WINNING WITH THE WORD
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https://archive.org/details/is-hell-real.-2021.09.27
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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, September 27, 2021, and this is Episode #34 of Series 2021. This episode is titled “Is Hell Real?”
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Mention the topic of Hell these days and you will get a variety of interesting reactions. Some that I’ve gotten personally are the following:
__I don’t believe in Hell.
__A good and loving God would not send people to Hell.
__I don’t care if I go to Hell. My friends will be there, and we’ll have a big party.
__The concept of Hell is a crutch to control people.
__Hell is real, and I don’t want to go there.
Perhaps you, too, have heard some or all of these statements about Hell. Let’s look at them one by one.
1.__I don’t believe in Hell. Just because a person says he doesn’t believe in Hell doesn’t mean that Hell does not exist. Whether something is true or not does not depend on what we believe. It depends on an absolute standard of truth established by God. God alone is capable of establishing what is true or not. We are not God.
For example, you could say, “I don’t believe in sound frequencies.” But just because you don’t believe in sound frequencies doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Or, you could say, “I don’t believe in gravity.” Well, try jumping off a roof and see where that belief takes you.
2.__A good and loving God would not send people to Hell. If you believe this, then you haven’t read the Bible. The Bible includes several examples in which God executes mass killings of people in punishment for their sin. Here are a few:
__The Great Flood (Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8);
__The destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18; Genesis19);
__The killing of Egypt’s firstborn sons (Exodus 11; Exodus 12);
__The killing of the Canaanites under Moses and Joshua (Numbers 21; Deuteronomy 20; Joshua 6);
__The mass murder of the Amalekites by King Saul (1 Samuel 15).
Those who don’t recognize the justice side of God do not know God. He is not only the God of mercy; He is also the God of justice who will punish sin. The only way to avoid that punishment is to accept Jesus Christ as one’s Savior. Jesus took the punishment for the sin of every human being, but unless a person repents of his sin and trusts in Jesus to save him, that person will eventually be punished. And the punishment will be in Hell.
3.__I don’t care if I go to Hell. My friends will be there, and we’ll have a big party. Wrong! There will be no partying in Hell, I can assure you. On the contrary, people in Hell exist in unending torment of spirit, soul, and body, isolated from God and from one another. There are no relationships in Hell, only abject despair. The Book of Revelation, chapter 19, verse 20, describes Hell as a “lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
This past week, you may have watched footage of the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. Did you ever consider that the fire and lava we see erupting from volcanoes could be coming from Hell? You might be thinking, “Dr. MaryAnn, how can you make such a ridiculous statement?” I’ll show you how. The Bible itself tells us the location of Hell in Ephesians 4: 9. It says, “He [Jesus] also descended into the lower regions of the earth.” {Brackets mine}. The place into which Jesus descended was Hell. Why? In order to take back from Satan what he had stolen from Adam and Eve.
So what if the fiery lava we see coming out of the Cumbre Vieja volcano is coming from the pit of Hell? Do you still want to go there to party with your friends?
4.__The concept of Hell is a crutch to control people. A lot of people eschew the topic of Hell as something only weak people need to believe in. Progressive thinkers are above believing in such a primitive concept. After all, such progressive thinkers say that we are living in an enlightened age where we no longer need crutches. We have the intellect–human reasoning– to guide us.
What such people are really saying is that secular humanism–the worship of man–has replaced the worship of God. Man has exalted himself above God. This is exactly what Satan did before he was cast out of Heaven. And this is exactly what Adam and Eve did before they were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Do you, too, want to be cast out of God’s presence because of your pride?
5.__Hell is real, and I don’t want to go there. This position is the Biblical one. The Bible speaks of Hell in several places. Let’s start with Matthew 13:41-42 where Jesus says the following: “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (All caps mine). Notice that Jesus described this place assigned to sinners as a “furnace of fire.” Does that phrase remind you of the fire that spouts forth from an erupting volcano? The fire that originates in the bowels of the earth where, according to the Bible, Hell is located?
In Acts 2: 31, we learn that Jesus descended into Hell and remained there for three days and three nights. The reason He did this was to take back from Satan the keys of authority and power over man that Adam had forfeited to Satan. According to Colossians 2: 15, Jesus “stripped Satan of his power and authority” when Jesus went into Hell.
So, the Bible makes clear that Jesus went to a specific place called Hell, a place that really exists. Jesus “descended into the lower regions of the earth.” These lower regions describe the center of the earth where Hell is located. In fact, Acts 2: 27 states that our Lord’s soul “was not left in Hell.” So, Jesus went to Hell to conquer Satan. Again, where do you think the fiery lava of volcanoes comes from?
Matthew 12: 40 also confirms that Jesus went into Hell: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Notice the words “the heart of the earth.” This is where Hell is located: in the heart–or center or core–of the earth.
On April 28, 2013, an article appeared in Forbes Magazine called “The Center of the Earth May Be Hotter than the Sun’s Surface.” The article points out that scientists have discovered that the inner core of the earth has a temperature of about 11,000-12,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 9% higher than the temperature of the surface of the sun.
When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, one reporter described the eruption with the words “when Hell surfaced upon the earth.” Science is discovering what the Bible has told us for thousands of years: Hell is a place of fire and brimstone. Do you really want to go there?
So, if you want a picture of the physical climate of Hell, just look at an erupting volcano. Is that where you want to spend forever? Yes, eternity is forever. No getting out!
Perhaps my message this week sounds somewhat harsh. I don’t mean it to be harsh. It is motivated by deep love and concern for your soul. You see, regardless of what you think, you will continue to exist after your body dies. Your soul and your spirit are eternal. They will never stop existing. But where they exist forever is up to you.
I want to speak the truth to you in love because I don’t want you to go to Hell. I want you to come with me to Heaven, the place of everlasting peace, joy, and love. Why would you not want to go there? Is it not worth believing in Jesus Christ in order to go to Heaven? Why would you not want to accept His gift of eternal life? Give me one good reason.
So, I urge you, allow Jesus to come into your life. Don’t refuse His gift of salvation. If you are having trouble believing that He is the only way to Heaven, ask Him to show you that He is. He will. That’s how much He loves you. He has done everything possible to get you to Heaven. Now it’s up to you. He will not force His gift of salvation on you. He simply offers it to you with love and longing that you will accept it. I urge you to accept it. Pray this simple prayer with me now:
Lord Jesus, I want this gift of eternal life that You died to give me, I don’t want to go to Hell. I want to spend eternity with You. So I invite You now into my life, and I receive You as my personal Savior and the Lord of my life. I receive the gift of eternal life that You died to give me. Thank You for forgiving me and bringing me into Your family. Thank You for saving me. I pray this in Your Name. Amen.
If you sincerely prayed this prayer, please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet that will help you get started in your walk with Christ. I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.
Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.
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PLEASE TWEET: “Is Hell Real?“ (CLICK TO TWEET)
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Photo Source: Ronald Plett (Pixabay)
Source Cited: https://www2.gvsu.edu/pontiusd/hell.html#:~:text=HELL%20IS%20A%20PLACE%20OF%20FIRE&text=In%20Matthew%2013%3A42%2C%20Jesus,wailing%20and%20gnashing%20of%20teeth.%22
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For those of you who may not know, I write fiction for both children and adults. Please check out my latest children’s book, Penelope Pumpernickel: Dynamic Detective, Book 2 in the popular Penelope Pumpernickel Series of Chapter Books for Children. This series, written for early and reluctant readers, is designed to build Christian character in the young children in your life. To order, just click on the book cover image below. You may also purchase your copy on my website at https://maryanndiorio.com/book-table.
My latest novel, Miracle in Milan, has been released in both print and ebook formats and deals with the issue of unforgiveness. It is the story of a young, female auditor who discovers convincing evidence that the man she loves is an embezzler. You will find Miracle in Milan to be a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. To order your copy, go to Amazon or to my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table. You will also find Miracle in Milan on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.
This podcast is funded by listeners like you. If you have been blessed by Winning with the Word, please consider becoming one of my special patrons on Patreon.com. For only $1.00, $3.00, or $5.00 a month, you can help me proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world and share in the rewards of all those who come to Christ through this ministry.
Winning with the Word now reaches 60 countries on six continents, by God’s grace, because of the faithful support of my patrons. So please help me to keep Winning with the Word on the air by becoming one of my valued patrons. Your patronage helps to cover the costs of producing, hosting, and distributing Winning with the Word to the four corners of the earth. Patrons receive special benefits, including free books, short stories, podcasts, and videos. So, join my wonderful team of Patrons and become a part of something great!
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I would like to thank all of my patrons who are making this podcast possible. I could not do this without you!
Finally, be sure to check out my latest non-fiction book, The Iron Saint. This book, modeled after The Iron Man triathlon, talks about the coming persecution of the Church in America and how you can prepare for it. The Iron Saint is available on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and other major book purchasing venues. You may also find it on my website at maryanndiorio.com/book-table. Get a copy for your pastor as well.
Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Copyright 2000-2021 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.
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New Release! Dr. MaryAnn’s latest children’s book: Penelope Pumpernickel: Dynamic Detective
Are you looking for character-building books for your elementary school children? Books that are written from a Biblical worldview and that honor God’s Word? Then get your children a copy of each of the two books in my Penelope Pumpernickel Series of Chapter Books for Children. Click on the book cover to order below:
In this delightful series, your child will follow the adventures of eight-year-old Penelope Pumpernickel as she faces and overcomes the crazy problems caused by her homeschooling classmate, Grandville Ungerleider. Together with her sidekick and BFF, Tilly Mendoza, Penelope unravels mystery after mystery through humorous situations that will keep your child laughing on the edge of her seat and wanting more.
To order your copies of Books 1 and 2, click on the images to the left.
Now Available for Purchase: Dr. MaryAnn’s latest novel, Miracle in Milan.
When a young, female auditor discovers evidence that the man she loves is an embezzler, she must choose between ruining him or ruining herself.
Amy Torelli, Chief Auditor for New York City-based Enson Pharmaceuticals, is assigned to audit the books of Enson’s Italian branch in the enchanting city of Milan, Italy. Having made an inner vow never to trust a man again because of her father’s betrayal, Amy finds herself falling in love with Enson Italia’s American-born Vice-President, Ted Masters. Will Ted be the one to cause her to break her inner vow?
Ted McMasters is on the run. A run from rejection. From himself. From God. Having been wounded by a father who made him feel worthless, and having been dumped by the woman he wanted to marry, Ted is determined to keep all women at bay. But will Amy Torelli be the reason he changes his mind?
Miracle in Milan
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THE IRON SAINT by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD
The Church in America is on the verge of a tremendous spiritual awakening, an awakening that will first be fueled by persecution unlike anything we have ever seen before in this land. Indeed, a prophetic word given in my home church during the month of November gave this warning to the Church: “Prepare for the fire of persecution!”
But the Church is not ready for this persecution. For the most part, the Church in America has been weak and lukewarm. Flabby and lazy. Consumed with the world and not with the things of God. As a result, the Church has been deceived and has subverted the divine order of things.
In THE IRON SAINT, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio seeks to help equip the saints for the work of true, integritous, and effective ministry. As a teacher in the Body of Christ, it is her burning desire to help correct this devastating error.
In THE IRON SAINT, Dr. Diorio has outlined a plan of action for strengthening the Church through uncompromising obedience to the Word of God. This plan of action is based on her own 50 years of walking with the Lord and being led by His Holy Spirit.
If you are a born-again believer and member of the Body of Christ, make this book a top reading priority.
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Copyright 2000-2021 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.
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