The Fires Of Hell | The Institute for Creation Research

The Fires Of Hell

“Moreover [King Ahaz] burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel” (II Chronicles 28:3).

This horrible pagan ritual of child sacrifice finally ceased when good King Josiah “defiled” this Valley of Hinnom “that no man might make his son or daughter to pass through the fire to Molech” (II Kings 23:10). The image of Molech, with its outstretched arms forming a ring of fire through which the children were made to pass, was broken to pieces and the valley itself became the dumping ground for all the garbage of Jerusalem, which was kept burning continually in the narrow deep valley so that it had the appearance of a veritable “lake of fire.” As a result, the valley’s name of Hinnom (Greek, gehenna), came to be regarded as the name of “hell”-the place of everlasting fire where lost souls go after death.

The concept of hell and its eternal fires is a very unpopular subject in the modern world, ridiculed by skeptics and largely ignored even by evangelicals. Nevertheless, Christ, Himself, referred to it many times. For example: “If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:43). To the unsaved, He will say, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). The term “lake of fire” is used five times in Revelation to identify the eternal prison of the devil and “whosoever was not found written in the book of life” (Revelation 20: 15).

The location of the lake of fire cannot now be known; it may even be a star. In any case, it is very real, according to the Lord Jesus, who has “delivered us from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10). HMM

The Latest
NEWS
Make Plans to Attend Our Estate Planning Workshop at the Discovery...
Did you know that up to 75% of Americans over 18 have no retirement or estate plans? Don’t wait to prepare for the future. Join us on Saturday, October...

NEWS
Fossil Confusion in Ethiopia: Are Evolutionary Trees Built on...
A new study published in Nature describes the discovery of 13 fossilized teeth from the Ledi-Geraru site in Ethiopia. They have been dated to between...

NEWS
The Only Mesozoic Dragonfly in Canada—Is a Dragonfly
In 2023, an undergraduate student from McGill University discovered a new dragonfly species in Alberta, Canada. In fact, “This is the first ever...

CREATION PODCAST
Dr. Jake Hebert | Journey to ICR | The Creation Podcast: Episode...
ICR’s science staff have spent more than 50 years researching scientific evidence that refutes evolutionary philosophy...

NEWS
Oldest Evidence of Butterflies
Insects such as the ubiquitous butterfly belong to the huge phylum Arthropoda (creatures having paired, jointed appendages and a chitinous exoskeleton)....

NEWS
Another Big Mistake in Evolution
The strange and wonderful coelacanth1 has long been a challenge to evolutionists. The coelacanth has long been hailed as an ancestor...

ACTS & FACTS
ICR 2025 Resource Catalog
At the Institute for Creation Research, our mission is not only to conduct research demonstrating how science confirms Scripture but also to share this...

NEWS
Show Your Love for the ICR Discovery Center on North Texas Giving...
Thursday, September 18, is North Texas Giving Day! We invite you to join others in supporting ICR’s unique ministry as well as our creation museum...

NEWS
Living Gyroscope in Flies
The lowly fruit fly (Drosophila) is the research biologist’s friend in fields such as biomedical science, genetics, and developmental biology....

NEWS
Turning Point Founder Charlie Kirk Is Now with the Lord
Courageous Christian and creation supporter Charlie Kirk was murdered on September 10, 2025, while speaking at a Turning Point USA event held at Utah...