WHAT IS HELL LIKE
See also Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God 

Two preachers once stood by the edge of the road holding signs. One stating, “The End is Near”. The other saying, “Change your ways.” A car load of boys pulled up and started ridiculing the preachers. “Can’t you find any worth while job? You’re a couple of phonies.” They squealed their tires, turned the bend and suddenly there was a terrible crash, the sound of glass breaking and the sound of gushing water. One preacher turned to the other and said, “Perhaps we should have written ‘Bridge Out.”’ This story may be funny but it introduces the most serious subject ever to be considered.

Many years ago a man named Peter Marshal was walking along in the dense fog in Scotland. Everything was quiet and peaceful. No one was hollering or screaming. It was so pleasant. Peter did not realize it but he was walking near the top of a dangerous cliff. Anyone who fell from that cliff would be killed on the sharp rocks many feet below. Peter stubbed and fell flat on his belly with his head hanging over the edge. If you were Peter would you want someone standing there shouting danger or would you rather that they just left you alone?

WHAT IS HELL LIKE?

In our lesson today we will make no distinction between the temporary and permanent place of the departed lost. As far as I can tell there is not difference except one is limited by time and the other will continue throughout eternity.

The clearest picture of hell found in the Bible in found in Luke 16:19-31.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS:

 “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 buried.

“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 replied, `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.'" Luke 16:19-31 NIV.

NOT JUST A PARABLE:

There are some who would try to reason this story away by insisting that it is just a parable. I would like to list the reasons why I am convinced this is a story of a true historical event.

•      First, the story is not called a parable.  Jesus told many parables but as far as we can tell all of them were identified as parables, this story is not.

•      Parables always use words such as “like” or “as” to show the story to be simply a comparison of ideas. These words are conspicuously missing in the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

•      No definite names or places are mentioned in the stories of Jesus which are identified as parables. This story mentions Abraham, Lazarus, the rich man’s house, gate and hell.

•      Abraham is not a fictional character, so it would be difficult to see how Jesus could tell a fictional story about a real person.

•      Parables have parallel stories, for instance the parable of the sewer tells the physical story of a farmer sowing seed and a spiritual story of a man teaching the gospel. There is not parallel in the story of the rich man and Lazarus.     Jesus emphatically said, there was a rich man and a man named Lazarus. Jesus did not lie.

•     The rule of figurative language demands we take this story as literally. Rule states: “All communication is to be considered literal unless it involves an absurdity or a direct contradiction of another clear message.” Without this rule we could never tell if a person was speaking literally or figuratively. It is not absurd to think that Jesus was speaking literally nor is it a contradiction of any other clear biblical message therefore we must take it as literal.

Indeed, the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a true historical event. The event really did happen and should stand as a warning to all of us.

Now let us summary the story.

TWO MEN LIVED OPPOSITE LIVES ON EARTH. Here we find that one was rich the other poor. One dressed in fine linen the other in rags. One lived in luxury the other begged crumbs.

TWO MEN DIED AND THE TWO LIVED AGAIN. Their lives became exactly the opposite of what they were on earth. The one who lived in luxury-couldn’t afford drop of water to quench the burn on tongue. The one who was clothed in linen was now clothed in a garment of fire.  The one received evil on earth was comforted in the second life. The poor man became rich. The rich man became poor.  On earth the dogs licked one man’s sores. In the second life he was tended by the angels of God.

MENTAL FACULTIES WILL REMAIN AFTER DEATH. This historical event shows that in the next life we will be able to hear, talk, see, feel and remember.

WE GET A HINT OF WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH.

Luke 16:22-23 “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.” (Past tense)

2 Peter 2:9-10 “The Lord knows how to... hold the unrighteous for the Day of Judgment, while continuing their punishment”. 

When we die, whether we are good or bad, we will all go to the Hades. Hades is divided into three sections, Paradise, the Great Chasm or Gulf, and Tartarus. Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with him in Paradise, Luke 23:43. It is my understanding that the moment we die we will know where we well spend eternity. If we go to Paradise we will eventually go to heaven. If we find our self in Tartarus we will eventually go to hell. No one can pass from Tartarus to Paradise. At the end of the world we will be judged but as I see it the judgment will be more of an explanation of how God can be just in sending us one place or the other.

WHAT IS HELL LIKE?

HELL IS DARK:

Matt 25:30 “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness...”

Jude 6 “These he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment...”

Jude 13 “...The blackest darkness has been reserved forever”.

Some might ask, “How could there be a fire and it still be light? How could people be in a fire and not get burned up?

Scientists have produced fire that will burn but produces not light. God made a fire in the time of Moses that didn’t burn up the bush. Our bodies on in the second life will no doubt be indestructible.

How could it be dark and people be able to see? I recently road on a train which went through a tunnel. While in the tunnel, if I turned to the right or to the left I could not see my hand in front of my face. When we neared the end of the tunnel and light appeared, I could see the silhouette of my hand but nothing more, however I could see clearly the objects which were in the light at the end of the tunnel. I would conclude therefore that the people in hell will be able to view the happy people in heaven but not the others who are with them in torments.

HELL IS FIRE:

Rev 20:10 “Thrown into the lake of burning sulfur”.

Rev 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment rises”.

Matt 13:42 “They will throw them into the fiery furnace”.

Rev 20:15 “If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”.
Matt 3:11 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Matt 25:41 “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels”.

HELL IS HOT!

Luke 16:24 “Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue…”

HELL IS A PLACE OF AGONY:

Luke 16:24, “Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”

HELL IS A PLACE OF NO RELIEF:

Luke 16:24, 26 “...dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue...” “...And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us”.

HELL IS FOREVER:

Matt 25:46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

 

WHEN HELL ENDS, HEAVEN ENDS because the very same word is used to describe both of them.

WHEN HELL ENDS, GOD ENDS because the very same word is used to describe both of them. Rom 16:26, “...by the command of the eternal God.”  Matt 25:46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment.”

ILLUSTRATION: The make believe story is told about a bird that was given the responsibility of carrying a grain of sand to the moon. Millions of years went by and the bird continued to fly. Finally the bird reached the moon and was told to drop the grain of sand and return to the earth. More millions of years past by and the bird was finally back home. The orders came again, “Carry another grain of sand to the moon.” To make the story short I’ll get to the punch line. The bird was required to carry the whole earth, one grain at a time to the moon. How long would it take? Our mines cannot fathom the amount yet that bird will be done with its chore and the first hour of the first day of hell will not be completed. Hell has no end.

IS HELL FAIR? Is it right to take someone that has only committed a few crimes on earth and throw him into eternal suffering? Yes. Justice is served not the amount of time it takes to commit a crime but on the harshness of the crime.

Turning our backs on God is the worst thing a person can do, therefore it deserves the worst of all punishments.

HELL IS A PLACE OF NO REST: Rev 14:11 “There is no rest day or night”.

HELL IS A PLACE OF WEEPING: Matt 13:42 “Where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
 

HELL IS A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO HOPE: Matt 25:46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment”.

WE NEED ALSO TO NOTE GOD'S CONSISTENCY IN PUNISHING

In the book of Judges we see sin's cycle. The Israelites sinned and God punished them. They repented and God forgave and blessed them. This very clear cycle is shown 15 times in the book of Judges but a careful look at all history proves that God has always been consistent in punishing the wicked. He will not over look our sin. We will repent or we will perish. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance," 2 Peter 3:9 NIV.
 

Last night as I lay sleeping a dream came to me.

I dreamed about the end of time about eternity.

I saw a million sinners fall on their knees to pray.

The Lord, he sadly shook his head and I could hear him say…

Sorry, I never knew you. Depart from me for ever more.

Sorry I never knew you. Go and serve the one that you have served before.

I saw the time had finally come for me to stand the trial.

I told the Lord that I had been a Christian all the while.

But through his book he took a look and sadly shook his head

And as he placed me on his left this is what he said…

Sorry, I never knew you. Depart from me for ever more.

Sorry I never knew you. Go and serve the one that you have served before.

I saw my wife and children. I heard their loving voice.

They seemed so very happy, oh how they did rejoice.

Their robes of white around them, their faces all so gay,

My little daughter looked at me and I could hear her say,

Daddy, Daddy we can’t go with you. We must live in the joy of the Lord.

Sorry, for we still love you but you’ll never be our daddy any more.

Now when I had awakened the tears were in my eyes.

I looked all around me and there to my surprise,

There were my wife and children. I found it was a dream,

But down beside that bed of mine you should have heard me scream.

Father, who art in glory, I know you gave your only son,

Father, oh please forgive me for I want to be ready when you come.

Father, oh please forgive me for I want to be ready when you come.

                                                                            Anonymous

This is a make believe story about a dream.

This is a true story about a nightmare.

Study Guide

1. List 7 ways we know the story of the rich man and Lazarus is not a parable.

2. Name the opposites in the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

3. What mental faculties will remain after death?

4. What happens the moment we die?

5. Where do the righteous go when they die?

6. Where do the wicked go when they die?

7. If the wicked go directly to punishment what is the purpose of the judgment?

8. How long is hell?

9. If hell would ever stop what other two things would stop?

10. How can God be fair and send someone to hell forever when he only did a few bad things?

11. What is the worst crime a person can commit?

12. Tell a story that illustrates how long hell is.

13. What are three words that describe the darkness in hell?

14. How can hell be dark and a fire at the same time?

15. How can it be dark in hell but people can still see people in paradise?

16. What are five words that describe the fire of hell?

17. How could there be a fire that doesn’t burn the people up?

18. How do we know the suffering in hell will never stop?

19. What should make us want to live for God?

Matt 25:46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Matt 25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Jude 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;

Matt 13:42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matt 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Mark 9:44-45 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.  45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

Rev 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Rev 20:14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Matt 3:10-11 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Luke 12:47-48 "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Rev 14:10-12 he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

Luke 17:34-35 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."

Cor 11:14-15 “Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering”.

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Homosexuality

What Is Hell Like