I knew all that was said about it. The common weeping and gnashing of teeth line I had heard quite a bit growing up in church, but it never quite resonated with me. Hell was just a place to me. A place that I know, unfortunately, most people are going to end up.
But this book has kept referring to Hell as eternal punishment or eternal torture. This book is written for scholars...so I don't claim to know half of what they are saying (literally: I haven't seen half of the words these authors have said...it's pathetic). But those two phrases I understand. And from what I've learned so far in the book, I know them well now.
eternal torture...
Just think about that for a moment. Not just torture, but torture for all eternity. I can't imagine.
I had to stop reading a few times just because I couldn't get out of my mind how many people are heading in that direction. I felt like swearing. It seemed like it was the words that could suffice. Actions could not explain how mad I was; words can't do it justice either. Eternal Torture kept echoing in my head. It still does...it won't stop.
And I've come to the conclusion that I will pray these thoughts return if they do cease. I'm not sure it's right to use Hell as a motivation to witness and pray for the lost, but I will. I know one thing for certain, that it is wrong for me not to witness. So even if I do have the wrong motivations (not saying I do or don't...just uncertain), I will continue to use them because I know God will be glorified in the end. No matter how many people end up suffering, the end result is that people will bow before Him. I pray that it is not forced upon them. I pray that they will, in the end, do it willingly and humbly before Jesus Christ.
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