I think Jesus paints a pretty bleak picture of what Hell is. It is a real place and God is not there. The story Jesus tells about the the rich man and the leper, where the rich man begs that just a drop of water from the tip of the leper’s finger would be great relief speaks volumes.
I’m not Catholic but I am an ordained Christian minister. I am also a Calvinist who believes in living like he’s an Arminian. The consequences of how we who believe live our lives and share Christ are eternal. St. Paul says in Romans 10:9-10 that if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you will be saved. I’m in no position to judge who is and isn’t; only God knows the heart but either you’re saved or you’re not. Those who aren’t face an eternity of anguish, the worst part being an eternal separation from the presence of God. The Bible says repeatedly there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth, gnawing of the tongue, hellfire and brimstone, unbelievable pain. And that’s just the physical, let alone the spiritual separation from God.
Blessings.
Yes, the bible makes hell sound like a place I for sure don’t want to be.
I want to be able to converse with you one day in God’s presence, and I hope to see many other FReepers there too.
Pastor KP,
thank you for your excellent post.
G-f