The Bible says in Genesis 1:8 “God call the firmament heaven. Heaven is the expanse over the earth.” God is the Creator of heaven (Genesis 14:19) and heaven is the location of the stars (Genesis 1:14). Heaven is also the dwelling place of God (Genesis 28:17). It the place of the new Jerusalem and paradise created by God (Revelation 21:7-8). The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are used interchangeably (Matthew 4:117; Mark 1:15). At the end of time, God will create a new heaven and earth. The new heaven will be the place of God’s external presence with His chosen people
forever (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21:1).
On the other hand, the Bible says, hell is a place of eternal punishment for the unrighteous. The New King James Version and King James Version use this word to translate Sheol and Hades, the Old and New Testament words for the place of the dead. The Lord Jesus used the word hell in Matthew 5:22; 29-30; 10:28; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; and Luke 12:5. Hell is used in Matthew 5:22; 18:9; an Mark 9:47. In Mark 9:46 and 48, hell is described as a place where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” More than once the Lord Jesus spoke of outer darkness and a furnace of fire, where there will be wailing, weeping, and gnashing of teeth in Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28.
The Book of Revelation says hell “is a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:8). Into the lake of fire will be thrown the beast and the false prophet (Revelation 10:20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:8). Into the lake of fire will be thrown the beast, and the false prophet (Revelation 19:20). At the end time, the devil himself will be thrown into the lake of fire along with death and hell and all those whose names are not written in the Book of Life. “And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10b).
The LORD God has given humanity a choice regarding where they will spend eternity with Him or in the lake of fire forever. Heaven is more glorious, and hell is more terrible than words can describe or express.
Scripture Verses for Meditation
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
“Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?’” (Proverbs 20:9)
“And as it is appointed from men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sits of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him. He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)
“There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being, justified, freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time. His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:10, 23-26)
“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 3:16)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven just receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the month of all His holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21)
“… Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word, is not in us.” (1 John 7, 9, 10)
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)
“Therefore, just as through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. Moreover, the law entered that the offense night abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5: 12, 20-21)
“So, then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consists in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15)
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Or what will a man
give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (I Thessalonians 5:9)
(Prayers)
“… God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
“… Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30)
“… Who must I do to be save?” (Acts 16:30)
“… Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, everything that I am and have belongs to You. Help me to always remember You loved the world so much that You gave Your Only Son. I will trust in You and Your promises regarding spending eternity with You if I accept Your plan of salvation and turn from sin. I bless You, Father, for You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus my Lord. I look forward each day for Your soon return for those who love You. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
All Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.
By Constance A. Burns, NAAV Contributor for Moments of Meditation and Scriptural Readings; email: cburns@naavets.org