Two weekends ago, we (my wife, my daughter and I) watched together the video “23 Minutes in Hell” which my daughter has download from Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv8pLUMDVRc). We were impressed with the sincerity which Bill Wiese showed in his sharing. I was equally impressed with his understanding of the scriptures, which he quoted in rapid fire to back up what he had seen. If you have not seen it, you must watch it.

The next day I mentioned this to my colleague who is a pastor’s wife and she said that many people including Christians misunderstand what hell is. They thought that hell is just like earth where life continues on as usually, except that only the bad people or sinners are there. Among non-Christians, it is common to hear they saying that they can continue partying in hell. Perhaps, even more fun partying in hell.

Others refused to accept the Gospel and God’s forgiveness because they are afraid that they may not meet their loved ones again when they die as their loved ones have already died and “gone to hell”. These non-believers of God think that they will be met by a welcoming party (departed loved ones and friends) from hell the moment they die and leave this sorrowful earth.

Bill Wiese said that when he “woke-up” in hell, he was in an isolated cell (prison). There was no welcoming party. Nor did he meet any of his dead loved ones. All he met were two 12 feet tall reptile-skinned demons with claws about one foot long. To his horror, he was tormented by the demons. One of the demons flanked him against the wall with a powerful force; breaking his bones and inflicting great pain in his body. The demon again pierced its claws into Bill’s chest and ripped open his chest! This is no partying fun in hell!

Bill related that he was next taken to see the flames in hell where the souls of men and women were tormented. No one soul is able to talk or meet another as each gasps for the limited supply of air and screams in agony. No partying. No drinking. No smoking. No having fun. No many concubines as promised in one religion.

Hell was very real to Bill Wiese and should be real to everyone; Christian or non-Christian. If we do not believe in hell but land up in hell in the future, then, we are taking a very great risk. Watch the video and tell me what you think.

I was listening to a pastor who was sharing his thoughts on what it means to “love one another”. He said that in his more than 30 years of ministry, he had preached countless sermons on this topic but the members in all the churches he had shepherd did not seem to be affected or changed by what they heard. He said that there are many Christians who know in their heads the commandment to love others but in their daily living, this was never practised. He pensively related that in his personal experiences, the only occasion when obedience to the commandment seemed to have bored fruit was when he personally showed love to some non-believing students living near the parsonage. These students were studying in a college located in a place far away from their residence. Each day, these students had to rely on the unreliable public bus service for transportation. He saw their plight and lent them bicycles and even his own motorbike. As a result, two of the students became Christians; one ultimately became a Church leader. He sighed and finally concluded that no amount of preaching, teaching and talking about loving others matter. It is only actual practical actions of showing love and kindness which we can leave an impactful legacy on others.

I recall an old Chinese missionary couple who were working among the villagers in Ampang, Malaysia They came from China to Malaysia just after the Second World War. There was great poverty and lack of food in the village then. Young children were undernourished and many suffered from poor health. The Church set up a Christian Service Centre which provided charity services as an outreach strategy. The couple went from house to house consoling the non-Christian villagers. They distributed milk powder, rice and other basic essential foodstuff to the needy. They would visit the sick and helpless. They even went to the Old Folks Home weekly to clean those inmates who were bed ridden. Every raining day, they would stand at the Bus Stand to distribute free umbrellas to descending passengers. As a result, they left such a strong Christian testimony and legacy of love among the villagers that they were held in high honour and respect by the unbelievers. Today, the Christian Centre has blossomed into a Church with a few hundred believers. Many, including my family, had benefited from their legacy of love.