Fake or Real?
Psalm 9:17 KJV — The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Proverbs 15:24 KJV — The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
In a quick study of the bible you will find that Hell is referenced in 54 verses both in the old and new testaments. Any person who is alive and believes in life after death has always had the question, “What happens when we die? Heaven sounds nice but what if we don’t make the grade? What will Hell be like?” In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus gives us a glimpse of what it would be.
Luke 16:22-25 KJV — 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 lift 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. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
It’s a frightening description of what the afterlife will be if we were to die without the salvation of the Lord. God’s desire is for no one to perish but have everlasting life in Heaven. For Christians this belief is an unshakable truth but recently many question if Heaven or Hell really exist. Controversy has erupted over a recent publication in an Italian newspaper reporting that Pope Francis was quoted that Hell didn’t exist.
Eugenio Scalfari, co-founder of La Repubblica, published his latest conversation with Pope Francis in the paper. In the article, Scalfari said he asked Pope Francis if “bad souls” get punished after they die. “They are not punished, those who repent get God’s forgiveness and go among the ranks of the souls who contemplate him, but those who do not repent and cannot, therefore, be forgiven disappear. There is no hell, there is the disappearance of sinful souls,” Scalfari quotes Pope Francis as saying. The Vatican press office claims the Pope’s statements are not direct quotes, but a reconstruction by the author. Eugenio Scalfari, a devout atheist, has admitted in the past that he doesn’t record or take notes during interviews. Despite the swarming controversy over Francis’ words, the Catholic Catechism supports the existence of Hell.
The report shows that even the Pope is not immune to fake news. The subject matter of the report makes one to assume that there’s a campaign to misinform and mislead the public about the existence of places and things that have more than just a spiritual meaning for the Christian community.
Proverbs 14:5 KJV — A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
Jesus warned us about false teachings and doctrines that would lead us away from God’s guidance and protection. Hell is a very real place that was never meant for mankind. In the book of Revelation we are told about what our final destination will be if we reject Jesus and follow the path of sin.
Revelation 20:10-15 KJV — And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Pray that the Lord will give us the gift to discern the difference between right and wrong and what is fake or what is real.
2 John 1:3 KJV — Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
© 4/2018 tw-jams
