Part 6

As we continue through this journey, I want to briefly recap the seventh circle of Hell before delving into what lies beyond—the terrifying descent into the eighth circle, which Dante and my husband Dexter both encountered in their separate visions.

The seventh circle of Hell, as described in Cantos 12 to 16 of Dante’s Inferno, is reserved for the violent. Here, we find those who committed violence against others, themselves, or God. The river of boiling blood punishes those who inflicted harm on others, submerging them in the same violence they once dealt. The twisted trees of the Woods of Suicide reflect the fate of those who took their own lives, while those who blasphemed against God suffer on burning sand. Each punishment is a mirror of the violence they wrought, an eternal consequence for the choices they made.

Yet, as terrifying as this circle is, the descent into the eighth circle is far more disturbing.

The Great Waterfall of Blood and Fire

Both Dante and Dexter encountered a monstrous waterfall at the end of the seventh circle. This was no ordinary waterfall—it was a terrifying cascade of blood and fire, a mixture that descended from such towering heights it seemed to disappear into the abyss. The roar of the water was deafening, shaking the ground beneath them, and the sheer force of it terrified Dexter beyond anything he had experienced before.

Dexter described this moment as one of pure horror. The sight of blood and fire blending together and crashing into the depths below made him feel as though he stood at the edge of Hell itself. It was as if every violent act committed by humanity had bled into this raging torrent, forming a river that flowed endlessly downward, dragging the accursed souls with it. The height of the waterfall seemed immeasurable—an endless drop into darkness, an eternal fall for those condemned to deeper torments.

While Dante mounts the creature Geryon and descends into the eighth circle by flight, Dexter’s descent was more terrifying. He felt drawn downward, as if by some divine hand, into the next circle, carried not by a beast but by an overwhelming sense of destiny. What lay ahead were punishments reserved for those who had not just committed acts of violence but had deceived and manipulated others for their own gain.

The Eighth Circle of Hell – Malebolge

The eighth circle, also known as Malebolge, is divided into ten distinct “bolge” or ditches, each designed to punish a different type of fraud. Dante and Dexter found themselves in a place where deception in all its forms is eternally punished. It is here that the layers of deceit, fraud, and treachery unfold in terrifying detail.

Dexter recalls walking through the first of these ditches, where the Panderers and Seducers were whipped mercilessly by demons as they ran in opposite directions. The suffering of these souls was endless—those who had manipulated and sold others for personal gain now found themselves driven like cattle, forever running with no rest. Their cries echoed through the circle, a chilling reminder of how their deception had led them here.

As Dexter continued deeper, he entered into the ditches where flatterers wallowed in filth, covered in the excrement of their false words, and the simoniacs, those who sold holy offices, were buried headfirst in fiery pits. But it was not until he reached the eighteenth bolgia that the terror intensified.

The Eighteenth to the Twenty-Sixth Circles – The Terrifying Descent

Dexter’s journey through these ditches of fraud reached its climax when he entered the eighteenth bolgia. Here, the hypocrites, draped in glittering cloaks lined with lead, marched in endless circles. Their outward appearance of sanctity could not hide the heavy weight of their deceit.

But the most terrifying vision came as Dexter approached the deeper bolgia, where the deceivers were punished. Here, in the twenty-sixth bolgia, the flames themselves housed the souls of those who had led others astray through manipulation and false counsel. Each flame contained a suffering soul, burning endlessly in a fire that was both a prison and a punishment. The souls twisted in agony, their flames flickering with every cry for relief that would never come.

It was here that Dexter saw the consequences of deception in its full horror—those who had twisted truth, who had manipulated others for personal gain, were consumed by fire that would never be extinguished. The terror he felt was overwhelming as he realized that each layer of Hell only deepened in its cruelty, and that there were still darker places beyond this.

A Terrifying Reminder

As we leave off here for now, it is important to reflect on the horrors of the eighth circle. Dante and Dexter both saw the eternal consequences of fraud, manipulation, and deception. The terrifying descent into this realm, beginning with the waterfall of blood and fire, is a stark reminder that Hell is not merely a place of torment, but a reflection of the sins committed on earth.

For those who have followed this series, please bear with me as I continue to explore the reality of Hell and its eternal consequences. This story is far from over, and there is much more to reveal. I encourage you to stay with me as we prepare for the final two posts.

If you’ve found these reflections helpful, please consider supporting me on Buy Me a Coffee or Venmo. Your support helps me continue sharing these insights and encourage others to turn toward Christ.

Until next Monday, let us reflect on the choices we make in life, for the consequences are not only eternal but terrifying.

Join me back here on Friday for more as we delve even deeper into the pit of Hell.

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