Hell
Psalms
9:17 The wicked shall be turned into
hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Intro: After preaching the
Word of God now for almost 23 years, there is not a subject that I dread
preaching about any more than the subject of Hell. Every time I preach it, I do so with a heart
full of dread and heaviness. I would
rather preach on almost anything than on this topic. But as a God-called
preacher, I cannot avoid preaching on this.
I have four simple points this morning that I want you to remember.
They are not alliterated. The outline is simple and to the point.
In our text, there are several key words that I want to draw your
attention to before I get into the four points of the message.
A. Notice the word
– WICKED. This word means “guilty of a sin”.
B. Notice the word
– TURNED INTO. This means there is a Higher Power that is putting them into
Hell.
C. Notice the
phrase – ALL THE NATIONS – there is no discrimination in Hell!
D. Notice the
phrase – THAT FORGET GOD. This is about your relationship with God.
Let’s look at four simple
facts from the Bible about Hell.
I. Hell is Real
·
Moses wrote about hell.
·
Samuel wrote about hell.
·
Job talked about hell.
·
The Psalmist David wrote repeatedly about hell.
·
King Solomon warned about a place called hell.
·
Isaiah preached about hell many times.
·
Ezekiel the prophet described hell many times in
his writings.
·
Amos, Jonah and Habakkuk all referred to a place
called hell.
·
Jesus Christ referred to hell more than any
other preacher in the Bible.
·
James wrote about hell.
·
Peter wrote about hell.
·
John the Revelator had a vision of hell.
·
Revelation
19:20 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 worshipped
his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone.
Here we find the Antichrist being thrown into the lake of fire, along
with the false prophet.
We have no problem with believing that these two terrible people were
cast alive into the lake of fire.
Then, further down, John the Revelator saw the devil being condemned to
hell also.
·
Revelation
20:10 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 for ever and ever.
We all rejoice in the fact that Satan, the Deceiver and archenemy of
God will be cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and the false prophet
are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
But the story does not end!
John the Beloved, as he received this revelation from God, saw this:
·
Revelation
20: 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.
·
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.
·
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.
·
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.
II. Hell is Horrible
A. Because of the Flames
The First Mention Principle – First time we find HELL in the Old
Testament:
·
Deuteronomy
32:22 For a fire is kindled in
mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the
earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
The First Mention Principle – First time we find HELL in the New
Testament:
·
Matthew
5:22 But I say unto you, That
whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of
the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell
fire.
B. Because of the Worms
·
Mark 9:44,
46, 48 Where their worm dieth not…
·
Acts 12:21-23
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in
royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the
people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote
him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up
the ghost.
NOTE: The GREEK word for
worms in Acts 12 is the exact same word for worm in Mark 9 – they are real
worms – not memories, not haunted thoughts, not a metaphor for something else.
They are worms!
C. Because of no Water
·
Luke
16:24 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.
D. Because of the Screams
·
Matthew
8:12 But the children of the kingdom
shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.
WEEPING – wailing, lamentation
GNASHING OF TEETH – biting, snarling,
growling
E. Because of the Darkness
·
Matthew
8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness:
·
Matthew
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:
III. Hell is Forever
Jesus preached about the eternality of hell.
·
Mark 9:43
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off:
it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go
into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
·
Mark 9:45
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off:
it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast
into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
·
Revelation
14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man
worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in
his hand, The same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of
his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth
up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the
beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
IV. Hell is Optional
One of the most wonderful facts about Hell is that it is optional – you
don’t have to go there.
·
Proverbs
15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell
beneath.
Yet, the Bible says that hell is swelling to accommodate the people
going there.
·
Isaiah
5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged
herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their
multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Jesus described life as a journey on one of two roads; a broad road and
a narrow road.
He preached that YOU COULD
CHOOSE which gate to enter into, and which path to travel on.
·
Matthew
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.
There are many that enter in at the wide gate, and many that go on the
broad way, that leadeth to destruction.
SO – YOU MAY ASK – WHY ARE
YOU PREACHING ON HELL THIS MORNING?
It is because YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO HELL!
I can help save you from hell by warning you!
·
Jude 1:23
And others save with fear, pulling them
out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
