A Deeper Calling Series

A Trip to Hell

(Preached first on 15/06/08, Sunday)

Text: Rev. 20:15

Introduction

Often the word “hell” is thrown around casually like it was no big deal.

Many people even joke about Hell.

Some have been heard saying that they didn’t mind going to Hell, because all of their favorite film stars and cricketers were going to be there too.

However, anyone making such a statement has little knowledge of what Hell is really like.

Some people say that they are already going through hell on this earth.

When you compare your problems to the torment in hell, your biggest problems will look like pleasures!

God’s Word always speaks of Hell as a very literal place, filled with very literal people for all eternity.

It goes without saying that I could have found many more pleasant topics to speak on today than that of Hell.

But if I am to be a faithful steward of God’s Word, I must preach the whole counsel of God, not just the pleasant parts.

Besides that, Christ Himself has set a very good precedent for me, in that He preached more about Hell than about Heaven, during His earthly ministry.

The writer to the Hebrews stated that the doctrine of hell was one of the foundation truths of the faith: Hebrews 6:1-2.

There are a number of things that make Hell a horrible place.

Some Facts about Hell

God originally prepared hell for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25:41).

But man chose to follow the devil instead of God!

Those who leave the One True God and follow Satan also go to where the devil goes.

This morning I want to take you on a trip to hell!

I know it’s not going to be pleasant, but it is absolutely essential to take this trip!

Fear

Ps 73:18-19 – fear in hell

Imagine millions and millions of people screaming in terror!

Tiger – Zoo Park – very ferocious – you will live with that fear forever!

Literal Fire

Hell has lot of heat!

Mt. 13:49-50 – Literal fire in hell

Luke 16:23-25 – if it was metaphorical flames, water would not suffice.

It was literal fire!

Rev. 9:2 – if there was no fire, how could there be any smoke?

Torment

Rev. 14:11 – there is no rest from torment.

In Luke 16, we see the Rich Man possessed the sense of sight, the sense of touch, and thinking processes in hell.

The Scriptures clearly indicate that the inhabitants of Hell experience immeasurable physical pain.

Matt.13:42 “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

British tormenting Indians during the British Rule.

Endless Punishment

In hell, even if you want to die, you can’t!

Exodus 3:2 – Moses saw the fire which did not consume!

The Bible is opposed to universalism and annihilation. Hell is forever!!!

Hell is forever! Can you fathom that?

I wish hell wasn’t forever!

But the Bible very clearly presents that it is forever and there is no end to it.

Those in hell will suffer permanent misery.

Rev.14:11a “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night…”

When we travel in buses and trains, we see Emergency windows and doors – But people, there will be no exit signs in Hell, for there will be no escape – there will be no way out.

The time to miss Hell is now, while there is still time. No one knows when time will run out for them.

Education and travel – you make plans; how much more we need to plan for our eternity!

While I was traveling from New Delhi to Hyderabad, a man said that he booked his train tickets 90 days back!

I wish we could plan about our eternal destiny like that!

There is no word such as hope in hell!

There is no second chance given to those who have been sentenced to eternal torment.

The decisions made in life find their eternal consequences fully carried out after death.

There will be no second chance. This should stir the Church to proclaim the message, "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Jesus’ picture of hell as a place where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48) indicates that this manifestation of God’s wrath is unending.

This fact, that God the Judge, the "Lord of glory" himself (1 Cor 2:8), accepted the punishment due us, suggests that the penalty for sin against the Infinite is infinite!!!

Hell is completely the opposite of heaven!

Hell is absence of all of God’s goodness and blessings!

Eternal fire, eternal darkness, eternal pain, eternal separation from God, eternal loneliness, eternal weeping, eternal anger!