Two guys from Prince George die and wake up in hell.
The next day the devil stops in to check on them and sees them dressed in parkas, mittens and toques warming themselves around the fire.
The devil asks them, "What are you doing? Isn’t it hot enough for you?"
The two guys reply, "Well, you know, we’re from Canada, the land of snow and ice and cold. We’re just happy for a chance to warm up a little bit, eh."
The devil decides that these two aren’t miserable enough and turns up the heat.
The next morning he stops in again and there they are, still dressed in parkas, toques and mittens. The devil asks them again, "It’s awfully hot down here, can’t you guys feel it?"
Again the two guys reply, "Well, like we told ya yesterday, we’re from Canada, the land of snow and ice and cold. We’re just happy for a chance to warm up a little bit, eh."
This gets the devil a little steamed up and he decides to fix these two guys. He cranks the heat up as high as it will go. The people are wailing and screaming everywhere.
He stops by the room with the two guys from Canada and finds them in light jackets and bucket hats, grilling sausage and drinking beer. The devil is astonished, "Everyone down here is in abject misery, and you two seem to be enjoying yourselves."
The two Canadians reply, "Well, ya know, we don’t get too much warm weather up there in Prince George so we’ve just got to have a cook-out
when the weather’s THIS nice."
The devil is absolutely furious, he can hardly see straight. Finally he comes up with the answer. The two guys love the heat because they have been cold all their lives. The devil decides to turn all the heat off in hell.
The next morning, the temperature is below zero,
icicles are hanging everywhere; people are shivering so bad that they are unable to do anything but wail, moan, and gnash their teeth.
The devil smiles and heads for the room with the two Canadians. He gets there and finds them back in their parkas, toques, and mittens. NOW they are jumping up and down, cheering, yelling and screaming like mad men!!!
The devil is dumbfounded, "I don’t understand, when I turn up the heat you’re happy. Now it’s freezing cold and you’re still happy. What is wrong with you two???"
The Prince Georgians look at the devil in surprise,
"Well, don’t you know? If hell freezes over, it must mean the Canucks have won the Stanley Cup!!!"
Why does a loving God send people to hell? Does He really want to do that? How can good be truly loving when He is hell-bent on sending some sweet old lady who does not follow Him to hell? We put a dog to sleep if He is suffering, we don’t prolong its suffering, do we? We put it out of its misery and will not a loving God do the same and not inflict everlasting punishment on sinners?
A. The Trouble with Hell
“There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that he believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment.” – Bertrand Russell (1957,p.17) in Why I am not a Christian.
Russell, who is a very bright man, is partly right; Jesus Christ believes there’s a hell. The Bible says so, can’t escape that. Read with me...
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37"Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40"The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41"Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44"They also will answer, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45"He will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
These words came right from Jesus. His view is that there will be a hell (see v.46 the term "eternal punishment")and it will utterly be horrible. Survey what the Bible says hell is going to be like…
• A lake of fire (Revelation 20:15)
• A devouring fire (Isaiah 33:14)
• A bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1)
• Everlasting burning (Isaiah 33:14)
• A furnace of fire (Matthew 13:41,42)
• A place of torment (Luke 16:23)
• A place of filthiness (Revelation 22:11)
• A place where there can be no second chance (Matthew 12:32)
• A place where you don’t want loved ones to go to (Luke 16:28)
• A place of murderers and liars (Revelation 21:8)
This is not what I like hell to be. These are word pictures, imagery to describe the horrors of hell. These figures of speech are used to communicate an experience far worse than anyone can imagine. It is a destiny that no one in their right mind want to be in.
I use to say when I was not a Christian, that hell will be great. Cause I get to meet up with old friends, have a good old party with them. Reality is the Bible teaches there is an awful horrible destiny called Hell for the wicked, all who choose to turn away from God. Imagery given in the Bible brings little comfort. It brings chills, it’s not a thrill ride as many think it will be.
Here is a quote from Gary Robinson’s article (May 2003) I found in breakpoint.org:
What does a damned soul look like? The Scriptures provide a fleeting glimpse of something that had been a soul, but is now just . . . remains. In the images Jesus uses, most notably the great, smoking garbage dump called Gehenna, we see a place where ruined humanity lies in a smoldering heap of blackened desires. Where once a man stood, there is now but a shambles, a tragedy. The miserable Gollum in The Two Towers serves as a frightening example.
Adapted from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, this second installment in the saga presents us with a split and tortured personality. Centuries before, the Hobbit-like creature named Smeagol had found one of the Rings of Power and fallen under its dark influence. Over time, the ring changed him. Eventually, it possessed him. It stole his humanity and replaced it with a burning lust for his "precious." Now, anxious to get the ring back from Frodo Baggins before it can be destroyed, Gollum is willing to lead Frodo and Samwise to their deaths in the lair of Shelob the spider, an act of treachery foreshadowed at the end of The Two Towers.
But it’s clear that Gollum is the one trapped in the stickiest of webs. The ring has sucked his soul dry and left it hanging in shreds. He no longer has any sense of self, but rages against himself. He hates himself for what he has become, but he has no clear memory of what he was. Gollum has become a denizen of a realm described by C. S. Lewis as "all dust, grit, thirst and itch." He is, in the stark words of Jesus, condemned already.
Because of such imagery, of stark hopelessness…
Some are leaning towards three basic views
A. Annihilation – non-existence after death
B. Universalism – that all people will be saved
C. Purgatory – people will get a chance to be accepted after a period of cleansing
BUT Jesus’ teaching blows away all these 3. See Matt.25 again. The term “Eternal punishment” negates view A. That there will be separation of sheep and goats negates view B. That there will be immediate separation of sheep and goats negates view C. There’s no further second chances!
So we can see that today, many are tempted to believe the devil’s lie, the first lie recorded in the bible , to Adam and Eve “You will not surely die” (Gen.3:4). Maaybe there really is no bad consequence, no hell some choose to say.You are going to be OK, there is no consequence to taking charge of your own destiny. Do we want to believe the old serpent’s spin on the truth?
Freddie Gage as documented in the Journal of the Southern Baptist Convention (December 2002) said, "If there is no Hell, the Bible becomes a book of blunders, a book of lies, a myth, and a fairy tale. All the prophets who spoke and wrote of Hell are all liars! "If there is no Hell, Jesus Christ deserves to wear the label of imposter!” Gage quoted D.L. Moody said ’The same Christ that tells of Heaven with all of its glories, tells us of Hell with all of its horrors.’" And also Dr. W.A. Criswell said, ’If you say there is no Hell, you say the Bible is not the Word of God!’
And consider this statement: “The doctrine of eternal punishment stems directly from Jesus…” – Regent College Professor – Dr. J. I. Packer in “The Problem of Eternal Punishment” The Bible affirms it, can’t get around it. There is a Hell!
For folks who say they admire Jesus’ teaching, the challenge now is to accept what Jesus taught about hell. Sure, we like what he says about being kind, and loving and be faithful but no hell and brimstone please. The Bible does not allow for us to pick and choose what we like about Jesus’ teachings and He did say some awfully chilling stuff about Hell!
B. What Jesus taught about hell
Look again at what this text in Matt. 25 Jesus teaches at least 4 things about what will happen…
1. THE END OF THIS AGE: Don’t think that the world will evolve into Star Trek episodes where people will be above the violence of our world. There will be a conclusion to history, as we know it, when God’s reign is totally revealed. People will be assigned to heaven or hell (v.31-32)
2. THE BEGINNING OF A NEW AGE: The conclusion of history has an eternal side to it (v.46). It is this life that we have now that is temporary.
3. HEAVEN AND HELL: The inheritance of God’s children. What we as people were destined for: the kingdom. Heaven’s prepared for people. Contrast v.34 with v.41. Very specific is Jesus explanation that when God created the world His intention is for people to share His kingdom. His intention is for people to serve others reflecting love and grace. There is such a thing as HOPE and a glorious future. Whereas the eternal punishment/fire was never meant for people but the devil and his angels. But anyone who chooses not to join in with God
4. THE DEEDS OF OUR PRESENT LIFE HAS A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE NEXT LIFE! What we decide to do in this life, will determine what is up ahead of us.
So the question remains is Jesus’ moral character defective because he believed in hell? Is it true that God send people to hell?
Look at the Bible will you?
25 “Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t being just!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one who is unjust, or is it you? 26 When righteous people turn from being good and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. 27 And if wicked people turn away from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. 28 They will live, because after thinking it over, they decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. 29 And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord is unjust!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are unjust, not I.
30 “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn from your sins! Don’t let them destroy you! 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live! Ezekiel 18:25-32 (NLT)
Look at that, is this passage saying God wants people to be destroyed? Does he not want people to turn around? Does He not offer forgiveness of sins if the people would repent? Is He saying you all sinners, go to hell?
And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, 15 so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. John 3 (NLT)
What does the Bible say God wants to condemn the world and send people to hell? That God wants people to have no way out of hell? That God wishes to twist people arms and do a Bin Laden terror job? Is it not true that He wants people to come on the basis of their own free will rather than being forced? “Everyone who believes” rather than everyone who is forced to believed!
“Christ also suffered when he died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God.” 1 Peter 3:18 (NLT) Does that say that God is vindictive? Does that say that God did nothing but desire people to die in their sins? Does that He wants to send people to hell? That Jesus bothered at all to do this to bring us home via his death, does that say hell is want he wanted for everyone?
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? Ezekiel 33:11 (NLT)
Is God laughing that the wicked people are destroyed? Is he hell-bent on sending people to their eternal destruction?
One theologian said it well:
We should observe that God does not send anyone to hell. He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). God created man to have fellowship with him and provided the means by which man can have that fellowship. It is man’s choice to experience the agony of hell… As C.S. Lewis has put it, sin is man’s saying to God throughout his life, “Go away and leave me alone.” Hell is God’s finally saying to man, “You may have your wish”… Millard J. Erickson (1985, p.1240) Christian Theology
Then you may say then why did God make hell then? Couldn’t He just do without it?
Remember what hell was designed for in Matt.25:41 –“ the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” it was not for His beloved people made in His image. It was for the devil and his angels. That’s the purpose of hell according to Jesus. To take away hell would be to throw away God’s character of justice.
Go to the movies, every sane person root for the good guy to win, that justice prevail and that ultimately the price is paid for every crime. That the bad guy gets just what’s coming to them. There must be vindication. Hell is God’s ultimate vindication, that justice prevailed and all that’s evil gets what is coming to them. And so God’s glory is furthered when we see the good triumphed, we celebrate just as the people of Iraq celebrated when Saddam was defeated, just as people celebrate when Hitler was defeated, just as people breathed a sigh of relief when one of these days Canadian beef is good and safe to eat again or the cure for SARS, cancer, AIDS is found and life is celebrated and destruction of life finally obliterated from memory!
Also, the Bible speaks of the fact we are made of enduring stuff, part of being made in the image of God. That is why dignifies us, makes us valuable and God does not wish to wipe us out even when we deserved it. He made us to last forever, either with Him or without Him. The place to be for those who don’t want any part of God, is Hell. He made us with the purpose of living in a creation that is very good. He did not want us to choose evil, but as image-bearers of God, he gave us the choice to love him or not. Love is not love unless it is freely chosen, otherwise we are all like machines, like a battery to serve the Matrix. Our purpose then is to be bred to supply power for the machinery that runs this world. And when we are used up, then we’re tossed into the garbage.
But Christ sees us as valued, “26 Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.”
Have u seen the Taj Mahal? It’s a wonder of the world!
A Quote
“If one Indian ruler could prepare something as breathtaking beautiful as the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his wife of just fourteen year what must God be preparing as a home where He will live forever and ever with His people whom He loves?” – Anne Graham Lotz (2001, p.19) Heaven: My Father’s House.
Look, are we mere birds, or are we special – look again at Jesus’ words
• “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. 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.”
– Jesus in John 14:2,3, The Holy Bible, New King James Version
“prepare a place for you” can you hear how special you are, that the King of kings is preparing a place for you? This is not just a 14 year project, right? If the Taj Mahal which is built as a tomb for a dead queen is awesome, what about heaven which is custom built for God and you and I to live in forever. Prepared for us! Yeah! We were not prepared everalsting misery but everlasting love, all that we hope for and long for in a hellish world.
WHY DOES A LOVING GOD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL? Concluding remarks...
1. Reality is God sends no one to hell. He did send His Son through hell to make sure we don’t get there. His intention is to bless people made in His image.
2. Rejoice that we matter so much to Him. We are not throwaway garbage to God, but prized and loved and has no pleasure in our demise.
3. Response of God’s justice in our world is guaranteed. Surely a just and holy God will not pervert justice = crime does not pay.
4. Rewards are there for us who believe. There is hope and a future for our hellish world. Realize today we are built for - heaven. God is shaping a future that’s unparalled in history, a Taj Mahal of our dreams with one who loves us forever!
5. Remember God is absent in hell.
“Hell is not so much a place of physical suffering as it is the awful loneliness of total and final separation from the Lord.” – M.J. Erickson in Christian Theology
Imagine that you are with a person you hate, every word he speaks drives you nuts, every time he or she shows up you run and hide, that guy is even more good looking, smarter, athletic, popular, and the world revolves around him or her everything this guy represents rubs you the wrong way... would you want to stick around this guy forever? Well, God is infinitely more attractive, more awesome, more intelligent, just perfect, would you want to be with Him who is perfect in every way, unless you choose to adore Him because He adores you. If you don’t like what he does and how He does it, you have the choice of total and final separation from God, i.e. Hell.
6. Redouble our efforts in reaching others with the Good News. The Bible’s horrible description of Hell serves as a warning for us and it says to us "No one needs to go to hell". It is entirely avoidable. So let’s reach others before it’s too late.
7. Reshape our view of hell. It is not meant for us but the devil and his angels.
Let’s open up our hearts in faith now and receive God’s great love and trust Him at his word that He is for us, preparing a place for us of life, love, liberty and all we hope for, free of any damnation because He is doing all He can to make it happen.
Additional NOTES ON HELL
A. What’s the Big Deal About Hell
· Eternal fire: FIRE THAT GOES ON AND ON
41"Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matt 25:41 (NIV)
Feels hot, eh? There will be in hell a fire that does not go out.
· Emptiness: LONELY OUTER DARKNESS
And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12But many Israelites--those for whom the Kingdom was prepared--will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt.8:4:11-12 (NLT)
There is no party-like atmosphere with your friends. Sounds like there will be much regret, being found outside in the darkness, hearing horrible noises but not seeing anybody.
· Eternal punishment: THIS IS NO END TO THIS SUFFERING
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. Matt.25:46 (NIV)
Life is hellish enough now, but wait till u see the real hell.
· Eternal torment: The pain, anguish and torture will be felt with no rest
10he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." Rev.14:10-11 (NIV)
· Experiencing death again: It is a horrifying experience
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Rev.21:8 (NIV)
Bad enough to go through death once, now this dreaded sense of death will linger on and on.
· Experiencing consciousness of sin: Awareness of the misery of sinful choices
43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better to enter heaven with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. 45If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better to enter heaven with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. 47And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It is better to enter the Kingdom of God half blind than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48`where the worm never dies and the fire never goes out.’ Mark 9:43-48 (NLT)
The common thread to all these verses is the absence of God and anything that’s lovely, good and comforting.
B. IS THERE A SECOND CHANCE AFTER DEATH?
· The clear answer is an emphatic NO!
27And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, Heb.9:27 (NLT)
· The chance for our sins to be cleared is through Jesus for He died to cover up our sins.
28so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.
Heb.9:28 (NLT)
· That is why God is giving people ample time to change their mind and hearts
But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. 2 Pet 3:8-9 (NLT)
· God wants to joyfully welcome us in heaven through our faith in Jesus
24And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. 25All glory to him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen. Jude 24,25
This here is our no fault insurance for heaven’s blessings!
· How is this done? Simple as ABC – 1. Acknowledge our thirst, 2. Believe in Jesus and 3. Collect the water of life by faith at no cost to us, lap it up and drink it in.
And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give the springs of the water of life without charge!
Rev.21:6 (NLT)
Hence there are numerous chances NOW to get away from hell! Thank God! God created people to be loved forever. They were not created for destruction. But if they choose not be a part of God’s family and be apart from God they will have what they choose - eternal separation from God!
As CS Lewis once put it, sin is man saying to God: “Go away and leave me alone” and then hell is God’s reply “as you wish”.
