Dark and light, dead and alive, old and new, sorrow and joy, destitute and deliriously wealthy, Hell and Heaven…
Hell isn’t Heaven…
Hell is a place of eternal punishment, where “the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night…” (Revelation 14:11) while Heaven is a place of great reward (Matthew 5:12; 16:27; Luke 6:23).
Hell will likely be a place of unending regret, interminable grief, and ceaseless guilt while Heaven promises lasting joy (Matthew 25:21).
A rebellious sinner might claim to look forward to Hell, where they Invision swilling beer and bragging of their earthly exploits with their buddies. But I expect that Hell will be unending solitary confinement in everlasting darkness, while in Heaven we will rejoice with “a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number” (Revelation 7:9).
Here’s an odd thought… what do you suppose Hell will smell like? Burning flesh, sulfur, rotting waste? And what about Heaven? Orchards in bloom, morning dew in the meadow, an afternoon rain in the mountains? Hell and Heaven will smell different… I’m sure of it.
Maybe the best way to compare and contrast Hell and Heaven is to consider Jesus’ story of the unnamed rich man and the poor man named Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31). In Hell, the rich man was “in torment” exclaiming “I am in agony in this flame.” In Heaven, Lazarus was “comforted” at Abraham’s side. In Hell, the rich man passionately but unsuccessfully begged for mercy, asking that just a single drop of water might be given, while in Heaven, Lazarus enjoyed God’s abundant grace.
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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