SUBJECT: HELL
Title: How Terrible Hell Must Be.
Text:
Luke 16:19-31--"[verse 19-26 quoted below] (27)Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: (28)For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this PLACE of torment. (29)Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (30)And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (31)And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."[A PLACE of torment is mentioned. Unfulfilled desires. Unanswered prayer. Remorse.]Revelation 20:10-15--"(10)And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (11)And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12)And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13)And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14)And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15)And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."Introduction:
Penitentiaries and jails speak of man's belief in the punishment of men for wrong-doing. Man believes the criminal should be separated from the law abiding. God also believes in separating the righteous (in Christ) from the unrighteous. Hell is a reality.I. The BIBLE teaches the FUTURE PUNISHMENT of the wicked.
Matthew 25:41--"Then shall he say also unto them...Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" [Punishment was purposed by God for rebels.]II. This punishment will CONTINUE FOREVER.
II Thessalonians 1:9--"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" Matthew 25:46--"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."Revelation 14:1-11--"(1)...a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand.... (2)And I heard a voice from heaven...and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: (3)And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand.... (4)... These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. ... (5)...they are without fault before the throne of God. (6)And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (7)Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (8)And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (9)And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10)The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11)And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."III. More DESCRIPTION of the punishment.
Revelation 21:8--"But the fearful, and UNBELIEVING, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." [The UNBELIEVERS are there.] Matthew 13:50--"And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."IV. These lost people WILL NOT BE punished ENTIRELY THE SAME.
Romans 2:5-6--"(5)But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6)Who will render to every man according to his deeds:"V. The NAME of the Place of punishment.
Luke 16:19-23--"(19)There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (20)And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (21)And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22)And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (23)And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."VI. Once in Hell, there is NO POSSIBILITY OF ESCAPE.
Luke 16:24-26--"(24)And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (25)But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (26)And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." [A thirst of the body. No hope.]VII. The punishment of Hell is as bad as a LITERAL FIRE.
Matthew 10:15--"Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city." [See Genesis 19:24-25. Sodom was destroyed with literal fire. To reject Christ will bring worse punishment than that.] Revelation 21:8--"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."VIII. The fire will NEVER GO OUT in Hell.
Mark 9:43-48--"(43)And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (44)Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (45)And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (46)Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (47)And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: (48)Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."Luke 3:17--"Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."IX. People bring this punishment upon themselves.
[Self-inflicted. You can't blame God. You are the Sinner and not God.] Galatians 6:7-8--"(7)Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8)For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." [This law of sowing and reaping extends to eternity. God doesn't completely finish the judgment of the unforgiven wicked in our lifetime. Final justice will be carried out during eternity.]X. The UNJUST and FILTHY will CONTINUE so throughout eternity.
Revelation 22:11--"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." [There will be NO CHANCE for CHANGE then.]XI. JESUS is NOT WILLING that ANY should PERISH.
II Peter 3:9--"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." [Jesus cares for the LOST.] Matthew 23:37-38--"(37)O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (38)Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." [Jesus wanted to save them. They didn't want salvation. Will you give up your CHANCE for CONVERSION now?]XII. Jesus spoke of Hell as a WARNING to His hearers.
Luke 12:4-5--"(4)And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. (5)But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." [JESUS FOREWARNS us. WHO have you been listening to? Satan is the source of all lies. Jesus not only speaks the truth, but is the source of ALL truth--John 14:6.]XIII. We should PERSUADE men to ESCAPE the damnation of Hell.
Jude 1:22-23--"(22)And of some have compassion, making a difference: (23)And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." [Love the Sinner; Hate the Sin. Our witnessing is not to be taken lightly.] II Corinthians 5:11--"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences."Conclusion: Hell will have...
real people (unrighteous [lost]) in a real place (torment) experiencing real things (fire, thirst) from a real God (The righteous Judge) with real unhappiness (punishment) that will last forever. (no escape)