The Hell Expansion Project

The largest building on earth, built in 1967 with several expansions since then, spans 100 acres, measures 472 million cubic feet, and is large enough that Disneyland could fit inside. Thirty-five thousand employees work in this facility that, in addition to its manufacturing purpose, contains cafeterias, fitness centers, bike lanes, a museum, a theater, 19 restaurants, a store, and 2.33 miles of underground tunnels. It is used to manufacture the Boeing 747, 767, 777, and the state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner. It is the Boeing Factory in Everett, Washington.

However, the Hell Expansion Project is not comparable to any building in size, location, durability, and temperature. Its construction is still proceeding after thousands of years. The Bible describes it in this way. “Therefore HELL hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure.” (Isaiah 5:14)

It was especially designed for the landlord who expelled poor occupants (Isaiah 5:8), those who pursue strong drink (5:11), those who bring calamity on themselves with falsehoods, those who call evil good and good evil (5:20), those that are wise and prudent in their own eyes (5:21), those that are mighty to drink wine (5:22), and those who have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts and despised the Word of the  Holy One of Israel (5:24). This chapter generally describes most of the people of Judah who had turned away from God and His Word.

The description of this place agrees with its description throughout the Bible by the various Hebrew and Greek words, most often translated as hell or hades.

Here are the various words used to describe this awful place.

Hell in Isaiah 5:14 is the Hebrew word “Sheol,” the place of the dead. It enlarges itself to make room for the many thousands of Judah, Israel, and other nations who reject the Word of God, choosing to follow their own wisdom. Psalm 9:17 uses  the word in this way: “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.” Prior to Jesus’ resurrection hades was in two parts: unbelievers went to the place of torment.  Believers went to paradise.  (Luke 16). At the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus took O.T believers to heaven. Now, at death, believers are absent from the body and present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8).

“Tartarus” in 2 Peter 2:4, translated as “hell,” describes the place where fallen angels are bound until their day of judgment.

Gehenna (translated as “hell” in Matthew 5:29-30 and several other references) is a term that Jesus used several times. It was the name of an actual place in Israel, the Valley of Hinnom. In Old Testament times, it was a place where child sacrifice was performed to honor pagan gods. Throughout history and in the time of Christ, it was a dumping ground for trash, garbage, and bodies of dead animals and criminals. Jesus used the word to impress on his listeners the horrifying reality of hell. Just the mention of the word placed a horrific image in the minds of those who heard it.

Other words (not a complete list) used for hell are Outer Darkness, Lake of Fire, and Eternal Punishment.

In Revelation 20:15, all whose names were not written in the Book of Life were cast into the lake of fire.

Is hell, the lake of fire, or eternal punishment factual? If not, then Christ is the biggest hoax in all of history because he talked about it as an absolute fact more than any other person in the Bible. At the same time, he warned people so they would not go there.

Some might ask, why can’t everybody go to heaven? For one thing, the person who loves sinning and hates attending church will not be happy in heaven. Secondly, if God allowed sin in heaven, heaven would no longer be heaven. It would be polluted and marred by sin, just like today’s earth.

What about this hell expansion project? Jesus said it was originally prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41). When Adam and Eve sinned, hell became the place where people go who reject God and His provision for the forgiveness of sin. Hell was enlarged to accommodate the multitudes of people through the ages that reject the God of creation and Redemption.

God has a prevention program to keep people from going to hell.

God does not want people to go to hell. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). God pleaded with his own people, the Israelites and begged them to turn to him. “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)

To me, some of the saddest verses in the Bible are in John 1:10-11. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” But the happy turning point and remedy provided is in John 1:12. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they would not turn to him. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that  killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37).

Part I of the Prevention Program: Creation. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are CLEARLY seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20).

Paul said, “We – – preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:15-17)

Consider this: Common sense tells you that no computer, no car, no building, no aircraft, and no construction of any type come into existence without a designer, or inventor, architect, builder, and other workers. Only evolutionists could believe that the world, living physical bodies – such as man, animals, plant life, and all the universe, could come into existence by random chance. The creation demands a creator. That is why creation should point people to the Savior.

Second, there is Redemption. God is a holy God and cannot tolerate sin. His standard is perfection. He knew that weak man in the flesh could not meet his holy standard, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

For a person to go to hell, he has to trip over and reject the witness of God’s creation. He also has to insult and throw dirt in the face of the God who loved us enough to send His Son to save us from sin and hell.

Read carefully the following words.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9,10, 13)

Why not trust Jesus as your Savior today?

Christian, death is inevitable, and soon. Give out the saving message of Jesus before it is too late for that person closest to you.