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|                    B I B L E   B U L L E T I N          Number 3 |
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|                            What Is Hell?                         |
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|  We often hear the word "hell" being misused and the concept     |
|  of eternal punishment being treated with scorn and disbelief.   |
|  Yet, the reality of hell is clearly taught in the Bible.        |
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|  Hell is the place of punishment for sinning men and angels      |
|  because of their offenses against the Holy God.  Hell was       |
|  originally created for sinful angels; "Depart from me, you      |
|  who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil    |
|  and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).  Man became eligible for hell  |
|  when he joined the fallen angels in sin (Genesis 3).            |
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|  Hell is a place of fire.  Jesus said sinners would be,          |
|  "...thrown into the fire of hell...where the fire never goes    |
|  out" (Matthew 18:9; Mark 9:43).  Hell is a place of torment.    |
|  Jesus quoted a man who spoke from hell, "I am in agony in       |
|  this fire" (Luke 16:24).  Hell is also a place where sinners    |
|  will be, "...beaten with many blows" (Luke 12:47), and "be      |
|  silenced in darkness" (1 Samuel 2:9).  It is a place of         |
|  "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12), and of "shame   |
|  and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).                        |
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|  God is patient, "...not wanting anyone to perish..." (2 Peter   |
|  3:9).  Yet, the punishment for sin will be paid, by Jesus on    | 
|  the cross or by us in the eternal hell.  The choice is ours.    |
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|                          Presented by                            |
|     Bible Bulletin Board, P.O. Box 115, Galveston, IN 46932      |
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