"And being in torments...." (Luke 16:19-31)

Introduction

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (2225 “Then You Ask Him”)

2225 “Then You Ask Him”

Said Dr. Carl F. H. Henry, “In one of my last street meetings, during my college years, a heckler kept shouting, “Where did Cain get his wife?”

“When I could ignore the disturber no longer, I replied, “When I get to heaven, I’ll ask him!”

“ “Suppose he isn’t in heaven?” parried the disrupter.

“I retorted, “Then you can ask him!” ”

One of the most solemn doctrines in the Bible is eternal punishment. One Pew Research survey reveals that 72% of Americans believe in heaven, while 58% of Americans believe in hell. People don’t like to think or talk about hell. Did you know that Jesus spoke more about hell than he did heaven, and this passage is one of the plainest statements on the subject. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is also the only passage that describes the feelings of the unconverted person after death.

The Place

The Bible presents hell as a specific and very real place.

Bishop J.C. Ryle noted, “The Lord Jesus tells us plainly that after death the rich man was in hell, tormented with flame.”

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment...” (2 Pet. 2:4)

“The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:13-15)

The Portrait (Luke 16:19-31)

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is often considered to be in the category of parable. However, it is different from the parables in several ways. First, it isn’t identified as a parable. Second, it uses proper names, something uncharacteristic of parables. This story told by Jesus provides insight into the horror, hopelessness, and helplessness of those in hell.

Consider the rich man’s daily magnificence (v. 19)

He wore the finest clothes.

He ate the finest foods.

The rich man lived in lavish abundance every day, enjoying the best of the best that the world had to offer.

Consider the rich man’s dying moment (v. 22b)

“…the rich man also died and was buried.”

His wealth could not protect him from death.

Death comes to us all in every station of life.

“And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27)

Consider the rich man’s described misery (vv. 23-26)

Hell is a place of punishment.

“And being in torments...”

“…for I am tormented in this flame.”

Hell is a place of pain. (v. 24)

Hell is a place of permanence. (v. 26)

Once in hell, there is no possibility of getting out.

“The sense of the statement is that death decides forever, it is either Heaven or Hell.” (Lenski)

“There will never be any escape from those gloomy regions. There is a gulf fixed - fixed, not movable. Nor can any of the damned beat a pathway across this gulf to the world of holiness.” (Barnes)

Consider the rich man’s desired mercy (v. 24)

The same man that he had probably walked by many times while he begged on the street, he now begs from him a drop of water to cool his tongue.

Consider the rich man’s disturbing memory (v. 25)

The implication is that the rich man chose the comforts of the world over the comfort of knowing God.

In his life he valued sumptuous living over true spiritual life.

One of the torturous things about hell is that one will remember the opportunity they had for salvation, and realize how they rejected it.

Consider the rich man’s deadly mistake (v. 29-30)

He had obviously rejected all of the means and methods God uses to draw sinners to the Savior.

He had disbelieved, disregarded, despised, and disobeyed the written warnings of Moses (OT Scriptures).

God has given us sufficient warning to prepare for death through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, His only Son, the pleas and prayers of loved ones and friends.

Consider the divine message to the rich man (vv. 31)

He begged for someone from the dead to go to his brothers (vv. 27-28)

He wanted this because he knew they, like he had, were ignoring the warnings of the Bible.

The truth is that they wouldn’t believe even if someone from the dead came to them.

God has provided the necessary warnings through the testimony of the Bible.

God has provided the way of escape from hell through faith in Jesus Christ.

Nothing more will be offered to convince you of your need for salvation.

The Population

The Bible is very clear about those who will populate hell.

1 Corinthians 6:9–12 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:8 ESV

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Conclusion

What about you? Are you a believer? Are you trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ for your salvation?

God has given His Son, the Scriptures, and His Spirit to bring us to Christ. Will you come to Jesus today?

Call out to the Lord in prayer! The Bible says, “Whoever shall calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13)

Confess Jesus Christ publicly through baptism.

Come forward for church membership.

Come for prayer - confession of sin, prayer for lost people.