Title: The Reality of Heaven & Hell
Theme: The contrast between heaven and hell.
Text: Luke 16:19 - 31
Prayer Scripture
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Introduction
If you would I would like you to turn in your bibles to Luke 16. Luke chapter 16. We will be looking at verses 19 – 31. This is the famous story called “The Rich man and Lazarus”.
Some question if this is a parable or an actual story. The answer is we find that when Jesus told a parable He did not name people. Also it is easy to tell by the context of a passage if it is a parable.
This story is found at the end of chapter 16. Looking at the context of the chapter it would seem it falls into the line of “corrective teaching”. The Pharisees “religious leaders during the Bible times” had been teaching different doctrines that were contrary to God’s teaching.
Here Jesus is correcting one. There was a teaching among the Pharisees that there were “levels
of hell”.
From Youtube video "The Fable of Abraham's Bosom"
Malkhut Shamayim - Olam Haba - Where God lives. Souls will attain this level after the arrival of the Messiah
Gan Eden - The souls are in paradise by virtue of their works.
Sheol - These souls need the "Kaddish" prayer to get out of here. Some say it lasts around a year.
Gehinnom - Most of these souls are out of luck. They are here because of not following in God's work.
Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
This is a reminder of the doctrine of purgatory. There is no biblical evidence of this. I believe it is a way to sooth man’s conscience when thinking of an eternal hell.
(Luke 16:19) "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.
Jesus begins this story by showing the contrast between the two.
You have the rich man who was “clothed in purpose and find linen” – This is a sign of riches and being able to afford the best of life. We get the impression that anything he ask for he got.
He “fared sumptuously every day” – He lived life to the fullest. Not wanting for anything. Not a day went by that he had a need.
Lazarus
He was a poor man. He was a beggar. He was a sick man. It even shows his health condition. Sores. His position was sitting at the Rich mans gate to beg for food.
(Luke 16:22) 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.
This is interesting in the way they died. Although the rich man probably had an elaborate funeral. He probably had friends come from all places yet he still died as he came. As Job would say, “Naked I came into the world and naked I shall leave”. All the riches in the world could not save him from death.
And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
Lazarus (the beggar) died also. Maybe not as elaborate funeral if there was one. But he died with nothing. The next verse tells us the difference.
(Luke 16:23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Key to the destination. Notice that the beggar Lazarus had a name yet the rich man here is never named? Why? Lazarus knew God and God knew Lazarus name. Rich man did not know (nor did care to know) God so God did know him.
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
So you have two places where they wind up. It is either here Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise or Hell some say Hades.
Jesus is making a statement to these places. He is letting everyone know that there are only two places.
Similarities:
1) They are both real and literal places.
2) They are both destinations.
3) They will both be full of people.
4) Both are places that house people for eternity. (our souls are immortal, God created us to live forever)
(Luke 16:24) 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.'
A few things to note about this place called hell.
1) It is a place of torment. From the flames.
2) It is a place of desolation
3) It is a place of regret. As the rich man lifted up his eyes. Looking afar off at the regret.
Key Passages About Hell
(1) Hell was designed originally for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
(2) Hell will also punish the sin of those who reject Christ (Matthew 13:41,50; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).
(3) Hell is conscious torment.
o Matthew 13:50 “furnace of fire…weeping and gnashing of teeth”
o Mark 9:48 “where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched”
o Revelation 14:10 “he will be tormented with fire and brimstone”
(4) Hell is eternal and irreversible.
o Revelation 14:11 “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day and night”
o Revelation 20:14 “This is the second death, the lake of fire”
o Revelation 20:15 “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”
(Luke 16:25) 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.
So this is not about rich and poor. It is not about the man was lost because he was rich. It was about his focus and following of God. This in turn causes a person to have compassion on others. “This shall all men know you are my disciples that you have love one for another”. There is a change in a persons life.
Kingdom Focused
In our Western (religious) mindset it would seem that people who are blessed in riches are blessed of God. It may be hard for us to conceive that Lazarus was even a follow of God because he was poor and a beggar. How could God do that to his believer?
Truthfully we don’t understand God or his kingdom. When we regulate this life to salvation. This short life to blessings. We limit our understanding of the kingdom.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians. 4:17).
Too many people are living their life on a moment. The decisions we make are often made in this momentary life. Yet God has given us eternity.
(Luke 16:26) 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.'
There is an eternal separation between heaven and hell. No “working our way out” of hell.
(Luke 16:27) 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.'
It is amazing how evangelistic this man had become. We could even say that this lost man in hell has more compassion for the lost here on earth than many Christians. But I digress.
(Luke 16:29) Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' (Luk 16:30) And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' (Luk 16:31) 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.' "
This is a reference to Jesus resurrection from the dead. People are looking for proof. Yet Jesus gave all the proof necessary to believe. Even miracles and resurrection yet people still question.
Conclude with Heaven.
So we have talked a lot about hell. Now let us finish with this glorious place called Heaven. My focus as a Christian is heaven.
A Place of Reunion – show know as I am known
And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (NASB) 2 Samuel 12:22-23
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. (NASB) 1 Corinthians 13:12
A Place of Hope – Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
A place of God eternal peace – John 14
John 14:1-4 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (2) In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (4) And where I go you know, and the way you know."
A place where there is no light needed – God’s glory
Revelation 21:22-27 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (23) The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. (24) And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. (25) Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). (26) And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. (27) But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Conclusion
That is enough right there to make me chose to follow God. The fact of our destination being set.
This is our choice. We can try and justify God in everything. Why would a loving God create hell? Yet the question we need to ask is how will I respond?
