The Lake of Fire

Open: Barna survey, Gallup, and Pew Research show that the majority of American adults belief in Heaven. The results vary, but they clock in somewhere between 70 to 75%. Heaven is only 1 of the 2 Eternal destinations so one would think the polling numbers would reflect similar percentages for a belief in Hell.

One would be surprised because all of the polls report a smaller percentage when it comes to Hell. On average, these same respondents only profess to believe in Hell to the tune of 55 to 58%.

Transition: Why the discrepancy? There are probably many reasons, but i believe one reason is that as humans we recoil from the thought of Eternal punishment. We like the idea of Heaven, and most of us think we are going there. (If in doubt, just ask them.) We do not, however, like the idea of a literal lake of fire in which the residents will suffer eternal separation from God and experience torment.

I can honestly state that I personally don’t like the idea of Hell. I don’t like to think that anyone will experience this reality, but my personal preferences have zero to do with the existence of Hell. The Bible presents Hell as a literal place, Jesus talked more of Hell than He did of Heaven, and the Apostolic witness reinforces the teaching. Since Jesus is the One who talked more about Hell than any other person in the Bible, it makes good sense for us to know something about it.

READ PASSAGE: REVELATION 20:10-15

Hell is a real place for those who reject God. (Rev. 20:15)

Explanation: According to the Dictionary of Bible Themes, Hell is “The place of eternal punishment in fire and darkness intended for Satan and his angels, but also for human beings who choose to reject God.” The passage in Rev. 20 presents the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium.

In Matthew 25 we witness Jesus teaching on this same topic. At His Return He will separate the sheep from that goats and this is some of what He said:

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41, KJV 1900)

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46, KJV 1900)

Argument: From these two verses we can learn several things about Hell from Jesus Himself:

Hell was originally prepared for Satan and his fallen angels (demons)

A multitude of people will enter Hell (those on the left hand). Not everyone gets in Heaven

Hell is a place of Eternal separation from Jesus (depart from Me . . .)

Hell is a place of Eternal fire and punishment

This teaching is serious business indeed. So why don’t we take it seriously? One possible reason I want to suggest is that we have trivialized Hell to the extent that most people don’t really think of it as a real, literal place. Think about how we use the word Hell in our everyday language:

That’s a H of a thing to say

H will freeze over before I do _____

We had a H of a time last Friday night

She scared the H out of me!

You look like H, I feel like H

Not only no, but H no!

What the H are you doing?

That hurt like H

That’s as funny as H

What the H was that?

Where the H are my keys?

No wonder most people refuse to accept the biblical reality of Hell. But the beliefs of people, even when possessed by a great many, do not negate Biblical truth.

Application: Recognize the awful reality of Hell as a place of separation and punishment. Allow God to use that truth to penetrate your heart.

As Humans we struggle with the concept of an Eternal Punishment

Explanation: Humans have a sense of justice. Most of us understand that choices have consequences, and that unwise choices result in negative consequences. Many struggle, however with the idea of negative consequences that never end. What is the point of such a punishment?

Illustrate: A driver who exceeds the speed limit, if he or she gets caught, will receive a ticket and have to pay either the state or a lawyer. Once the fine is paid, it’s over. A person who murders and/or rapes another either goes to prison for life or gets executed by the state. Different outcomes for different offenses, but the punishment is for a set time, not eternal.

Argument: As mentioned already, the human mind recoils from the concept of Eternal Punishment. Because of this, many groups have developed ways to get around the biblical teaching on Hell.

The Catholic church invented the concept of Purgatory Divine Justice. In their scheme most aren’t good enough to make it into Heaven directly so they spend the appropriate amount of time in Purgatory, a place of torment, until their sins are completely paid for and then they get to enter Heaven.

Others such as the Seventh Day Adventists teach the concept of Annihilation. Those people who aren’t believers simply cease to exist when they die - they are annihilated, wiped out forever. Not a biblical teaching, but it certainly the worry out of dying!

We use the wrong standard

As fallen beings tainted by sin we simply do not have the proper appreciation for the Glory of God. We also do not understand the depths and depravity of sin itself, and we minimize it by our use of self-made comparisons with others. When we compare ourselves to a Hitler, or a Stalin, or a Jeffrey Dahmer we look pretty good. However, when we compare ourselves to God’s standard of Perfection, we don’t look that good at all.

We are lopsided in our understanding of Jesus

Another part of the problem is that most people are convinced that Jesus is a big softy. Oh, He may talk tough with all this stuff about judging between goats and sheep and the Lake of Fire and all that, but, come on - Jesus wouldn’t send anyone to Hell! No way, Jesus IS Love itself, just look at 1 John 4:8. And how about John 3:16? That proves that God is Love because He sent Jesus!

The existence of Hell for those who reject Jesus actually vindicates the Justice of God

God is Holy. God is so Holy He cannot tolerate sin (Hab 1:13). God has a settled wrath against sin (Romans 1:18). The payment for rebellion is eternal death (Gen 2:17; Ezekiel 18:20; Rom 2:7b, 6:23a).

Only the substitutionary payment Jesus made for sin has the power to satisfy the wrath of God against sin (cf 2 Cor 5:21).

Sin is so repulsive to the Holiness of a Perfect God that it requires the sacrifice of the Eternal Son of God, the One who is the 2nd person of the Trinity, the Creator and Sustainer of the Kosmos, to propitiate God’s settled wrath.

By the same standard, without the payment of the Eternal One credited to an individual’s account, he or she will have to try to pay the debt through his or her own efforts. To do so will consume an Eternity. This is why Hell is a place of Eternal separation and torment.

The Reality of Hell should increase our Evangelistic fervor (Luke 16:19-31)

Example: Jesus teaches on the reality of Hell in a Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. We can learn additional truths about Hell from this teaching:

Those who reject God experience the reality of suffering immediately following death. (Luke 16:22-23)

Those in the present Hell are conscious of their misery and pain (Luke 16:24)

There is no escape from Hell (Luke 16:26)

Those in Hell are not anxious for anyone else to join them (Luke 16:27)

Application: The rich man did not want his brothers to wind up with him in Hell. He was pleading to have a witness sent to them so they would repent. What an indictment on the church that a person in torment has more desire to see others saved than we do.

Responding to the biblical reality of Hell

First off, let’s look at the response of the Church. If Smyrna Baptist, or any other Christ-Honoring, Bible-centered Church is to remain faithful it must never abandon the teaching on Hell. Yes, Hell is a terrible reality and it is not pleasant to dwell on, but this teaching is crucial for the continued existence of a faithful Church.

Historically those Churches and cult groups that attempt to erase the reality of Hell lose their way. If Hell doesn’t exist, then why teach the substitutionary death of Jesus? Jesus is then reduced to a good, moral example of how to please God.

With Hell absent, we lose our Evangelistic focus. After all, if Hell isn’t real then what’s the point in repenting of sin and living for Jesus? The result is that we become Practicing Universalists - all people will either make it to Heaven or they will cease to exist.

The response of Hell for the individual should affect us in one of two ways.

For those of us in Christ the reality of Hell should motivate us to be much more intentional about proclaiming the Gospel to those who we know.

For those of us who are not in Christ the reality of Hell should drive you to personal salvation. While the main focus of a relationship with God through Christ is that of worship and devotion, you should be aware of the consequences of rejecting Jesus. Salvation is more than a “get out of Hell free” card - it is a vibrant and joyful relationship with Jesus that will change your current life positively and secure your Eternity in Heaven.