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Campbell Chapel
Free Will Baptist Church
1709 Campbell Drive
Ironton, Ohio 45638

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Where are you headed?
Hades: Paradise, Hell, and the Lake of Fire

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Bob Bradley

_________________________ 

We are going to talk about some things tonight that are not popular.  We are not trying to offend anyone, by no means, when we do that, and not intentionally.  However, people need to know that truth.  People that are sitting in churches today, here in Lawrence County, here at Campbell Chapel, or across America; we need to know the truth.  We need to understand that there is a hereafter.  The hereafter is not what we are taught sometimes that it is.  Many times people are taught that everybody is going to go to heaven.  That is what a lot of people are taught.  Churches in our own area teach that.  If you are a good moral person, they teach, if you give so much money to the church, if you don’t do certain things and if you are not just a complete outlaw, then you are going to go to heaven when life comes to an end.  However, that is not right at all.  There is a way that we must live, and there are some things that we must do if we are going to go to heaven.  In spite of all the good that we may do in life, if we never surrender our hearts to Jesus Christ, then we are not going to go to heaven and there is a place that we are going to go.  We are going to talk some things about this tonight with the Lord being our helper.

 

It is a very familiar story, a very familiar passage of scripture that you have heard it preached and taught over the years.  I promise you, I probably won’t say anything tonight that you have not heard before. 

 

Luke 16:19-31

 

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

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 lifted 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.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 

Jesus here in this story is telling us about two individuals.  He is telling us about how that they lived and also about how that they died.  They lived on completely different ends of the spectrum in this life.  The Bible tells us that one was rich and one was poor.  The Bible tells us that one of them was very sick and one of them was very healthy, or so he thought.  The Bible tells us that one had plenty and one did not have anything at all.  The scripture tells us and teaches us that there is something that we are all going to face that puts the rich and the poor all on the same level and that is death.  You see, we are all going to die one day.  Everybody whether we are rich or poor, whether we are healthy or not healthy, whether we have a lot or don’t have a lot, whether we are intelligent or not intelligent, there is a great level out there that is called death and one day we are all going to die.  True?  Everybody agrees with that, don’t you? 

 

I saw a couple of people yesterday.  A young person that used to come here to this church, use to come and be very faithful, but now they are wrapped up in some things that they shouldn’t be wrapped up in.  I talked to him a few minutes and the last thing on this individual’s mind was coming back to Campbell Chapel.  Do you know what this person was thinking about?  This person was thinking about living, enjoying life, experiencing things, doing things, and just doing whatever comes in their heart and whatever they thought about doing.  This is what they were doing.  They were not interested in coming to church.  Do you know what they forgot about?  They forgot about that there is going to be a day that they are going to die.  They forgot about that.  They forgot about when they used to come testify, sing, and do all that they did.  They forgot about that.  They forgot about that there is going to be a day that they are going to leave here and stand before Almighty God.  They forgot about that day. 

 

It wasn’t very long until I ran into someone else; someone else that has been here to church.  I have never seen anyone in my life, so miserable.  They had no hope.  After talking to this individual for awhile there and in talking, he has no hope.  He has given up.  He doesn’t know where to turn.  He doesn’t know what to do.  If he comes to Jesus Christ and repents of his sins, then all the people that he loafs with, will not loaf with him anymore.  That really bothers him. 

 

You see friend, we have got to get to the place in life that we want to serve Jesus Christ more than anything else and if we don’t ever get that then we will never come to Jesus Christ.  Folks listen; we forget about that there is a hereafter sometimes.  We forget about that we are going to die one.  We forget about that we don’t have to be sick to die, that we don’t have to be old to die.  We forget about that and that is going to happen to us one day.  Do you know what?  It may be some of us sitting here tonight, listening to me tonight, and it may be me down at the funeral home on Wednesday night.  Truth?  That is very true. 

 

I have left church on Sunday before and preached a funeral on Wednesday of some of the folk sitting in church.  It happened many, many times and they were not planning on dying. 

 

The message tonight is this:  WHERE ARE YOU HEADED?  WHERE ARE YOU GOING? 

 

If you are saved tonight, you are going to heaven.  You are going to heaven.  The ultimate place, our ultimate home is going to be heaven.  We know that don’t we.  However, if you are not saved, your ultimate, or your final home is going to be “hell.”

 

The Bible says this man was rich.  He lived a life here and wore purple.  He had fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.

 

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

 

So, when we look at this rich guy, we see a guy that was very flamboyant.  In other words, he wore flashy clothes.  He was a guy that liked to show off what he had.  He liked to brag about what he had.  He wore the best.  He wore the finest.  There is not doubt that he lived in the best house and had servants that waited upon him.  He ate the best foods.  Everything this guy had, he had the best and not only did he have the best, but he liked to show it and tell everybody that he had the best. 

 

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

 

Now, here is a rich man that has everything that money can buy.  No doubt, he had a huge mansion, fine clothes, everything that money can buy.  Here lays a beggar at his gate.  Jesus tells us that his name is Lazarus.  We know what his name is.  We know that he is sick.  We don’t know what all is wrong with him, but we know that he is very poor and don’t have much to eat.  The only thing he wants in life is just to eat the crumbs or the scraps that comes from the rich man’s table.  That is all that he cares about.  That is all that he wants is just something to eat from the scraps that are left over. 

 

I believe with all my heart that if you and I would be more content with what we have and not worry so much about what we don’t have then life would be a whole lot better. 

 

Here this guy was—it doesn’t tell us that he wanted to get well, necessarily.  He probably hurt.  We know that he had sores.  Do you what he wanted?  His only ambition was just to get the scraps that came off the rich man’s table.  That is all that he wanted. 

 

When we look at our wants today, they are a little different than that.  Aren’t they?  Truth?  We think that if we don’t eat the best, if we can’t eat out four times a week, eat at the best restaurants and buy the best stuff then we aren’t happy.  Shame on us! 

 

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;

 

When we look at the scriptures, the word hell is used many different times.  H-E-L-L is used many different times.  When our translators translated it from the Greek and the Hebrew into English there were some different words that were used in the Greek and the Hebrew for the word “hell” and when they translated it, they just translated them all “hell.”  In other words, there were some different words used.  One of the words was the word “Hades.”  We talked about that a few years ago.  I can remember someone using the word “Hades” in church.  Do you know what people though?  “Man, this guy is blaspheming.”  The Bible calls it “hell” and he is calling it “Hades.”  Actually, the original scriptures call it “Hades.” 

 

The word “Hades” is not what we think it is.  The word “Hades” is actually the place of the departed dead.  That is what the word “Hades” and “hell” here really means.  It means the place of the departed dead, both saved and unsaved.  I don’t know for sure where it is at, but when you read the gospel of Luke chapter eight, do you remember when Jesus goes over into Gadara and he meets a guy that is completely possessed with devils?  Do you remember him?  Do you remember the question that they asked Jesus?  They asked Jesus when they were having the conversation there; they made the statement “don’t cast us out into the deep.”  Do you remember that?  They said don’t cast us out into the deep; let us go into the herd of swine, but don’t cast us out into the deep.  Do you know what the demons knew?  The demons knew about “Hades.”  These demons knew where “hell” or “Hades” was at.  They did not want to go there. 

 

If you remember reading in the Bible, you will find out that the day Jesus Christ died—do you remember Him having the conversation with the thief on the cross?  Do you remember one of the thieves was saying all kinds of things against Him and about Him?  The other thief says, “What’s wrong with you?  We are getting our just due.  We are criminals and we should be getting what is coming to us.  This man has done nothing wrong.”  The one thief looked over at Jesus and said, “Remember me when you get to your kingdom.”  Do you remember that?  Do you remember what Jesus said?  Jesus said to him, “Today, thou shalt be with me in Paradise.”  Everybody got that?  The Bible says that doesn’t it. 

 

The Bible says that the beggar died. 

 

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;

 

“Hell” or “Hades” here is a place it is a real place.  It is a place that existed when Jesus Christ was here.  When you read in the book of Matthew chapters five and six, when you read about when the word “hell” is being used here; it is a word that tells us that it is a place that existed when Jesus Christ was here.  It is not just something that we imagine.  It is not just something that people just dream up.  “Hell” is a real place.  “Hades” is a place.  There is a place that the departed dead go. 

 

We’re just not thrown around somewhere.  Wal-Mart doesn’t have us in a plastic bag somewhere.  They just didn’t put us in layaway for a while.  We have gone somewhere.  People that have died have gone somewhere.  Truth?  They have gone to “hell” or “Hades.”  In “Hades” there is a place called “hell” and there is a place called “Paradise.”

 

Download a PDF graphic for clarity on this sermon

 

The Bible says the beggar died and he was carried by the angels unto Abraham’s bosom, or “Paradise.”  “Paradise” is here in what the scriptures call “Hades” or “hell.”  It is a place where the departed dead go to wait upon the first resurrection.  That is where “Paradise.”  It’s in the realm of “Hades.”  I’m not teaching something that is not in the Book; it’s there.  We need to understand that when the rich man died, the Bible says that in “hell” he lifted up his eyes being in torment. 

 

We need to understand something today.  Not everybody that dies is going to “Paradise.”  Not everybody that dies is ultimately going to heaven.  We are going to get to heaven here just after awhile.  When people die, they go to one of two places.  They either go to “Paradise” or they go to “hell.”  There is no other place to go.  There is no other place you can find in the Word of God where people go when they die; they either go to “Paradise” or they go to “hell.”  That’s all there is. 

 

It’s you and me, our families, our children, our co-workers and everybody that we come into contact with when we die we are going to one of two places.  We get to choose that. 

 

You see, Lazarus here—the poor beggar—he is carried by angels.  Isn’t that great!  Isn’t it great when a righteous individual dies, we don’t have anything to worry about because God will send some angels to come and get us.  Isn’t that great!  That excites me to know that! 

 

I have been in a room where a lot of people have died before, and there is no doubt in my mind that when righteous dies, God, He knows all about it.  Do you remember reading in the Bible in the book of Daniel about the enemy and the angel disputing over the body of Moses?  Do you remember that?  When Christians die, God knows where we are at and He comes and bears us and takes us to a place that He has prepared for us.  Friend, we are going somewhere.  It may be sooner than we think. 

 

Lazarus dies and he ends up here.  He ends up in the place here called “Paradise” in the realm of “Hades.”  The rich man dies.  It doesn’t say that the angel came and got him.  Do you what happens?  The Bible says that he dies and they burry him.  Do you know where he goes to?  He goes to “hell.”  He goes to the place where the wicked dead was and are today. 

 

Surely a God that is intelligent enough to create this world and create you and I and put the stars and the planets out there; surely He would not devise something like this.  However, He has and He did—whether I like it or I don’t like it and whether I want to accept it or whether I don’t want to accept it—it is still yet truth anyway.  People today when the die; they are going somewhere.  If you die today, you are just not going to be annihilated.  When you die today, you are going to spend eternity somewhere. 

 

The rich man died and the Bible said in “hell”—he is not over here with Lazarus.  He is not over there in a place of comfort and a place of safety, in a place of rest—he is not in “Paradise” but he is in “hell.”  He is where all the wicked dead are.  That is where he is at. 

 

The Bible says that he is in “torments.”  When you look the word “torments” up, you will find out that it’s a word that means “grief.”  It’s a word that means intense suffering, intense pain, it’s a word that brings out the idea of fire, of awful pain.  That is what the word “torments” mean.  This is where the rich man ended up at. 

 

No doubt, he went to bed one day, or one night and maybe he didn’t wake up the next morning.  We don’t know when death is going to come.  We have no idea as to what is going to take us out of this life.  There may be a germ tonight that we may pick up before we get home that you couldn’t see unless you magnified it a hundred thousand times that may kill us before daylight.  We may have no idea.  We may close our eyes tonight in sleep thinking that we are going to get up in this life tomorrow, but we make wake up in another dimension in the morning. 

 

We are going to one of two places.  We are either going to “hell” or we are going to “Paradise.” 

 

This rich man woke up.  This rich man died, he was buried and the next thing we hear about him is that he is in torments.  He is in the flames.  He is in torments.  Do you know what he wants to do? 

 

23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

 

Do you know what he is able to do?  He looks and tells us some things that he is able to do.  He looks across this great gulf and he sees “Paradise.”  He sees Abraham.  Abraham was the father of the Hebrew nation.  Abraham was very significant in their beliefs and what the practiced.  When this rich man looks across and sees Abraham, he may have had a glimmer of hope, or so he though.  He even sees the poor old beggar that’s been lying at his gate.  He’s in torments.  He’s in “hell.”  He can see. 

 

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.

 

People that go to “hell” not only can they see, but they are going to be praying.  This guy here was praying, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me…”  Isn’t it something that men and women in this life live all their lives and will never ask God to “have mercy on me” but this guy here, the first thing he says when he gets to “hell” is “Father…have mercy on me…”  That should get your attention. 

 

“Hell” is a place of suffering.  “Hell” is a place that people are going to go where they are going to spend eternity; they are going to be there day and night forever and ever burning in the torments of a Lake of Fire (we will talk about that in a few minutes also.)  When you get here, there is no escape.  When you die in this life lost and you open your eyes in “hell” then there is no escape for you.  You are there forever and ever. 

 

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.

 

Do you know what that tells you?  There is fire in “hell.”  “Hell” is a place where people are going to be tormented.  They are going to suffer.  They are going to be punished because they have rejected the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.  That is the reason that they are going there.  It’s not because they are murderers.  It is not because they steal and kill and do all that.  That is just evidence of their sins.  They are going to “hell” because they have rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior.  When you get saved, you don’t do those things.  Unbelief is sending people to “hell.” 

 

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.

 

“…Abraham said…” in other words, the rich man is in “hell” and he looks across and sees Lazarus.  He sees Abraham and says, “…send Lazarus over here and just let him dip the tip of his finger in water and one drop of water is all I would like to have that it might cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.”  Could you imagine that?  Could you imagine being in a place where you are praying for just one drop of water.  What little water you can get on the end of your finger (holds up finger with water drop on it) the little bit of water that I can get on the end of my finger; this guy in “hell” was praying for that one little drop of water.  Do you think he was in torment?  Do you think he was suffering? 

 

“Hell” is an awful place.  “Hell” is a place you are going to burn; you are going to suffer in a way that is beyond recognition. 

 

The Bible says he prays.  Abraham says, “…Son, remember…”  Not only are we going to be able to communicate or talk here, praying, but he says “remember.”  Do you know what the sad part about a lot of things is?  There are a lot of people sitting in churches tonight who are going to end up in the Lake of Fire and they are going to remember some things when they get there.  He said, “…remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst the good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.”   He said, “…remember…”  “Remember when you were back on planet earth that you had all the good stuff and you had the world by the tail but now things are not that way now.  He says here, “…likewise Lazarus had all the evil things…”  In other words, he did not have anything good.  He just survived while he was here, but now he is comforted; Lazarus is in “Paradise.”  The rich guy is in “hell.”  Lazarus is comforted.  The rich man is 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.

 

What do you think about when you think about gulf?  I’m not talking about a golf ball, but I am talking about a gulf.  What do you think about?  You think about water, don’t you?  I don’t know what is here, but I know Jesus Christ says that between “hell” where the wicked are, and “Paradise,” where the righteous dead are; there is a great gulf fixed.  There is a great vast area that is here. 

 

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.

 

In other words, rich man you can’t to where he is at and he can’t get to where you are at because of this great divide—this great separation that is here. 

 

There is a religion today that is running rampant.  That tells you when you go to “hell” that if your family will pay enough money, you can get to “Paradise.”  That is a lie.  Friend, that is very prevalent in our land today.  If you die lost, if your family does so much good works or until they pay so much money then you get to move to here (pointing to “Paradise” on the display).  That’s a lie straight out of hell.  When you go here (pointing to “hell” on the display); you are here until you get to move to here (pointing to “the Lake of Fire” on the display).  Certainly, you will move there later on (and we are going to talk about that). 

 

The Bible says that there is this great gulf here.  There is a great separation there.  The people who are in “Paradise” cannot come to “hell” and the people that are in “hell” cannot come to “Paradise.”  It is impossible. 

 

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

 

Do you know what he says now?  Do you know how horrible this place was?  Do you know how horrible this place of torment really is?  This guy says, “Hey, if Lazarus can’t come to me and I can’t go to him, then let Lazarus go back and warn my five brothers lest they come to this awful place.”  This guy did not want his family to come to be where he was at.  He had five brothers.  He knew he was doomed now.  He knew he was damned.  He knew he was going to spend eternity here forever and ever.  He knew there was no way out.  His prayer was, “”If I can’t get any help, please send Lazarus back to testify to my family.”  Friend, that’s how bad “hell” is. 

 

If you don’t want your family to be there, it must be a bad place.  If you love your family and you are in a bad place then you don’t want them there. 

 

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 

The rich man says, while he is here, he prays “Abraham, send Lazarus back to testify back up here on planet earth.  Let him go back and tell my family not to come to this awful place.  My brothers know who Lazarus was.  They knew he had lain at the gate.  They knew he died.  If he would come and rise from the dead and go back and tell them that they need to change their ways.  They need to repent.  Do you know what the rich man said?  That is what they will do.  However, that is not the case. 

 

If we won’t believe this Bible, we would not be persuaded if Jesus Christ walked down the aisle here tonight; it would not change your mind not one bit.  You either believe this, that is what he said.  They have Moses and the prophets and if they won’t believe that then they won’t be persuaded that one rose from dead.  Jesus said that.  If people won’t believe this Bible, they won’t believe it if Lazarus walked down the aisle tonight.  If Jesus walked down the aisle tonight, if John the Baptist walked down the aisle, you that are unsaved wouldn’t change your mind one bit.  Gets quiet!

 

It is important that we understand how important it is and how short time is and where you are going to go when life comes to an end. 

 

The rich man is dead.  He is here (pointing to “hell” on the display).  He is in “hell.”  Lazarus is in “Paradise.”  Not only them, but all the departed wicked is here in “hell.”  The departed righteous is in “Paradise.” 

 

How are we going to get these folks from hell to the “Lake of Fire?”  How are we going to get those folks that are in “Paradise”—our loved-ones that have died—how are we going to get them from here (pointing to “Paradise” on the display) to heaven?  That is very plain. 

 

I Thessalonians 4:13

 

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 

In other words, people have been coming through here at Thessalonica and telling people that the Resurrection already passed and if you had died then there was no hope.  Paul says here, that is not the case. 

 

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

 

People that are on planet earth when Jesus Christ comes are not going to prevent, or “go before” these that are dead.  We are all going to heaven together. 

 

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 

He is coming one day to appear in the clouds with a shout.  He will shout.  People are saying, “Well, I am looking for the Lord to come.”  Actually, I am listening for the Lord to come.  When He comes, we are not necessarily going to see Him but we are going to hear Him.  Not only are we not going to see Him, but this world is not going to see Him.  Not at that time but they are going to see Him a little later on.  He is going to come. 

 

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 

These folks here that are in “Paradise” when Jesus Christ comes in the clouds with a shout, they are going to rise before we are; before those that are alive are.  They are going to come out of this place that they are resting.

 

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

People that are going to be alive on planet earth when Jesus comes…Do you know what is going to happen?  When Jesus Christ comes in the clouds, these folks that are in “Paradise;” the righteous dead; are going to be raised somewhere up here in the atmosphere.  Folks that are alive on planet earth; whether it is us or some other generation, when He comes, then the folks that are in “Paradise” are going to be raised up here in the atmosphere, and then those folks that are alive on planet earth are going to be raised up here and we are all going to meet in the clouds and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  That makes me happy.  Don’t it you!  That excites me to know that. 

 

My dear old grandmother, I’m looking forward to seeing her in the clouds one day.  My dear old grandpa, I did not know very well, but I am looking forward to seeing him one day.  I’m looking forward to meeting in the clouds one day some of the dear folks that we have buried since I have been here.  We are going there.  We are going somewhere.  That should make us happy.  If you are saved tonight, that should make us happy. 

 

Here is what is going to happen to you if you are lost.  When Jesus appears in the clouds, and He raises the dead that are in “Paradise” of those that are alive on planet earth; when we meet together in the clouds and He takes us home.  Do you know what it does not say?  It does not say a thing about the wicked dead at this time.  The wicked dead are not going to heaven, my friend. 

 

“Paradise” is going to be empty.  They are going to be gone.  We are going to be in heaven.  However, the wicked dead are still yet going to be in “hell.”  They will still be tormented in “hell.” 

 

The Bible says where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.  God is not going to forget about them in “hell.” 

 

Revelation 19:20

 

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

 

“Hell” is not the eternal home of the lost.  We use the word “hell” as a catch-all term and we just sort of want to clump it all together.  However, “hell” is a place here where the wicked dead are held until the Resurrection. 

 

Revelation 20:10

 

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever

 

The first occupants here that are going to be going to the “Lake of Fire” are the beast and the false prophet.  We don’t have time to get into that tonight, but there is a wonderful study there.  Those that are in “hell” are going to be coming here to the “Lake of Fire.”  (pointing to “Lake of Fire” on the display)  They are going to be raised.  They are going to stand before Almighty God.

 

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

 

There is going to be a day after the Tribulation Period, after the Millennium; there is going to be a day that the wicked dead are going to be judged.  The scriptures call it the “Great White Throne of Judgment.” 

 

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

Look what it says here.  “…I saw the dead…” dead, spiritually dead.  He has called those who have been in “hell” to the “Great White Throne of Judgment” and they are standing before Almighty God as we read here in Revelation 20 at the “Great White Throne of Judgment.”  All that is here are spiritually dead.  There is not going to be not one saved person at the “Great White Throne Judgment” because we are already in heaven when the “Great White Throne Judgment” is going on. 

 

The Bible says, “…I saw the dead…” those that are in “hell” the wicked dead. 

 

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God…

 

The rich man that died 2000 years ago, when they stand before Almighty God, he is going to be there.  Every individual from every nation, from every time frame, since Adam was here; every man that has ever died wicked is going to be summonsed one day and they are going to leave “hell” and come and stand before Almighty God at the White Throne Judgment.  That is scripture.

 

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened…

 

Do you know what books are going to be opened?  These books (holding up Bible) are going to be opened.  Do you know why?  God would not give me a book and tell me to live by it on planet earth and then when I die, not judge me by it.  If God wants me to live by it now, then that is what He is going to judge me by.  That are the books that are going to be opened on this day; the Old Testament, the New Testament and there is another book that is opened, which is the Book of Life.  There is a book.  I believe this.  God has a record of every individual that has ever been born again.  Not only that, but God has a record of every individual that has ever been born.  I really believe this.  If you live your life and die unsaved, your name is going to be blotted out of the Book of Life.  The Bible says that.  The Bible tells us that. 

 

12 …and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

…according to their works, not according to their giving’s, not according to their heritage, not according to their family background or lineage, but according to the works.  An individual that is dead spiritually cannot have any works that will bring glory to God.  It is impossible.  If you are not saved today, I don’t care what you are doing; your life is not pleasing to God.  You are not doing anything that God will accept if you are not living by faith then God will not accept anything else you are doing. 

 

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

 

Get this.  Death and “hell” were cast into the “Lake of Fire.”  Those that are in “hell” are summonsed.  They are judged.  They are pronounced guilty and then they are placed here in the “Lake of Fire.” 

 

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.

 

Friend listen to me tonight.  We could go on and on.  I don’t know how many scriptures are in the Bible that speaks about “hell” and the “Lake of Fire” as being a place of torment.  There is a bunch of them. 

 

What I want to tell you tonight is this.  If you die tonight, you are either going to “hell” where the wicked dead are or “Paradise” where the righteous dead are.  There is going to come a day that if you are in “hell” then you are going to end up in the “Lake of Fire.”  That is where you are going to spend forever and ever…  That is where you are going to be forever.  Just as long as the folks that are in “Paradise” are going to be in heaven, in our eternal home, worshiping and praising Almighty God, just as long as we are there—that is forever and ever too—folks are going to be spending eternity screaming and begging for someone to help them.  They will be pleading for one more opportunity to make things right with God. 

 

However, all the praying and all the screaming and all the pleading when you get here to “hell” are not going to change not one thing.  You have waited one day too late.  I promise you tonight that if we could uncap “hell” and talk to the rich man; do you know what he would say?  He would be screaming and saying “Change your ways.”  Get saved, live for God.  Change your ways.  Don’t come to this awful place.  It is a horrible place.  Good people, good neighbors, and honest people that pay their bills and don’t do anything wrong, but they are going here because they have never accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. 

 

ARE YOU SAVED?

 

ARE YOU READY TO GO TO HEAVEN? 

 

If you are not, I would encourage you with all of the zeal that I’ve got to repent tonight.  Get ready to go meet Jesus tonight.  You may very well do that tonight.

 

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