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Book Author
Robert G. Witty,  B.D., Asbury Theological Seminary; Th.M., Th.D., Burton College and Seminary; Ph.D., University of Florida

Robert G. Witty, October 6, 1906 - June 20, 2007 - Known as the father of theological distance education, Dr. Witty helped pioneer one of Christendom's most important educational forces.  Dr. Witty served with Master's from its founding, providing invaluable guidance, instructional and teaching resources as well as serving as a mentor and spiritual leader to the president of Master's.  His presence will be missed but for a short season, after which we shall all be gathered into the house of our Father.
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TOM SELF GOES TO HELL
A Unique Method of Studying the Biblical Issue
of Eternity Apart from God.

DIVISION ONE

CHAPTER ONE
The Resurrection 

When Tom Self slipped into a state of semi-conscious confusion, pictures flashed through his mind. He saw himself crash down a metal stairs. Waves of darkness punctured by weird flames enveloped him.  Feelings of fear and torment rushed in rapid succession to culminate in a strange awakening. 

Tom wondered, "Am I alive again?” “Where am I?" He snatched at the tattered moldy strands of smelly rags that clothed him and tried to stand though almost naked. Glancing about him he saw no one. In fact, a dark mist obscured his vision so that he could see nothing. Morever, all was silence. There was no sound.  

Before he was fully awake and without warning Tom was swept away to a place like no other he had ever experienced. Though he appeared to be totally alone, yet he sensed the presence of a vast unseen multitude of people. Though he stood firmly in one place, he could see nor feel nothing under his feet. What appeared to be a thick impenetrable cloud obscured his vision in every direction. Tom saw nothing, heard nothing, and seemed to touch nothing . Reality and unreality blended. 

"This must be a dream," Tom decided, yet a compelling sense of reality gripped his senses. His hands tested the feel of his flesh. His body responded to his wishes. He spoke and the sound was his natural voice.  

"Hello," he shouted but there was no answer, no echo, no reverberation, only silence. 

Suddenly, focused in one direction, the most dazzling light he had ever experienced began to clear the mist. Gradually Tom could discern a shining personage. The body and face were human in likeness except for an almost blinding radiance.  

"You are an angel." Tom cried aloud. "I am having a dream about an angel. I thought that I remembered dying in a fall down the warehouse stairs but I must have been mistaken. I am really dreaming." 

"You are correct, Tom Self, in your thinking that I am an angel," the shining figure spoke clearly. "You are not mistaken about your death. You stumbled and fell down the long stairs at the warehouse. You struck your head. They rushed you to the hospital but the attempt to revive you failed. You died. I will show you." 

No sooner had the angel spoken than Tom saw himself walking toward the stairs at the warehouse. His arms were loaded with papers. When he came to the stairs, he stumbled and fell headlong down the long stairs. At the foot of the stairway, Tom saw his bloody head twitch and fall still. 

The scene terminated like the click of the television. 

"Where am I? Is this a dream? Am I alive on Earth again?" Tom's questions poured like a torrent. 

"You have been dead for a long earth time. You are now alive again because you have been resurrected,"the angel replied."You are not on earth. You are now in eternity." 

"Is this strange fog some division of hell?" Tom cried. "Surely this can't be heaven. I don't understand. Where am I ? Where is eternity? Why am I here?" 

"This is not earth. This is not hell nor is it heaven," the angel told him. 

"Is this some strange planet like Earth," Tom was mystified. "Have I come back to life in some other world?" 

"No, this is not Earth," the angel explained. "The Earth as you knew it has been destroyed by fire. This is not another planet. And what I showed you about your death took place more than a thousand years ago. " 
"Then, where am I? Why am I here?" 

"You have been resurrected," the angel explained. "All the dead have been resurrected for a final judgment by Almighty God. Your Judgment will soon  establish your destiny forever." 

"But I thought my destiny was fixed. I know that I have been in a place of torment since my death. It has been horrible. Though I had no physical body, I was able to see, hear, speak, think, and remember just the same as when I was alive on Earth. Will God’s Judgment give me another chance at a better life?" 

"When you died on Earth you went to the holding place called Hades. Your character and conduct determined by your rejection of salvation in the name of Jesus took you there," the angel stated. "You were tormented by the flames of desires you could not satisfy. You lusted but you had no way to satisfy your lusts. You yearned for water but you had rejected the water of life. You lusted for your sins of passion but you had no physical body to do them. You longed for light but you had chosen darkness. You craved for food but you had turned from the bread of life. For more than a thousand years you have been consumed by the flames of your frustrations. Soon you will go to your final and eternal destiny." 

"What will now be my destiny?"Tom cried. "Will I return to that awful "Hades" place? What will be my new and eternal fate?" 

"Your fate is in the hands of God. God is just. He is without respect of persons. When you were formerly alive, you knew instinctively that your destiny depended either upon your own efforts or upon the mercy of God. You chose to live by your own merit. God will judge your deeds and your influence upon others to decide what is your just state." 

"Being my own man has always been and will always be my decision. I am the captain of my own fate,"Tom shouted with pride. "I'm no wimp that begs for mercy that I don't deserve. All I want is justice." 

“Justice is what you will get because God is just," returned the angel. "Actually you will see what you have chosen and how you have made your own destiny. Whether you rise to God's holy heaven or sink to the lowest hell depends entirely upon the decisions and actions you made during your earthly life. God wants to save everyone and has provided the Way. The decision rests with each person. But, in any case, God will be absolutely just and fair." 

"That pleases me," Tom said. "All I ask is justice. I can stand on my record. When will I have this trial? When will I get what I deserve? I want to get out of this place?" 

"Time is swallowed up by eternity," the angel explained. "You are now in eternity. You will come for judgment at God's call." 

Like articulated thunder the Voice called, "Tom Self!" 

"You are hearing God’s call for you to come to the Great White Throne. Now you will be judged. Now you will  know your eternal destiny,"cried the angel.

CHAPTER TWO
The Judge is Just  

Instantly, Tom Self stood before a Great White Throne. Seated upon the Throne was a Person of such majesty that Tom bowed instantly. In spite of the radiance that clothed the Person on the Throne, Tom recognized that he stood before Jesus, the One he had belittled and denied upon Earth. In spite of himself, Tom trembled in awe.  

"Tom Self," Jesus spoke without anger. "You were the object of my love upon Earth. My Holy Spirit sought you in many ways and at many times. You chose to reject Our pleadings for you to come and receive Our mercy. For that reason you are standing before Me to be judged. I assure you that the judgment will be in such fairness that you will have no complaint. You have rejected My mercy but you cannot receive less than absolute justice." 

As Jesus spoke, Tom sensed such sincerity that he felt an ability to speak that surprised him. 

"Do you mean that I can speak for myself and that You will be fair and just in your decision concerning my destiny?" 

"That is correct," Jesus replied. "My judgment will be so entirely based upon the actual facts of the decisions that you made in your Earth life that you will agree that your final judgment is just and fair. In fact, My decision simply reflects the character, conduct, and influence of your earthly decisions."  
"Then my first question is this: why did You chose to begin Your work of judgment with me when there are millions of others to be judged?" 

"Tom, while I am judging you, at the same time I am also judging the other millions to whom you refer," Jesus replied. 

"That can't be the truth, " Tom accused. "How can You be here with me and also at the same time be with millions of others? That is physically impossible." 

"You are right, Tom, what I have said is physically impossible,"Jesus replied. "You may recall, however, that I was present with millions of believers on Earth at the same time. I was as present with each one as though I were present with no other. You are forgetting that I am God." 
"You are telling me that while You are judging me, You can  also judge millions of others?" Tom asked . 

"That is the truth", Jesus replied.  

"On what basis will You make Your judgment," Tom inquired. 

"Look before you," Jesus instructed Tom. 

Although it had escaped Tom's attention, he now saw that he faced a shining table stacked with books including a copy of the Bible.

"These books are for your benefit," Jesus told Tom. "I do not need the books because all that they contain is in My personal knowledge. Within these books is the record of your life: every action, emotion, thought, word, and influence upon others . All of this is also recorded in your brain so that you will recognize what you will be shown from the books. The books contain a full and accurate record of your earthly life. Nothing is omitted." 

"You mean that Your judgment of my eternal destiny will be based fair and square upon what I have said and done in my Earthly life," Tom asked? 

"What else would be just?" Jesus asked.  

"Before we begin the actual process of judgment, let me ask this question: How much good must I have done to get into Your heaven? How many times must I have prayed? How much must I have contributed?" Tom asked. 

"Tom, you have asked a very common question. The correct answer is that people do not enter My heaven because of their personal goodness or their good deeds. In fact, no human could qualify on that basis. People enter My heaven because they admit their badness, turn in repentance from any dependence on self, ask and receive my gracious forgiveness. Their goodness has nothing to do with their entrance into heaven. Good deeds do not admit; bad deeds do not reject." 

"But that is not justice," Tom declared. 

"You are absolutely correct, Tom. No human can be good enough to deserve entrance into My heaven on the basis of justice. Justice would exclude every human because  all have sinned and fallen short of the required righteousness. A person can enter My heaven only as a grace gift that is totally undeserved. I offered you this gift many times in your life. Do you remember?" 

"I remember what Christian believers used to claim," Tom admitted, "but there was a catch in the offer. To receive the salvation that You offered I would have had to surrender my will to Yours. I would have had to deny my own plans and accept Yours. I am too independent for that kind of surrender. So all I want is justice. I am not now and never was a weakling asking for mercy that I didn't deserve." 

"Tom, you have expressed  your choice again," Jesus replied. "I will give you what you want: justice." 
"If You are absolutely honest about being completely fair, You will give me an opportunity to prepare my defense," Tom declared. 

"It is granted," Jesus responded. "Study the record of your life and influence and make your defense.  I will return and resume the trial when you are ready." 

Suddenly, Tom was again totally alone. The shining table and chair invited him to come from the thick mist and begin his study of the open books in order to make his defense. 

CHAPTER THREE 
The Defense and the Decision  

The open books amazed Tom. Recorded events began with his birth and extended beyond his death in the influence his actions and words had exerted upon other people. Each action and statement was also attended by the motivation that had caused it. Tom's awakened memory refused to allow denial of any part of the record. The records were totally accuracte.  

"Lord, this is really my life," Tom thought. "Everything is here just as it happened, why I did it, and how it influenced others. This is amazing." 

After a disheartening review of his deeds and words, Tom decided to make his defense on the basis that the record of his good intentions, even when flawed by selfish motives and actions, outweighed his bad deeds. While he was forced to admit that he was far less than perfect, Tom decided to plea that he was not really a bad person.  

No sooner had Tom completed his defense preparation than Jesus reappeared seated on the Great White Throne with such suddenness that the majesty and glory jerked Tom to his feet.  

"Tom Self, are you ready for your defense? "Jesus inquired.  

"I think so,"Tom asserted, "but what are the exact charges that are brought against me?" 
"You are accused of being a thief, an adulterer, a liar, a rebel against God, a blasphemer, a wilful sinner, and a fool." Jesus stated. 

"When I was on Earth, I would have killed any person who accused me of such things," Tom flared. "Am I free to answer each unfair accusation?" 

"The court is ready to hear your defense in reference to any or all of these charges." 

"First, I am no thief. I was really a very honest man. I paid my bills. My credit rating was excellent. How can You be fair and accuse me of being a thief?"  

"What about your income tax for 1984?" Jesus asked.  

"Oh, that. Well I think that a man has the right to  get away with paying as little tax as possible. My accountant thought I could get away with that report and I did. That is really not stealing because I was not audited. Instead of stealing I felt that I had made a real smart decision," Tom boasted. 

"What about the scam that you worked on the elderly Jones family? You took their savings under false pretense," Jesus stated. 

"That loss was their decision," Tom replied. "The Jones wanted to make a fast buck just as bad as I did. It wasn't my fault that they didn't investigate what I sold them." 

"What about the time in 1980 that the ATM gave you three times the amount that it should. You denied the amount  to the bank investigator and kept the money," Jesus continued.  

"That was the bank’s  hard luck and my good luck because the machine was defective,"Tom declared. 

"Would you like to discuss your 'big deal' of 1986? Jesus asked. 

Tom was silent for a long moment.  

"OK, I will admit that some would call what I did 'stealing'", Tom confessed, "but the fact is that I simply saw an opportunity to make some money. Most of my life I was very honest. Do these few cases that you have mentioned make me a thief?"  

"How many times must a man kill to be a murderer?" Jesus asked.  

"That's different" Tom retorted.  

"Let's move to the next allegation: you are an adulterer."Jesus declared.  

"Now that accusation is very unfair," Tom pled. "Ask my wife and she will tell you that I have been a good husband and father. May and I have lived together for thirty years. We have two boys and a girl. I admit we have had problems like other couples but you wouldn't call such a husband and father an adulterer." 

"I don't have to ask your wife to know about Goldie in Chicago at the Convention in the summer of 1975," Jesus told him.  

"I didn't want to do that," Tom declared, "but you know that the gang that I was with would all have laughed at me if I had held back. What could a guy do in a case like that? And after all that was her business, her way of making a living. As you know she was only a prostitute."  

"What about Jack's wife in 1977?" Jesus asked. "There was no gang there. She had always been a faithful wife until you enticed her."  

"She led me on. What happened was June's fault," Tom claimed. "I was just doing a little harmless flirting. I didn't know she would take it seriously but when you go so far it's hard to stop. But I didn't keep on."  

"Actually, you couldn't keep on," Jesus stated. "She was so ashamed that she killed herself."  

"Do you want to discuss other experiences? Jesus asked.  

Tom thought for a long minute, "Let's move to another category. I am really ashamed of the immoral lapses that I fell into through unfortunate circumstances. Almost all of my life, however, I was true to my marriage. I don't like to remember how foolish I was these few times. Surely you will consider the big picture. "  

" Then we will move to the category of lying. In the books there is the record of 39415 lies that you have told," Jesus stated.  

"If I plead guilty to most of what you call lies, I point out that most of what you call lies, little statements that are admittedly less than fact, are told to compliment people or to keep from hurting another person's image of themselves or family. For example, I would say,'What a pretty baby'. I would know that it was far from truth but it pleased the mother. Surely you will not hold that against me." 

"If I accept your explanation," Jesus replied, "the books still show 16689 instances in which you deliberately planned and used a lie to protect yourself from the consequences of your misdeeds. The records also show 8967 instances in which you concocted a lie in order to harm or to deceive another person." 

Tom started to speak. Instead, he stood silently staring into space before he answered.  

"Jesus, this is a waste of time," Tom said softly. "You and I both know that I am guilty as charged about my lying sins. Any defense at defense is futile. However, I do object to the accusation that I am a fool."  

"Don't you think that you were a fool to deny God, to reject His love and great salvation?" Jesus asked.  

"I couldn't give up my independence," Tom confessed. "Even now I think that I deserve another chance because basically I am a pretty decent person. I am better than some of those hypocrites at the church my wife attends. I think my good deeds prove that I have learned my lesson and that I will do better."  

"When you were on Earth, I gave you thousands of opportunities to receive my mercy. You turned them all away. You made you own decision to stand on your record. You decided that all you wanted was justice. These records simply record facts and influences."  

"Jesus, I confess that you have been fair and that my record proves that I have done and said what deserves judgment,"Tom admitted. "What is the verdict?"  

"Guilty as charged!"  

"I agree that the verdict is just," Tom admitted. "What is the sentence?"  

"The 'lake of fire'". Jesus said, "As Satan's follower, you will share Satan's fate."  

The splendor disappeared. Tom stood totally alone in the misty cloud. 

CHAPTER FOUR
The Lake of Fire 

An angel approached Self and announced, "I am commanded to execute your sentence and cast you into the lake of fire."  

"Can you tell me something about this awful destination?" Tom asked.  

"I have never been in the lake," the angel answered, "but it has been revealed that God made 'the lake of fire" as the final destiny for Satan and the angels that followed him in his rebellion against Almighty God. It has remained empty for the ages in which God permitted the Adversary to continue his rebellion on planet Earth. Recently, the defeated Anti-Christ and his followers have been cast in the lake." 

"If the "lake of fire" was made for the devil and his angels why would I be cast into it,"Tom pled for an answer.  

"Be honest with yourself,"the angel replied. "You know that you are to receive justice because you have repeatedly refused God's mercy."  

"That is true,"Tom admitted, "but I am certainly not as bad as the devil."  

"Nor will you receive Satan's punishment. My orders are to take you to the section of 'few stripes,'" the angel told him. "I am sure that you will be treated with justice. But the time has come for you to go the lake."  

Tom felt the angel lift him up. He was carried slowly toward a burning lake so vast that he saw no limit. He noticed that the fire on the fringe looked different from the fire at the center. No further word was spoken by the angel until they arrived in the vicinity of the lake.  

"I am taking you to a segment of the 'lake of fire' that is designated for those who will receive few stripes," the angel replied.  

"Why are there such segments?" Tom inquired. 

"Because the righteous Judge administers only justice," the angel answered.  

"This is the section of the lake for the person who is independent. I will release you now. You are on your own," the angel announced. 

When the angel released Tom, he was caught in a strong updraft from the "lake of fire" so that he descended in a slow drift. The shoreline had disappeared and the appearance of the fire was like he had never experienced in his earthly life. The surface flames flashed with every color of the rainbow. Beneath the surface flames, however, he was sure that he saw thick darkness.  

As his body plunged through the surface "flames" into the darkness, his tattered clothing was singed but so far as he could tell his only personal reaction was a moment of exquisite pain as he passed through the flames into a world of darkness. Following the pain, he sensed absolute aloneness. Though at first he could not see on what he was standing, he knew that his descent had stopped and that what had been flame from above him was now a black impenetrable wall. Though he had limited vision, Tom could discover no source of light in any direction.  

As his eyes adjusted to the misty darkness, Tom decided that he was standing in a barren wasteland. A dry wind blew acrid dust from the parched soil. With the dust came a nauseating odor that reminded him of the stench of rotting human flesh he had experienced in the war. As far as he could penetrate the dark mist there was no shrub or tree, no hill or valley, just a flat dusty plain. How far this plain extended he could not estimate because his vision ended in darkness after a few score of feet.  

The absolute silence oppressed Tom. There was not a squeak or a rumble. No background of noise or nearby sound. The absolute silence brought a feeling of complete isolation to Tom.  

"What can be out there in the dark?" Tom wondered. "I thought hell would be full of people. I thought demons would torture me. This silence is stifling, fearsome, oppressive."  

"Anyone here," Tom shouted.  

Only absolute silence.  

A wave of horrible isolation swept through Tom’s being. Then he noticed the semblance of a road that stretched the short distance he could see. Prints in the dust showed that others had traveled this path before him.  

"Where had the people gone? Were they still alive? Could I find someone?"  

Tom had walked only a short path when he saw a road sign. He ran to the marker and read, "INDEPENDENCE AVENUE."

Tom cursed the mockery of the sign as loudly as he could but no sound came from his mouth. An inner voice seemed to tell Tom that in hell he could never again curse God.  

Just then the silence was broken by a distant cry!  

In the distance Tom heard a unearthly sound that he could not identify as that of friend or foe, of man or beast. In fact, he wondered if he was hearing the cry of a suffering human or a wounded animal.  

"Anything to escape this aloneness,"Tom thought as he plodded toward where he thought the sound issued. 

"I'm coming, " Tom shouted. 

There was no answer.  

"If I could only see better," Tom thought. "If I had some light instead of this infernal darkness." 

When he looked up at the dense darkness above him, Tom wondered, "Will it be dark forever. Is there no light source in this barren waste?" 

Though he heard no voice and felt no presence, Tom remembered seeing a billboard while he was on Earth that read, "Jesus, the light of the world."  

 "Could it be: No Jesus, no light?" Tom wondered.  

"Then I will make my own light," Tom shouted at the darkness.  

The absolute aloneness, the unending darkness oppressed Tom. Then the silence was broken by another weird cry of distress or pain. Fear enveloped Tom, cold, clammy terror.  

"What is out there? If I had a flashlight or even a match, I would make some light," Tom spoke aloud in order for his voice to penetrate the aloneness that had engulfed him.  

"Where are you?" Tom shouted. "Let me help you. Answer me." 

There was no answer! Only silence.  

And then a moan.

CHAPTER FIVE
The Growing Thirst  
As the hot dry wind became stronger, Tom's thirst for water began to dominate his thought. His mouth had become dry so that he swallowed with difficulty. His eyes burned with the dust. Inwardly, he had a weird sensation of shriveling. His tongue was beginning to swell.  

Suddenly, another and nearby scream broke the silence!  

So desperate and helpless was the scream that Tom paused, trembling.  

Gathering courage, Tom continued his walk toward the source of the scream.  

"I am desperately thirsty," Tom spoke aloud again. "Where can I get a drink? I must find water." 

Just then he spied what looked like a water pump. Rushing to the pump, he saw these directions fastened to the pump:  

DIRECTIONS  

Place your cup under the spout.  

As you raise and lower the pump handle, pour water into the top of the pump to make a prime.  

If you have no water to act as a prime, the pump will not function.  

"This is torture," Tom wailed. "I'm dying for a drink and this stupid pump wants a prime. If I had a prime I wouldn't need the water. To hell with it!"  

As Tom stomped away, he thought,"I've got to get water. I'm burning up with thirst. I can't stand it." 

Memory of Earth's refreshments - ice-cold water, lemonade, coke - tormented him. "I've got to have a drink."  

Sure enough when Tom looked down the way he was traveling, he saw an oasis. Trees and flowery shrubs shadowed a bright pool of beautiful water. Fruit hung upon the tree in abundance. Though Tom was exhausted, he began to run toward this haven of refreshment.  

As Tom ran, he almost fell over the prostate body of a woman.  

"Help," she begged. "Water, water." 

"I will bring you water and fruit," Tom told her. "It is near, just ahead."  

"Where?" she sobbed.  

Tom looked and started to point but the oasis had vanished.  

"God in heaven! It was a mirage." 

Tom turned back to the prostrate woman. 

"Water," begged the woman. "I am tormented with thirst."  

"Lady, I promise you that if I can find water I will bring you a drink," Tom declared, "but I am dying for water myself."  

"You can't die," the woman wailed."This is hell. You can't really live but you can't die. That's the hell of it. And worst of all, there is no end."  

As Tom staggered away, the woman screamed in intolerable frustration.  

Because the distant glow seemed more distinct, Tom, though increasingly weak, stumbled on down the dusty path. 

A short distance from the mocking pump area, Tom came to the shore of a large lake.  Water had never looked so refreshing or desirable. As he rushed into the lake, he felt the movement of the water about his feet. He flung himself into the water but when he fell he landed in the dust. The water had vanished. Tom beat his fists against the dust and struggled to his feet. Now he was sure about the water. He could feel it. He could see it. He could hear it splash gently about him. Again he plunged into the lake. Again it was only dust.  

As Tom lay prostrate in the dust, he remembered what his wife had read to him about his alcohol problem, If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.  

"This is torment," Tom's voice was little more than a husky whisper. "Can it be true: No Jesus no water. This is hell."  

The woman's words resounded in his mind: "And it will never end. It will never end. You cannot die. This is hell."  

CHAPTER SIX
Tom Craves Food  

As Tom struggled back from the frustration of unfulfilled desire at the lake fantasy to the semblance of a road, he realized the cause of his growing weakness. Not only lack of water but, in his thirst misery, failure to eat now reached a climax in extreme hunger.  

"No wonder I am starving," Tom thought, "I must have been here without food for days. Only this burning thirst has temporarily deadened my realization that I am starving. I must find something to eat."  

Tom looked into the misty darkness. There was no light though the road ahead seemed to have a faint semblance of lesser darkness.  

"Hello! Hello!" Tom's shout was a hoarse croaking.  

Only silence and then another distant scream now less muffled and apparently nearer. As Tom listened intently, he decided that he now heard many weird voices. Tom decided it was the sound of people who were weeping and lamenting.  

"There must be people ahead,"Tom thought. "Maybe I can get help."  

Tom struggled on. A burning thirst and a gnawing hunger tortured his weak body. Pictures of tables laden with delicious food and refreshing drinks danced in his mind.  

A short distance down the road, Tom caught sight of his first tree. The tree was small but when he came closer Tom saw that its branches were loaded with a shiny black fruit much the size and appearance of a plum.  

The sight of possible food inflamed his hunger. As fast as his failing strength would take him, Tom ran to the tree.  

Jerking a plum from the tree, he bit into the juicy fruit. Never had juice been so sweet or fruit so delicious. Greedily he ate another and another until he realized that the juice had become like liquid fire in his mouth and down his throat. Instead of satisfying his hunger the fruit now wracked his stomach with acid fire.  

"This is hell," Tom wailed, "Even what I thought was food has only increased my torture. Now I am sick. I wish I could die. I am so thirsty. I am so hungry."  

In his rage Tom cursed the tree and tore the limb away from the trunk. Red sap oozed from trunk. When a drop fell on his hand, a stab of agony shot through his arm  .

As Tom staggered back to the road, he remembered a verse of the Bible that for some reason had always challenged his independence: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 

"What can I do," Tom mourned. "I am tortured by hunger and burning with thirst. The fruit of this place added to my misery. I am so sick.  Is it true:  No Jesus, no bread." 

All was silent except the sound of weeping and the weird scream.  

CHAPTER SEVEN
The Reality of Mortality  

Burning with thirst and faint with gnawing hunger Tom struggled on with fading hope of finding food and water.  

"Jesus should have accused me of another sin that He didn't mention," Tom thought. "I have taken food and water and human companionship for granted. I have never been grateful for the things that I am now desperate to find. He is right I have been a fool." 

"I thought I was so self-sufficient but I never made a drop of the water that I drank . The food I ate was the product of seed that man could not manufacture. Everything I needed was at hand. Now I have nothing and can not produce even a drop of water, a mouthful of food or a ray of light."  

Tom now noticed that he was stumbling through a new area. To his right the land stretched as far as he could see in the darkness but to his left there stretched a large lake of burning flames, a true lake of fire.  

"Help, help me,"a weak voice pled. 

Looking to the left, he saw a hideous figure crawling toward the lake of fire. As the creature crawled, he wailed, "Help me. Please help me!"  

Tom staggered to the creature.  

"Help me get in the fire, " the creature begged.  

"But why? Why would you want to get in that horrible fire"?  

"Look at me closely," pled the creature.  

Tom came closer to the creature. It was the living corpse of a man. The corpse, for the flesh was rotting, was still alive. Flies swarmed around the hideous body. A cut in one arm dripped yellow corruption. A sore in the abdomen was a gaping hole in which Tom could see the twisting shape of maggots feeding. The creature's arms and legs were little more than bones covered with corrupting skin. Dust worms crawled in and out of his flesh.  

"In God's name, what has happened to you?" Tom cried.  

"That same thing that will happen to you," the creature replied.  

"That is impossible," Tom declared. "I would never let this happen to me."  

"That is what I thought as a professional athlete called 'Bad Medicine' because of my size, strength, and bad temper. Then I died and came to this hell after the Judgment. Like you my body is mortal and corruptible. I could not make or find any food or drink. Gradually, my body began to corrupt. I injured my arm in a fall. Flies "blew" my sores. Maggots began to eat my corrupt flesh. When I could no longer stand, the dust worms fed on my flesh. I am corrupting but I cannot kill myself. I won't die for I have already died twice. The only way I can get rid of these worms is to get in the fire. I think the fire may kill them. Nothing can be worse than what I have become. Help me."  

"Man, I can't touch you. You are too horrible and corrupt. The stench of your body sickens me. I can't make myself even touch you."  

The creature started again to try to crawl toward the fire. 

"I hate you. Nobody cares. What I am you soon will be. You're next!" he screeched when Tom turned away to get back on the road.  

Burning with thirst, faint with hunger, horribly alone, gripped with fear and dread, Tom struggles on, saying, "I have always been able to take care of myself. I will find some way to provide." 

Tom's brain desperately sought for a solution. 

What he had witnessed in the living corpse crawling toward the fire continued to plague Tom.  

"You are next" beat like a refrain he could not forget. 

"I must guard against any injury to my body,"Tom thought. "If I don't break the skin, the worms will not eat me. I must guard against the flies too. What a horrible place this is. If I had only listened . . . "  
Tom staggered on. 

CHAPTER EIGHT
Tom Seeks Rest  

Such terror as he had never known caused Tom's body to tremble as he tried to hurry away from the burning lake. 

"My tongue is swelling with thirst. Hunger gnaws my stomach. Weakness robs me of the strength to escape from these hideous creatures. I am so tired. I must rest. I can't keep going."  

As he stumbled down the dusty path, he sought a rock or a log or anything that afforded a place for him to rest. There was none. Everywhere the same flat desolate worm infested dust.  

"How long have I been in this horrible place," Tom wondered. "It seems like an eternity. What an awesome word is eternity. There must be some way to end this torture. I am so weak, so thirsty, so hungry, so terrified. I will just stretch out on the dirt."  

Tom fell more than lay down,  

The dust felt soft to his weariness.  

"I will try to sleep,"Tom thought. "Oh, how wonderful it would be if I could only lose consciousness for even one brief minute."  

Tom lay flat of his back with outstretched arms. His hands lay in the dust. Gradually, he became aware of a feeling that something was crawling on his hand. Raising his hand to his sight, he saw it was alive with tiny worms. As he looked, he saw that there were worms beginning to crawl upon his body. He arose as quickly as his weakness would allow and tried to brush the worms off his arms, his legs, and parts of his body.  

The worms clung to his body with a sticky slime. One of the worms had penetrated his skin and had to be pulled out of the flesh of his arm. 

Horror engulfed Tom. 

"There is no place that I can rest," he shuddered. "I am so thirsty, so hungry, so terrified, so very weary but I can't lie down in this worm infested dust." 

Like a stab of light, Tom's tortured memory pictured a little boy sitting in the lap of his grandmother. She was reading from a book. The book was a Bible. She was reading from the words of Jesus: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  
 "My God, if I had only known," Tom mourned.  

Griping pain twisted in his stomach.  

Hunger gnawed in his intestines.  

Thirst dried his throat.  

Tom trembled in fright. 

Loneliness enveloped him. 

Tom screamed in frustration. 

CHAPTER NINE
Tom Meets A Neighbor 

Finding no resting place, Tom staggered down the dusty trail. The screams were louder but there was a new sound that he had not noticed.  

"What is that grinding noise," Tom wondered.  

Tom stood very still and with open mouth tried to identify the sound.  

The grinding noise stopped. All was still except for the screams.  

He closed his mouth and started his stumbling walk. The strange sound began again. It was only then that Tom became aware that in his hunger and thirst, he was grinding his teeth together in his frustration.  

At that juncture Tom saw a skeleton like figure coming toward him out of the darkness. He trembled with the thought that some new danger approached. As the figure drew closer, Tom recognized with relief that the figure was a person that he recognized in spite of his emaciated body as a neighbor and schoolmate.  

"Jim Parker, what are you doing here?" Tom asked.  

"Who are you?" countered Jim.  

"I am your neighbor and schoolmate, Tom Self."

Jim stared in unbelief.  

"What more can befall me," Jim wailed. "I am burning with thirst, famished for food, craving rest and now I meet you, the person I hate with a perfect hatred." 

"How can you say that, Jim? We were neighbors and close friends for years. Why do you hate me?" 

"I hate you because you are one of the reasons that I am in this horrible place. I wanted to take my family to church because I felt that God was dealing with me. I confided in you. You laughed at me. You said the church was a bunch of hypocrites and that the preachers were money hungry. You told me that if I fell for that racket I would lose all the fun of weekends with our families. I listened to you and now I am here. Some of my family are here too. Oh, but I hate you."  

"I thought that I was giving you good advice, Jim."  

"Good advice," Jim wailed. "You were damning my soul and that of my family. Two of my children grew up to see the truth and gave themselves to Jesus. They are now in heaven. All the rest of the family are here in hell though I hope I never see them."  

"Why in hell do you say that you never want to see them?" Tom asked.  

"I never want to see them because they hate me just as I hate you. It was my influence that has caused them to be here in this place of torment." 

With clenched fists Jim rushed toward Tom shouting,"I hate you.  

I hate you. I hate you." 

Tom fled in a new terror.  

"Now I hate you, Jim Parker," Tom hissed as he fled. "I hate you for blaming me for your stupidity. I hate you because my soul is full of hate for everything and everyone."  

"In the name of all that was decent in me," Tom sobbed. "What is happening to me? I am full of hate and bitterness. I hate God. I hate myself. I hate where I am. I hate all people. The more I suffer, the more I hate. "  

CHAPTER TEN
Tom Meets His Ego  

In his flight from Jim, Tom had again come near to the burning lake.  

As he staggered back to the road, he came face to face with a grotesque creature. Tom stood trembling. Though his skin appeared to be the color of a corpse, the creature's features were almost human in shape. When Tom saw that the creature smiled, he gave a sigh of relief.  

"Hello, my friend," the creature's kind tone calmed Tom's fears.  

"Who are you?" Tom inquired.  

"I am your friend, your fleshly Ego. I was sent here by the Master to help you. You have suffered enough. I have come not only to give you relief from your suffering but to compensate by giving you pleasure."  

"I don't know who you are," Tom replied, "but I surely do need relief. I am burning up with thirst, weak from starvation, trembling with fright."  

“Just relax and enjoy yourself. I have provided just what will satisfy all your desires." 

As if by magic, the creature disappeared. Tom looked in all directions but saw no one.

When Tom's gaze returned to the place where the creature had been, he was amazed to see a shining table laden with sparkling drinks and delicious foods. In spite of his long fast, Tom was spellbound.  

Hobbling to the feast, he first reached for a glass of sparkling lemonade. His trembling hand tipped over the glass and the drink was spilled. Tom reached for another sparkling drink. Again he spilled the drink.  

"I must get control of myself," Tom moaned.  

Very carefully he grasped another glass of sparkling drink. As he raised the glass to his mouth, the drink evaporated.  

"This is torture," Tom moaned. "Here is drink in plenty but I can't get a sip of it. O creature, if you are doing this, help me."  

The creature appeared and said, "You must eat the food before you enjoy the drinks. That is the cause of your frustration." 

The creature vanished.  

Tom rushed to the table and reached for a sandwich. He felt the texture of the bread and the moisture of the filling. He smelled the odor of the filling.  

"Food, at last," he exulted.  
When his hand brought the food to his mouth, the sandwich had simply disappeared. Desperately, he grabbed for other food. Some of the food simply disappeared. Other foods had no reality but were simple holographs with no substance.  

"Creature, you are mocking me," Tom mourned.  

The creature appeared, laughed in mockery, then vanished.  

In the creature's place Tom saw the most beautiful woman that he had even seen. A gossamer covering failed to hide the naked body beneath. As she relaxed on a gilded couch, she stretched her arms to Tom. Ravished by the woman's beauty, Tom was consumed with lust to feel her flesh next to his own naked body. He stumbled to her to fall into her waiting arms. As he fell the vision vanished and he lay in agony upon the worm infested dust.  

Tom twisted himself to a sitting position and then to stand.  

The creature appeared. 

"What are you," Tom sobbed. "What are you doing to me?"  

"I am your 'fleshly' nature, your Ego. I live in your brain. I am the sum of the desires that you followed in your Earth life. In the agony of your hunger and thirst and the weakness of your mortality, I seemed to appear to you. All your desire for pleasure still lives in your body," Tom heard the creature explain, wondering if his mind was hallucinating.  

"In hell lust is consuming. You hunger but find no food. You thirst but find no water. You lust but satisfaction of that lust eludes forever," Tom's inward voice declared. "You, Tom Self, are in hell."  

Tom screamed in frustration, "To hell with you. I hate you."  

The creature laughed.  

"You cannot lose me," the creature shot back. "I am your 'flesh' nature. I will not die nor grown weaker. I am what you want and lust for. I am all the things that you gave your life for on Earth. I will ever be with you. But you are in hell. You will continue to lust but you will have no way to satisfy your lust. That is the hell of it. And it is forever."  

"I hate you," Tom screamed.  

"I will return," the creature shrieked and vanished.  

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tom Meets His Daughter  

Tom fled from the apparition of unsatisfied lust muttering to himself, " This is truly hell. I hate it. I hate everybody. I hate myself. I think how I used the word 'hell' so casually. What a fool. Hell is dark and dirty and I am in agony for water and food and rest."  

Coming toward Tom was a grotesque figure of an emaciated female whose stumbling walk revealed extreme exhaustion. Much of the hag's hair had fallen away, her abdomen was bloated, her breasts hung like empty bags, her bones in her ribs, her thin arms and legs scarcely covered with skin. Dirty rags hung in shreds about her half naked body.

In spite of the horror Tom felt as the female drew near, he was convinced that he had known her on Earth. Something was familiar about the tottering walk.  

"Get out of my way," the woman shouted. "I don't know you but I hate you. I hate everybody. I hate this horrible place of darkness."  

"I will pass on."Tom replied, "but there is something familiar about you. What was your name on Earth?"  

"Though it is none of your business," the hag told him, "I will tell you. My name of Earth was Joy Self (What a mockery). And my father was Tom Self and my mother was Ann Self. " 

"My God, this thing is my daughter," Tom realized, "Should I tell the horrible ‘thing’ that I am her father?" 

"I'll tell you something else," the creature croaked, "I know my father must be in hell. If you ever meet him, tell him about me and tell him that I hate him. O how I hate him. If it hadn't been for him I wouldn't be in this horrible place of torment."  

"How could your father be responsible for your being in hell?" Tom asked. 

"I'll tell anyone about how and why I hate me father," the hag said, "But who are you? Something about you makes me think I knew you on Earth. "  

"What is your name?"  

"My name is Albert Taylor. I lived in Alaska. You couldn't have known me," Tom lied. 

"I think you are lying," the creature screamed, "but I will tell you why I hate my father. I would like to tear him to pieces I hate him so much. When I was a little girl my father and my mother shut themselves in a room. I crept to the door and listened."  

"My mother was sobbing. My father was trying to caress her but she pushed him away . My father was pleading in a loud voice. My mother sobbed.'You have broken my heart. How can you claim to love me when you have been living with that prostitute?' At the time I didn't know what they were talking about."  

 "When I learned the truth, I decided that I would be like you and get all the gusto I could out of my relationships."  

"Shortly after this experience, I asked my father to take me to Sunday School like some of my friends. He said,'I haven't got time. This is my day to play golf. You don't want to go to that church anyway. They are a bunch of wimpy losers and hypocrites. You should be like me, independent and self-sufficient.'"  

"When I was seventeen I told my father that I had fallen in love with a boy and that he wanted me to have sex with him. My father said,'You've got to protect yourself and the family. I don't think that you should have sex with him or anyone else until you are married but I can't watch you all the time. Here is a condom that you ought to carry all the time. You've got to be careful.'"  

"After the first time I had sex, I enjoyed it so much that I was ready for anyone that I really liked. That's what led me to be an AIDS casualty. I hate my father because he robbed me of religion and led me into prostitution." 

 Tom made no reply.  

Hobbling away as fast as his feeble legs could carry him, he muttered, "I've got to get away from this creature. If she finds out who I am I will have to fight for my life with my own flesh and blood. She hates me and deep down I hate her for accusing me. This is hell indeed."  

As Tom stumbled on the road, he began to weep in agony,  

CHAPTER TWELVE
Tom Is  Sick  

"I am getting real sick," Tom wailed aloud as he staggered on the road.  

"Whether lack of food and water, eating that blasted fruit, whether seeing these awful creatures, whether seeing my daughter, something is making me deadly sick. I can feel that I am burning up with high fever. What can I do? What more can I suffer?"  

Soon the fever raged to the point that Tom was hearing voices and seeing fantasies. There was no place to rest. Tom stumbled on down the road.  

Suddenly Tom stood before the open door of a little church. He recognized the church as the place where his mother took him as a lad. He slipped in and sat in the rear of the church. Just ahead of him on another pew sat a young boy who looked exactly like Tom at that age.  

The preacher shouted, "Someone is here tonight who needs to make a spiritual decision. Jesus died on the Cross to save that special person. To refuse Jesus is to miss eternal life and to die and go to hell." 

Tom could see that the boy was moved to respond and be saved. Then another boy stooped over and whispered in the boy's ear. The boy laughed and relaxed.  

Tom tried to get to the boy but could only shout to him, "Boy, in God's name you must receive Jesus as your Savior. You must miss hell. Go! Go forward!"  

Horror swept over Tom' s fevered mind as the church disappeared and he stumbled on sick of body and spirit.  

"I remember that night," Tom mumbled. "I should have obeyed the voice within rather than my friend's ridicule of the Christian life. I had a chance but I rejected the only Way."  

Tom stumbled on. Hunger and thirst consumed him. The fever flared higher and higher. Pictures like a kaleidoscope raced in confusing through his mind.  

The confusion cleared. Tom was home again in Jackson. His wife, her head in her hands, was sobbing.  

"How could you do this to me and to your children," Ann sobbed. "I have been true to you and our children. How could you do this to us?"  

Tom wept but found no immediate answer. 

"I got drunk, "he said at last. "All of us got drunk. We sang and talked filthy jokes. Someway, we decided to find a prostitute. God, I'm sorry but I went along with them. Try to forgive me. I have never loved any one but you."  

Ann looked at Tom and with a calmness that burned into his very soul spoke words he could never forget.  

"Tom, you need more than my forgiveness. You need more than your good resolutions. You think you are so self-sufficient but look at the mess that you are making of your life. By God's help I will forgive you because Christ has forgiven me of my sins. I beg of you to see your need for God. Jesus died for you. God loves you. Kneel here beside me and ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you. Tom, I beg you."  

"Ann, I know you are right," Tom replied and inwardly thought, "She is going to forgive me. I will get away with this."  

"Ann, I don't think this is the time," Tom added. "I am too upset."  

The picture vanished. Tom stumbled on, sobbing and grinding his teeth in pain and frustration.  

Pictures continued to flash before his fevered brain.  

Tom hated all the people that he remembered as they flashed in his mind. They could have helped him but they did not. Tom blamed them for his condition. He excused his rejection of Christ because he only wanted to be his own man. It was all so unfair. Hate consumed him.  

In his fever, Tom lifted up what was left of his voice and screamed his rage and frustration.  

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tom and the Flies  

For what may have been hours or days or even years the fever had raged. Suddenly, Tom's mind cleared and he realized his sickness had subsided into a slow fire in his emaciated body. 

An unnatural feeling in his left arm caught his attention. When he examined his arm, he discovered that during his delirium he had cut a gash in his arm. The skin had turned back and the wound lay open. The blood had clotted and dried.  

As Tom staggered down the road, he heard a buzzing sound that he had not noticed before. Looking to the side of the road he saw a horror that surpassed any he had experienced. As far as he could see in the darkness, there were dead bodies lying on the worm infested dirt. Worms, like the ones that had attacked him, crawled in an out of the prostrate corpses.  

"Either my fever is playing me tricks or I actually saw that corpse move," Tom mumbled.  

Fascinated, Tom approached the corpse. Parts of the body's flesh had sluffed off to reveal the bare bones but the lungs were still breathing.  

"Are you alive?" Tom heard himself ask. 

"I am alive," the corpse whispered, "because I can't totally die. There is no way that I can escape this stinking worm-eaten body. There are worms in the soil that attack and there are flies that blow and maggots eat my flesh. It is hell."  

Tom heard the buzzing grown stronger.  All about the corpses were large fly like insects that fastened themselves in the rot and corruption of the corpses' flesh.  

Tom felt a new stab of stinging pain in his left arm. One of the fly like creatures had fastened itself in the wound of his arm. Tom knocked it away but the fly continued to return to the wound.  

Tom stumbled away from the corpses but found that he must continually drive the fly like creature from his wound. Finally the creature lit on the ground and Tom mashed it with his foot. With crushed wings, the creature started to crawl back toward the corpses.  

Later, whether hours or days Tom did not know, he felt movement on his left arm. He examined the wound. Small white maggots crawled on his flesh and fed on the corruption in the o pen wound.  

"Where is there healing in hell?" Tom murmured. "My thirst is a flame of fire; my hunger is constant torture. I am weary but have no place to rest. I am afraid to lie in this worm laden dirt. I have nothing to kill the infection or the maggots in my arm. I am desperate. Help! Help! Help!"  

Only silence broken by a distant buzzing, an occasional bloodcurdling scream.  

"I must find some way to get rid of these maggots," Tom sobbed. "They will spread and infest my whole body. Now I understand why the worm-eaten man wanted to get in the fire. He told me that I was next and now the worms are in my flesh. I am consumed with horror."  

"The loneliness, the thirst, the hunger, the sickness, the ghosts of the past, and not the rotting worms in this God-forsaken hell," Tom whined.  

 CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Tom Seeks the Flame 

"This misery is beyond endurance," Tom muttered as he tottered on the dusty path. "My throat is swollen. My lips are cracked. I am afraid that fly like creature will blow them. The pangs of hung gripe me. I am alone. No one cares for me. I ache with weariness but there is no rest. I hate the dark but even the nearby fiery lake gives no illumination. And the fear that this torment will never end pounds in my brain. Hell is horror. If I could only end my existence and be no more."  

"Why don't you try to end your existence?" a weird voice asked.  

Turning in the direction of the sound, Tom saw a grotesque figure like no one he had ever experienced. The creature resembled the human figure whose limbs twitched as if experiencing stabs of anguish. The face was sharp featured in shape and a greenish black in color.  

"Who and what are you?" Tom trembled with fear.  

"Don't be afraid," the creature smirked. "I am come to help you because I knew you on Earth. In fact you were my assignment. I worked with you day and night. You were a wonderful pupil. You followed my suggestions about the best of any of my students."  

"You are mistaken about me," Tom declared. "I have never seen you before. You are talking about someone else. I am Tom Self."  

"You are correct, Tom," the creature continued. "You have never seen me before. I am a spirit, in fact, I am a demon. I was your tempter and I must say that I was a very successful one."  

"If you are a demon, you should be in the lake of fire forever according to the Bible," Tom countered.  

"Oh, you are right. My place is in the lake of fire. While there I am tormented day and night forever but I have been given a short time out of the fire in order to help you to end your life of torment," the demon explained.  

"That is what I want as I have never desired anything in all my life," Tom said. "I can't stand this unbroken pain and torture. I want to die and be no more."  

"I understand your natural desire for oblivion," the demon lied. " I am allowed to come and help you out of this place just as I helped you into hell," the creature lied.  

"You always lied to me on Earth," Tom countered. "How do I know that you are telling the truth now?"  

"You don't know," the creature sneered. "But you will never know how to get out of hell on your own. Just like on Earth, you never know until you try it."  

"What must I do" Tom begged. "I can't stand this torture any longer. I want to die and cease to exist." 

"That is exactly what I am going to help you to do." the demon lied.  

"Just before us is the Mount of High Deceit. There is a spot almost at the crest of this mountain that overlooks a special part of the lake of fire. It is there that the hottest flames are burning. You can leap from this height straight into this section of the fire. You will be burned into complete extinction in an instant. I have been there and know how it works. In fact, as soon as I have done my part of your judgment, I must return to this very section forever."  

"If the fire did not burn you into extinction, how do I know that it will burn me?" Tom hesitated.  

"You must take my word for it," the creature evaded.  

"I don't know what else to do,"Tom wailed. "Let's start the climb."  

The climb only added a new intensity to the torture that Tom suffered.  

Several times he fell but the creature helped him up again. When he touched the creature it was like the touch of a corpse.  

Finally, in exhausted Tom stood on a precipice that overlooked the lake of fire. Out of the burning lake came moans and screams of great agony.  

"You are lying to me," Tom cringed from the edge of the precipice. "I hear the screams of torment from the fire. Life does not end in that horrible lake."  

"Those are the screams of demons like me," the creature explained. "We are spirits and the fire cannot destroy us. You are flesh and bone and now eaten with worms. The fire will destroy you in an instant."  

Driven by his agony Tom staggered to the edge of the cliff. More than a thousand feet below the lake of fire seemed to beckon.  

After a moment of hesitation, Tom leaped. As he hurtled toward the fire, he heard a fiendish laugh. "Fooled again."  

As he fell, Tom looked toward the fire and screamed in bitter agony.  

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Awakening  

The scream jerked Tom into consciousness.  

When Tom opened his eyes, he was surprised to perceive a subdued light filtering through a white cloth over his eyes. He was amazed to feel normal touch in his hands that were laying upon what felt like cloth. The intense hunger and craving for water were gone. Though the sounds he heard were muffled, he knew he was no longer alone.  

Lifting his hands very slowly, Tom pushed the covering from his face. He was lying on a bed in what appeared to be a hospital room.  

Realizing he was alive, he heard his voice say in amazement, "I am alive."  

Relief and joy flooded over him, He raised up on bed and shouted,"I am alive. I am not dead. I am not in hell. I am alive." 

Tom's initial scream had sounded at the nurses' station. One of the nurses ran to Tom's room, flung open the door to behold the dead body of Tom sitting up in the bed shouting with joy.  

"My God," was all the nurse could say as she turned and ran for help.  

Within seconds doctors, nurses, and assistants were crowding into Tom's room. Amazed they heard Tom shout, "I am alive. I am alive. Get the chaplain. I have been to hell but I am back. Get the chaplain."  

By coincidence Tom's personal physician had been walking down the hall when Tom screamed. He now took charge.  

"All of you except one nurse must leave," he said. "I want to make a thorough examination. Then we will send for the chaplain."  

 Turning to Tom, he ordered, "Tom, we will get the chaplain but first I must give you an examination."  

Tom lay back in the bed but kept whispering, "I'm alive! I'm alive!"  

Taking his stethoscope, the doctor listened to Tom's heart.  

"Hmm,"said the doctor. "Now breathe deeply with open mouth."  

"Hmm," the doctor repeated as he felt for the for the knot on Tom's head from the fall. "The knot is gone. Amazing. Amazing."  

"Tom, I can't find anything that isn't completely normal," the doctor declared after all his tests. "This is amazing. We gave you up for dead. You had no pulse, no brain wave, no breathing. In defeat we covered your face, and notified your family of your death. Now I can't find anything that is not normal."  

"I'm alive, Doc."Tom almost shouted . "I've been to hell but I'm back. I'm back. O thank God, I am back but I need to talk to the chaplain."  

A few minutes after the doctor left the room, the chaplain entered.  

"I am told that you have had an unusual experience, Mr. Self," the chaplain said. "How can I be of service to you?" 

"Chaplain, I have stood before the judgment throne of God. I was sentenced to hell. It was horrible. Words fail me when I think of the torture but, thank God, I am back. I am alive. I want to get right with God."  

"Mr. Self, you are almost beside yourself. You must calm down and get your thinking in order. There is no hell. When I was a boy, I thought that there was a hell but my college and seminary training has convinced me that hell is a myth. You have just had a terrible dream."  

"It was no dream, Chaplain, and I know it was real. I want to get right with God. I want to know I am saved," Tom was weeping.  

"Try to calm, yourself, Mr. Self," said the chaplain. "You are hysterical. I will try to get you a shot to calm your nerves and then we will talk."  

Moments later, a nurse gave the protesting Tom a shot that within seconds resulted in a deep sleep. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Tom  Meets Jesus Again

When Tom awoke from the sedation, he heard the voices of Ann, his wife, Joy, his daughter, and Tommy, his son talking together in low voices. Such love mingled with joy filled Tom's heart that he lay motionless for a long moment basking in the realization of their love.  

Tom opened his eyes, held out his arms and cried, "Thank God I am alive."  

The family rushed to the bed in one great combination hug.  

After the hugs and kisses were over, Tom wept as he spoke to his family, "Oh, dear ones, I love you. I have been a poor husband and father in the past but I tell you from my heart that you are more important to me than life itself. Thank you for forgiving me and for loving me."  

"Tom, we love you." Ann brushed tears of joy from her eyes. "We were crushed when we were informed that you had died."  

"Not only did I die," Tom told them. "I went to hell but God has given me another chance."  

Scarcely were the words said when the door opened and the pastor of the church where Ann and the children were members entered the room.  

"When I heard about your miraculous recovery," the pastor said. "I felt that I should come to you and your family." 

"I am so thankful that you are here, pastor, I died and went to hell. Hell is a place of horror. I can't describe it in words. God has given me another chance. I want to be saved."  

"Praise God," the pastor replied. "You can be saved right here and now for Jesus said, Whosoever comes to me I will in no wise cast out."  

"What must I do to be saved, " Tom pled. "Tell me what the Bible commands and I will do it."  

"Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?"  

"Pastor, I know that Jesus is the Son of God. I have seen Him in all His glory."  

"Then, Tom, do you believe that what Jesus paid the price to forgive your sins by His death on the Cross?"  

"Yes, pastor, I believe Jesus is all I need to save me."  

"Let's ask God to save you now." 

Tom rolled out of bed, fell on his knees. He sobbed with joy and thanksgiving.

"Jesus," he sobbed. "Thank you, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for giving me this chance. O God I repent. O God I ask Your forgiveness for my sins. I have been a fool. O God I take Jesus as my Savior. Thank you God, thank you."  

The peace of God filled the room.  

When Tom's praise had quieted, he looked at the pastor, saying, "Thank you, pastor, I will be there to take my place in my wife's church this Sunday."  

"I'll be there too,"Tommy said through tears.  

"And so will I," Joy said. "This is wonderful, isn't it?"  

			DIVISION TWO
The Search for the Truth About the Reality of Hell?  

Introduction  

The week following the Sunday Tom and his children united with the church, the chaplain at the General Hospital called.  

 "My name is Albert Reiner, Chaplain at General Hospital. I would appreciate the opportunity of meeting with you and your pastor to discuss your recent 'after death' experience and your conversion."  

"I will be glad to comply," Tom replied. "What I have experienced has helped me to change my whole life. I hope that it can be of help to others. I will be glad to meet any evening that is convenient to you and the pastor."  

"Good! I will call Dr. Thomas and arrange the meeting," the Chaplain continued. "By the way, how are you feeling today."  

"Physically, I am still a little shaky but inside I am bubbling over," Tom replied.  

"You should expect some physical problems but I am glad you are so full of joy," the Chaplain paused as if he wanted to ask a question, then continued, "OK. Thanks. I'll be in touch. Have a good day."  

Neither the Chaplain nor Dr. Thomas nor Tom had even the dimmest notion of the results of the Chaplain's curiosity. The young Chaplain's recently acquired theological liberalism was challenged. The old pastor's faith had been strengthened. Tom was convinced with the reality of what he had experienced. 

CHAPTER ONE
The Challenge  

On Tuesday night Tom walked into the pastor's office. Chaplain Reiner and Dr. Thomas were already present.  

"I asked for the opportunity of discussing your experience, Mr. Self, because it contradicts what I now believe about 'after death,'" the chaplain began. "Though I admit that what you believe you experienced agrees with what I used to believe about hell."  

"To be honest with you," Tom said, "before my experience I thought what preachers said about hell was a lot of hogwash. Now I know that many preachers are telling only a fraction of the facts about hell."  

"Why did you want me to be in the discussion?" asked Dr. Thomas.  

"I knew that you are a conservative who believes what the Bible teaches about hell to be the truth," Reiner answered.  

"My first question, Mr. Self . . ."  

"Call me Tom," Self interrupted.  

"Let's keep our discussion friendly and informal, "suggested the pastor, "and use only first names."  

"Thank you," the chaplain responded. "As you may know my name is Al.  My first question, Tom, deals with time. According to the hospital records you fell down the stairs at 9:30 in the morning. You were in the hospital in fifteen minutes, though unconscious. You continued to breathe until 11:30 when you suffered cardiac arrest. The doctors sought to revive you for a full twenty minutes without success. You were pronounced dead at 11:51, covered by a sheet, and transferred to a room at 11:56am. You startled the nurse with a scream at 12:20 pm. You had been dead for 29 minutes. My question is this: on the basis of your experience how long did you think you were dead?"  

"I have asked myself that same question, Al,"Tom replied. "It seemed I could look back more than a thousand years. And when I try to calculate how long I was in hell, I am completely baffled. It seemed like forever because I was so alone and it was so dark and I was so hungry and thirsty and in such terror. When hope is dead, I guess that time is meaningless. I cannot explain. It was like I was in another dimension of existence."  

"If what Tom experienced was real, and I believe it was," interjected John Thomas, "he was completely removed from our dimension of time and space. He was in eternity. I don't think you can succeed in trying to equate  the hospital's time schedule with what Tom experienced."  

"If Tom’s experience  doesn't fit the time facts, how can it  be actual?" Al remonstrated.  

"If you had experienced what I did, Al, there is no earthly evidence or logical argument that could make you  doubt that what I experienced is what hell is like," Tom asserted.  

"Couldn't what you thought you experienced be the result of your early teaching? Couldn't your memory of what you have heard about hell have caused you to have these pictures?" Al suggested.  

"I don't think so," Tom replied. "My idea of hell was altogether different from what I experienced. I thought hell was a place where a lot of people were jammed together with demons sticking them with pitchforks. I thought everybody was naked in the fire with the devil punishing them. "  

"If you are honestly serious about this study of hell, Al," John suggested. "I have a proposal. Let's don't brush off this experience. You test Tom’s experience with your liberal theology and I will test it with my conservative theology. Let's make an honest study of what the Bible really teaches about hell. On that basis, let's test what Tom says that he suffered with the teaching of the Bible. Let's start with the Old Testament. Let’s see if what Tom experienced fits the Bible picture of hell."  

"If you are willing to give the time, I would really like to do what you have suggested, "Al agreed.  

"All I can add is what I have experienced," Tom said.  

"Then we will adjourn for tonight, make our research during the week and meet here at this time next week." John said.  

CHAPTER TWO
The Old Testament Hell  

When the three men met for the second time, each one was eager to share what God had impressed him to do about their study.  

"As you know I am not a Bible scholar." Tom began, "That is the reason that I told you that I would be able to add little more than my experience. But I did think of a strange thing about 'hell.'  In fact, it is so strange that I think it relates to what you scholars are finding in your research."  

"Is it something new that you have remembered about your dream?" asked the chaplain.  

"Not at all," Tom replied. "It is something that I suddenly noticed about people's use of the word 'hell'."  

"Oh?"  

"For the first time in my life, I noticed that the word 'hell' has no meaning at all. For example, a good car is a 'hell' of a car; but a bad car is also a 'hell' of a car. 'Hell' can mean anything or nothing. I think it shows that people don't want to believe in its reality so they have robbed it of any definitive meaning. And the horrible experience that I endured tells me why this is true. People just don't want to face reality. If people only believed about hell what I know is true by my experience, they would grasp the first opportunity to be saved."  

"And I think people are right in their use of hell," Al said, "because I am persuaded that 'hell' is an outgrown myth. I don’t think the idea of hell should cause fear. "  

"As you know I disagree," John interjected. "So I went to my computer and I have listed every use of the Hebrew word sheol in the entire Old Testament. 'Hell' may not have a meaning to our culture but the word certainly had a meaning to the writers of the Old Testament."  

"I did the same thing," Al countered. "It is possible that I may have miscounted but I tried to be exact. According to my count there were 30 counts for sheol to be translated as 'hell' but there were 31 for 'grave' and 14 for 'pit.'  According to my count there were more translations for sheol with other meanings than the meaning of 'hell'."  

"You are correct,"John admitted. "But aren't there other Hebrew words for 'pit' and 'grave' but no other word for 'hell'?"  

"What is your point?" Al asked.  

"Simply this."John answered. "There are a number of the translations of sheol  where 'pit' and 'grave' would be inadequate. These examples require more than an earthly 'pit' or 'grave.'

"Can you be more specific?" Al asked.  

"I will be glad to do so," John replied. "Deuteronomy 32:22 speaks of the 'burn' in hell as a punishment.  Psalm 18:5 speaks of the 'sorrows' of hell: The sorrows of hell compassed me about. There are other examples but these two from many give evidence that hell is more than a pit or a grave for a dead body."  

"That is true but what is your point," Al admitted.  

"I don't contend that the Old Testament gives a clear picture of hell," John conceded. "But I do think that the way some theologians dismiss the idea of hell as a myth is unjustified."  

"Thank you for the challenge," Al said. "I really want the truth. Before I went to seminary, I had always believed what you are saying but I have a had a problem squaring 'hell' with a loving God. My Old Testament professor laughed at my ideas and I gradually bought what he taught. I need to go back and restudy all the verses in the light of what you have pointed out to us."  

"To be frank with you," John admitted, "I think that many of us have a problem with the idea of 'hell.'  My solution is simply that hell is a place of justice. All I am saying at this time is that many of the translations of sheol require more than the idea of a 'grave' or 'pit' in which bodies are cast. These verses require that some call 'the state of the dead,'   These verses require the idea of a just punishment after death for evil and a reward for the righteous.” 

"You believe that the biblical descriptions of hell are true word pictures?" asked Al.  

"Yes, I do," John confessed, "but the point that I am making requires only that the Old Testament writers about hell believed that they were expressing more than a 'grave' or a 'pit.'  Whether you believe that they were correct in what they believed is another matter."  

"That certainly makes my quest simpler."  

"I believed the idea of 'hell' was a bunch of 'hogwash' by which preachers tried to scare people until I went there," Tom interjected.  

"Tom, are you really convinced that what you experienced was real?" Al asked.  

"Am I!" Tom asserted. “ I have never been more certain about anything in my life.” 

"My suggestion is that we withhold any judgment about the reality of hell until we have studied what the New Testament teaches," John said. "Let's tackle that problem next week."  

"I can't help you scholars with what the Old Testament teaches," Tom said with a smile, "but I can tell you one thing: hell is real.  I've been there."  

"I appreciate this opportunity,"  Al said. "But first I want to restudy the Old Testament verses in the light of what the  New Testament teaches. What you have said, John, makes me question my new theology. I fear that more study of the Old Testament references will convince me that I have been hasty in accepting what my professor taught."  

"God willing, I'll be here," John replied, "And it a joy to get to know both of you more personally."  

After a little time of general fellowship, each went to his home with growing respect for the honesty of the others.  

CHAPTER THREE
The Three New Testament Hells  

When the three men met together for the second time, they made an unspoken discovery: those who meet to discuss biblical truth with sincere hearts develop a spiritual bond. The conservative John and the liberal Al, though admitting their theological bias, had mellowed in their judgment of the sincerity of the other. Though Tom was no less certain of the reality of his experience, he had a new interest in biblical truth as he listened to their interpretations.  

Tom and Al arrived at the meeting together.  

"I am becoming a Bible scholar," Tom laughed. "Before I met with you ministers, I didn't know the meaning of a concordance. This week I have read every reference in the concordance in the back of my Bible about hell. So our meetings have taught me something I didn't know."  

"How did what you read agree with your experience?" Al asked.  

"What I read agreed with a great deal of what I suffered," Tom replied. "Some other things seemed different but I am even more convinced that what I experienced was real."  

"If what you tell us wasn't real," Al admitted, "I am beginning to think that it was very real to you. I don't think you are just trying to invent something."  

"When I read about the dark and some of the other things that I experienced,"Tom was earnest, "I realized that I experienced some things that I didn't know were in the Bible. Grinding my teeth and getting the worms were completely new ideas to me. I can't figure any way that I would have known enough to invent my story."  

"You've got a point," Al replied as John walked in.  

"Sorry to be late. Traffic," John explained as he shook hands with his friends.  

As they took their seats, John asked, "Al, let's begin with you. What have you discovered in your study?"  

"I'm almost ashamed to admit it," Al began, "but the truth is that I have never really studied what the New Testament taught about hell. I was surprised to learn that there were three main Greek words that the KJV translated for hell."  

"Don't feel bad about that," John replied. "I was amazed to learn this fact when I went to Bible college but it gave me a new conception of what the Bible taught."  

"Do you mean that there is more than one word for hell?" Tom inquired.  

"Actually there are three Greek words, " Al told him. "They are hades and gehenna and tartaroo . "  

"And they all mean hell?" Tom interrupted.  

"Yes and no," Al told him.  

"I don't understand, " Tom replied, "I thought hell was hell."  

"That's really what I must admit that I thought until this week," Al admitted.  

"And that's what I thought till I went to Bible college,"John said, "In fact, I think that's what most people believe. After you study the way they are used in the Bible, you learn that the Bible is talking about three different places."  

“That was what surprised me," Al said, "and it seemed to me that the Bible is very consistent about its use of each word."  

"You are absolutely right about the differences," John declared.  

"I want to hear this," Tom interrupted.  

"John, you were taught this in Bible college. In seminary we never studied it at all. Explain the differences and let me check with you," Al requested.  

"Okay," John replied, "I will explain what I was taught and what I believe but there are some things about which I do not want to be dogmatic."  

"First, we should know that there are many references to the word hell in the KJV."  

"What do you mean by KJV?" Tom asked.  

“This is an old and traditional version of the Bible, the King James Version," John explained, "and is a favorite with us who are conservative. I notice that it is the version that you are using. Al is using a more recent translation."  
" The Greek word hades is used 10 times; the Greek word gehenna is used 11 times and the Greek word tartaroo is used once."  

"That agrees with my findings, " Al interjected, "and what impressed me was the fact that the words were used consistently. Please go on and explain the exact meaning conveyed by each word."  

"What you say about consistency has also impressed me," John continued. "I find no place where Jesus used the different terms interchangeably."  

"That's another thing that impressed me," Al added, "almost everything that we learn about 'hell' was in the teaching of Jesus. But get back to what you believe about hades.  

"I think all scholars, both liberal and conservative, agree that hades is the Greek equivalent to sheol . But I think that the New Testament adds definition to the Old Testament concept," John began.  

"What you say impresses me as especially true about Luke 16," Al said. "In seminary this was treated as a parable but I am rethinking that teaching because Jesus does not all call it a parable and also what would it mean if it were a parable. There is little agreement on those who take this passage to be a parable."  

"You are right," John continued. "Luke 16 is not a parable. Jesus is clarifying what the Old Testament fails to teach about hell. The hell that is called hades had two sections: one of comfort, one of torment."  

"I didn't see any place of comfort when I was in hell," Tom declared.  

"That's because your memory is about gehenna ," John explained.  

"I am beginning to see a pattern," Al interrupted. "The book of Revelation 20:14 states that hades was emptied and cast into the 'lake of fire'. In short, hades was temporary."  

"That's what I believe the Bible teaches," John stated. "Jesus took the comfort section to heaven after His resurrection and the other portion will be emptied at the Great White Throne."  

"I have been taking notes on what both of you have said," Tom interrupted, "but I need some time to digest and compare. It is getting my bed time. Let's stop here and continue next week."  

Both Al and John agreed.  

"When I get to discussing the Bible, I forget about time," John laughed.  

"This discussion is challenging to me," Al admitted. "Before we go let's pray."  

So they closed the evening with a new sense of spiritual fellowship.  

CHAPTER FOUR
The Reckoning With Tom  

When the three men met again Tom began the discussion, "I have read every reference to hell that you gave me. Some of them are like my experience. Others add things that I did not experience."  

"Does the fact of the differences make you doubt that you really went to hell?" Al asked.  

"Not at all," Tom replied earnestly, "I am very sure of that.  I have made notes of the variations. I would like to go over them with you."  

"I'm ready," John agreed.  

"I too," said Al.  

"First, I never saw Abraham or any of the people you read about in the Bible. There was no gulf that separated me from good people. There was no better place for better people with whom I could talk. There was no one that I could ask for water. There was no place that I could see where there was any light."  

"How do you explain these differences, John?" Al asked, "Does it make you doubt the reality of Tom's experience?"  

"Let me ask Tom a question before I answer you," John replied.  

"Tom, I want you to try to remember very carefully just what you experienced,"John said. "Do you have any memory of any experience between the time you fell down the stairs and your experience?"  

"No clear memory," Tom admitted, "but I had a question about two things."  

"What questions?" Al asked. 

"First, I haven't been able to explain why my clothes were moldy and rotten if I had just died. Second, I had a weird feeling that I had been dead for a very long time but that I was now fully restored to physical life. I can't explain either of these but they were very real. O yes, I had a vague feeling that during this long interim I had been in discomfort somehow."  

"What do you make of this, John?" Al inquired.  

"It would fit perfectly if we grant that Tom had already been in hades as described in Luke 16," John replied.  

"But how are we going to eliminate the time problem?" Al countered.  

"Frankly, I can't answer that objection except to postulate that God gave Tom clear memory of only the experience of the ultimate destiny of an unsaved person," John admitted.  

"In my experience I had the feeling that time was in another dimension," Tom said. " I think we are dealing with a mystery, but also a reality."  

"Let's consider some specific statements about gehenna,"  Al suggested. "What about darkness?" 

"As I read the Bible, darkness is characteristic of the environment of those whom God punishes, "John replied.  

"I have never experienced darkness like I did in hell," Tom asserted.  

"What does the Bible say about darkness?"  

"I made a partial list of references about darkness," John said, "with your permission I will read a few."  

"I think that would be helpful," Al agreed.  

"Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul spoke of the power of evil as 'the power of darkness' [Luke 22:53; Colossians 1:13]. Simon Peter spoke of the 'mist of darkness' [2 Peter 2:17]."  

"That is exactly what I saw," Tom was excited. "The darkness was not absolute. I could see a short distance as if in a mist.  It was a weird darkness for there was no light source. It was darkness like I sometimes think it must be out in space away from any sun or star."  

"Didn't Jesus talk about 'outer darkness' in describing the punishment of evil?" Al asked  

"What you have said about 'outer darkness' is a good description of what I felt," Tom said and added, "Tell me, what does the Bible teach about worms?"  

"Jesus said that 'the worm dieth not' [Mark 9:44,46,48],"Al replied, "but I am sure that is figurative. The word for 'worm' is skolex and designates a grub or a maggot or some kind of earthworm.'  

"It isn't figurative," Tom shuddered, "It's real and it's horrible. There are worms everywhere and once a persons get them he can't get rid of them."  

"Let's knock it off for this session," Al was disturbed. "Much more of this and I will have nightmares all night. Tom, you're getting to me."  

John agreed and the meeting broke up.  

As John drove home, he thought, "Al was really disturbed. We didn't even have prayer."  

CHAPTER FIVE
The Final Meeting  

John and Tom rode together to the weekly meeting with Al. Tom was excited about some of the school activities of his children.  

"Next to keeping saved and having fellowship with my Lord," Tom was telling his pastor, "I am having the time of my life with my family. I surely didn't know what I was missing. Thank God for this experience that woke me up to my family."  

"You are not the only one who has been helped," John replied. "Look at the difference in your family. They seem happier than I have ever seen them."  

"You are right," Tom said. "And my job is going a lot better too. I have been blessed all around."  

As Al joined them, it was plain that he had been through an emotional struggle.  

"Tom and John, I owe you both a real debt of gratitude," Al was near tears. "Meeting with you has been a strong challenge to me. I want to tell you about it. In fact, I need to tell you."  

"It's a two way street," John replied. "But I feel you want to share and we are ready to listen."  

"I do need to share," Al continued. "I was raised by godly parents and made a Christian profession when I was a child. I believed the Bible just about the way that you teach until I went to seminary."  

Al walked over to the window and stood silently wiping his eyes. 

"I had a very highly trained major professor who captivated me with his academic knowledge. Gradually I was led to doubt and then to deny the things that I had always believed. I was very proud of my new intellectual freedom from tradition. What Tom experienced and what you, John, have explained combined with a fresh study of the Bible to lead me back to my early faith. And I thank both of you for your part."  

"I don't know just what to say, Al," John said, "except to tell you that I respect your sincerity and trust you are happy in this step that you have taken."  

"I am more than happy," Al replied. "For the first time in several years I have a foundation for my life. Because I have come back to the faith that the Bible is the truth, God has restored to me the old fellowship with my Savior that I had lost. My life and my ministry have been saved from futility."  

"The more I think about it,"Tom interjected, "the more I thank God that I want to hell. And believe me, the more I think about it , the more I am thankful that I came back." 

                                                                                                                                                    BIBLE APPENDIX
Old Testament:
1. Proverbs 9:17, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

2. Proverbs 5:5, Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell..
3. Proverbs 9:17, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

4. Proverbs 15:24, The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

5. Isaiah 30:33, Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large; the pile therefore is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

6. Isaiah 33:14, The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

New Testament:
1. Matthew 3:12, Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

2. Matthew 5:29, And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that they whole body should be cast into hell.

3. Matthew 7:13, Wide   is the gate and broad  is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.

4. Matthew 8:11, And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

5. Matthew 10:28, Rather fear him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

6. Matthew 13:30, Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. 38. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be at the end of the world. 41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42. And shall cast them into a lake of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall comeforth, and sever the wicked from among the just. 50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

7. Matthew 16:18, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  

8. Matthew 18:8, Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt and maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: for it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather then having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 

9. Matthew 25:41, 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: 46, These shall go away into everlasting punishment:
10. Luke 16:23, In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger n water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented int his flame. 26. Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they that would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 
11.  2 Peter 2:4.  If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell. And delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
12. Jude 6, The angels that kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day.
13. Revelation 20:10. The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and forever. 15. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
14. Revelation 21:8, 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 that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
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