Note: There will be no firemen putting out fires in Hell. This photo is strictly provided to capture the intensity of what one can experience in Hell for eternity.
This year summer officially ended last week, September 21. It was one of the hottest summers on record for the Chicago land area. Some would say, “It’s been hotter than hell.” All of this heat reminded me about hell and, a series of messages on this doctrine that my former pastor, Scott Ardavanis, preached over 10 years ago. Since then, I don’t think I’ve heard any messages on hell.
As a young boy around 7 or 8 years old, I remember learning about the reality of Heaven and Hell in vacation Bible school. Then there was a movie series on the End Times that I watched with others at church. I thought to myself, if I die today, will I go to Heaven or Hell? Heaven and Hell are real places where one will spend eternity forever. This got my attention. Through the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, I was convicted that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I did not want to spend life in Hell after I died.
Yet, the sobering reality is the neighbor next door, co-worker, Starbucks barista, mail clerk, sports fan, or person walking down the street today does not even consider the reality of hell. Some trivialize it. Others don’t believe in hell. Others don’t know what they are saying when statements are made like, “That was one hell of a game!” or “He made a helluva play.”
As I listened through these messages on Hell I was gratefully reminded of what I have been saved from, living for my sinful selfish desires, and being “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
What does the Bible say about Hell?
1. Jesus says more about the topic Hell then He does about Heaven.
2. Hell is a real place of both eternal fire and complete darkness. Have you ever thought how this could be – fire and complete darkness in the same place?
“In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal life” (Jude 7)
“They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 13)
“And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).
3. Hell is eternal.
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).
4. Hell is a place of torment, fire and punishment.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I a in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:22-24).
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12).
5. Hell is complete separation from God forever.
“This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” (1 Thessalonians 1:7b-9).
6. Hell is not only for sinners, but for those who do not believe in God.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe in him stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:18-21).
As a young boy around 7 or 8 years old, I remember learning about the reality of Heaven and Hell in vacation Bible school. Then there was a movie series on the End Times that I watched with others at church. I thought to myself, if I die today, will I go to Heaven or Hell? Heaven and Hell are real places where one will spend eternity forever. This got my attention. Through the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, I was convicted that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I did not want to spend life in Hell after I died.
Yet, the sobering reality is the neighbor next door, co-worker, Starbucks barista, mail clerk, sports fan, or person walking down the street today does not even consider the reality of hell. Some trivialize it. Others don’t believe in hell. Others don’t know what they are saying when statements are made like, “That was one hell of a game!” or “He made a helluva play.”
As I listened through these messages on Hell I was gratefully reminded of what I have been saved from, living for my sinful selfish desires, and being “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
What does the Bible say about Hell?
1. Jesus says more about the topic Hell then He does about Heaven.
2. Hell is a real place of both eternal fire and complete darkness. Have you ever thought how this could be – fire and complete darkness in the same place?
“In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal life” (Jude 7)
“They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 13)
“And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).
3. Hell is eternal.
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).
4. Hell is a place of torment, fire and punishment.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I a in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:22-24).
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12).
5. Hell is complete separation from God forever.
“This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” (1 Thessalonians 1:7b-9).
6. Hell is not only for sinners, but for those who do not believe in God.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe in him stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:18-21).
