FALSE IDEAS ABOUT THE AFTERLIFE

. . . by Kathy A. Smith

 Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day. No, no, man was made for immortality" Abraham Lincoln

Through the years man-made ideals and views on the afterlife have crept into man's thinking that have absolutely no foundation to stand. Let's all heed the clever words of past president Theodore Roosevelt:

 "If a man is not familiar with the bible, he has suffered a loss which he had better make all possible haste to correct."

What wise words these are!When it comes to questions such as "Where will I spend eternity", This should be first on mankind's mind. We would all do well to know what the Bible has to say on subjects such as heaven and hell. For example, if you had to go through an open heart surgery. Would you choose a doctor with years of experience who has already performed successful numerous operations, or would you choose a man who has absolutely no interests or knowledge of what the term "doctor" even means? The answer is most obvious! That is, if you want to keep living!

Let me ask you a far more important question: Where do you want to spend eternity when you die? Would you rather learn from a book that was written by the God that created you and knows everything that there is to know, and also a God that has the power and authority to save or destroy your soul (in hell)? Or, would you rather ask the first person's philosophy you meet off the street? I would hope you chose the Bible, because the right choice could mean an eternity in heaven, or the wrong choice could mean an eternity in hell.

Let's look at some of the false views that are sending many people to hell each and every day:

   1). The belief that there is no literal hell - Sadly one day those who do not believe in hell will believe in it because they will end up there if they die without receiving the Lord Jesus Christ.

   2). Universalism - is a false belief that a loving God would never send anyone to hell. It teaches that all mankind will be saved and brought back to God and holiness.
The fact is, God doesn't want anyone to go to hell. But since He is a loving God, He allows people to make their own choice. So it depends on the person's own decision where they will end up; heaven or hell. "For the wages of sin is death (hell); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Polls consistently reveal that most people believe in heaven and believe they are going there. Far fewer believe in hell, and almost no one believes they are going there. Remember, just because a person does not believe something the Bible teaches does not make make them right and the Bible wrong. What we need to understand is when things are inconvenient or uncomfortable to think about, many people decide to push it off and decide their own philosophy is the truth. This makes them more comfortable. This is very dangerous!

Centuries ago people didn't believe the world was round, even though God's word said it was round. Ponder these words of wisdom from the almighty God: "Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: (Isaiah 40:21-22). Approximately 700 BC God spoke through the prophet Isaiah's writings that the earth was a circle! There are also other countless examples of this. God's word has never been proven false. Many atheists and scoffers in the past have started out to disprove the Bible, but find out it can not be done. Many have even become believers because of it's divine and unique supernatural qualities.

   3). Evolution - Is a false belief that mankind is the result of random chance. The belief that when you die you no longer exist.
Why do people believe in evolution even though the Bible teaches that all life was created by Almighty God? (Gen 1:1)
"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 1:19-20) The main reason is because man does not want to face the fact that one day they will have to stand before the God of all creation and acknowledge their sin! They willingly suppress the truth in unrighteousness, so they can continue to walk in sin! How dangerous this satanic doctrine is!

If you will honestly take the time to listen and open up your heart, we can prove to you that evolution is false and has absolutely no foundation to stand upon. See Kent Hovind's on-line seminar tapes. There is so much evidence against evolution that Kent Hovind has a standing offer of $250,000 to anyone who can give any empirical evidence (scientific proof) for evolution!

   4). Reincarnation - is the false belief that when someone or something dies, their soul comes back in another body or form. Death is not to be feared because the soul just get born into another body taking wisdom that they have gathered in their previous life or lives. When a person dies they really don't die, but are reincarnated.
The Bible says we die only once and then the judgment. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment": (Hebrews 9:27). Satan was the first one to tells this lie back in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). (See Reincarnation: Truth or Lie?

   5). Purgatory - This is another lie from the pit of hell. This lie has no Biblical foundation, but again is a man-made doctrine to escape the reality of hell. No one can work their way out of hell! "For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth" (Isaiah 38:18). There is no hope for anyone to get out of hell!

Why does the Catholic Church teach this? Find out many more false teachings that the Catholic Church promotes. Read the on-line book "Understanding Roman Catholicism" that proves that the Catholic Church does not teach the same as the Bible.


   6). If a person lives a good moral life - they will go to heaven. Again, the Bible disagrees; "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Rom 3:23). If you are hoping for good works to save you, you are trusting in a parachute which is full of holes.
A person can live a wonderful good moral life, they may do many kind things such as: feed the hungry, clothe the poor, volunteer in hospitals, or just by being a good caring husband or wife, father or mother. They may even be a pastor or may teach Sunday School. All these people are no better off then a Satanist, a drug dealer, or a murderer, and will wind up in hell if they have left Jesus Christ out of their life. You see, no one stays out of hell because of a good moral life filled with good deeds or any other man-made reasons. A person only stays out of hell because they have received the gift that God has provided for them. This gift alone is Jesus Christ the Son of God. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). God has provided one way and man must acknowledge God's way alone.

God is creator of the universe, but unfortunately he is not the Father of all. Jesus clearly told certain people in His day that their Father was the devil (John 8:44). God can only become the Father to those who will receive His Son. "But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12). Once you are a child of God you will have no fear of hell.

 

WHY THIS ARTICLE?

The reason for this article is to reach out to others in love. The truth alone will make a person free! God doesn't want anyone to go to hell, and neither do we.

Just say for example, you wake up in the middle of the night realizing that your next door neighbor's house is on fire. Would you get up and quickly bang on their door to warn them to get out, or would you conveniently go back to sleep, thinking, I'll wait until morning so they won't get upset with me for disturbing them?

How would you feel if your neighbor's family burned to death because you did not sound the alarm and give them warning? You had the choice to save them, or let them burn to death.

How much more important it is for Christians to warn others about the reality of a literal hell where the everlasting fires are never quenched!

WHAT JESUS REALLY DID FOR YOU

   Do you know what Jesus really did for you when He gave His life on the cross? He flung Himself between you, and hell, and the wrath of God. Can you even begin to imagine that kind of love for you? Do you still want to trample the Son of God the one who died for you underfoot? What purpose do you have to reject Him? Please be honest with yourself, you are worth it. You were certainly worth it to the God that died and shed His own blood for you. Why would you want to live your life without God in it?

Jesus Christ has paid the full debt of sin that every human being owed with His own blood. He literally became sin for us. "For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Bible teaches us that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. After Lucifer and his host of angels rebelled against their creator God, they were cast out of heaven and hell was prepared for them. The reason men go to hell is because they also have rebelled against God. All men are separated from God until they receive the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, Satan is your Father and hell is your destiny. There are no in-betweens.

The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him(Jesus) from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. To receive Jesus Christ into your life right now just say a simple prayer like the one below meaning it with all your heart:
   Dear Lord God. I come to You a sinner and I humbly repent. I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and I believe You raised Him from the dead. Come into my life Jesus and be my Lord and Savior. I receive You, Lord Jesus to change and take control of my life that I may live for You from this day forth and from now on. Thank You Lord for saving me and cleansing me with Your precious blood. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you have called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by faith, believing and asking Him to save you, you are saved! Words mean nothing without belief! If you truly believe, you will humbly allow Christ to begin working in your life so you can fulfill the plan He has for you.

4 very important steps to take as a new Christian seeking to grow in the Lord:
1). Read the Bible daily (a good place to start is in the New Testament with the
Gospel of John).
2). Pray daily.
3). Find a Bible-believing church that preaches the
Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that God will lead you to the right one. Fellowshipping with other believers is a very important step to growth in Christ.
4). Be Baptized

To learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ and how to be saved: Read Divine Appointment?

 

 

 

 More on the reality of Hell:
 

THE REALITY OF HELL

THE BIBLICAL DESCRIPTION OF HELL

HELL IS FOR ETERNITY

SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD

THE EXISTENCE OF HELL




© Copyright 2001 Fill The Void Ministries. This article may be copied for personal use or reproduced to give to others. Article must be kept in original format and may not be sold for profit.

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