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tossed to and fro, having no rest day or night, vast waves or billows of fire continually
rolling over their heads, of which they shall ever be full of a quick sense, within and
without; their heads, their eyes, their tongues, their hands, their feet, their loins and their
vitals shall forever be full of glowing melting fire, enough to melt the very rocks and
elements. Also they shall be full of the most quick and lively sense to feel the torments,
not for tens of millions of ages, but forever and ever, without any end at all.
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After painting such a somber picture of unending torment, Edwards usual pattern was to
develop its implications involving the need, while still in this life, to repent, turning to God who
can bring about the new birth. This is the only way to be saved from this awful fate.
c. Satanic/Demonic Participation
Reflecting the imagery of Dante and other Tours of Hell, Edwards pictured Satan and
demons as active agents in dragging unwilling, but unrepentant, sinners into Hell. In his famous
sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," he wrote:
The devil stands ready to fall upon them and seize them as his own at what moment God
shall permit him. They belong to him; he has their souls in his possession and under his
dominion.. . . The devils watch them; they are ever by them at their right hand. They
stand waiting for them like greedy, hungry lions that see their prey and expect to have it,
but are, for the present, held back. If God should withdraw His hand by which they are
restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls. The old serpent is gaping
for them. Hell opens its mouth wide to receive them, and if, God would permit it, they
would be hastily swallowed up and lost.
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This is powerful, emotionally charged imagery. Nevertheless, it does not fit the picture
painted by Scripture. The Bible pictures Satan and demons as being punished in the lake of fire
(e.g. Revelation 20:2, 7-10). Although depicting Satan and demons as exerting their evil
influence in the world, the Bible does not teach that Satan and demons have the power and
authority to drag anyone into Hell or to punish anyone in Hell. Only God can do that.
d. Purpose of Hellfire preaching
Edwards made a strong emotional appeal, using vivid imagery to picture Hell in its
terrifying reality in order to shock people out of their apathy toward God and the issues involving
their eternal future. Yet his main thrust was to appeal to their reason. As Davidson well
summarized Edwards logic, "Hell is the only logical destiny for the unrepentant soul, and
denying that is only an illogical exercise in self-delusion.
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Edwards rationale for preaching Hell included the following reasons: God commands it.
The sinner needs to be warned of his approaching doom. Instilling fear in the sinner will,
hopefully, arouse him out of his spiritual lethargy, producing such a fear and revulsion of their
future that they would repent, turning to God through faith in Jesus Christ for the new birth that
only God can give.
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That is why he usually closed his sermons with an extended application in
which he would urge his audience to do just that.