There is such a place as hell. Let no one deceive you with vain words. What people do not like, they try hard not to believe. When the Lord Jesus Christ comes to judge the world, He will punish all who are not His disciples with a fearful punishment. All who are found unrepentant and unbelieving; all who have clung to sin, stuck to the world, and set their affections on things below; all who are without Christ; all such shall come to an awful end. Whosoever is not written in the book of life shall be “cast into the lake of fire.” [Rev 20:15]
I call on all who profess to believe the Bible, to be on their guard.
1) I know that some do not believe there is any hell at all. They think it impossible there can be such a place. They call it inconsistent with the mercy of God. They say it is too awful an idea to be really true. The devil of course, rejoices in the views of such people. They help his kingdom mightily. They are preaching up his old favorite doctrine, “You shall not surely die.”
2) I know furthermore, that some do not believe that hell is eternal. They tell us it is incredible that a compassionate God will punish people forever. He will surely open the prison doors at last. This also is a mighty help to the devil’s cause.
3) I know also that some believe there is a hell, but never allow that anybody is going there. All people with them are good. As soon as they die, all were sincere, all meant well, and all, they hope, got to heaven. Alas! what a common delusion this is!
If I never spoke of hell, I should think I had kept back something that was profitable, and should look on myself as an accomplice of the devil. Reader, I beseech you, in all tender affection, beware of false views of the subject on which I have been dwelling. Beware of new and strange doctrines about hell and the eternity of punishment. Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who has a heaven for everybody, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.
~ J.C. Ryle
Read the entire portion of Ryle’s tract on Hell ► Fire! Fire!
Amen! Preach it, Ryle!
This is great! I think Rob Bell should take some time to read this by Ryle too.
Amen to the Rob Bell comment.
[...] for universalism, then he will be preaching people straight into hell.We can’t get away from the reality of hell. The Bible is clear that there will be eternal punishment for those who do not repent and turn to [...]
When speaking about hell make sure the people see tears in your eyes or hear tears in your voice as you warn them of the judgment to come…Amen, for JC RYLE a TRUE Man of God!
Well, I still like Ryle even if I disagree with him here. Doubting eternal Hell isn’t a new belief. Honest people can question it and come to different conclusions from Scripture.
[...] of a Quarrelsome PersonAnswered Prayer: Said Musa Released from Prison!Wisdom from Saints of Old: The Reality of HellMinistry: Does Preaching Make Disciples?In Case You Missed ItHere are a few of this week’s [...]
You know, if the Bible says there’s a hell, then there must be a hell. But how does it define it and does it say that it’s “forever?”
In Ezek 18:4, the Lord tells us that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
In Romans 6:23, the Lord again tells us that “the wages of sin is death.”
In Eccl 9:5, the Lord tells us that “the dead know not any thing.”
In Eccl 9:9, the Lord tells us that there is “no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave…”
It is more than interesting to note that the “grave” and “hell” are translated interchangeably in the preceding and following verses. The Lord tells us in Luke 16:22-23 in the parable of Lazarus that the rich man “died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes…” This is a parable.
In Rev 20:14, the Lord tells us that “death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.”
In Jude 7, the Lord tells us that Sodom and Gomorrha were set as “an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Today we can go to their location and see that these cities were completely destroyed, completely consumed – eternally (Heb 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”).
So, when the Lord tells us that “death and hell were cast into the lake of fire” in Rev 20:14, does he really mean that there will no longer be any death nor any hell – that he has destroyed them forever, along with the wicked?
Isaiah 65:17 states “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
There are many great theologians. There is only one God.
“..yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightiest be justified in thy sayings, and mightiest overcome when thou are judged.” – Rom 3:7
Isaiah 66:5 “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word…” With God’s mercy, may we have no other source of truth.
Jess, you sound like an adventist. If so, I implore you to take off your EGW spectacles and read the inerrant Word of God and repent, call on the name of Jesus, the REAL Jesus of God’s holy word, not the archangel Jesus of adventism. Adventist offers a false Christ, a false religion, a false prophet, and false doctrine – all courtesy of Satan.
In Jesus
It might be helpful, Melissa, if you knew anything about Adventism. You seem to be getting them confused with Jehovah’s Witnesses, at least on the archangel thing. Yes, they’re both annihilationist, but Adventists are still Christian.
I’m neither JW nor Adventist and I don’t see the Bible teaching eternal hell. Hell, definitely. Eternal? No. And this is from reading the inerrant Word a dozen times.
[...] “The Reality of Hell” by J.C. Ryle Quotes Page [...]
[...] 1) I know that some do not believe there is any hell at all. They think it impossible there can be such a place. They call it inconsistent with the mercy of God. They say it is too awful an idea to be really true. The devil of course, rejoices in the views of such people. They help his kingdom mightily. They are preaching up his old favorite doctrine, “You shall not surely die.” 2) I know furthermore, that some do not believe that hell is eternal. They tell us it is incredible that a compassionate God will punish people forever. He will surely open the prison doors at last. This also is a mighty help to the devil’s cause. 3) I know also that some believe there is a hell, but never allow that anybody is going there. All people with them are good. As soon as they die, all were sincere, all meant well, and all, they hope, got to heaven. Alas! what a common delusion this is! … Read More [...]
Thank You, Melissa! Actually, I’ve never read any of Ellen’s stories nor am I aware of having met any Adventists in my life, although it’s possible. In any case, my faith is 100% in the Word, which is why I offer scripture for any statements that I make. As you’re no doubt aware, all faiths are false except one. Any faith that says it’s Christ’s yet differs one iota from the Bible is sin (James 2:10). That’s why I have my faith only in the Word of God, vice a specific creed or confession as they often differ in part or greatly from the Word (note the many, many denominations that claim the Bible as their foundation). The truth is that we cannot arrive at a conclusion on anything in the Word unless we’ve listened to everything else that the Lord has to say about it, even if the topics seem to have been covered endlessly by pastors, scholars, media, etc. If there seems to be a discrepancy in the views between what you’ve heard elsewhere and what’s in the Bible, you have to choose. We may not always like what we read in the Bible, but we know that it’s absolutely true and trustworthy. Where is your faith?
Again–Thanks and I wish you all the Best. Jess
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[...] 21. The Reality of Hell [...]