Tag: hell

LAKE OF FIRE

“I was interested to see what Miss Purdy, my AI assistant, would have to say about Hell and its anticipated temperature.”

Family of four on lake beach with sun umbrella and boats in background
Rotary Beach – Lake Havasu City, Arizona

I heard someone use the expression “hotter than hell” the other day for the umpteenth time. Friends and family have uttered it, including me, although I now refrain for two reasons: I don’t plan on going, and I don’t know exactly how hot Hell is temperature-wise.

The Bible does not provide a specific temperature for Hell, but it contains several verses that describe Hell in vivid, metaphorical language, emphasizing suffering and torment rather than exact measurements.

I chose one for my representation: Luke 16:24 – “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.”

While this verse does not specify an exact temperature, they collectively portray Hell as a place of extreme heat, suffering, and eternal punishment in biblical literature. I’ll use my own interpretation here and say it’s far higher than the absolute hottest temperature ever recorded in Arizona, which is 128°F (53.3°C).

This scorching record occurred in Lake Havasu City on June 29, 1994. My family and I were here on vacation and survived it, of course, with plenty of water and Holiday Inn hotel air-conditioning.

I was interested to see what Miss Purdy, my AI assistant, would have to say about Hell and its anticipated temperature.

“The phrase ‘hotter than hell’ has its roots in the everyday expression used to describe extreme heat. It merges two concepts: the physical sensation of heat and the metaphor of Hell as a place of torment and suffering, often depicted in literature and cultural references as a fiery, unbearable environment.

Literary and musical works have also helped solidify the phrase’s place in popular culture. Songs, movies, and books have employed this vivid expression to convey strong sentiments, making it a familiar idiom in everyday language. The phrase effectively captures the urgency of extreme heat, making it a memorable way to express discomfort.”

Overall, “hotter than hell” has evolved into a colorful phrase within English vernacular, symbolizing both physical and emotional extremes. Regardless, the term has far more serious meaning to me than that.

Having seen metal melt while welding and experienced the sizzle and smell of frying skin after absentmindedly touching an uncooled section, even the hottest Havasu summer temps is a walk in the park compared to that type of heat.

A friend in Alabama told me that the heat won’t get you there; it’s the humidity. I’d say folks currently living in Hell, and I’m not talking about that town in Michigan, would give their bottom teeth for all the humidity they could get, if they still had teeth.

That’s how bad it is living next to a lake of fire!

Group of exhausted people in dirty clothes around a damaged water cooler with 'Out of Order' sign in a lava-filled rocky cave
A group of thirsty people gathered around a broken water cooler in Hell

ETERNITY

“Eternity is a profound and complex idea that touches upon time, existence, and the infinite.”

Endless time

Thirty years ago, a friend and coworker told me that if his pals went to hell, he wanted to end up there, too. This guy was extremely upset that a buddy passed away so young. Evidently, he felt that hell was where his pal had gone.

At that time, being a weak Christian where testimony is concerned, I had no reply after hearing him say that, although I did meekly mention that life after death means spending eternity in either heaven or hell, and there’s no in between.

When I attempt to think of eternity, my brain basically shuts down, unable to fathom ‘life never ending.’ There’ve been many nights when I lay awake in bed contemplating this, with me always having to shut the thought process down without fear of blowing a tube. The best analogy I can come up with is an alarm clock having no hands.

Older brains like mine have tubes, like TVs and radios once did, while I believe it was in 1962 that transistors, diodes, chips, and microprocessors came along. I’m joking here, of course. I don’t have the slightest inkling of how our brains work, with electronics being the easiest comparison.

With the definition of eternity impossible for me to explain, once again I turned to Miss Purdy, my artificial intelligence helpmate. I’ve leaned a lot on her lately, only because she’s quick on the draw in coming up with answers. Purdy’s concise definition of eternity took some time for me to digest all of the philosophical facts she spewed forth.

“Eternity is the concept of infinite or unending time. It is often described as a state that exists beyond temporal limits—unaffected by beginnings, endings, or any measurable duration. Unlike ordinary time, marked by seconds, minutes, hours, and years, eternity transcends such divisions and is often considered timeless.

The word “eternity” comes from the Latin “aeternitas,” meaning everlasting or perpetual existence. Throughout history, philosophers, theologians, and poets have used the term to refer to the perpetual nature of existence, the infinite, and the immortal. In ancient philosophical traditions, eternity was often contrasted with the finite nature of human life.

In philosophy, eternity is sometimes discussed as an attribute of certain truths, beings, or values that are unchanging. For example, some thinkers believe that mathematical truths or abstract concepts are eternal.

In religious contexts, eternity commonly refers to the everlasting nature of the divine, the soul, or the afterlife. Many faiths depict eternity as the realm beyond death, where existence continues without end. John 3:16 tells us that in so many words.

In everyday language, people often use “eternity” to describe something that feels incredibly long or endless, such as waiting for a long period. Phrases like “it took an eternity” are hyperbolic ways of expressing impatience or the sense that time is passing slowly.

Eternity is a profound and complex idea that touches upon time, existence, and the infinite. Whether considered from a philosophical, religious, or everyday perspective, the concept invites reflection on the nature of reality, the limits of human experience, and the possibility of something beyond the finite world we know.”

Telling someone with deep Biblical knowledge, years later, about my friend saying that he wanted to go to hell, because he evidently felt people he was close to all went there, this person told me the words I should’ve used back then. It was blunt and to the point.

“Do you know without question that your pal went to hell, because he could’ve changed his mind and accepted Jesus Christ as savior mere seconds before his heart stopped? If you don’t know that for sure, then you may very well end up in a dark and hot place for the rest of your life with complete strangers. Eternity is a very long time, you know!”

It’s much too late for me to bring this up again, since the person who needed to hear it has since passed away. Still, I often wonder whether he might’ve changed his mind at some point, although he never told me. I hope he did.

A pastor once told our congregation that many ‘guys’ somehow believe that hell will be one big party, with kegs of beer and good old boys tossing footballs. I tend to think that my late friend was one of those believers.

I will say this for my own soul. If all of my family and friends chose hell, they’d best say their goodbyes to me before leaving, because this kid ain’t gonna be there.

It’s hot enough in Havasu four months out of the year, without electing to spend a lifetime in an even hotter place with no water or air conditioners!