Nicole says: “I flipped through a copy of the Satanic Bible.”
I am not sure how much can be learned by flipping through a book.
About five years ago I surveyed about 1,000 Christians of many denominations, and found that 95 claimed they had read the Holy Bible. But upon detailed questioning, more than 96% admitted that they had not read through the Bible.
In fact, fewer than 50% could state even eight of the ten commandments. Few, in fact, agreed with the Bible’s advocacy of “Thou shalt not permit a witch to live” or with advocacy of capital punishment for not believing in the “one, true God.”
It is time that so-called Christians do more than “flip through the Bible.” If they read the Bible thoughtfully, they will realize that many of its rules and regulations are a relic of an ancient world, and do not lead to a good life in the modern world.

Watched B.W’s show on the afterlife and found it fascinating.
This show however, is not a subject I am interested in and feel it was put on in the summer because ABC thought people might watch it due to boredom with what else was on.
Laura

God exists. God existed before Lucifer, the Fallen Angel, existed. God created Lucifer to serve Him (which we are all called to do on this life) but because of pride Lucifer turned away from God and was exiled from Heaven. Heaven and Hell exists whether we believe it or not.
Denying the existance of hell puts our immortal soul in danger. When we deny the existance of hell we deny sin, when we deny sin, we blind ourselves to sin and to our own faults and to reconciliation with God. When our souls arrives at Heaven, it will be filled with ectacsy from the very fullness of God. Hell is just the opposite. It is a total loss of God for all eternity.
Those of you that are fascinated with the ‘dark side’ imagine your souls burning from fire but you can never die. Your soul is in complete agony not because of the fire that constantly consumes it but never destroys, but because of its absense of God. Absense from God is a suffering no one wants to endure. Think about that versus being eternally happy.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.” Gospel of Matthew
By the way, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is Wisdom and Understanding. Wisdom and Understanding to know what the Word says. No one has to be a theologian or pseudointelluctual to understand the Word or even literate. They just have to pray and love God.

AL WALP: Fortunately I consider myself part of the faction of Christians that do more than flip through the Bible. It’s a daily part of my life, I keep it by my side at all time.
I wasn’t trying to learn anything when I picked up the Satanic Bible because–like I mentioned in the text–I wasn’t interested in conversion, I was merely curious about their beliefs. But I don’t believe there is anything wrong with arming yourself with knowledge about the beliefs of other religions or spiritual practices because it helps you to understand people instead of judge them on what you “think” you know about them. It also helps our ministry to be effective when we know exactly what they believe in and how we can speak to them at the point of their need.

To those who do not believe in hell…DO YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE??? How can one believe in heaven, but not hell? On judgment day what wll you tell God…I did not know…He then will say “I sent messengers to tell you of my love for you, but you chose the wide road instead of me!!!”
I pray for those who do not believe just as all chrisians should…do not judge…PRAY

I am a Christian and although I absolutely believe in Heaven, although not sure what it looks like, I have always wondered if there was a hell that looked like what the movies and human and priests have literally portrayed it to look like.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I DO believe there is a hell. I just can’t imagine a PLACE where people go with fire and the devil around them for eternity. The hell that I IMAGINE and am closer to believing in is a purgatory of lifeless meandering as just spirits with no direction, no rest, no communication, and total detachment from those who are still alive; the complete opposite being true for heaven. I just don’t know and I can’t be arrogant to enough as so many do to say I know for sure.

I intended to watch the 20/20 show on “What is Hell?”, but I was out of town and missed it. As a Christian who has a personal relationship with Jesus, I am always puzzled at the huge interest and belief in angels and the denial, by many, of hell and demons. If you believe in a spirit world you cannot believe their is only a good and benevolent side, there are opposing spiritual forces also. All you have to do is look around to see the evil in the world. The bible is very clear about who the “devil” is and has much to say about eternal damnation/hell. This verse comes to mind, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual force of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12. We need those who believe to devote themselves to prayer and to “war” against the spiritual battle that goes on every day for souls. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The bible is not a “relic of an ancient world” as Al Walp commented. It is the living, breathing, life giving word of God. It’s as relavent today as is was when it was written. I have been reading the bible for most of my 59 years and it continues to speak to me in fresh new ways that amaze me. God speaks directly to those who want to know Him through His word.

Hell does exists and what it is like is told as well in the Holy Scriptures. We are given a few glimpes into what the state of affairs will be when our great Lord returns to claim His chosen ones.
Consider the parable of the rich man and Lazerous the begger, think you that it was only a parable, but not speak the truth and give description as well?
Was not the rich man burning, without water and seperated by a great chasm where he could see the other side, where Lazerous was in the bosom of Abraham and protected. Would that not be suffering indeed to not only be in Hell but also to see the paradise that by your faithlessness, you have cast aside, a constant reminder for eternity that the choices you made on earth had the most dire consequences?
Is that what Hell is really like, I do not know and I do not want to find out because just that small illumination of the possibility of what it could be like, well, it scares me to not to want to know.
The kingdom of God is available for all who seek God here on earth. Not only after we are no more, but here and now, today, for did Jesus not say that the Kingdom was within us?
It is a most fantastic and grand place to be in indeed. There are absolutely no worries, concerns or judgements, only a total encompasing love within and without of yourself that drives away all fear and then there is no denial of the truth of the Word, for your eyes are truly opened and when the bible is read again, you see it with a new understanding and a new insight all the way from Genesis to Revelations that creates a new person within you and no more do you have fleshly emotions, but rather only pure love for all of those around you and in the world and you want so bad to be able to have them to experience what you have experienced and so you share the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and look forward to the day when you may leave this earth and live in heaven for what you feel on the earth is nothing compared to what heaven itself will be like.
Peace be to you all. Amen

The late, great, C.S.Lewis wrote in his book, Screwtape Letters, “One of Satan’s best tricks in the Twentieth Century, is to make people believe he doesn’t exist”.

I would like to put forth this concept to you–it doesn’t matter what you believe or not about hell, that doesn’t change the fact that it exists….any more than that I “believe” in you or not. Actually, the devil believes in hell. So does that make any difference in your life?
Hell or heaven do not exist based on our beliefs.

I was recently asked this question. Does scripture teach that a person who dies in their sins without Christ, will spend a conscious, eternity being punished in hell?
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:46
There is no doubt that Jesus said wicked people will go to a place of eternal punishment and it will last just as long as the righteous people who receive eternal life.
There are some, like the Jehovah Witness cult, who teach that after people die in their sins, they will be judged and then God will just burn them up into nothingness, just zap them out of existence to be as though they had never been. This is commonly referred to as the doctrine of annihilation. It is false!
First a comment about justice. It is not just that people like Attila the Hun, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Genghis Khan, Joseph Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and others should get off with an easy death and then nothing but obliteration. Hitler committed suiside and sufferd nothing for his terrible crimes. But…the bible says there is more…
The Bible says that, “God is angry with the wicked every day.”
“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” Psalm 7:11
The Bible says that the unjust are reserved someplace (See Luke 16) unto the day of judgement and then they will be punished. (See Revelation 20:14-15)
“The Lord knoweth how …to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” 2 Peter 2:9
I believe the problem that exists in many peoples minds concerning hell, only exists because they do not comprehend, do not really understand just how much of an affront sin is to a holy and righteous God. If people would do an in-depth study of Gods holiness in contrast to sin, most problems people have with the biblical teachings on hell would be resolved.
The other common misunderstanding is that people often do not know that there are degrees of punishment for the lost.
“But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.” Matthew 11:22
The Bible says hell has pain.
“The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.” Psalms 116:3
The Bible says Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit (hell) for one thousand years. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,” Revelation 20:7
The Bible calls the bottomless pit, a part of hell, a prison.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
The Bible says this prison has gates.
Let me illustrate my thoughts as to how I understand the scriptures on this subject. In our system of government, when men commit crimes they are arrested and put into the city or county jail to await trial or judgment day. They are imprisoned there until they stand before the judge to be judged and sentenced. After judgment day and sentencing, they are taken to the state penitentiary where they will spend their sentence.
When men die in their sins they are taken to a prison, to hell, the same place the rich man was, spoken of by Jesus in Luke Chapter sixteen, to await trial, or Judgment Day. This is like the county jail hell. (Every bit as much a prison as the Lake of fire where they will spend their sentence.) After judgment day they are taken and cast into the lake of fire to spend their sentence. This is like the state penitentiary hell, the final place they will spend their sentence.
I know this is true because, scripture says that death (The grave where lost sinners bodies are.) and hell (Where lost sinners souls/worm are.) will deliver up the dead that were in them to appear before the Great White Throne to be judged.
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.” Revelation 20:13
This is the resurrection of the unjust unto damnation.
”And shall come forth…they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29
“…there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15
After the judgement, all the wicked dead with bodies in the grave and souls/worms in hell were emptied out into the lake of fire.
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:14
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41
The Bible says that hell can expand.
“Hell hath enlarged herself” Isaiah 5:14
The Bible say hell has plenty of room.
“Hell and destruction are never full.” Proverbs 27:20
Without taking up every verse on the subject, the fact is the Bible says hell is painful; hell is a pit; hell is a place of sorrows; hell is a place that is never full; hell is a place that burns with fire and brimestone: hell is a place of damnation; hell is a place of torment; hell is a prison and as such it is a place that has gates. The gates of a prison exist to keep prisoners in. So since God put gates on this prison called hell there must be prisoners who would like to get out.
What is the worm that dieth not that Jesus spoke about?
The worm that dieth not is first spoken about in Isaiah chapter 66. The LORD is speaking about dead sinners who though dead, are in a place and condition where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” Isaiah 66:23:24
Jesus tells us the place is hell.
“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-44
Jesus repeated the phrase “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” three times in Marks gospel. He must have thought it very important to do so. First in verse 44: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Then in verse 46: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” And again in verse 48: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” And there is the fourth time referenced above in Isaiah chapter 66.
The worm is that part of man that part of the sinner that will never burn up, never cease to exist. The worm is that part of man that is indestructible; it cannot cease to exist. The worm cannot burn up. The worm will be tormented forever and ever and ever.
You may ask, what exactly is the “worm”? I believe it is the soul with the mind and conscience, that part of us that exists apart from our bodies after death. But for the sake of our discussion, the shape, the size, the length, the breadth of it makes little difference. Whatever it’s makeup, the worm is that part of man that is absolutely indestructible! I say again whatever it is exactly, according to Jesus it CANNOT be destroyed!
If a sinner dies in their sins, they will wake up in hell, They will never cease to burn. They will never cease to exist. They are the worm!!! The person, the soul that exists after a lost sinner dies is the worm. They will have a body and whatever body they will have in hell will be determined by God Almighty.
The fact is there is a resurrection of damnation and that means a body.
”And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29
The fact is their worm is that part of the sinner that will never die!
“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.” Luke 16:22-24
Jesus said the rich man was in hell and while there he could talk, see, feel, hear, thirst and feel torment.
Since death (The grave where the body is) and hell (The place where the soul/worm is), is not emptied until several thousand years latter as we have in Revelation chapter 20, the rich man was, is and will be in conscious torment, that will only be interrupted by a resurrection unto damnation on Judgment Day and will be resumed for eternity in the lake of fire.
“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.” Revelation 20:10
The beast and the false prophet were cast into the Lake of Fire one thousand years before this and they are still there when the devil is cast into the Lake of Fire.
“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.” Revelation 20:14-15
Jesus told us the rich man is conscious and tormented in hell. According to scripture the next event in the rich mans existence is that he will be resurrected, judged, sentenced and cast into the lake of fire with the devil and his angels where the bible says they are to be tormented day and night forever.
I know God always does right.
“…Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25
I know God speaks to all men.
“For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Job 33:14
I know that most people have and will chose to go their own way in spite of God speaking to them.
“… Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.” Isaiah 66:3
“…when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” Isaiah 66:4
I know from the bible that all men are without excuse.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: “ Romans 1:18-20
Jesus told us that those in hell are conscious and tormented in a place of fire that is never quenched and a place where the lost sinners worm/soul cannot die and will never die. I have no problem telling men in the words the bible uses, the words Jesus uses that there is a hell, that there is a lake of fire and there is no way to escape going there apart from trusting in Christ and His finished work on the cross.
I HAVE GOOD NEWS! MEN DO NOT HAVE TO PERISH IN HELL!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 3:18
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:27-28
“…he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering….” James 1:5-6
“…neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us (All of us.) the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Corinthians 5:18
Let us be about our Fathers business who, “…is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman…therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” Ezekiel 33:7
Sam Ludvicek

C.S.Lewis wrote in his book, Screwtape Letters, “One of Satan’s best tricks in the Twentieth Century, is to make people believe he doesn’t exist”.
Well God’s best trick for many centuries has been to make people believe He does! By the way, it was Baudelaire who first wrote “The Devil’s best trick was to make men believe he didn’t exist.” in a short story. «Mes chers frères, n’oubliez jamais, quand vous entendrez vanter le progrès des lumières, que la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu’il n’existe pas!» It has been paraphrased since by C.S. Lewis, Jim Carroll and even ‘Keyser Soze’in “The Usual Suspects”.

By the way, in case it’s thought ambiguous, or just a typo, ‘He’ refers to the non-existent God, not the Devil, hence the capital letter.

Sam, please call me!