R. Brown: You cannot pick and choose only parts of Jesus’ teachings to suit your own desires. Jesus spoke often of hell especially in the last part of St. Matthew. It is all written in red, and I would be sure to follow ALL of his teachings which includes eternal hell fire and outer darkness. He did not mix words when explaining these things. Even the parable of “the rich man and the poor man” portrays hell as fire and eternal with undying thirst. Why take a chance on this? It is the most important decision of your life. The Bible is the only road map that we have. I am VERY close to God at this point in my life. I believe in following very closely with the red print of the Bible above all else, because it is as close as we are going to get to what Jesus said. When your meditate and pray everyday, the Holy Spirit guides you to what you should believe. I believe there are many hellish experiences that people do not want others to know. Also, they went to hell and were not sent back. The best thing to do is accept Christ and do not depend on ministers, church people, family, anybody, but Jesus Christ and his teachings. He said if you believe in him you believe in God the father who sent him. With this comes the blessed Holy Spirit. Why would you need anything else. Prayer and reading God’s Word everyday will open up your understanding of what he wants of us. We need to love our fellow human beings, forgive all who trespass against us. The unforgiving spirit (holding grudges) will keep you out of heaven. Jesus said we must forgive to be forgiven. He lists all the things that will bar you from heaven: lying, fornicating, stealing, killing, even fearfulness (not trusting him), on and on they are all listed. The answer to all our questions are in the Bible and closeness to HIM. May God bring his understanding and blessings to all of you.

Nan Bush: If there were a single “right interpretation” there would not be so many denominations and disagreements. Thank you for participating in the conversation.

R. Brown: How can you interpret the following (in red) any differently then how it is written: Matthew Chapter 25 verses 41 through 46 (Jesus was addressing caring for the least among us). He said to those who showed no mercy and love for their fellow human being ” Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink. I was a stranger and ye took me not in; naked and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not
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Inasmuch as ye did it not one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. ‘ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal.”
How can anyone not understand these very clearly stated words? I admit there are some parts of the Bible that are difficult to understand without a prayerful communication with HIM, but not hell. He clearly states in many passages what hell is and how to avoid it.
God bless you, Nan Bush. Keep praying and a pure and loving heart, and God will reveal to you the meaning of the distressing NDE you had.