Is there a hell?

By Laurie Roth

Apparently, the Catholic Pope has had a revelation in a recent interview that there is no hell. People don't go to hell if they reject Jesus they just disappear and cease to exist. This is according to an interview with Eugenio Scalfari and from his article 'It is an Honor to be called a Revolutionary.' This has caused the Vatican leadership to go in rapid spin cycle about what the Pope said or didn't say.

What does the Holy Bible really say about Heaven and Hell? The Vatican has denied that the Pope or Catholic church believe there is no hell. At the very least either Scalfari is a total liar or major impressions or words were stated by the Pope. Maybe in the Pope's mind he believes hell is just separation or disappearance from God and not punishment as in our classic views of hell.

For many on the fence or who just can't quite believe who Jesus really is. at least they now can live life the way they want and won't be in a hell of misery. They will just go 'poof' and disappear.

No doubt a real Christian Pastor, Pope or what ever they all themselves is lead by the God of the Holy Bible and inspired Holy Scripture...not to be ignored or changed as the Bible warns. So, let us see what the Bible says about hell being real or not.

Below are just some of the scriptures I found in my NIV translation of the Bible. You make up your mind and you decide who or what is your authority or source regarding hell.

What does the authoritative Holy Bible say in just a few of the scriptures I found?

Romans 21:8 'But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the adulteress and all liars...they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.'

Matthew 25:46 'They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.'

Psalm 9:17 'The wicked go to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forgot God.'

2nd Thessalonians 1:9 'They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might.'

Matthew 13:50 '...and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Acts 2:27 'because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one sees decay.'

Mark 9:43 'If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed then with two hands to go to hell, where the fire never goes out.'

The truth is that the political world, the sinners who want to sin in the world and some spiritual high ups in many denominations who want and feel pressured to white wash the truth, make up new theology at will. They want to be popular, appeal to emotional swings and be powerful. Perhaps some also want to make truckloads of money. They turn truth into lies and reveal themselves to be wolves in sheep's clothing.

The Bible is not only most clear and detailed about heaven and hell existing but gives warnings about changing what is in the Bible and then teaching what isn't really there.

Jeremiah 23:16 'This is what the LORD almighty says: 'Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; They fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.'

Matthew 24:24 'For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

2 Timothy 4 :3-4 'For time will come when the people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears from truth and turn aside to myths.'

1 John 4: 1 'Dear Friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.'

Regardless of where the facts finally land after the spinning and whirlwind of reaction regarding the Pope at least softening what hell may be, the Bible is most clear about it. We live in a world where the only way to find inner peace, joy, power and happiness is to believe all of the Bible not just some of it. That means acknowledging right from wrong, and the consequences of sin and rejection of Christ Jesus remedy on the cross. It isn't all cake and candy or a disappearing act if you do.

Pope Francis needs to reflect the heart and real word of God and the Holy Bible, not soften it up, throw it out, make it gay friendly, socially acceptable to networkers and popular in a contrived way. No one is above God, His son Jesus, The Holy Bible and having to stand before him alone at judgment day and answer. What kind of spiritual leader are you Pope Francis?

© Laurie Roth