A Hoax or Horror

First, Id like to broadcast that this is one of my Vocal resolutions to branch out of my comfort zone and write in a different genre of category. You can view my entry to that Vocal challenge for the new year here.

I have yet to produce an article or interview regarding any sort of journalism on world view matters, so this will be my first, which I have chosen the subject matter of 'Hell'. I hope I don't disappoint.

Recently, there has been a grim and grotesque viral video flooding the net of miners somewhere in what I am assuming Siberia, from past urban legends, digging near the location where screams from the bottom pit known as ‘Hell’ are morbidly heard in the video.

I think it’s safe to say in this stint of time we’ve arrived at where conversation of extraterrestrials and other talk of oddities are so flamboyant these days, people are opening up to the more cringey and onerous topics because of the events happening around the world such as this video. It’s the world we live in now, and 2024 has the media reminding you.

So, Lets talk about Hell.

The thought provoked -is it Fact or fiction? That’s for you to research in you’re own discovery. For me? This particular video is a hoax. As for the reality and surrealism of the audio played, I believe if Hell were boiling through the cracks of the equator, it would very much, if not worse, sound just like that.

For starters, to understand the creation of Hell, the layout of it, or it’s location, we have to explore why it would even exist.

What is Hell?

noun: Hell :

a state or place of great suffering; an unbearable experience.

When describing the direction of Hell, it is the ideology of damnation in the Christian faith. Which makes this particular "religion" or system of beliefs, crucial to talk about.

Where is Hell?

The scriptures below state the location of this place called Hell.

(Mt 12:40) "So shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Eph 4:9) "Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" (Also see: Ps 63:9)

(Amos 9:2) "Though they dig into Hell"

(Isa 14:9) "Hell from beneath (Also see: Prov 15:24)

(Isa 14:15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell, to the sides of the pit."

(Ezek 31:16) "I cast him down to Hell with them that descend into the pit"

(Ezek 31:17) They also went down into Hell with him" (Also see: Ezek 32:27)

(2 Pet 2:4) For God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell"

(Rev 5:3) "Under the earth"

These few things can certainly describe the "center of the earth." The Earth is made up of four layers: crust, mantle, outer core, inner core. The inner core is made of solid metal, the outer core of liquid metal. It is estimated that temperatures there are between 7000 - 9000 degrees Fahrenheit. That certainly fits a Biblical description. Obviously, the descriptions of the direction fit too (it is app. 3959 miles to the center of the Earth).

One interesting fact that I found is Hell to be described as a place of “fire and brimstone”.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭8‬ ‭

I had no idea what brimstone was so when I researched the definition in Websters dictionary, this was what was listed.

Sulfur. That’s it. No other descriptions.

Are ya still with me?

The key element in the Earth's core is sulfur, in-fact, 90 percent of the sulfur on Earth is found in the core.

-National Geographic

“The Gates of Hell” : Turkmenistan

The "Gates of Hell" has been an attraction in Central Asia for over 50 years, where globetrotters can explore the flaming hole or ‘ boiling crater’ that never loses its flame.

Archeologists have confirmed that as years progress, so does this hole. With no explanation on how to extinguish its heat, It just progressively smolders.

This idea of “The Gates of Hell increasing” really brings me back to the scripture mentioned below.

“For a fire is kindled in mine anger, And shall burn unto the lowest hell, And shall consume the earth with her increase. And set on fire the foundations of the mountains”

Coincidence? Precisely. Metaphor? Perhaps.

Either way, I’m going to tip-toe on this topic for just a few more minutes. So, with that forewarning, if you are easily disturbed, or triggered by religion, judgment, damnation, or God, then now would be the time to withdrawal from this thread as I will be very careful to tread these waters lightly.

Who can cross over to eternal damnation?

According to scriptures, stating as far back as the days of Noah, those who remain, or don’t believe.

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭39‬ ‭

Since "BC" is the English abbreviation for Before Christ, our entire timeline traveling far back in ancient history, is based on the lineage of the person and man of Jesus Christ even in our public schools.

The world does not denounce proof of his existence or his death no more than the existence of Christopher Columbus or Abe Lincoln.

The question that arises creating the foundation of biblical theology is the ‘resurrection’ of this man’s supported death, whose death orchestrated the Gregorian calendar.

The grave location of the palpable artifact in the Middle East ceasing to bear the corpse of the man our calendars are based around, is the very spine of Christian doctrine today.

Hoax or horror?

Why would a merciful God send people to Hell?

That is the question that commonly interrogates biblical theology.

We can start with stating this place called hell, is indeed a crucial piece to biblical theology, there’s no way around ratifying that unless you branch OUT of Christianity and more into other religions.

As for the question? I don’t believe it’s as simple as casting or damning an individual there, because if that was the case, we would all be there or on our way inevitably with no redemption.

If you were given an opportunity to avoid the traffic on your way to work but your refusal to do so lead you to embark on the longer route, would be a conscious choice. Does it make it the right or wrong choice? Maybe to your boss when you arrive late.

If you acquired a cure to cancer, but protested against rescuing the person enduring awful chemo treatments, would that be a noble choice? Again, maybe not to the patient.

If somebody gave you a lottery ticket for $1 million but you decline such an offer, that would be a prime example of dismissing the act of receiving something for free.

Which is parallel to what scripture is portraying here; the the act of mercy revolving around the bases of hell, that I think many are afraid to confront. So instead, they do away with this idea of any afterlife involving judgment altogether.

Essentially, anyone who enters those gates, have packed their own bags, by-passing every opportune moment that was made for way of escape.

If a good God would condemn someone to such a place, this would nullify the sole purpose of the crucifixion. Which is not merely a symbol but a supernatural act, where during his passing and the three days that followed, he shattered the chains of Hell and vanquished the keys to damnation.

“by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing,”

1Peter 3:19

Here we see he visited the place where those who didn’t make it in the days of Noah due to disbelief were held here, described as prison. This is one of his stops during his three days after death.

Now that he ascended, (resurrected) what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?( location to Hell) 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things."

Ephesians 4:9

A segment to the history of Hell, that is recorded but not commonly talked about is the three day time span that went on between the death of Jesus and his resurrection. This is a piece that most people even believers, fail to recognize in regarding the death of Jesus. Its kind of the hidden gem in scripture, but during that 'weekend' per say, that Jesus died, we are told sporadically that he enters Hell, retrieving the keys to the gates of Hades and some believe pardoning the souls that were contained.

With this, I am under the presumption there is a 'free admission' with the price of his blood. I would think He provided the way out, not the way in.

If escaping this place of torment, by a simple act of faith would avoid entering those gates to damnation, and reroute a mans destination upward, but a person in turn, closes themselves off to all aspects of this the idea, would that make for an unmerciful God?

I’ve wrestled with this idea of extreme pain and suffering that occurs in the lake of fire, and the other horrific things that will take place there that we can’t even begin to fathom, one in particular, the release of restraint demons will have to their free advantage.

If a person who already came to their conclusions regarding the existence of a literal Hell, or have researched the bones of this contentious topic and denounces the prevalence of Hell, then I esteem the efforts of discovery. Every man has their own beliefs, or non-beliefs, etc.

This article is not to induce controversy, because this topic already has its audience to both sides.

You are either one of the two audiences, those who believe it, and those who don’t.

Your reasons are yours to carry along with you on your endeavors.

In conclusion, if this is a hoax, what would be the risk if it was? To my understanding, probably nothing or just a simple probable cause in debate.

But what would derive of the risk if it wasn’t a hoax? The question is even for me to ponder on the risk of what is worth affording, regarding discoveries pertaining to this article on " The Gates of Hell".

Thank you for reading.

This article is to invoke the thoughts toward the afterlife and all other religions in comparison to Christianity, without intention of denouncing any other religion, personal faiths or beliefs, but to examine the idea of a literal hell.

And to also scare the crap out of you.