THE REALITY OF HELL
REV. 14:9-11
I. INTRODUCTION
THERE IS A VAST POPULATION WHO CANNOT DISTINGUISH WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS FANTASY. FOR SOME, ALL OF LIFE IS JUST MAKE BELIEVE. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE VALIDITY OF GOD, ON THE CONTRARY, THEY VIEW HIM AS A FICTITIOUS FAIRY TALE CONJURED UP BY THE GREAT MINDS OF YESTERDAY. HEAVEN HAS NO MEANING FOR THEM, AND IF HEAVEN HAS NO MEANING, THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HELL. BUT MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTER, GOD HAS A PREPARED PLACE FOR THOSE WHO TRUST HIM; AND HE HAS A PREPARED PLACE FOR THOSE WHO DISTRUST HIM. MAN HAS A TENDENCY TO BELIEVE IN THAT WHICH HE CAN SEE, AS OPPOSED TO THE UNSEEN. BUT, NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN A HEART ATTACK, BUT THEY ARE REAL. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN A HEADACHE, BUT THEY ARE REAL. NO ONE HAS SEEN A HUNGERPANE, BUT THEY ARE REAL. WE CAN’T SEE HEAVEN, BUT IT IS REAL. WE CAN’T SEE GOD, BUT HE IS REAL. WE CAN’T SEE HELL BUT HELL IS REAL. SO MY BROTHERS, AND MY SISTERS, MY THESIS FOR TODAY IS THE REALITY OF HELL.
II. THE TEXT
THESE PASSAGES REFLECT BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THE REALITY OF HELL. WHOEVER RECEIVES THE MARK OF THE BEAST WILL HAVE THE PRIVILEDGE OF GOING TO HELL. FURTHERMORE, THOSE WHO DIE WITHOUT JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR WILL EXPERIENCE THE REALITY OF HELL. MANY HAVE ALREADY MADE THEIR RESERVATION BY THEIR REFUSAL TO ACCEPT CHRIST.
GOD’S WRATH SHALL BE POURED OUT UPON UNREGENERATED HUMANITY. WHEN GOD’S UNBRIDLED ANGER IS UNLEASHED ON THE WORLD, IT WILL NOT BE MINGLED WITH MERCY OR COMPASSION. GOD WILL NOT BE GRACIOUS IN HIS JUSTICE OF SINNERS. WHEN GOD’S FURY IS POUR OUT, NOTHING IN THE UNIVERSE CAN STOP IT!
VERSE 10 SAYS, “THE SAME SHALL DRINK OF THE WRATH OF GOD,” WHICH SUGGESTS TO ME THAT MEN ARE THIRSTING FOR RELENTLESS AND ETERNAL AGONY. WHILE THE WORLD CONTINUES TO GET DRUNK ON PLEASURE, GOD’S WRATH WILL BRING THEM THE SOBER REALIZATION THAT THEY ARE IN HELL.
VERSE 11 SAYS, “THEY HAVE NO REST DAY OR NIGHT,” INDICATING THAT THERE IS NO RELIEF FROM THEIR SUFFERING. GOD GRACIOUSLY AFFORDS MAN TIME, BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT. THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE WILL END, AND WOE UNTO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT MADE THE DECISION TO LIVE FOR CHRIST.
III. HELL
JOHNATHAN EDWARDS IN HIS CLASSIC SERMON, “SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD,” DESCRIBES THE AGONIES AND THE HORRORS OF HELL. TO BE TORMENTED FOREVER WITHOUT ONE SECOND OF RELIEF IS A CONCEPT THAT MY MIND CANNOT CONCEIVE.
WHY GO TO HELL WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO? IT IS EVIDENT THAT SINNERS HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT AWAITS THEM. PAIN AND SUFFERING, PAIN AND SUFFERING, MORE PAIN, AND MORE SUFFERING. IMAGINE HAVING EVERY LAYER OF YOUR SKIN PEELED, EXPOSING YOUR NERVE ENDINGS, THEN POUR ALCOHOL ALL OVER YOU. THE HORRORS OF HELL WILL BE MUCH WORSE. IMAGINE HAVING EVERY TOOTH PULLED WITHOUT AN ANESTHETIC, THE HORRORS OF HELL WILL BE MORE SEVERE. IMAGINE HAVING A NAIL DRIVEN INTO NASAL CAVITY, THE HORRORS OF HELL WILL EXCEL THAT. IMAGINE HAVING THAT SAME NAIL BEING DRIVEN INTO YOUR EAR, BURSTING THE EARDRUM, THE HORRORS OF HELL WILL SURPASS THAT. IMAGINE HAVING A BLACK AND DECKER DRILL, DRILL INTO THE CORE OF YOUR EYEBALL, THE HORRORS OF HELL FAR EXCEED THAT. IMAGINE HAVING YOUR TONGUE YANKED OUT OF PLACE, THE HORRORS OF HELL GO BEYOND THAT. IMAGINE YOUR HEAD PLACED INTO A VICE, SQUEEZING UNTIL THE BLOOD POURS OUT OF YOUR NOSE, EARS, AND YOUR EYES POP FROM THEIR SOCKETS, THE TORMENTS OF HELL SHALL BE A HUNDRED TIMES WORSE.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HELL IS A DREDFUL PLACE. JUST THINK, MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH WILL BE IN HELL. WE HAVE SAT NEXT TO THEM IN CHURCH, ATE WITH THEM IN RESTURANTS, SHOPPED WITH THEM IN THE GROCERY STORE, WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM ON OUR JOBS, AND EVEN LIVED UNDER THE SAME ROOF WITH THEM.
THE REASON MANY HAVE NOT PLUNGED HEADFIRST INTO HELL ALREADY IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM THE CARPET OF GRACE, BUT IF GOD WERE TO PULL THAT CARPET OF GRACE, THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE IN HELL. THERE ARE NO EXISTS IN HELL. WHEN YOU ARE THERE, YOU ARE THERE.
IV. CONCLUSION
VERSE 13 CONTRASTS THE ETERNAL REWARDS OF THOSE WHO TRUST IN CHRIST. WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO CAN SAVE YOU FROM A BURNING HELL? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITY? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO HAS OUR BEST INTERST AT HEART? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO CAN GIVE YOU A RESIDENCE IN ETERNAL GLORY? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO HAS POWER OVER DEATH, HELL, AND THE GRAVE? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE YOU? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO CAN DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK AND THINK? WHY NOT TRSUT IN HIM WHO LOVES YOU WITHOUT CONDITION? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO IS BREAD WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY AND WATER WHEN YOU’RE THIRSTY? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO CAN OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO HUNG THE STAIRS IN THEIR SILVERY SOCKETS? WHY NOT TRUST IN HIM WHO CAN DELIVER YOU FROM OPPRESSION?
