The Harsh Reality of Hell

Objective: To Paint the graphic reality of Hell as it appears in Scripture. To answer several questions that a believer might have as it pertains to hell. 1. Why should we believe in Hell, Who was hell made for, the characteristics of Hell, and the misconceptions of Hell.

Diagnosis: We live in a society that promotes happiness , and shy’s away from grief. When grief is address it is meet with this utopiaian ideology that things will get better without addressing sin and with out the return of the Messiah. Satan has tricked Mankind into believing that they can have the kingdom of Heaven without the King. Satan has blurred the reality of church doctrine especially in the narrative area, by influencing man to take biblical narrative and make it colorful and appealing. We dress up or kids as devils, ghouls, and demons because we don’t see the seriousness of evil and depravity. Hell at is surface and core is an awful place, but will be the future home of so many.

If you dip feces in Gold, it doesn’t change the fact that it is till feces. Hell doesn’t change because we ignore it or because media has made it seem like a fun house. Recently we had a rapper slide down a pole and proceeded to gyrate on the devil in a sexual motion. After, his grand soiree he then snapped the Devils neck, and took hell over. It is images like this that make hell seem way more pleasurable then agonizing.

Story Noah’s Ark

Jesus Speaks on Hell:

Jesus in his life addressed every important issue that a true disciple needs to navigate thru life. Jesus was blunt, for example, in Matthew 19:3-5 Jesus address homosexuality. Jesus say that God created male and female, and that a man is to leave in cleave to his wife. The only other option you have is to be single and if you are single and save the you hold fast to God, and put in work. Most people say well Jesus didn’t directly have to say men don’t sleep men. Jesus get straight to the point to make you understand what God’s original design was once Christ says it that settles it. However, when it comes to the subject of Hell God, the bible references it many times, it is mention a 162 times in the New Testament in which Christ is responsible for 70 of those references.

Hell is used differently throughout scripture in the New testament when studying the synoptic Gospels we see it as :GEHENNA (γέεννα, geenna). The Greek word for “hell” used in the New Testament. A transliteration of “Valley of Hinnom” (גֵּי הִנֹּם, gey hinnom), a boundary marker between Judah and Benjamin (Josh 15:8; 18:16). Jeremiah began to associate the place-name with God’s divine wrath and judgment (Jer 7:32, 19:6) because Kings Ahaz and Manasseh began sacrificing their children to Molech there (2 Kgs 16:3, 21:6).

The term “Gehenna” is primarily used in the Synoptic Gospels as a symbol of future eschatological judgment (Matt 23:33). The term is almost always used by Jesus Himself (except in Jas 3:6), and bears the sense of a place of physical and spiritual torment and destruction (Matt 5:29–30, Jas 3:6; Matt 10:28; Luke 12:5).

The Gospel writers based their usage on Jeremiah’s reinterpretation of the sacrifices in the Hinnom Valley and Isaiah’s final prophecy of the undying worm and unquenchable fire (Isa 66:24; compare Mark 9:48).

In the Old testament Hell better known as: “Sheol” is the most common word for the afterlife in the Bible, appearing 65 times in the Old Testament. Biblical passages are the only source of information regarding Sheol. References to Sheol in the Old Testament include:

• Genesis 37:35: Jacob wishes to join Joseph in death, saying: “I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.”

• 2 Samuel 12:23: David calls it the land of no return as he mourns his son.

Etymology

The origins of the Hebrew word “Sheol” are unknown, but two prominent theories include:

1. The word שׁאה (sh'h), which describes a desolate land—literally “no land” or “unland” (Koehler, Problems, 20).

2. The verb שׁאל (sh'l), which means “to ask, inquire.” This may refer to the practice of necromancy, or the consultation of the dead, which was strictly prohibited in the Old Testament (Lev 19:31; Jastrow, Babylonian, 165–70; Schmidt, Israel’s Beneficent Dead). It could also be a semantic use of this term meaning, “to call into account” or punish (Rosenberg, Concept, 8–12).

The Old Testament often uses the word “grave” and Sheol interchangeably. Harris argued that Sheol meant “grave” exclusively, and not “the netherworld” (Harris, “Meaning”), but this view has been predominantly disregarded. Bloch-Smith notes that the language of Judg 2:10 (“after that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors”) may illustrate the ancient Israelite practice of placing the dead in a repository and letting the bones collect underneath the death shroud in a bone bed (Bloch-Smith, “The Cult of the Dead”).

D.A. Neal, “Sheol,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

Now what is truly amazing if you ever study the Kings of Israel excluding Saul, David, and Solomon, it should be one thing that you notice, and it is either they did right in the sight of the Lord, or evil in the sight of the Lord. The reason why this is important, it gives insight on how God thinks. God thinks in directs he doesn’t look at you and count all your good moments and bad. When you die God will simply look at your life and either you have done right or evil. God looks at you heart and he says good (Christ), Evil(Sinner). This theological mindset is God’s response to everything and no matter what when you die either you will go to Jesus or you will go to the waiting place before you go to hell , but rest ensure they are both eternal.

Misconception about Hell:

First misconception: Satan doesn’t govern hell, he didn’t create it and he doesn’t dictate anything about it. Matthew shows us that hell was a prepared better yet Created for Satan and his angels ( Matthew 25:41). We see in John 1:3 who is responsible for creating all things.John 1:3 (ESV)

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. And we see that also echoed in Colossians 1:16 Colossians 1:16 (ESV)

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Hell is not a temporary resident: Matthew 25:46 Matthew 25:46 (ESV)

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:41 Matthew 25:41 (ESV)

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Jude 1:7 Jude 7 (ESV)

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Revelation 20:10 Revelation 20:10 (ESV)

10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Hell is not a party: The Characteristics of Hell are depressing. One of the most accurate descriptions of hell is shown in Luke 16: 19-31 Luke 16:19–31 (ESV)

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

First thing we see is that immediately after death a person is carried away to the resident where he or she will rest eternally.

While in an eternal hell you have the ability to see into paradise. Now it is not clear if this happens periodically or it is a permanent state, but we know it does occur. Focusing on number 2 this is torture within itself. Could you imagine suffering in a eternal hell and looking at all the people who try to warn you about God’s wrath. What might be worst, is the people you know that you did more good deeds then resting in the Lord, or people you lead to Christ in paradise while you are being tormented

Next we see that the Holy has no sympathy for the wicked, in which Abraham wouldn’t even quench his thirst. Hell is agonizing, one would think that it is similar to having an ongoing asthma attack. Think of what Co-vid did to the lungs, and imagine that times infinity.

Next we see Although you can see all of the pleasures of Heaven their is a chasm that blocks you from engaging with the individuals on that side

Hell is so agonizing that people desperately will do anything to warn those who they still have on earth

Next we see that nothing can keep you out hell besides Jesus Righteousness

Lastly we see the unrepentant heart of the Rich Man. During his whole time in torment not once did he ask for forgiveness. It seems that when you die you die with you conscience being sired

Case for Christ: Matthew 27: 32-56: Matthew 27:32–56 (ESV)

The Crucifixion

32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.