In Faming Fire Taking Vengeance

By David J. Stewart

2nd Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Some people will argue over the meaning of the word “hell” in the Scriptures; but there's no way around the plain teaching of 2nd Thessalonians 1:8, which warns of flaming fire and God's vengeful wrath against all Christ-rejecters. Hell is a literal place of flaming fire and torment.

It is sad that most people refuse to believe in a literal Hell. The suffering in the world is real. Why should it be so difficult to grasp the reality of a literal Hell? If a God of love will allow horrible suffering in this world, then He certainly will allow for suffering in eternity. The bottom line is that the Bible is God's Word and God warns us about the judgment to come in Hell for all Christ-rejecters (John 3:36).

The Bible has much more to say about Hell than Heaven. I recently saw the movie, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. In the movie, Harrison Ford (who plats Han Solo) makes the statement, “I'll see you in Hell.” I was immediately reminded of Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” No one curses God anymore than Hollywood and the wicked. No one mentions Hell anymore than Hollywood. They know that they're all going to Hell. Here's Conan O'Brien bragging that he's going to Hell when he dies.

If the wicked truly knew what Hell is like and could comprehend spending eternity suffering in torment and ceaseless pain, they would be more careful with their words. People truly don't believe that Hell exists, so they brag about going there when they die. God's holiness and demand for justice supercedes His unconditional love which sent His Son into the world to pay for our sins. God will cast you into the Lake of Fire forever if you die in your sins without Jesus Christ. You must be born-again by the Spirit of God (John 3:5-7; Romans 8:9), by faith in the Seed of God's Word (1st Peter 1:23; Galatians 3:26). Note: All Scriptures are quoted from the trustworthy King James Bible.

The wicked know that they're running from God. They know that they are sinners. Many Christ-rejecters are in denial, changing the truth of God into a lie in their own warped mind (Romans 1:25,28). God has forewarned that He will take out His anger in flaming fire against the wicked, punishing them forever (2nd Thessalonians 1:9), seeking vengeance against their wickedness.

Every person meets their fate the day they die, going either to Heaven or Hell. There are no other eternal destinations. Purgatory is a myth, fabricated by the evil Catholic religion to deceive men into buying indulgences, thinking they can pray and pay to have a loved one removed from purgatory. If a loved one dies without having trusted Jesus, the Christ, then they are forever doomed to the Lake of Fire and they have no hope. It is too late once a person leaves this earthly tabernacle of the body. Behold, NOW is the day of salvation! (2nd Corinthians 6:2). Don't put it off my friend, because tomorrow may never come!

Everyone has one of two options concerning eternity:

  1. Believe on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to have one's sins forgiven (Acts 10:43)
  2. Pay for one's own sins in Hell forever

God sent His only begotten Son into the world to pay our sin debt (John 3:16). All that God the Father asks is that we come to Him through His Son for salvation (John 14:6). Anyone who attempts to come to God apart from the Son will go to Hell forever. There is NO other way to be saved (Acts 4:10-12).

God in His goodness has made provision for our redemption, made possible only by the precious blood of His dear Son (1st Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:12,24). Everyone who goes to Hell CHOOSES to go there! God remains faithful in His offer to forgive. God will forgive even the vilest sinner who comes to Him by way of His dear Son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 1:18). The choice is ours, individually, alone to make.

What will you do with Jesus?

Ye Must Be Born Again!