By Dani, Myanmar

I was interested in Christianity when I was little, but since my family was Buddhist, I didn’t become a Christian. I had heard about hell back then, but I didn’t really believe in it.

In April 2022, a friend invited me to join a gathering online, which was my first time reading Almighty God’s words. I felt that Almighty God’s words were the heavenly Creator speaking to mankind. I read lots of Almighty God’s words online after that. I learned that Almighty God is the one true God, and that God has come down to earth to save humanity. But since my family stood in the way, and also because I was clinging to worldly things, I didn’t attend gatherings regularly and I even dropped out of my gathering group for a little while.

Then, around 9:30 a.m. on February 3, 2023, I was kind of tired after a gathering, so I lay down to rest. Later my little brother told me, my family couldn’t wake me up from that nap no matter how they tried, so they rushed me to the hospital for emergency treatment. The doctor examined me and said I’d already stopped breathing, so he issued a death certificate. My family had no choice but to take me back home. They notified our relatives and neighbors, and prepared to hold a funeral and bury me three days later.

I didn’t know what was happening in our home then. All I knew was that I went to another world. I was wearing a white robe, walking alone along a lightless, smoky little path. I couldn’t see the sky or what was in front of me. The path was downhill, bumpy, full of holes, rugged and winding. On both sides, I could just make out all sorts of strange plants I’d never seen before that were covered in thorns. I could also hear animals’ calls all around…. I was walking barefoot on the path, and it was gouging into my feet. My entire body was burning hot and I was a bit out of breath. I walked and walked, then came upon a demon dressed in black. It was black from head to toe—I couldn’t see its face or feet. It said, “Come with me!” Its voice was really frightening. Scared, I struggled to say, “Where are you taking me? I’ve never been—I’m not going. I want to go home.” I wanted to run. Just then, four or five demons wearing blue-black robes floated over, grabbed me and said, “You’re dead—you can’t go back. You’ve sinned a lot, and you have to be punished for sins you committed during your life.”

Then they took me to the front of a large gate where I saw several demons standing guard. They were tall, with big eyes and ears, and some had pointy teeth sticking out, making for a shocking appearance. They were holding weapons and were unclothed from the waist up, wearing necklaces made of bones and with skulls of the dead hanging from their bodies. They were covered in scars. I heard lots and lots of anguished screams as soon as the gatekeepers opened the gate. Near and far, the place was full of the sounds of struggle from terrible agony. It was burning hot there, scorching hot. I was really afraid, and asked the demons, “What did I do wrong? I shouldn’t be here.” They showed me all the sins I’d committed in my lifetime, one by one, what day, what hour, and even down to what minute and second I’d done those things. Even a lie I told that I’d thought nothing of was recorded there perfectly clearly. Here are some examples. On September 5, 2022, brothers and sisters called to invite me to a gathering, but I was feeling down from family pressure, and didn’t attend. On September 10, 2022, I skipped a gathering and didn’t answer brothers’ and sisters’ phone calls, not wanting to see them. On October 5, 2022, I dropped out of all gathering groups and cut off contact with other church members. On October 6, 2022, I walked away from God in favor of worldly trends and having fun. I was stunned. Seeing how many sins I had committed really scared me.

Then, the demon wearing black took me somewhere that had a wooden sign, which said this is where those who cheat, judge, or blaspheme against God are punished. This was where I saw the most severe punishment. The first type of punishment was having bugs burrow out from inside the mouth and skin of those being punished and bite them, so that bugs were gnawing on them all over—it was really scary. In the second type, the people being punished were naked, and they were led to a long board one by one, where 10 people could be punished at once. They had to kneel, their hands were tied behind their backs, and their chins were set on the board. They had ropes around their necks, and when the ropes were pulled back, their tongues stuck out. Across from the board, a hideous demon with horns on its head drove hooks through their tongues, then yanked outward forcefully; some had their tongues pulled out to twice their length. Then, the demon used a nail as long as a pen to nail them to the board, which had a fire burning underneath it. That demon was also pouring boiling-hot fiery water on the tongues nonstop. This fire-like water was being brought over from a pool far away, and continually given to all of the demons. When it was poured on someone’s tongue, the tongue was completely destroyed. Some people’s eyeballs even fell out. Then, demons poured fiery water on their whole bodies, so they were destroyed all over. Those being punished cried out in misery until they died. It was a terrifying sight. Some people couldn’t take it and died before long, but if they still needed punishment for more sins, they’d be brought back to life to continue being punished. If they still hadn’t died when their punishment was over, bugs would come out of their bodies and eat them up, then they’d come back to life and be punished another way.

The third type of punishment was being thrown into a pool of fiery water. I saw an enormous round iron plate with four ropes attached. One or two hundred people came over from another place of punishment in just a few seconds, appearing on the plate. They kneeled on the burning hot plate without any clothes on while ropes with thorns on them automatically tied up their hands and upper bodies. These people came from different religions and ethnicities. Some didn’t believe in God, while some were Christians or Buddhists. They were being punished because they hadn’t accepted God’s new work, and had blasphemed against and judged God. Though some of them had accepted God’s new work, their faith was superficial, perfunctory, and deceitful to God. That kind of person was also punished by God. They were all calling out to the god of their faith. Some called for this god, some for that god. It was a cacophony of voices, and I couldn’t hear them clearly. It didn’t matter how they cried out, though; they got no answer. After that, those people were taken to a large pool, and inside that pool was boiling fiery water. Their ropes automatically loosened, the iron plate tilted, and they all fell in. They were boiling and frying, burning to the point that they screamed in excruciating agony. Some people were at the edge, fighting with all their might to crawl out of the pool, but they fell back in. Before long, the sound of screams was gone. Everyone was dead, floating on the surface of the pool of fiery water. When they were all dead, a giant net scooped all of them up, and they came back to life for the next punishment.

Then I was taken somewhere else. The ones there were being punished in all sorts of ways for insulting their parents, elders, or teachers. Some of them were naked, chained at the neck, arms and legs with spiked chains. They were whipped to such a bloody pulp that their flesh and blood flowed downward. They were struggling and crying out from the pain. Hell’s demons used axes to cut off their hands and feet, and used something hammer-like to pulverize them. While being punished they were asked, “Did you consider not committing this sin at the time?” They were repentant, but no one could save them, and they were tortured to death. After that, they came back to life and received the next punishment. Some people were buried alive. The ground there was in motion, churning, and there was fire burning in the soil. Those punished were being slowly sucked down, sinking into the earth until they died.

Then I was taken to the place where adulterers were being punished. They were running for their lives. Some were shot and killed by arrows, while others were stabbed to death. Some were chased down and bitten to death by animals. Ultimately, no one could escape, and every last one of them died. Those who had died then came back to life to receive the next punishment.

I saw another place that was for punishing those who had cheated or harbored ill intentions toward others, who had taken advantage of people, or who had been calculating or jealous toward others. There was a suspension bridge with wooden decking and spiked ropes on both sides. Holding onto the spiked ropes drew blood, but they’d fall without holding onto them, and there was a lake of fire below. Even if they didn’t fall, they had to go through a meat grinder and be ground up, and then still ended up in the lake of fire.

Some people had been really concerned with looks, wasting their time trying to dress well, but didn’t believe in God at all, and had even judged and blasphemed against Him. Their faces were eaten off bit by bit by insects. Aside from them, there were also people being punished for cursing others, stealing things, and so on. Depending on the sins they’d committed, people were repeatedly punished in one way before then moving on to another type of punishment. Seeing this sight left my whole body trembling with fear. Actually being punished that way would be absolutely awful! I regretted the sins I’d committed, but I didn’t know who to plead to, who could save me. At the time, I recited some sutras in a daze, but there was no response, and my fear didn’t abate, either. I suddenly remembered that I’d believed in the one true God—Almighty God. Something Almighty God said came to mind. “In your day-to-day life, whatever difficulties you encounter, you must come before God; the first thing you should do is kneel before God in prayer, this is what’s most crucial” (The Word, Vol. 3. The Discourses of Christ of the Last Days. In Believing in God, Gaining the Truth Is Most Crucial). I knew that God rules over everything, and what I was facing was happening with His permission, so I should call on Him. I thought of my various sins. I was perfunctory with God and brushed Him off. I practiced my faith and attended gatherings when I was feeling good, but skipped gatherings when I wasn’t. I was a Christian, but I didn’t have genuine faith in God. I was perfunctory and deceitful toward Him. I was happy to fritter away my time having fun, but didn’t spend any time worshiping God. I was really regretful when I thought of all that and I prayed to God in my heart, “Almighty God, I’ve committed many sins. I’ve been indifferent and given You the cold shoulder, reveling in the joy of sinning and not doing my duty well. Now I’m really scared and filled with regret. I don’t want to come here and be punished for those sins. I’m ready to repent—please give me a chance to do so. I want to submit to Your arrangements and do everything according to Your will.” I prayed and confessed this way over and over, repenting to God for the sins I’d committed, one by one. I gradually calmed down and didn’t feel quite so afraid anymore. Later on, I felt like there was a voice calling my name. I then saw a ray of light, and a voice came from the light and said to me, “Dani, have you repented? You’ve committed many sins. You need to lean on God and stop committing these sins—you can’t wait until punishment to repent. Etch God’s words into your heart and pursue the truth. What you understand and put into practice must be correct. This is your last chance, and next time salvation won’t be available to you again. While you’re alive, work hard to perform your duty well and to get into God’s kingdom. Don’t repeat your sins or your mistakes, and don’t do things you’ll regret. Since you haven’t completed your duty, you won’t die. You are going to rescue those who fall into disaster.”

That voice didn’t belong to anyone that I knew. It seemed to speak with the sound of the wind. It didn’t sound entirely clear, but I could make it out. Though the words were harsh, they were exhorting and made me feel at peace. They were warm, with a sense of safety. I felt a happiness that I’d never known before. I knew God was saving me, giving me a second chance at life. I gradually regained consciousness after hearing this voice.

After waking up, I was trembling, still feeling really afraid. I felt awful and really regretful for having committed so many sins. I knew this was God’s warning to me. Everything God said was true. I had to believe what He said and listen to Him. I couldn’t keep brushing Him off and being perfunctory. God was giving me a chance that I couldn’t pass up again. I told my little brother, “I want to talk to Sister Summer.” Sister Summer was a waterer with The Church of Almighty God, who gathered online with me a lot. Summer sent me some of God’s words after she learned about my situation. Almighty God says, “God is responsible for every single human life and He is responsible to the very end. God provides for you, and even if, in this environment destroyed by Satan, you have been sickened or polluted or violated, it does not matter—God will provide for you, and God will let you live on. You should have faith in this. God will not lightly allow a human being to die” (The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God Himself, the Unique VII). “From the time you were born all the way up to now, God has carried out much work on you, but He does not give you an exhaustive account of everything He has done. God did not allow you to know this, and neither did He tell you. However, for mankind, everything He does is important. As far as God is concerned, it is something He must do. In His heart there is something important He needs to do that far exceeds any of these things. That is, from the time a person is born up to the present day, God must guarantee their safety. … This ‘safety’ means that you will not be devoured by Satan. Is this important? Not being devoured by Satan—does this concern your safety or not? Yes, this concerns your personal safety, and there can be nothing more important. Once you have been devoured by Satan, your soul and your flesh no longer belong to God. God will no longer save you. God forsakes souls and people who have been devoured by Satan. So I say the most important thing that God has to do is to guarantee this safety of yours, to guarantee that you will not be devoured by Satan. This is very important, is it not?” (The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God Himself, the Unique VI).

Reading Almighty God’s words gave me a sense of safety, like I had something to rely on. This experience showed me even more clearly, from birth right up to the present moment, God has been guiding us, watching over and protecting us at every single moment. I should come before God, do my duty, and repay His incredible grace. I needed to testify that God truly does rule all things, including the spiritual world that is invisible to our eyes. Hell really does exist. I didn’t experience the misery of hell’s punishment, but I saw the sight of people being punished in hell. There are a lot of people around me who pursue worldly trends, following Satan. They haven’t come before God. I’m really worried for them, and I don’t want people I know to go to hell, to suffer that way. Whether or not they accept Almighty God’s work of the last days, I’m going to fulfill my responsibility and bear witness to them that hell really exists, and God’s authority really exists. Only Almighty God can save us from the misery of hell. I’d like to read a passage of Almighty God’s words for those who haven’t come before Him, and for those who have accepted Almighty God, but don’t treasure His salvation.

Almighty God says, “My final work is not only for the sake of punishing man, but also for the sake of arranging the destination of man. Moreover, it is so that all people may acknowledge My deeds and actions. I want each and every person to see that all I have done is right, and that all I have done is an expression of My disposition. It is not man’s doing, much less nature, that brought forth mankind, but I, who nourish every living being in creation. Without My existence, mankind will only perish and suffer the scourge of calamity. No human being will ever again see the beauteous sun and moon, or the verdant world; mankind shall encounter only the frigid night and the inexorable valley of the shadow of death. I am mankind’s only salvation. I am mankind’s only hope and, even more, I am He on whom the existence of all mankind rests. Without Me, mankind will immediately come to a standstill. Without Me, mankind will suffer catastrophe and be trampled underfoot by all manner of ghosts, though no one takes heed of Me. I have done work that can be done by no other, and hope only that man can repay Me with some good deeds. Though but a few have been able to repay Me, I will still conclude My journey in the human world and begin the next step of My unfolding work, because all My rushing to and fro in man’s midst these many years has been fruitful, and I am very pleased. What I care about is not the number of people, but rather their good deeds. In any case, I hope that you prepare a sufficiency of good deeds for your own destination. Then will I be satisfied; otherwise, none of you can escape the disaster that will befall you. The disaster originates with Me and is of course orchestrated by Me. If you cannot appear as good in My eyes, then you will not escape suffering the disaster” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Prepare Sufficient Good Deeds for Your Destination).