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in this presentation we are going to see what Jesus said about hell
there have been many theories and misconceptions on this topic
many people, thinking that God is a vengeful God
more interesting in keeping them out of heaven
than He is in getting them into heaven
they have heard ministers say that they are going to go to hell and that they are going to
burn throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity
people have read Dante's Inferno
where it talks about how people will be put upside down in red hot coals
and the devil comes along with a red hot poker and sticks it into the soles of
their feet
people have read
and ministers have preached
that there were little babies in hell
not over a span long
and their blood ran through their veines like molten lead
preachers have said that the people in hell are looking up into heaven and
wishing they could be there
so just exactly
what does the scripture teach about this subject?
where is hell?
when did it begin? are there people in hell right now...
burning?
what does the Bible have to say about it?
well Jesus told a story
that makes it very, very clear
He told another parable to them saying
the kingdom of heaven is like a man
who sowed good seed in his field
but while the man slept his enemy came
and sewed tares among the wheat and went his way
but when the grain had sprouted and produced at crop
then the tares also appeared
so the servants of the owner came and said to him:
sir
did you not sow good seed in your field?
how then does it have tares?
he said to them
an enemy has done this!
the servant said him: do you want to send to go and gather them up?
but he said to them: no,
lest while you gather up the tares
you also uproot the wheat with them
let them both grow together until the harvest and at the time of the harvest I
will say to the reapers: first gather together the tares and bind them in bundles
to burn them
but gather the wheat into my barn
the scriptures says
that after the multitude went away
the disciples of Jesus came to Him and asked Him to explain to them
so Jesus explains this parable, and I want you to listen to His explanation
because if you understand it, it tells you exactly
where hell is
then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house
and His disciples came to Him saying
explain to us the parable of the tears of the field
He answered and said to them
He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man
so He said: I, Jesus, am the one sewing the good seed
the field is the world
the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom
that's the righteous
but the tares are the sons of the wicked one
so we're putting all the characters in their position
the enemy who sowed them is the devil
the harvest is the end of the age
and the reapers are the angels
therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire
so it will be at the end of this age
Christ made it absolutely clear
the tares represent the wicked ones, it says the harvest is the end of the age
and it says as the tares are gathered
so they will be burnt at the and of the age
is there anybody in hell at the present time?
no!
the Bible makes it crystal clear
that it isn't until the coming of Jesus that people will be destroyed
this is what it says about the coming of Christ:
for the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels
and then He will reward each according to his works
when is this going to happen?
at the coming of Jesus, when He comes back in His glory
then He's going to give everyone according to his works
not now, but at His second coming
let's look at another text
and behold I am coming quickly and my reward is with Me
to give to everyone according to his work
so it happens when Jesus comes back
not now, but when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven
where is it going to be?
well the scripture makes it absolutely clear where it will be
but the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word
are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men
so it makes it clear
that fire will burn the earth
and the wicked will be destroyed
it's going to happen here, on earth, at the very end of time
nowhere in the Bible does it teach that hell is a place down somewhere beneath
the earth
that people go to when they die
it doesn't teach that!
it says that it will happen at the end, when Jesus comes, that all the wicked
will then be destroyed
here's another text:
but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night
in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise
and the elements will melt with fervent heat
both the earth and the works that are in it
will be burned up
you see it's describing this for us
therefore since all these things will be dissolved
what manner of persons ought you to be
in holy conduct and godliness
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God
because of which the heavens will be dissolved
being on fire
and the elements will melt with fervent heat
so it's says this earth is going to burn
all the works of the earth will be burned up, the wicked, it says, will also
be burned up
so hell is going to take place right here on this earth
not some other place
speaking of the wicked right at the end
it says:
they went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and
the beloved city
and fire came down from God out of heaven
and devoured them
that is simply what is says
it says it's going to burn them up
it uses the word devour
destroyed, devoured, not going to exist anymore
that's what it's telling us
it says it takes place right here on earth
you see the Bible says that the punishment for sin is death
listen very carefully...
he who believes in the Son has everlasting life
and he who does not believe the Son
shall not see life
but the wrath of God abides on him
the Bible clearly shows us two groups of people
those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ and receive everlasting life
and those people that do not accept Jesus Christ
they shall not see life
this needs to be clear
they are opposites
this is absolutely clear
there is life in Jesus - without Him there is death
two different things completely
but the wrath of God abides on him
that is the wicked
it continues and makes it absolutely clear
then He will say to those on the left hand
depart from Me you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil
and his angels
hell was prepared for the devil and his angels
it was not prepared for man
although man will be destroyed in it
it was not what God intended for man
He intends that you would accept Him, He intends for you to accept His grace
and He says if you will accept His grace, He will give you life
if you do not accept Him, you will not receive life
but some people want to think that this fire is going to go on burning, on and on
and on, through eternity
and that the wicked are going to burn on and on and on, through eternity
the Bible
does not teach that:
inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood
He himself likewise shared in the same
that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death
that is the devil
so it says that the devil is going to be destroyed
as a child I used to think that if you didn't obey God
He would give you to the devil
or that you would go to hell which belonged to the devil
but the Bible tells us
that God is going to destroy the devil
in fact the Bible tells you exactly what's going to happen to him at the end of
time:
your heart was lifted up
because of your beauty
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your spendour
I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings that they might gaze at you
you defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities
by the iniquity of your trading
therefore I brought fire from your midst
it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth
so it says that the devil is going to be turned into ashes, he's not going to be
around
he's not going to burn on an on without end
that isn't what the Bible says!
now it talks about a fire and it says that the wicked will burn
don't misunderstand
but the Bible says plainly that they are going to burn up
those are the words that it uses - that they will burn up
and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul
but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell
destroy - that means to do away with, it means it will be no more
destroy both body and soul - it says don't be afraid of somebody that might kill
your body
because as long as you have the Lord you're going to live
but be afraid of the Person that could destroy your body and your
soul
that's a different story
for the wages of sin is death
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
so I hope you can see that there are two different things
with Jesus Christ there is life
with the devil there is death
these are two opposites
and through the years we have got them all mixed up
they are completely opposite, the Bible makes it very, very clear
these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of His power
it's speaking here of the wicked
and it says that they are going to be destroyed with everlasting destruction
in Malachi it says:
for behold the day is coming
burning like an oven
and all the proud
yes, all who do wickedly, will be stubble
and the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts
that will leave them neither root
nor branch
have you ever seen a field when they have burned the stubble that's left after
harvesting?
when they have set fire to those fields there is nothing left
it says that the wicked are like stubble
that is fully dried, and it says it will burn them up
and in verse 3 it says this:
you shall trample the wicked
for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
on the day that I do this, says the Lord of hosts
so the Bible makes it very clear that the wicked are going to be turned into
ashes
they will be no more
that's what it promises
if your hand or foot causes you to sin
cut it off
and cast it from you
it is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed
rather than having two hands or two feet
to be cast into the everlasting fire
and if your eye causes you to sin
pluck it out and cast it from you
it is better for you to enter into life with one eye
rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire
people say that this means that the wicked are going to be cast into hell
for eternity
some versions say:
and the worms will eat on them
one of the other Bible writers using this same analogy
says it's more profitable for you to enter into heaven with one hand
than into hell where the fire is not quenched
and the worm does not die
and we hear people saying that the wicked are going to burn in hell for
eternity
and the worms are going to eat on them for eternity
now nothing could be farther from what God is saying
you see outside of Jerusalem there were three valleys
one of those valleys was where they threw the rubbish
and the word for that is Gehenna
and that is what this word for hell is: Gehenna
and that was where they threw the rubbish
and dead animals
and it meant
what the worms didn't eat
the fire destroyed
actually He was trying to say it was total destruction
that they would be no more
He's not saying that people are going to go on and on through eternity
burning
and that the worms are going to eat on them
He's not saying that!
it's saying they will burn up and they will be no more
people often refer to the story of the rich man and Lazarus
well let's read that story
then we can take a careful look at it
be careful as we read this
because you have been programmed to read something into that story
that it does not say:
there was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in
luxury every day
at his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus
covered with sores
and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table
even the dogs came and licked his sores
the time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side
the rich man also died and was burried
in hell where he was in torment
he looked up and saw Abraham far away
with Lazarus by his side
so he called to 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 am in agony in this fire
but Abraham replied:
Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things while Lazarus
received bad things
but now he is comforted here and you are in agony
and besides all this between us and you a great chasm has been fixed
so that those who want to go from here to you cannot
nor can anyone cross over from there to us
he answered
then I beg you father send Lazarus to my father's house for I have five brothers
let him warn them
so that they will not also come to this place of torment
Abraham applied:
they have Moses and the prophets
let them listen to them
no father Abraham, he said, but if someone from the dead goes to them they will
repent
he said to him
if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets
they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead
now is there anywhere in that story that I just read to you in which it says that
the rich man burned for eternity?
does it say that in there?
no it doesn't say that in their at all!
it says that Lazarus died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's ***
it says the rich man died and was in torment
that's what it says
it does not say that he burned for eternity!
we read into it, but it doesn't say that!
so what is this trying to teach us?
well to begin with it's a parable
Jesus was trying to convey a very important message
because the Jewish people believed
that if you were a child of Abraham you would automatically go to heaven
they believed that if you were wealthy it was a sign that you had been blessed by
God
and if you were poor it was a sign that you were cursed
they even referred to the gentiles as dogs
so what did Jesus do?
he took a wealthy Jew and put him in hell
he took a man where the dogs licked his sores and above all places put him in
Abraham's ***
that's the reason the rich man is yelling out
father Abraham have mercy on me!
I shouldn't even be here!
that's what he's shouting out
Jesus is trying to tell these people that just because they are children of
Abraham, it doesn't give them the right to the kingdom of heaven
also if that rich man
had been in hell buring
he wouldn't have been asking
Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool his tongue
he would have been asking for a whole bucket full!
this was a parable, in which Jesus was trying to get across to them that just
because they were children of Abraham it didn't give them the right to the
kingdom of heaven
it is not teaching that people are going to burn in hell for eternity!
in fact it simply tells us this:
then they will go away to eternal punishment
but the righteous to eternal life
you see it's contrasting again
over one side is life
and over the other side is death
now you won't have any trouble with this subject if you do just one thing
when you come to this word of everlasting
if you realize that this word, everlasting, applies to "punishment" not to
"punishing"
there's a great difference there
this verse does not say they will go away into everlasting "punishing"
it says that they will go
to everlasting "punishment"
it means that they are never coming back
they are going to be destroyed
and that will be the end of them - that is everlasting punishment
it does not say everlasting punishing, and the scripture gives you an excellent
example of this
in the bible there is a story of *** and Gomorrah
you can find it in Genesis 18 and 19
it was a very wicked city
and the Lord had sent two of His angels there
these angels had gone to Lot, to take his family, and told them to get out of
the city because it was going to be destroyed
the angels had great difficulty as Lot and his family didn't want to leave
the angels almost had to drag them out
the angel took Lot and his two daughters and his wife and told them not to look
back
but his wife disobeyed
she didn't want to leave
she looked back, and turned into a pillar of salt
the scripture uses this story to explain what's going to happen to the wicked
in Matthew it says this:
I tell you the truth
it will be more bearable for Soddom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for
that town
Jesus is saying this Soddom and Gomorrah will be better off than some of the cities
that He had ministered in because they had rejected Him
now it continues in the scripture - listen carefully to what Peter says:
if He condemned the cities of ***
and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes
and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly
so he said that Soddom and Gomorrah are an example of what's going to happen to the
wicked
are *** and Gomorrah burning today?
as *** and Gomorrah
and the cities around them, in a similar manner to these
having given themselves over to *** immorality
and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the
vengence of eternal fire
are they still burning today? no!
do you want to know where they are?
well they are about three feet under the water of the Dead Sea
certainly not burning today!
but they suffered the vengence of eternal fire
you see it's the punishment
that was a eternal, not the punishing!
if you get that straight the whole subject becomes clear and you see that
it's final, it would never be again
it says that this is the second death
they will be no more because that will be the end of them, they won't be around
at the end it says that God is going to burn this world
the wicked will burn up with it, and that will be the end of it
they will be no more
now I want you to listen very carefully
because there are some principles involved here
and once you get these principles clear
this whole subject becomes absolutely crystal clear
for the wages of sin is death
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
you see the penalty of sin is death
that's the wages of sin - it's death
but we have hope
for the death that He died, He died to sin once for all
but the life that he lives, He lives to God
so it says that Jesus Christ came, and he paid the penalty - for how many?
for all of us!
what was the penalty?
it was death
the penalty for sin is death!
Jesus came and He paid that penalty
so you see what it's saying here
the penalty for death is not
to burn in hell for eternity - if that was the penalty then Jesus didn't pay it!
but the penalty for sin is death - never coming back
eternal death!
that's the penalty and Jesus paId that
but He didn't burn in hell for eternity
also it says in Hebrews
but this man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever
sat down at the right hand of God
it says Jesus paid it - it's done!
and He paid it for the whole human race
all we need to do is accept Him as our Savior
another point you need to understand is found in 1 John, the fifth chapter
and verse 11 - it says this:
and this is the testimony
that God has given us eternal life
and this life is in His Son
where is that life? it's in Jesus Christ
in God's only Son
he who has the Son has life
he who does not have the Son of God
does not have life
where do we get this life?
we only get it through Jesus Christ
if we don't have Jesus
we don't have life
and please understand
that you can't even get eternal life in hell, the Bible doesn't promise that
the Bible says that the only way
we can get eternal life is in Jesus Christ
you can't find it in any other place
he who does not have the Son
does not have life, but death
that's simply what the Bible teaches about it
you see the Lord loves us, and God is not interested in us being lost, in fact
in the book of Isaiah you can read where it talks about the destruction of the
wicked
and it says, talking of God:
it's His strange act!
and you can find that in Isaiah 28:21
and in Ezekiel 18:32
you can read where it says:
He, that's God, takes no pleasure in the punishment of the wicked
you see, God loves us
He doesn't want us lost - He wants us saved!
He that has the Son
has life
what a wonderful, wonderful promise - words of life
words of life and beauty that He gives to you and I
if we are just willing to accept Him and His wonderful words of life...