Rod Serling (1924-1975), famous as the writer of the hit television series, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, didn't believe in an afterlife or the God of the Bible. Mr. Serling's last interview was with Linda Brevelle, and took place at Franco's La Taverna on Sunset Strip on March 4, 1975—just a few months prior to his sudden death at age fifty. Serling suffered a series of heart attacks, including a third one that killed him during heart surgery.
Here's a question and answer from the interview concerning Serling's religious beliefs...
Brevelle: If you're reincarnated, what will your next life be?
Serling: I don't believe in reincarnation. That's a cop-out, I know. I don't really want to be reincarnated. I think one time around...I think Willa Cather did a short story called "Paul's Case," and in it, when he finally commits suicide, it says, "He surrendered to the black design of things." And that's what I anticipate death will be: a totally unconscious void in which you float through eternity with no particular consciousness of anything. I think once around is enough. I don't want to start it all over again. She said, "What happens now if I come out as Louis XIV's donkey or something?" Or I come out as a rose? You know, in my case, with my kind of luck, I'll have rose bugs and things eating my leaves!
SOURCE: Rod Serling's final interview
I am greatly saddened every time I read something like this about anyone, because it plainly means that they went straight to Hell. I say this respectfully and kindly with a broken heart, for I would never wish Hell upon even the vilest of sinners. We all deserve to go to Hell because of our sins. People who don't believe this fact don't grasp the holiness of God. The Bible tells us in Proverb 3:15 to seek wisdom and understanding above all else; but until we do understand, if ever in this life, Proverb 3:5-7 tells us not to lean upon our own understanding, but to trust God and fear Him.
Rod Serling stated...
“And that's what I anticipate death will be: a totally unconscious void in which you float through eternity with no particular consciousness of anything.” —Rod Serling (1924-1975)
If you believe that the Bible is God's Word, then you have to concede that Rod Serling went to Hell. 1st John 2:22 speaks harshly of Christ-rejecters, calling them liars and antichrists. 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9 warn that all Christ-rejecters who die in their sins will be punished by God in the flames of Hell forever. That is what the Bible teaches my friend. The $64,000 questions is: Do you believe that the Bible is God's Word? Do you believe some of it, or all of it, or none of it? I believe ALL of the Bible was authored by God, each and every Word.
The Bible plainly teaches a literal Heaven and a literal Hell (physical places). The Bible says to fear God Who casts BODY and SOUL into Hell. Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” A body is a physical object, something tangible. This object, i.e., body, will be cast into Hell (a place). Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Rod Serling fell into God's hands on June 28, 1975. Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
Revelation 20:15 teaches that all Christ-rejecters (those whose names were not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life) were cast into the Lake of Fire. The Bible speaks of future events in past tense. Prophecy is history written in advance. The Bible is a scary Book, but it doesn't have to be if you'll obey the Gospel and do as God commands to be saved. All the Bible requires is that a person acknowledge their sinnership and come to God the Father for forgiveness through the name of His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Christ. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
The Word of God says something very different than what Rod Serling “anticipated” (which was the word he used). Rod Serling said he anticipated that death would be “a totally unconscious void in which you float through eternity with no particular consciousness of anything.” Serling's beliefs ignore having to give account to a Supreme Being (a Creator) for one's actions throughout life here on earth. The idea that there is no accountability in eternity for evils committed here on earth goes against everything the Word of God teaches. Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The Bible teaches that judgment follows death, not an unconscious state of floating through eternity.
On January 28, 1968 Rod Serling gave a commencement speech where he once attended high school. Here is a statement concerning God and faith given in his speech...
“And lastly, are you tough enough to have faith in the things worthy of faith? A belief in your own particular God ... an adherence to the tenets of your particular religion ... all this with a decent regard and respect for the God and religions of others. Believe without proselytizing. Believe without peddling. Believe without working both sides of the street, trying to sell to others that which is uniquely your own. But most major here—simply believe. There's no alternative to faith ... and God help us, there's no salvation without it.”
SOURCE: Rod Serling's 1968 Binghamton High Commencement Speech
A belief in your own particular God? There is only one Living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Hebrews 10:31), but many false gods. To speak gleefully of choosing one's particular god is idolatry, for there is only one Living God; the God of the Bible, the God of true Israel.
God gave the world the Bible, His Son, and eternal life through the nation of Israel (which is why Israel is called the apple of God's eye in Zechariah 2:8). This doesn't make Jewish people better than others, nor does it exempt them from the need to be born-again the same as Gentiles; it just means that the nation of Israel was chosen by God to accomplish a particular purpose in accordance with His divine plan. All men are saved the same way, i.e., by God's grace through faith in the Messiah (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Interestingly, Rod Serling was Jewish but didn't ascribe to either Biblical faith or the Judaist religion. He spoke of faith being required for salvation (regardless of one's religious affiliation) in the preceding quote from his graduation commencement speech; yet it is abundantly clear that Serling didn't mean eternal salvation, for in 1975 he plainly testified that he didn't believe in an afterlife of any sort, other than total unconscious floating throughout eternity.
At times it appears from his statements and some Twilight Zone episodes that Serling did believe in God (such as THE OBSOLETE MAN in which the Bible is exalted); but from other statements it is clear that he didn't believe in the God of the Bible at all, denying the Biblical doctrines of eternal life for the righteous and punishment for the wicked. This is very common amongst Modernists (unsaved people who masquerade as Christians) such as Westcott and Hort, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil, C.S. Lewis, and others who speak with spiritual terms, but completely deny the power of God (which is the Gospel, Romans 1:16). 2nd Timothy 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:22, “Ye worship ye know not what...” Although I sincerely don't mean any unkindness to Serling fans, I must say that it is obvious to me that he really didn't have any firm beliefs. This is evidenced by Serling's 1975 interview, in which he expresses contempt for those who are biased concerning religion and those who try to proselytize (convert) others over to their own particular faith. Serling had no particular faith or religion, which is apostasy. Modernists give some evidence of faith in religion or a higher power, i.e., a form of godliness; but they DENY the power thereof of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ as 2nd Timothy 3:5 teaches.
2nd John 1:9, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” What is the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST? It is everything that the Bible teaches concerning Jesus Christ. It is not enough to just acknowledge God the Father as billions of people do, you MUST also acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). We hear a lot of people talking about faith in God, but they do not trust upon the Son of God. They are NOT saved, and will go to Hell in their sins to be punished by God when they die (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9). This is what the Word of God teaches, which is why so many people either love or hate the Bible so dear.
One thing is clear, Rod Serling didn't believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven. He taught people to have respect for the god and religion of others, and never to be biased nor try to win anyone over to one's point of view. In Serling's mind it didn't matter what a person believed, just so long as you believe something. Such thinking goes totally contrary to the teachings of God's Word. Serling believed that the most important thing is to have faith in some religion or god, any religion or god, and not to fight over them; but religion is NOT the way to eternal life. Salvation is found ONLY in a Person—The Lord Jesus Christ!
It is disturbing to hear a man speak of faith, while simultaneously saying that it really doesn't matter which religion or god you put that faith in. No Christian would ever speak in such a manner. If you are not biased on the issue of where to place one's faith for eternal life, then you are NOT saved and are on your way to Hell in unbelief and sin. Jesus proclaimed that He alone is the ONLY way to God the Father. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” It's Jesus or Hell. Faith will do you no good if it's not placed in “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Sterling taught the graduating teens to have respect for the gods of others. Although I do respect other's right to believe as they so choose, I certainly don't respect their false idols and gods. Exodus 20:4-5 forbids bowing nor serving any gods other than the God of the Bible. To bow to images, statues, or anyone other than Jesus Christ is idolatry. The King James Bible teaches in 1st Timothy 3:16 that Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the Godhead to the world, literally the Godhead in the flesh as a man (John 1:1,14; Colossians 2:9). Serling didn't believe the Doctrine of Christ.
Serling said to believe without proselytizing nor peddling. Literally, Serling was saying not to push your beliefs on others. That means no soul-winning. That means no going door-to-door preaching the Gospel. That means no Bible-thumpers. That means no confronting anyone about their eternal destiny. To do as Mr. Serling suggests would be to disobey God, for we are taught in Luke 8:15, Romans 10:15, Proverb 11:30 and 1st Corinthians 9:16 to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. There is ONLY one way to God the Father, and that way is through Jesus Christ as He proclaimed in John 14:6. There is NO salvation in any other name given among men than by the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10-12).
Rod Serling was clearly an unsaved man, who was tolerant of all faiths and gods, not identifying any particular faith or God as being the only and true faith and God. Albeit, the Bible teaches that there is only one faith and one God, one Savior and one Bible. When anyone expresses approval for all religious faiths, then I know that they are not saved. The reason is because a genuine born-again Christian KNOWS that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, apart from all self-righteous good deeds and church rituals.
Rod Serling had the same heathen view of faith and God as do the Freemasons, New Agers, and other false religious...
“Believe without working both sides of the street, trying to sell to others that which is uniquely your own.”
SOURCE: Rod Serling's 1968 Binghamton High Commencement Speech
To Rod Serling, faith and God were mere personal choices, like picking out a brand of toothbrush or clothing. But to the born-again, Bible-believing, Christian it means much, much, more. Faith and God are absolutes which only exist in their true form, as taught in the Word of God. Serling's errant beliefs were based upon his errant understand of death. Since Serling didn't believe in a literal Heaven or Hell, nor that anyone is held accountable by a divine Supreme Being for their actions here on earth; it is understandable to see why Serling didn't see the urgency and need to warn others about the judgment to come in eternity.
Acts 24:25 is one of the saddest Scriptures in
the Bible. Here we find the Apostle Paul sharing the Gospel with governor
Felix, but Felix told Paul to come back some other time. Acts 24:25, “And
as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix
trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient
season, I will call for thee.” Oh, how many people are suffering in the
torments of Hell this moment, because they put off salvation until another
day. Felix said, “Don't call me, I'll call you.” In Acts 25:14 we learn that
Felix had Paul thrown into prison and left him there to rot. Oh how true it
is that the same sun which melts the wax hardens the clay. And the same
Words of God that lead one sinner to repentance, drives another to madness.
Hell is a Literal Place Where the Wicked Will Spend Eternity
Psalm 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” If the righteous and the wicked go to the SAME place in eternity, then Psalm 9:17 would make no sense at all. The Bible plainly teaches that the wicked and the righteous go to different and separate places. They do NOT all go to the same place. The wicked shall be turned into Hell (Hades). Isaiah 5:14, “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”
Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” The Bible clearly and irrefutably teaches that the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; but the righteous (that is, the saved) shall go into life eternal. The righteous are those who have been made righteous by the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, for we have no self-righteousness of our own to offer God (Isaiah 64:6).
The “righteous” does NOT refer to the religious. In fact, Jesus plainly
stated that religion is not enough to get a person into Heaven. Matthew
5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into
the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus said this because the hypocritical scribes
and Pharisees only had their own self-righteousness. They did not have the
imputed
righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 2nd Corinthians 5:21).
We are Saved Only by Jesus Christ's Imputed Righteousness
We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33), which is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved by Jesus' precious, physical, literal blood that He sacrificed for our sins (1st Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:12,24). (Note that all Scriptures are quoted only from the trustworthy King James Bible.)
Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
God is a righteous God, and in our sinful human state we cannot understand why a God would cast someone into a lake of fire and brimstone for all eternity to suffer. It does seem unfair, but that's only because God is righteous and we are not. Humanity is in a fallen state of sin (Romans 5:12). It was by Adam's sin that the curse of sin and death came upon all mankind. Death is the great equalizer.
No one has to go to Hell. The only people who go to Hell are those who make
their bed there, just as Psalm 139:8 teaches. We read in Matthew 25:41, “Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
God never intended for one human being to enter into Hell. It is mankind who
makes his bed in Hell, choosing to burn in the flames of God's vengeance
forever (2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9).
There's No Excuse for a Wicked Heart of Unbelief
Don't make the mistake of believing that skeptics and naysayers would convert if only they had more evidence or proof...
Isaiah 26:10, “Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.”
Abraham told the rich man in Hell that if his 5 brothers wouldn't heed the warning of Moses and the prophets (that is, the Word of God), then they wouldn't believe even if the dead arose and appeared unto them...
“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:27-31).
If a person will not listen to the Word of God (i.e., Moses and the prophets), then nothing is going to convince them of the truth. Romans 1:20 tells us that nature itself PROVES, beyond any reasonable doubt, that there is a God...
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Oh, listen my friend, you will have no valid excuse on Judgment Day when you stand trial before God (Hebrews 9:27; Romans 14:12). Make no mistake, if you die in your sins you will go to Hell (John 8:24). You need to have your sins blotted out; but you cannot do anything of your own merit or self-righteousness to remedy the problem (Isaiah 64:6). No matter how much good you may accomplish in your earthly life, you'll still have sins on your record against you. The answer is Jesus Christ, Who paid for our sins in full with His own precious blood...
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1st Peter 1:18,19).
It is sad when I think of all the people today who don't believe the Bible. The reason is because of a wicked heart of unbelief, for if they would only SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES (John 5:39), then they would see the truth and believe on Jesus as the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Men couldn't write the Bible if they wanted to, and wouldn't if they could. The world hates Jesus Christ, because He testifies against it that the works thereof are evil (John 7:7; 3:20). And consequently, the heathen world hates Christians as well (John 15:19; 2nd Timothy 3:12).
A God-fearing Christian will be persecuted everywhere he or she goes, because of the spirit (Satan) that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). Satan is an evil spirit, and the demons are spirits. These evil spirits are at work in books, movies, magazines, doctrines, and anything else that influences people. Everything has a spirit behind it, whether it be of God or Satan. American society is saturated with demonic influences.
We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS to have our sins forgiven... “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). 2nd Corinthians 5:21 states, “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” This is why we read in Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Amen! Any sinner can be saved and go to Heaven because Jesus took our sins upon Himself; and when we place our faith in Him as our Savior, He places His righteousness upon our record. This is called IMPUTATION. We go to Heaven not because of our own self-righteousness; but rather, because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us in Isaiah 5:14, “Therefore
hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and
their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth,
shall descend into it.” Hell is getting bigger and bigger every day,
being occupied by
tens-of-millions of people every day who die in their sins without Jesus
Christ as their Savior. Please don't make your bed in Hellfire. If you do go
to Hell, it will only be because you turned down the gift of eternal life
(Romans 6:23), which God offers exclusively through His Son Jesus Christ
(John 3:16; Acts 10:43).
Conclusion
I do not condemn anyone for their sins nor unbelief, for that is not my place. I am a sinner like anybody else. In fact, that is the point I am making here about sin. Rod Serling obviously died in his sins without the Lord, for if he were saved, then he never would have said that he anticipated being in an unconscious state of floating through eternity.
Of course, there is the extremely remote possibility that in the last 4 months of his life since the interview that Rod Serling believed on Christ, but there is no evidence to support that theory. By all indications, and from his own testimony, Rod Serling went to Hell in his sins without Christ on June 28, 1975. Luke 13:5, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Do not get angry at me, get angry at God Who penned the Bible. The Word of God speaks plainly that without faith in Jesus as the Christ, no man can come to the Father (John 14:6). It is absolutely impossible.
Whereas dreamers and schemers deal in relativity; the Word of God deals in absolutes. Truth is absolute, intolerant, and the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35). Rod Serling stated in the same interview that nothing made him angrier than “bias and prejudice.”[1] The Bible is the most biased and prejudiced Book in the world. It's also the most offensive publication in existence, which is why wicked people are corrupting it continually for the love of money. It is evil. God said what He wanted to say, and most people don't like it, hating God for being biased. Listen to what Kesha has to say about God being a malign thug.
Since God is our Creator, don't you think that He has a right to tell us how to think and live? Yes, God certainly does (Romans 9:20), and He has in His Word (Hebrews 4:12). Matthew 4:4, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” This is a commandment from God; it is not optional, nor a friendly request. God commands men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).
Only God has the right and power to judge and condemn anyone to Hell. I have written this article on the basis of Rod Serling's own statements that he believed death was merely an unconscious state of floating throughout eternity. Serling was wrong according to the Bible, very, very, wrong in his thinking. There is an afterlife (John 3:16-17), or a second death (Revelation 21:8). There is nothing else according to the Bible, it's either Heaven or Hell.
Rod Serling didn't have the slightest clue in March of 1975 when he gave his last interview, that it would be his last interview. He was dead in June, just a few months later. I wonder if he could have known that he was going to die if he would have sought out more information, asked a bunch of questions about God and the Bible. I can assure you of one thing whoever you may be, you're going to die. People tend to live like they'll be here forever because they don't know WHEN they'll die. But if you already KNOW that you're going to die within the next 70 years or so (or today), then why not prepare now?
The Bible says in Proverb 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Rod Serling spoke of writing in his last interview, and no doubt he had big plans; but life is what happens to you when you're making big plans. I did not write this article to cast a negative reflection upon Rod Serling in any way; but rather, to get you thinking about eternity. Where will you spend eternity? There's a lot of people running around these days who believe the same thing as Mr. Serling, i.e., that death brings a state of unconsciousness. It is a total denial of God, the Bible, Christianity, and everything that the Bible teaches. It is tragic, so tragic.
Oprah Winfrey and others are promoting New Age occult doctrines that will eventually lead the world into a Luciferian worship, prepared to receive and follow the Antichrist. The New World Order has been on the fast-track since the 911 attacks, that's for sure. Things are changing very fast. The world's churches are being corrupted unbelievably fast. The world is headed for a global government.
Oh, listen my friend, in these Last Days you don't have to be confused about where you'll spend eternity. The Bible speaks very plainly on the matter. You need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33), that is, the righteousness of Jesus Christ which comes only by faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. 2nd Corinthians 5:21, “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” See also Romans 10:3-4 (all references are only to the trustworthy and inspired King James Bible).
This life is very short, as a vapor the Bible says (James 4:14) that will soon be over. We could be dead by sundown. Rod Serling died a sudden death, unexpected, and a sad event indeed. Death most often comes upon people without notice. Here's a tragic event where an 18-year old girl was burned alive. She had no idea that it was going to be the last day of her life. So sad. Please make sure that you are ready to die, because your eternal happiness depends on it.
If you really want to go to Hell, thinking that hell is only here on earth, then just do nothing. John 3:18 and 3:36 says that you're already condemned to Hell if you don't believe that Jesus is the Christ. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I'm trusting Him completely for eternal life. The Lord forgave my sins and washed them away with His precious blood the very moment I believed upon His name many years ago (1st Peter 1:18-19). The Holy Spirit has lived inside of my body ever since (Romans 8:9). Jesus promised in John 14:18 that He would come to every believer in the form of the Holy Spirit. John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Ye must be born again!
Again, one thing is clear, Rod Serling didn't believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven. He taught people to have respect for the god and religion of others, and never to be biased or try to win anyone over to your point of view. From his statements Serling believed that the most important thing is to have faith in some religion, any religion, and not to fight over it; but religion is NOT the way to eternal life. Salvation is found ONLY in a Person—The Lord Jesus Christ!
