The Places in the Center of the Earth and the Lake of Fire

Some introductory points to consider regarding the places in the center of the Earth and the Lake of Fire:

1. Many people believe that Sheol, Hell and the Lake of Fire are the same place and they are not.
2. Sheol consists of at least three compartments:
   a) Paradise (Upper Sheol) which is now empty after Jesus Christ took human-beings that were there after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ as that was the payment for sins that they were waiting for to allow entrance into Heaven with God.
   b) Torment (Lower Sheol) which still has human-beings without Salvation that are awaiting the Great White Thrown of Judgment.
   c) An area that is part of Lower Sheol that is a prison holding area for the Fallen Angels who were sent there for participating in creation of the Nephilim as read in 2 Peter 2:4-5.
   d) An area that is part of Lower Sheol that contains the Stinging Locusts that part of the Tribulation Period Judgments.
3. Hell and Hades is generically and liberally attributed to both the place of torment in Lower Sheol.  
4. No human-being, Demon or Fallen Angel has been condemned yet to the Lake of Fire.
5. It appears that Fallen Angels can enter the torment area of Lower Sheol and leave it unless they are put into chains.  (More on this below)
6. The additional compartment area of Lower Sheol is attributed to the Abussos and Tartarus in 2 Peter 2:4.  
7. The Bottomless Pit, that is read in some translations, is a synonym for Lower Sheol.  The exponential consistency in the scriptures always has Pit meaning a prison holding place.  The center of the Earth is a place that is bottomless as all directions are up.

Upper, Lower Sheol and Other Compartments

Note that the scriptures do not call the Paradise area as Upper Sheol or the Torment area as Lower Sheol, but this is a nomenclature often used by Biblical Scholars to distinguish the two specific major areas more easily.  In this topic, this author will use Upper Sheol to also indicate the Good Compartment of Sheol and Lower Sheol as the Prison Area of Sheol.

1. Upper Sheol is called the bosom of Abraham in the Scriptures:
   (a) We learn about Upper Sheol in the parable of "The Rich Man and Lazarus" of Luke 16:19-31. 

   Luke 16:22-24

   22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.

   Luke 16:26

   And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.

   (b) It is a Temporary Paradise which is where everyone that had Salvation went to await Jesus Christ to make the payment for sins of the world as explained in more details in the Dispensation Topic.  After the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, everyone in Upper Sheol were taken by Jesus Christ to Heaven, which is also where all people who have Salvation now go after death.  If you haven't asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior, do it now.  Upper Sheol is now empty.
    
2. Lower Sheol is a prison and place of Torment even until this present day.  
   (a) This is the prison for human-beings who do not have Salvation..
   (b) It is still in use because the final destiny of Lower Sheol is the Lake of Fire, which is discussed later in this topic.
    
3. Lower Sheol's has at least one additional prison compartment area.  It is called the "shaft of the Abyss" in Revelation 9:1.  This area has a lock which God has a key.  God in the Tribulation Period will give a key to one of God's Angels to give to the Fallen Angel Gog. This Abyss is where:
   (a) The Stinging Locusts are imprisoned until their release in Revelation 9:1 as part of the Tribulation Period.  This author believes in the possibility that the Stinging Locusts may actually be Fallen Angels that were condemned in 2 Peer 2:4-5 where part of their punishment is a change of their form.  One reason is the theory that God would not have created evil locusts.
   (b) The prison area for the Fallen Angels who participated in creating the Nephilim.  It these Fallen Angels that Jesus Christ proclaims His Victory to after the Crucifixion to in Ephesians 4:8-9.
   (c) Where Lucifer will be in chains after the Tribulation Period and then released after the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
   Note: Chains are required for Lucifer, which is discussed more later in this topic.

   Revelation 9:1-3	1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Note: The "star that had fallen" is a Fallen Angel
   2 Peter 2:4-5	4 For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
   Ephesians 4:8-9	8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men. 9 Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? Note: He, in the scriptural passage, is Jesus Christ
   Revelation 20:1-2	1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

Preface on the Word "Hell"

The word Hell is:

1. A modern-day word that has been described as having its roots around 725AD and may have come out of paganistic terms.  
2. Has been used in translations where it should not have been. 
3. Has been incorrectly used as a replacement for Sheol and Gehenna in many Bible Translations. 
4. Some Biblical commentaries attribute the word "Hell" to be the name attributed to the 2nd death that Jesus describes as prepared for the fallen Angels in Matthew 25:41 and other scriptures and that is not correct.

Using Hell as a Synonym for the Lake of Fire

When men and women die and their names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, then their Spirit, that holds/contains the Soul, goes into Lower Sheol.  Believers in the Old Testament before Jesus Christ's death on the cross went to the good compartment of Upper Sheol.  The good compartment is described as the Bosom of Abraham in Luke 16.

Some Fallen Angels Held in Sheol / Tartarus / Abyss

As already discussed, there is additional compartment areas in Lower Sheol.  In the additional compartment, there are currently Fallen Angels that are held in chains which the scriptures give the name as Sheol or Tartarus.  These Fallen Angel prisoners are not free to travel on Earth like other Fallen Angels and Demons.  Note that Demons appear to be distinctly different than Fallen Angels.  It is the opinion of many Biblical Scholars, that this author agrees with, that Demons are the disembodied Nephilim. 

The Scriptures point to Sheol as a place that is in the center of the Earth which is synonymous with Tartarus.  Tartarus is mention in 2 Peter 2:4 and appears also be the same in meaning in the Greek as the place called the Abussos which is translated as the pit or left as the scriptural work usage of the Abyss. 

In Luke 8:31, we learn that the Demons begged not to be cast into the Abussos before their time.  In 2 Peter 2:4, we learn that there are Fallen Angels sent to Tartarus, in chains, for future judgment. In the ancient time of Noah's flood, there were some Angels that participated in specific forbidden actions.

Note that Tartarus is meant to be a special 'prison' which is also used in Greek Mythology as meaning as a "Dark abode of Woe" in the eternals of the Earth.   Peter used this name because his readers would know the meaning for the 'foreboding place' regarding the prison. 

Gehenna is not Hell

Gehenna was the Greek word for the garbage heap where trash, and even bodies, were buried or burned outside of Jerusalem but it was not perpetually burning.  As an example of correct usage of Hell is in Mathew 23:33.  In this passage, Jesus is confronting with a warning to the religious leaders that they would end up in Hell if they didn't repent.  The word Hell, instead of Gehenna, is used in many translations but Gehenna is used in other translations. 

Later in Matthew 24, Jesus is warning about the pending future destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.  This is also in Luke 21:20.  In these scriptures, it is most likely two warnings with the literal future consequences on earth of being dumped, buried or burned in Gehenna and also symbolic of the future Lake of Fire.

The origin of the word Gehenna is the place is the Hinnon Valley, which is a place of death where child sacrifice was done to pagan gods.  It was also prophesized as a funeral pyre.  Gehenna is the short synonymous name for describing the Hinnon Valley and the place were evil things occurred.

Sheol (Hebrew), Hades (Greek) or the Abussos (Greek)

Prior to Jesus Christ's payment for the world's sins, by the death on the cross, the scriptures teach that all of mankind that were "Justified by Faith" and died went to the good compartment of Sheol or Hades (scriptural references below).  No one could go to Heaven before the payment was made by Jesus Christ.

Sheol's location is described as located in a bottomless pit which many Biblical Scholars point out that at the center of the Earth, all directions are up and this is confirmed by Ephesians 4:9 and Psalm 68:18.  Also it is confirmed in Numbers 16:33, which speaks of Sheol being beneath the Earth when the families and those associated with Korah, Dathan and Abiram were swallowed by the Earth during the rebellion against God and Moses.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He descended into Upper Sheol to take the Righteous who were there with saving Faith out who were captives, Ephesians 4:8 / Psalm 68:18 and also to proclaim His Victory on the Cross to the Fallen Angels which were in prison there as described in 1 Peter 3:19 that created the Nephilim.  The Fallen Angels, that are imprisoned in the bottomless pit, would not know about the victory on the Cross. 

After the Cross, we know from 2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."  This is also mentioned by Jesus to one of the thieves at the Cross in Luke 23:43.

Enoch, Elijah, Moses, Samuel and Apostle Paul

There are three men in the Old Testament that appear on first reading, to be allowed to go to Heaven permanently which is not possible, and a fourth man who confirms their location before the time of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Many scholars state that these three men

1. Enoch,
2. Elijah, and
3. Moses

may have been taken up meet or see things dealing with Heaven, without being in God's the Father's presence; but they still went to the paradise area of Upper Sheol to wait there until the time that Jesus Christ came to get them after the Cross.  

Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus Christ in Luke 9:28-36 and also Matthew 17:1-3.  It may be that Moses, Elijah and also Enoch were permitted by God to temporarily go to a place similar to Paul's visit in 2 Corinthians 12:1-11, which is entirely God's prerogative and discussed below.

Jesus Christ's death emptied the paradise section of Upper Sheol, Luke 16:19-31, because Jesus' death on the cross was the payment for sins which the Old Testament Believers in God were anxiously awaiting.  

The first scriptural reference person is Enoch:

In the Hebrew, took him away is "LAQAH", which can mean:

• Taken away after the death of the body, or
• In the context of Ezekiel 33:6 to be taken without death.

It is the predominant theory by Biblical Scholars and this author that Enoch was Raptured, while still being alive, into the third Heaven but not into the direct presence of God as Jesus Christ had not paid the price for the world's sins. 

The second scriptural reference deals with Elijah who was taken up in a whirlwind, where he may also have been taken into the third Heaven for a period of time, just like Enoch.  Elijah was also Raptured according to the prevailing interpretation by Biblical Scholars.  Just like Enoch, the rapture event would have Elijah eventually having to wait in Upper Sheol as Jesus Christ had not paid the price for the world's sins. 

The third scriptural reference to consider is the mount of transfiguration where Jesus talks with Elijah and Moses.  The location of where Moses and Elijah come from is not revealed. Regardless of the place of origin, Moses and Elijah would have come from the good-compartment of Upper Sheol. because everyone destined to be heaven for eternity had to await the crucifixion for permanent access through Jesus Christ.  One Biblical Scholar, which this author agrees with, believe the meeting details were about Jesus Christ mission and most likely Elijah and Moses being the Two Witnesses before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the Tribulation Period.

The fourth scriptural reference to consider is the incident that King Saul went to a Spiritual Medium at Endor to ostensibly have a S ance to speak to the Prophet Samuel, who had died.  The Prophet Samuel tells King Saul that he came from below, which has to be the good compartment of Sheol.

In the New Testament Scripture, we know that Apostle Paul wrote about a man (himself by most Biblical Scholar's belief) was caught up in a vision that allowed visiting the third Heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:1-11.  Notice he wasn't allowed to stay there and also was not allowed to discuss what he heard and saw. 

Based on John 3:13, 1 Samuel 28:6-20 and other scriptures, the best conclusion is Enoch, Elijah, Moses and Samuel went to the Bosom of Abraham compartment of Upper Sheol before the payment on the Cross was made by Jesus Christ.

More Scriptural references on Sheol and Eternal Fire

Old Testament Scriptural Examples:

There are at least 31 references to Hell in the Old Testaments in many translations which is the Hebrew word Sheol.   Below are some examples scriptures, where Sheol correctly referenced instead of Hell. in some translations.  Sheol has an end at the final judgment where it is cast into the eternal Lake of Fire.  Revelation 20:14 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death."

New Testament Scriptural Examples:

The New Testament is dealing with the soon death of the Messiah for the Salvation of all people, who had justifying Faith in God in the Old Testament and those believing in Jesus Christ in the Testament period going forward.  Salvation has always dealt with the Faith in God that awaited the Messiah as explained further in the topic on Dispensations of Salvation.  Therefore, the New Testament scriptural references dealing with what occurs after the death of our bodies is most dealing with the Lake Of Fire.

Note there are Biblical Commentaries, including this author, that believe the Wedding Supper of the Lamb is dealing with believers who do not get to enjoy the prophesized rewards dinner called the Wedding Supper of the Lamb even though they will be in Heaven for eternity.  For information, see the topic on the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, which explains the event is not dealing with Sheol or the Lake of Fire.   

Annihilation? No

Christian Annihilation is the belief that those who are condemned to the second death are annihilated after some interim of punishment in the Lake of Fire.  In other words, they no longer exist as their consciousness is extinguished where there is no longer a spirit and soul.  The Christian Annihilationist argues the question is whether or not Jesus Christ saying the punishment is eternal in its length or the effect of conscious existence is ended. 

From the sections above with the numerous scriptures below, there does not show any support for punishment that is temporary or cessation of being.  Furthermore, if we read the scriptures below, it confirms there is no end.   Therefore, Annihilation is false.

Twelve Areas of Suffering in the Eternal Lake of Fire

The degree of punishment in the Eternal Lake of Fire is based on sins committed.  There are four important goals of the Great White Throne of Judgment, which is where the condemned will be judged.  At this judgment, everyone will understand why the twelve areas will be perfect in exile, judgment, punishment and so much more for those who are destined to the Eternal Lake of Fire.

In the opinion of this author that those, who are human, in the Eternal Lake of Fire will experience these items and not necessarily in this specific order.  Additionally, the Fallen Angels and the Demons will also experience the following twelve areas.

1. The greatest pain will be the knowledge of a loss and desire for the Love of God that is forever gone.  Jesus Christ, on the Cross, experienced temporary separation from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit where it was unbearable in ways that we will never comprehend.  Matthew 27:46 "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? "   Jesus' experience on the Cross was temporary. 
   (a) As we know, Jesus paid for the sins of the entire world through His Death and perfect life so that we could have a way to be reconciled before God.  It was necessary for Jesus Christ to be temporarily separated from His Place in the Triune God because Jesus Christ took upon the sins of the world which required Him being a substitute, to receive the full force of wrath of God, for those who would later accept Him as Savior. 
   (b) For those who do not have Jesus Christ as their Savior, will experience their portion of separation and penalty for the sins of life.
   (c) The separation also involves the sin of not accepting what God for them, which is an additional paramount sin.
2. The second greatest pain will be disdain for oneself for the evil thoughts and deeds towards God.
3. The third greatest pain will be knowledge that God is Perfect Love.  In God's Perfect Love, He did not want to condemn oneself to the Eternal Lake of Fire which makes oneself feel the pain of knowing that it caused God to have pain for sending oneself to the Eternal Lake of Fire.
4. The fourth greatest pain will be disdain for oneself for the evil thoughts and deeds toward those that are in Heaven.
5. The fifth greatest pain will be the disdain for oneself for evil thoughts and deeds done towards others which contributed to them rejecting Jesus Christ's provision on the Cross that has condemned them to the Eternal Lake of Fire.  This includes the sin of never telling one's offspring of God which might have led to Salvation and therefore effected one's lineage.
6. The sixth greatest pain will the complete loss of hope that anything will change.
7. The seventh greatest pain is the culmination of inconceivable torture that will be received based on the sins done when on earth.  The torment's perfectly:
   (a) justified;
   (b) measured;
   (c) excruciating beyond any possible description, and
   (d) experiencing the pain inflicted on others multiplied by seven times.
8. The eighth greatest pain will be the complete darkness (no light) with complete loneliness.   (Similarity is 2 Peter 2:4 which refers to Nephilim)
   (a) When there is no light, then it will intensify the torment.
   (b) When there is no light, then the conscious thought will only have the memories of sin, loss and no hope.
9. The ninth greatest pain will be the knowledge that oneself deserves to be in the Lake of Fire because of not having Jesus Christ as a personal Savior.
10. The tenth greatest pain will be a separation of the Soul from the Spirit, (see Hebrews 4:12), which is a form of bodiless that increases helplessness with no control on all aspects of the torment. The first earthly death is the separation of our earthly bodies from our Soul and Spirit and the separation of the Soul from the Spirit is part of the final death.  Note that this is an opinion from at least one Biblical Scholar which this author agrees. 
    (a) The analogy and explanation for this author is we hear about people who have had some part of their body amputated and they sometimes will feel what is called "ghost pains" in the missing body part that are very real in their mind.  This should satisfy those who feel there must be some sort of body to feel torment.
    (b) The Spirit is part of God's creation and so by taking that part away from the condemned person, fallen angel and Nephilim then they have truly nothing left that is good from God so that they are absolutely completely removed from all good things from God.

    Hebrews 4:12

    Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

    (c) In a facet that this author has not read or heard anywhere, the scripture verse of Matthew 25:40 has an additional possible meaning that God removes the spirit from the soul as that removes God from feeling (while still knowing) of the pain felt by a person in the Lake of Fire.  Matthew 25:40, has always been understood that the primary point of God knowing and feeling a person's suffering in life, where it this author's belief that the scriptural passage is proof that those in the Lake of Fire will not be a burden emotionally on God because of the separation of the soul from the spirit.
    

    Matthew 25:37-43 King is God

    37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

11. The eleventh greatest pain is knowing that every moment in the Eternal Lake of Fire is also a continuous incrementing sin debt against God, that cannot be paid, because being there has caused God to have to create the Eternal Lake of Fire to handle rejection of God by oneself.  This also means, that anyone else who is in the Eternal Lake of Fire, by direct and indirect contributing factors to reject God caused by oneself, is continually adding on to one's debt that cannot be paid.  This aspect will give the knowledge that the Eternal Lake of Fire will never end because the debt is always growing and can never be paid.  (For a poor analogy purpose, prisons on Earth have a cost of creating and maintaining that are paid by others that are not in the prison.  Prisoners are not paying for their incarceration by just being there.)
12. The twelfth and final greatest pain is knowing that no one in Heaven will remember anyone condemned to the Eternal Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne of Judgment.  A portion of the scriptural passage of Revelation 21:4's "wiping away of tears" for those in Heaven, will be God removing any pain off:
    (a) sympathy,
    (b) remorse,
    (c) fear, and
    (d) love
    for those condemned to the Eternal Lake of Fire.  This final twelfth's greatest pain, for those condemned, is the additional aspect of not feeling any hope of having someone still caring about them and remembering them that are located in Heaven.  This adds to the pain of being utterly alone without hope.  This is confirmed in Isaiah 65:17.  Another additional proof of this point is God speaks about removing the memory of transgressions in Psalm 103:12 and other scriptures, so this will be necessary for those in Heaven to not continually morn for those in the Eternal Lake of Fire.
    
    Additionally, all of the Fallen Angels and Demons with their evil done to all of us will not be remembered, so the Fallen Angels, Demons and absolutely Lucifer will have zero satisfaction in having caused pain and suffering because no one in Eternity will remember anything they have done!

Note: We know from "1st Corinthians 6:2-3" that those who have Salvation will judge the Fallen Angels, which probably includes the spirits of the Nephilim.  The list of 12 items above, in this author's opinion, will include the thoughts of the Fallen Angels and Nephilim also.  In the end, God will have everyone worship Him, even from the location of Lake of Fire with the desire to be with God.

* See the topic on Wipe Away Tears for more information.

Can Lucifer and Fallen Angels (currently) enter and exit from Sheol?

There are two very technical scriptural question, that this author has never heard discussed by Biblical Scholars. 

1. Can Lucifer and Fallen Angels enter and exit the bad compartment of Lower Sheol?  (Sheol is not the Lake Of Fire as already proven above.)
2. Can those that are in Lower Sheol see one another?

The answer to the first question is yes, based on some scriptures unless the Fallen Angels and Lucifer are in chains (bound).  Unlike the Lake Of Fire, which occupants will be utterly alone, the second question's answer is also yes as those that are in Lower Sheol can see one another based on the Scriptures.

This table summarizes the categories concerning Lower Sheol and the Scriptural evidence concerning Lucifer and the Fallen Angels are listed afterwards as proof.

There are many scriptural references on Lucifer and the Fallen Angels able to go anywhere in the Earthly realm that includes Lower Sheol, but not into Upper Sheol.  An interesting one for this author is Isaiah 14:11 that informs us that Lucifer is no longer the beautiful Angel of God, as he covered in worms.

Who is the First to be cast into the Lake of Fire?

From the Scriptures, the Anti-Christ and False Prophet are the first two humans to be cast in the future into the Lake of Fire after the Tribulation Period but before the 1000 Year / Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ  The rest of humanity, the Nephilim and the Fallen Angels, Lucifer are cast into the Lake Of Fire when Jesus Christ judges them at the Great White Throne of Judgment.

Location of the Lake Fire is outside of our Universe

In Revelation 21, we learn that the known Universe is going to be destroyed in intense heat.  In order for the known universe to be destroyed then God and those in Heaven and the Lake of Fire have to be in a different dimensional location that would not be affected.  The Kingdom of God, according to many Biblical Scholars is more than our known universe.

Angels, Humans and Eternality

When we are learning about the rejection by Lucifer and the Fallen Angels against God, we sometimes want to apply humanly ideals such as asking the question, why can't God simply arrest or "shoot a weapon" at the Fallen Angels?  This question is then followed by another question on why can't the Fallen Angels and even humans spend time in a jail then get released? 

The answers are detailed in the topic on the Sin of Mankind vs. Fallen Angels and this is a summary:

• The sins that the Fallen Angels committed were:
  (a) Rejection of God,
  (b) A hostile take-over attempt of Heaven, and
  (c) Corruption of God's Creations. 
  These actions cause a permanent punishment and exile from God, God's Angels, humans with Salvation and also the Kingdom of God.
   
• The sin of human beings is different than the Fallen Angels.  Our sinful nature was inherited and caused from the results of Adam and Eve disobeying.   Adam and Eve did: not reject God or go to war against God as the Fallen Angels did.  Adam and Eve followed Lucifer in a deception and disobeyed.  Human beings:
  (a) Never saw God directly as He Is,
  (b) Never knew God in eternity in Heaven, and
  (c) Never went to war against God.
  This allowed God to make a way for us through Jesus Christ to have atonement.  This problem that God faced with human beings' sinful nature is often called God's Greatest Problem.

Additionally to the purpose of all history, there is a startling concept that can cause awe and amazement for many of us.  With extreme reverence, the question that we may have thought about and don't have an answer for is how can God be an Entity without a beginning or end? 

• There are many scriptures that speak of God being "I Am", which is a perfect title for our God that has no beginning and no ending. 
• From a scientific approach, there is the realization that time is a quantized property that is discernable based on physical factors of gravity, weight and velocity, where God exists outside of time and exists in Eternity that is subject to physical factors. 

When considering this question on one of many amazing and all powerful aspects of God is He created Angels and Humans with the same design that while we had a beginning, we do not have an ending.  As discussed, and proven using the scriptures, there is no such thing as annihilation, where God is currently working His perfect plan for our Salvation that will end up with the necessity of the:

1. Fallen Angels, which Lucifer is one of them,
2. Nephilim, and
3. Mankind without Salvation

to reside in the never-ending prison called the Lake of Fire because these three creatures are eternal where their actions of rebellion require exile and penalties.  The Lake of Fire is somewhat inadequately called the second death for mankind, but there is no death involved when there is eternal consciousness and suffering.

Our God's Awareness in Eternity of the Lake of Fire

As we mature more and more in our life as Christians, we realize the horrible consequences that Lucifer started, Fallen Angels perpetuated and many human-beings continued in which required:

• The death of Jesus Christ for a Salvation choice for human-beings, and
• The never-ending Lake of Fire for Lucifer and the Fallen Angels along with human-beings without Salvation. 

The over looked consequence, that many of us may not have thought about, is God for eternity will have the Lake of Fire in His Awareness which has to be a perpetual irritation that we might think He possibly would like to annihilate but cannot because His Perfect Justice Nature. 

This author is sure that many of us have realized this thought and felt grief over the unfairness of God having to maintain this burden, BUT we can take comfort in our love of Got that God will not let this be the smallest of victories for Lucifer. 

It is this author's belief that while the Lake of Fire will be in God's awareness, it will somehow be completely not a concern for God.  Recall that God will remove the memory of anyone we cared about that has gone to the Lake of Fire as read from Revelation 21:4 and Isaiah 65:17, where God has the power to leave the "former things" in the past for Himself also which is a hope of this author.

Do You have Salvation?

If you are reading this topic and have a fear because you are not a Christian, then that is a good sign that you recognize that you need a Savior.  Simply envision that you are kneeling before Jesus Christ in your mind and say this: "Dear Jesus, I recognize you as my God and my Savior.  I am a sinner and accept what you did on the Cross and forever want to be with You in eternity.  Please come into my life.  Amen." 

Next, make friends with people you know are true Believers and find a good Church.  This is a great new start of your life!  There is much to learn so go forth in forgiveness and love along with being wise.  The Holy Spirit, who indwells you, once you made the prayer of Salvation, will help and guide you from this point forward.

What to read next?

We have eternal life.  Evolution is not real.  What about the classical objection question?  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it?  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Salvation?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  What is the Great White Thrown of Judgment and Judgment Seat of Christ?