Help on Tele2, tariffs, questions

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Surah "Crowds":

“And they will drag those who did not believe to Hell in crowds until they arrive to it and then the gates will open, and its guardians will ask: “Did not messengers from your people come to you, read to you the Scripture of your Lord and foretell to you the meeting of your day today?” ?. They will answer: “Undoubtedly, but the destined punishment for the unbelievers has come true.” It will be said: “Enter the gates of Hell forever and ever and a vile abode for the proud.”

“And they will drag those who did not believe to Hell in crowds...”... in small groups, one after another in proportion to their errors and sins.

“...until they arrive to him and the gates open...”...so that they could come in.

"... and his guardians will ask: ..."...reproaching and blaming.

“Did not messengers come to you from among your people, read to you the Scripture of your Lord, and foretell to you the meeting of this day?” ...the time of your entry into Hell.

They will answer: “Undoubtedly, but the destined punishment for the unbelievers has come true.”... Allah's predestination of our punishment, namely the decree that they will be the inhabitants of Hell. It is said that this is the Word of Allah: “Verily, I will fill Hell with all the sinful jinn and humans.” Surah “Prostration”, verse 13.

"...and the abode of the proud is a bad place." Their refuge in Hell for their pride in rejecting the truth and this punishment was destined for them, and pride and other sins are the reason for this predestination, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Truly, Allah, when creating a slave for Paradise, predetermines for him the deeds of the inhabitants of Paradise, and until his death, the slave performs good deeds and goes to Paradise because of them. Verily, Allah creating a slave for Hell, predetermines for him the deeds of the inhabitants of Hell, and until his death the slave commits sins and ends up in Hell because of them.” From tafsir “Qadi Baydawi”, 71 verses.

It is stated that the enemies of Allah Almighty will be led to Hell with black faces, blue eyes and sealed mouths. When they are brought to the gates of Hell, they will be met by Hell's angels with chains and shackles. Chains will be pushed into their mouths and pulled out from behind, their right hand will be chained to their neck, and their left hand will be pulled through their chest between their shoulder blades and chained. Each unbeliever will be chained with one chain to his companion - the shaitan, and will be dragged upside down, and the angels will beat him with iron clubs. Every time they want to get out of Hell, they will be returned there again, as Allah Almighty said: “Every time they want to get out of it, they will be returned there again and it will be said to them: “Taste the punishment of Hell, which you thought deceit." Surah "Hajj", 22 verse. From the book "Accurate Information".

It is reported that Abu Yazid had tears constantly flowing from his eyes and he was sobbing incessantly, and when he was asked about this, he replied: “Truly, if Allah Almighty promised me that if I sin forever, leave me in the bathhouse, then I am obliged to would be incessantly shedding tears. How not to cry when Allah promised me to leave me in Hell, which He has been kindling for three thousand years.” From the book "Niche".

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Jabrail came to me and I asked him : “Oh, Jabrail! Describe Hell to me." He replied: “Verily, Allah Almighty created Hell and kindled it for a thousand years until it turned red, then kindled it for another thousand years until it turned white, then kindled it for another thousand years until it turned black. Hell is blacker than the darkest night, its flame does not fade and its sparks do not go out.”

Muhammad bin Ka'b said: “Verily, the inhabitants of Hell will turn to Allah five times, He will answer them four times, and after the fifth time He will never speak to them again. They will pray: “Our Lord! You killed us twice and resurrected us.” twice, and we have admitted our sins, is there a way for liberation?" Surah "The Forgiving", verse 11. Allah Almighty will answer them: "This is because when they called for One Allah, you did not believe, and when you called for polytheism - you have believed, but judgment belongs only to Allah, the Most High, the Great." Surah "The Forgiving", verse 12. They will pray a second time: "Our Lord! We have seen and heard, and now bring us back and we will do good, for truly , we are convinced." Surah "Prostration", verse 12. Allah Almighty will answer them: “Didn’t you really swear before that you wouldn’t be resurrected?” Surah Ibrahim, 44 verse. They will pray a third time: “Our Lord! Bring us out and we will begin to do good, not what we did before.” Surah “The Creator”, verse 37. Allah Almighty will answer them: “Have they not given you life sufficient for the one who believed to believe, because a warner was sent down to you? So taste the punishment and there is no intercessor for sinners.” Surah “The Creator”, verse 37. They will pray for the fourth time: “Our Lord! Our fierce predestination tormented us, and we were lost people. Our Lord! Get us out of here and if we return to unbelief again, then we are unjust to ourselves.” Surah “The Believers”, 106 verse. Allah Almighty will answer them: “Remain humble in it and call on me no more.” They will never speak again, accepting this terrible punishment. “They will not taste either coolness or drink in Hell. But only boiling water and pus.” Surah “Message”, verses 24-25. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If one bucket of this pus is thrown into this world, then everything that exists will burn from it.”

Allah Almighty said: “Whenever their skin burns, We give them a new one in return, so that they may taste the punishment.” Surah "Women", 56 verse.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The fire of hell consumes them seventy thousand times every day, and every time they are told: “Return to your previous state,” and they become as before, and they do not die in Hell.”

Allah Almighty said: “And death comes to him from all sides, but he does not die.” Surah Ibrahim, 17th verse. From the book “Niche of Lights”.

Quoted from the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them): “Hell will be brought out from under the seventh earth, and around It there will be seventy thousand rows of angels, each of the rows outnumbering people and jinn seventy thousand times, and there will be angels dragging Hell by the bridle. Hell has four legs, between the legs there is a distance of a million years of travel, He also has thirty thousand heads and in each there are thirty thousand mouths like jaws, and in each mouth there are thirty thousand fangs, each of which is thirty thousand times larger than Mount Uhud. Each mouth has two lips and each of them is similar in size to all the levels of this world combined. On each lip there is a chain of iron and each chain of seventy thousand links, with a huge number of angels assigned to each link. The angels will bring Hell and install it to the left of the Throne.” From the book “Accurate Information.”

Hell Fire

It is described in the hadith how Allah sent Jibril to Malik, the guardian angel of Hell, so that He asked him for hellfire for Adam, to cook food on it. And Malik asked Jibril: “Oh, Jibril! How much hellfire do you want to take?” Jibril answered: “I want to take the fire of hell the size of a date.” Malik said: “If I give you hellish fire the size of a date, then all seven heavens and seven earths will melt from its heat.” Jabrail said: “Give me half a date.” Malik said: “Oh, Jibril! If I give you what you want, not a single drop of rain will fall from the sky and not a single blade of grass will sprout from the ground.” And then Jibril asked: “My Lord! How much fire of hell should I take?” Allah Almighty will answer Him: “The size of a speck of dust.” Jibril took the fire of hell, the size of one speck of dust, and washed it in seventy rivers seventy times. Then he brought it to Adam and laid it on a high mountain, but it melted from its heat and this fire returned to its place. Smoke remained in the stones of the mountains and iron until our days, and this fire is only smoke from that speck of dust. So come to your senses, O believers!

The topic of this article is the names of the demons of Hell, as well as their classification. Hell has a certain structure, as well as a vertical of power. This vertical is called the hierarchy of demons. It determines what place one or another of them occupies in the structure of Hell, as well as the tasks and goals that he must fulfill.

Demons of Power

The highest level belongs to the Demons of Power. They include the Lord (Lucifer), as well as Wezelbub and Astaroth. These demons of Hell share their positions with their spouses, but the dominant role in the management of Hell belongs to men. The role of women is not diminished or limited. They can also make important decisions, but only on their own responsibility. Let us describe in more detail what the highest demons of Hell are.

Lucifer

The Lord of Hell is Lucifer. His parents are Nokaniel and Jehovah. His wife is the demon Casicandriera. Lucifer has no children. He has the greatest power of all the demons. All natural phenomena, creatures, energies of the worlds subject to it rest on it. Lucifer is outwardly distinguished by a strong physique and great height. His skin is red, he has dark hair and large horns on his head. Lucifer also has large dark wings. This demon cares only about his world and the creatures living in it. He is trying to improve their lives.

Astaroth

Astaroth is also the Demon of Power. He is the Lord's deputy and his first assistant. All the energies and forces of Hell in the absence of Lucifer are closed on him. Astaroth is married to Astarte. Their firstborn is Perochul. Astaroth left Paradise along with the Lord. This is one of Lucifer's closest friends. His character is sociable and cheerful. Astaroth is popular with women. Outwardly he is very handsome. The skin is pale with a bluish tint, the hair is bright black, the deep dark eyes always sparkle. Astaroth also has huge wings.

Wezelbul

Wezelbul is the second assistant of the Lord. His wife is Bufovirt, his son is Miloris. This fallen angel or demon is a master of his craft and takes all matters seriously. He is a true patriot of Hell, who helped the Lord in the creation of the world and its development. Beelzebub's appearance is individual: short dark hair with long bangs, a serious expression on his face, blue-gray skin, pale. He has large dark wings, shimmering red, and large gray horns. His personal sign is the fly, since Wezelbub listened to insects even in childhood.

Ruler's entourage

In the hierarchy, the next level is occupied by the demons of Hell, who are the Ruler's Close Ones. They have the right to act on his behalf in resolving various government issues.

Belphegor

Belphegor is the Demon of the Brotherhood, one of the Lord's Close Ones, and also one of Lucifer's best friends. He leads a group of demons and can act on behalf of the ruler in resolving various issues. Belphegor is married to Depinpik. He is one of the strongest fighters in Hell, who knows no mercy or pity in battle. He is also merciless towards lawbreakers. It is believed that there are two main merry fellows in hell - Belphegor and Asmodeus. This demon is beautiful in appearance. His skin is bright blue, his hair is dark blue, his eyes, horns and wings are also blue.

Asmodeus

Asmodeus is a Demon of the Brotherhood who leads a group of demons. He is a close associate of the ruler and also has the right to act on behalf of Lucifer. He has no wife and children. Asmodeus became the leader of the group of Demons at the age of 7, and at 12 he became a Close One, which is considered a unique phenomenon. The character of Asmodeus is contradictory. At the same time he is called both the charm and the psycho of Hell. This demon has pale skin with a blue tint, shoulder-length dark long hair, gray eyes, a strong build, large dark gray wings and large horns.

Lucifer's Close Ones also include other demons of Hell, who are not only his friends, but at the same time his main assistants in resolving issues in the life of Hell and in current affairs. But they cannot act on his behalf. Let's briefly describe them.

Abbaddon

Abbaddon is a Demon of the Brotherhood who leads a group of Demons. He is the Lord's Close One. He has no wife or children. This is a strong and brutal fighter. Knows no mercy in battle. Abbaddon is the conqueror of women's hearts. He is handsome, his skin is light peach in color, he has blond hair, a strong build, blue eyes, straight white horns, light blue wings.

Adonai

Adonai works in Asmodeus' group and is a close associate of the Lord. Married to Lamia, has many children. He has a complex history of existence in Hell, as well as a difficult relationship with the Overlord. For violating the law, his wife is currently serving a severe sentence, performing hard work. Adonai does not maintain any contact with her. Outwardly, this demon is quite attractive. He has red eyes, dark brown skin, blond hair with long bangs, dark horns, large brown wings.

Belial

Belial - Closer to the Ruler, Chief Priest. This is one of the most powerful Demons in Hell. He has no wife and children. He monitors the work of the priestly directions, devoting himself entirely to the work. Belial has practically no free time. He is quite demanding and cruel, and does not give anyone any concessions. This demon does not tolerate refusals or excuses in his work. For such things, he personally severely punishes, even to the point of expelling the soul of the offender to the mortal world. Belial, like other priests, makes various objects into which he invests certain energy. Outwardly he is handsome. Skin color is blue, eyes are violet, hair is brown. Belial has black large wings and bull horns.

Kadumar

Kadumar - Closer of the Lord, Demon of the Brotherhood. He has no children and wife. This is a strong fighter. Has fiery skin, red hair, solid dark red eyes, large horns, and wings with a black and red pattern. The physique is strong.

Lokisor

Lokisor is a Demon of Power. Not married, no children. For some time Lokisor stayed on Earth, where he carried out the tasks entrusted to him. He only wears clothes made from the skin of demons or demons. He makes it himself and sometimes sews it. Lokisor also makes whips. He has blond hair, blue skin, blue solid eyes, black bull horns, and black wings.

Olotan

Olotan was formerly the Demon Gatherer, now he is the Demon of the Brotherhood. He is not married, he also has no children. This is a fairly strong fallen angel or demon. He came to Asmodeus’ group at his invitation, having previously led a group of Demon Gatherers. Olotan trained under Asmodeus and then began his work. When performing official duties he is demanding. He has peach-colored skin and constantly changes his hairstyle. Olotan has large horns that go slightly to the side and then straight ahead. He, like all demons, has large wings.

Chambers

Palatem is another Demon of the Brotherhood from Asmodeus' group. Married to Kali. The Chamber led a group of Demons of Power for some time; he took this place at a young age. Then Asmodeus noticed him and invited him under his leadership to the Demons of the Brotherhood, teaching him personally. He has brown skin, long blonde hair with bangs over his eyes and some yellow highlights, solid brown eyes, large horns, and dark wings.

Pikhtion

Pichtion is also the Demon of the Brotherhood. He has no parents, wife or children. Only Voloeyan, his sister, is his close relative. He works in her group. This is a rather cruel demon, does not tolerate rudeness and insolence, and is a strong fighter. Has red hair, emerald eyes, fair skin, fiery wings and red horns.

Brotherhood Demons and Priests

Priests and Demons of the Brotherhood occupy the next level in the hierarchy. A group of priests has certain privileges, but at the same time they have stricter standards of behavior than other Demons, as well as enormous responsibility for their actions.

In their internal structure, the Demons of the Brotherhood have several different directions, the main of which are the following: Rikot, Motolu and Panora.

Panora are a species of demons responsible for maintaining order and law. They participate in on-site inspections and also eliminate violations.

The Motolu direction includes demons who are elite scouts and fighters.

Rikot are demons who are the leaders of groups.

In addition to maintaining order and law, all Demons of the Brotherhood participate in battles. The head of them all is Satan. All demons in this group obey him, except the priests.

Satan

Satan is the Head of the Species, the Demon of the Brotherhood. The names of the demons of Hell, who are known as his children: Adonai, Astarte, Kaido, Grongad and others. This is a strong fighter who has independently achieved his status through hard work. Satan's appearance is asphalt-colored skin, no hair on his head, small gray eyes, a weak body (one shoulder is slightly higher than the other), large curved and crooked horns, asphalt-colored wings.

More about priests

Priests are very powerful demons who are able to subjugate and control energies. They distribute the limits of these energies to the Demons of Power, and also monitor the state of the egregors and the movement of energies, and can restore their proper circulation. Belial is at their head. There are certain directions in the priesthood: Priests of Chaos, Priests of Animals, Priests of Nature, Priests of Fire, Priests of Mystery.

Other inhabitants of Hell

The classification of demons is not limited to this. There are other inhabitants of Hell. In addition to the above, its structure includes Strong, Medium and Small demons. Small ones are succubi and incubi, as well as Dream Demons. Succubi and incubi work in the same direction. They are responsible for maintaining contact with different worlds and differ in gender: among incubi it is male, and among succubi it is female. Demons and nols are at the lowest level of the hierarchy (they are no longer demons).

Demons

In Hell, demons are slaves or service personnel. They do not have great intelligence, their activities are not directed in a creative direction. However, they have power, albeit small. Imps are capable, like demons, of telekinesis and teleportation, as well as telepathy. They resemble humans in appearance and do not have horns or wings, with rare exceptions. They are terribly untidy and sloppy, and also fearful, they are carriers of rumors and gossip, they hate and fear demons.

Nolas

Nols are working class. However, they are engaged in creation, unlike demons. They do not have strength, but they are endowed with intelligence. Their neat appearance also distinguishes them from demons. Nols are mortal inhabitants of Hell. Like demons, they create families in which not only nolas, but also demons can be born. However, if a Nol is born into a demon's family, he is thrown away, since it is considered shameful for a demon to raise such a child. Special institutions exist for Nolas, where they are taught various crafts free of charge.

The hierarchy of demons of Hell has been briefly described by us. Of course, we limited ourselves to describing only the main ones. As you know, the main demons of Hell, as well as its smaller inhabitants, have wives. The characteristics of some of them are also very interesting. The description of the demons of Hell, as you understand, lacks scientific accuracy. It is impossible to prove their existence. However, the strongest demons of Hell are described in approximately the same way in many sources. This leads to certain thoughts. Perhaps the classification of demons presented above is not just someone’s invention.

RESIDENTS OF HELL AND GEHENNA

Persons of both sexes, i.e., go to hell, as well as to heaven, after the private judgment of Christ, on the 40th day after death. male and female. Those souls of Christians who fell into mortal sins, who brought repentance, did not despair of their salvation, but did not have time to give the fruits of repentance, also temporarily go to hell. Sinners go to hell whose fate at a private trial has not been finally decided. The souls imprisoned here remain temporarily.

In addition to the fallen spirits, for whom eternal torment was prepared from eternity for their apostasy, those of people who, while living on earth, were constantly in union and communion not with good Angels, but with evil spirits, become his heirs and accomplices. Thus, according to the teachings of the Lord, in community with fallen rejected spirits there are all those who are unmerciful, hard-hearted, alien to deeds of love and mercy, and therefore cannot be in the kingdom of love beyond the grave. They inherit the afterlife, corresponding to the mood of their souls - they inherit Gehenna. According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, immediately after death those condemned on earth go to Gehenna: unrepentant (hardened, desperate) sinners, unbelievers, freethinkers, blasphemers, misanthropes. They are directly and irrevocably cast into Gehenna, as hopeless and decisively lost for the kingdom of God; the wicked, i.e. non-believers in Christ, evil heretics and those Orthodox Christians who spent their lives in sins or fell into some mortal sin and did not heal themselves by repentance - they all inherit eternal torment along with the fallen angels.

The distinctive character of the unresolved state of souls is similar to that painful state of souls on earth in which life takes precedence over destruction. Likewise, the souls of an unresolved state, despite their sinful gravity, are full of faith and hope in God the Redeemer, who took their sins onto his shoulders. And in this mood of spirit, they, together with the inhabitants of heaven, kneel before the Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother, singing the solemn song of praise “Hallelujah”. Those destined for salvation are in hell for the time being. They are there now, just as they were before. After his death, John the Baptist entered hell to them to preach to them about the Savior who had come to earth. So the Orthodox Church says in the troparion written in his honor: “The memory of the Righteous One with praise, but the testimony of the Lord, the Forerunner, is sufficient for you; You have truly shown yourself to be more honorable than the prophets, as in the streams of baptism you were considered worthy of the Preached One; Having also suffered for the truth, rejoicing, you preached the good news to those in hell of the God revealed in the flesh; taking away the sin of the world and giving us great mercy” (Canon of the Forerunner).

To such souls of an unresolved state, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself finally descended with His divine soul. “A burned soul,” writes St. John of Damascus, - descended into hell, so that just as on earth the Sun of righteousness would shine, so under the earth the light would illuminate those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death; so that just as on earth Christ preached peace, gave remission to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and therefore was the author of the eternal salvation of those who believed and the accuser of the unbelief of those who did not believe, so in hell; let every tribe of heaven, earth and hell worship Him, and thus, having loosed those who had been chained for centuries, He finally rose from the dead, showing us the way to salvation” (Detailed presentation of the Orthodox faith. book 3, chapter 29). The Savior came down to those souls who had faith and hope; but to those who do not know Him and to those who stubbornly rebel against faith in Him He did not descend into Gehenna. Just as on earth, he did not go where he did not foresee the possibility of faith. This is the distinctive character of the inhabitants of hell who have the opportunity to become inhabitants of heaven: faith and hope carried over by souls from earth to hell. There is no such thing in Gehenna.

In the first period of hellish life, since the soul exists without a body, then torment belongs only to one soul. The removal of sinners from God - the Source of life, light, joy and generally bliss - is the first, main reason for torment. Since the soul in the first period is without a body, moving away from God constitutes internal, spiritual torment for it.

It is said that in hell, which has many gates, in the first period there are two states of souls, unresolved and condemned; therefore, the torments of both have their differences. The internal spiritual torment of souls in an unresolved state is gratified by hope in God, who does not want the death and destruction of sinners. These souls admit themselves guilty of hell, and, before the name of Jesus Christ, along with all the inhabitants of heaven, they bow their knees and thereby more and more accept grace, healing infirmities and replenishing what is missing. Therefore, it cannot be said that the souls of the unresolved state were completely removed from God, just as those condemned in Gehenna for unbelief were removed from Him. The infidels cast into Gehenna do not bow their knees to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Torment is a state of soul completely opposite to bliss; the state is unnatural and therefore painful, suffering. A state in which the soul with all its powers and feelings suffers a special, never-ending torment. According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, the life of saints is opposite to the life of those souls who will not be worthy of bliss at a private trial.

The state of souls imprisoned in hell and hell, their activities in relation to God and themselves - constitute internal, spiritual torment. They correlate their sins and actions with the activities of moral beings: good Angels, saints, as well as with the lives of other people who are with them in hell or in Gehenna. And finally, the soul from hell interacts with those still on earth - this is external activity. Consequently, for the soul in Gehenna, the torment in the first period will be both internal and external. Since the soul and body participated in the evil activities of man, in his sinful actions, then there must be reward for both soul and body. Therefore, in the first period the torment will be incomplete, imperfect, and in the second - complete, perfect.

Imperfect torment in the first period, and perfect torment in the second period, is both internal and external. The parable (Luke 16:24-28) represents the afterlife state of souls of the first period. The Savior spoke about souls in the afterlife (about the unfortunate rich man, Lazarus and Abraham), and about the rich man’s brothers still on earth. Here is the afterlife of the first period. If a rich man, according to the word of Jesus Christ, suffers in a flame, then, of course, in that subtlest ethereal heat, which corresponds to the subtlest ethereal nature of the soul and the evil fallen angels, since God is only spirit, and all His creation is not spirit, but matter; and this ethereal matter, i.e. the soul and the evil angel, corresponds to the fire of Gehenna of the subtlest nature; the human body: as sensual, by its union with the soul in the second period, sensual fire, whose nature is coarser, will also correspond.

As for the souls of the unresolved state, which, although they died in sins (and therefore are condemned to torment), but at the same time laid the beginning of repentance on earth and had in the depths of their souls the seeds of goodness, although not yet fully revealed, about their state of St. Scripture was not pleased to reveal anything definite to us. However, the mercy of God and the power of the merits of Christ the Savior, which extend to people even before the final judgment, as well as the very justice of God, which, while punishing evil, cannot leave good without any reward, give us the right to believe that the torment of such souls is softened some consolation. These souls are not hopeless. And, although they cannot perceive it themselves from their state, they thirst and expect outside help for this and are able to take advantage of it. Our Orthodox Church professes this: the souls of people who have fallen into mortal sins, and who are not in despair at death, but who have repented even before separation from real life, but who have not yet had time to bear any fruits of repentance, descend to hell and suffer punishment for the sins they have committed, without being deprived of , however, there is hope for relief from them.”

The Apostle Paul testifies to the internal and external life and activity of souls in an unresolved state when he says that their activity regarding God is expressed in kneeling before the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; and with worship is already combined standing before God and, to some extent, seeing God. With all this is connected also hope in God, and therefore, to some extent, joy in the Lord, consolation, joy. And since, according to the teachings of the Church, these souls, after repentance, without despair, passed on to the afterlife, there remains hope for endless mercy. Beyond the grave, the state of the souls of repentant sinners, although suffering, is still imbued with hope. As passive it burdens the soul with a sinful weight, but as imbued with reliability it calms it. A constant alternation of contrition and tranquility is their internal activity regarding themselves. Worshiping God, they are therefore not alien to respect and reverence for everything holy; they also give honor to the servants of God - the holy Angels and righteous souls. Their activity regarding God, the holy Angels and the holy saints of God is joined by their activity regarding those still on earth. The latter is expressed in the desire and hope for their help to improve from the afterlife.

So, if the souls of the unresolved state have some consolation, then we can assume about those who are in hell that they worship the Lord Jesus Christ together. This is the internal and external activity of souls in an unresolved state. The Eastern Patriarchs believe similar things about such souls in their Confession of the Orthodox Faith (member 18).

The activity of lost sinners, as well as of righteous souls in paradise, is of three types: in relation to God, in relation to their neighbor, and in relation to themselves. In relation to God, their activity consists of hatred of Him, blasphemy of Him and desire for what is contrary to His will. The inner torment of the soul consists in itself: in a clear and detailed consciousness of the sins with which souls offended God in this life, in remorse, which will awaken with all its strength beyond the grave; in painful languor and melancholy from the fact that the soul’s attachment to the earthly and carnal cannot now find satisfaction for itself, and its desire and taste for the heavenly and spiritual are not revealed and can no longer be revealed. And, finally, in despair and in the desire to stop existing.

Self-consciousness, which makes the soul a personal being, will not leave it even in Gehenna. The activity of the forces of the soul will continue there. Thinking, cognition, feeling and desire are different from the manifestation of these forces in heaven. The properties of the internal activity of the soul, its self-awareness, are completely opposite to the state and internal activity in paradise. Objects of activity in general in Gehenna, both internal and external, are lies, and their father is the devil. Everything sinful, contrary to God, was the subject of the power of thought on earth; evil will be the subject of thinking activity even beyond the grave. Freethinking, striving to destroy the moral order on earth and beyond the grave, as disagreeing with the will of God, will belong to the kingdom of the enemy of God and man, to the kingdom of the devil.

The God-given spiritual power of knowledge can, due to the evil will of man, deviate from its natural, true purpose to the unnatural, when the object of the activity of knowledge becomes the corruption and destruction of oneself and one’s neighbor, the spread of everything immoral. The knowledge of evil, according to the law of endless development, passes into the afterlife, into the kingdom of evil, and here continues to develop throughout eternity. And in Gehenna there are many objects for the activity of malicious knowledge for “improvement in the direction opposite to the true, good and beautiful.”

If on earth the activity of feelings was the opposite of what is true, good and beautiful, and feelings were constantly exercising themselves in the unnatural, illegal, then even beyond the grave their action will correspond to that on earth, and will be filled not with joy, but with inexpressible sorrow. The habit of feeling towards sin will not find satisfaction here. And deprivation of what you want is already suffering. Despite the ever-increasing desire of the senses for satisfaction, in the absence of objects of desire, the actions of the senses will remain forever unsatisfied.

An unnatural state of the soul, painful, contrary to its nature, is called a passionate state. Passions are ulcers, illnesses that are healed on earth: Holy Baptism, repentance, communion, prayer, fasting, attention to oneself. On earth, grace, which heals everything that is weak, heals passions. The action of passions - everyone knows how much work it takes to overcome them! Earthly passions are either overcome by grace, or satisfied by the person himself; in the first case, he is the winner, in the second, the person is defeated. Since the soul is tightly and mysteriously connected with the body, and they mutually influence each other, the state of the soul is reflected in the state of the body, and vice versa. In the same way, passions - mental and physical - mutually influence both the soul and the body. The passionate state of the soul is not only manifested in the visible actions of a person, but also in the state of the body; special pallor, shaking, gnashing of teeth - is an expression of envy, malice, anger. To what extent on earth do human passions lead? To the point of self-forgetfulness, if they are not satisfied and at the same time not healed; but the constant satisfaction of passions also destroys all the powers and abilities of the soul and man.

The soul that has passed beyond the grave with unhealed wounds - with its passions - remains there in a passionate, painful state and, unhealed on earth, can no longer get rid of its passions here. And just as an incurable disease develops more and more, so behind the grave the passionate state of the soul, according to the law of life, develops more and more, reaching terrifying proportions. In Gehenna there is no healing, no liberation from passion, there is no longer grace for sinners and no satisfaction of passions, but there is only the wrath of God. Unsatisfied and unsatisfied passion is a state of the soul that fully corresponds to Gehenna. The constantly unsatisfied passionate state of the soul finally leads it to despair, into bitterness, and then into the state of the most evil spirits - blasphemy and hatred of saints.

The development of passions cannot stop according to the law of life. If in earthly life the object of the mind and heart was God and the Kingdom of Heaven, then after death the soul achieves what it wants. On the contrary, if the object of the soul on earth was the world with all its secular delights, then beyond the grave there will be no such object for the soul. The habit of sin, of fulfilling one’s passions, which has turned into nature and made the passionate state of the outcasts seem natural, will incessantly torment the soul for all eternity. The object of the desires of the saints is constantly growing and being satisfied, while the desires (passions) of the condemned are developing, but do not have an object in which they would be embodied. This is what the internal torment of sinners in Gehenna consists of! Insurmountable passions - hopeless, never eradicated - torment and will torment the soul for all eternity. And we can affirmatively conclude that the effect of passions beyond the grave is much stronger than on earth. That everything acquired by the soul on earth, both good and evil, goes with it beyond the grave, characterizes it there, defining the state corresponding to the qualities of the soul. St. testifies to this. Gregory of Nyssa: “If someone completely immerses his soul in the things of the flesh, then such a person, even if he is no longer in the flesh, will still not be free from the lusts and desires of the flesh. Just as those who spent their lives in unclean places, even if they were moved to the purest and freshest air, still cannot immediately free themselves from the smell that remains with them, so those who are mired in the flesh will always carry with them the smell of the flesh.”

Thus, according to his teaching, death, destroying the union of the soul with the body, does not in itself at all cleanse the soul, mired in sensuality, from its carnal passions and habits. These passions and habits continue to exist and, due to their dissatisfaction, are a source of torment for the soul. The more someone sins, the more he suffers, unless he is healed on earth. Ap. Paul testifies: “God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap: he who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:8).

Crying is a visible, external expression of a state of mind imbued with real joy or sorrow, which is why people sometimes cry out of joy and always out of sorrow. Awareness of one's sinfulness, remorse, and lamentations about the irrevocable cause a state of mind called despair. This internal torment of sinners in Gehenna is called in the Holy Scriptures weeping and gnashing of teeth: “Then, the king said to the servants, having tied his hands and feet, take him and throw him into utter darkness; there will be weeping and cutting of teeth.” The place of imprisonment of sinners is not only hopeless darkness; it contains unbearable torment. Such states of mind on earth are expressed by these visible signs: crying and gnashing of teeth.

Man, consisting of spirit, soul and body, is a spiritual and moral being, the purpose of which already shows his very image and likeness to God. The purpose of man is benevolent: “be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful”; or “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). Man was created for eternity. A spiritual and moral being must also lead a moral and religious life. In order for a person to fulfill his purpose or God’s will for him, God gave him conscience as the beginning of a moral and religious life, a spiritual life that will continue beyond the grave - into eternity. Consequently, conscience is an inseparable companion of the soul, an accessory of the human spirit.

Conscience is contemporary with man and is intended to constantly remind him of what he should be on earth and beyond the grave - according to the purpose for which he was created. If the spirit is a necessary, essential part of a person, then conscience, according to the Apostle Paul, belongs to every person. But why is its manifestation different among different peoples at different times and with different degrees of mental development of the same people? And even among persons with exactly the same mental development, the internal, and, consequently, external activity of conscience is not the same? We see the answer to this in the word of God and in examples from life. Some live according to the spirit, others according to the flesh: the first recognize the requirements of conscience as obligatory for themselves, while others do not!

The requirement of conscience is a requirement of the very spiritual nature of man. By fulfilling the demands of conscience, a person fulfills his purpose; not fulfilling, not considering himself obligated to listen to the inner voice, acts against nature, rejects his purpose, does not recognize the purpose of his existence. The Word of God directly testifies to conscience, as an attribute of the spirit, which already existed among the first people. If the conscience of the first parents had not spoken immediately after the fall, then why would they be afraid and hide from God, why would they cover their nakedness? Shame is an expression of conscience and prompted them to do so.

Shame, prudery is a feeling that is part of the human spirit. The meaning of shame is a person’s desire to hide his nakedness, weakness, ugliness, to hide what is unnatural to him - vice, passion, in short - his evil.

At the Last Judgment and in the second period of the afterlife, a complete man will again arise, consisting of spirit, soul and body. And since weakness, infirmity can be both spiritual-moral and bodily-physical, a person’s desire to hide his unnaturalness from the eyes of the people around him, or the shame of a condemned person, reaches the extreme. Two human natures correspond to two shames: physical and moral. However, spiritual and moral shame is the main essence of shame, which determines the dignity of the undertaking or already completed task. Shame is an expression of conscience, and, as an accessory of the human spirit, it is contemporary with man. Shame is common to everyone: children, elders, the rude, the educated, the stupid and the intelligent. Only to varying degrees! And everyone will be subject to this shame (to one degree or another) at the trial and in the second period of the afterlife.

Spiritual and moral shame is an expression of an offended conscience or a violated internal law. In Holy Scripture, conscience is called an internal law, “written in the heart of every person.” Shame is an inseparable attribute of the spiritual nature of man, and since only man is gifted with spirit, then shame is characteristic only of man and, constituting an inseparable attribute of his spirit, as if expresses the spirit’s consciousness of his imperfection, his weakness. Shame protects a person from bad deeds and punishes for the evil done. Conscience, as the beginning of religious and moral life, is the highest moral force in man, hidden in a being of spiritual nature and manifested in our consciousness. The need for what a person should be according to his purpose. Shamelessness is the highest degree of spiritual depravity, consisting in the rejection of truth and the creation of evil. This moral state is characteristic of fallen spirits and condemned sinners.

The activity of the mind, will and heart clearly makes us understand how far we are fulfilling our purpose - to live according to God - our conscience expresses it; its requirement from a person to live according to the Law of God. This is the main, fundamental subject of conscience. The entire life of a person, the activities of the mind, will and heart, is governed by conscience. Life—human activity on earth—must be consistent with the demands of conscience. Why does life and deeds, at the request of conscience, give a person, even on earth, so to speak, the anticipation of unearthly joy, fun, tranquility, peace, which are the beginnings of eternal, afterlife, blissful joy? If on earth, among everything hostile to a person who is in constant struggle, virtue instills the soul, then what can we say about that afterlife state of the virtuous, which will already be completely free from everything hostile? Truth, peace and joy are the blissful lot of heavenly life!

The effect of conscience on the soul, and, consequently, on man, is twofold. Here on earth - the initial, and beyond the grave - the perfect: inner bliss or torment, peace or remorse. If every deed on earth is immediately reflected in the conscience, if every wrong deed is followed by remorse on earth, then what kind of remorse will it be in Gehenna, where only one evil is developing? Life is development. As experience shows, evil in human personalities can develop to such an extent that one can say about it the same thing that is said about habit in general - that it becomes the second nature of a person. Having mastered evil, the person behind the grave is in a state of fallen spirits. Life in Gehenna is an endless development of evil. Life - the development of good or evil - can only change on earth. A bad, vicious person becomes a good Christian, and a good person becomes bad. Repentance, with the assistance of grace, which heals weakness, changes an evil life into a good one. A good life, due to arrogance, oblivion of God and pride, is abandoned by grace, and a person follows the path of development of evil; Eternal evil is followed by eternal condemnation of conscience, which punishes transgressors of the law.

Conscience, through the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of its demands through the power of will, is satisfied or offended. In the first case, it imputes merit to the person, in the second, guilt. For merit, as a free deed, in accordance with the law, she promises a reward. For guilt, as for an unauthorized act that does not agree with the law, he promises punishment. The action of conscience extends not only to merit or guilt, but also to the merit of reward or punishment. Those who obey their conscience are promised good, and those who are disobedient are promised evil. The Apostle Paul attributes this action of conscience to the pagans (Rom. 2:15; 8:16) and to everyone in general.

So, the condemned who are in Gehenna, seeing the saved who are in paradise (of course, only in the first period of the afterlife), according to the testimony of St. Macarius of Egypt, they do not see other prisoners next to them, with their backs to them. And St. Athanasius the Great, in his sermon on the departed, writes that “until the terrible day of judgment, sinners who are in Gehenna do not know each other, despite the fact that they are together.” They are deprived of this consolation too.

External torment consists of community with other equally unfortunate souls, and especially with evil spirits, and in other real torments of Gehenna. All this, however, serves only as a beginning and a foretaste of future eternal torment. This foretaste of future torment is so great and terrible that anyone who saw and experienced it, if only it happened to anyone, would not be able to retell what those condemned in the first period endure in Gehenna. Just as the Apostle Paul could not tell the inhabitants of the earth about the paradise to which he was taken. The activity of lost souls in Gehenna is of a nature characteristic of evil spirits. Since on earth these souls were completely alien to love, filled with malice, hatred, evil intentions and malevolence, then with this spiritual mood, opposite to love, they remain in Gehenna beyond the grave. And their activities regarding those still on earth are very similar to the activities of evil spirits. As a result of their voluntary falling away from love for God, they become increasingly hardened in hatred of God and man. Their natural gifts: knowledge (mind) and permission (will), although they remained with them, received the wrong direction. The goal of all the activities of the mind is now evil. And the will is directed towards the fulfillment of evil intentions. Consequently, the mind and will do not abandon the souls of sinners doomed to eternal torment. The desire for evil and destruction for those still on earth is what all the activity of lost souls in relation to the living is directed towards.