My dream of Hell

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I don’t even know if this is the correct forum but…

This was a very bad dream, but almost a portent. Hell wasn’t filled with flames—hell was an apartment building. It was spacious and filled with many rooms, and the walls, even the lighting, were in my least favorite color.

This buildingsupplied all I needed for my gluttony – food whenever I wanted anything, more clothes than I could ever wear, all sorts of material things.

What it lacked was people. Or rather, there were people there, and I could see them, but they ignored me, even when I spoke directly to them.

Sometimes they were doing extremely wicked things. At other times, they were just walking or talking. They could see and respond to one another, just not to me. And I was condemned to be on the outside, always able to see companionship, but never actually attain it.

I know I’m a sinner. I just didn’t know I was headed THERE.

 

[water]

I know I’m a sinner. I just didn’t know I was headed THERE.

I don’t know what it is like down there, but I am sure it will be worse than what you had in your dream. You weren’t headed there in real time yet. I am thinking that you should not focus so much on your dream about what Hell looks like, but take this opportunity to pray more and ask God for graces to be more sensitive to sins.

The more we repent for our sins, keep our faith strong, pray more often, and trust in God’s mercy, the further Hell is to us.

 

[MarieVeronica]

I know I’m a sinner. I just didn’t know I was headed THERE.

SK… you can certainly choose NOT to be “headed there”. God gives all of us the gift of free will. We can choose Him, by trying to live each day doing His Will. We know what His Will for us is. To know Him, to love Him and to be happy with Him". This is what we’re taught. We can do this… by accepting the Gospel and the teachings of our Mother, the Catholic Church. And trying to live them… in our day to day lives. We are all Children of God! Let’s choose Him!

 

[wcknight]

There are all sorts of ideas on what Hell is like. Some say it is as the Bible describes it, a place of torture, unquenchable fire , etc. Some say it is just the absence of God (somewhat vague, but not as bad as one would suppose). Some say it is just nothingness, you just cease to exist.

I tend to think it is your worst nightmare, whatever it is that you fear or hate the most. One Twighlight Zone episode had Hell as a place where a gambler always wins. Such monotony could very easily drive someone batty. Whatever it is, I don’t want to see it or even visit it, and I hope and pray that no one I know ends up there either…

 

[Henning]

Matthew 13:49 *So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, 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.

yikes…

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

So you’re saying my destination is a furnace of fire, and not the isolation room?

 

[water]

So you’re saying my destination is a furnace of fire, and not the isolation room?

I don’t think anyone here saying that you are destined for Hell. Your dream was about Hell and its description, and one of the posters just used a verse which says a glimpse of what it might look like.

Please don’t get so caught up about this dream and about what Hell looks like. You can certainly reflect on your dreams and think about what you will do with your spritiual life.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

So you’re saying my destination is a furnace of fire, and not the isolation room?

Confess your sins, do all you can to resist temptations when they come, and seek the Lord. If you’re doing those things, really seeking the Lord, then you’re safe. For then you are embracing the protection of God himself, and he is mighty. According to the Book of Ezekiel, God does not want anyone to die. Therefore he does not will your destruction and definitely did not mean to tell you through the dream that you are going to hell. Anyone who repents of their sins and pursues the Lord valiantly is going to heaven, and that is God’s will for you.

If the dream is from God, it’s a warning or just an insight into what some of the punishments of hell could be like, but if it’s from him, it is not a declaration that this will be your destiny. The scripture says that everyone should immerse themselves in faith, love and hope. If God was to tell a person he or she is certainly going to hell now and has no chance, he’d be destroying hope, which is counter-scripture.

A demon, on the other hand, might give you such a dream in order to terrify you and create despair.

But it could be from God, simply warning you or giving you information that isn’t about you personally but tells you what part of hell can be like.

 

[tessi]

I don’t understand why you felt that empty room was hell. I guess it brought a terrible suffering but if not, then it was just your concience.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I don’t understand why you felt that empty room was hell. I guess it brought a terrible suffering but if not, then it was just your concience.

There was this dreadful movie made in 91 or so, I think, called The Rapture, starring Mimi Rodgers. All sorts of wretched events are portrayed in the film, which I found deeply disturbing in many ways, and I don’t recall the plot all that well, but from what I remember Rodgers plays an adulterer who then gets visions of God, and eventually shoots her own little girl because she thinks God tells her to.

But in the end, everyone on earth is lifted into Heaven, if they can answer one simple question: Are you thankful to God for your life? (Even in my darkest heathen days I could have answered Yes to that).

She refuses to be grateful, and the movie portrays her as the last person left on earth.

I think I identified with the ending. To be separated from everyone, especially the Lord—that would truly be Hell for me. The movie still disturbs me, and still makes me think.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

I think it might be more worthwhile to think about ways of coming closer to God.

 

[water]

There was this dreadful movie made in 91 or so, I think, called The Rapture, starring Mimi Rodgers. All sorts of wretched events are portrayed in the film, which I found deeply disturbing in many ways, and I don’t recall the plot all that well, but from what I remember Rodgers plays an adulterer who then gets visions of God, and eventually shoots her own little girl because she thinks God tells her to.

But in the end, everyone on earth is lifted into Heaven, if they can answer one simple question: Are you thankful to God for your life? (Even in my darkest heathen days I could have answered Yes to that).

She refuses to be grateful, and the movie portrays her as the last person left on earth.

I think I identified with the ending. To be separated from everyone, especially the Lord—that would truly be Hell for me. The movie still disturbs me, and still makes me think.

First, I don’t think Catholics believe in rapture. However, the Bible does give us some hints about what it is like at the Last Judgement Day. It is surely terrifying to think about being punished in Hell, but what really gives us real peace is the Mercy of God. Therefore, instead of dwelling into the thoughts of Hell, why not asking God to help you to increase trust, hope, and love in your spiritual life?

I’d recommend you read the book of the Diary of Saint Faustina. Also, all your thoughts mentioned in this thread, it is better to talk to a Confessor or Spiritual Director.

 

[beckycmarie]

Sailor Kenshin,

It’s interesting you bring up the movie The Rapture. I was having a conversation with a religious about how I just couldn’t fathom choosing Hell over Christ, rejecting Christ’s mercy even unto death.

He mentioned that movie - with the disclaimer that it is mostly dispensationalist nonsense, but did say that the last scene where the woman rejects salvation is probably a good example of how a soul chooses Hell.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Interesting. I remember parts of the movie, and now my impressions are that it portrayed bad things, but yet in a way that made me think, even to this day.

The image of the woman alone at the end is haunting.