CENTRAL THOUGHT
Hell is a place of eternal torment and deep regret.
HYMN: “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling”
TEXT: Luke 16: 19-31; Rev. 20:1-15
INTRODUCTION
The subject of hell is not a pleasant one for discussion. Some people will not like to talk about it, yet it is a fearful reality, an awful state and a tragic fate. If we are to preach and teach the complete, balanced and undiluted word of God faithfully, we must not omit the facts about hell. Admitting that the subject of hell is one of the most difficult subjects in the Bible, Billy Graham said, he usually devoted one evening to a discussion on the subject of hell during outreaches. He added, “However, that for days afterwards there would be many lesser from his audience arguing the pros and cons of the subject”. but, one thing is certain, hell is real, whether we believe it or not. There is something within a man that says that death and the grave are not the end. Indeed, there is a scarcely people in the world that do not have some kind of belief in life after death and that the wicked will go unpunished. The Lord Jesus spoke so much about hell on the pages of Scripture. We shall, in this study, discuss what Scripture says about life in hell fire and the way to escape this place of torment.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this lesson are to:
- Understand what hell refers to
- Know those who will end up in hell
- Know why the rich man went to hell and that life in hell is for eternity
- Examine what life in hell looks like
- Know the way of escape from hell fire
Q1. WHAT DOES HELL REFER TO IN THE BIBLE?
Hell is a place where the unconverted go. It is a place of eternal separation from God, a region of banishment from all that is good. It is a land of night (darkness) where there is no hope of a future amelioration of conditions there.
Hell was originally prepared for Satan and his angels (Matt 25:41). God did not intend it for man. However, if any man persists in serving Satan and reject the Lordship of Christ, he will spend eternity with Satan in hell.
Q2. WHO ARE THOSE THAT WILL END UP IN HELL?
Rev. 20:15, 21:8; Matt. 25:41-45; 2 Peter 3:17
Hell is the abode of sinners who die unsaved.
Those that will be found there are the false prophets (Matt. 7:15-19), the selfish, unkind, and unmerciful (Matt. 25:41-46), all those whose names were not found recorded in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15), the cowards who denied Christ because of persecution unbelievers, the corrupt, murdered, cultists, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshippers, and all liars (Rev. 21:8), all those who rejected Christ and refused to accept Him and Lord and Savior (John 3:18-19), the backsliders (Heb. 6:4-6), the sorcerers, drunkards, armed robbers, kidnappers and other sins (see Gal. 5:19-20). Anyone living such life without repenting at the point of death or at Christ’s coming will end up and suffer in hell.
Q3. WHAT IS THE DURATION OF LIFE IN HELL FIRE?
Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:46
There are many false teachings on this subject by some denominations and cult groups. Some of these teachings give false hope to multitudes, but they will be disappointed at the end. Some believe that the wicked shall be annihilated or burnt up in hell. Some believe in purgatory where the soul of the unrepentant dead will suffer the evil they did while on earth but become pure enough to proceed to heaven. The Scripture makes it clear that the soul, as soon as it leaves the body, goes either to heaven or hell and does not go into “purgatory”. Atheism holds that when a man dies, he dies like an animal and that is all there is to him. All these are false. The same word used to denote the eternal bliss of the righteous is also used to describe the eternity to unbelievers. Life in hell is forever and ever (Rev. 20:10); suffering without an end, for a countless number of years, yet without stop.
Q4. WHERE IS HELL LOCATED?
Isaiah 14:9; Ezek. 32:27
Locationally, hell is beneath the earth, wicked men descend into it (Isaiah 5:14). Heaven is above while hell is under the earth. Some people say they’re in hell because they are poor while those who are rich materially are in heaven. Hell is a location outside this planet. It is the place of unquenchable fire (Isaiah 66:24; Matt. 3:12)
It is not in the surface of the earth but located in the lower parts of the earth. Jesus had to descend into it to set the captives free before He ascended into heaven (Eph. 4:8-10).
The rich man did not go to hell because he was rich. It is not a sin to be rich, nor sin to have the good things of life. The issue is that he was so completely absorbed with his riches and worldly possessions that he had no time to make preparation for the world to come.
We were not told that he was a criminal, oppressor, extortionist, fraudster, or a bad man in the eye of the world, but he had no regard for God and man. He was selfish, refused to help Lazarus, take him in and care for him.
His table was furnished with all the varieties and dainties that money could buy. Feasting and forgetting the distress of the poor and affiliated are very provoking to God who would want us to care for the poor and needy around us.
Q5. FROM THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES, HIGHLIGHT WHAT LIFE IN HELL LOOKS LIKE. Luke 16:22-30; Matt. 3:12, 8:12, 13:41, 49-50
The Bible is very emphatic in its teaching that the human spirit is conscious after death. The Lord Jesus told the thief on the cross that “this day shall thou be with me in paradise”. He spoke of Abraham and Lazarus and the rich man as being conscious after death. In hell, the rich man could see, for he saw Abraham afar off, he could remember his family, he could feel, hear, discuss, take, and requested that Abraham send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue and experienced remorse.
Fruitlessly, he sought to have Lazarus carry the gospel message to his five living brethren, so that they could come not into this place he was.
It is a life of separation from God and anything good, a life of continuous regret in utter darkness, where they will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; a place of torment where the worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched (Isaiah 66:23-24). He did not request that Abraham should order his release from his misery or help him out of the pit, for he utterly despaired of this. He did not express any hope of escaping from hell. Hell, indeed is a place of hopelessness from which there is no escape or return.
Q6. HOW CAN SOMEBODY ESCAPE THE DANGER OF HELL FIRE?
Acts 16:31; John 5:24; Mark 13:13; John 3:14-18, 36
Jesus Christ is the only way to escape from the danger of hell fire. He said “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Man has fallen, ruined and cannot save himself. The wages of sin is death. There is no solution unless someone has to pay the penalty of death. Thank God Jesus paid it in full for all those who will believe in Him for Salvation. The Scripture reveals that new birth is an indispensable experience anyone must have to escape hell fire and enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Paul and Silas told the jailer to believe on the Lord Jesus to be saved together with his household (Acts 16:31). The Lord Jesus Himself said that those who believe in God have eternal life and will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life (John 5:24).
Believing in Christ and accepting Him as Lord and Savior will result in a new life. Apostle Paul said, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). It is only those who have experienced this new life and ran the race to the end that will escape the danger of hell fire.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
Hell is real. It is a place of torment, suffering, sorrow, and pain, originally intended for Satan and his angels. Today, anyone whose name is not in the Lamb’s Book of Life will have a portion of hell fire. However, it is not the will of God for anyone to go to this place of eternal torment. He gave His only begotten Son who paid the penalty for our sins in full. Our responsibility is just to believe in Him, accept Him and our Savior and Lord, and run the race to the end. Are you willing to surrender your life to Him and escape the danger of hell?
MEMORY VERSE
Rev. 20:15
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (KJV)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: A place of eternal separation from God. Luke 16:19-31
Tuesday: Who goes to Hell. Rev. 20:15, 21:8; Matt. 25:41-45
Wednesday: Duration of life in hell. Matt. 25:26; Rev. 20:10
Thursday: Location of Hell. Isa. 14:19; Ezek. 32:27
Friday: Life in Hell – an insight. Isa. 66:23, 24; Luke 16:22-30; Matt. 8:12
Saturday: Escape the danger of Hell fire. John 3:14-18, 36, 5:24; Acts 16:31