Awhile back, my brother-in-law graciously gave me an audio version of "A Divine Revelation of Hell" by Mary K. Baxter. He explained to my wife and I that Ms. Baxter told of what hell is like and that her visions were a divine revelation straight from God. We thanked him for it and listened to it numerous times.

Ms. Baxter claims that to have been awakened over a period of time by Jesus Christ Himself and taken to hell and back again. She tells of her devilish visits and that Jesus told her that these voyages to the bowels of the abyss were the very purpose of her life:

"For this very purpose you were born, to write and tell what I have shown and told you, for these things are faithful and true. Your call is to let the world know that there is a heaven, that there is a hell, and that I, Jesus, was sent by the Father to save them from torment and to prepare them a place in heaven." (Mary K. Baxter with Dr. T.L. Lowery, A Divine Revelation of Heaven. New Kensington, Pa.: Whitaker House, 1998, pg. 13.)

I found that Ms. Baxter’s purported proposal, expresses that the Scriptures are, at best, weak in their power to "let the world know that there is a heaven, that there is a hell," and that Jesus was not fully effective while on earth to save mankind from doom.

Yet, I found the tape fascinating enough to do some search into the subject deeper.

I am a Christian. I read and believe the King James Version of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. I believe fully in an all-powerful God that created the universe just as Genesis depicts. I believe in the fall of our world to sin. Most of all I believe in a Saviour named Jesus who loved us enough to come to Earth and die for our sins that we may live forever with God.

My wife and I have extensively studied the King James Bible on the subjects of death and hell. We believe in the words written therein as absolute irrefutable truth. We believe that the Bible does not contradict itself in any way but rather explains itself to those who study it with fervor. However, we are by no means what someone would label as zealots. We are simple people who have prayed to God for guidance, knowledge and wisdom in understanding His Word.

Through this prayer and study we have encountered numerous teachings by very, very sincere people in the world that contradict and twist the Word of God to error. Some of these people may do this purposefully and some may do it through ignorance.

Jesus said in Mark 12:24 "And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?"

HE, Jesus Christ Himself, was addressing this to the religious leaders of the time, the teachers of religion, and if the majority of religious leaders and teachers could be wrong then, couldn’t it happen now?

Therefore, I wish to submit for your perusal, my thoughts and studies on the subject of death and hell and what the Bible says is in a direct contradiction to the alleged visions (visits) of Ms. Baxter.

I will use the King James Bible version to do this exploration since many people believe that to use any other version is blasphemous. (Type in red is quotes from the Bible. I will include their reference so that you may check it out for yourself and not take my word for it alone.)

Furthermore, we are warned numerous times throughout the Bible of the importance of proving all things by the Scriptures. At times I will make reference to historically documented events.

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" ~ Luke 24:45

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." ~ John 5:39

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." ~ 2nd Timothy 3:15

Test everything. Hold on to the good.. Avoid every kind of evil. ~ 1st Thessalonians 5:21

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. ~ Acts 17: 11

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1st John 4:1

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" ~ 2nd Timothy 3:16

But, before we venture any further into this, I ask you to say a prayer asking God for guidance, knowledge, wisdom and a heart open to His voice.