THE DEVIL’S HELL
The
Bible teaches “Eternal Punishment for the Wicked” as we discussed in the last
post. The reality of hell needs no further authentication than the fact that
Christ taught it, preached it, and repeatedly warned His hearers of its eternal
tortures. He referred to “hell” eleven times, “hell fire” twelve times, and
used other similar expressions move than any other person in the New Testament.
This
study is not to prove that there is a hell, but to emphasize its horrors and to
dispel the lethargy so often shown when it is mentioned. The wicked must die as
well as the righteous, and the Word of God plainly declares that death is not annihilation. The wicked
will exist forever, though in torment. The devil has formulated all sorts of
lies to keep sinners from believing this. We must teach them the truth.
“…Fear
him [God] which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Luke 16:22-26
22 And 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;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth 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 receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And 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.
Matthew 25:41
41 There shall he say also unto them on
the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels:
Revelation 20:14, 15
14 And death and hell were cast into the
lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8
8 But 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 burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
I.
A WITNESS FROM HELL (Luke 16:22-26)
The
account of “The Rich Man and Lazarus” is not a parable. Jesus
declared,
“There WAS a certain rich man,” and “there WAS a certain beggar.” He related
the incident in the context of serving God and mammon. The rich man served
mammon; the beggar served God. The emphasis is on end-results—Paradise or
Hell! Why does Jesus give us Lazarus’s name and not the rich man? Could it be
that Lazarus’s name was recorded in the Lamb’s book of life and the rich man’s
was not. Sad, but true!
The
rich man gave his personal witness. It is evident that he regretted his
foolish choice, but it was much too late. He died lost, his body was buried,
and he went directly to hell. He was “in torments,” not only from the fire, but
from the remorse of knowing he didn’t have to go there. He could see Paradise,
and Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. No doubt he was filled with remorseful envy—he
also could have been there with Lazarus!
His
first cry was for mercy; then for a drop of water to cool his parched tongue.
He confessed the torment he was in, but he was beyond Abraham’s help. He was
in torment forever; now in hell, and eventually in the lake of fire! The gulf
of eternal separation was uncrossable. No purgatory! What a damnable doctrine,
no reincarnation we only live once.
Submitting
to the fact that he himself was hopeless and helpless, he begged Abraham to
send Lazarus back to earth to evangelize his five brothers, lest they find
themselves sharing his awful torment. But this, too, was not in God’s order.
Men in this life must hear the gospel from the mouths of living ministers or
witnesses. Abraham says, “LET THEM HEAR
THEM.”Oh!!! How final hell is!!!
II.
THE NATURE OF HELL (Matthew 25:41)
The
rich man’s witness has already partially described hell as a place of torment
and flames, and no water. It was prepared for the devil and his angels. It is
always located as “down” or “beneath” (Prov. 15:24; Psa. 55:15; Psa. 86:13;
Prov. 9:18; Isa.14:9,15)—evidently in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40; 1
Peter 3:19). Friend, right under our feet! What is in the center of earth? Molten
lava, fire, brimstone, somewhere to avoid. How does hell enlarge itself? We
will leave that for you to consider. Certainly hell is a place of separation
from God, and this is ultimately the greatest of torments, but realized only
after it is too late!
III.
WHO WILL GO THERE? (Revelation 20:14, 15; 21:8)
Since
hell was prepared, evidently by God, for the devil and his angels, all others
go as intruders, and unnecessarily, except for their own choice or negligence;
basically because of their unbelief. “The wicked shall be turned into hell,
and all the nations that forget God” (Psa. 9:1 7). Peter tells us that “the
angels that sinned” were “cast down to hell, and delivered.., into chains of
darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” (2 Peter 2:4).If the devil has not yet
been there, he will be eventually. He is now “the prince of the power of the
air” (Eph. 2:2). It is not certain that “the bottomless pit” is hell, but the
devil will be cast into that pit, to remain there a thousand years (Rev.
20:1-3). After a brief release (Rev. 20:7-9), he will be cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10). Do we find our identity in (Revelation 21:8)?
If so, we are “ticketed” for hell——unless we repent!!!
None
can escape from hell until it, and all who are there, are transferred to the
lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). But all who will can escape going there. Jesus says,
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to
escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man” (Luke 21:36). Hebrews 2:3 asks, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so
great salvation?”
Those
who accuse God of an inconsistent LOVE. because there is a HELL are themselves
inconsistent. They are overlooking the finished work of Calvary; but GOD has
not forgotten it! LOVE and MERCY were JUDGMENT His LOVE and MERCY were ours for
the believing and accepting. It was OUR SIN and UNGODLINESS that was laid
upon Him there. To find fault because there is a hell is something like the
robber who took $100 from a man’s pocket, then slapped him in the face because
he did not have more!
It
is only JUST and EQUITABLE that SIN be punished, because the PRICE OF MAN’S
REDEMPTION forbids that the rejecter be allowed to ignore it and yet escape!
If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:
You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)
May God through Christ bless you!
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If you have a prayer request or have questions that need clarification please contact me at: neverstoppraying8@gmail.com
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