In the past month in America and throughout the world, there have been higher than normal temperatures, causing heatwaves in various areas. One of the most severe heatwaves in North America occurred in 1936 in the middle of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. It caused dramatic human suffering and took an enormous economic toll, causing over 5,000 deaths and destroying huge numbers of crops. Many state and city record high temperatures were set and stood until the 2012 heatwave. Interestingly, the 1936 heatwave followed one of the coldest winters on record.
“Words from Above” in the Bible tell us about a rich man who lived a life of luxury, while a beggar name Lazarus sat outside the gate to his estate daily, hoping to get a few crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Both died, with the rich man ending up in hell, where he complained about being tormented in the flames of hell fire. He wanted the beggar to leave heaven to dip his finger in water and then come to him to cool his tongue. He was told this was not possible, and that his comfortable life was over as he once knew it.
In the days of Noah, God destroyed the earth and everything and everyone in it with a flood, except for Noah and his family. God promised to not destroy the earth with a flood again, but fire and brimstone are on the table to punish evil. The wicked city of Sodom was destroyed by fire and brimstone, and this form of punishment will once again be used to punish evil in what the Bible calls the last days. The apostle John wrote in great detail in the Book of Revelation about the different ways that God will use to judge and punish evil. Eventually, even the devil and his associates will be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Unfortunately, as we are told in Revelation 14, those who worship the devil and his associates, and receive his mark in their hand or forehead, will likewise experience the wrath of God. They will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb, who is Jesus. John says that the smoke of their torment will ascend upward forever and ever, and they will have no rest day or night. Heatwaves on earth obviously come and go, but the fires of hell will continue permanently. But the good news is that it can all be avoided by confessing our sins and asking for God’s forgiveness
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
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