What is Hell like?

[timotheos]

We can conclude, by logic, that if “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has created for those who love Him” we can say the same, in a negative sense, “for those who do NOT love Him.” In other words, we cannot even imagine the horror of hell. Our imaginations won’t go that far.

I seem to recall someone somewhere saying that they had been given a vision of hell (one of the children from Fatima?) and one of the things that struck them was the complete hatred of everything and everyone. It was palpable.

I have heard that hell is eternal rejection of God. I wonder if it stands to reason that it is also embracement of self with all of your limited imagination, capacity for pleasure, and creativity, for all eternity. For those who reject God and embrace worldly passions like golf, or parties, or money, or sex, you get to play every imaginable golf course, or be at every conceivable party, or be surrounded by money and precious jewels, or have self-centered recreational sex for all eternity, until you start getting bored after a couple hundred years of the same thing, and then after a thousand years you start hating them all with your whole being, and eternity has barely begun and you begin to realize the full reality of your prison that you chose for yourself. You start hating yourself. And since you have chosen “self”, you eventually and ultimately hate everybody else too. With no hope ever of anything else, but yourself.

Some think that spending eternity in heaven looking at God sounds boring. But in reality, I think it is an eternal relationship with someone totally and infinitely “other”, with infinite creative power and wisdom and love; not limited like “self”, but so infinite in all good things that you would want to be assimilated by Him and lose yourself entirely in Him, for all eternity.

I don’t know if any of this comes close. But it kinda makes sense to me.

 

[ISeek]

To “Distracted”
this is an interesting question. I have thought about it too. I hear your comment that there is alot of palpable hatred in this world. It makes me feel pretty much that hell begins HERE on earth for those that don’t care for God or for trusting in His Ways.

When I was a kid, I would have NEVER believed that there are actually enemies of God, that QUESTION His Wisdom and even RIGHT to do things HIS WAY. I mean, this is HIS creation, and WE are HIS creatures and He made our souls and a capacity for happiness that ONLY HE can fulfill in us. And some people refuse to humble themselves to His Greatness, and acknowledge that if HE made us, then He does indeed have the upperhand(even if we don’t like it) and we CAN’T be happy without Him. he is the maufacturer with the instructions.

I think when we stray from His Will, hell begins. I have known NOW as an adult what is like to be rebellious against God. No matter HOW much i laughed and carried on with the “party”, down deep there was an emptiness. I can’t even LISTEN to the same music I listened to before I reverted back to God, because it makes me physically ill—it sounds awful. I hear it and I think it sounds like hell, literally! Ha! I fell so far away, I thought God could NOT exist. A million temptations and I fell because I was dumb.
I don’t think of hell and then think of suffering, because I still have the SAME problems and worries that had BEFORE I was with God, or CARED about God—so I still “suffer” the same stuff. it is just that the suffering doesn’t FEEL the same, and I can smile, and see the bright side. it feels so wonderful to actually BELIEVE in God even though there is suffering. so the suffering of hell is so bitter because there is NO GOD in hell. I have been there.

I suppose I have said some pretty wrong stuff–I am not knowledgable on theology-- I could be argued with that there IS God in hell, because there is NO PLACE where God isn’t , or maybe I am wrong there. I am JUST GLAD that HE IS.
AMEN!!!
I also LOVE the Fatima Messages. They brought me back to belief in God.! so i love the Dali painting depicting the vision of hell. I BELIEVE that our Lady visited those three children!

 

[RosalieM]

After reviewing what St. Faustina wrote about hell; I think Dante’s “Inferno” portrays some similar images. How could he have imagined it? Maybe somewhere deep in our beings we have a sense of heaven and hell.

 

[Holly3278]

I just read a couple of the descriptions of Hell by the saints and indeed, I am terrified. I know that I am in a state of Mortal Sin and may have been in a state of Mortal Sin for some time now. The reason is because even though I frequently go to Confession, I never can seem to fully commit to staying out of a state of Mortal Sin. I often slide back into a state of Mortal Sin within 24 hours of going to Confession. I hate this. I want so much to go to Heaven but I feel that it will require a tremendous effort to get there. I am willing to make that tremendous effort but I am so terrified that somehow I won’t make it.

 

[JRKH]

I just read a couple of the descriptions of Hell by the saints and indeed, I am terrified. I know that I am in a state of Mortal Sin and may have been in a state of Mortal Sin for some time now. The reason is because even though I frequently go to Confession, I never can seem to fully commit to staying out of a state of Mortal Sin. I often slide back into a state of Mortal Sin within 24 hours of going to Confession. I hate this. I want so much to go to Heaven but I feel that it will require a tremendous effort to get there. I am willing to make that tremendous effort but I am so terrified that somehow I won’t make it.

Holly,
While I agree that the struggle is great, one must lean on hope and not on dispair.
Consider this.
You say above that you don’t seem to be able to fully commit to staying out of “Mortal” sin. Yet you desire “so much” to go to heaven. So - With this great desire to go to heaven, are you able to “fully commit” to sin??
Remember that Mortal sin requires grave matter, full knowledge, and full consent of the will. Are you able to give “full consent fo the will” when you are, in all instances, fighting the impulse to sin and then repenting and confessing when you do sin??
It does not sound to me as though you are giving full consent.
Therefore some of these sins that you claim as Mortal sins may not be…

In any event, Lean on Christ in hope and in reliance on His mercy. Do not fear His Judgement.

Peace
James

 

[distracted]

This is an amazing thread and scary. as well the idea of hell should be.
Just last evening, I saw a two-hour History Channel program about the devil and hell and how the major religions depicted these things. It was educational in a historical way (i.e., Dante’s Inferno, various paintings – Heronymous Bosch, naturally). It even showed modern day Satan worshippers. There are those who believe that everyone would eventually go to heaven and that hell was temporary. I think that theory was shot down by someone who said it would be impossible for Hitler and Mother Teresa to share the same fate. It was quite intellectualized.
However, EWTN had a fantastic presentation about hell a while back. It really hit home.
But now, I’m completely astounded (for lack of a better word) by St. Faustina’s portrayal of hell mentioned in this thread. I have her diary but haven’t got to that part yet. I’m going to research it. Thank you.

its Diary 741

she also had a vision of people enjoying their lives… and how they suddenly come to the end of life and fall into Hell… and then there are people who… .as she said… stumble on rocks and briars… and have tears in their eyes… but they keep going… and finally end up in Heaven… I dont know where that visiion is but i am pretty sure its in the beginning of her diary… like 166 or something?? or 260-something?

i know this was authentic stuff cuz i have often felt that the evil people always get what they want in this life… As the Word says “Thye have their portion in this life.” (can’t recall where that’s at)

 

[distracted]

I have heard that hell is eternal rejection of God. I wonder if it stands to reason that it is also embracement of self with all of your limited imagination, capacity for pleasure, and creativity, for all eternity. For those who reject God and embrace worldly passions like golf, or parties, or money, or sex, you get to play every imaginable golf course, or be at every conceivable party, or be surrounded by money and precious jewels, or have self-centered recreational sex for all eternity, until you start getting bored after a couple hundred years of the same thing, and then after a thousand years you start hating them all with your whole being, and eternity has barely begun and you begin to realize the full reality of your prison that you chose for yourself. You start hating yourself. And since you have chosen “self”, you eventually and ultimately hate everybody else too. With no hope ever of anything else, but yourself.

Some think that spending eternity in heaven looking at God sounds boring. But in reality, I think it is an eternal relationship with someone totally and infinitely “other”, with infinite creative power and wisdom and love; not limited like “self”, but so infinite in all good things that you would want to be assimilated by Him and lose yourself entirely in Him, for all eternity.

I don’t know if any of this comes close. But it kinda makes sense to me.

i look at Hell like this: you lose everything that is good… You lose the warmth of the sun in summertime… the ocean and its soothing breeze… the joy of loving someone… everything that is good is gone… because when God is gone, everything good is gone…

In Heaven we don’t just gaze at God… or if we do it is certainly not like gazing at some lesser being forever…

God created this world for us to enjoy (not to the point of sinning and ignoring HIm, but that goes w/o saying, hopefully)… so it stands to reason that the enjoyment of all that He is capable of creating… will be even more awesome… I don’t know… never been to Heaven (that i know of )…

When i am in the Real Presence, whether @ Mass or just sitting There with Him… i see many, many things… about my life, about the world i live in. I see the way things really are… and i also am given hope as to how they will some day be… very hard to put into words…

but if people want to know what they have to go thro in order to get toHeaven, they shoul go to the RP … and often… cuz once you are outside of the RP again… the world, the flesh and the devil take over again… so we have to get “re-fueld”…

 

[RosalieM]

its Diary 741

she also had a vision of people enjoying their lives… and how they suddenly come to the end of life and fall into Hell… and then there are people who… .as she said… stumble on rocks and briars… and have tears in their eyes… but they keep going… and finally end up in Heaven… I dont know where that visiion is but i am pretty sure its in the beginning of her diary… like 166 or something?? or 260-something?

i know this was authentic stuff cuz i have often felt that the evil people always get what they want in this life… As the Word says “Thye have their portion in this life.” (can’t recall where that’s at)

Oh yikes. I have to find that. The people enjoying their lives…are they wicked or just clueless? I’ll look in her diary.

 

[distracted]

Oh yikes. I have to find that. The people enjoying their lives…are they wicked or just clueless? I’ll look in her diary.

I’m not sure it matters much… (?) sin leaves a stain on the soul and if it isn’t purged off… Hell is the result…

also… wickedness causes cluelesness…

 

[djeter]

Reading selections from an article Cardinal Dulles wrote in First Things back in 2003: “The Population of Hell”

It gives a summary of Church teachings on Hell. Very scholarly very well done:

payingattentiontothesky.com/2009/09/28/the-population-of-hell-avery-cardinal-dulles/

dj

 

[beckycmarie]

Below, I’ve linked a video I saw a while back that features a number of people who had a near death experience and briefly went to Hell. These people describe what they experienced and how a glimpse of Hell changed them for the better. The story most interesting to me is that of Howard Storm, an atheist who converted to Christianity after his experience.

Google Video: To Hell and Back

 

[distracted]

“It would be better for that man if he had never been born” (Matthew 26:24; Mark 14:21). [speaking of Judas]

Do you think God still loves those in Hell? i tend to think God’s love is forever…

but i met someone who says god only loves those who love Him…

 

[distracted]

***If the righteous man is scarcely to be saved, where will the impious and sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18). ***

.
.

 

[distracted]

from that website listed a couple posts ago:

In 1 Corinthians 15:28 Paul speaks of all things being ultimately subjected to Christ, but he does not imply that subjection means salvation. He presumably means that the demonic powers will ultimately be defeated. In Philippians 2:9-10 he predicts that eventually every knee will bow to Christ and every tongue confess him. But this need not mean a confession that proceeds from love. In the Gospels the devils proclaim that Jesus is the Holy One of God, but they are not saved by recognizing the fact.

 

[newbieman]

I’ve been told it’s a dry heat.

 

[distracted]

I’ve been told it’s a dry heat.

i dont plan on finding out…

 

[distracted]

Does God still loves those in Hell? i tend to think God’s love is forever…

but i met someone who says God only loves those who love Him…

just cuz your dad gets furious with you because you wrecked his beautiful car… irreparably… doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you anymore…

He just doesn’t LIKE you…

big diff…

I love everyone, but i like uh… no one… except… oh never mind…

 

[Shin]

There’re some good very descriptive sermons on Hell in the links below, ‘Sensus Traditionis’ in particular.

I’ve enjoyed the excerpts from the Tan Book’s volume, they’re great publishers.

Here’re some further quotes:

Their wine is the gall of dragons, and the venom of asps, which is incurable. Are not these things stored up with me, and sealed up in my treasures? Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time, that their foot may slide: the day of destruction is at hand, and the time makes haste to come.

Deuteronomy 32:33-35

Humble thy spirit very much: for the vengeance on the flesh of the ungoldy is fire and worms.

Ecclus. 7:19

Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they shall cry to my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.

Ezechiel 8:18

For a fire has been kindled by my wrath that will burn forever.

Jeremiah 17:4

And he said to them: You are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.

Therefore I said to you, that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sin.

John 8:23-24

As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 7

In the day of Judgement he will punish them: He will send fire and worms into their flesh, and they shall burn and suffer forever.

Judith 16-17

For the Lord Almighty will take revenge on them. In the day of judgment he will visit them: for he will give fire and worms into their flesh, that they may burn, and may feel for ever;

Judith 16:20 -21

“Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 8:11

The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:41-42

For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away. And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:29-30

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment: And spared not the original world, but preserved Noe, the eighth person, the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that should after act wickedly. And delivered just Lot, oppressed by the injustice and lewd conversation of the wicked. For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling among them, who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented. And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government, audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.

2 Peter 2:4-10

You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.

I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared. When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you: Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me: Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord, nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.

Proverbs 1:25-31

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psalms 2:4

The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget God.

Psalms 9:18

Those who hate the LORD would tremble, their doom sealed forever.

Psalms 80:16

 

[The_Old_Medic]

No one truly knows what Hell (or Heaven for that matter) is truly like.

We are human beings, with the limitations that we humans have. We can not understand fully what God is, nor can we fully understand his works, or what his system of ultimate reward will be. I suspect that there is no language that we know, that could truly describe either heaven or hell.

The best explanation I have ever heard of what Hell would be is that we are exposed to the full power and glory of God when we die. If we die in a state of Mortal Sin, we are then cast from his presence, and the loss of that glory is our eternal punishment.

But is that Hell? None of us will truly know, unless we die and are sent there. I pray that this will not be me, or thee.

 

[distracted]

There’re some good very descriptive sermons on Hell in the links below, ‘Sensus Traditionis’ in particular.

I’ve enjoyed the excerpts from the Tan Book’s volume, they’re great publishers.

Here’re some further quotes:

Their wine is the gall of dragons, and the venom of asps, which is incurable. Are not these things stored up with me, and sealed up in my treasures? Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time, that their foot may slide: the day of destruction is at hand, and the time makes haste to come.

Deuteronomy 32:33-35

Humble thy spirit very much: for the vengeance on the flesh of the ungoldy is fire and worms.

Ecclus. 7:19

Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they shall cry to my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.

Ezechiel 8:18

For a fire has been kindled by my wrath that will burn forever.

Jeremiah 17:4

And he said to them: You are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.

Therefore I said to you, that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sin.

John 8:23-24

As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 7

In the day of Judgement he will punish them: He will send fire and worms into their flesh, and they shall burn and suffer forever.

Judith 16-17

For the Lord Almighty will take revenge on them. In the day of judgment he will visit them: for he will give fire and worms into their flesh, that they may burn, and may feel for ever;

Judith 16:20 -21

“Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 8:11

The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:41-42

For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away. And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:29-30

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment: And spared not the original world, but preserved Noe, the eighth person, the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that should after act wickedly. And delivered just Lot, oppressed by the injustice and lewd conversation of the wicked. For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling among them, who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented. And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government, audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.

2 Peter 2:4-10

You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.

I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared. When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you: Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me: Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord, nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.

Proverbs 1:25-31

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psalms 2:4

The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget God.

Psalms 9:18

Those who hate the LORD would tremble, their doom sealed forever.

Psalms 80:16

wow… very interesting… didn’t have time to read all this but will copy/paste it & read later…

I’ve read the Bible but never picked out the psgs on Hell… tho thought of it…

some seem to think this shows a mean, cruel God… but they don’t seem to realize that we humans are gods in our own right… in that we can choose [whatever] … We choose to do good or evil, so why is it so hard to believe that God chooses good every time & will therefore punish the evil chosen by men??

i don’t see any justice in this world… true justice… so even if one were atheist, he would have to agree that Somewhere (!) there has to be perfect justice…