Yahshua's Bride WHY THE RAPTURE IS BEFORE THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD

· A user's photo. Yahshua's Bride WHY THE RAPTURE IS BEFORE THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD! The ancient Jewish wedding is a custom that every believer should study and understand. Why? Because Yahshua (Jesus) Himself followed the steps of a Jewish bridegroom when taking His own bride, we, the Church. There are many truths and treasures that have been hidden and long forgotten simply because believers do not see Yahshua in His original Jewish context. Brides in Bible times were purchased. The price was paid to the father of the bride, both to compensate him for the loss of a worker and to show him how much the bridegroom loved and valued the bride. We, as the bride of Messiah, have also been purchased with a price. A very high price — the blood of Yahshua. His very own blood shed upon a cross on Calvary’s hill was the price He paid for His bride. We belong to Christ. He is our Bridegroom. We are His Bride. We are in this world but we are not of this world. The ancient Jewish marriage ceremony consisted of two main parts, beginning with the betrothal or engagement. The betrothal is much like our engagement today, but with a much greater sense of commitment. During the betrothal the couple is actually entering into a covenant. Covenant in Bible times was serious, final, sealed in blood and legally binding. Once a couple entered into the covenant of betrothal, they were legally married in all aspects except for the physical consummation of the marriage. At the betrothal ceremony, a marriage contract, or Ketubah, was presented to the father of the bride. The Ketubah consists of all the bridegroom’s promises to his bride. The bride cherishes her Ketubah. We, too, have a Ketubah from our Bridegroom. Our marriage contract is God’s Word! Our Ketubah (God’s Word) shows us all we are entitled to as the Bride of Christ. All, not some, but all the promises in God’s Word, are for us. As the Bride of Christ, we are entitled to them — they are part of our Ketubah. Although a bride was selected for the bridegroom, she still had a choice for YHWH is a gentlemen and He never forces anyone to say “I do” to His Son. When we say “I do” to Yahshua, we must believe with our heart and confess with our lips. After the term of the ketubah were accepted, a cup of wine was shared to seal the marriage covenant. The second cup of wine would be shared many months later during the marriage ceremony. The cup that Yahshua took at His last Passover on earth was the cup of the new marriage covenant with His bride. Once the marriage covenant was sealed, the bridegroom left his bride to go to his father’s house to prepare a wedding chamber. He would be gone for up to twelve months. Our Bridegroom has gone to prepare a wedding chamber for His bride. The Jewish bride was set apart, consecrated, separated unto her bridegroom — the one who purchased her. So, while waiting for his return, she was to stay faithful. It was probably easy at first. But when his return was delayed, the temptation would be great. After a while, the bride may even start to question his return. We are His consecrated bride, awaiting His return. We cannot fall into temptation. We must be ready at all times for the return of our Bridegroom/King! Jewish bridegrooms usually came for their brides late at night, near the midnight hour. The sound of the shofar would break the silence of the night and there would be great shouting and dancing in the streets. We can see this in the parable of the ten virgins: “And at midnight, a cry was heard; Behold, go out to meet him.” As a thief in the night, our Bridegroom will call us to arise and meet Him in the air. We will hear a shout and the sound of the shofar. It will happen quickly. We must be ready. The second half of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony, or huppah, is also called the “hometaking.” The original meaning of the huppah was “room” or “covering.” The huppah of ancient times was a special room built in the bridegroom’s father’s home. The room was eventually replaced by a bridal canopy. The huppah symbolized the new home to which the bridegroom would take his bride. The bride and bridegroom were escorted to the bridal chamber where they would be alone for SEVEN DAYS. The spiritual parallel to the huppah for the bride of Christ begins as we are lifted up off the earth to be taken to our heavenly wedding chamber where we will spend ‘one week’ (SEVEN YEARS), with our Bridegroom Yahshua. While the Bride of Christ is in the Bridal Chamber with Yahshua, the rest of the world will be in a time of great tribulation. While the wrath of God is poured out on the earth, the bride of Christ will be hidden away with her Bridegroom. Following the seven days in the huppah or bridal chamber, the bride and bridegroom joined their guests for a joyous marriage feast. Playing of music and dancing was a regular part of the celebration. Revelation 19:6-9: "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.' Then he said to me, Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me 'These are the true sayings of God.' Just like the ancient Jewish wedding, there will be shouts of joy and dancing (yes, dancing) and how exciting it will be. The Bride will dance for joy with her Bridegroom Yahshua. We will rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years during the millennium! For those of us who look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb, we must go out to the highways and byways and extend an invitation to others to come. Revelation 2:17: "And the spirit and the bride say Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts, Come; and whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:20: "'Surely I am coming quickly.' Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come!"

wickedness must bow

THE COUNCIL OF WICKEDNESS MUST BOW Evil agent, carry your message to your sender and release the arrows you brought to me against him. I curse the curses sent against me and return them to their senders, in the name of Jesus. Let the heavens send judgment against every strange covenant of darkness, in the name of Jesus. O Lord, make me an instrument of spiritual violence. I break every evil authority, in the name of Jesus. I break every dark resistance, in the name of Jesus. Holy fire, break the backbones and destroy the roots of every evil spirit that is speaking against me, in the name of Jesus. Let the serpent of the Lord swallow the serpent of my Pharaoh, in the name of Jesus. I cast every bondage off my shoulder, in the name of Jesus. I use the keys of heaven to lock out problems from my life, in the name of Jesus. OVERTURNING THE SEAT OF HOUSEHOLD WITCHCRAFT Let every seat of witchcraft in my household be roasted in Jesus name. Let the thunder of God scatter beyond redemption, the foundation of witchcraft in my household in Jesus name. Every hiding place and secret place of witchcraft in my family, be exposed by fire in Jesus name. Let every local and international witchcraft network of my household witches be shattered to pieces in Jesus name. Thunder fire of God, destroy every seat of witchcraft stronghold that I inherited, in the name of Jesus. I break down and burn to ashes, every seat of witchcraft stronghold that I have built by my own mouth and I cancel their effects upon my life, in the name of Jesus. Father Lord, let every inherited seat of witchcraft at present working against my life, be roasted by fire, in Jesus name. DESTROYING THE THRONE OF INIQUITY I reverse every mandate given to any evil power to supervise my life, in the name of Jesus. O Lord, let the rain of affliction fall upon the marine world that is after my progress for evil. Every evil deposit from the sun against my life, the Lord rebukes you. You sun, lift away your warfare from my life, in the name of Jesus. You moon, shut up your light from night raiders, in the name of Jesus. You hidden arrow of wickedness, come out now by fire, in the name of Jesus. Every power harboring enchantment against me, vomit them, in the name of Jesus. O moon, sun and stars, vomit every enchantment against my life, in the name of Jesus. O earth vomit every wickedness against me, in the name of Jesus. Let the heavens break every yoke of iniquity upon my life, in the name of Jesus. DESTROYING WITCHCRAFT CALDRON I break every witchcraft pot over my life, in the name of Jesus. Let every evil pot hunt their owners, in the name of Jesus. Every wicked pot cooking my affairs, be roasted, in the name of Jesus. Every witchcraft pot working against me, I bring the judgment of God against you, in Jesus name. Every pot of darkness seated against my life, be destroyed by fire, in the name of Jesus. Every power calling my name into any caldrons, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus. Every power cooking my progress in an evil pot, receive the fire of judgment, in the name of Jesus. Every satanic program emanating from the caldron of darkness, be reversed, in the name of Jesus. I disentangle myself and my family from every witchcraft cage and pot, in the name of Jesus. I command every evil pot and concoction used against my life to break to pieces, in the name of Jesus POWER AGAINST WITCHCRAFT BURIAL Every operation of witchcraft burial in my life be reversed now, in the in name of Jesus. Every witchcraft burial against my marriage be reversed now, in the name of Jesus. 0 Lord, let the power of witchcraft burial against my finances be reversed now in the name of Jesus. 0 Lord, let the power of be witchcraft burial against my progress be nullified in the name of Jesus. I withdraw my blessing from the hand of any dead relative in the name of Jesus. Whatever has been done against me using the ground, be neutralized in the name of Jesus. VICTORY BY FIRE OVER WITCHCRAFT VERDICTS Arrow of deliverance locate my stubborn infirmity, in the name of Jesus. You witchcraft foundation in my life be dismantled by fire, in the name of Jesus. Every witchcraft money spent on my behalf, be withdrawn by fire. Every witchcraft law over my life, vanish by fire, in the name of Jesus. Every witchcraft/herbalist coven harboring my womb receive the fire of God and be roasted, in Jesus name. Every monthly monitoring of my womb by witchcraft power be dissolved by fire. Every bi-monthly monitoring of my womb by witchcraft power, be dissolved by fire, in the name of Jesus. Every witchcraft verdict against my life, turn against your sender, in the name of Jesus. You curse of bitterness issued against my life by witchcraft spirits, be broken in the name of Jesus. Your curse of desolation issued against my womb, ovary, fallopian tubes by witchcraft, be broken by the blood of Jesus. You curse of miscarriages issued against my womb, break by fire, in the name of Jesus. Every verdict of witchcraft be nullified, in the name of Jesus. DESTROYING THE TRAVELING ROUTES OF WITCHCRAFT Let life-choking thorns begin to grow on the traveling route of my household witchcraft, in Jesus name. Let the traveling-routes of my household witchcraft become their burying places, in the name of Jesus. Let the angel of destruction continually minister on any route of witchcraft that is fashioned against me, in Jesus name. Let any witchcraft route constructed against me become dark and slippery, in the name of Jesus. Thunderbolt of God begin to scatter the traveling-routes of any witch troubling me, in the name of Jesus. DISMANTLING THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OF WITCHCRAFT Let the communication system of my household witches be frustrated in Jesus name. Every witchcraft network working against my prosperity be dismantled by fire in the name of Jesus. Let every witchcraft communication gadget delegated against my life be destroyed by fire in Jesus name. O Lord confuse the tongue of every witch speaking against my destiny in Jesus name. Every evil communication against me fall down and die in the name of Jesus. BREAKING DOWN THE TRANSPORTATION OF WITCHCRAFT Let the terrible fire of God consume the transportation of my household witchcraft in Jesus name. I ordain the tempest of God against every witchcraft transportation systems designed against my life in Jesus name. Every witchcraft transportation system assigned against my life shall not prosper in Jesus name. As the angel of God obstructed Balaam let every witchcraft transportation be destroyed in Jesus name. No evil transportation systems shall prosper against my life in the name of Jesus DESTROYING THE ALTARS OF WITCHCRAFT Altars that are working against me, let the heavens send judgment against you now, in the name of Jesus. Evil altars, the day of your judgment has come by fire, in the name of Jesus. Let every altar of witchcraft and familiar spirit, be broken in the name of Jesus. We set the fire of God on demon powers eating sacrifices on cross roads. I command that every altar of wickedness constructed against me to be broken in the name of Jesus. Let the fire of God fall down and consume every altar of false religion in this country in the name of Jesus. I disgrace every altar of iniquity in my life by the blood of Jesus. I rebuke the spell of any witchcraft pot from my neck, in the name of Jesus. Every pot cooking my affairs, the Lord rebuke you, in the name of Jesus. Let the altar of witchcraft in my household be roasted in Jesus. BREAKING WITCHCRAFT CURSES Father Lord, baptize my hand with your liquid fire mixed with the blood of Jesus to destroy and break witchcraft curses. Lay the two hands on your head: Father Lord, destroy every witchcraft curse upon my life by your fire, in the name of Jesus You my divine destiny, you will not be bewitched, in the name of Jesus. I gather together all witchcraft curses issued against my life and I send them back to the sender, in Jesus’ name. DESTROYING THE COVENS OF WITCHCRAFT 0 Lord, let Your thunder and fire locate all covens of witches and wizards established against me for total destruction. As the wax is melted by fire, let all witchcraft covens caging my life or destiny evaporate by fire, in Jesus name. All witchcraft banks and strong room harboring my blessings and treasures be pulled down by fire, in the name of Jesus. Every witchcraft coven calling my name for evil be destroyed by fire in the name of Jesus. Every witchcraft coven having my picture or image be consumed by fire in the name of Jesus. I command my body, soul and spirit to jump out of every witchcraft coven in the name of Jesus. Every areas of my life caged by witchcraft coven be released now by fire in the name of Jesus. DESTROYING THE HOLD OF MARINE WITCHCRAFT Every marine witchcraft present in my family, be disgraced by fire, in the name of Jesus. I break the backbone of every marine witchcraft militating against my life with the hands of fire, in Jesus name. Every work of marine witchcraft in my life, be destroyed by the blood of Jesus. I release my life from the grip of marine witchcraft, in the name of Jesus. VOMITING THE FOOD OF WITCHCRAFT Father Lord, let my intestine and every organ of my body experience the fireworks of the Holy Ghost, in Jesus name. Father Lord, let there be a disassociation between my body and the evil food I have eaten, in the name of Jesus. Father Lord, in the name of Jesus, I vomit every evil food that I have eaten. Let the blood of Jesus flush out every poison deposited in my blood system as a result of evil food, in Jesus name All that I have lost as a result of eating evil food, Father Lord let me have them back, in the name of Jesus. DESTROYING THE INFIRMITY OF WITCHCRAFT You demon backing witchcraft in my life, somersault, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus. 0 God re-arrange any part of my body that has been fragmented by the power of infirmity, in Jesus’ name. I curse to die, you the power of infirmity working in any part of my body, in the name of Jesus. I speak destruction to the root of any infirmity planted by witchcraft powers in my life, in the name of Jesus. Every inherited sickness from my family lineage, dry to your roots, in the name of Jesus. PLUCKING OUT THE EYES OF WITCHCRAFT Every witchcraft eye monitoring my business for destruction be plucked by fire, in the name of Jesus. Arrow of fire, pluck out the eyes of every monitoring agent over the affairs of my life, in the name of Jesus. Let the eyes of every household witchcraft manipulating my marriage be plucked off by fire, in Jesus name. Every witchcraft eye manipulating my finances be plucked off, in the name of Jesus. Every witchcraft eye manipulating my spiritual life be cut off by arrow of fire, in the name of Jesus. Evil mirrors used to monitor my life break to pieces, in the name of Jesus I blind the eyes of envious witchcraft monitoring my life, in the name of Jesus. DISMANTLING WITCHCRAFT EMBARGO ON FINANCES Anything in me supporting witchcraft embargo on my finances, come out with all your roots, in Jesus’ name. You household witchcraft energizing witchcraft embargo on my finances, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus. Every ancestral embargo on my finances, I break you, in the name of Jesus. I recover my finances from witchcraft embargo, in the name of Jesus. Owners of evil load of witchcraft embargo, carry your load, in the name of Jesus. DESTROYING THE THRONE OF WITCHCRAFT Every throne of witchcraft in my neighborhood be pulled down, in tl1e name of Jesus. Let the ground open and swallow every witchcraft throne hiding in the body of Christ, in the name of Jesus. Every flying throne of witchcraft be cast down, in the name of Jesus. Every throne of witchcraft set up against my enthronement; be demolished, in the name of Jesus. Let the throne of Jesus Christ be established in every area of my life, in the name le, of Jesus. Let the thunder of God locate and dismantle the throne of witchcraft in my household. Every throne that has exalted itself against my life, I cast you down, in the name of Jesus

,my birthday for Jesus

Since there is SO much bad news posted here I HAD to share some wonderful TRUTHS-- Yesterday at 2:30 p.m. was my BIRTHDAY I really began to live when I was born again and washed in the blood--I am NOT nor I ever will be 'perfect' but I DO SERVE A PERFECT GOD who has been with me every step of the way--HE was with me at the loss of my daughter,my dad,mom,husband HE ALONE has been my best friend for HE never gives bad advice nor mocks me when I don't know something--I am SO VERY BLESSED as my youngest son took me to lunch to celebrate (there has NEVER BEEN ONE DAY they can remember mom not serving the Lord and talking about Jesus!! )I TRY to live HIM through me--I want all who know me to see JESUS in me not me--you don't know my name--no problem but KNOW MY LORD!!!! HE gave me the scriptures and titles of all of my books and oversaw their writing and publishing--To say I am blessed is an understatement--4 precious sons and precious grand children (that I THINK are 'perfect':):)lol lol I AM NEVER ALONE with the Master and i look forward to my time with HIM EVERY DAY--HE HAS TAUGHT ME ALL I KNOW ABOUT HIS WORD and I want to know even more!!!! One truth he taught me and it would do you a world of good to paste it on your fridge and bathroom mirror--you MAY see YOU in it--it is Numbers 11:1 Numbers 11:1King James Version (KJV) 11 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. (I contacted many of the women who prayed for me before I was saved to share what the Lord has done and is still doing in my life--those very same people who declared their love for the Lord have turned so worldly it is so sad!!!! Can't stand the heat then by all means stay out of the kitchen) Just wanted to share with any that is interested as how one walks with the Master? ONE STEP AT A TIME!!! Be Blessed

Urban Death Project Seeks To Use Human Bodies As Compost For Organic Farming

Now The End Begins Urban Death Project Seeks To Use Human Bodies As Compost For Organic Farming by Geri Ungurean A Seattle architect named Katrina Spade has proposed a new solution for urban food production: convert the recently deceased into nutritious compost to feed the food crops. "For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14 (KJV) The project is called the Urban Death Project, and it describes the process of turning dead humans into plant food as follows: The Urban Death Project is a compost-based renewal system. At the heart of the project is a three-story core, within which bodies and high-carbon materials are placed. Over the span of a few months, with the help of aerobic decomposition and microbial activity, the bodies decompose fully, leaving a rich compost. urban-death-project-human-compost-katrina-spade The Urban Death Project utilizes the process of composting to safely and gently turn our deceased into soil-building material, creating a meaningful, equitable, and ecological urban alternative to existing options for the disposal of the dead. How does religion fit into all of this? The Urban Death Project fills a niche, providing an alternative method for the disposal of the dead designed for the density of the city and envisioned on a neighborhood scale. The architecture of the Urban Death Project will include space for those of any faith to gather, pray, and mourn. It is important to note that the Urban Death Project is not simply a system for turning our bodies into soil-building material. It is also a space for the contemplation of our place in the natural world, and a ritual to help us say goodbye to our loved ones by connecting us with the cycles of nature. Quite simply, for many, this option will be deeply spiritual – an ecological, productive, and beautiful thing to do with our physical bodies after we have died. The Urban Death Project website describes the project as a 501(c) non-profit, and a fundraising effort is due to launch March 30th on Kickstarter. The donate page explains, "Your gift supports the creation of a meaningful, equitable, and ecological alternative for the care and processing of our deceased." MARANATHA! PLEASE COME LORD.

The Place They Call The Doorway To Hell, The Erta Ale Lava Lake (VIDEO) by Geoffrey Grider

See The Place They Call The Doorway To Hell, The Erta Ale Lava Lake (VIDEO) by Geoffrey Grider Ethiopia's Erta Ale is the world's oldest continuously active lava lake "For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." Deuteronomy 32:22 (KJV) The word Hell appears 54 times in the King James Bible, and in every place that it appears it says the same thing. Hell is a place of torment, trouble, and it is filled with an eternal burning that can never be quenched. active-volcano-erta-ale-ethiopia-doorway-to-hell 'The heat was immense, when I got to an edge of the crater, it was unbearable. After couple of seconds, my facial skin was so hot, I had to get away." The prophet Isaiah tells us that in the Millennial Reign of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, there will actually be an open doorway in Jerusalem that will allow inhabitants of the Earth to see inside of Hell: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." Isaiah 66:24 (KJV) So it is with great fascination that we present to you today the place that is called the Doorway To Hell on Earth, Erta Ale in Ethiopia. If we must imagine the fiery depths of hell, the mental image can't be far from these incredible images by Karel Tupy of Ethiopia's Erta Ale, the world's oldest continuously active lava lake. Photographer Tupy, 35, says he feared his camera would melt from the overwhelming heat of the lava as he captured the daunting scenes of the 150-ft wide basalt volcano. 'The view is simply staggering,' said the 35-year-old. 'Lava inside the volcano is constantly moving, bubbling and bursting.' 'The heat was immense, when I got to an edge of the crater, it was unbearable. After couple of seconds, my facial skin was so hot, I had to get away. 'There was even a point where I was afraid my camera was going to melt.' The lava lake was so intense, and so hot that the photographer could not take it for more than a few seconds up close. How much worse will the actual Hell be for those who find themselves there 30 seconds after they die? "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: " Matthew 25:41 (KJV) Oh, I know death doesnt "scare you" now. Not now while you're healthy, life is good and death seems so far off and remote. But as sure as the sun rises, your end will arrive, and so much sooner than you think. And as you step out into a Christless eternity and realize, too late, that your sins are still unpaid for, you WILL come face to face with the Jesus you think you don't need now. And in THAT day, as you have rejected Him here, He will also reject you there. And you will burn beyond the end of forever, with no one to hear your cries. You don't have to go to Hell, click here to get free fire insurance.

Why Did JESUS Fold the Napkin?

Today's Sunday Sermon - Prayer and Faith Healing (James 5:14, 15) - http://ow.ly/Kd5Fw Prayer and Faith Healing | Thru the Bible - Sunday Sermon with Dr. J.... ONEPLACE.COM · Why Did JESUS Fold the Napkin? Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this.... The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. . The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished.." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.......... The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

The Reality of Hell

The Reality of Hell By David J. Stewart The Rich Man Went to Hell and Was Punished We read of the rich man who went to hell in Luke 16:19-31. He died in his sins. Let’s read this factual account in the Scriptures . . . “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And IN HELL he lift up his eyes, being in TORMENTS, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and COOL MY TONGUE; for I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art TORMENTED. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of TORMENT. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED, THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD.” Notice, Jesus did NOT say this was a parable; therefore, WE MUST ACCEPT IT AS LITERAL! Also notice that in all of Jesus’ parables, He always referred to a “certain man” or a “far off country.” Jesus never used specific names in His parables. Jesus used specific names in this account: Lazarus and Abraham. This is a factual account of something that happened. The word TORMENT(S) is found mentioned 3 times in verses 23, 25 and 28. Just as today, A MAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS WORD. We must believe then that JESUS SAID WHAT HE MEANT and MEANT WHAT HE SAID! The rich man was not a criminal, he was not a drug dealer, he was not a murderer, etc. What was it that kept the rich man from getting saved? Ready for this? He thought he had heaven on earth so he didn’t take the Word of God seriously. The rich man lived for himself. He could have cared less about the poor—people such as Lazarus. Lazarus was very poor and diseased. The rich man was very rich and stingy. Lazarus ate the crumbs out of the garbage pail of the rich man. The rich man was selfish and self-centered but that’s not what sent him to hell. He went to hell because he never put his FAITH in Christ as Savior. He was guilty of the worst sin of all—UNBELIEF. He never stopped long enough to consider his ways and turn to God for the forgiveness of his sins. He probably thought the preacher was a quack and the Word of God was just another religious book. Unfortunately, hell became his new home because of his wealthy pride that blinded him in unbelief. Most Rich People Will Be Eternally Damned in the Lake of Fire Oh how many rich people are sadly in hell right now. “Go to now, YE RICH MEN, weep and howl for your MISERIES that shall come upon you” (James 5:1). “For it is EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH A NEEDLE’S EYE, than for a RICH MAN to enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25). “For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the RICH MAN FADE AWAY IN HIS WAYS” (James 1:11). I’d like to add here, most people in the United States are rich and don’t realize it. These verses may indeed be speaking about you. The United States is a very rich nation. Even homeless people living on the streets have something here that immigrants are willing to risk their lives to have—opportunity. People are dying in the oceans and in box cars trying to escape the poverty stricken and communist lands they reluctantly call home. Surely we are a blessed people in the United States. However; along with this prosperity has arisen a stiff-necked people, full of pride. The rich man is Luke sixteen which we just read about had no color TV set—he had no refrigerator, no telephone, no electricity, no car, no plumbing, no washer or dryer, no modern medicine, no camera, no CD player, no radio, etc. By today’s standards he would be considered poor. Yet, he was called a “rich man” by God. I contend that we're all very rich indeed and in danger of the same kind of fate that the rich man met—Eternal damnation in hell. Do you take the Word of God SERIOUSLY? Or do you take God’s Word lightly? Hell is a Place of Brutal Torment — Jesus Said that Hell Has Fire! Let’s look at some more verses concerning hell. Jesus foretells of WEEPING and GNASHING OF TEETH, “...there shall be WEEPING and GNASHING OF TEETH” (Matthew 8:12). “Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” (Matthew 22:13). “And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” (Matthew 24:51). “And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH” (Matthew 25:30). “There shall be WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out” (Luke 13:28). “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the FIRE THAT NEVER SHALL BE QUENCHED: Where their worm dieth not, and the FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the FIRE THAT NEVER SHALL BE QUENCHED: Where their worm dieth not, and the FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into HELL FIRE: Where their worm dieth not, and the FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED” (Mark 9:43-48). Hell has fire! The Wicked and the Righteous Cannot Go to the Same Grave Do you really think Jesus would have spoken all these Words if hell didn’t have fire? Let’s hear Jesus’ Words in John 14:2, “In my Father's house are many mansions: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. Jesus said what He meant and meant what He said. For anyone to deny that hell has fire is unbelief. When a man tells me he doesn’t believe that hell has fire, I know that he doesn’t believe the Bible. The Bible teaches that Hell is fire and eternal damnation. I’ve heard people contend that the word “hell” only means grave. In some places in the Bible this is true, but in most others it means hell fire and punishment. Psalm 9:17 is a good example of where “hell” CANNOT mean simply “grave.” ... “THE WICKED SHALL BE TURNED INTO HELL, and all the nations that forget God.” Do not the righteous also go to the grave? If the word “hell” only means “grave,” then both the wicked and the righteous go to the same place. Only a fool would say such a thing. In most cases in the Bible, the word “hell” implies damnation and fire. The wicked go to hell-fire and punishment, the righteous go to Heaven for life everlasting. Don’t be foolish my friend in denying that hell is real. I can assure you that this world we live in is NOT hell. I believe the worst thing about hell won’t be the suffering and torment, it will be the constant realization that you could have been up in heaven serving a loving God for all eternity. Oh how bitter the bitterness which will be inflicted upon those suffering in Hell, an eternity to sulk in regrets and resentments. Perhaps this is the “worm that dieth not” which we read about several times in the Scriptures—the conscience. No one knows for sure what the “worms” are but whatever they are, I sure wouldn’t want to find out. The only safe place to be is in the everlasting arm of Jesus... “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are THE EVERLASTING ARMS” (Deuteronomy 33:27). Are you safe and secure in the Everlasting Arms? Only in Jesus Christ can any person find true salvation and security. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8 God Tells the Wicked to Fear Because Hell is Real And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather FEAR HIM which is able to DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL” (Matthew 10:28). God has the power to destroy both our soul as well as our body. If “hell” only refers to the grave, then why should we FEAR. If the worst thing that can happen to me is to be annihilated (non-existent), then why in the world should I FEAR? This is the erroneous teaching by the Jehovah Witnesses. They are dead wrong! I always say the same thing to a Jehovah’s Witness, “If your right about hell, I’ll just be dead and unconscious someday; But if the Bible is right about hell, you’ll burn in hell-fire for ALL ETERNITY.” So which road am I safer on, the Jehovah’s Witnesses road or the Bibles? I’ll take the Bible’s road any day! “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the DAMNATION OF HELL?” (Matthew 23:33). “And these shall go away into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). If there is no consciousness in the grave of the dead, then how can one’s punishment be everlasting? To “rightly divide” the Word of Truth, you simply CANNOT explain away the reality of hell. The Bible actually says more about hell than it does heaven, read it for yourself!