Hell!
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
58 Vignettes For Cycle B
Theme
Hell is real. Jesus taught about it. Stay away from it and tell your friends, too.
Summary
During a talk show the host is asking the question: "What is your view of hell?" He gets some good information from the Bible and then experiences it himself.
Playing Time
6 minutes
Setting
A television talk show
Props
Microphone
Costumes
Contemporary
Time
The time of truth
Cast
HOST
BILL
JOHN
PAM
WILLOW
ANGEL I
ANGEL II
(TWO ANGELS ENTER AND STAND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PLATFORM)
HOST: (ENTERS AND MOVES THROUGH THE AUDIENCE) Our question today is: "What is your view of hell?" What about you? What is your view of hell?
JOHN: (STANDS) I see hell as a place of final punishment for those who reject Jesus.
HOST: You think hell is an actual place, then.
JOHN: Yes, of course. The Bible teaches that it is.
HOST: Where is that in the Bible, do you know?
JOHN: No, I don't know exactly.
PAM: I know a reference.
HOST: Wait until I get there with the microphone. (CROSSES TO PAM) Now, then, you say you know of a reference in the Bible referring to hell?
PAM: It says in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus that it is a place of torment.
HOST: This is interesting. You say it's an actual place, and not only a place but a place of torment.
PAM: Right. That story is in Luke 16.
HOST: Thank you. People can look that up on their own, but for now let's continue with our question for the day: "What is your view of hell?" How about you?
WILLOW: (STANDS) In the Bible study I attend our teacher said there are quite a few different words that are translated "hell" in the Bible.
HOST: Now, this will help. What were those different words?
PAM: Pardon me.
HOST: Yes?
PAM: (SPEAKING TO WILLOW) Don't you remember, our teacher said there were four words that are translated "hell."
WILLOW: I didn't remember how many.
HOST: Do you remember the words?
PAM: I wrote them down. Here they are: Tartaraho (2 Peter 2:4) -- a Greek word that refers to a place meant for sinning angels. Ge-enna (Mark 9:48) -- another Greek word that represents a Hebrew word with the concept of unquenchable fire and an undying worm.
HOST: That's very graphic.
WILLOW: The Bible is like that sometimes.
HOST: And you said there were two more words translated "hell."
PAM: Yes, another Greek word, hades, which means the underworld or the region of the departed. An intermediate place between death and future resurrection.
HOST: And the other word?
PAM: Sheol, a Hebrew word meaning about the same as hades. It is a place where the dead, both bad and good, dwell together.
HOST: Then the Bible teaches that the good and bad dwell together after death.
BILL: No, no. That's not right.
HOST: Oh, so you disagree?
BILL: Jesus changed things. Jesus conquered death by coming back to life after he was dead. And while he was dead he entered the realm of hades and freed the righteous dead that were there. (1 Peter 3:18-20; Ephesians 4:8-10)
HOST: So, you're saying that Jesus changed what happens to the dead?
BILL: He sure did. Now, when the righteous die they go directly to be with Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
HOST: And what about the others, those who reject Jesus?
BILL: They still go to hades where they are tormented and where they await their judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
HOST: So, you're saying that the unrighteous dead go through torment during the waiting period and then they are condemned to eternal torment, right?
BILL: Not me. That's what the Bible says.
HOST: Now, wait a minute. That doesn't sound like a loving God to me. How can you reconcile this God of judgment with a God of love?
BILL: It's all God's personality. God's love is part of God. So is God's judgment.
HOST: How can that be?
BILL: God is holy, right?
HOST: That's what I've been told.
BILL: God is holy and therefore cannot be associated with unholiness. The judgment is actually part of the holiness. Those who reject Jesus actually place themselves in a position that is unholy and therefore they have chosen their own future -- judgment.
HOST: You're getting this from the Bible, right?
BILL: That's right.
HOST: Well, I don't happen to believe in the Bible.
BILL: But what if the Bible is true? What will you do then?
ANGEL I: He doesn't understand.
ANGEL II: No. Show him death and hell.
(HOST FALLS DEAD ON THE FLOOR)
PAM: What in the world?
BILL: He's dead!
WILLOW: He just keeled over.
(ANGEL I, ALONG WITH ANGEL II, TAKE HOST BY THE ARMS AND LIFT HIM UP)
HOST: What's happening? Where am I going?
ANGEL II: You'll recognize it when you get there.
HOST: Oh, no! I do recognize it. This is hell! Aargh! The worm ...
ANGEL II: You decided to come here.
HOST: I didn't decide anything. No, no, not that! No, no, get away from me. Aargh!
ANGEL I: You made a decision. Not deciding is a decision. (ANGEL I AND ANGEL II BEGIN TO EXIT)
HOST: No, you can't leave me here. Please come back. It's so black. I can't see a thing. It's so lonely. Don't leave me, please. Aaiee! (HOST SHAKES HIS HEAD AS IF ALL THIS WAS A BAD DREAM)
BILL: I said, what if the Bible is true? What will you do then?
HOST: Wow. Sorry. I just had a weird thought.
BILL: Oh, yeah, what was that?
HOST: Oh, nothing, never mind.
BILL: Well, what do you think about what the Bible says about hell?
HOST: I don't believe a word of it. Not a word. (EXITING) I'll think about it some more.
ANGEL I: Tiresome, aren't they?
ANGEL II: He may not have as long as he thinks.
Hell is real. Jesus taught about it. Stay away from it and tell your friends, too.
Summary
During a talk show the host is asking the question: "What is your view of hell?" He gets some good information from the Bible and then experiences it himself.
Playing Time
6 minutes
Setting
A television talk show
Props
Microphone
Costumes
Contemporary
Time
The time of truth
Cast
HOST
BILL
JOHN
PAM
WILLOW
ANGEL I
ANGEL II
(TWO ANGELS ENTER AND STAND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PLATFORM)
HOST: (ENTERS AND MOVES THROUGH THE AUDIENCE) Our question today is: "What is your view of hell?" What about you? What is your view of hell?
JOHN: (STANDS) I see hell as a place of final punishment for those who reject Jesus.
HOST: You think hell is an actual place, then.
JOHN: Yes, of course. The Bible teaches that it is.
HOST: Where is that in the Bible, do you know?
JOHN: No, I don't know exactly.
PAM: I know a reference.
HOST: Wait until I get there with the microphone. (CROSSES TO PAM) Now, then, you say you know of a reference in the Bible referring to hell?
PAM: It says in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus that it is a place of torment.
HOST: This is interesting. You say it's an actual place, and not only a place but a place of torment.
PAM: Right. That story is in Luke 16.
HOST: Thank you. People can look that up on their own, but for now let's continue with our question for the day: "What is your view of hell?" How about you?
WILLOW: (STANDS) In the Bible study I attend our teacher said there are quite a few different words that are translated "hell" in the Bible.
HOST: Now, this will help. What were those different words?
PAM: Pardon me.
HOST: Yes?
PAM: (SPEAKING TO WILLOW) Don't you remember, our teacher said there were four words that are translated "hell."
WILLOW: I didn't remember how many.
HOST: Do you remember the words?
PAM: I wrote them down. Here they are: Tartaraho (2 Peter 2:4) -- a Greek word that refers to a place meant for sinning angels. Ge-enna (Mark 9:48) -- another Greek word that represents a Hebrew word with the concept of unquenchable fire and an undying worm.
HOST: That's very graphic.
WILLOW: The Bible is like that sometimes.
HOST: And you said there were two more words translated "hell."
PAM: Yes, another Greek word, hades, which means the underworld or the region of the departed. An intermediate place between death and future resurrection.
HOST: And the other word?
PAM: Sheol, a Hebrew word meaning about the same as hades. It is a place where the dead, both bad and good, dwell together.
HOST: Then the Bible teaches that the good and bad dwell together after death.
BILL: No, no. That's not right.
HOST: Oh, so you disagree?
BILL: Jesus changed things. Jesus conquered death by coming back to life after he was dead. And while he was dead he entered the realm of hades and freed the righteous dead that were there. (1 Peter 3:18-20; Ephesians 4:8-10)
HOST: So, you're saying that Jesus changed what happens to the dead?
BILL: He sure did. Now, when the righteous die they go directly to be with Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
HOST: And what about the others, those who reject Jesus?
BILL: They still go to hades where they are tormented and where they await their judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
HOST: So, you're saying that the unrighteous dead go through torment during the waiting period and then they are condemned to eternal torment, right?
BILL: Not me. That's what the Bible says.
HOST: Now, wait a minute. That doesn't sound like a loving God to me. How can you reconcile this God of judgment with a God of love?
BILL: It's all God's personality. God's love is part of God. So is God's judgment.
HOST: How can that be?
BILL: God is holy, right?
HOST: That's what I've been told.
BILL: God is holy and therefore cannot be associated with unholiness. The judgment is actually part of the holiness. Those who reject Jesus actually place themselves in a position that is unholy and therefore they have chosen their own future -- judgment.
HOST: You're getting this from the Bible, right?
BILL: That's right.
HOST: Well, I don't happen to believe in the Bible.
BILL: But what if the Bible is true? What will you do then?
ANGEL I: He doesn't understand.
ANGEL II: No. Show him death and hell.
(HOST FALLS DEAD ON THE FLOOR)
PAM: What in the world?
BILL: He's dead!
WILLOW: He just keeled over.
(ANGEL I, ALONG WITH ANGEL II, TAKE HOST BY THE ARMS AND LIFT HIM UP)
HOST: What's happening? Where am I going?
ANGEL II: You'll recognize it when you get there.
HOST: Oh, no! I do recognize it. This is hell! Aargh! The worm ...
ANGEL II: You decided to come here.
HOST: I didn't decide anything. No, no, not that! No, no, get away from me. Aargh!
ANGEL I: You made a decision. Not deciding is a decision. (ANGEL I AND ANGEL II BEGIN TO EXIT)
HOST: No, you can't leave me here. Please come back. It's so black. I can't see a thing. It's so lonely. Don't leave me, please. Aaiee! (HOST SHAKES HIS HEAD AS IF ALL THIS WAS A BAD DREAM)
BILL: I said, what if the Bible is true? What will you do then?
HOST: Wow. Sorry. I just had a weird thought.
BILL: Oh, yeah, what was that?
HOST: Oh, nothing, never mind.
BILL: Well, what do you think about what the Bible says about hell?
HOST: I don't believe a word of it. Not a word. (EXITING) I'll think about it some more.
ANGEL I: Tiresome, aren't they?
ANGEL II: He may not have as long as he thinks.
