Who was Eternal Damnation Prepared For?

December 9

Who was Eternal Damnation Prepared For?

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not (Matt. 25:41-43)

God did not prepare hell and the lake of fire for mankind. This was prepared for Satan and his angels. So why do men and women go there? Because they have taken on Satan’s nature and have decided to follow him (Eph. 2:1-5). Those who take on Satan’s nature and follow his ways must share his eternal destiny.

Notice that Jesus says to those who are condemned to the everlasting fire that they did not feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, give shelter to strangers, clothe the naked, or visit those in prison. This is a lack of compassion for those in need and this is satanic in nature. While criminals and sexually immoral people will go to the lake of fire, so will those who neglect to exhibit God’s love for others who are deprived. God’s nature is one of selfless, others-focused love. Anyone lacking this essential characteristic is not serving Christ.

However, keep in mind that God never prepared this place for man because it was never His intentions for man to take on Satan’s attributes. It was never God’s desire that any human being go to that place (Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9) and He derives no pleasure from the fact that people die and separate themselves from Him (Ezekiel 18:23-32; 33:11). God basically cries over those who make choices to live in such ways that leaves Him no choice but to allow them the eternal consequences of their choice (Matt. 23:37; Luke 7:30; John 5:40; Hosea 11:5-7).

So why is there a hell in the first place? Hell and, later, the lake of fire is for Satan because he and his followers hated God intensely and chose to separate themselves from Him. Therefore, God prepared a place by which they can have the separation that they wanted so badly (Isa. 14:12-15). Any place where God’s presence is lacking is a place of misery.

Jesus, in His deep and intense love for us was willing to pay the full price to redeem us from this place. God does not want any man to go there and there is no reason for anyone to. Make Christ your Savior and obey His Lordship and you will never have to go to a place that was not prepared for you in the first place.

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