:51 — … and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.

Luke 12:46 — … will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Revelation 21:8 — … all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.

Body in hell

Proverbs 1:12 — Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down to the Pit.

Matthew 5:29 — … whole body to be cast into hell.

Matthew 10:28 — Fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Darkness

1 Samuel 2:9 — … but the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

Job 10:21–22 — Before I go to the place from which I shall not return, to the land of darkness and the shadow of death, a land as dark as darkness itself, as the shadow of death, without any order, where even the light is like darkness.

Job 18:18 — He is driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.

Job 33:28 — He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, and his life shall see the light.

Job 33:30 — … to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

Psalm 49:19 — … they shall never see light.

Psalm 88:6 — You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths.

Proverbs 20:20 — Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

Nahum 1:8 — … and darkness will pursue His enemies.

Matthew 8:12 — … will be cast out into outer darkness.

Matthew 25:30 — … cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.

2 Peter 2:4 — … cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness…

2 Peter 2:17 — … for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Jude 13 — … for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Revelation 16:10 — … and his [the beast] kingdom became full of darkness.

Degrees of punishment

Proverbs 9:18 — … her guests are in the depths of hell.

Zechariah 1:6 — Just as the LORD of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us.

Hebrews 10:28–29 — Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot?

Destruction

Job 21:30 — … the wicked are reserved for the day of doom.

Job 31:3 — Is it not destruction for the wicked, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?

Job 31:23 — For destruction from God is a terror to me.

Psalm 9:17 — The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Psalm 16:10 — For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 32:10 — Many sorrows shall be to the wicked.

Psalm 88:11 — Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

Psalm 103:4 — Who redeems your life from destruction…

Psalm 139:19 — Oh, that You would slay the wicked.

Proverbs 10:29 — Destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 11:21 — The wicked will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 15:11 — Hell and Destruction are before the LORD.

Proverbs 21:15 — Destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 31:8 — … in the cause of all who are appointed to die.

Isaiah 1:28 — The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together.

Matthew 7:13 — Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction.

Matthew 13:42 — There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:50 — There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 23:33 — How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (KJV)

Matthew 24:51 — There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:30 — There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 13:3 — Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Luke 16:23 — And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off.

Romans 3:16 — Destruction and misery are in their ways.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 — These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.

2 Peter 2:9 — … to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.

Eternal separation

Proverbs 15:29 — The LORD is far from the wicked.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 — These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…

Fear

Job 18:14 — And they parade him before the king of terrors.

Job 31:23 — For destruction from God is a terror to me.

Psalm 55:4 — The terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Psalm 73:18–19 — You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

Proverbs 10:24 — The fear of the wicked will come upon him.

Hebrews 10:31 — It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Fire / burning

Deuteronomy 32:22 — For a fire is kindled in My anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell.

Job 18:15 — … brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.

Job 31:12 — For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction.

Psalm 11:6 — Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.

Psalm 37:20 — … the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away (KJV).

Psalm 140:10 — Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

Isaiah 66:24 — … and their fire is not quenched.

Matthew 5:22 — Whoever says, “You fool!” shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 13:30 — Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 18:8 — … to be cast into the everlasting fire.

Matthew 18:9 — … to be cast into hell fire.

Matthew 25:41 — … into the everlasting fire.

Mark 9:43 — … rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

Mark 9:44 — … where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:45 — … rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

Mark 9:46 — … where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:47 — … rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—

Mark 9:48 — … where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.