by John Gilbert

Created on: June 29, 2009   Last Updated: July 02, 2009

Many people debate whether there is a heaven or a hell or just one or both. It is easy to conceptualize by the simple fact that one cannot exist without the other. Light does not exist without dark. Tall does not exist without small. Big does not exist without small. Good does not exist without bad. Heaven, in the full presence of our creator does not exist without hell in the full presence of our deceptor.

The human mind has a hard enough time trying to contemplate a life lasting foreverever and without time. If we take this mystery alone which frightens most when we seriously dwell on it and add the concept of eternal damnation, then panic sets in. It is far easier to say, "nope, hell does not exist".

We know from many, many books in the bible that Satan exists. The book begins with Genesis and Satan tricks Eve into eating the apple. Sin is then born into the perfect paridise created for man. Jesus, himself is tempted by Satan when he goes to the desert to fast for 40 days. Then in the last book of the bible, Revelation, the Mother of God stamps out the head of Satan and evil is eliminated from the world once and for all.

Many Visionaries, Saints, Priests, Devout Religious types have had visions of hell and seeing souls tormented. There are countless writing attesting to the facts. In the book of Maccabees (found only in the Catholic Bible), we have people praying for the dead. Strange, huh? No, not when we consider that if a soul is condemned to hell, then no prayers will help us. If a soul is living in eternal glory in heaven, then prayers are not needed. Then whom were the Maccabees praying for? The Catholic church believes it is for people in Purgatory ( a place in between). So, pre - Christians were believeing in something. They were believeing in the writing and teachings of the old testaments.

The Catholic church believes Hell is a place were a soul has condemned itself to by totally denying the existence of God in any form. God does not condemn people to hell. People choose it on their own. We believe there is still temporal punishment due to us for our sin. This is not punishment for sinning against God (Jesus died for this) but punishment for sinning against the chruch and humankind, the body of Christ here on earth. In Purgatory, the soul suffers more of a longing becuase it can see Christ, Heaven and all its glory but cannot participate.

In conclusion, do not be fooled by people that insist hell does not exist. It does, it is real and it is forever. beside, since we know Biblically that Satan exists, does it make since that he is sharing eternal glory in Heaven? I doubt it. He was cast out of heaven for having all the knowledge of God and wanting to be above God.

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