Heaven and Hell
Read these passages about heaven: Isaiah 25:8; Mark 12:18-27; John 14:2; Romans 8:20-24; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49; 2 Corinthians 4:14-18; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 11:16; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:1-5.
Read these passages about hell: Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalm 9:17; Isaiah 33:14; Isaiah 66:15-16, 24; Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 23:33; Matthew 25:29-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:22-31; 2 Peter 2:4-10; 2 Peter 3:7; Jude 7; Jude 13; Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14-15.
Through these passages we get a glimpse of eternal life after death. While these images do not tell us exactly what heaven and hell are like, they make it clear that hell is a place to be avoided at all costs and heaven is a most desirable place to be! As the Reformation Study Bible says (page 1432),
“These are the issues of eternity that must be realistically faced... Those in hell will realize that they have sentenced themselves to be there because they loved darkness rather than light, refusing to have their creator as their Lord. They preferred the self-indulgence of sin to self-denying righteousness, rejecting the God that made them.”
Read Daniel 12:2; John 3:18-21; John 5:28-29; Romans 1:18-23; Romans 2:8; Acts 17:31; Philippians 2:10, and 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.
There are several reasons why we believe that heaven and hell really do exist. First, much of the information we have about them comes from Jesus himself. Interestingly, hell is the third most recorded topic from the lips of Jesus. We believe that Jesus is reliable.
Second, if a just God really exists, ultimate justice must exist. It is obvious that many people do not receive justice on earth. So, a just God would make sure that everyone receives his due reward after life on this earth.
Specifically regarding hell, rejecting our creator God must surely demand the harshest punishment imaginable. Further, to be “saved” implies that we are saved from something to something. Reward in heaven only makes maximum sense as a reward if the punishment is very much worth avoiding.
Some people say something like, “My God would not send anyone to hell.” The person who makes such a statement is correct. His God wouldn’t do that—because his God is a figment of his imagination. The Bible makes it clear that God is just and that heaven and hell are real.
The next question is obvious. How does one get to heaven or hell? Please read on.
Read these passages about hell: Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalm 9:17; Isaiah 33:14; Isaiah 66:15-16, 24; Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 23:33; Matthew 25:29-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:22-31; 2 Peter 2:4-10; 2 Peter 3:7; Jude 7; Jude 13; Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14-15.
Through these passages we get a glimpse of eternal life after death. While these images do not tell us exactly what heaven and hell are like, they make it clear that hell is a place to be avoided at all costs and heaven is a most desirable place to be! As the Reformation Study Bible says (page 1432),
“These are the issues of eternity that must be realistically faced... Those in hell will realize that they have sentenced themselves to be there because they loved darkness rather than light, refusing to have their creator as their Lord. They preferred the self-indulgence of sin to self-denying righteousness, rejecting the God that made them.”
Read Daniel 12:2; John 3:18-21; John 5:28-29; Romans 1:18-23; Romans 2:8; Acts 17:31; Philippians 2:10, and 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.
There are several reasons why we believe that heaven and hell really do exist. First, much of the information we have about them comes from Jesus himself. Interestingly, hell is the third most recorded topic from the lips of Jesus. We believe that Jesus is reliable.
Second, if a just God really exists, ultimate justice must exist. It is obvious that many people do not receive justice on earth. So, a just God would make sure that everyone receives his due reward after life on this earth.
Specifically regarding hell, rejecting our creator God must surely demand the harshest punishment imaginable. Further, to be “saved” implies that we are saved from something to something. Reward in heaven only makes maximum sense as a reward if the punishment is very much worth avoiding.
Some people say something like, “My God would not send anyone to hell.” The person who makes such a statement is correct. His God wouldn’t do that—because his God is a figment of his imagination. The Bible makes it clear that God is just and that heaven and hell are real.
The next question is obvious. How does one get to heaven or hell? Please read on.