THO'TS ON HELL-1

The New Testament renders three Greek words as "hell". They are:

(a) "Hades", Luke 16:23 (the words of Jesus).

(b) "Gehenna", Matthew 23:33 (Jesus, speaking to scribes and pharisees).

(c)"Tartarus", 2 Peter 2:4. Nothing in the context of these verses sounds like this is a place one would desire to spend eternity in. All verses refer to a place.

I'm sure some people have become calloused by it's frequent uses by folk in this world. Some have misused it and others have overused it. Some have lied about it's use in the Bible, others have used it carelessly.

I grew up in my early formative years in the 30's, and 40's. It was common in our 'neck of the woods' to say to someone we disagreed with to 'go to hell!!'. Some called it 'cussin', but it was more serious than they could possibly imagine. It involved a WISH, and a bad one at that. It is a directive, but the 'cusser' was helpless to enforce compliance.

Any passages of the only Book, that is authoritative on the subject, reveals it is not ours to consign someone to hell. Nor will He comply with our wish for them to go to hell.

Let's lightly consider the texts cited: Luke 16:19-23, says of the selfish man, "....hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments . . .". Would we wish that upon even our worst neighbor? will our wish be what puts anyone there? Matthew 23:33 "ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell".

Strong words by One (Jesus) who knows the heart of all men. 2 Peter 2:4 and 9: "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, . . .". The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,and to reserve the unjust to be punished:". Who would want to face such a future? Jesus stands ready to forgive them of their sins.

THINK - - - ACCEPT HIM - - - THEN THANK HIM! DDH.