What is Hell to You?

Hell is the place that if are to go there permanently, you will be made known by God that you belong there and won't even put up a fight, because as your life is recounted, you will be shown your clear choice was to reject His only begotten Son.

For Christians it is different, as the fire fulfills a vital function that works as follows. At judgment seat all Christians are judged. Those whom God considers non-overcomers shall receive the effects of the fire to burn off the dross of their false works so God can place them into outer darkness to lose the reward of reigning with Christ during the 1000 years.

An analogy for Christians is most helpful here. Say you are painting a house and you are careful not to spill the paint or get it on your hands or clothing. In that case, you would not need to dip your hands into gasoline, since there is no paint needing to be removed. The house by the way is like the Church. The paint when used properly is like our righteousnesses for the Church in contrast to Christ as our righteousness; when used improperly and erratically are our self-works, not led by the Holy Spirit.

But if you were sloppy, you would need to use the gasoline to take the paint off, and it stings (like being dipped into hell to burn off your false works). Now you smell like gasoline. This after-smell will take some time to go away, even a 1000 years. A long bath is needed which can be likened to outer darkness, a period of being disciplined by God while Christians and Saints of Old enjoy glory a thousand years ahead of other Christians and Saints of the Most High God.

While the carnal or fleshly Christian is confined to the long bath (like the 5 unwise virgins), the spiritual Christians (the 5 wise virgins) will be at the dinner table of the millennial reign (Matt. 25.1-12).

God encourages us to "overcometh" so that we may receive the reward of being both kings and priests. After the 1000 years, rewards are done away with and we will no longer shed a tear for those who are sent to hell.