Hell Is Not Separation From God

By Cindy Wyatt

There are many preachers and churches today who say, in their statement of faith or list of beliefs, that hell is separation from God.  They do not say that hell is eternal torment in the lake of fire and brimstone because they don't want to scare people about hell, so they just say that hell is separation from God.  But actually, nothing could be further from the truth.  Even in hell people will not be separated from God and they will be on fire forever as shown in the following scriptures.
Revelation 14:9: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 14:10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presences of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
These verses makes it clear that the unsaved will be in torment in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Lamb.

Revelation 14:11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Psalm 139:8: If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
So while they are trying to not scare people about hell-fire, they are actually telling a lie about hell being separation from God.

Admittedly, hell is a terrible thought that no one likes to talk about or think about, but as Christians we have to be truthful and honest about it and warn people.  Imagine if your neighbor's house was on fire; you wouldn't just go over there and knock on the door real softly so you wouldn't scare them.  Of course not, you would yell loudly for them to get out of the house; you would try to save them.  In the same manner, we should warn people of hell and try to keep them from going there.  We should always tell them with love and compassion for them and show them that we care, and tell them that we are all sinners and everyone deserves to go to hell to pay for their sin.  We would never say rudely, "you're going to hell."  If it wasn't for God's grace and mercy when he saved us, we would be going there ourselves.

This doctrine of "Hell is separation from God" has infiltrated many baptist churches today because they want to tone down the reality of how bad hell really is.  They try to replace what the bible says about hell being a place with fire and brimstone with the concept of "Hell is just separation from God."  Hell is far worse than that.  It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth that lasts forever and  ever.
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

If hell really was just separation from God, that would not make the unsaved want to get saved because they don't want anything to do with God right now.  They would like to be separated from God, but on the contrary they will be in torment in the presence of the Lamb, Jesus.

The following are bible verses that explain what Hell really is.

Hell is a place of flaming fire. that is not quenched.

Revelation 20:10: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Revelation 20:14: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death."
Revelation 20:15: "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

II Thessalonians 1:8: "In flaming fire Taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."
II Thessalonians 1:9: "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

Mark 9:43: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"
Mark 9:44: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Mark 9:45: "And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"
Mark 9:46 "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Mark 9:47: "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:"
Mark 9:48: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

Luke 16:23: " And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."
Luke 16:24: "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

Jude 1:7: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

Hell is a place of smothering smoke.

Revelation 14:11: "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Hell is a place of black darkness.

Jude 1:13: "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

Hell is a place of weeping and wailing.

Matthew 22:13: "Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Hell is a place of everlasting chains.

Jude 1:6: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Hell is a place of flesh-eating worms.

Isaiah 14:11:"Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee."
Isaiah 66:24: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched: and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."

Hell is a place of no rest day nor night - no sleep.

Revelation 14:11: "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

So, as I said, hell is a terrible thought, but the truth is that it is a reality and Jesus spoke much more about hell than he did heaven.  The good news is that anyone who trusts Jesus to be their savior will never have to go there.  God loves people so much that he did everything he could to keep us out of hell by giving his only begotten Son to pay for our sins on the cross.  He saves us by his grace and mercy; we don't deserve it.  If it were not for God's great mercy we would all end up in hell forever.  I am very thankful that Jesus saved me.  And if anyone who is reading this has never yet accepted the free gift of salvation that God offers by trusting Jesus as your personal savior, I pray you will do so very soon.  It is the most important decision you will ever make in your whole life; it's a matter of life or death, heaven or hell.  You never know when it will be your time to leave this earth and go out into eternity.  God loves you and he wants to save you.  He doesn't want anyone to go to hell.  Please click on links below to learn more.

Poetry About Jesus And Salvation

How to Know You Are Going to Heaven

Only Two Groups Of People In The World

by Cindy Wyatt

The bible divides the world into two groups of people when it comes to eternity. People might say there are many different groups of people in the world of religion, such as Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Mormons, etc., but the bible is very clear that there are actually only two groups of people, believers and unbelievers.  

John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  
So you can see from this verse that God divides the world into two groups, he that believeth and he that believeth not.  He that believeth has eternal life and he that believeth not does not have eternal life, but is condemned to hell.  So every single person is either in one group or the other.  What determines what group you are in is all based upon what you do with Jesus, whether you believe on him as your savior or whether you do not believe on him.  

John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 
So in order to be in the group of unbelievers, all you have to do is nothing.  If you have never put your faith in Jesus alone you are condemned already. We are all naturally condemned unbelievers until the moment we understand that we are a sinner in need of a savior and put our trust in what Jesus did for us on the cross and how he rose again to save us from our sin. That is when we go from the group of unbelievers and into the group of believers.  

I John 5:12: He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

In Matthew chapter 25 the bible again divides the world into two groups, sheep and goats.  When Jesus comes back to judge the world the bible says he will separate the sheep from the goats, meaning the saved from the unsaved.
Matthew 25:31: When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Matthew 25:41: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

According to the above scriptures, the saved will inherit the kingdom of God prepared for believers in Christ and the unsaved will go into everlasting hell fire.  So definitely you are going to spend eternity somewhere, which is what everlasting means, either in heaven or in hell.  There are no other choices, only two places to go, one or the other.

So I hope if you have never put your trust in Christ alone to save your soul and are still in the group of condemned unbelievers, that you will put your trust in Jesus today and pass from death unto life. 
John 5:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 
Once you put your trust in Jesus, you will be transferred from the group of unbelievers into the group of believers and receive the free gift of salvation.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Remember also that once you become a believer and pass from death unto life you will always be a believer because that is what eternal means, forever.  You can never ever lose your salvation once you receive it.  Making sure you are saved is more important than anything else in the world since your eternal destiny is at stake.  It is easy to get saved, you only need to trust (or believe).  To believe means to rely upon, and depend upon Jesus to save your soul, not just a mere consent that Jesus is the son of God, but actually trusting him as your own personal savior for the forgiveness of your own personal sins in order to get you to heaven.  Your must have absolutely no trust at all in anything you do, like church, religions, good works, good life, repenting of sins, turning over a new life, etc.  It is all Jesus;. Jesus paid it all. Jesus lived a perfect sinless life and all our sins were placed on him and paid for by him on the cross.  He was our sin bearer so we could be forgiven.
I Peter 2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

To become a believer just call upon the name of the Lord and tell him that you admit you are a sinner and deserving of hell, but that you are now putting your trust in Jesus and him alone to save you and he will. God said thou SHALT be saved, not might be saved, but SHALT be saved. God said it and his word is true. It is impossible for God to lie.
Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

For more information on how to believe on Jesus please click on the links below. 

The Bible Way to Heaven Youtube

Poetry About Jesus and Salvation

Not Everyone Who Thinks They Are Saved Are Saved

The bible teaches that not everyone who thinks they are saved are saved.  In fact, in the book of Matthew, it says that many people who think they have done great works for God and for Christ, will not enter into heaven at all, but will be lost for all eternity in the lake of fire.

Matthew 7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

What a sad day it will be for those who thought they did great things for God to not be allowed into heaven.

So what made these people miss the boat?  The answer is because they trusted in themselves that they were righteous and just tagged the name of Jesus on to it to make themselves appear as great Christians, when in fact they were not even Christians at all as Jesus stated in Matthew 7:23, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." They thought they did many wonderful works, but the bible tells us the only work of God that gives eternal life is to believe on his only begotten Son.

John 6:28: Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

John 6:29: Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.  That is the only work we can do to get us into heaven, just believe on Jesus alone and nothing else.  All the work done to give us salvation was done by Jesus two thousand years ago when he died on the cross and rose from the grave as payment for our sins.. It is not what we do for Jesus that saves us, it is what he did for us that saves us.

In the book of Luke is a story of a man who thought he was righteous, but he actually was not.

Luke 18:9: And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even as this publican.

12: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13: And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

It is simply by pure mercy that God saves us through trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We don't deserve salvation and we cannot earn it; it is a totally free gift . Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The bible says that our own righteousness, or in other words, our own good works that we do that we think will get us into heaven are in fact filthy rags to God.

Isaiah 64:6: But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnessess are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Therefore, in conclusion, if you are trusting in your own works that you are doing in the name of religion or in the name of Christ, you are not saved, but if you have put your trust only in Jesus for your salvation and what he did for you, when he died on the cross and rose again the third day, you are saved. You are either trusting in your own self, or you are trusting totally on Jesus for your salvation, and the bible says in John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  Notice how this verse says "he that believeth", not he that does great and wonderful works.  It is not about what we do for Jesus, it is about what Jesus did for us.  When you decide to put your trust in Jesus and not yourself for salvation, that is called receiving Jesus as your personal savior.  John 1:12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  So the way to receive him as your own savior is to simply believe on his name, trust him to forgive your sins and give you eternal life, and have absolutely no trust in yourself or anything that you could ever do.  When you do that you become God's child, as it says "he gave them power to become the sons of God."  The bible also says to call upon him when you are putting your trust and faith in him.  To put your trust in Jesus just call upon him when you are putting your trust and faith in him.  To put your trust in Jesus just call upon him to save you and he will.  Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raises him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Poetry About Jesus And Salvation

God's Simple Plan Of Salvation