What’s Hell Like?

There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen. He ate a feast every day. A beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate. Lazarus was covered in sores. He begged to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. As he lay at the gate, the dogs came and licked his sores.

Lazarus died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

In hell the rich man lifts up his eyes, being in torment, and sees Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom.

The rich man: Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am tormented in this flame.

Abraham: Son, remember that you in your lifetime received good things, and Lazarus received evil things. Now he is comforted, and you are tormented. Besides all this, there is a great gulf fixed between us and you: so that no one can cross over it. Those who would pass from here to you cannot; those who would come from there can’t pass to us.

The rich man: Therefore, father, I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house that he may testify to my five brothers, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.

Abraham: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

The rich man: No, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent.

Abraham: If they won’t hear Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even though one rose from the dead.

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In Hell, the rich man has eyes and can see. He has a tongue and can feel discomfort.

In Hell, the rich man can:

• REASON that water on his tongue will relieve his torment.

• RECOGNIZE Abraham and Lazarus.

• REMEMBER his family.

Jesus told the story of Lazarus and the rich man just weeks before his death and resurrection. If they won’t listen to the scriptures, they won’t listen even when Christ is raised from the dead.

The story is recorded in Luke:16:19-31.

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Death and Hell will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is called the second death. Revelation 20:14

The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41

But the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, whore-mongers, and sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8

Do you find yourself on this list? Don’t despair!

And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

How can you be saved from the Lake of Fire?

If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. With your heart you believe and become righteousness; with your mouth you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10