“The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword” (Ezekiel 32:21).

The subject of hell is largely ignored today, even by evangelical teachers and pastors. This is a tragic mistake, because multitudes are there already, and multitudes living today will soon be there. It is good to preach the love of God, but God also commands us: “Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 23).

The Lord, through Ezekiel, has given us a graphic picture of those in earlier ages who are now in Hades, awaiting the final judgment. The great Pharaoh of Egypt, along with his countrymen, had practiced the Egyptian religion with all its complex concepts and rituals, but religion, in itself, will not keep one from hell. When Pharaoh died and had “gone down” to “hell” (actually, this word in the Old Testament is sheol, equivalent to the Greek Hades, a great pit deep in the core of the earth), he found many there already, from the centuries before him. Some specifically named (see verses 22–30) are Asshur, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, and Zidon, each with their multitudes. Esau, Jacob’s brother, was also there (same as Edom). These, significantly, come from all three original branches of Noah’s family. All had come from a godly ancestor, but that did not save them. “When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but . . . worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator” (Romans 1:21,25).

All of this verifies the warning of Christ: “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matthew 7:13). Only those who worship the true Creator, receiving Christ as personal Savior from sin, will be saved. HMM