HELL... Yes or No? Why Franklin Graham Is Suddenly Tackling This Eternal Debate
A recent article in the conservative Wall Street Journal titled "
Do We Still Need to Believe in Hell?"
has raised questions about the issue of eternal punishment in the afterlife.
Dr. Scott G. Bruce, professor of history at Fordham University, argues in the piece that "Hell is a cruel
and oppressive concept" that has lost its power on mankind thanks to new scientific theories like
Darwinism.
The professor believes humanity should rid itself of the concept of Hell.
"In some distant, better future, the foreclosure of Hell will be an important step in the maturation of
human communities that can mete out justice on their own, without supernatural aid," he writes.
The article caught the attention of evangelist Franklin Graham who says Hell isn't a concept but a
"reality." He says it's important not to doubt it because it's the reason Jesus died on a cross to save
us from our sins.
"Jesus spoke about it a great deal. The Bible describes it as a 'blazing furnace, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.' It will not change with the maturing of human culture, or anything
else we might dream up. Hell is a very real place that will be the eternal destination of souls who
reject the forgiveness and salvation that a loving God offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ,"
Graham writes in a Facebook post.
"Heaven is also a real place, prepared for those who put their faith and trust in Christ. Now is the
time when we choose our eternal destiny—the Bible tells us '…now is the day of salvation"
(2 Corinthians 6:2). If you die today, are you sure of your destination?" Graham continued.
Jesus talked about Hell more than any other person in the Bible. He told several
parables describing
"unquenchable fire."
The Bible says the sins of humanity are what separate us from God and send us to Hell. John 3:18
says about Jesus, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
In other words, we condemn ourselves by our own choices.
Sin isn't just doing bad things, but rejecting God and ignoring his commands. "
All have sinned and
fall short" of God's standard of holiness by choosing to disobey him and going our own way.
It's clear from
Jesus' teaching that the consequence of sin is eternal death, but there is good news –
Heaven is a free gift to all who believe in Jesus.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,"
Jesus says in
John 14:6.
"I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (or Hell)," Jesus
says in Revelation 1:18. In other words, he defeated death by his resurrection and he can rescue anyone
from Hell – anyone who believes in him.
The
Bible says anyone who confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes that he died and rose again will
be saved from Hell and spend eternity with a God who loves them.
That's why Franklin Graham and so many other Christian leaders say we should never be dismissive
or cavalier about a place where many will spend eternity – a place of torment they could easily avoid
if they only knew it existed.
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life.
Click here to
discover how you can find peace with God."
You can also talk to someone by calling CBN directly at 1(800) 700-7000.
