10-09-11 AM - Four Things Everyone Needs to Know About Hell

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Luke16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31 19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 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.' 25 "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. 26 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.' 27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30 "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "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.'"

1. Hell may be in your future even if you are presently prospering.

Luke 16:9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Luke 16:20-22 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.

2. Hell is a place of eternal torment and agony.

Luke 16:23-25 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 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.' 25 "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.

"torment." (Verse 23)
24, "I am in agony in this fire."

The word torment signifies to suffer pain, be in anguish, be in great distress.

Matthew 25:30 Jesus described Hell as a place of "outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Hell is also described in the Bible as a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)

In the Book of Revelation the Final Judgment is described as a "Lake of Fire."

In other places, Jesus said that it would be better to have of millstone hung around your neck and thrown into the sea than to go into the unquenchable fire. (Mark 9:43) Here’s the point, every description of hell that we have is one of suffering, torment and agony.

Some people have an image of Hell that is not based on reality.

• Mark Twain said, "I’ll take Heaven for the climate and Hell for the society."                                                                                                             
• Ted Turner once said, "I’m looking forward to dying and going to Hell because I know that is where I’m headed."
• Jerome Butler who is a convicted killer and scheduled to be executed told one of his death row companions, "I’ll wait for you in Hell!"              

25 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,

He is a loving God; we like that but He is also a Just God.

3. Hell is a place without hope.

Luke 16:26 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.'

Hell is a place without hope.

4. Hell can be avoided if a person listens to God’s word and repents.

Luke 16:27-31 He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30 "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "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.'"