Today,we're looking at Luke16:22-26, and we're talking about the subject of hell.Unless the rapture takes place first, everyoneon planet Earth will die. We will all face judgment and the Bible teaches wewill either go to a place of eternal torment, a literal hell, or to wonderfulplace of paradise called heaven. Jesus spoke about a literal hell on manyoccasions.
Goddid not create hell for human beings. He created paradise, heaven for humanbeings. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14). Buthell was created for the devil and his angel, as Matthew 25:41 explains, whereJesus speaks to those on the left, saying, "Depart from me, you cursed,into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
Thispassage in Luke 16, from the lips of Jesus refutes so-called "soulsleep," for both the rich man and Lazarus were conscious, one enjoyingcomfort and the other suffering torment. It is a solemn thing to ponder one'seternal destiny and realize the reality of divine punishment.
Itappears from reading the context of the whole Scripture that there is a place,somewhere in the heart of the earth today, called Sheol or Hades, and it's theplace of the departed dead. In this passage of Scripture, and what I believefrom reading all of Scripture, in the Old Testament, before the resurrection ofChrist, everyone went to this place called Sheol, which had two compartments,as Jesus points out here, with a gulf fixed between them so you couldn't passfrom one to the other. One part was a place we call hell, a place of fire andtorment. The rich man died, and in this place of torment, he lifted up hiseyes, and he was in torment. Four times in this passage, the word"torment" is used. It's a place of flame, a place of pain, a place oftorment, and a place where you still have your feelings.
Inthe Old Testament, everyone who died either died in faith, looking forward tothe death of Christ on the cross through the sacrifices, or they died and wentto the hell side. This was up to the cross and the resurrection of Christ. Webelieve that when Jesus died and was buried, during that time, He emptied theparadise side, bringing those souls to the third heaven. Paul talked abouthaving an experience where he was caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians12:2). He says in the epistles, "To be absent from the body is to bepresent with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Remember Stephen, when hewas being stoned to death, saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts7:55-56). Remember Jesus said, "You will be with me" (John 14:3).
Iam convinced today that when believers die, they go to the third heaven (2Corinthians 12:2). Because, “to be absent from the body is to be presentwith the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). When lost people die, they still go to thisplace called Hades, the place called hell, where there is torment. I'mconvinced that, according to Scripture, one day hell will give up the dead thatare in it. There will be the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of themillennium, and the devil, his angels, and everyone who rejects Jesus Christ asSavior, will end up in what is called “the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).That's where the false prophet and the beast were cast just before themillennial reign of Christ (Revelation 19:20).
Myfriend, God didn't create hell for you and me. He created heaven for us.Eternity is in our hearts, and today we can, by faith, receive Jesus Christ andnever have to fear going to this place of torment because we have a placeprepared for us in heaven by the Lord Himself. We must make a choice. Goddoesn't send people to hell. They send themselves to hell when they rejectJesus Christ. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11).
Jesusloves us and died for us and Scripture tells us, "Today is the day ofsalvation; behold, now is the accepted time (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). Please trustHim today to be your Savior!
