SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Luke 16:19-22) (19) "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:" (20) "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores," (21) "And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores." (22) " And 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;"
(Luke 16:23-26) (23) " And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." (24) " And 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 thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." (26) " 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."
(Luke 16:27-31) (27) "Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:" (28) " For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." (29) "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." (30) " And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." (31) "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
(Mark 9:43-48) (43) "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it 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:" (44) "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (45) " And if thy foot offend thee, cut it 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:" (46) " Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (47) " And 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:" (48) "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
(Isaiah 5:14) “Hell hath enlarged herself and her opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, (strong ones) and their pomp, (high and glorious ones) and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Beloved, what actions would you take if you were in the position of God and your most valued prized creation was in total rebellion against you, rejecting your authority and choosing to live in opposition to your will? The seriousness of such a situation is beyond our comprehension. As a perfect being, would you make the necessary corrections to realign them with your purpose and will?
Let’s say that you are a perfect being who is flawless in all your ways, and you choose to ignore the rebellion and bring correction to those causing severe hurt to others. Would you continue to be recognized as a Creator worthy of worship and admiration by your creation? What do you do with the ones who think they are the universe and worship the creature more than the creator, choosing in their selfish minds to be in total rebellion against you for all eternity?
The sin of Adam and Eve in the garden proves that human choices have lasting consequences. If Hell were merely a dream, it would undermine the seriousness with which people should approach moral decisions regarding their lives.
Daily news reports and social media show that the majority of people today are in rebellion against God and anything connected to him, as nation after nation living on this planet is turning their back on God, as if He does not exist and doesn't even care about His creation. Many today are hasty to make jokes about hell and claim that they have lived their lives here on earth in hell, believing that this will ensure their entry into God's Heaven, while others contend that both Heaven and hell exist here on earth.
Beloved, in conclusion, let me say that throughout the Holy Scriptures, we find that Jesus preached more about Hell than he did about Heaven. The statistics before COVID revealed that every three hours, 26,700 people were entering an eternity they were unprepared for. I trust that you will receive this message with an open heart and that the blessed Holy Spirit will convict and encourage you to consider the value of one soul going into eternity unprepared with no hope of escape from eternal damnation. As for me, I have 26,700 reasons why I do not have time to get involved in church gossip, including church strife when lost humanity is slipping through our fingers.
"HEAVEN IS KEEPING A RECORD."
(Jude 1:6-7) (6) "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." (7) "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
Beloved, did you know that many people today, in the 21st century, believe in the existence of life after death? This includes believing in punishment for the wicked and eternal happiness in heaven for those who choose God. The scriptures teach that believing is not enough. The scriptures teach that "Today is the day of Salvation," for tomorrow may never come. Therefore, the time to act on this belief is now while you are still alive on this planet.
We have read about great revivals that occurred in history; God using great men such as Jonathan Edwards, a renowned preacher in the 18th century. Edwards spoke on the subject “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” expressing in his sermon that those who reject God’s plan of salvation through the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus will one day die and end up in the flames of hell.
Beloved, did you know that some well-known preachers have emphasized in their messages regarding hell that God's anger toward sin fuels the flames in hell? Did you know that when the truth of God's plan is preached with conviction, it can awaken the people's hearts, causing them to cry for forgiveness?
Did you know that the Holy Bible, in Matthew 23:14, warns that there are different degrees of punishment in hell, which means that the level of suffering will not be the same for all people? Matthew 23:14 reads, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
I can remember stories of people witnessing the death of a wicked person. Such witnesses describe them as being terrified, screaming, and struggling with all their strength, begging for someone to pull their feet out of the fire. There are reports by well-known ministers and doctors who speak of those dying without God, screaming as they see creatures like ugly demons coming with chains in their hands to take them to hell.
Beloved Saints and fellow peers, I wonder what kind of stories we would hear today if people dying were not induced with high-potency drugs that often mask the true nature of death and the spiritual realities that await us. I don’t know about you, but this scares the devil out of me. I can now see why the Living God would have me minister on such a subject that will surely bring people to a place of repentance, especially as they see themselves dying and falling into the hands of the judge of the whole universe, only to be resurrected to give an account of their life on earth.
I remember one story about a pastor's wife who pleaded with her husband and a few close friends to be allowed in her room to capture her last moments before she passed over. The woman was well-respected and considered a powerful influence on the young people who attended their church. The story goes that as she was crossing over and in her last dying moments, the countenance on her face changed to that of fear, and her last words were, "Oh my, I did not quite make it.”
This reminds me of a ball player they called Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin. Goose Goslin played in the 1924 World Series for the Washington Senators. His team had not scored, and he hit what he thought was a home run. There was a flag on whether he was called out as he crossed home plate. The umpire delayed his call and announced to everyone, "‘Ladies and gentlemen, the batter is out, not because he didn’t beat the ball at home plate but because he didn’t touch first base!”
Saints, how will it be if, when you get to the end of your life, like the pastor's wife and the well-known ball player, you are called out at home for living your whole life calling yourself a Christian when you never even come close to touching first base? Finding out that you have never been saved, that you have never surrendered your heart and life to the Lord?
Beloved, would you like to take a chance on missing heaven and ending up in hell? Unfortunately, hell is not preached as much today because some churches tend to avoid this teaching, claiming it is too negative and imposes unnecessary demands on people. These leaders falsely claim that today's people require a sermon that appeals to them, especially in these changing times.
The reality of hell was affirmed by the living Christ, who spoke more on this topic than on heaven. Did you know that King David declared in Psalms 9:7, "The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God?” The wicked outlined in this verse refers to those who act contrary to God’s laws and moral standards. This includes nations engaging in injustice, oppression, idolatry, or rebellion against the Lord's Divine commandments, neglecting His commandments, and failing to recognize His sovereignty over human affairs.
Beloved, I would like to take this opportunity to pause in this part of my message and ask you some essential questions to help you assess your current situation, understand your feelings, and plan for your future.
1. Is my life what I desire it to be?
2. Could the Bible be correct, and is there a literal place called Hell prepared for the devil and his angels by a
perfect God who hates sin?
3. Do I wish to continue with the lifestyle that I am currently living?
Beloved, do you wish to face the Lord after death, knowing that your works shall be burnt with fire only to watch someone else wear a crown that should have been yours throughout all eternity? Stewardship consists of the motives behind how we manage our time, talents, and resources and is evidence of our faith and relationship with God. Good stewardship reflects a heart aligned with God’s purposes and priorities in building his kingdom.
Heaven is keeping a record, and people’s lives weigh in the balance. Records kept on the lives of those who have accepted Christ exist not for condemnation but for rewards based on their faithfulness to God and what they have done with the gifts and talents he gave them.
"WHAT IS IT LIKE IN HELL?"
Beloved, we can look at the rich man in Luke the sixteenth chapter and listen to the greatest preacher of all expound on the life experiences of a man who had everything he ever wanted in this life, including a proper burial when he died, but entered an eternity he was not prepared for as he found himself in the flames and torment of a place called hell. Notice that the Lord did not say this story was a parable but a true life story of a man who had everything but, in the end, lost it all, including his soul.
Let us now see what we can glean from this story, which Jesus himself told as factual; therefore, our soul is nothing to play with. A few disturbing things in this story shake me to the core of my being, making me glad that I accepted God's plan of salvation, which made way for me to be adopted into his royal family as a Son of the Living God.
1. The rich man had money, power, and a high social position in his earthly life.
2. The beggar Jesus, called by the name of (Lazarus), was full of sores and lay at the rich man's gate, desiring
only the crumbs from his table.
3. The rich man at death was stripped of his earthly body that he thought so much of dressing it in delicate purple
and living a life of luxury, while the poor beggar, Lazarus, had no one he could depend on.
4. The rich man was stripped of his pagan gods and pagan beliefs.
5. The rich man, having entered an eternity he was unprepared for, now realizes the impact of his choices. His
regret is intense as a constant reminder of the eternal consequences of rejecting God.
6. In hell, the rich man still had all five senses.
7. In his torment, the rich man remembered his past life with the memory of his five brothers who were still in sin,
with his conscience reminding him that he had done nothing to guide them towards God.
Beloved, according to the Holy Scriptures, the rich man and those who reject God and end up in Hell will have a sharp memory that reminds them of the times when they played church, including when people prayed with them. They will be reminded of the times when they laughed it off as if it were a game; yes, they will have a conscience in hell alive with a voice that they can never shut up, one that will continually remind them of a loving God that they rejected and wounded.
The one thing that sticks in my mind and stands out above all others in this story is the rich man asking the beggar to come and dip his finger in water to cool his parching tongue. Notice that the scriptures did not say let him bring water, so the water must have been in sight. What if the Great Gulf separating the place where the rich man was from Lazarus would have been water, adding to the misery that water could have been within sight?
Beloved, we read in Luke 16:26 that Father Abraham informs the rich man that a great gulf between them cannot be passed over. I often wonder if this great gulf could be a lake of water because we all know that streams, lakes, and deep seas exist throughout our world, and some can be found in deep places under the earth.
According to the Bible and the words of Jesus, Hell was not created for man but for the devil (Satan) and his fallen angels. If God were to allow fallen men and women into heaven without their nature being changed, they would not be happy. Just as they do not like shouting here, they sure will not like it there.
Beloved, there have been notable ministers who have written books about dying at a young age and awakening in a place of torment called hell. One such minister was Kenneth Hagin. There have been countless others, but I can recall being in a revival when a young man came in begging to give his testimony.
The young man had just left the morgue and testified that they had just signed his death certificate and were placing a tag on his toe. He seemed so freighted and, at the same time, relieved as he told us about dying and awakening in a place so frighteningly the bible calls HELL. The young man described it as a place of outer darkness with people he could not see crying and screaming in torment.
The young man said he realized he was doomed without hope when he suddenly thought about his upbringing and remembered his mother teaching him about Jesus. He said that when he called upon the name of the Lord from what he had learned in his childhood, suddenly, a light appeared above him. He was then called out of that terrible place, given a second chance to get his life right, and told to come back and warn others that hell is real. The young man preached to all of us, stating that the only thing worse than going to Hell is going to Hell, thinking you are on your way to Heaven.
Beloved, I learned to be a top mechanic at my dad’s shop in my teen years. My main job was rebuilding diesel engines. There were times when I would work all night putting an engine back together for a top customer and more than once; I would look up to catch my dad walking in, begging me to finish the job in the morning. I would always say that I needed to finish it now, for if I did go to bed, I would fix it in my sleep.
Working alone, I had to be extra careful because nobody would be around to help me if I were injured. If my hand got caught under one of the heavy heads while placing it on the top engine block, I would have to wait until someone came in the following day to free my hand.
Beloved, our body has a built-in tolerance switch that kicks in when we experience trauma. This switch causes our brain to disengage, leading us to pass out and enter a coma-like state where we feel no pain. The truth is, there will be no temporary relief switch to save us from one second of the torments in hell.
In conclusion, Hell is described in Scripture as a place characterized by physical torment through fire, deep darkness, and conscious suffering marked by weeping and gnashing of teeth. The ultimate punishment is eternal separation from God’s presence. Hell will be a place where the souls of men and women who go there will desire death, but death will flee from them.
"IS THERE SOMETHING COMING WORSE THAN HELL?"
(Revelation 20:13-15) [13] "And the sea gave up the dead which was in it, and DEATH and HELL Delivered up the Dead which was in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." [14] "And DEATH and HELL were cast into the LAKE OF FIRE. This is the second death." [15] "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire."
The Bible in (Revelation 20:13) says that one day, the place the Holy Bible calls Hell will give up the dead. Yes, these people will be given a resurrected body to stand at the White Throne Judgment before the Living God to be judged according to their life on earth.
Beloved, these scriptures speak for themselves, warning us that Hell is only a temporary holding place until the final judgment. Jesus spoke of the rich man, describing to us that although he lived a life of luxury, he died and was buried, he lift, [not lifts or lifted which would be past tense], but he lift his eyes in hell, being in torment from the quenching flames.
Notice how the scripture describes how he used the word 'lift' instead of 'lifted,' which means that he is still there awaiting the final judgment, where the wicked dead in hell will be resurrected to stand before God; give an account of their life, and be cast alive into a liquified lake of fire where the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever, indicating they will be given a body that can never be destroyed. (Revelation 14:11)
Saints of God. According to (Matthew 25:41), "Hell is a place that God prepared as a place of torment for Satan and the angels that rebelled with him against God. In the future, when all humanity is judged at the White Throne Judgment of God, all the wicked dead that are in Hell, along with the Devil, the fallen angels, and demons, will be cast into a burning, but never consuming, LIQUIFIED LAKE OF FIRE, where the smoke of their torment will ascend Forever.
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.” “Wages” refers to something earned or deserved due to one’s actions. In this context, it signifies that sin has consequences owed to those who commit it. Just as one earns wages for work done, individuals earn death as a consequence of their sinful actions. When the Holy Bible states in Revelation chapter 20 that “Death” is cast into the lake of fire, it represents the ultimate defeat of sin’s power, resulting in death over lost, broken humanity.
In delivering a message, I like to give the Holy Spirit room to move and always allow people an opportunity to consider how they might apply what they’ve heard. Revelation chapter 20, verse 14, states that Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire, meaning that sin and death, the last adversaries of man, will be abolished. Death, the consequences of sin, will be abolished. Hell, the consequence of sin after death, will also be abolished, fulfilling the scripture that declares death as the final enemy of God, and man will be destroyed.
(Corinthians 15:26)
MY CONCLUSION
Beloved, the world we live in today indicates that the problem of sin, inherited by the human race after Adam's fall, still exists. Sin is responsible for all the immorality, selfishness, and disregard for others we see around us. Issues such as poverty, racism, and inequality reflect deeper moral failings within society. These sins often arise from greed, selfishness, and a lack of compassion, which can be defined as traits associated with humanity’s fallen nature.
Have you ever considered the consequences of missing heaven and spending eternity in hell? Sadly, many churches today have stopped preaching about hell, thinking that it is too harsh and demanding. These leaders believe that people today need a sermon that will appeal to them, especially in these changing times. However, Jesus Christ himself confirmed the reality of hell, speaking more about Hell than he did about Heaven.
I can recall a pastor of a large Baptist church inviting me to speak at his church. When I arrived for the meeting, the pastor sent word for me to meet him in his study. He said, “I have been looking forward to you coming to minister in my church, but I ask that when you minister, you do not bring forth a message about Hell, for if you do, you will scare my people.
Beloved, the Lord had not placed a message about Hell in my spirit, but after being approached this way, I was sure God would change the message he gave me. I informed the pastor that the Lord had not given me a message about Hell, but if he feels he should tell me what to preach and not preach in his church, I suggest he bring the message, for I am only a spokesman and will be held accountable for what the Lord gives me and places in my spirit.
God sent Jesus to pay the sin debt and make way for fallen man to be restored into fellowship with a Holy God. God's Son Jesus appeared on the scene at the right time in history, taking our sins upon himself and nailing them to the cross so that the scriptures might be fulfilled. He declared that he knew no sin but was made sin for us and that we can be declared righteous, which means right standing with God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Beloved, there can be no excuse for us to reject this awesome plan of God, which was kept secret in the Godhead to redeem man. God knew that Satan would enter the garden and tempt His most prized creation to fall into sin. May I ask you some fundamental questions, which may be the most important questions you will ever be asked in your entire life?
1. Which side are you standing on, the skeptics who make fun and declare God is love and would never put
anyone in hell, or the side that has acknowledged their sin and has trusted in God's plan of salvation through
placing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. Is what you believe about the grace of God and the existence of a literal hell good enough to die with?
3. As messengers of God, are we preaching to please people with a gospel that places no demands on our way of
life and allows the flesh to remain alive?
Beloved, you can rest assured that one day, evening, or night, you will die. There has never been a soul in history that has cheated death except Enoch and Elijah. Death can happen due to various reasons, such as disease, trauma, or simply the aging process itself. The average life expectancy varies globally but generally hovers around 70-80 years in developed nations.
May this message prompt us to consider the uncertainties of life and realize that, like the rich man, we could be here one moment and gone the next. I intend not to preach damnation in this message, but it is my duty as a watchman upon the wall to warn people about an awful place called Hell, hoping that some will heed the message and get their hearts right with God. As more and more people are dying, I often wonder if we even now may have family members in this awful place crying out as this rich man did for someone to come back and warn others about this place of the damned the Bible calls Hell.
I feel compelled to conclude this message with two essential scriptures that can change your life for eternity, and I wish to close by saying that; "God does not want or desire for anyone to end up in hell, but rather that all would turn to repentance; even the word states that God has long patience for the fruit of the earth and does not want anyone to perish." The truth is, if a person created in God's image and likeness were to go to hell, that would be a part of his creation that he can never reclaim.
Please meditate on these important verses, and when you do, what would be wrong with bowing your head and inviting the Lord Jesus to come and live in your heart and make your life count? Beloved, I believe in you, and as you pray this prayer, I ask God to push back the powers of darkness and make himself real in your life.
(John 3:16-17) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (17) "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
