The Last Things: Hell

Sunday, April 21^st 2024

Luke 12:5

Introduction

The Bible uses the term hell is used in both Old and New Testaments. In the OT the word sheol is sometimes used to describe hell.

The most common name for hell in the New Testament is gehenna, a word with an interesting history. It referred to the Valley of Hinnom, just outside Jerusalem, where the Israelites had burned their children in sacrifice to the Ammonite God Molech (2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; 2 Kings 23:10). It was a place of devilment and heart-wrenching grief.

By the first century this valley of Hinnom had become a rubbish dump, where offal was burned day and night. The people of Jesus’ day associated it with smoke, stench, and worms, all that was hideous and foul.

“It became the common lay-stall garbage dump of the city, where the dead bodies of criminals, and the carcasses of animals, and every other kind of filth was cast.” Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible

Hell is a Real Place and Worse Than We Ever Could Imagine

1. Hell Defined

“Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.” W. Grudem

“…eternal conscious punishment…”

There are those in Christian circles who are trying to minimize the suffering of the unbeliever in hell in order to make God more palatable!

1. Hell is a REAL Place

Hell is a REAL place! It is not a metaphor or symbol of present sufferings or state of mind, no matter how hard life is for us now.

“…for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Luke 16:28 

“And in his teaching, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." Mark 12:38-40

Listen to the Scriptures concerning hell:

“…while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 8:12

“…thrown into hell where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

Mark 9:47b,48

“…he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."  Rev. 14:10-11

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might…”  2 Thessalonians 1:9

These are just a few but sober Scriptures! I believe that Hell is a literal place, but I would also believe that the language of Scripture concerning the description of hell is metaphorical!

• Why Are People (Christians) Rejecting the Idea of Hell?
• Changed View of God
• Changed View of Justice
• Changed to Psychological Worldview
• Changed Concept of Salvation

1. What About a Loving God?

The question ultimately arises when talking about Hell about the love of God.

“If God is love, why would he send people to hell?”

“If God is love, why would he punish people forever?”

“Doesn’t hell contradict the character of God?”

Those who ask these questions may not fully understand the implications of God’s holiness and sin!

Then the greatest implication of all is that the cross of Christ would be totally irrelevant! But it is just the opposite, God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son for this world. Sin MUST be punished!!!!

1. Conclusion

We must come to grips with hell, because we never begin to understand the depths of what Jesus did for us on the cross. His body beaten and when he cried out ‘why have you forsaken me’ he was experiencing hell itself.

Hell is real and we must be moved with compassion as we share the gospel of Christ to mankind. Jesus is VERY clear! This place is not pretty, and it is eternal, which means forever!