Edward Teach was known and feared as Blackbeard. He was one of the most well-known pirates in Bahamian history and caused terror in and around those islands for several years. History tells us that he was a massive man noted for his boldness and fiendish appearance. He cared for no one but himself, and with cutlasses and pistols slung about him, which he did not hesitate to use, he resembled a walking arsenal. His long black beard was twisted with ribbons and turned about his ears. Slow-burning cords tucked under his hat wreathed his head with demonic smoke. With his fierce and wild eyes, imagination cannot form an idea of a fury from hell that would look more frightful. He was no legend, but a real man who lived a short life and died in a violent naval battle in 1718.
One day at sea, he said to a few of his men, “Come, let us make a hell of our own and see how long we can bear it.” He took them below, closed the hatches, and set on fire several pots filled with brimstone and other acrid matter. One by one, close to suffocation, the men were forced to seek the upper deck. Blackbeard held out the longest and was quite pleased that he was better fitted to live in hell than the others.
We can hardly imagine such a thing, and yet there are many who are rushing on to the “lake of fire” with no thought of its reality. Hell is nothing to joke about! It is a real place, and those who reject the Saviour of sinners will end up there. Not just for a time, but for eternity.
“In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:2323And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)). “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)).