Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then 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 in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
What the Rich Man experienced (along with everyone else who goes to hell)
1. He desires comfort
2. He expresses concern
3. He seeks consolation
The word torment has 3 definitions in it.
a. Acute pain from a debilitating disease
b. A rack of torture (sharp knives they stretched criminals over)
c. Flames hot enough to melt metals
Matthew 25:41
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Few facts about the reality of hell: first of all understand, Jesus did NOT prepare Hell for mankind...but He DID prepare Heaven!! (John 14)
Why was hell such a 'hot' topic in the bible? Due to the sinfulness of mankind, hell was the end result of poor spiritual decisions...Jesus was very candid about this type of judgment and He even gave a very powerful illustration concerning this eternal torment...Jesus called Hell - Gehenna...(valley of torment)
Historically, it’s the valley on the south side of Jerusalem...this is where people would burn their refuse and poor people would burn their dead in that valley...you can smell flesh for miles!
The Chaldeans and even 2 kings (Ahab and Manasseh), would sacrifice their children to the same flames...many times they would drive their children into the fire while yet alive!
A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is the imagery that Jesus is using to describe the torment that happens in hell…right now.
Matthew 10:28
28 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.
Few more facts about hell that are fascinating is not what is in hell, but what is NOT...
There are 2 physical properties needed to maintain the sanity of mankind; that is> Light and Solid Ground...none of
which can be found in hell.Matt. 8: 12 - 'but the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness'
Revelation 9. 11, 17, and 20 refer to hell as a bottomless pit.
So imagine being suspended in total darkness and fire...
There are 2 emotional properties needed to maintain the sanity of mankind; that is> Rest and Hope
Rev. 14: 11 - 'And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name'
Hell is not a design of fear and control – it’s a fact of spiritual consequences…if you die in your sins, you will go to hell.
