08/05/12

The Lake which no one talks of

Matthew 24:51 - And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.


Just log on to the internet and Google for visitations to hell and you will finds many who claim to have visited hell and returned. Almost all of them will describe it as a place where Satan rules and evil spirits torture the souls that are condemned to it and if we search scriptures to find if the Bible talks of Hell to be such a place and the answer is 'no'. Research as to where such a picture comes from and the answer is the early Catholic Church paintings and from Jew's books. Where did these painters and the Jews get the idea to picture Hell as a place where fire burns and the answer is the words used to describe Hell in the Old Testament. The Jews believe that Jesus is in Hell being tortured in a pot of burning oil that gives an idea of their understanding.

The New Testament clearly puts Hell as a prison and a place which is not under the power of Satan but under the power of the Angels of God. David also states in the book of Psalms that even in Hell he cannot run away from the presence of God.

Being a prison and under the control of God's Angels does not mean it is not a place of suffering. When Jesus was delivering the man with a legion the legion feared He would send them to Hell because they knew what Hell is and the real suffering it holds.

People think Hell is a place where the souls put there are put in fire, it is the other way around the fire is not outside but the fire is inside. This burning fire in some scriptures is described as eternal worms.

Jesus describes this place in His parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar. The rich man who is in Hell asks father Abraham to send Lazarus to put a drop of water on his tongue. It was not because he was thirsty, a man burning in fire will not ask for water to quench his thirst. He asked for water to be put on his tongue for the fire was inside of him and not outside.

First thing one should know Hell is a prison where only those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ are condemned to for the rest of their spirit life (which is in thousands of years). This was a curse on man by God to perish when man sinned. Jesus broke this curse by His death and resurrection. He went to Hell and returned. The prison could not keep Him for He had no sin in Him, but He went there because He had all our sins on Him. Jesus did not experience any burning when in Hell since no sin was in Him. Satan (Lucifer) is imprisoned there and would be released near the end just before Jesus comes again.

Today's scripture is not talking of Hell but of a place worse than Hell. This place is not for the unbelievers for the parable puts as an evil servant been put there. We have hardly any preacher who talks of this place and if they did we are sure to find many true Christians. Some of the descriptions given to this place are Lake of fire, Lake of fire with brimstones and also Lake of sulphur. If one studies these descriptions one would understand how terrible this place would be. This place was not designed for man but for Lucifer, the Beast and his fallen angels. They are the first along with the false prophet who are put in this place. The Bible says all believers whose names are not found in the Book of Life will also be put in this Lake. Those in this Lake suffer so bad that they are made as an example for the Angels (spirit beings) till eternity.

If we are baptized in Jesus Christ it is very important we are also baptized in the Holy Spirit. We cannot say we are safe by just believing in Jesus Christ. Yes we are saved from Hell but we will not go to Heaven if we are not baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is only by our baptism in the Holy Spirit that the Law is written in our hearts and the Spirit of God leads us to keep the Word. If we do not keep the Word as the Spirit leads us, the Word will judge us when Jesus Christ comes again and sits on His Judgement seat. All those who are judged negative will find themselves in the Lake.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord your Word says your people suffer because of lack of knowledge. This is true only in this world but also in the spirit world. People do not have an understanding of what man is and for what purpose You made Him. They do not have an understanding of what the Heavens are and Who You are. They have been deceived by Satan and have glorified him making him like You, the very thing he wanted. Lord, we pray You open the eyes of your people to the Truth and may they follow You with fear and trembling like Paul put...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 24:46-51
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 16:22-24
22 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;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 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.

1 Peter 3:18-19
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Revelation 19:19-21
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Revelation 20:13-15
13 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.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Mark 5:9-10
9 Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."
10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)