The Conflict of Hell

     
    Since the beginning of time, questions of an afterlife have always been appealing to mankind. The religious doctrines of most cultures state the possibilities of a good and bad eternal well being; good being paradise and bad being eternal damnation. The requirements to achieve a positive crossover are inevitable if eternal damnation is to be avoided. Good and evil conflict as the decisions you make about life will determine your final destiny. Throughout this discussion, I will talk about what’s considered a negative outcome by the Christian religion, referred to as a place called Hell. I will talk about, according to the Christian religion: what is Hell, where is Hell, why there is a Hell, and the requirements to avoid Hell.

     What is Hell? According to Webster’s Dictionary, Hell is defined as: 1. the place of punishment for the wicked after death. 2. Torment and anguish. Also, according to the bible, Hell is described as a place of utter darkness with a lake of fire and brimstone where evil people weep and gnash their teeth, (Matthew 8:12 and 13:42.) Because of the absence of God’s presence and jurisdiction there, Hell is a very tormenting place. This means that anything that conflicts with God’s will is bad and unnatural. God is a supreme entity that resides in Heaven with a will for us to self-preserve. This is accomplished by saving us from ourselves within the acts of committing sin which is anything that causes self-destruction in any form or fashion. On the other hand, Lucifer, (who is also known as Satan) is an entity that engages in Hell, with unlimited intentions of initiating self destruction.

     Where is Hell located? The bible's description about Hell has lead many to believe its possible location is  in the center of the Earth, which is full of molten lava and has no sunshine. This theory was given further arrival by an expeditionary dig by scientists in Siberia. After drilling to the center of the earth and placing special listening devices into the hole, the crew claimed to have heard, what seemingly was the disturbing sounds of mass screaming in agony. Afterwards, the sounds terrified them as temperatures exceeded two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. If  the findings by the scientists are true, then this would be the best possible example to reference Hell by while living in this life.   

     Why is there a Hell? Originally, God constructed Hell for his top Archangel named Lucifer, (which means “light bearer) along with all other fallen angels to reside in after Lucifer’s attempt to overthrow God from his throne. After Lucifer’s departure from Heaven, he became a devil, which can be defined by Webster’s dictionary as “a major spirit of evil or a wicked or mischievous person” and the fallen angles became demons which can be defined as “evil spirits.” Hell is not intended for mankind, but there are two types of people that God allows to enter Hell, such as: “good people” that don’t live by the teachings of the bible and anyone who denies association with God and the teachings of the bible. As quoted by Bill Wiese, author of “23 Questions about Hell” “Is it really mean to construct prisons for convicts?” Just like a prison, as with Hell, we have the choice of whether to go or not to go.  

     How can Hell be avoided? The concept of avoiding Hell is simple, be a "good person according to God’s plan" and seek a relationship with him. Every single one of us unless “saved” are already on the path to Hell during our transition to the afterlife. Many think that just being a good person is the way to avoid Hell, but Hell is full of good people. You must ask yourself, “By whose standards of good are you living by anyway?” With this said, there is only one standard of good to live by and that can only be brought about with a relationship with God, that must be sought out to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. As stated by Bill Wiese, “You go to a mansion, knock on the door and tell the residents that you’ve come to live with them and that they can trust you because you’re a good person; they of course say no because they never knew you.” The same concept is true for God, and our relationship with him is dependent on whether or not we ask forgiveness of our sins and how moral and well sound our judgments are to make proper decisions. Ultimately, good decisions made will cause the avoidance of taboos that really do nothing more than cause hindrances in your life. Study the bible and seek guidance from God in the form of prayers for the understanding of the truth, because the truth will truly set you free.



References:

The Bible, King James Version.

(n.d.). Retrieved from hellhappens.com.

Retrieved from youtube.com “Sounds from Hell”

(1991). Webster's 2, new riverside pocket dictionary. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Weise, B. (2008). 23 questions about hell. Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House.