What Happens When A Sinner Arrives In Hell? Series

Today could have been the last morning that someone may have eaten their last breakfast. Today could be the last sermon that someone will have heard preached. Today could be the last day someone will spend on this earth. Not many preachers speak on hell anymore. I want to warn those that do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, that you need to come to Him now before it is too late. Today’s society is all about a false brotherly love.

Before we get started, let me first remind you that the Lazarus in this story is not the Lazarus that Jesus rose from the dead in the Gospel of John 11.

The Pharisees looked at having wealth as a proof that the person was righteous. Jesus confused them with this story in which an ailing beggar is recompensed or rewarded, and the rich man is sentenced. The rich man did not end up in hell because of his wealth but because of his selfishness with it. He would not give Lazarus food nor take him into his home or care for his wellbeing. He was pitiless despite his incredible gifts. He had no common courtesy or common decency. The measure of money we have is not so exceptionally significant as the way we use it. What is our disposition toward our wealth and assets? Do we store them egotistically for ourselves, or do we utilize them to help other people?

In verse 22:

The beggar died and was carried away to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

In verse 23:

He will Look…

But the rich man being in hell, (1) he lifted up his eyes, (2) he recognized where he was, (3) he was in torment, (4) he saw Abraham and Lazarus afar off, (5) undoubtedly, he recognized those around him after death. Just for a moment, just try to imagine what that must be like.

In verse 24:

He will Lament…

The rich man, (not so rich now) he cried out, he mourned, (extreme pain, persistent, recurrent distress). No Tylenol, Motrin, or narcotic pain killer will work to ease that type of suffering. How many of us have burned our hand at a kitchen stove, on a grill, or in a fireplace? The pain is intense so try to imagine what hell must be like, being burned all over your body and not being able to ease the suffering.

• Matthew 13:42, And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing (extreme sorrow) and gnashing of teeth (biting).

• Mark 9:44, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

The man begged for mercy, but mercy did not come, grace will not be there, no matter how much you cry out or beg. The pain and anguish are continual. It will never cease. The man asked for a missionary, “send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” But there is no water, there is no release, and it will be too late to send missionaries out now.

In verse 26:

He will be lost forever…

There is a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell. Only sinners are allowed in, and once a person has ended up there, there is no coming out. There is no escaping it. There is no half-time. There is no break or timeout.

• 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:

• 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

There are two types of death…

The Physical death where the body dies, and the spirit leaves the body. The Spiritual death where the sinner will be separated from God.

• John 11:25, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

• Acts 8:37, And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

• 2 Corinthians 6:2, (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

In verses 28 - 31:

The rich man felt that his five siblings would clearly accept a messenger who was raised from the dead. Yet he is told that if they did not trust Moses and the prophets, who spoke continually of the obligation to poor people, not so much as a resurrection would persuade them. Notice the incongruity in Jesus' assertion; in route to Jerusalem to die, he was completely mindful that in any event, when he had returned from death, most of the religious leaders would not acknowledge him. They were stubborn, and neither Scripture nor God's Son himself could shake them free.