Hell Experiences Are Real

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16: 23 KJV

Having discussed the fact that there are people living in hell, even at this time, we continue to be guided on more facts from what Jesus has spoken in the Parable, concerning one’s experience in hell. We shall be looking at this closely, both today and tomorrow.

Hell Experience – Being in torments

Hell dwellers experience only torments. Note the choice of word, torments and not torment. Observe again what is told us in this text. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments. Does this not expose us to realities we would rather not think of? To speak of torment may suggest one or even two things, but when our Lord uses the word, torments, we are given wider scope and understanding.

The first bit of enlightenment assures that one is guaranteed to experience all kinds and conditions of torment in hell. Just as heaven is replete with only that which brings peace, comfort, calm and joy, so too it is with hell and its darkness. Hell is replete with only that which brings alarm, discomfort, chaos, anxiety, pain, and perpetual weeping and gnashing of teeth. To give us a more realistic picture of the torments which are guaranteed to all hell residents, we are shown this picture. This is the vivid, picture-description which a father gives to Jesus about his only son, who is possessed by a demonic spirit.

This young man has been living a tormented life. This is what the father says. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. Luke 9: 39 NKJV

Spiritual Torment - A spirit seizes him. To be seized is to be taken by force, to be overpowered and taken against one’s wishes and will. The word seize, gives the picture of force. The father has used this word seize, pertaining, not to something of flesh and blood, but to that which is spirit, a spirit seizes him. Additionally, that a spirit seized him does not mean that it is one spirit only. It may be, as it is most likely the case that different spirits come upon him at different times, for that is how the evil one operates.

Emotional Torment – And he suddenly cries out. To be living a life where at will, unexpectedly, one simply bursts out with - who knows what- is not just emotionally trying, but grievously stressful, draining and frankly terrifying. Can you picture this? You are walking down the street, or standing in a queue at the supermarket, or praying in church for example, and you just burst out screaming, or shouting or bawling, or speaking all kinds of stuff, good and bad? That is torturous to say the least, especially when you have absolutely no control over what is taking place.

Psychological Torment - It convulses him. When something convulses you, in simple, ordinary language, it means that you suffer violent, involuntary contractions of your muscles, producing contortions of your limbs, even your entire body. This is definitely something that will play on the mind, in negative and most destructive ways. It reminds us of some people who suffer from illness, such as certain seizures, over which they have no control. When the seizures attack, there is no indication or warning and they are unable to tell what they were doing during the attack. However, when they are told of their behaviour, their weird and unnatural actions, they become extremely sad, worried and hugely frustrated. It plays upon the mind for they are never free of wondering when they will have an attack and how severe or mild it may be. O the horribleness of the torture of the mind.            

This is quite a handful to deal with, to digest. We will rest here and continue tomorrow.