6 surprises about Hell
Luke chapter 16 verses 19-31
In relation to some that have thought that Jesus is telling a parable here is wrong, for
Jesus here is telling a true story. I’ve been ask and even told that this was a parable about
this certain happening here in Luke. I ask you to look anywhere in the bible where Jesus
does use certain stories as a parable, and you will notice that Jesus does not use a name of
a person, but just a text as, a certain man or a certain women. Nowhere have I found in
the bible where Jesus uses a name of a person in this case Lazarus, and it not been a true
story. I make this statement here ,for I believe this is no parable but a true happening
which Jesus tell us of.
In studing this story Jesus tells us of Lazarus and a rich ruler, which the ruler went to
Hell, and Lazurus went unto Abraham bosum. I’ve also see some things here which by
God’s help and grace, I hope to impress upon you today, six surprise about Hell.
1- surprised that a Hell exist.
There are religions today that do not even believe a real Hell exist. There thinking is when
you die, you go into the ground and that’s the end of your existence, nothing more will
ever happen to them again. Then you have some that believe there is no heaven or no hell,
that your body will die and again that’s the very end. Some religions, also think there is
just a heaven and no Hell. You work your way into Heaven and if you just don’t make it,
then you rot in the ground.
I’m here to tell you today, there is a Hell!, which will last forever and ever. There will be
flames that will evermore keep you in torment for all the ages to come. Also I will say that
those that don’t believe there is a Heaven or Hell, will end up in Hell, as this rich ruler did.
As I have studied for this message, I have found that there are 31 verses in the old
testament and 23 in the new testament that directly uses the word Hell in them. That’s is a
total of 54 times that tells me there is a Hell, and there will be folk’s in Hell. You see the
bible does refer to a place called Hell more than just a few times, and if the bible say’s
there is a place called Hell, I believe it for God said so, and he can’t lie!.
2- surprised that they went to Hell
I have talked to many a people that just believe if they are good, and friendly, and just
stay out of trouble, they will not have to face Hell. You might of met those same people. I
run into to them daily it seems. They are facing the day where they will have to answer to
the charges brought before them, and being nice, and good, just won’t cut it. As a friend
of mine that lives in the country, his favorite saying is, “that dog, just won’t hunt.”
Here in the text I just read today, a man that was cautious in his ways, he was rich,
dressed fine, did you notice the bible does not speak bad of him, but with all his cautious
living he ended up in Hell.
Satan has delivered this notion far and wide across this world, that being a good person is
good enough. Well for Satan, that is good enough, good enough to get you sent to Hell!. I
know some people today, I’ve talked to, stating this very statement, I’m a good person, I
live a good life, I eat right, I never bother no one, I’m properly the finest person you will
ever meet. I’m a fine upstanding citizen in my community. I don’t have to worry about
Hell, I’m not going. But those same people without accepting Jesus as their Lord and
Savior, will be surprised they went to Hell.
3- surprised how fast they went to Hell
When the doctor say’s your gone, your gone, the time for you on earth is over. The great
question is what’s next. In the book of 2 Corinthians, chapter 5 verse 6 through 10 pretty
much tells us what is next. When you die, your soul, your spirit is absent from the earthly
body and then, not later, not an hour or so after you have died here in the flesh of the
body, but now!, you are present with the Lord.
In verse 23 the rich man just lifted up his eyes after his death and he knew he was in Hell.
There was no waiting, no tarring about, he was there--fast into Hell. I sense a following of
people today that think they are fast and quick enough to escape anything. You know you
will never be fast enough after your last heartbeat to escape Hell!, you won’t talk fast
enough then, it will be too late, it will be decided for ever , Hell will be just to fast, and
you can’t do nothing about it then.
4- surprised, God didn’t give a sign about Hell
I’ve stated before there are 54 verses in the bible about the word Hell. To me that’s 54
signs that God has given us about Hell. There are Christians today telling people that
without Christ you will end up in Hell. I’ll even go as far to say that you can even turn on
your TV in your very home and hear preachers tell you about Hell. I agree in most
churches today, the message of Hell, has be missing from the pulpit. Pastor’s are in a
mode of not disrupting their members . If they go and start preaching about Hell and it
eternal flames, it might get some people upset and they won’t come back. Listen, I can’t
afford not to tell you about Hell, God want’s you to clearly understand, that there is a
heaven and hell and it’s one or the other, but you will end up in one of them.
Oh, church the gospel is out there for everyone to come to relies that there is a hell. The
only way you can escape this place called hell, is through the blood of Jesus Christ, the
blood he shed on the cross at Calvery.
There has been untold numbers of people that have walked out these doors at this church,
they have heard the warnings of hell, but they still walked right out those doors, with the
thinking it won’t happen to them. We are going to have to face the fact--it’s heaven or
hell, there is no gray area here. They will not have a good excuse of why they didn’t end
up in heaven. God in all his mercy will have dealt with each and every person before there
time here on earth is over.
God, is just God, God is a merciful God. He does not want anyone of us to go to hell, but
their hardened heart never came to the point of allowing Christ to enter into their lives.
You see church, God will give you all the sign’s you could ever ask for about hell, it’s up
to you to answer the call, and accept it.
5- surprised who went to Hell
I heard a preacher one time preach on this very statement. In his sermon he put forth this
hypothetical question. If the rapture happened right now, right this second while we are
sitting in this service, and Jesus calls his beloved ones home, wonder who would still be
sitting in the pews. Wonder who it would be? would it be you?. I remembered just about
everyone start looking around. Wonder if the deacons sitting over there would still be
sitting there. Hey maybe that lady sitting there that always wear the finest cloths around
would still be sitting there. Hey, wonder if I’ll still be sitting here.
You see I can’t judge if you are going to heaven or hell, I only can see you from the
outside, but God looks at the inside, the heart of the soul. I can only judge you by the
fruits that you bring forth. But God knows where you are. He know you better than you
even know yourself. I’m not your final judge, God is!
You may attend every church service, attend Sunday school, twice a month, read your
bible sometimes, and even be a member of a church. But is everything right between you
and God. Do you know for sure, not maybe, not 99%, but 100%, that if the rapture
happened right now, you would not be sitting right where you are today. Are you sure you
won’t have to look to your left and right and see others sitting right with you wondering
what just happened.
I’ll say there will be alot of people that are going to be surprised who went to hell.
6- surprised at the torment in Hell, and that Hell will last forever
In verse 23, the bible states him being in torments.
verse 24, he cried and also states, “ for I am tormented in this flame”
verse 25, “thou art tormented”
verse 28, “this place of torment”
You see Hell is a place of torment . Hell is a place you will go to without Jesus. Hell is
real!!
Hell will become your eternity, there is only two places after death, and it’s heaven or it’s
hell. Which do you choose today?
This ruler only wanted a small drop of water, and yet his soul was doomed forever to be
in tournment, all because he didn’t let God into his life.
In closing
Are you ready for the decision to be made. Are you ready to finally put that peace in your
heart. Let’s settle this right now, today.
You have heard of a place called Hell, it’s waiting there for you, but God is waiting on
you to come and accept the escape from hell.
If you have any doubts today, God is calling you now, come and find this place called
heaven. It’s up to you, it’s either heaven or it’s hell, where are you going to spend
eternity, ask yourself this , where, where am I right now.
