Do You Believe in Heaven and Hell?
It isn’t surprising that in the world today more people believe in heaven than hell. Yet the Bible speaks of the reality of both. Forget the public opinion polls and even the religions that deny hell, and let’s look at the Bible to find out about these 2 (and only 2) eternal destinies.
Forms of the word heaven appear some 446 times in the Bible, sometimes referring to the first layer of the atmosphere, and sometimes referring to what we call outer space. Another usage is the more familiar to us—the dwelling place of the Godhead, angels, and the home of the faithful for eternity. Things that we know about heaven are: that God is there (Matt. 6:9), Jesus ascended there (Acts 1:10), it is an abiding city (Heb. 13:14), the Christian’s citizenship is there (Phil. 3:20), it is a prepared place for a prepared people (John 14:3), it is an inheritance reserved for us (1 Pet. 1:4). The book of Revelation abounds with figurative language about heaven. Read Rev. 21:1-4 and Rev. 22:1-4 to catch a glimpse of the glory of this home with it’s rest, reverence and restoration. Heaven will also be wonderful because of the things not found there...sin, sickness, sorrow, and separation.
Hell occurs 32 times in the NKJV, and it will be the final abode of the devil and his angels as well as the unfaithful of all time. The Bible tells us hell: is eternal (Matt. 25:46), a place of darkness (Matt. 25:30), a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:42-48), a place of pain and anguish (Matt. 8:12), and a place of pathetic company (Rev. 21:8). It will be a full and unrelenting assault on the senses of sight, sound, sensation, and smelling. The only good things I know about hell are that 1) God doesn’t want me to go there (2 Pet. 3:9), and 2) I can choose not to go there (Acts 2:37-40).
Are you on the road to heaven or hell? Jesus died on the cross so that we sinners could be spared everlasting punishment. His will is that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and dwell in the Father’s house with it’s many mansions (John 14:1-3). Have you made reservations?
—Brian Jarrett