The Reality of Hell
Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
If God where to warn you tonight would be your last night, what kind of preparation would you make? If this where your last day would you be prepared, if your soul was required tonight would you be ready. Each needs to ask themselves that question. Many today believe in heaven, but for some reason do not believe in Hell:
- Only 59 percent of Americans believe in hell, compared with 74 percent who believe in heaven, according to surveys from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
- Research from Barna Associates shows that only 32 percent of adults see hell as “an actual place of torment and suffering where people’s souls go after death. 8% or more of Churchgoers do not even believe in a literal hell.
Mat 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.
Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:22 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;
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (He has the sense of what he missed out on)
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me (Now has a desire for mercy, but now is judgement), and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue (thirst that cannot be fulfilled); for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:25 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.
Luke 16:26 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. (No Escape)
Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (The worm, the conscience that does not die eating at him for all enterity)
This is the Reality of Hell
Let's clarify a few things before we move on..
1st- Hell was not created for humanity
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:
2nd- Everlasting Destruction is for the Disobedient.
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (Never ending destruction, NO Escape out of Enteral Death)
3rd- God is just
Many times the question is asked, "how could a good, loving God send anyone to hell."
1st- God sends no one to Hell, your own diobedience and sin places you there. (John 3:16- God made a way for whomsoever will)
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
All that God did was to give us an opportunity at enteral life. As Peter told the hearers on the day of Pentecost, "save yourselves from this untoward generation." (ACTS 2:38 WAS THE MESSAGE TO SAVE THEMSELVES BY)
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Sin will send us to Hell, but God is not willing it be so...
2 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. (turning, and when you really turn and believe the rest will follow John 3:3-5)
Deut. 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Rom 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
God is just, and he is a just judge. Would a just judge let lawbreakers go unpunished, well neither can a just God let sin go unpunished.
The Reality of Hell
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Lets get a Bibical description of what we are escaping:
It will be a place of no rest- Rev 14:11 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.
Rest- intermission, no break. Cannot sleep it away.
Torment, Hopelessness of Desires being Fulfilled- Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 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.
Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth- (5 times in New Testament, four in Matthew and once in Luke) Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Place for hyrocrites according to Matthew 24:51, so I would rather be in church than in the world)Outer Darkness (Used three times, all in Matthew)
WE CAN SEE WHY THE BIBLE SAID:
Mar 9:43 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:
Mar 9:44 Where their *worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
-*will forever be conscious of the fact that they will never have what they could have had. Worm feeds on soul as worms on body. Accusing, Condemming, and Upbraiding self. Seperation from God, from hope means no escape from constant reminder of What Ifs? Fully Restored Memory of any preaching, any Sunday school class, any warning to escape hell.
This is the Reality of Hell
Bottomless Pit, Lake of Fire, Everlasting destruction, Fire and Brimstone.
This is the Reality of Hell.
Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Regardless of the unbelievers today Heaven and Hell are both REAL. But A REAL God who loves us wants us to escape the damnation of Hell. For that very reason he manifested himself in flesh and shed blood for our remission:
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
What are you waiting on, no time to waste: Repent and Believe the gospel. Be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and recieve the Holy Ghost!
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
And for the backsliders out there, come home:
2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
