EVER
THOUGHT ABOUT HELL?
Shortly after Charles and I married and before we began the “Flames of Love”, we began a ministry of a different sort. This ministry at the time we called “Love to Love God”; and it was basically a writing ministry. As many of you writers out there know, the written word is to a silent audience. You rarely know if what you write is getting through to anyone. I’m sure even pastors and preachers who are truly God called wonder the same thing about their sermons. For some reason we feel it is our duty to “make” folk believe what we tell them is truth and see to it that they obey what they’ve heard. Many times we get discouraged because we do not see the expected or desired results; and we question if we did what God wanted us to do.
A director of missions once told us, when we spoke to him about the heartbreak of not knowing, “you are not responsible for the response; you are responsible for obeying God”. WOW! what an eye opener. To try and force someone to believe and follow through is taking away their God-given gift of free-will. As the scripture tells us: Ezekiel 3:17-19 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”.
The Father calls us into prayer several times a day; some times it is very intense prayer and sometimes we are as Paul who said in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a
man to utter.” And Ezekiel 3:14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. Ezekiel 8:3 “And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven,…”
We know that Paul was speaking of himself as was Ezekiel; yet Paul was not permitted to tell what he saw. God had him brought up in order to show him things necessary in order that he might preach with more conviction than ever before. Many have had visions and dreams from God and accept them as such; but to speak of an experience like Paul and Ezekiel, is another story entirely. We will believe Paul and Ezekiel because “that was back then when God did many signs and wonders. It doesn’t happen today. Just as those who think demons and demonic activity is a thing of the past….satan did not retire and God is unchangeable…therefore He still does the same things as He did then.
Most “Christians” don’t believe in the “out of body” experiences and may attribute them to satan; along with many other things not understood. But God has more power and more ability to do these things than satan; and for those called by God and who have unquestioning faith and trust God will do what He needs to in order to give the words needed. God will do what HE will do. Thus following is the reasoning for my many words which I hope will allow you to understand. The message is of utmost importance for us all.
Read and understand as Charles relays his testimony of being in hell…one of those “out of body” experiences. This was not a dream or a vision. He WAS there. Maxine
WHAT IS HELL?
WHAT IS ETERNAL
DAMNATION?
Does anyone on earth truly have the answer to this question? Countless sermons have been preached on this subject for thousands of years; yes, thousands! Deuteronomy 32:22 references hell as does David in 2 Samuel 2:6.
I have been taught since a young child if you are unsaved; not written in the Book of Life; you will go to hell. Yet Revelation 20:14 states “and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
I have been confused my whole life about the “torments of hell”; if we are not flesh after we die how can the fire torment us? It is even taught that between His death and resurrection Jesus preached to the prisoners in hell! If they are lost how can that be?
Perhaps there is another answer?
I have been blessed in my 70 years of life to have travelled to 43 of our 50 glorious states. I have been to several foreign countries; to include Japan, Viet Nam, Germany; Okinawa; and many cities in those countries. I have met and shared friendship with many from those countries. I have encountered many different religious beliefs—all believing theirs is the “right” belief. And of course the atheists who believe in no supreme being. (It is interesting to note here that Ernie Pyle, the famous war correspondent who was killed on Okinawa in 1945, was attributed with stating he “never saw an atheist in a foxhole”.) (It is also interesting to note that many will say “I swear to God!’ in a time of trouble or will cry out to God in a time of terror!) The point here is most people on earth believe in a power greater than flesh and have worshipped such since the beginning of time; whether it be the golden calf; Zeus; Buddha; etc. or Jehovah God!
Now take a moment and think if you will about the loneliest you have ever felt in your life. Perhaps it was during the loss of a loved one; a time of betrayal by one you dearly loved; or another tragic time in your life. I can easily recall that time in my life. If you have served in the military, overseas, at Christmas, you will relate to what I am saying. I wrote a poem about it in December 1993, entitled “A Soldier’s Christmas”. It was without a doubt the most alone I have ever felt in my life…….until a moment in the spring of 2003……………..
Maxine was on the computer, which was set up in our living room. I was on the sofa watching her and then suddenly I found myself on the floor in a fetal position between the coffee table and sofa…..and I was in the depths of hell! It was the blackest of black and I could still see there. I had huge eel-like worms crawling in and out of my mouth; nose; ears; and eye sockets. But that wasn’t the horror I felt———-I WAS SCREAMING OUT TO JEHOVAH GOD; but… HE WASN’T LISTENING. I SCREAMED AND CRIED “GOD SAVE ME!“….but I was alone. TOTALLY ALONE!!!……for what seemed an eternity. And then two hands reached down and grabbed under my armpits and lifted me out. I was sobbing; horrified ; and for the first time in my life that I remember—–I was angry at God!
I SCREAMED OUT BETWEEN SOBS! “HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME……I LOVE YOU!”
And then He spoke to me in a soft, gentle voice…..”I just wanted you to know, My child….for the witness”! Jesus spoke in Mark 9:44, 46 and 48, “where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched”.
It is NOT about the worm, or the fire————————————–it is, IS about the total, absolute, final seperation from the ONE who loved you enough to send HIS SON to die for you.
What does hell and damnation mean to you? …………………………………………………
All HE asks of you is that you love HIM and trust HIM with a child-like, unquestioning love!
If you end up in hell/eternal damnation, I can assure you there will be no hands lifing you out. It will be for eternity………………………………………………
I can hear YOUR screams even now!
© Charles E. Branthoover 08/03/2011
Erica
Charles
Maxine
