Biblical Basics #6-5

HELL

Many of us “seniors” can well remember the “Hell-fire and Brimstone” Preachers; those typified in the film “Pollyanna” ringing the rafters in every country church making young and old quiver and quake with their graphic description of a place all too missing in many of today’s denominations. One of the more famous would be the message by Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.

As in the above noted film, in many cases people went away acutely aware of the dilemma and totally ignorant of the antidote. Do we in the 21^st Century need an accurate picture of our current morass, Yes in every way!! Are we today in danger of missing the Messiah; has Satan further complicated, obfuscated, muddied the waters, and in many cases totally denied the “Way, Truth and the Life”? Sadly, the answer must by said – YES!!

As we are further afield and adrift from solid Biblical Truth entering the morass of “Seeker/Consumer Friendly”, Politically Correct prevarication overlain with the “isms” of Humanism, Socialism, Atheism and Agnosticism, Satanism more critical than ever are “Biblical Basics” devoid of theological gymnastics and isms disguising “Works” religions.

Appropriate to the introduction of a consideration of Hell is the Parable of “The Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luk. 16: 19 – 31)

[Jesus Christ is addressing his followers, publicans and sinners, as well as the Pharisees and scribes]

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

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

v. 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.

v. 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;

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

v. 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.

v. 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.

v. 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.

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

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

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

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

v. 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.

In this parable Christ presents a graphic juxtaposition of a nameless rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man lives “sumptuously” in purple and fine linen, fine food and the best available every day; Lazarus, full of sores, is laid at his gate that he might have some of the morsels falling from the rich man's table. His only solace, the neighborhood dogs coming and licking his sores.

Both pass from this life to the next; Lazarus finds his soul being carried by angels to Abraham's bosom, his body more than likely being dumped on the perpetual trash heap to be burned, eaten by rats, etc. The rich man no doubt had a grand procession with professional mourners, family and relatives, hangers-on, and others who had benefited from his life and was buried in the finest fashion and sepulcher his money could provide.

Quite the opposite is found “on the other side”; the rich man lifts his eyes being in torment and sees father Abraham a far distance away with Lazarus in his presence. He begs that Lazarus might “dip the tip of his finger in water and come and cool his tongue, being tormented in flame.” Abraham reminds him of his earthly existence, his lavish lifestyle and the tormented lifestyle of the beggar Lazarus. He notes additionally that “there is a great fixed gulf” between where he is and where Lazarus is, that no one can pass from one to the other (v. 26).

The flame tormented former rich man “prays” that Lazarus might “go to my father's house to testify to my five brethren lest they also come to this place of torment.” This request  is denied; “they have Moses and the prophets, let them believe them.” The final request, that “one from the dead” be sent that they might repent, is also denied; the reason, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead.”

Hell is described as:

1. an “everlasting fire” - Mat. 25:41

2. a place of “eternal punishment” - Mat. 25:46

3. a place of “outer darkness” - Mat. 8:12

4. a place of “everlasting destruction” - 2 Thess. 1:9

5. a “Lake of Fire” - Rev. 19:20

Who was this “place of everlasting fire, eternal punishment, outer darkness, everlasting destruction; this “Lake of Fire” prepared for?

1. That “old dragon the Devil”, Satan and his angels – Mat. 25:41

2. The “Wicked” (“the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers/masters of prostitutes, sorcerers/those using magic aided by evil spirits, idolaters/those whose religion is worshiping idols, and all liars) – Rev. 21:8

3. The Disobedient(“the contentious, those not obeying the truth but obeying unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish”) - Rom. 2:8,9

4. The “Fallen Angels” (those accompanying Satan, the Devil) – 2 Pet. 2:4

5. The Beast and the false prophet – Rev. 19:20

6. Those worshiping the Beast – Rev. 14:11

7. Those “rejecting the Gospel” - Mat. 10:15

Is Hell as Billy Graham says, “just the absence of God”? The Biblical description of Hell's Punishment is:

1. Mat. 5:29.30 describe it as “bodily” noting the “casting of your eye or your hand” rather than your entire body into Hell.

2. Christ says it includes both body and “the soul” - Mat. 10:28

3. Jesus notes further that it will be a matter of different degrees - Mat. 23:14

4.  Dr. Luke, in the above narrative, notes “it's unchanging” - Luk. 16:22-31

Contrary to the beliefs of some, we find that those inhabiting Hell will have:

1. Memories – the rich man remembered his and Lazarus' former life, that he had five brothers who would more than likely follow him

2. They will cry for release “eternally” being in eternal/everlasting punishment possessing, as those in Heaven, eternal bodies and souls.

3. Psalm 139:8 tells us that whether we make our abode in Heaven or “our bed in Hell”, God, the Lord, will be there. (see also Prov. 15:11, Job 26:6)

Given what we now know of Hell, that it is real, eternal, a place of everlasting “fire and brimstone” (Rev. 21:8)...and “entirely avoidable!” , what ought we to do?!

1. Go and tell – the unbelieving, the fearful, doubters, the double-minded, etc.

2. Live what we say we believe – consistently, ardently, passionately, with conviction.

3. Pray – continually, Biblically, alone and corporately, in word and in deed.

4. Work to be “salt and light” - individually, as a family, a church, politically, socially.