If Hell Exists
M-1093 / 13 July 2008
Dr. Russell K. Tardo
The Bible’s Most Unpopular Topic
The text today is from Luke, chapter 16, and I’ll be speaking about the most unpopular subject in the Bible. Several topics probably come to mind -- trials, suffering, holiness, or the call to sacrifice, death, separation from the world, etc. While all these are unpopular, none of these are our topic of choice. Today we’re going to talk about hell because that is certainly the most unpopular subject in the Bible. How do we know it’s an unpopular subject? Because no one wants to talk about it. I’ve had people tell me that they’ve been in a church for ten years and never heard a message on the subject of hell.
It must be borne in mind that this is twenty-first century America where everything is market driven, including the church. When something is market driven, that means the supplier gives people what they want, something popular, light and entertaining, or amusing. Heavy subjects are to be avoided at all cost. The people want their messages, i.e., their sermons, like they want their meals -- light, no calories, nothing that would make them feel heavy. Nothing weighty, please. If the preacher wants people to come back to church, he doesn’t talk about unpopular things. The church has borrowed its methods from the world. In the world of marketing what happens if a product is unpopular? No one buys it, that’s what happens. If it’s unpopular, it sits on the shelf, neglected, gathering dust and eventually, it disappears because the vendor stops carrying the product altogether. The difference between an unpopular product and hell is that hell is not going to go away. Hell can be neglected, avoided and shunned. It can be ignored, not addressed, not spoken of, but that doesn’t change the reality -- hell is not going away.
When I was a youngster growing up in the Baptist church, we heard messages on hell with some degree of regularity. It wasn’t all that long ago that such messages were common fare in an evangelical church. In Bible believing churches, someone -- the pastor, a visiting evangelist, etc. -- preached about hell as a warning in order to escape hell’s fire and brimstone. The message was to live righteous and godly lives because if you didn’t, you’d end up in hell. That was the twentieth century and people heard about hell. Now in the twenty-first century, the age of Oprah Winfrey religion and Dr. Phil philosophy, the modern popular church has remade, recast, repackaged God into a kinder, softer, gentler version of Christ who is just too nice to condemn anyone to eternal flame. The whole idea is absurd in the minds of modern people, including many Christians. They look upon such teachings, such topics as something carried over from the medieval period.
We can say without fear of contradiction, hell has fallen out of a place of popularity in the world. A poll was taken on "Hell and the Afterlife in America." At random, sixty-four percent of Americans said they believed they would go to heaven at death. Five percent believed they would be reincarnated, coming back in some other life form. Five percent professed to believe they would simply cease to exist. Twenty-four percent had absolutely no idea whatsoever as to what would happen to them at death. One-half of one percent said they would probably go to hell.
Many people believe in heaven, but most don’t want to believe in hell. It’s not a pleasant thought. It’s a new day and such topics are dismissed from the mind. It’s the day of the 10,000 member, tremendously popular mega church where people flock to hear good music and uplifting, inspirational messages. These churches find no place for teaching on the doctrine of hell. Like the old song, Home on the Range, at these churches never is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. A message that might bring conviction in any area of life is simply not heard. There just aren’t many churches in America where a message about hell is presented. The subject is not talked about because someone might leave offended.
What about this? It’s strange, but true: the lost, unsaved world talks more about hell than the contemporary church. The things said about hell are actually rather telling. Hell is frequently mentioned in the everyday conversations of the worldly. For example, "It’s hot as hell." That’s a little telling, don’t you think? They’re acknowledging that hell is hot. Who talks like that? The world! "All hell broke loose." "There’ll be hell to pay!" "Just for the hell of it...." "What the hell?" "He’s mad as hell." "I’m sure as hell going to ...." Think about it! "I’m sure as hell ...." What does that mean? Hell is sure. It’s surely there and awaits the wicked. Go to the world and much is heard about hell, but not so much as a whisper is heard of hell in church. And if there’s a dispute or exchange of angry words, one of the party is sure to say, "Go to hell!" Then there’s the expression, "That sure scared the hell out of me." Wait! These are telling expressions because it is saying that there is a need to get right because no one wants to end up in hell. The Bible repeatedly tells the church to warn every man about the reality of hell.
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. [Col. 1:28]
The church is supposed to be warning people about such things. The church is to warn those that are unruly.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly.... [1 Thes. 5:14]
Warn them about what? The reality of hell, that’s what. Let’s not mention that in church, however, because someone might take offense. So what happens? The world mentions hell and the church takes offense.
The world speaks more about hell than the modern church, and in the Bible, Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else. The Bible contains quite a bit on the subject of hell with most of it coming from the lips of Jesus Himself. He should certainly know about the reality of hell.
IF HELL EXISTS, THEN WHAT?
For starters, a multitude of people are going to find out just how wrong they were in thinking that this life is all there is. At death? Why, there’s nothing more! People with that kind of thinking are going to be in for the most horrible shock imaginable.
19There 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. 22And 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; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And 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. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And 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. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. [Lk. 16:19-31]
Hell is a literal place of torment. It’s not just a state of mind. The rich man was in that place of torment and was concerned for family members. Jesus told him, They have Moses and the prophets.... In other words, they have the scriptures. If they don’t believe the scriptures, then they won’t believe even if one returned from the dead.
Just a Parable?
Some theologians claim that because this passage is a parable, it cannot be used to talk about the reality of hell. Perhaps in their minds, parables are considered to be fictitious, not actual accounts, but just stories. Parables, however, were always used to teach lessons, always contained a specific point and this passage is not a parable. How’s that? Because in this passage Jesus uses people’s names, i.e., Lazarus is the beggar’s name. Jesus is speaking in literal terms, saying, There was a certain rich man.... and in the next verse, And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus .... No parable in the Bible uses someone’s name. Obviously, this is not a parable but an actual occurrence, an actual event that Jesus was relating to His listeners. Also, parables were later explained to the disciples by Jesus. There is no explanation here, none whatsoever. This account stands just as it was told. It was an actual event, a literal event. When the Lord refers to the poor man (verse 20), He calls him by name, Lazarus, but He doesn’t name the rich man. He names the poor man who was in Abraham’s bosom, a term synonymous with Paradise, i.e., a place of comfort, consolation, the inheritance of the saved. What’s so interesting about that?
... and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. [John 10:3]
Jesus knows the names of His sheep, but says He does not know the unsaved:
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [Matt. 7:23]
The rich man was well known in earthly society circles and probably well thought of by his cronies. The rich today are well known, they have reputations and enjoy the attention of others who cater to them, honor them. While on the earth, however, the poor are chiefly ignored. This poor man, however, was known by the Lord, but the rich man was not even mentioned by name. It’s as though he was just another rich man who wound up in hell. Heaven’s occupants will encompass both classes -- the rich as well as the poor. On this earthly plane, it’s the rich who occupy the place of prominence, but not so in heaven. Heaven, unlike the world, will not be the reward or sole domain of the rich. There will be a place of peace and refuge for the poor, the downtrodden.
Jesus Knows His Own
Don’t think that because you have no place of prominence or influence on the earth, that you’re just a nobody, that you are unknown. Jesus knows you -- He knows His own and calls them by name.
Jesus told His disciples:
2 ... I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. [John 14:2-3]
Jesus is speaking about heaven and assures that it’s a place prepared for the people of God. It’s the habitation that the Lord has prepared for His own. The Bible also speaks of hell as a prepared place.
... Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. [Matt. 25:41]
Hell is a place of everlasting, eternal fire. Jesus goes on to speak of heaven and hell:
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. [Matt. 25:46]
The words everlasting and eternal are synonymous, i.e., having the same meaning and that is never ending. I know many people don’t like the idea of hell, they deny its existence, claim hell is just cessation of existence. We must take everything Jesus says on the subject, grasping that it is Jesus who speaks of the spirit and soul of man being tormented. Hell has enlarged its mouth to receive the wicked on earth. It’s a place of wrath and indignation. Heaven is a prepared place filled with the glory of God while hell is a prepared place filled with the wrath of God. One place is just as real as the other. There can’t be an everlasting heaven without an eternal hell. The Bible speaks of both places with both being eternal, i.e., everlasting.
Hell, a Place of Reality
Hell is a literal place, a literal location, but not here on earth. It is not cessation of being or existence. It’s not a state of mind; it’s not simply the grave. When the Bible speaks of the destruction of the wicked, etc., it can refer to physical death and the grave, but everlasting fire, everlasting punishment speaks of the torment of the wicked forever. Hell cannot be considered as happening here on earth. Why? The rich man begs Father Abraham to allow Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue because he’s tormented in the flame. There’s no water in hell, no iced tea, no lemonade or Pepsi. There’s nothing cool or refreshing in the place of torment, i.e., hell. No matter how intense the trial(s), persecutions, anguish of heart, difficulty, etc. that we’re called on to endure here, this isn’t hell because there’s water to drink. If it’s too hot here in New Orleans in the summer, you can always move somewhere else. You’re free to move to Alaska, Canada, Minnesota. The fact that you can leave this location is confirmation that hell is not here on the earth. On the other hand, hell is not a place that you can leave. Someone gave me a tract years ago and it was entitled, "Motel Hell." The message was, "Check in anytime, but you can never check out." Obviously, hell is not here on earth but people still say they believe it is. Furthermore, there are Christians here and there are no Christians to be found in hell. If you’re saved, then you are proof that this is not hell. Because hell is a real place, that makes it a somber matter, not a game, but deadly serious.
41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity: 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.... 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [Matt. 13:41-42, 49-50]
43And if thy hand offend thee, cut if 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: 44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45And if thy foot offend thee, cut if 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: 46Where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47And 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: 48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[Mark 9:43-48]
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. [Lk. 12:5]
Fourteen times the Bible uses the expression, to cast into hell or to cast into hell fire. Whenever this phrase is used, it always refers to a literal place. The phrase cast into is used forty-four times and also refers to an actual place. For example, Pharaoh charged the Hebrew people:
And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. [Ex. 1:22]
The people were commanded to cast all their sons into the river. Is a river an actual place or a state of mind? Likewise, when the Bible speaks of being cast into hell, it is speaking of a literal place, not an imaginary place. Hell is not a figure of speech or a figment of imagination.
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee. [Matt. 4:12]
Is prison an actual place? John the Baptist was cast into prison and Jesus uses the same phrase, the same expression -- cast into. Prison is a real place just like hell is a real place. The only explanation is that Jesus is describing actual events.
Where are the Warnings?
If hell exists, then someone should warn us; someone should sound the alarm. That’s the cry of the rich man. He wants Abraham to send someone to his father’s house to warn his brethren, Someone needs to warn them of this place. If hell is real, if hell exists, then people need to know. Right? Abraham’s response was that the people had the scriptures. God expects believers to read and believe the scriptures, applying biblical principles to their lives. That’s all the warning needed. The rich man’s reply is that his brethren won’t believe the scriptures -- that he didn’t believe them. The rich man goes on to say that his brethren will believe if someone returns from the dead. No, they won’t believe it. If they didn’t believe Moses and the prophets, then they won’t believe even if someone returned from the dead.
Someone should send out a warning. They recently installed gigantic warning sirens in strategic locations in St. Bernard Parish. They’re loud enough to be heard all over the parish. They tested them just the other day and it sounded like an air raid. What is the warning for? I suppose they’re for hurricanes, tornados, evacuations, etc. Warning sirens are there to be sounded in the event of imminent danger. If hell exists, someone should sound the alarm. What was Jesus’ response to that? The Bible itself is all the warning needed. Doesn’t the church of the Lord Jesus Christ have a responsibility to sound the warning? Don’t we as Christians have the responsibility to sound the warning?
Why is the Church Silent?
Why are Christians like dumb watchdogs that won’t bark? Because someone might be offended by the message that hell is real. Christians are, like the world, obsessed with being popular and accepted by the world. The result is that believers are being unfaithful to the Lord and deceitful because the whole truth, including the reality of hell, is not being told. Christians are useless if they’re not sounding the alarm. Of what value is a church that won’t warn? that won’t sound the alarm? that won’t tell the truth? If hell exists, a lot of people are going to be greatly surprised when they awake in hell.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom....
[Lk. 16:22]
The beggar had a divine escort into a place of blessing. For the rich man, he was dead and buried. Was it over for him? Not hardly, the rich man went to sleep on earth and awoke in hell:
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.... [Lk. 16:23]
The rich man was in torment, in flame. If hell exists, then many will be horrified after closing their eyes in death here in this world, they awake to find themselves in hell, engulfed in a burning cauldron. To awake in hell is to never sleep again. In hell there cannot be found a moment’s peace, a moment’s rest throughout all eternity. The Bible uses graphic but accurate descriptions -- where the fire is not quenched, where the worm dieth not, everlasting fire. Hell offers no place of comfort, no pleasure, no respite from torment, etc.
Still Time Here to Repent
It’s for those reasons we know hell is not here on this earthly plane, in this earthly existence. This is not hell because while here on earth, people can still repent. People can be forgiven of sin, cleansed and washed. Once people are dead, however, it’s too late. There are no opportunities for repentance and forgiveness after death. There is no prayer for mercy after death. There are no second chances, no reincarnation, no purgatory -- it’s heaven or hell. Thankfully, this isn’t hell because the sinner can still repent and get right with God. While still here, it’s possible to be forgiven of sin, be saved and receive the promise of eternal life with God in glory.
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. [Lk. 16:26]
Once in hell, however, there’s no passage from there to heaven. It’s too late for repentance, too late to make promises to God, too late to make vows to change direction. Saints, it’s too late! The horrible experience of multitudes is that they are going to find themselves in the same predicament as the rich man. Sadly, it’s going to be the shocking experience of the majority of people.
13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [Matt. 7:13-14]
Narrow Road or Wide Road -- Which One?
The conclusion is that the rich man who was popular on earth, i.e., famous, well-known, fine reputation, man about town, was on the broad, wide road. Jesus said that many were on that popular road while in contrast, Lazarus was not well-liked. No one wanted to be like Lazarus. No one was anxious to be his friend, but Lazarus was on the straight and narrow road, the road that led to life. The majority of people are on the wide, broad road and only a relative few are on the straight and narrow road. The one road, the only road that leads to heaven leads directly through Jesus Christ. Anyone who makes it to heaven doesn’t get there by accident, coincidence or pure luck, etc. Heaven can’t be earned by good deeds, charitable acts, etc. The only road to heaven is through faith in Christ and through Him alone.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
[John 14:6]
There is but one way to heaven, one way only and that’s through Jesus Christ. Now that makes it a narrow road, meaning heaven can’t be reached through Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, etc., or even Oprah, who has gone on record saying, "Jesus can’t be the only way." Either Oprah is right or Jesus is right. Each individual must decide! There is salvation in no name other than that of Jesus Christ. That means neither religion nor lodge membership can get a person to heaven. Perhaps you were baptized as an infant or later walked the aisle and joined a church. Won’t that make a difference? Not a bit, for all are meaningless when it comes to gaining entry into heaven. Are you a good Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian or Pentecostal? Sorry, that doesn’t qualify either. It’s faith alone in Jesus Christ that gives entrance into heaven. That means forsake any other way, any other method or means in an attempt to be saved. None of those plans work. Only the way through Jesus Christ will get you to heaven. There is no salvation other than by the narrow road.
It’s Yours for the Taking
The objections are many. Frequently, I hear, "You people are so exclusive. You think you’re the only ones going to heaven." Jesus brought salvation to the entire world -- Jew, Gentile, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu -- the whole world is offered salvation. All that’s necessary is for you to call upon the name of Jesus Christ and salvation is yours. It’s a narrow road because Christ is the only way but He invites all to come to Him. He invites all to repent of sin and believe on Him. No one is saved and no one goes to heaven by any other way. There’s still time for mercy here, but don’t delay for there comes the time when no more mercy is extended.
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. [Ps. 36:5]
Where is Justice?
In this world believers are sometimes grieved, wondering why there is no justice, but believe it, saints, there is a place of final justice. The Bible makes that very clear.
... a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.
[Lk. 16:19]
The rich man lived well. In fact, he lived the kind of life that most Americans aspire to live. That kind of life is held up even by the church as a standard or pattern of the kind of life to be lived. Live large! Live prosperously! Live the successful life! If that standard is dangled in front of the average American, he will go for it. That’s the kind of bait he will swallow. The average twenty-first century American church has learned that lesson well. Just suspend the standard of prosperity, plenty, popularity, success in life, etc. in front of the average American and they will flock to the doors of your church. The entire message is earthly minded. Just like the rich man, whose life revolved around this world, this life, right-here-and-right-now, with no thought of eternity. He fared sumptuously each and every day while the only time the poor man was considered was to offer him a few crumbs.
Sometimes in this life, there appears to be no equity, no justice. It’s a topsy-turvy world. How is it that some are so rich with everything going their way? Look how they live! They live like devils, like the wicked. They’re ungodly, immoral people. Why is that happening while the righteous suffer? There is coming a day, beloved, when all those wrongs will be set aright. There’s coming a day when justice will be served. There’s coming a day when God will call all men to reckon for the life they’ve lived. The rich man cried out to Father Abraham to extend mercy, but there’s no mercy in hell and that’s something it would be well to remember. Did the rich man get his drop of water? No, he didn’t because hell is a place of punishment, not a place of mercy. Hell is a place of punishment, a place of wrath and final justice.
Heaven is not a place or reward that can be earned. It’s not by good works, by baptism or anything other than through faith in Christ alone. That makes it a narrow road and eliminates all other routes. It’s faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ that will give us entrance into heaven. That means that we forsake any other way, any other method, any other means in order to be saved. The entire world populace is offered salvation and all one has to do is call on the Name of Jesus Christ and be saved. He invites all to come to Him and in that respect, salvation is made available to all who will repent of sin and receive Him. No one is saved and no one goes to heaven any other way.
If hell exists, then we need to know that it’s a place where no more mercy is extended. Hell is a place of punishment.
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. [Ps. 36:5]
God’s mercy is in the heavens, but that mercy doesn’t extend into hell. Hell is the place where mercy runs out. It’s a place of punishment, wrath, final justice. Yes, there is a place of final justice and the Bible makes that very clear.
... Father Abraham, have mercy on me.... [Lk. 16:24]
That was the cry of the rich man, but we want to remember that there’s no mercy in hell. The rich man cried out for just one drop of water, but he didn’t get it. Why? Because hell is a place of punishment. Hell is not a place of mercy.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things (you lived large and you never thought about eternity because you had heaven on earth) and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [Lk. 16:25]
There will come a day of reckoning. There will be a day of justice where the wicked will receive their reward, where wrongs will be set aright and the righteous will receive their inheritance. The poor man is comforted, blessed and abiding in Paradise, in Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man is tormented. Hell is a place of torment and there is a name for the day the sinner winds up in hell. That special name is "payday." It’s like the old expression, "There’ll be hell to pay."
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [Matt. 5:3]
The poor in spirit are blessed in heaven whereas the inheritance of the wicked is found in hell. Don’t aspire to be like the world, craving riches and fleshly allurements. While a few people gain wealth honestly, most do not. For those who gain their riches through honest investments, honest hard work, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with their being wealthy. However, many who acquire wealth have done so at the expense of the poor. God help them on the day of judgment because the man who oppresses others will inherit hell, not heaven. In fact, those who bring distress and harm to the poor have a special place in hell awaiting them. The Bible speaks of the lowest Sheol, i.e., the lowest pit. Jesus said, and I paraphrase, that it would be better for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for those who saw His works and denied Him.
There will be some places in hell worse than others. There’s going to be a special place in hell for those who distill and process alcoholic beverages, those in the gambling industry, those who manufacture and distribute addictive narcotics. These kinds of sins not only infect the lives of men but are also spread to the families where the addictive habits consume the money leaving nothing for food and the necessities of life for the family. While it’s the fault of the mothers and fathers who have allowed themselves to become ensnared, responsibility does not end there. When you see the small time dope dealer peddling his drugs on the corner, believe it when I say there are wealthy, important and influential people behind the little transactions. There’s going to be a payday some day because millions of lives are being destroyed on a global scale.
It is not uncommon to hear of the man or woman who gambles away the family’s paycheck with nothing remaining for the necessities of life. What we don’t hear about however, is that there are high-ranking and powerful persons who are owners, serve as chairmen and sit on the boards of the big casinos, etc. These people, too, have a special place in hell. Right now they’re living large and faring sumptuously but their wealth is earned at the expense of the poor man and gaining wealth in such ways leads straight to hell. Such tenets can be denied, disliked and even reasoned away, but it doesn’t change anything. We often hear people say that they don’t believe that a loving God would send any one to hell for all eternity. No matter whether or not they believe it; hell is a certainty. Just because someone disbelieves doesn’t change reality. Thinking along such lines puts the individual in the position of making his opinions superior to God. God is the one who declares these things. Who among us can boast of having more compassion than God? Is this the way to rationalize this? Understand this -- man reasons with a finite mind. Even in our world, we try to make the punishment fit the crime. What’s more severe than punishment in hell? What is the crime that is so great in God’s eyes that would cause people to be banished to hell for all eternity? It is the sin of unbelief, which in the economy of God is the greatest of all crimes. We have evidence staring us in the face every single day. In all the government of God, the greatest crime is that of unbelief that will damn the soul to an eternal hell.
If hell exists, then vast multitudes of people are going to face certain judgment. The multitudes will consist of the young and old, black and white, red and yellow, male and female, rich and poor, men of all nations, all those who have rejected Jesus Christ and do not believe that He is who He says He is, i.e., Messiah, Savior, Redeemer, God in the flesh.
11And 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. 12And 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. [Rev. 20:11-12]
This is the judgment of the unrighteous dead, not the judgment of the saved which will occur at a prior time. The saved are not going to be judged by their works, i.e., the salvation of the saved will not be determined by their works. Rewards will be dispensed according to the works of the saved but heaven is received only by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. [Eph. 2:8]
The wicked will be judged by their works because they have no Savior. They have rejected Jesus and His saving power.
13And 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. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (another description of hell). [Rev. 20:13-15]
But the fearful (the New KJV translates this as "cowardly", i.e., those who are afraid and do not accept or follow Christ, but are too impressed with the accolades of men), and unbelieving, and the abominable (which includes every type of immorality, fornication, homosexuality, bestiality, pornography), 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. [Rev. 21:8]
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest (they’re revealed, they’re clear), which are these: adultery, fornication (any type of sexual sin; the Greek word is "porne" from which our word pornography comes), uncleanness (sometimes translated as moral impurity), lasciviousness (the New KJV translates the word as lewdness, i.e., lust, a lack of sexual restraint), 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (strife, quarrelling, contentions, antagonism and many don’t regard that as bad excusing it by saying, "That’s just my nature." Get rid of that nature and get a new nature.), emulations (resentfulness), wrath (anger), strife (dissention), seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [Gal. 5:19-21]
That’s sobering. If hell exists, then someone should warn us. Well, here’s a warning right here. He who lives like the devil will burn with the devil.
9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterous, nor effeminate (the New KJV translates that word as homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (sodomites (New KJV), male prostitutes (NIV)), 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners (swindlers, slanderers, thieves, abusers, railers), shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you (you used to be like that): but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
It’s Not What We Were, but What We Are
It doesn’t matter if that’s what you used to be, but you can’t continue to be that way. If that is your past and you are now cleansed by the blood of Jesus, you are now a child of God. Praise God for that forgiveness, for that cleansing! Beloved, if hell exists, then our supreme goal in life is to be certain that we don’t go there and to do everything in our power to prevent our loved ones from going there.
If you’re not sure of your salvation, if you’re not certain that you’re saved, if there’s any doubt whatsoever in your mind, then what are you waiting for? This is the time to pray, to ask the Lord’s forgiveness, to invite Christ into your life and heart and home. Call upon the Name of Jesus.
...whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. [Acts 2:21]
I wrote in the flyleaf of my Bible: If there is no hereafter, then nothing matters, but if there is a hereafter, then nothing else matters.
- Closing Prayer -
Father, we pray this morning that you would stir our hearts and cause us to see the scriptures with fresh eyes. Lord, cause us to examine our own lives, our own hearts, our own behavior, our activities, the things we allow ourselves to think and say. Father, we do ask for your forgiveness today, the forgiveness that only you can give through Christ. Lord Jesus, forgive us, wash us, cleanse us. We confess our faith in you, that you died for our sins and that you rose from the grave and that salvation is in you and in no other. Lord, we ask for your washing and cleansing today. We ask for your forgiveness for all of our sins. Lord, help us to live our lives every day in a manner that would please you. Lord, help us to live and behave, to think and speak in a way that would honor you. Help us all to keep the fact of eternity in the forefront of our minds. While hell has fallen out of vogue with this current brand of Christianity, Lord, help us to never forget that it is a real and dire threat. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
