Intro; This morning I want to preach on a subject that does not get a whole lot of preaching time. The Reality of Hell- Sheol or Hades
The word “Sheol” means a “hollow subterranean place, “therefore “Hades” is a place of hollow emptiness and torment. It has “gates,” for Jesus said that the “Gates of Hell” (Hades) that means that those who are behind it cannot get out.
Jesus said, “I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the “KEYS” (of the Gate) of hell (Hades) and of death (the Grave).” To get these “Keys” Jesus had to descend into the “lower parts of the earth.”
There have been many references to Hell, one may tell someone to go there, or speak Hell as being a party place. It is neither funny nor amusing in Hell.
The very mentioning of the name brings horror to some and some are changed because they realize that they themselves are in danger of it. Remember Hell is only one breathe away!
There are stories of men and women that have died and were on there way to Hell and somehow they were brought back to life and they were changed from that moment on. They heard groans and horrible sounds of suffering.
In the Bible there is a story of and man by the name of Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31 says, “19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,. 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And 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. 23And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing 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 received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And 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. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father’s house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
This spoken by Jesus is not a parable for a parable does not give proper names as Abraham and Lazarus, both the “Rich Man” and Lazarus had died and their bodies had been buried, and what happened to them in the “Underworld,” was descriptive of what happened to them in their “disembodied state,” in that sate they were conscious, could see, hear, speak, and recognized each other.
There are ten realities that will give you the full reality of Hell itself.
I. The Torment of Association with the Wicked forever and ever.
Rev. 21:7-8 says, “7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
There I a story of a young girl in her 20’s that had fell sick because of the life she had led. She had sold her body to the world. She lost everyone in her family, used by men, and lost everything she owned. She had been disowned and forgotten, except for one person and that was her grandfather, who loved her in spite of what she had done. She asked her grandfather, “Did you ever think that your granddaughter would associate with those kinda people? She that next Sunday when to the altar and gave her heart to the Lord.
A. All the vile people of this world will all have their part in this place. Satan, the Ant-Christ, Saddam, Hitler, Mussolini, Al Capone, Judas Iscariot, Harlots, Backbiters, Gossipers, Drunkards, Liars and the like.
B. Yes, those that have fallen into this sinful category will not feel like they should be there with Satan, Anti-Christ and the like, because they were not that bad. Sin has all to do with this place.
C. Who you associate with on this earth is who you will spend eternity with. All liars will have tier part in this place and those that associate with them.
D. If you want to go to heaven then you need to associate with those that do what the Bible says.
II. The Torment of Eternal Hunger and Thirst.
23And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing 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.
The rich man knew Lazarus and Father Abraham; he also remembered his brothers, The Rich man for Lazarus to dip his finger in water and put it on his tongue for he was thirsty.
Every lustful thought will never be filled, huger and thirst will be the norm for eternity.
Always hungry and thirsty but can never satisfy that need.
III. The Torment of Separation from family
Luke 13:28 says, “ There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the other Prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourself thrust out.
For those that made it to heaven I’m sure that God will wipe away their tears for the loved ones that did not make it to heaven.
No more Christmas presents of pumpkin pie, no more family reunions or anniversaries.
Years ago I heard men and women that were not saved say tell momma that I’ll be there.
You will not be there if your name is not written in the lambs book of life.
Amos 4:12 says, “prepare to meet thy God.”
IV. The Torment of Eternal Darkness
Hell is a place of mid-night darkness so black and thick that it can be felt!
The darkness according to the Bible is almost indescribable.
II Peter 2:4 says that it is chains of darkness.
Jude 13 refers to the false Prophets and corrupt teachers, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
No moon or sun, no light of any kind. All you can do is hear the groans and moans of others.
Hell is eternal night.
V. The Torment of Eternal Death
This means separation from God, A spiritual death with no way out. Forgiveness is too late.
This is something that God never meant to happen to you, that is why He gave Jesus His only Son to be the one to take away your sins, but you must believe in Him and Him alone.
Jesus took eternal death away from you for now. But if you die in your sins you will be lost forever.
Listen when Jesus was on the cross He felt the separation from the Father. He did not cry for the pain when Jesus said, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” that was not because God had forsaken Him, but because God the Father cannot look upon sin.
Jesus had taken the sins of the whole world. He cried out because the windows of heaven were closed.
Jesus said in Rev. 1:18, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; but I am alive forevermore. Amen, and I have the keys to death, hell and the grave.
Because Jesus died you don’t have too.
To the right of the “Bottomless Pit” is “GEHENNA” (G). This is the “Final Hell” or “LAKE OF FIRE” prepared for the Devil and his angels, into which the Wicked,” after the Great White Throne” judgment, will be cast to spend eternity.
This is not the place for you or me! It was prepared for the Devil and his angels from the beginning.
Read Romans 10:8
End it with love for them, from Jesus.
Other verses are: Isaiah 5: 14-16, Heb. 9:27, Rev. 20 11-21:8
