Hell # 2 ~ Lk.16:19-31

HELL # 2 ~ LK.16:19-31~ DO YOU BELIEVE HELL IS A REAL PLACE? 5-26-12

Last time we began this message to do with "hell" so I’ll probably say some of the same things again as the context may call for it.

"Hell" is found in our KJ Bible 54 times, 31 times in the O.T. and 23 in the N.T. There are many references to each with various words and meanings.

LK.16:19-31 is not a parable, a parable doesn’t have proper names in it, but here we’re told about "a certain rich man" named Lazarus". Also we read about "Abraham and Moses", we’re also told of five brethren, notice these are specific people, parables don’t do that.

I must sat this again, there is no man from Adam unto our present time or even too the last of the Tribulation that will not be held accountable, there are multitudes of people that have never heard the name "Jesus" or anything about Jehovah God such as the people that live away back perhaps in some jungle, and we might be surprise as to the people here in our own country as well. I remember talking to a man right here in Easley S.C. that didn’t know what the "rapture" was. Think of Job and the people of that era, the absence of any reference to the nation Israel or the Mosaic Law suggest a pre-Mosaic date (before 1500 B.C.).

They certainly never heard the name of Jesus, but they did know there was a True and living God, Job said in

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another--

Remember the book of Job is the oldest account in the bible; it was before anything to do with the law was ever pinned down.

Regardless of what the modern day skeptic might say, all men will be held accountable as to what God has revealed to them about Himself. God is Just, He will judge such people as to their knowledge of God, listen; Paul speaks of people like this in;

Romans 1:19 -20 Because that which may be known of God is manifest ** (made known) in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

What that means is; God is clearly made known to these individuals by His creation.

John 12: 32-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. ** (not just the one’s that knew Him) 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

He was speaking of the cross where He would be lifted up, therefore ALL MEN WILL are judged with His righteous judgments.

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Here in this true account of hell we’re told about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man was lost and when he died, he went to Hell, not because he was rich but because he was lost.

The poor man was a believer and when he died he was taken to Paradise.

* Let’s be sure that we realize that according to this text there are only two possible destinations available for man when he leaves this world, Heaven and Hell, there is no so called "purgatory"- a man made idea to get peoples money.

We might be surprised if we really knew how many people there are that don’t believe that hell is a real place.

The atheist denies the existence of a literal Heaven and Hell. The Jehovah’s Witness believes that the grave is Hell. The Mormon believes in Hell, but he believes that in the end, everyone will be saved, including those in Hell.

The Seventh - day Disadvanged believes that lost men go to Hell, but that they immediately burn up like so much broom sage.

This world is full of different religions and they all believe theirs is right, but just because they are sincere in what they believe don’t change the fact that there is a Hell for the lost person and there is a Heaven for the saved person, which place you go when you die is determined by what you do with Jesus Christ while you are alive in this world.

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* We talked last time about verses 19-24 so we’ll read over these again to get our though line back on the right track.

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.