Luke 16: 19 – 31
Final Destinations – Heaven or Hell
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then 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.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
Mark Twain gave some interesting quotes during his lifetime. One such amusing statement was, ‘Go to heaven for the climate, hell for the company.’ He along with others, do not realize how horrible hell will be. We do not hear much about hell these days from the pulpits. Many preachers want to give the friendly upbeat sermons that please the congregations. I like the statement that as Pastors we should ‘comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.’ If Pastors do not warn their flocks about everything the bible teaches, then they should resign. Our Master, King, Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ took the time to teach us in the way we should live our lives so as His representatives we must also remain faithful and obedient to tell others about the Good News of Eternal life through the perfect Lamb of God. .
You might think ill of me but I enjoy a good laugh whether it is a joke or cartoon. My favorite cartoons were the ‘Far Side’ and ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. I told you not to think ill of me. Anyway, the reason I mention this, is due to our teaching. Satan does not want us to talk about hell. He will try to convince mankind that it is a funny place; that it does not exist at all; or that it isn’t such a bad place to wind up in. This cannot be farther from the truth as I hope you will come to understand.
We have already three strikes against us the moment we step out of bed. We fight the world, our sinful flesh, and the devil. These three evils working against us cause us to think incorrectly. We picture Satan and his fellow fallen angels and hell differently than what the Bible says. For one thing, we view Satan and Hell as humorous such as;
When we were looking to buy property I had this overzealous realtor show us what can only be described as a totally worn-out old farm. I mean the land had just been worked to death. The weeds were hardly even growing.
The smiling super salesman said, “Now really, all this land needs is a little water, a nice cool breeze and some good people.”
I replied, “Yeah, I agree, but couldn't the same be said of Hell?”
Our ancestors tried to mock Satan. If you travel to Europe you will see buildings adorned with gargoyles. How would you describe what Satan looks like? You would probably say that he is ugly and has horns. He wears a red suit. Has a tail and carries a pitchfork. This could not be further from the truth. In the book of Ezekiel chapter 28 we read, “… “ You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “ You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.”
In the book of Jude our Holy Father instructs us not to bad mouth these fallen beings but just turn their judgment back over to our Supreme Judge to deal with, 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.”
We also try to block these horrible thoughts out of our minds - that there is such a place as a hell. I am sure you have heard this statement, ‘If God Is a God of Love then He would never cause these things to exist and He definitely would not send people there for all eternity. Wrong! It is not what we think but what our Holy Father reveals to us that matter.
Some people take on a position that they are God and can decide that there is a heaven but not a hell. To my knowledge our Master, Lord, and Savior Is the only One Who spoke of a heaven and hell to begin with.
You have also probably read or heard of some people having a near death experience. A warm light at the end of a tunnel meets them. They feel all kinds of love and meet their loved ones. There is nothing in Scripture to back up these experiences.
One time I was at this meeting and a priest said a funny remark to the audience, but I did not receive it as such. He said, ‘I’d rather go to hell because that is where all my friends are. I didn’t laugh. If the enemy cannot get us to not believe hell is a literal place than he will try to minimize it. It wouldn’t be such a bad place to wind up at.
I believe that in what I am going to share with you should greatly move you. I believe that you might not have even heard this explanation that I will present before you today from the Scriptures. I believe you will understand that this is one destination that you and your loved ones do not want to experience.. In fact it is so horrible that you will not even want your enemies to situation.. So, let’s take a look at our Scripture in Luke.
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”
Many great scholars argue over the fact that this is not a Parable. However, when you review the other Parables, our Precious Adoni Yeshua starts off by saying such things as, ‘there was a certain person’ I want you to see some similarities from a few other Scriptures in the Gospel of Luke and you give me your opinion.
Luke 12: 16, 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.”
Luke 13: 6, “6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.”
Luke 19, 11- 12, “11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.”
Luke 20: 9, 9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.”
So, what do you say? It is a Parable and we will explain what Truth our Precious Master told.
The interesting fact was that our Lord Jesus gave a Parable in the beginning of chapter 16. He introduced this story with the words,
“1 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. 9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
These Pharisees mocked our Lord for His teaching of truth so I strongly believed our Lord pealed back the curtains of the spiritual world and gave them the what for of their final destinations. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will show not only the crowd around Him, but also us, that our lives are not merely lived out on this planet but that there is a reckoning where we have to give an accounting. We read in the book of Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27, ‘And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,’
The answer of this Parable was due to our Lord responding to these rich religious individual’s who used their God given tongues to blaspheme the very God they said that they serve. Our Holy Yeshua’s reference to the tongue in the Parable was in affect saying that their own mouths will get them into trouble. So, let’s take a look at the story.
There are noticeable differences between the two men. The rich man had everything that money could buy – nice home, clothes, and the best food. It does not say anything about him having any health problems. His name is not given.
On the other hand the poor man is called Lazarus. He was very ill. He was also very poor. Somebody dumped him off at the rich man’s gate hoping that this man would get some help from the wealthy guy. The guy had no iota of compassion for this hurting man. Even wild dogs had some mercy where they licked the poor man’s sores.
The name Lazarus means’ the Lord Is my helper’. The beginning parable our Lord pointed out the shrewd plans of man. The steward was complemented for having worldly wisdom and being able to pull off his own earthly ease. One would hear about this new information and think that God wasn’t Lazarus helper at all. However, what happens in the physical does not match up with the spiritual. For the Lord will show how He helps Lazarus in the future life.
22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
Look at the difference now. Our Holy Father instructed His angels to escort Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom. Another way to describe this statement is that ‘the angels to Paradise carried him.’
There are some terms we need to clarify about ‘hell’ First of all we have the word ‘Gehenna.’. This is a Greek term for the ‘fiery place of burning’. Next, we read another term ‘Hades’ which is listed for us here in chapter 16 of Luke. This word means – ‘the grave’
23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The bible is a great systematic masterpiece that puts facts together from various locations within the book composed of 66 books. It is like a jigsaw puzzle that you can research passages and join together to reveal amazing findings. It is also like snapshots of images. If you put them all together you see a clearer picture. So, let us cut and paste Scripture passages that will describe to us Hell.
Let me point out to you that what we are going to describe is not hell. Unfortunately you will see that these people will still have to face a final judgment. People who die without the forgiveness of their sins will first be assigned to the grave. There are there waiting for the Second Resurrection from the dead.
24 “Then 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.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
It is interesting that these verses describe physical attributes which continue to exist at the moment of death.
1. Mental anguish – The rich man experienced both physical and metal torment
2. Vision – could see Abraham and Lazarus
3. Ability to think
4. Ability to talk
5. A body to experience the pain
6. Memory
A person in the grave ceases to possess these capabilities. Our Lord is a Loving Merciful God. He does not have people begin to suffer before their proper judgment. Think about this point.
In the book of Revelation chapter 20, we read, “11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,[c] and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
We read these points relative to a person’s outcome that dies without the forgiveness of God;
1. Grave gives up the dead – Second Resurrection
2. Judgment
3. Sentencing = Lake of Fire [Gehenna]
Please note that there is fire. The man in the story began to be tormented from the fire. Were there flames shooting up all around him? The bible does not say. The rich man does know that it is a ‘flame’. The bible says this about hell, his future destiny,
Matthew 13, “42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 25, 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Revelation 20, 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
In the verses listed above we read about some mental torment - weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. If you have ever lost a loved one then you have experienced uncontrollable sadness. At different intervals when you think of the loss of your love one, tears flow. It is not something we get a grip on; it is something that grips us. This is what is going to happen throughout the person’s ordeal not only in Hades but Hell as well.
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While weeping attracts sympathy, wailing frightens and offends us. It is the pitiable bawl of a soul seeking escape, hurt beyond repair. It is a sound so grotesque because of conclusions that we cannot live with. This emotional outburst will also continue throughout eternity for the person who has rejected Christ Jesus as the One Who has paid the penalty for their sins.
Another description mentioned is ‘Gnashing of Teeth’. Have you ever been so angry with someone or something that happened to you that you tightened your jaw? Through sever frustration and anger you grind your teeth. So, understand, that these religious hypocrites thought they had a right standing with Almighty God. It would be better for them to experience these emotional heartaches then face the ultimate judgment for their sins. If only they would wake up and smell the roses.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.
I mentioned that the future destiny of rejecting the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice is separation. In Hades please note that there is ‘a great gulf fixed.’, that is between life and death in the grave. In Hades there are no more second chances. In the movie ‘Annie’ the popular song is ‘The Sun Will Come Our Tomorrow.’ One thing that we take for granted is ‘hope’. If life stinks we have hope that ‘our boat might come in.’ In Hades people will lose something that is vital – hope. Hell is the stop before coming before the Supreme Judge. . It is the final destination for those who refuse the Holy Spirit’s message to turn to our Lord Jesus for forgiveness.
’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
The rich man now considers his dilemma. He was there and realized how bad it was. Now probably for the first time in his existence he thought about others. What about his family? Perhaps they would not have to suffer the same consequences that he is now experiencing. Now some people may feel that Abraham’s answer is cruel. Why shouldn’t God extend mercy to the rich man’s family? The real truth is that the rich man’s request was not denied. It is useless. It will not work. Why? - Because mankind is hard and will not believe the miracle of someone coming back from the grave to warn them. Look at the book of John chapter 12. As you know the bible story on how our Lord Jesus Christ raised another Lazarus from the dead, look at how the people received this miracle. They did not embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and Savior of all mankind. They wanted to get rid of the evidence that our Lord Jesus brought a dead man back to life. “9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.”
I would hope that you are speechless or stunned at this information. Now what are you going to do with it? There are two things to consider. If you have not put you hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ do it now for the Scriptures reveal in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2, For He says:“ In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
In the book of Romans chapter 10 we read this, 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
You need to get down on your knees and ask God to forgive you of your sins. Tell Him that you know now that His Holy Son came to earth and died for your sins and that He arose from the dead as proof of His Forgiveness. Ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Now go out and tell others how He has forgiven and saved you.
This is called “Good News’ So, now you know that this good news is keeping you out of hell and destined for heaven. You should desire this same result for all your family and friends. Pray for courage to tell others and for their acceptance of God’s Love and Forgiveness. I will close on this famous poem which I hope will motivate you to go and do your best to let others know about the great God we have;
My friend,
I stand in Judgment now,
And feel that you’re to blame somehow.
You always had the words to say
Yet, never did you point the way.
You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim;
You could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together on the earth.
You never told me of the second birth.
And now I stand this day condemned.
Because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things, that’s true.
I called you ’friend’ and trusted you.
But I learn now that it’s too late.
You could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night,
And yet you showed me not the Light.
You let me live, and love, and die,
You knew I’d never live on high.
Yes, I called you ‘friend’ in life.
And trusted you through joy and strife.
And yet on coming to the end,
I cannot, now, call you ‘my friend’
