YOUR FIRST SIX DAYS IN HELL
===========================

By Dennis E. RABINEAU, Pastor of Evangel Chapel (Assemblies of God) in Bridgewater, New Jersey. This article originally appeared in the
PENTECOSTAL EVANGEL, MAY 4, 1997.

(This scenario is based upon verses found in Revelation 20:14,15;
Luke 16:20-31; Mark 9:43; Matthew 22:11-13.)

***

What Is Hell Like?

Most vacations include an itinerary. You have an idea what you will see
and do before you arrive at your destination. The Bible has enough
information to project an itinerary for those whose destination is hell.
Let's look at the first 6 days.

DAY 1

The trip originates at the gate of death. Since departures are made daily,
you are called upon to begin your trip on short notice. Since the journey
is only one way, there is no need to concern yourself with return plans.

Your initial point of departure may prove more than a little frightening,
as you suddenly realize the finality of your destination. The trip itself
will leave you with little time to contemplate what awaits.

As you pass through the doorway of death, you will notice almost
immediately that your direction is taking you away from the light toward
what appears to be complete and utter darkness. With each passing moment
the darkness becomes more intense. At first the absence of light is only annoying, but you feel it becoming more ominous and threatening.

The intensity of the darkness is only matched by the absence of any joyful sounds - no music, no laughter, no sounds of merriment. As you move
farther, faint sounds of moaning and wailing become detectable. They seem
to be coming through the darkness from every direction. You become aware
of a faint light. It flickers like a flame, yet thick clouds of black
smoke dance all around it, keeping the flame from casting off any real
hope of light.

Suddenly you find yourself obsessed to know what day and hour it is.
Already it feels like you've been here for an eternity ... and it's only
Day 1.

DAY 2

The continuing darkness is stifling. It's as if something is lurking in
the veil of night that surrounds you. You yell, you threaten, you even
plead, but to no avail. Whatever it is just stays there, producing fear
like you've never known before.

As your eyes struggle to adjust to the dark, you become aware of a new sensation. The heat. It's right at the edge of unbearable. Hot, searing, intolerable heat. Your body craves water. You'd give anything for a
drink, and you try unsuccessfully to push that desire out of your mind.

The air is thick, choking, miserable ... and it's just Day 2.

DAY 3

At least you think it's Day 3. It seems like it has already been forever. You've not been able to sleep.

You still can't believe you're here. Where are the friends you thought
you would see? The knowledge that they would be here too had brought you
some comfort in your lifetime. Where is the fun you thought you would
have? It isn't at all like what you were led to believe.

You stumble upon a group of others. You pour out a litany of questions.
As they open their mouths, no words come out ... only the sounds of
weeping and wailing. Some in the group don't even try to respond. They
gnash their teeth, as if in some invisible pain.

You wonder when this nightmare will end. You wonder why somebody can't
make it stop ... and it's only Day 3.

DAY 4

How you wish you could send a message to those you left behind. You'd
warn them about this place. You'd tell them what it's really like, so
they'd never come. The thought of your loved ones coming to a place like
this is unbearable. You can't help but think back upon that day when you
made your decision to come here. You understood that your rejection of
Jesus meant that you would spend eternity in Hell, but it didn't seem
real or important then.

Looking back, you think how foolish you were to reject God's offer of salvation. You wish you could choose again.

You find yourself hoping that your loved ones will choose differently,
even though you realize such a choice means you'll never see them
again ... never touch them ... never speak to them. What a horrible
realization ... and it's only Day 4.

DAY 5

You've become acutely aware of the absence of any good in this place.
There's no love, for God is love. There's no joy or peace or goodness,
because all of these come from God, too. There's nothing sacred,
nothing holy, nothing of God anywhere to be found. You're amazed at how
evil, evil can be.

For the first time since your arrival, you begin to sense the great
gulf that is fixed between where you are and where God is. The span is
beyond your comprehension as you try to realize the degree of distance
that will separate you from God and those who chose to serve Him. God
is on the other side of that gulf. Loved ones in Christ are on the other
side of that gulf. What a lonely realization ... and it's only Day 5.

DAY 6

Through the darkness you saw a new face today. A new arrival. He stopped
to speak with you. You could see the terror in his eyes. He asked
questions that you had been asking only days before. You opened your
mouth to reply, but all that would come out was the sound of weeping
and wailing.

You've just spent your first 6 days in Hell. Unfortunately, an unholy,
unhappy eternity stretches out before you ... and all because you
rejected Jesus. if only...

But wait.

The fact you're reading this says you still have a chance.

In His mercy, God is giving you an opportunity right now to change your
eternal itinerary. "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall
be saved" (Acts 2:21).

Oh, friend, do it now ... before it's too late.

***

Would you like to receive this FREE GIFT today?? All you need to do
is admit to God that you are a sinner, and that you cannot save yourself.

Right now, come to God, just as you are...no matter what you've done in
your life...and be willing, with His Help, to turn from the way you've
lived (repent)...accepting by faith, that Jesus Christ died for you on
an Old Rugged Cross, that He Lives now to provide you Eternal Life.

All you need to do is pray a simple prayer of contrition...to ask Him
to forgive your sins, to come into your life and be your personal Saviour,
and the Lord of Your Life.

SINNERS PRAYER

"Lord Jesus...I admit that I'm a sinner...and I know that nothing I
can do will save myself".

"Right now, just as I am...I come to you in faith...believing that You
died for me. I'm sorry for the way I've lived, and I'm willing to turn
from my sin".

"Dear Jesus, Come into my heart, forgive my sin...save me...and be the
Lord of my life. By Your Grace, I will follow and obey You in all that
I do".

"Thank You For Being My Friend For Life. In Your Name I Pray. Amen".

If you prayed that prayer, and really meant it...I can assure you
that on the Authority of God's Word...that you have Eternal Life
right now...and that all the angels of Heaven are rejoicing...and I
rejoice with you...that I'll see you before the Throne Of God one day.

The best thing for you now is to spend time with God each day...just
talk with Him as if you were talking to a close personal friend...
after all, He is just that...He sticks closer than a brother. You can
talk with him at any time, day or night, and never have to wait. Read
His Word, the Holy Bible...be baptized, worship, and fellowship with
other Christians in a Church where Christ is preached. He will mold you
into the image of His Son, little by little...and when you mess up,
just confess to Him your error, and then ask and claim His Forgiveness.
He promises to never leave you, or forsake you.


... According to the Weather Channel, Hell just froze over.
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