Five Minutes after we DIE!
Luke 16:19-31
Illust.
The Church of England issued a theological report on Hell in the opening months of 1996. While not suggesting that everyone would eventually wind up in heaven, the Anglican report does propose that if there is a Hell, it is empty. The report says:
“In the past the imagery of hell-fire and eternal torment and punishment…has been used to frighten men and women….”
It concludes:
“Hell is not eternal torment, but is the final and irrevocable choosing of that which is opposed to God so completely that the only end is total non-being.”
1. Heb.9:27 says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." It is a scientific fact that someday you and I and everyone who lives will die. Our hearts will stop beating and blood will stop coursing through our bodies. Our chests will no longer rise & fall with each breath. Our brain will stop sending millions of signals to various parts of our body.
2. Millions of people will die this year in the U.S.A. alone. Some will be friends of ours, some will be our loved ones, some will be prominent public figures. By the end of the year, all of us will be touched by death.
3. Few subjects interest men more than life after death. Most people have considered the question of the ages found in Job 14:14, "If a man dies, shall he live again?"
4. The question we must each ask of ourselves today is: What will happen to me five minutes after I die? The only place we can find an accurate answer to our question is in the Word of God: The answer is found in Luke 16:19-31.
5. Let’s learn five realities of what happens after we die.
I. Five Minutes after We Die We will Still Be Alive.
Illust.
The story is told of a Persian prince who was about to ascend the throne. Acutely aware of his need for more knowledge (to be a good ruler), he summoned his wise men and commanded them to prepare a history of humanity (, leaving nothing unrecorded, for him to read). Twenty years later the scholars brought him 6,000 books.
Too busy with the affairs of the state to wade through that many books, the (busy) king told his wise men to edit their work and to condense their findings in one book.
Another twenty years passed, and the scholars presented the king with the one book he had asked for. The king, (alas,) was dying and not able to read it. From his deathbed, he (the sad king) looked up at the wise men and cried, “Then I shall die without knowing the history of humanity!” One of the group, (seeing how heartbroken the king was,) said: “Beloved King, I will sum it up for you in a few words: ‘They were born; they suffered; they died.’”
A. Both Lazarus and the Rich Man Experienced Life After Death.
1. Often this passage is referred to as a parable-But this is not a parable. Names are never mentioned in parables.
2. The "rich man" had a life of luxury. He was abounding in wealth" . He was "clothed in purple and fine linen" which were great status symbols. He "fared sumptuously every dayHe lived in great luxury.
3. "Lazarus" was "a beggar." He was probably crippled and/or diseased. He had to beg in order to live. His name means "God is our helper." God was his only hope. He was "full of sores," He had to be "laid" at "the gate" of the rich man. He ate the "crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table" We also see that "dogs came and licked his sores."
4. Yet, both men were equalized in death. Both "died." Just as their lives were marked by contrast, so were their lives after death.
B. All People Experience Death.
In Dante’s Divine Comedy the author journeys through the Inferno. There is a sign posted over the mouth of the entrance to Hell which reads: Abandon hope all you who enter here. There isn’t a second chance after death. Unlike the Eastern idea of reincarnation, where if you blow it the first time around you an eternity of opportunities to get it right, the truth is, as the author of Hebrews points out, it is appointed for man once to die, and after that comes the judgment. In Hell there is no relief, no escape, no end, no kidding.
1. Death is the GREAT EQUALIZER. It is no respecter of persons. rich or poor, young or old, black or white, American or European, male or female... death comes to all.
2. Death is PERSONAL. It will happen to you. It will happen to me.
3. Death is CERTAIN. You can put it off. You can maintain your health, but you can’t avoid it. It will come!
4. Death is SURPRISING. Very few people plan to die. It just happens. Sometimes it happens when we least expect it.
C. All People Experience Life After Death
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According to a survey in U.S. News & World Report, many Americans believe in an afterlife:
78% believe there is a heaven 60% believe there is a hell.
Of those who believe in an afterlife: 78% believe they have an excellent chance of going to heaven. 4% believe they have an excellent chance of going to hell.
1. For those who have be saved by Jesus Christ, 2 Cor.5:8 says, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."
2. Paul said in Phil.1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
3. Moses and Elijah were OT believers and we see they were alive and well at the Mt. of Transfiguration in the NT in Mat.17:3.
4. Yes, true believers live on after death in heaven. However, those who refuse Christ live on in judgment. Turn to Jn.3:36. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.
D. Death is not Extinction, but Separation.
Illust.
Experts say that 3 people die every second. If this fact is true, then 180 people die every minute, 10,800 people die every hour, 259,200 people die every day, and 94,608,000 people die every year. Of the six billion people on earth today, experts also sayt that 2/3 of them have never heard the Gospel one time. If these percentages hold true, then 63, 103,536 people die every year without ever hearing the Gospel one time! Not everyone that has heard the Gospel one time, accepts the Gospel. Therefore, many more people die every year without hearing the Gospel!
1. Adam, in the day he ate the forbidden fruit died. Physically he didn’t die until 900 years later. But the day he ate of the fruit he found he was separated from God.
2. Mankind has been separated from God by sin. People w/o Christ are dead while they live. Eph.2:1 says "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
3. People who are in Christ are alive even if they die. John 11:25-26 says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
II. 5 Minutes After We Die We Shall be conscious
A. The Rich Man and Lazarus were Conscious.
1. In vv.24-26, the rich man was conscious of "being tormented in this flame.
2. Lazarus, on the other hand was comforted "in Abraham’s bosom."
B. After Death, we are Conscious of our PAST.
1. Abraham reminded the rich man of the "good things" he received in his life. However all the "good things," the material wealth of this age will be worthless in eternity. Job said "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return." Jesus said Mat.16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
2. That rich man would trade everything in his past to get out of hell! Every person in hell remembers every opportunity to be saved.
3. Someone who ignores this message today may remember it for eternity!
C. After Death, we are Conscious of our PRESENT.
1. The rich man begged for a drop of "water" to ease his torment. Lazarus enjoyed the peace, forgiveness and joy of heaven.
2. The rich man has become the beggar, craving for just a drop of water. Lazarus has become the rich man enjoying the eternal blessings of one who has turned his life over to God.
III. Five Minutes After We Die We Shall be with Christ!
A. Lazarus was Escorted into Heaven by Angels (v.22).
1. He closed his physical eyes on the suffering, pain and misery of this world and opened his spiritual eyes to see angels!
B. At Death, Believers will be Escorted into the Presence of Jesus.
1. Jesus said to the repentant thief on the cross ".. today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
2. Jesus said in John 5:24, “… whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and will l not be condemned, he has crossed from death into life."
3. If you were to die today, do you know FOR CERTAIN that you would go to heaven?
4. 1 John 5:12-13 tells us, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life.” “For these things are written so you may know that you have eternal life.
We can "know" that we have eternal life and will meet Jesus when we die.
5. If you have this knowledge, at death you will pass to a world of no more tears, death, sorrow, crying or pain! Keep your eyes focused on that!
IV. Five Minutes After We Die Our Earthly Opportunities will be Gone Forever.
A. The Rich Man wanted to Send Someone Back to Speak to His "five brothers.". He knew his destiny was sealed, so his concern was for his However, his opportunities for this life were gone.
B. Do you have a brother, sister, mother, father, relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker, fellow-student who is unsaved? Share your faith with them now
D. Our Opportunity to SERVE Christ will be Gone. John 9:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
V. Five Minutes After We Die Our Destinies will be Fixed For Eternity.
A. The Rich Man and Lazarus were Eternally Separated.
1. In v.26, Abraham reminds the rich man that there is "a great gulf [chasm, canyon] fixed" between them. No one could pass over.
2. When people die there are no second chances. This life decides where we spend eternity and once we step over there is no going back.
3. The rich man would have given everything he owned in order to be in heaven, and Lazarus would not have traded anything for his place there.
B. Our Eternal Destinies Hinge on our Choice about Jesus.
1. Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). You can’t earn, buy or deserve a place there. We only enter heaven by repenting of our sins and trusting in Jesus.
2. If you have been saved by trusting in Jesus Christ PRAISE THE LORD
3. If you haven’t trusted in Jesus Christ and Him alone for your salvation---your are bound for a devil’s hell and torment beyond imagination.
4. We only have this life to make that choice.
5minutes after we die
1 We shall be alive
2.We will be conscious
3. Believers shall be with Christ
4. Sinners will be in hell
5. Our destinies will be fixed for eternity. Are You Ready?
