I assume that by now everyone that can read has heard of hell. Some of you may have been invited to visit there. Technically the word hell comes from the Hebrew word Gehenna and is generally accepted to identify a place outside the walls of Jerusalem - a trash dump. It was as place where fires were kept burning to keep down the stench. Please note, it was not only a trash dump, but a place where the bodies of criminals or individuals denied a proper burial were dumped. This was a terrible place.
Many years ago, in the small town where I grew up, the city would burn the trash dump from time to time. Most of the time, they would set the fires when the wind was blowing away from town, but wind has a way of switching around. The smell was sickening to say the least. And, when you throw in a Texas summer heat day, it made everyone want to move.
Gehenna is a word to describe the literal place with a symbolic location that people could relate to. It was the worse place on earth, just as the literal hell will be.
We don’t know a lot about heaven except it is paradise. I hate to burst your bubble, but there probably are no streets of gold and pearly gates. We do know that there is peace and joy there.
Wether you believe in heaven and hell is up to you, but be aware that both are literal.
Ask a Texan if he believes in hell and most will reply, "hell yes."
PMO
©2017
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