God originally created the earth for humans to dwell. The earth was designed to be man’s eternal abode since man was created spirit, soul, and body. Man was also destined to subdue and have dominion over the earth.
Psalms 8:4 What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him?
Psalms 8:5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalms 8:6 You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet:
Psalms 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field;
Psalms 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
However, the fall of man in Genesis 3 led to man’s spiritual death which was primarily eternal separation from God. The end product of this death is that man’s body is corrupted and cannot live on this corrupted earth forever. The fall of Adam led to the corruption of creation. Therefore since man is spirit, soul, and body, where will the spirit and soul live when the body expires? This is where the concept of sheol, hades, heaven, and hell comes.
God had originally created hell for fallen angels,
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Hell is the permanent destination for the devil, fallen angels but the devil succeeded at the fall of Adam to draw man into the same destiny. So the sinful man was already condemned to perish. See what Jesus said
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. to perish in Hell but God needed to provide redeem man out of such destiny. Look at what Jesus said;
Jesus let us understand that people are already condemned to perish and the way out of that condemnation is to believe in Him. When people die today they have two possible destinations, heaven or hades. According to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, it can be understood that before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, there were 2 post-death destinations for 2 categories of people, Abraham’s bosom or paradise (as mentioned by Jesus to the thief beside Him on the cross in Lk. 24:43) for those who had faith in God or futuristically believed in the coming Messiah which is Jesus and hades a place of intense suffering for those who didn’t believe in the coming Messiah.
However, today after the death burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ to God’s right hand in heaven anyone who dies without believing in Jesus will have their spirit and soul spend their post-death time in Hades while those who believe in Jesus (including those who were in Abraham’s bosom) will have their soul and spirit be with the Lord Jesus in heaven according to 2Corinthians 5:1-10.
After the second coming of Jesus, all men will have to experience the second judgment. The second judgment for sinners who do not believe in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus will be the second death where all sinners including the devil and his fallen angels will be cast into the lake of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Meanwhile, those who repent of their sins and believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are destined for an abode in the new earth where there is absolutely no suffering.
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea.
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:5 And he that sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
If you’re yet to receive Jesus into your heart the lake of fire is your eternal destiny but you can change that to a blissful eternity with Jesus by repenting of your sins today and receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It is only by faith in Christ Jesus that you can escape eternal condemnation and suffering. Unbelievers will be given a chance to prove their worthiness by their works before the great white throne but the bible says they will all end up in the lake of fire because by good works alone shall no man be saved!
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 forever and ever.
Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
So my question to you today is are you born again? Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Because it doesn’t matter who you are either as a celebrity or politician the bible says all people both great and small will stand before God before the great white throne and only those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.
If you are willing to receive Jesus into your life by believing that he died for your sins, was buried, and resurrected so your name can be written in the Book of Life and not be cast in the lake of fire say these prayers with me:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross for me, I believe that you are my savior who died for me and rose again on the third day for my justification. I confess to you as my Lord and Savior Jesus, amen.
However, if you have received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour there remains another judgment as it is not just enough to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. This judgment for us Christians will be where we get our works tested by fire and given rewards depending on if our works survive the fire like gold or get consumed in the fire like wood.
1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Therefore, all Christians have a responsibility to let their lives count for the Lord because our works will be judged and God will give reward to us if our work stands the test of fire. This is why you must know God’s purpose for your life and fulfill it. God’s will is that you save more souls and make disciples of all nations.
In conclusion, may I encourage you to have a sober reflection as touching the fate of your eternal destination. If you are saved, what about the eternity of your friends and family? What are you doing to ensure more people escape the doom of hell? Are you actively winning souls? Are you actively interceding for the spread of the gospel and for souls won for the Lord?
