In the beginning, as recorded in the book of Genesis; God told Adam that he may eat the fruit of every tree in the garden of Eden except for the fruit of the tree that was at the center of the garden, warning that the day he eats of the forbidden fruit of that tree; he would surely die. see Gen (3:2)
Dear friends, God was referring to not only the natural or physical death of man but also the spiritual death or second death which will occur after judgement to those who have not lived rightly or believed in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus spoke several times in scripture using parables in some instances to warn people of the second death. see Mathew (13: 24-30). There are some religious beliefs that teach people that this is not possible; that God is not so wicked as to subject people to an eternal torment in a fire. They argue that hell is non- existent.
Dear Brothers, this kind of teaching is dangerous and clearly contradicts what the..
bible says. Any teaching that contradicts the word of God can lead people astray. How can anyone even begin to argue in this regard when scripture is rife with warnings of a hell fire. From the old testament to the new testament in the bible reference has been made to this place of torment. see psalm 55:15; luke12:5
Jesus also warned in Mathew (13: 49-50) 'so it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth'. Jesus cannot lie. The onus is on us to heed the warnings of our Saviour.
Brethren, it was also written in Revelation (20:14-15) 'then death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. this is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire'. Is it then right to base our judgements on on assumptions (saying God is not so wicked to do that). It is true that God is not wicked...but His Judgements are righteous.
'As I live', says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live' - Ezekiel (33:11) Again here in this scripture, the Lord was referring to the second death. Moreover, the Lord has warned concerning these kind of assumptions saying; 'yet you say the way of the Lord is not fair, o house of Israel, I will judge everyone of you according to his own ways' - Ezekiel (33:20)
Dear friends, let us depart from death and choose Life for it has been written 'for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord' - Romans (6:23). It was also written; 'but the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimestone, which is the second death' - Revelation (21:8)
The question now to ask yourself is; are you a born again Christian? Have you repented of your sins and are walking uprightly before the Lord? Are you abiding in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have you accepted Him as Lord and Saviour in your Life? If you have, well done. If you have not; then the time to do so is now. for He has warned; 'I tell you, no but unless you repent you will all likewise perish' Luke (13:3)
And to those who doctor the scriptures, who deny or turn a blind eye to what has been written plainly (saying there is no hell) to twist it and teach the doctrines of men as the Word of God; our Lord has warned 'and if anyone takes away from the Words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book' - Revelation (22:18)
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