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Article 1
Is There A Hell? The Hell There Is!
This article is currently being written. Sections will be posted as they are completed. Please check back later.
Is There A Hell? The Hell There Is!
This article is currently being written. Sections will be posted as they are completed. Please check back later.
Hell in Holy Scripture
The Bible is one hell of a book—in the sense that it is full of references of Hell, a truth and a dogma that has been greatly neglected these days, if not outright forgotten and discarded by some bishops, priests, teachers and parents. Since Holy Scripture (with Tradition) is one of the chief sources of Divine Revelation, before examining the writings of the Fathers, Doctors of the Church, as well as other saints, popes and theologians, let us look at what Holy Scripture has to say on the subject of Hell. Below, you will find SOME (not all) of the references that Holy Scripture furnishes.
Devil and Hell versus Christ and His Church
Hell is synonymous with the devil. The devil and Hell are contraries and enemies of Christ and His Church. “Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour!” (1 Peter 5:8), saying: “Let us swallow him up alive like Hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit!” (Proverbs 1:12). “And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat!” (Luke 22:31). “I say to thee: ‘Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!’” (Matthew 16:18).
The Woes of Hell For Those Who Fail to Do Penance
“Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: ‘The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you!’ But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say: ‘Even the very dust of your city that cleaves to us, we wipe off against you!’ Yet know this, that the Kingdom of God is at hand. I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe to thee, Corozain! Woe to thee, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgement, than for you! And thou, Capharnaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, thou shalt be thrust down to Hell! … No, I say to you; but unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish!” (Luke 10:5-15; 13:5).
The World is on the Side of Hell
“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war with Him that sat upon the horse, and with His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who wrought signs before him, wherewith he seduced them who received the character of the beast, and who adored his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire, burning with brimstone!” (Apocalypse 19:19-20).
“And there came down fire from God out of Heaven, and devoured them; and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone, where both the beast and the false prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever!” (Apocalypse 20:9-10).
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works. And Hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the pool of fire!” (Apocalypse 20:12-15).
Follow the World and You Are Hell-Bound
The devil is “prince of this world”—the world is a carrot dangled by the devil. Jesus says: “The prince of this world cometh, and in Me he hath not anything! … The prince of this world is already judged! ... Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out!” (John 14:30; 16:11; 12:31).
This is why we are repeatedly warned (without much success): “Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him! For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world!” (1 John 2:15-16). “Adulterers! Know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God!” (James 4:4).
“If any man shall adore the beast and his image, and receive his character in his forehead, or in his hand; he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone!” (Apocalypse 14:9-10).
Have a Healthy Fear of Hell
St. John the Baptist, speaking of Christ, says: “I baptize you in the water unto penance, but He, that shall come after me, is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear! He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire! Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire!” (Matthew 3:11-12).
“Fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in Hell!” (Matthew 10:28).
“And I say to you, My friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will shew you whom you shall fear! Fear ye Him, Who, after He hath killed, hath power to cast into Hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5).
“I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, ‘Thou Fool!’, shall be in danger of Hell fire!” (Matthew 5:22).
“They are laid in Hell like sheep and shall decay in Hell from their glory!” Psalm 48:15).
“When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven, with the angels of His power: in a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction!” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
“At the end of the world, the angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 13:49-50).
Our Lord warns the Chosen People against complacency: “The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 8:12).
“Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you go round about the sea and the land to make one proselyte! And when he is made, you make him the child of Hell twofold more than yourselves! … You serpents, generation of vipers! How will you flee from the judgment of Hell?” (Matthew 23:15; 33).
“Neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in Hell, whither thou art hastening!” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
“Therefore hath Hell enlarged her soul, and opened her mouth without any bounds, and their strong ones, and their people, and their high and glorious ones shall go down into it. And man shall be brought down, and man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be brought low!” (Isaias 5:14-15).
“Hell below was in an uproar to meet thee at thy coming. All the princes of the Earth, all the princes of nations, all shall answer, and say to thee: ‘Thou also art wounded as well as we, thou art become like unto us! Thy pride is brought down to Hell!’” (Isaias 14:9-11).
“For Hell shall not confess to Thee, neither shall death praise Thee: nor shall they that go down into the pit, look for Thy truth” (Isaias 38:18). “Who shall confess to Thee in Hell?” (Psalm 6:6). “The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to Hell!” (Psalm 113:25). “Open thy eyes, and behold! For the dead, that are in Hell, shall not give glory and justice to the Lord!” (Baruch 2:17).
The very last verse in the Book of Isaias depicts the fate of sinners: “And they shall go out, and see the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me! Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched: and they shall be a loathsome sight to all flesh!” (Isaias 66:24).
The damned will be “saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: ‘We have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What hath pride profited us? Or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? We are consumed in our wickedness!’ Such things as these the sinners said in Hell” (Wisdom 5:3-14).
Do Not Be Overconfident
It is not for nothing that Holy Scripture says: “With fear and trembling work out your salvation!” (Philippians 2:12). For St. Luke reports the incident where a man asked Jesus how many souls were saved: “And a certain man said to Jesus: ‘Lord! Are they few that are saved?’ But Jesus said: ‘Strive to enter by the narrow gate! For many, I say to you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able! But when the master of the house shall be gone in, and shall shut the door, you shall begin to stand without, and knock at the door, saying: “Lord! Open to us!” And he, answering, shall say to you: “I know you not, whence you are!” Then you shall begin to say: “We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets!’ And He shall say to you: ‘I know you not, whence you are! Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity!’ There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out!’” (Luke 13:23-28).
“Enter ye in at the narrow gate! For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat! How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Take Measures to Avoid Hell
“The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest Hell” (Proverbs 15:24). “Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from Hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14).
St. Matthew quotes Our Lord as saying: “If thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into Hell fire!” (Matthew 18:8-9)
St. Mark, similarly quotes Our Lord: “If thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into Hell, into unquenchable fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the Hell of unquenchable fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the Hell of fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished!” (Mark 9:42-47).
Learning From History
“God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower Hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment! And spared not the original world, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that should after act wickedly” (2 Peter 2:4-6).
“Sodom and Gomorrha―and the neighboring cities in like manner―having given themselves to fornication and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire!” (Jude 1:7). “Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them!” (Psalm 54:16).
“Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain and after the error of Balaam ― feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, wandering stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever. These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires, and their mouth speaketh proud things, admiring persons for gain’s sake. Mockers, walking according to their own desires in ungodlinesses. Sensual men, having not the Spirit!” (Jude 1:11-19). “They are cut off, and are gone down to Hell, and others are risen up in their place” (Baruch 3:19).
“And Moses said: ‘If the Earth, opening her mouth, swallow them down, and all things that belong to them, and they go down alive into Hell, you shall know that they have blasphemed the Lord!’ And immediately as he had made an end of speaking, the Earth broke asunder under their feet: and opening her mouth, devoured them with their tents and all their substance. And they went down alive into Hell, the ground closing upon them, and they perished from among the people!” (Numbers 16:30-33).
“You have said: ‘We have entered into a league with death, and we have made a covenant with Hell!’ [for protection] and your covenant with Hell shall not stand—you shall be trodden down by it!” (Isaias 28:15-18). “Thou art counted with them that go down into Hell!” (Baruch 3:11).
Learn From the Parables
There were a number of parables that explicitly dealt with Hell—here is a selection:
“There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in Hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: 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, to cool my tongue! For I am tormented in this flame!’ And Abraham said to him: ‘Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither! And he said: ‘Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments!’ And Abraham said to him: ‘They have Moses and the prophets―let them hear them!’ But he said: ‘No, father Abraham! But if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance!’ And he said to him: ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead!’” (Luke 16:19-31).
In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (meaning the “saved” and the “damned”, Our Lord, speaking of the goats, says: “And the King shall say to them that shall be on His left hand: ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels!’ And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting” (Matthew 25:40-46).
In the Parable of the Cockle and the Wheat, Our Lord explains that “the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels. Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world. The Son of man shall send His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire! There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 13:39-42).
Break God’s Law and Face the Consequences
“If we sin willfully, after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins, but a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries. A man transgressing the law of Moses, dieth without any mercy under two or three witnesses: How much more, do you think, he deserveth worse punishments, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath esteemed the blood of the testament unclean, by which he was sanctified, and hath offered an affront to the Spirit of grace? For we know Him that hath said: ‘Vengeance belongeth to Me, and I will repay!’ And again: ‘The Lord shall judge his people!’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” (Hebrews 10:26-31).
“A fire is kindled in My wrath, and shall burn even to the lowest Hell, and shall devour the Earth with her increase, and shall burn the foundations of the mountains” (Deuteronomy 32:22).
“If that evil servant shall say in his heart: ‘My lord is long a coming!’ and so shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and shall eat and drink with drunkards, then the lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not, and at an hour that he knoweth not, and shall separate him and appoint his portion with the hypocrites! There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 24:48-51). “The way of sinners ends in Hell, and darkness, and pains!” (Ecclesiasticus 21:11).
“Thou shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to Hell!” (3 Kings 2:9). “Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to Hell!” (Job 24:19).
Speaking of His enemies, God says: “They are all delivered unto death to the lowest parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down into the pit. Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when he went down to Hell, I brought in mourning, I covered him with the deep. I brought him down to Hell with them that descend into the pit … They also shall go down with him to Hell to them that are slain by the sword” (Ezechiel 31:14-17). “No man hath been known to have returned from Hell!” (Wisdom 2:1).
A Wicked End for Wicked People
“The wicked, and all the nations that forget God, shall be turned into Hell!” (Psalm 9:18). “These wicked men going down to Hell…” (Esther 13:7). “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to Hell!” (Job 21:13). “Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven!” (Matthew 19:23-24). “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days!” (James 5:1-3). “Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to Hell!” (Psalm 30:18). “This is a very great evil among all things that are done under the sun, that the same things happen to all men: whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled with evil and with contempt while they live, and afterwards they shall be brought down to Hell!” (Ecclesiastes 9:3).
“The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death!” (Apocalypse 21:8).
“A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all, sat at the door of her house, to call them that pass by the way, and to the fool she said: ‘Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant!’ … her guests are in the depths of Hell! … Her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to Hell! … Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as Hell … Her house is the way to Hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death!” (Proverbs 9:13-18; 2:18; 5:5; 7:27).
“Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied” (Proverbs 27:20). “She doted upon them with the lust of her eyes” (Ezechiel 23:16). “Look not upon a woman’s beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty!” (Ecclesiasticus 25:28). “Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart!” (Matthew 5:28). “If thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee! It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into Hell fire!” (Matthew 18:9). “And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out! It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the Hell of fire!” (Mark 9:46).
“The tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by Hell!” (James 3:5-6).
“And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake: some unto life everlasting, and others unto reproach, to see it eternally!” (Daniel 12:2). “The hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment!” (John 5:28-29). “And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the pool of fire!” (Apocalypse 20:15).
Plea for Help
“My soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to Hell!” (Psalm 87:4). “The cords of Hell compassed me: the snares of death prevented me!” (2 Kings 22:6). “And my life was drawing near to Hell beneath!” (Ecclesiasticus 51:9). “The sorrows of death have encompassed me: and the perils of Hell have found me! I met with trouble and sorrow!” (Psalm 114:3). “The sorrows of Hell encompassed me! In my affliction I called upon the Lord, and I cried to my God: And He heard my voice from His holy temple: and my cry before Him came into His ears!” (Psalms 17:6-7). “Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell; nor wilt Thou give Thy holy one to see corruption!” (Psalm 15:9-10). “O Lord my God, I have cried to Thee, and Thou hast healed me! Thou hast brought forth, O Lord, my soul from Hell! Thou hast saved me from them that go down into the pit!” (Psalm 29:3-4). “God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when He shall receive me!” (Psalm 48:16). “Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in Hell!” (Psalm 93:17). “For He hath delivered us from Hell, and saved us out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire!” (Daniel 3:88).
The Bible is one hell of a book—in the sense that it is full of references of Hell, a truth and a dogma that has been greatly neglected these days, if not outright forgotten and discarded by some bishops, priests, teachers and parents. Since Holy Scripture (with Tradition) is one of the chief sources of Divine Revelation, before examining the writings of the Fathers, Doctors of the Church, as well as other saints, popes and theologians, let us look at what Holy Scripture has to say on the subject of Hell. Below, you will find SOME (not all) of the references that Holy Scripture furnishes.
Devil and Hell versus Christ and His Church
Hell is synonymous with the devil. The devil and Hell are contraries and enemies of Christ and His Church. “Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour!” (1 Peter 5:8), saying: “Let us swallow him up alive like Hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit!” (Proverbs 1:12). “And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat!” (Luke 22:31). “I say to thee: ‘Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!’” (Matthew 16:18).
The Woes of Hell For Those Who Fail to Do Penance
“Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: ‘The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you!’ But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say: ‘Even the very dust of your city that cleaves to us, we wipe off against you!’ Yet know this, that the Kingdom of God is at hand. I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe to thee, Corozain! Woe to thee, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgement, than for you! And thou, Capharnaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, thou shalt be thrust down to Hell! … No, I say to you; but unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish!” (Luke 10:5-15; 13:5).
The World is on the Side of Hell
“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war with Him that sat upon the horse, and with His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who wrought signs before him, wherewith he seduced them who received the character of the beast, and who adored his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire, burning with brimstone!” (Apocalypse 19:19-20).
“And there came down fire from God out of Heaven, and devoured them; and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone, where both the beast and the false prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever!” (Apocalypse 20:9-10).
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works. And Hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the pool of fire!” (Apocalypse 20:12-15).
Follow the World and You Are Hell-Bound
The devil is “prince of this world”—the world is a carrot dangled by the devil. Jesus says: “The prince of this world cometh, and in Me he hath not anything! … The prince of this world is already judged! ... Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out!” (John 14:30; 16:11; 12:31).
This is why we are repeatedly warned (without much success): “Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him! For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world!” (1 John 2:15-16). “Adulterers! Know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God!” (James 4:4).
“If any man shall adore the beast and his image, and receive his character in his forehead, or in his hand; he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone!” (Apocalypse 14:9-10).
Have a Healthy Fear of Hell
St. John the Baptist, speaking of Christ, says: “I baptize you in the water unto penance, but He, that shall come after me, is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear! He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire! Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire!” (Matthew 3:11-12).
“Fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in Hell!” (Matthew 10:28).
“And I say to you, My friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will shew you whom you shall fear! Fear ye Him, Who, after He hath killed, hath power to cast into Hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5).
“I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, ‘Thou Fool!’, shall be in danger of Hell fire!” (Matthew 5:22).
“They are laid in Hell like sheep and shall decay in Hell from their glory!” Psalm 48:15).
“When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven, with the angels of His power: in a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction!” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
“At the end of the world, the angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 13:49-50).
Our Lord warns the Chosen People against complacency: “The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 8:12).
“Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you go round about the sea and the land to make one proselyte! And when he is made, you make him the child of Hell twofold more than yourselves! … You serpents, generation of vipers! How will you flee from the judgment of Hell?” (Matthew 23:15; 33).
“Neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in Hell, whither thou art hastening!” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
“Therefore hath Hell enlarged her soul, and opened her mouth without any bounds, and their strong ones, and their people, and their high and glorious ones shall go down into it. And man shall be brought down, and man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be brought low!” (Isaias 5:14-15).
“Hell below was in an uproar to meet thee at thy coming. All the princes of the Earth, all the princes of nations, all shall answer, and say to thee: ‘Thou also art wounded as well as we, thou art become like unto us! Thy pride is brought down to Hell!’” (Isaias 14:9-11).
“For Hell shall not confess to Thee, neither shall death praise Thee: nor shall they that go down into the pit, look for Thy truth” (Isaias 38:18). “Who shall confess to Thee in Hell?” (Psalm 6:6). “The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to Hell!” (Psalm 113:25). “Open thy eyes, and behold! For the dead, that are in Hell, shall not give glory and justice to the Lord!” (Baruch 2:17).
The very last verse in the Book of Isaias depicts the fate of sinners: “And they shall go out, and see the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me! Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched: and they shall be a loathsome sight to all flesh!” (Isaias 66:24).
The damned will be “saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: ‘We have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What hath pride profited us? Or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? We are consumed in our wickedness!’ Such things as these the sinners said in Hell” (Wisdom 5:3-14).
Do Not Be Overconfident
It is not for nothing that Holy Scripture says: “With fear and trembling work out your salvation!” (Philippians 2:12). For St. Luke reports the incident where a man asked Jesus how many souls were saved: “And a certain man said to Jesus: ‘Lord! Are they few that are saved?’ But Jesus said: ‘Strive to enter by the narrow gate! For many, I say to you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able! But when the master of the house shall be gone in, and shall shut the door, you shall begin to stand without, and knock at the door, saying: “Lord! Open to us!” And he, answering, shall say to you: “I know you not, whence you are!” Then you shall begin to say: “We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets!’ And He shall say to you: ‘I know you not, whence you are! Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity!’ There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out!’” (Luke 13:23-28).
“Enter ye in at the narrow gate! For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat! How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Take Measures to Avoid Hell
“The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest Hell” (Proverbs 15:24). “Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from Hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14).
St. Matthew quotes Our Lord as saying: “If thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into Hell fire!” (Matthew 18:8-9)
St. Mark, similarly quotes Our Lord: “If thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into Hell, into unquenchable fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the Hell of unquenchable fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the Hell of fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished!” (Mark 9:42-47).
Learning From History
“God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower Hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment! And spared not the original world, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that should after act wickedly” (2 Peter 2:4-6).
“Sodom and Gomorrha―and the neighboring cities in like manner―having given themselves to fornication and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire!” (Jude 1:7). “Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hell. For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them!” (Psalm 54:16).
“Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain and after the error of Balaam ― feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, wandering stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever. These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires, and their mouth speaketh proud things, admiring persons for gain’s sake. Mockers, walking according to their own desires in ungodlinesses. Sensual men, having not the Spirit!” (Jude 1:11-19). “They are cut off, and are gone down to Hell, and others are risen up in their place” (Baruch 3:19).
“And Moses said: ‘If the Earth, opening her mouth, swallow them down, and all things that belong to them, and they go down alive into Hell, you shall know that they have blasphemed the Lord!’ And immediately as he had made an end of speaking, the Earth broke asunder under their feet: and opening her mouth, devoured them with their tents and all their substance. And they went down alive into Hell, the ground closing upon them, and they perished from among the people!” (Numbers 16:30-33).
“You have said: ‘We have entered into a league with death, and we have made a covenant with Hell!’ [for protection] and your covenant with Hell shall not stand—you shall be trodden down by it!” (Isaias 28:15-18). “Thou art counted with them that go down into Hell!” (Baruch 3:11).
Learn From the Parables
There were a number of parables that explicitly dealt with Hell—here is a selection:
“There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in Hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: 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, to cool my tongue! For I am tormented in this flame!’ And Abraham said to him: ‘Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither! And he said: ‘Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments!’ And Abraham said to him: ‘They have Moses and the prophets―let them hear them!’ But he said: ‘No, father Abraham! But if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance!’ And he said to him: ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead!’” (Luke 16:19-31).
In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (meaning the “saved” and the “damned”, Our Lord, speaking of the goats, says: “And the King shall say to them that shall be on His left hand: ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels!’ And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting” (Matthew 25:40-46).
In the Parable of the Cockle and the Wheat, Our Lord explains that “the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels. Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world. The Son of man shall send His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire! There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 13:39-42).
Break God’s Law and Face the Consequences
“If we sin willfully, after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins, but a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries. A man transgressing the law of Moses, dieth without any mercy under two or three witnesses: How much more, do you think, he deserveth worse punishments, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath esteemed the blood of the testament unclean, by which he was sanctified, and hath offered an affront to the Spirit of grace? For we know Him that hath said: ‘Vengeance belongeth to Me, and I will repay!’ And again: ‘The Lord shall judge his people!’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” (Hebrews 10:26-31).
“A fire is kindled in My wrath, and shall burn even to the lowest Hell, and shall devour the Earth with her increase, and shall burn the foundations of the mountains” (Deuteronomy 32:22).
“If that evil servant shall say in his heart: ‘My lord is long a coming!’ and so shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and shall eat and drink with drunkards, then the lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not, and at an hour that he knoweth not, and shall separate him and appoint his portion with the hypocrites! There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” (Matthew 24:48-51). “The way of sinners ends in Hell, and darkness, and pains!” (Ecclesiasticus 21:11).
“Thou shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to Hell!” (3 Kings 2:9). “Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to Hell!” (Job 24:19).
Speaking of His enemies, God says: “They are all delivered unto death to the lowest parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down into the pit. Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when he went down to Hell, I brought in mourning, I covered him with the deep. I brought him down to Hell with them that descend into the pit … They also shall go down with him to Hell to them that are slain by the sword” (Ezechiel 31:14-17). “No man hath been known to have returned from Hell!” (Wisdom 2:1).
A Wicked End for Wicked People
“The wicked, and all the nations that forget God, shall be turned into Hell!” (Psalm 9:18). “These wicked men going down to Hell…” (Esther 13:7). “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to Hell!” (Job 21:13). “Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven!” (Matthew 19:23-24). “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days!” (James 5:1-3). “Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to Hell!” (Psalm 30:18). “This is a very great evil among all things that are done under the sun, that the same things happen to all men: whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled with evil and with contempt while they live, and afterwards they shall be brought down to Hell!” (Ecclesiastes 9:3).
“The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death!” (Apocalypse 21:8).
“A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all, sat at the door of her house, to call them that pass by the way, and to the fool she said: ‘Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant!’ … her guests are in the depths of Hell! … Her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to Hell! … Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as Hell … Her house is the way to Hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death!” (Proverbs 9:13-18; 2:18; 5:5; 7:27).
“Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied” (Proverbs 27:20). “She doted upon them with the lust of her eyes” (Ezechiel 23:16). “Look not upon a woman’s beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty!” (Ecclesiasticus 25:28). “Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart!” (Matthew 5:28). “If thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee! It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into Hell fire!” (Matthew 18:9). “And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out! It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the Hell of fire!” (Mark 9:46).
“The tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by Hell!” (James 3:5-6).
“And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake: some unto life everlasting, and others unto reproach, to see it eternally!” (Daniel 12:2). “The hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment!” (John 5:28-29). “And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the pool of fire!” (Apocalypse 20:15).
Plea for Help
“My soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to Hell!” (Psalm 87:4). “The cords of Hell compassed me: the snares of death prevented me!” (2 Kings 22:6). “And my life was drawing near to Hell beneath!” (Ecclesiasticus 51:9). “The sorrows of death have encompassed me: and the perils of Hell have found me! I met with trouble and sorrow!” (Psalm 114:3). “The sorrows of Hell encompassed me! In my affliction I called upon the Lord, and I cried to my God: And He heard my voice from His holy temple: and my cry before Him came into His ears!” (Psalms 17:6-7). “Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell; nor wilt Thou give Thy holy one to see corruption!” (Psalm 15:9-10). “O Lord my God, I have cried to Thee, and Thou hast healed me! Thou hast brought forth, O Lord, my soul from Hell! Thou hast saved me from them that go down into the pit!” (Psalm 29:3-4). “God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when He shall receive me!” (Psalm 48:16). “Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in Hell!” (Psalm 93:17). “For He hath delivered us from Hell, and saved us out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire!” (Daniel 3:88).