Hell: Fact or Fiction?

Introduction

Attention

There was a party going on in Hell.

On June 6, 2006, a small town located about 60 miles west of Detroit, Michigan had a strange celebration. Devils and flames were seen everywhere. Shirts and other souvenirs proclaiming 6-6-6 were sold for $6.66. Live entertainment, costumes, and much more were celebrated.

One guy (Mike Hickey) said, “We’re all about having fun here.” The mayor of the small town was contacting radio stations as far as San Diego and Seattle to raffle off tickets for a free trip. Why? Because there was a party going on in Hell…Michigan.

Our culture has made a mockery out of a very serious matter, that of the reality of Hell. The question before us this morning is “Hell: Fact or Fiction.” And there are some facts about hell that need explaining, but there are some fictional beliefs about hell that need debunking.

Need

Just like the man in Hell, Michigan thought, “We are all about having fun here,” many people today believe that the real, eternal place called hell is a place of having fun.

Perhaps you have talked with someone who said, “I can’t wait to get to hell and party with all of my friends.” Is hell a place of eternal partying? No!

Perhaps you’ve heard someone say, “Well, all of my buddies are going to be there, and I want to be with them.” Is hell a place to just hang out for eternity with your friends? No! Though they might be there also, hell is described as a place of complete isolation.

Perhaps you’ve heard someone say, “Well, all of my buddies are going to be there, and I want to be with them.” Is hell a place to just hang out for eternity with your friends? No! Though they might be there also, hell is described as a place of complete isolation.

Or maybe you have heard it said that no one really burns in hell forever, rather they are simply annihilated…that is, they simply cease to exist altogether. Is that fact or fiction? Fiction! The Bible refers to hell as a place of continuing agony and torment, not a simple destruction forever. And maybe, finally, you’ve heard someone say that “Hell is the place to be.” Again, my understanding of the Bible would say “no!”

Or maybe you have heard it said that no one really burns in hell forever, rather they are simply annihilated…that is, they simply cease to exist altogether. Is that fact or fiction? Fiction! The Bible refers to hell as a place of continuing agony and torment, not a simple destruction forever.

And maybe, finally, you’ve heard someone say that “Hell is the place to be.” Again, my understanding of the Bible would say, “No!”

And yet as much as “hell” has entered into our world through movies, games, depictions, interest in the occult and witchcraft, television shows, etc… I would also agree with American Church historian Martin Marty that “hell has disappeared and no one noticed.”

The doctrine of hell is not preached with any validity or regularity in the churches of America today. And for many who sit in our churches, “Hell is real for many, it’s just no one (at least not me), is going to be there.”

But I want to assure you, dear friend, that those who die and leave this old world behind without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ are indeed headed straight to hell. (There’s no other way to put it!)

Bridging Statements

Sermon Idea

Interrogative

Transition

In the Gospel Luke, Jesus explained to his disciples through a parable the facts about the torment and reality of hell. [In all honesty, this parable seems to be more about the issue of wealth and the role reversal of those who are spiritually rich, yet materially poor. However, there is also a scene here that reveals at least some vivid images of hell.] And this morning, I want you to know and understand that hell is indeed a real place. But what is hell like? What does the Bible say about this place called hell? Our text, , reveals 6 facts about hell.

Background Info:

Before we read the text this morning, allow me to set the scene. Jesus is teaching his disciples, but as is often the case, the Pharisees are nearby listening. And in , Jesus has been teaching about the issue of money. And even in the case of our text, Jesus is really teaching about the misuse of money in this world, but in so doing he paints a picture of hell that we can understand.

Our text deals with the comparison of two men with two life styles. The first is described as a rich man. We will see in the text that he wore purple daily (which signified his wealth) and even his underclothes were made of fine linen. He was found joyously living in wealth and splendor every day. He reminds me of the rich and famous of Hollywood. They had it all materially. And the assumption from the text is that he was materially rich, but spiritually bankrupt.

On the other hand, the second man in our text is defined as a poor man, whose name was Lazarus. It is generally understood that this was not the same Lazarus that was a dear friend of Jesus, Mary, and Martha. And in fact, some have questioned whether our text was a parable or an actual historical event because no other parable has a person involved with an actual name. But generally, scholars would agree that this is a parable. Lazarus was a poor, potentially crippled, beggar who laid at the door of the rich man every day. The poor man spent his days in hunger longing to have just the crumbs from the rich man’s table. And the man was in such bad shape that the dogs would come and lick his sores.

And finally, by way of introduction, both of these men die…which is true for each of us as well. Both of these men die, and they both enter into eternity (two destinations). The poor man dies, and the text will tell us he is carried away to Abraham’s bosom, which is a reference to the Kingdom Feast in heaven. And the rich man dies, has a great burial, and is buried in the ground…and ends up in Hades.

With that in mind, if you are physically able, would you stand this morning for the reading of God’s Word…, as we try to answer the question, “What does the Bible say about hell?”

Division 1: Hell is a place of torment (v. 23).

Hell is a place of torment (v. 23).

Explanation

The first fact that we see about hell is that it is a place of torment. Notice verse 23, “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.” In this verse, we see clearly two things. First, hell is an actual place, for the rich man is said to have been “in Hades.” So what is Hades?

Argumentation

Application

The first fact that we see about hell is that it is a place of torment. Notice verse 23, “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.” In this verse, we see clearly two things. First, hell is an actual place, for the rich man is said to have been “in Hades.” So what is Hades?

There are different uses of the word hell throughout the Bible. The word hell was over translated in the King James Version of the Bible. That is to say, the word “hell” was used in instances when “hell” really wasn’t the intended concept. The term “hell” is reserved for that final destination of the devil, his fallen angels, and those who do not choose to believe in Christ.

In , the final account of Satan and his being doomed forever into the lake of fire has not yet occurred. And so the permanent residence of Satan, that is the hell as we know it, has not yet been created by God. But fear not, God will create it during the time of the judgment. And so what we have in most cases throughout the Bible is a reference to a place called “Hades” or “Sheol” or “Gehenna” or even “the Valley of Hinnom.” In your King James Bible, most—if not all of these—will be translated as “hell.”

In verse 23, however, the actual Greek word is the word for Hades (ᾅδης). Hades is the place for the departed souls, and in many cases, is what we have come to associate with “hell” even though the biblical concept of the finality of hell is not found until .

But what we see and understand here in verse 23 is that there is a place that non-believers go to, which we would call hell. And it is important to note that it is a real place. Many people believe that hell is just a state of being. Some would say it’s the difficulties of life. No, hell is a real place. And so some of you might ask, where is hell located? Some would argue that Scripture indicates that hell (or Hades) is located somewhere in the center of the earth because of the phrasing used in the Bible about people going down to hell, etc. Having never been there, I cannot give you a factual statement about its location.

The second thing we see in verse 23 is this place was one of torment. In verse 23, we see that not only was hell a real place, but a place described with the term ‘torment’ (βάσανος). This word gives the picture of torture, of great agony. Most people have this concept of hell being a place of torment.

For one, hell is a place where God is not. If heaven is heaven because God is there, then hell is hell because God is not there. Turn with me to . Paul writing says in verse 9-10, “these will repay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”

Secondly, hell is a place of torment because that is where the wicked will endure God’s wrath. indicates that in Sheol (the Hebrew equivalent for Hades) that the fire is kindled in “My anger and burns to the lowest part of Sheol.” We also get the picture of hell being a place of torment because it is a place of intense darkness. Jesus says in , “the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Secondly, hell is a place of torment because that is where the wicked will endure God’s wrath. indicates that in Sheol (the Hebrew equivalent for Hades) that the fire is kindled in “My anger and burns to the lowest part of Sheol.”

We also get the picture of hell being a place of torment because it is a place of intense darkness. Jesus says in , “The sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” In a book, given to me by Perry Lynch, entitled 23 Minutes in Hell, a man claims to have gone to hell. I cannot vouch for the author, but the book is well documented by biblical references and solid Bible scholars. But in his opening chapter, he describes the intense darkness that we there. And for many people, darkness brings about great fear and dread.

In a book, given to me by Perry Lynch, entitled 23 Minutes in Hell, a man claims to have gone to hell. I cannot vouch for the author, but the book is well documented by biblical references and solid Bible scholars. But in his opening chapter, he describes the intense darkness that we there. And for many people, darkness brings about great fear and dread.

Other Scriptures give proof to this concept of torment. Passages talk about hell being a place of God’s wrath, of torment, of corruption, of destruction, of unquenchable fire, of intense darkness, of complete isolation, and of death. Hell will be filled with Satan, his angels, his demons, and no doubt some weird form of demonic creatures of torture.

Hell is a place of torment!

Division 2: Hell is a place of intense heat (v. 24).

Hell is a place of intense heat (v. 24).

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

The second fact we see is that hell is a place of intense heat. Notice verse 24. Our rich man is there in Hades, and he calls to Abraham to send Lazarus to simply dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue. Then he says in the latter part of the verse, “I am in agony in this flame.” Is hell a blazing inferno?

From the picture here, as well as those in the hell of Revelation, I would have to say yes. Hell is a place of intense heat. And what Lazarus needed was not a dip of water, but he needed a drenching of water.

In the book I referred to earlier, the man described his time in hell as being one of intense heat, but not on fire. Now I’ve had the chance to be in some intense heat. I’ve sat in a sauna, a steam room, and I’ve worked in the sun all day. But I don’t believe any of this will compare to that of the eternal flame of hell.

Consider what Scripture says...

Jude 7 NASB95

just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

says, “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” In , we see reference to a “fire [that] will not be quenched.” John the Baptist preached about an unquenchable fire in when talking about the coming of Jesus and the judgment to come. And even the author of Hebrews talks about the “fury of fire which will consume the adversaries” (). So we see a picture of this throughout the Bible.

Isaiah 66:24 NASB95

“Then they will go forth and look On the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm will not die And their fire will not be quenched; And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”

, we see reference to a “fire [that] will not be quenched.” John the Baptist preached about an unquenchable fire in when talking about the coming of Jesus and the judgment to come. And even the author of Hebrews talks about the “fury of fire which will consume the adversaries” (). So we see a picture of this throughout the Bible.

John the Baptist preached about an unquenchable fire in

Matthew 3:12 NASB95

“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 3:11 NASB95

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

And even the author of Hebrews talks about the “fury of fire which will consume the adversaries.”

when talking about the coming of Jesus and the judgment to come. And even the author of Hebrews talks about the “fury of fire which will consume the adversaries” (). So we see a picture of this throughout the Bible.

Hebrews 10:27 NASB95

but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

So we see a picture of this throughout the Bible.

So we see a picture of this throughout the Bible…hell is a place of intense heat.

Division 3: Hell is a place of judgment (v. 25).

Hell is a place of judgment (v. 25).

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

The third fact we see about hell is that it is a place of judgment. In our text, the rich man is calling out for some mercy in verse 24. Lazarus is sitting at the banquet table, having every need met…while the rich man cannot even get a sip of water to cool his tongue. But notice the judgment in verse 25, “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.” Judgment is being rendered!

Now remember that this passage is also dealing with the issue of godly stewardship. And so we see that the rich man who had everything and would not share his crumbs with this poor beggar…and now the tides have turned…and the rich man is now begging from the beggar.

But we also see the reality that your life choices here on earth do affect the punishment of you receive in hell. And just like there will be rewards of varying degrees distributed in heaven, there will be levels of greater punishment in hell. Now don’t get me wrong, none will be without great torment and great agony. But some will deal with even greater degrees than others.

Consider the following Scriptures...

Matthew 10:14–15 NASB95

“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. “Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Did you catch what Jesus said? It will be “more tolerable” for Sodom and Gomorrah. If it is more tolerable…than there must be the chance to be less tolerable!

, Jesus says, “and whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”

Also,

Matthew 11:21–24 NASB95

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. “Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” And in , again it says, “these will receive greater condemnation.”

Also in Matthew, 11:21-24, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” And in , again it says, “these will receive greater condemnation.”

Again, Jesus alludes the reality that it may be more or less tolerable. Granted, hell will still be hell. But evidently there will be a sense of even greater judgment for some there than others.

And in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus acknowledges “greater condemnation.” Listen...

Mark 12:38–40 NASB95

In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

And finally, we see in that final scene around the great white throne of judgment that hell is a place of judgment. Turn with me to .

And finally, we see in that final scene around the great white throne of judgment that hell is a place of judgment. Turn with me to . Here we see that hell is indeed a place of judgment.

Revelation 20:11–15 NASB95

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Here we see that hell is indeed a place of judgment.

Verse 13 suggests that they were judged according to their deeds. Here we see that hell is indeed a place of judgment.

Division 4: Hell is a place of separation (v. 26).

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

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

A fourth fact about hell is that it is a place of separation. Verse 26 says, “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.”

What we see here is the great divide that does exists between the eternal destiny of heaven and that of hell. The word chasm gives me the picture of the grand canyon…but much larger. It’s that idea of such a great separation that nothing can bridge the divide, and indeed nothing can, but Someone did (Jesus).

One of the terms often used as a synonym for hell is the word “abyss.” An abyss is something which is bottomless. It’s a place of great despair. It’s a prison at the bottom of the sea, for example. Our oceans are so deep that there are areas that you could go to where no natural light can even reach. And the image I get of an abyss is being stuck, chained there at the bottom of the sea…being able to breathe and live (to some extent), but knowing that between you and the rest of the known world was the vastness of the ocean.

And those whose destiny in this life is hell in the next life will live in a complete separation not only from the love of God, but from all of everything for eternity. The darkness of hell will even more extenuate the isolation and the loneliness of this world. And though you might plead and ask and pray (even as the rich man did here) that someone would come over to you…it will never occur. For God will not be in hell, nor will his children. Hell is a place of separation, the sheep from the goats, as Jesus put it in , “all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

Division 5: Hell is a place of choosing (v. 27-28).

Hell is a place of choosing (v. 27-28).

Number 5: Hell is a place of choosing. Many people in our world will say, “I can’t believe in a loving God who would send people to hell.” Neither can I! And God doesn’t “send us” to hell, we choose it. Look at verses 27-28. The rich man pleads with Abraham that if Lazarus cannot come to me to relieve the flame, then send him to my five brothers. Again, we see the rich man has become the beggar.

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

Number 5: Hell is a place of choosing. Many people in our world will say, “I can’t believe in a loving God who would send people to hell.” Neither can I! And God doesn’t “send us” to hell, we choose it. Look at verses 27-28. The rich man pleads with Abraham that if Lazarus cannot come to me to relieve the flame, then send him to my five brothers. Again, we see the rich man has become the beggar.

But notice what happens, the rich man says, “Send him to my father’s house for I have five brothers.” Why? “In order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment.” But if God is a God who “sends” people to hell who have ‘no choice,’ then why send Lazarus? It is obvious that these five brothers have a choice to make in life. They can choose to accept Christ and receive heaven, or they can choose to reject Christ and receive torment in hell.

And we see in verse 28 that the rich man, now living eternally in this place of fury, wants his brothers to make the right choice. And God wants you to make the right choice this morning. The Bible is clear when it says that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. It is clear that God wants none to perish, no not one.

But in the same way that it wouldn’t make sense for a loving God to force people to go to hell (but rather give them a choice), God has also given a choice in whether to love Him or not. And no, God doesn’t want you to perish, and so God sent His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life ().

But people make the choice, and many are choosing hell. The Bible says that there are practices and attitudes that lead to hell. First, by deliberately continuing in sin, you are choosing hell. says, “for if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. Secondly, willingly ignoring divine activity is choosing hell. , which we’ve already read today, Jesus begins to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been done in. And He addresses Capernaum and says, “You will descend to Hades, for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.” In other words, Jesus had done so much divine activity and miracles in that town that they should have come to trust Him. And then third, a contempt for fellow humans is choosing of hell. Jesus, on the Sermon on the Mount, says in , “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall by guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

But people make the choice, and many are choosing hell. The Bible says that there are practices and attitudes that lead to hell.

First, by deliberately continuing in sin, you are choosing hell. says, “for if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of fire which will consume the adversaries.”

Secondly, willingly ignoring divine activity is choosing hell. , which we’ve already read today, Jesus begins to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been done in. And He addresses Capernaum and says, “You will descend to Hades, for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.” In other words, Jesus had done so much divine activity and miracles in that town that they should have come to trust Him.

And then third, a contempt for fellow humans is choosing of hell. Jesus, on the Sermon on the Mount, says in , “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall by guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”

Dear friend, God does not send anyone to hell. Hell is a place of choosing. You either choose hell, or you choose Christ. The choice is yours…but believe me, it is a choice.

Division 6: Hell is a place to be avoided through Christ (v. 29-31).

Hell is a place to be avoided through Christ (v. 29-31).

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

Since hell is a place of choosing, then we see fact #6 that hell is a place to be avoided through Christ. Abraham replies to the rich man, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” In other words, your brothers have the whole Old Testament, the Law (Moses) and the Prophets. They have the revelation given down through time about what God has done, and what God says to do. Let them hear that and believe. Is the Bible enough? I believe that it is. Is the Bible reliable? I believe it is!

But because of the hardness of his brothers hearts, as the hardness of most of the world is, the rich man knew that they would not read and receive the Bible. It didn’t matter what happened to David and Daniel. It didn’t matter the writings of Job and Jeremiah. They wouldn’t believe the prophecy of the great Isaiah. Nor would they heed to the teachings of Ezra or Ezekiel.

Notice verse 30. The rich man says, “No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” The assumption here is that they needed a great sign, a miracle! Something that has never happened before. If only someone would come back from the grave…if someone like Lazarus could come from heaven and tell them about the glories of God…if someone could come and explain to them about the narrow gate that leads to heaven…if someone could only come back, they would believe!

And in , we read the account of one man who did just that. Lazarus had been dead for 4 days before Jesus arrived on the scene. And Jesus called forth to the grave, and said, “Lazarus, come forth!” And stinky, smelly Lazarus got up, and walked out of that grave! He came back from the dead, and he testified to the world around him about Jesus…but did they listen? No.

And Abraham responds one last time to the rich man and says, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”

I want you to know that someone greater than Lazarus has risen from the grave. They tried to bury the Lord Jesus. They hung him on a tree, whipped and bruised for our transgressions. They beat him to almost death. Bleeding and weak, they forced him to carry his own cross through the town and out to a hill called “The Place of the Skull.” They nailed spikes into his hands and into his feet. They jabbed a spear into his side. And his body hung there on that cross between heaven and hell, Jesus died for your sins and mine.

The hour was getting late and so they sent the guard out to finish the crucifixion in time for the Sabbath. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the two thieves, not allowing them the leg power to push up and breathe, and in such quickening their end. But the Bible says in

John 19:33 NASB95

33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

, “but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”

But that was Friday. And on Sunday morning, at early dawn, they went to visit the tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ. They found the stone rolled away, but they did not find the body. And while they were standing there perplexed, the Bible says that “two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing…[and said] ‘He is not here, but He has risen.’”

The Lord Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave so that you too could avoid hell by trusting in Him. When John was caught up in that vision recorded in the Revelation, he says,

Revelation 1:17-“When I saw Him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’”

Friend, do you want to avoid hell this morning? Trust in the one who holds the keys to Hell…trust in the Lord Jesus Christ this morning and be saved from your sins.

Revelation 1:17–18 NASB95

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Friend, do you want to avoid hell this morning? Trust in the one who holds the keys to Hell…trust in the Lord Jesus Christ this morning and be saved from your sins.

Conclusion

Visualization

The closing words of the Bible in the book of the Revelation are spoken by the Lord Jesus himself. He says,

Revelation 22:16 NASB95

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Revelation 22:16–17 NASB95

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

in verse 16, “‘I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things, for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright and morning star.’ The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes to take the water of life without cost.’”…let him “COME!”

Action

Action

Would you come to Jesus this morning? He’ll save you from the facts of hell. And all you have to do is come this morning, and He’ll save you!

Appeal

Would you come, right now! Once Jesus comes, it will be too late…and He says himself, “I am coming quickly” (), so dear friend, give your life to Jesus today!!!

Would you come, right now! Once Jesus comes, it will be too late…and He says himself, “I am coming quickly” (), so dear friend, come today!!!