23 Minutes in Hell
Bill Wiese’s ministry (https://soulchoiceministries.org/) is built around a vision he claims to have had in 1998, when Lord woke him in the middle of the night and took him on a 23-minute tour of hell. It wasn’t of God.
The story and claims Bill makes are covered in the following review of another tale similar to his: Baxter, Mary: A Divine Revelation of Hell Debunked: An Outstanding Illustration of Orthodox Christianity’s Most Blasphemous Doctrine
When Bill supposedly asked the Lord why he was sent to experience the horrors of hell, here’s the answer he said he was given:
“Because people do not believe this place exists. Even some of My Own people don’t believe this place is real. Go tell them that I hate this place. That it’s not My desire for one of My creation to go to this place – not one. I never made this for man. This was made for the Devil and his angels. You have to go and tell them. I’ve given you a mouth. You go and tell them.”
Mary Baxter, at an earlier date, reported similar words coming from her “Jesus”:
“The world must know about the reality of hell. Many sinners and even some of My people do not believe that hell is real. You have been chosen by Me to reveal these truths to them. Everything I will show you about hell and all the other things I will show you are true.”
Is this a case of confirmation or copycatting? Does belief that Hell and the Lake of Fire (two separate things) exist cause anyone to love God (see Baxter paper)?
And what in His creation has God not made to serve His good and holy purposes, even with all of mankind?
“The LORD has made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil” (Proverbs 16:4 KJV).
“Behold, I have created the smith who blows the coals in the fire, and who brings out a tool for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy” (Isaiah 54:16 MKJV).
If the god Wiese alleges to have encountered isn’t in complete control over all things, then he isn’t the God of the Scriptures.
Isaiah 45:5-7 MKJV
(5) I am the LORD, and there is none else, no God besides Me; I clothed you, though you have not known Me;
(6) that they may know from the rising of the sun, and to the sunset, that there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is none else;
(7) forming the light and creating darkness; making peace and creating evil. I the LORD do all these things.
As good and noble as his mission statement might sound, Wiese promotes man’s sovereignty, not God’s:
“Soul Choice Ministries exists to help people make an informed decision regarding their eternity and to experience the life-changing power of God’s Word.”
Man doesn’t determine his own eternal fate. That has been determined from the beginning through Jesus Christ (The Good News), Lord and Savior of all men.
Coming to God isn’t the same as buying a car. It doesn’t happen by research, or even by man’s will and initiation:
“No one can come to Me unless the Father Who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44 MKJV).
“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13 KJV).
If the decision were left up to man to enter the Kingdom of God, no man would or could ever enter.
“And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon” (Revelation 5:2-3 KJV).
Could “Soul Choice Ministries” have helped Judas make an “informed decision”?
Wiese says, “Without Christ you are going to hell,” but the truth is, without Christ, you are in hell. Read, The State and Fate of Hell.
Victor Hafichuk