exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith
and all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.
Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God,
that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God
to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.
And to you who are troubled, rest with us,
where the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels.
In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power,
when he shall come to be glorified and a saints
to be admired in all of them that believe
because our testimony among you was believed in that day.
Wherefore also we pray unalways up for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good
Pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be gloried in you and ye and him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ
Let's pray to your Lord God. Just thank you for this time. We have tonight Lord hear the preaching of your word Lord
Just please be with us in the congregation that we be edified by the preaching Lord
Please bless pastor film with the Holy Spirit Lord and please bless every aspect of the service Lord
We pray this all in Jesus name. Amen
Amen.
Okay, we're in 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 and tonight I'm going to preach on the subject
of hell.
Last week I preached on the subject of heaven and I gave some doctrinal statements about
heaven and tonight I'm going to talk about hell and the different elements of hell.
Now hell is a fundamental doctrine of the Bible, meaning this is essential to our Christian
faith.
the elements of hell, what the Bible says about hell,
and the literal existence of eternal damnation
and its existence, we should embrace it
and understand that it's a real doctrine in the Bible.
And in fact, in Hebrew chapter six,
it lists eternal damnation as being the first principles
of the doctrines of Christ,
meaning that this is foundational to our faith.
This is something that all Christians
should collectively agree on is the existence of hell.
Now we started off in second Thessalonians chapter one.
And before we get to that,
let me just give you a couple of introductory statements
regarding the false doctrines about hell.
Now, why is a sermon like this important to emphasize
on a yearly or monthly basis?
Well, because of the fact that there's so much false teaching
out there regarding hell,
there's so many people that want to excuse the doctrine
of hell.
And if you've been on social media, you see this a lot,
people excusing away what the Bible clearly says about hell,
trying to remove the fact that it's eternal,
trying to remove the fact that it's fire and brimstone
and damnation, and they try to alleviate the judgment of hell
to make it palatable for the public.
But regardless of how damning it sounds, hell is hell.
But let me go ahead and give you a couple of false doctrines
And I'm gonna tell you what the Bible says about first and foremost a lot of times
I'm sure you've heard this before people will say well, I don't really believe in hell
We're actually in hell right now, right?
I can't tell you how many times I've knocked on the door
and most of the time it's Mexicans who are saying this.
They're like, we're in hell, this is hell right now.
And I'm thinking to myself, you know,
it's pretty hot right now, it's the summertime,
we're at the tail end, but this does not compare
to the hell of the Bible.
And they'll often compare hell to being, you know,
suffering because people are dying
and they're suffering, they're going through hardships,
therefore,
This is actual hell.
The hell that the Bible refers to does not exist.
But here's the thing, John the Baptist said,
who have warned you to flee from the wrath to come.
So, obviously he's referring to a literal judgment,
wrath that's going to come from the Lord upon the unsaved.
This is addressing hell.
And make no mistake about it, when the Bible talks about wrath,
obviously we know that that could be applied to the punishment of God upon believers,
even here on this earth, or even on the unsaved.
But consistently, it also addresses, or is the equivalent to,
the eternal damnation of hell.
You know, think about the famous verse in John 3.36 that says,
He to believe it's not the son shall not see life.
But listen to this, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Meaning that hell awaits the person
who does not place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Hell is a real place.
Matthew 522, you don't have to turn there says,
but I say into you that who suffers angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of judgment.
And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raqqa, shall be in danger of the council, but whosoever shall say thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire."
According to the Bible, hell is a literal place that exists that the Bible explicitly addresses.
Here's another thing that people will say.
aside from we're in hell right now.
Well, hell isn't necessarily fire
and brimstone and torment.
It's simply a separation from God.
And unfortunately, this is something
that even independent fundamental bath to say.
Now, a lot of evangelicals say this, a lot of liberal pastors say this, but fundamental
Baptist pastors have also adopted this false teaching.
And again, it's to alleviate what hell sounds like according to the Bible.
They're like, oh, yeah, it's fire and brimstone, but really what it is is just a separation
from God.
And it's a way to romanticize hell to a certain degree.
It's just like, oh, man, you know, yeah,
because I've heard fundamental about to say this,
where they will say something to the effect.
Yeah, of course it's fire and brimstone,
but the worst part though,
is the fact that we're just separated from God.
No, that's not the worst part.
Because first and foremost,
the Bible doesn't talk about hell
being a separation from God.
And secondly, we have an example of someone who's in hell,
who is given the permission to speak about hell,
known as the rich man in Luke chapter 16.
And when he's given a mic to express himself,
you know, I don't know if you notice it,
but he never says, you know,
I'm just really sad that I'm separated from God.
I'm just separated from God, Father Abraham.
And I'm just really sad
because I'm never gonna see God ever again.
Never does he say something like that.
He says, Father Abraham sent Lazarus
that he may dip the tip of his finger in water
and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.
Nothing romantic about that right obviously what he expresses is the pain and torment that he feels in hell
Showing us that guess what hell is not a separation from God
That's not the most painful thing because according to the Bible, you know, God is there
He's there viewing the torment of the dam for all of eternity
And in fact, let me reach you from Psalm 139 verse 7 says whether shall I go from my spirit or whether shall I feel flea from my
Presence if I ascend up into heaven that aren't there
If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."
Proverbs 15 verse 11 says this,
hell and destruction are before the Lord,
how much more than the hearts of the children of men.
And what this verse is teaching us here in Proverbs 15
is that if hell and destruction,
something that the naked eye cannot behold,
but only God can see,
if he can behold hell and destruction,
obviously he could see the inner recesses of the heart.
He can see the inner thoughts of every human being.
The point being is that hell and destruction,
fire and damnation is naked before the Lord.
God is able to view this.
It's not separated from him.
He is there viewing the destruction of the wicked.
Look at 2nd Thessalonians chapter one.
In verse number eight, it says,
in flaming fire, take in vengeance on them
that know not God and that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
From the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power now the you know the evangelicals of this world
Are very extreme with this doctrine that you're separated from God when you go to hell
it's just a separation from God and
To the point where they just deny the fire and brimstone and the torment
But again the fundamental Baptist won't deny the fire and brimstone
They'll just say it's also the separation from God and they will often use this portion of scripture in order to back that up
because when you read this
You know, you can interpret this to mean
that they're being destroyed from
or away from the presence of the Lord.
That's how a lot of people try to interpret this verse to being, right?
That when verse nine says that they'll be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, it's like God is destroying them and they're going
away from God. But this isn't referring to the fact that when people are
destroyed from God, or by God, that they're being destroyed away from God,
what this is saying is that they're being destroyed by God. The source of the
destruction is coming from the Lord.
So the everlasting destruction proceeds forth from God to those who have denied the gospel of Jesus Christ
That's what this is saying, okay?
And so, you know, a lot of people will twist this verse into teaching that we go away from the Lord but consistently the Bible teaches that the presence of God is there viewing the destruction of the wicked for all of eternity.
Revelation chapter 14 and verse 10 says this, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented.
with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels
and in the presence of the Lamb.
Now the Lamb and the Bible is who?
Jesus Christ.
And so, you know, and by the way, we often focus on the fact that the Bible is clearly saying here that Jesus Christ is
Present when they're being tormented, but it even says that the holy angels are present as well, right?
And so they get front row seats to the torment of the damned for all of eternity
And this is what the Bible teaches. Okay that God is present
He's able to view them hell and destruction are before him hell is not a separation from God
God is presently viewing their destruction
for all of eternity.
What are some false doctrines?
We're in hell right now, false.
People flee from the wrath to come.
What are some false doctrine about hell?
Oh, that we are, it is simply a separation from God.
How about this?
Annihilationism is also a false doctrine about hell.
Because people have a hard time conceiving
or accepting the fact that people burn forever.
Okay?
that they are eternally tormented in hell.
But, and so what they'll teach is that,
well, what happens is that when you go to hell
or when you die, you just cease to exist, right?
You burn up.
And they often use their finite understanding
of how fire works.
You know, if I throw a piece of paper in fire,
it just burns up.
Yeah, but the soul is an eternally existent thing.
Okay, it cannot cease to exist. It's just relocated. Okay, and we often think well if the souls of the damn those who are dead are in hell
You know, they're gonna cease to exist. You know the dead know not know not anything
Yeah, but according to the Bible their souls are eternally there
This is why the Bible calls it eternal damnation because it lasts forever
And let me read to you again Revelation 14 11 says the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever
And they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image and whosoever receive at the mark of his name
Now namely the people who believe this would be Jehovah's Witnesses seven-day Adventists would buy into this false doctrine
They promote this false doctrine
But according to the Bible the Bible is very clear that their torment and their smoke ascends up forever and ever
Now in order for the smoke to ascend up forever and ever it means they have to burn forever
Something has to be present in order to for the smoke to ascend to be burned, etc
Here's another false doctrine and that is that hell doesn't exist is just when the Bible talks about hell
It's referring to the grave
Okay, in other words when you die you just go into the grave and that's it hell does not exist
But the Bible tells us that yes the grave does exist for the physical body, but the spiritual body goes to hell
If it has rejected Jesus Christ Matthew 10 28 says fear not them which can kill the body
But are not able to kill the soul
But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell
So the Bible telling us here that God can kill the soul
Which is the equivalent to destroying the soul and he says where does he do it in hell, right?
So he says don't fear someone who can just kill the body, you need to recognize that God has the omnipotent capability of destroying not just the body but we're uniting the body with the soul to be destroyed in hell.
And of course we know that it's contextually referring to the lake of fire.
It also says in Matthew chapter 10 verse 31, but it's touching the resurrection of the dead.
Have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob?
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. It says in Jude 6 that the angels, which kept not their first estate,
but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
It also says in verse 13, regarding false prophets,
raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame,
wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness
of darkness forever.
That doesn't sound like the grave.
If it's saying that they're being cast out
into outer darkness, they're reserved
to be restricted in chains, in hell.
This is obviously referring to a separate location
that is distinctly different from the actual physical grave
that the body goes into, okay?
And along with this people will talk about soul sleep, okay?
And they often think, well, when the person dies,
they're just asleep in their body in the grave.
You know, the Bible talks about those who are asleep.
But the reason the Bible describes the dead
as being asleep is because they look like they're sleeping.
Okay, now albeit it looks like a shell of the person,
if you've ever seen one, if you've ever been to a funeral,
it looks like the shell, but it looks like they're sleeping.
And the reason it just stays there is because
how they visibly look when someone is dead, okay?
But folks just remember that James chapter 2 talks about you know that the soul without the body is dead
Right or the body without the soul is dead meaning that there's a separation from the two
This is what happens now a lot of times people will criticize our belief about hell or our belief that when a person dies
They go straight to heaven
And they'll often say, you know,
oh, we sleep in our bodies until the resurrection
and then we come out of the bodies and we go to heaven.
And we often quote to them, we'll tell them,
well, the Bible says to be absent from the bodies
to be present with the Lord.
And obviously that's not a perfect quotation of that verse.
And they'll often point that out.
And they'll say, well, Paul is saying
that he'd rather be absent from the body
to be present with the Lord.
That's just the desire that he had.
Well, it's funny because he didn't say to be,
you know, he'd rather be absent from the body.
Right, why is he even talking about being absent from the body if the but if the soul doesn't go anywhere
He's obviously addressing the fact that his soul is going to leave the body to go into the presence of God,
no purgatory necessary, no soul sleep, no annihilationism.
If a person is saved, they go straight to heaven. If a person is not saved, they go straight to hell.
And there is no purification in hell. You just suffer for your sins for all of eternity.
And that is the horrific reality and truth for many.
And let me just remind you today that hell does exist.
You know, we've lived our lives today serving the Lord,
we've been in church, but let me just tell you
the harsh reality is that during that particular time,
people have been burning in hell that entire time.
People have been burning in hell for thousands of years
since the beginning of time.
You know, Cain has been in hell
from the beginning of time.
I personally believe that Cain was not saved.
The Bible says that he was of that wicked one, okay?
And he's been in hell since the beginning of time, you know?
And so many people have been in hell throughout that time.
And this is one of the reasons why we need to recognize
the importance of evangelism, of souling,
getting the gospel out there
because of the fact that hell does exist.
So let's get into my, let me get into my points here.
I got a couple of points here regarding the doctrine of hell.
Let's talk about the source of hell.
Genesis chapter one says this,
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
So obviously as I mentioned last week,
hell was created on the first day
as noted by the fact that according to the Bible,
hell is in the center of the earth
and earth was created on the first day.
But let me also say this is that hell comes from God.
Now this is important because a lot of times
the unsaved have a hard time coming to grips
with the fact that God would send people to hell.
And there's all types of cliches and different things
that Christians will say to try to soften the blow.
Like, well, you know, hell, what is it?
It doesn't have a lock on the inside
or something like that.
People choose to go there.
You know, no, God sends people to hell, okay?
God doesn't send anybody to hell.
People choose to go to hell.
Both are correct.
A person chooses to go to hell
because they reject the gospel
and God launches them into hell himself
and he decrees that judgment upon them.
Okay, and let me just say this you know God is a loving God and
Hell is an expression of that why because hell is the eternal expression of his perfect judgment
for crimes that had never been punished the side of eternity and
So hell is created to eternally punish those who have sinned against him
And this is why hell stems from God himself, okay now we read that in 2nd Thessalonians 1
But go to Daniel chapter 7 if you would Daniel chapter number 7
I just don't know how a loving God can send someone to hell.
How many of you have ever heard that foolish assessment, right?
I just don't understand how a loving God, you know,
but you're asking the wrong question.
You know, why don't you ask the question?
I just don't know how a loving God would create hell,
but yet send his own son to dine across
to pay for a center like me.
That's the right question right like that a loving God would save the chief of sinners such as myself
That is the real question right?
The fact that God so loved the world that he commended his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
But yet they want to stand in judgment of God because God created hell hell stems from God
It's the ultimate expression of his judgment and indignation in wrath against the world that is sinned against him
And yes, I just don't know how loving God could do that
Well, it's because of the fact that you don't know that God is not just a God of love. He's a God of judgment
God is not just a one-sided one-trick pony
He's only love. He's only mercy. He's only grace. The Bible says that he's wrathful, that he's angry, that he's judgmental, that he asked to punish sin.
And you know what? If he did not have those qualities, he would cease to be God.
And a lot of times people who make these statements of, I just don't know how loving God can do that, they're making a God in their own image.
They don't want God to punish them.
They want to justify their sin.
They want to justify their beliefs.
They want to live life without consequences
on their own terms.
But folks, God is the boss.
He's the one that makes the rules.
And you know, here's the thing is that you want to talk
about how can a loving God create hell
and send people to hell?
Well, you know, he made a way for you to escape though.
How about that?
You know, you talk about, you're standing in judgment.
his creation of hell, but how about the fact you recognize that he created a
way for you to have eternal life? Instead of judging his love based upon the
creation of hell, why don't you accept his love by recognizing that he came to
die on the cross to pay for your sins, to give you everlasting life, for free!
Free of charge, right?
I just don't understand how a loving God
can send people to hell.
Well, can you understand that that's what you deserve?
But in light of that, Jesus Christ died
on the cross to pay for your sins.
And then all you have to do is believe on him to be saved?
Why don't you just accept a free gift of eternal life?
And obviously, we all share that same sentiment
of frustration when someone clearly understands
the gospel and still rejects it.
It's like, oh, I believe that, but no, you know,
And, you know, earlier this week, I witnessed to a guy on Omi TV, by the way.
I encourage you to do it, just, you know, disclaimer, it's a jungle out there.
But you know, I witnessed to a guy on Omi TV and he agreed with everything and I said,
he even agreed that he deserved hell.
And at the very end of the Gospel presentation, I said, would you like to believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ?
He said, yes.
He opened his eyes, he didn't say anything,
and I'm just like, I believe I deserve hell.
And he just started laughing.
He's like, I don't believe that.
I don't believe that.
I don't think God would ever send me to hell.
God would never send anybody to hell.
And I'm like, man, this guy just lied to me
throughout this whole entire gospel presentation.
because he had just agreed with me
that that's what he deserves.
But obviously he's just going along to get along.
And obviously we've all experienced,
we've had situations like that.
But he's just like not willing to come to the conclusion
that this is what he deserves.
But folks, whether people wanna come to the conclusion
or not, that is their conclusion.
That will be their conclusion.
Look at Daniel seven, verse nine.
It says, I beheld to the throne was cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose garment
was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool.
His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
So I do believe, and it's very cryptic, but I do believe that this is referring to Jesus
Christ, who's being referred to as the ancient of days, and it is a term that's also used
to describe God the Father.
And it talks about the fact that his throne was like a fiery flame.
This is in heaven, okay?
Verse 10 says,
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him.
So the depiction that's being given here is that God is sitting on the throne
and there is a fiery flame on the throne
and then there's a fiery stream that comes forth from the throne out, right?
He says thousand thousands ministered on Tim and 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him
The judgment was set and the books were open now you tell me rhetorical question
What does it sound like it sounds like revelation 21 or excuse me revelation 20?
Revelation 20 yeah revelation 20 where the books are open the book of life is open
This is a prophetic statement regarding revelation chapter 20 and the great white throne judgment
Now if we're talking about the great white throne judgment it's not just the hell that is in the center of the earth
It's being addressed. It's also referring to the lake of fire and
According to verse 10 the lake of fire comes forth from God himself
He said, I don't know how do we know that it's referring to the lake of fire verse 11
And I beheld then because of the voice of the great words, which the horn spake
I beheld even till the beast was slain and his body destroyed
I want you to notice this and given to the burning flame
Which fits perfectly with Revelation 19 and Revelation chapter 20 because the beast the little horn the false prophet and the
Antichrist are cast into the lake of fire both soul and body
The point that I'm making here is that I want you to understand that hell comes from God
Obviously the current hell which is in the center of the earth was created
But let me just tell you right now hell has always existed because hell is the express is
The expression of judgment that comes forth from God. It's just judgment. That's why it comes forth from him
It's not like oh man, you know, I had to create this place, you know, obviously again the sin of the earth that was created
But the lake of fire has always existed because God has always been of God of anger and judgment because he hates sin
That's part of who he is and so yeah, you know
I guess chronologically we could say that you know the lake of fire has always existed because God is eternal and
He had to create
Hell the wheat what we know to be hell in the center of the earth for the immediate punishment of those who died without Christ and
Then of course the lake of fire is that?
Secondary hell where the current hell will be relocated along with death
And we'll get into that a little bit later the point that I'm making here is that hell comes from God
It comes from his judgment and his wrath
So to deny I just don't think how loving God can create hell and burn people then you don't know God because hell comes from him
It's plain and simple.
The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32 verse 22,
for a fire is kindled in mine anger.
The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32 verse 22,
and shall burn unto the lowest hell,
and shall consume the earth with her increase,
and set on fire the foundations of the mountain,
showing us that hell is God's expression of anger and wrath.
Go to Isaiah chapter 14, if you would.
Isaiah chapter 14.
So the source of hell, obviously,
when we think of the current hell
that is in the center of the earth,
that was created on day one,
according to Genesis one one,
since the earth was created on day one,
But the lake of fire has always eternally existed because it issues forth from the presence of God as we see in 2nd Thessalonians 1
And as we clearly saw here in Daniel chapter number 7 a stream feeds a lake, right?
Point number 2 regarding hell we see the source of hell, but let's talk about the purpose of hell
What is the purpose of hell? Well first and foremost? This is in no particular order
It's to confine and torture Satan and his angels
Look at Isaiah 14 verse 9
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming. It stirs up the dead for thee
Even all the chief ones of the earth
It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
Now when you read these Old Testament passages dealing with, you know, the symbolic representations
of Satan, for example, because this is referring to Satan, it's also addressing the man that
Satan is influencing, the king, right?
The king of Babylon, for example.
So I do believe that, you know, this literal king is going to go to hell.
It's addressing the fact that he is going to go to hell.
And it says the hell from beneath him is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming.
And it's saying that it's stirring the dead, right?
And it talks about the chief ones of the earth going to hell and the kings of the nations
going to hell, which kind of leads me to believe that there's more people in hell than there
will be people in heaven.
Broad is the way that leads it to destruction and many there be which go in their app.
And that is the sad reality is that hell will have far more individuals burning in it than
saved people will be in heaven.
It says in verse 10, and they shall speak and say unto thee, Are thou also become weak
as we?
Are thou become like unto us?
Thy pomp, meaning thy pride, is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy vials,
How art thou fallen from heaven elusive for a certain of the morning?
How art thou cut down to the ground which did weaken the nations?
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven.
I will exalt my throne above the stars.
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north.
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
I will be like the most high.
Yet thou shall be brought down to hell to the sides of the pit.
Now, if I were to place this chapter chronologically,
like, if you were to ask me,
where does this fit on the timeline,
I would say that this is referring to
right after the Battle of Gog and Magog, okay?
Obviously, we know that Satan is placing
into the bottomless pit for a thousand years,
but it seems to indicate that in this particular chapter
that he's meeting a bunch of other people who are there.
Well, that doesn't happen in Revelation 19 or 20 because of the fact that when
Satan is placed into the bottom of his pit and you had the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire
They get it to themselves
No one is in the lake of fire to that time. No one is placed in the lake of fire thereafter until the white throne judgment
So I think after the battle of Gog and Magog when God destroys Satan and his armies
He cast them down so Isaiah 14 is a prophetic chapter about Satan
Going to the lake of fire after the battle of Gog and Magog and the point that I'm making here is that the purpose of hell is to
Destroy Satan and his angels to torment them and we see this in a New Testament, right Matthew 25 verse 41 says then shall he
say also unto them on the left hand,
depart from me, ye cursed it into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels."
Now, this verse is very disturbing sometimes,
if you think about it,
because of the fact that he's saying that hell was created
to torment the devil and his angels.
And the devil and his angels are powerful.
They're celestial, powerful beings, so hell is so extreme that it has to be able to punish
and torment angels and demons.
How much more than will it torment humans, human souls, exactly.
Second Peter 2.4 says, for if God spared not the angels that sinned but cast them down
to hell and delivered them into the chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment.
for his angels, he's reserved them into chains of darkness,
but we also see that hell, the purpose of hell
is to punish the sinner for their sin.
Turn with me if you would to Romans chapter two,
go to Romans chapter two if you would.
Psalm nine verse 17 says that the wicked shall be turned
into hell and all nations that forget God.
Now sometimes, you know, I remember being in the old IFP
There was a lot of debate in this regard and it's it was kind of navel gazing really
And people say what do people go to hell for they go to hell because of their sin or do they go to hell because they reject
The Jesus Christ the answer is yes
Yes, no, I mean like did they go to hell because they sin against God or are they going to hell?
It's it's just two sides of the same coin
They're going to help because they're going to go pay for their sins, but they're also going to help because they rejected Jesus Christ
Plain and simple both are right
They're both correct
Because of the fact that
They're going to hell to eternally pay for the crimes that committed against God
But they refuse the gift of eternal life, which would have rescued them from hell
Okay
Look at Romans 2, verse 5, it says,
but after thy hardness and impenitent heart,
treasurous stuff unto thyself, wrath against the day of wrath
and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who will render to every man according to his deeds.
And I remember one time being in an old IFV church
and the Torah group was traveling
and we had gone to this one church.
And every time we would go to one of these churches,
a preacher would come with us.
And the preacher got up and he basically said,
you know, people are gonna go to hell
because, you know, they're paying for their sins.
Oh, I'm sorry, he's like, they're going to help
because they rejected Jesus Christ.
We need to get the gospel out because we need to make sure
we help them to come to the saving dollars
of Jesus Christ.
It was a legitimate thing, right?
And then he finished the sermon
and this guy got up after the pastor got up
and he's just like, that was a great sermon.
I just want to correct you on one thing though.
He's like, people don't go to hell
for rejecting Jesus Christ to go to hell
to pay for their sins.
And I was just like, bro, it's the same thing.
Why why why do you try to you got to try like mug the preacher you invited him to come preach?
You just want to embarrass him. It's the same thing
People go to hell to pay for the sins, but they also go to hell because they reject the Jesus Christ. It's the same thing
It's a stupid argument
Okay, and here we see that people are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath
And I want you to notice verse 6 that will render to every man according to his deeds
Now that should scare the living daylights out of people who are depending on their works to be saved
Because he says he's gonna render to you according to your deeds and
The Bible says that we are not justified by the works of the law
By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin
The Bible says the law was never meant to save any single human being if righteousness came by the law
Then the God would have commanded us to keep the law to be saved
But the law was our school master to bring us unto Christ
The laws are school masters to bring us under Christ because it helps us to realize I can't keep the law
I'm not perfect who serve to keep the whole law yet offended one point. He's guilty of all
Here we see that God is going to render to every man according to his needs now
We have a biblical record of this right because in Revelation chapter 20
When the white throne judgment is dished out the Bible says that he opens the books and the book of life
So two separate books are being opened here
Now, what is the book of life for the book of life is to see if you're found in the registry
Right because by that time only those who are saved are found in the registry of the book of life
And let me just explain something
The book of life is said ever every single person starts off in the book of life
Your name is already written in the book of life
The Bible only records names being blotted out
It doesn't necessarily record names being written down
when someone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The names are there from the beginning of time.
You say, no, I think your name has to get ran down
once you get saved.
No, that's not the way it works.
Because here's the thing, folks, you say, well, why would God
allow the names to be there from the beginning of time?
Because he's not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
So he wants people to remain in the book of life.
and people get blotted out once they die and go to hell.
They get blotted out once they become a reprobate.
They get blotted out once they take away
or attitude the word of God.
These are instances where their names
are permanently blotted out of the book of life.
Now I'm looking at a group of people here
whose our names were never removed
because we believe them in the Lord Jesus Christ.
So the way it works is that
your name starts off in the book of life.
And once you come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ,
it's permanently embedded within the registry.
So it just remains there, just like sealed there, right?
So you're in the club.
But the person who dies without Christ, unfortunately,
sadly, their names are completely removed.
So when a person is being judged
at the white throwing judgment,
this judgment is not to determine
if you've done enough good works.
That's a ridiculous way to think
that salvation can be obtained.
because the Bible clearly tells us that there's not
a just man upon earth to do with good and sin is not.
For all have sin and come short of the glory of God.
There's none righteous, no, not one.
And you know, one of the things I think about often
regarding people who believe in a workspace salvation
or that we have to participate in our salvation
in some form or another is they don't seem to,
or they seem to ignore the biblical concept
that we don't enter into heaven because of our righteousness.
Our righteousness are as filthy rags in the eyes of God.
Salvation can only be given to us through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
He's the only one who's acceptable in the eyes of God.
So when we get saved, the Bible literally says that His righteousness is imputed unto us.
So when God looks at us, He sees us through the righteousness of Jesus, not through our own righteousness.
You don't want God to see you through your own righteousness.
Because there are filthy rags. You're not righteous in the eyes of God. You've offended the Lord
Therefore you need the righteousness not 90% of God's righteousness and then 10% your righteousness
Not even 99.9% of God's righteousness and 1% your righteous. It's a hundred percent the righteousness of Jesus Christ
No righteousness of your own. This is why the imputation of Jesus Christ is even taught in the Bible in Romans chapter 4
because it's helping us to realize that we're not going into heaven based upon our own merit.
Our good deeds, our righteous works, it's purely based upon the perfection
of Jesus Christ that's given to us through faith in Him.
And so to think that you can do enough deeds, it doesn't work.
You believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you're permanently embedded within this registry.
The second book that's open, that's referred to as the books,
I believe it's referring to the 66 books of the Bible.
So it's just like you know
You know people often you know the Catholics say it's Peter or something. I don't even think it's Peter
Okay, you know some angel there or it's the Lord Jesus Christ himself and it's just like all right name
And it's just like yeah, you're not on here and then another book is like now
Let's go ahead and carry out your judgment here. Let me just show you all the things that you've done and why you deserve
Hell so one is to show that you're not saved and the other one is to essentially throw the book at you
And to show you why you're gonna burn in hell for all of eternity
Because you know people are like oh, I'm good enough
I've only told I never murdered I never done this that and the other and just like what the fine-tooth comb
The word of God is just gonna be read to you
We don't know exactly how this is gonna look, but evidently you will know be on a shout of it out that you are guilty
You know every mouth may be stopped and the whole world may become guilty before the Lord
That's what the Bible says in Romans chapter 3 right because you know you have a lot of people running in their mouths right now
Thinking then they're justified in the eyes of God through their works
Oh, they could talk a big talk that you have to repent of your sins
You have to do good works you have to do good deeds
And this is what the Bible teaches and teaching all types of false doctrine
Yeah, you're gonna shut up real quick at the white throne judgment when you realize. Oh, man. You didn't read this part now
Did you?
that you've sinned against the Lord
and this is why you deserve hell.
And it's quite possible that at the White Throne Judgment,
you know, the reason the books are open
is to essentially determine the level of punishment
that you're gonna receive in hell.
You know, because again, there's individuals
who never read the Bible, never had a Bible.
They're gonna go to hell to pay for the sins
because they rejected Jesus Christ,
but their hell is not gonna be as hot as the person
who taught false doctrine.
It's just like, yeah, oh, oh, oh,
you taught repent of your sins to be saved.
Let me show you the verses
Where it says you don't that it's only by believing on Jesus Christ
So you willingly went against this doctrine and taught people and this is why this group of people are here today
It's because of your teaching. Yeah, here's the keys to the lowest hell. Take them away
You know and and yeah, I rejoice a little bit in that
Because there's so many wicked people out there and you know, I've known about this for many years, but just like
Being on social media just grieves the spirit a lot and there's so many false teachers out there who confidently teach their
Heresy their damnable teachings are damning people to hell and so they're gonna get theirs
God will render to them according to their deeds. Yeah, you want to be judged according to your deeds have at it
He is gonna render to you according to your deeds and you're self-deceived if you think that somehow your deeds are gonna justify you in the eyes of God
Okay
Bible tells us that who sir was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire
The point that I'm making here is the purpose of hell is to confine and torture Satan and his angels to punish the sinner
for their sin
The Bible also says in Revelation 21, verse number eight,
but the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable
and murderers and hormongers and sorcerers and idolaters
and all liars shall have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.
And obviously Revelation 21, eight is not a plenary list
of sins that will take you to hell.
It's just giving you like a couple of them.
It's just like, let me just give you the bare basics
of sins that you might have committed.
If you were like, I've never committed sorcery.
Yeah, but you're a liar though.
You've lied at least once.
The Bible says in Isaiah five verse 14,
therefore hell hath enlarged herself
and opened her mouth without measure.
and their glory and their multitude, their pomp and he that rejoices shall descend into it."
So what is the purpose of hell? It's to punish the sinner for their sin.
It's to punish Satan and his angels for their rebellion against him.
Turn with me if you would to Luke chapter 16. Go to Luke 16 if you would.
Luke chapter 16.
Point number three, let me just go over the elements of hell.
The elements of hell.
Let me say this, hell needs to be mentioned
in your gospel presentation.
That is a non-negotiable.
Obviously we want to talk about believing
on the Lord Jesus Christ,
but if someone claims to believe
that salvation is by faith alone,
but they reject the doctrine of hell,
they're not saved.
And it's just, it's wild to think that anybody
can believe that you can be saved
and not believe in the doctrine of hell.
Because what are they being saved from?
What's the purpose of salvation?
You know, I talked to another person this week and they're just like, well, I don't believe in hell
You know, but I but I do believe that Jesus is my savior and I said, what did he save you from?
He's like, well, he just saved me from what bro. You don't pray according to you don't need any saving I
Was like, how do you believe then Jesus Christ must not be a say? Why does he call himself a savior?
It literally defeats the purpose of why he came literally says he came to seek and to save that which is lost
He came to save us from hell, to give us eternal life.
What is the alternative to everlasting life?
Tell.
And so we need to make sure that we address this
in our gospel presentation.
Now obviously we don't want to become like
to the point where we're just going over every single verse
in the Bible about hell in our gospel presentation.
And quite frankly, any person you talk to at the door,
is satisfied with Revelation 21-8.
Revelation 6-23, Revelation 21-8, they're sold.
Because the average person out there does believe in hell.
It's only people who have been dumbed down
by false doctrine, by the Jehovah's Witnesses,
by Mormons, or whatever,
that they reject the concept of hell.
In general, people do believe in hell, okay?
Even Catholics believe in hell.
And I will say that there's a distinction between the Catholic you meet out in public and the online Catholic
Those are two different animals
Okay, and I believe that be on a shout of a doubt, you know, I
There's just different. Okay, two different worlds the Catholic out in public is very receptive to the gospel
They're often very disillusioned with the Catholic Church
They often question a lot what's going on with the Roman Catholic Church.
They don't agree with the Roman Catholic Church and they just want to move on.
to something else.
The online Catholic is just on X all the time,
and they wanna be a part of that community
of online militant Catholics.
They want to start the Crusades again,
and they want the Inquisition to start up again,
and they wanna speak Latin and all this nonsense.
That's a different animal.
I don't waste my time with them.
I rather reach the Roman Catholic who's receptive,
who's done with the Catholic Church.
Okay?
And so that's important. So what are the elements of hell first and foremost as we know it's fire and brimstone where the worm dies not
Luke 16 verse 23 says and in hell he lift up his eyes and said oh, no, I'm separated from God. I
Miss him. I wish this is this is horrible
Being in torments and seeing Abraham a far off and Lazarus and his bosom and he cried and said father Abraham have mercy on me and
Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger and water and cool my tongue for I am
Tormented in this flame now if this was symbolic, what would it symbolize?
What is torment symbolize?
What is being what is you know wanting someone to dip the tip of their finger and water and cool their tongue symbolize?
I'll tell you what, it doesn't symbolize anything.
It just really shows that they're on fire,
that they're being tormented, that they're in pain,
that they have no rest day nor night.
Let me read to you from Mark chapter 9 verse 44,
when talking about hell, Jesus says,
where there were warm dieth not,
and the fire is not quenched.
He goes on to say verse 46 where the warm dieth not and the fire is not quenched verse 48
We're the warm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. It sounds like hell's a place where fire just doesn't go out
And it's not quenched
Meaning it can just keep receiving more souls and more souls and I believe when it says that the warm dieth not
It is symbolic of our physical body
Because I believe this particular description of hell is actually designated for the lake of fire
Which I've preached on this multiple times that I even mentioned in the sermon that the current location of hell is only
Designated for the souls of the damned
Whereas the lake of fire is where the souls of the damn are reunited with their physical bodies and they're both cast into hell
Okay, so the body and soul is cast into the lake of fire and you're like well
Doesn't the body burn up well?
I believe when it says the warm death not it's referring to the fact that that body just continues to burn
It doesn't just burn up and cease to exist
Okay, and so it's a place of everlasting torment everlasting fire and
Worms that do not die the body does not burn up and become consumed and look
It's not a hard thing to accept folks when Moe when the Lord spoke to Moses
He spoke to him out of the burning bush that was on fire, but not consumed
So it burned, but the leaves weren't, you know,
dissipating, they weren't coming apart,
it wasn't being consumed.
This is obviously a supernatural fire
that only God is able to kindle, okay?
Furthermore, we see that hell is not only fire,
brimstone, and where the worm died not,
but it's also a place of darkness.
It says in Matthew chapter eight,
you turn with me if you would,
to go to Matthew chapter 13 if you would.
Matthew chapter 13 Matthew 812 says but the children of the kingdom
Shall be cast out into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of
Teeth the Bible says look at Matthew 13 verse 42 similar concept
It says that they shall cast them into a furnace of fire
There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth now. What is wailing and gnashing of teeth symbolize?
nothing
It just means they're in pain.
Look folks, there's a lot of symbolism in the Bible,
isn't there?
Ton of symbolism, tons of symbolic representations,
tons of metaphors and allegories,
hell is not one of them.
Hell is not one of them.
Sometimes it just says what it says, my boy.
If it says that they're wailing and gnashing,
well what this means is that they're just really sad
that they're apart from God or something like that.
No, you wail and gnash your teeth when you're in pain, okay?
when you are tormented, that is the natural result
or that is the natural expression that someone does
is that they're in constant pain,
they well means to yell, to scream,
nash your teeth is like ahhh,
that's what they're doing.
And so, you know, if someone's weeping and wailing
and gnashing their teeth,
I don't think they have time to like wonder,
man, I miss God, right?
I don't think they're like, oh man, I really miss God.
Ahh!
Ah, man, it sucks, I'm separated from the Lord here.
They're just tormented.
If the Bible says they have no rest,
it means they're not sleeping,
they're just continuously tormented
while they're conscious of what's going on, okay?
And so it's an outer darkness.
And obviously, you know, there's certain aspects
about hell that are obscure to us.
We don't really understand it at all,
one being that it's an outer darkness.
What does that mean exactly?
We don't necessarily know.
All we can know is that when it when it talks about outer darkness is potentially referring to the lake of fire
And it's referring to a place where there is no light right the light of the glories gospel isn't there
We know that the presence of the lamb is but they are in obscurity. They're in darkness and that's how the Bible describes hell to be
We've already gone over a revelation 14 as far as the torment go to revelation 19 if you would revelation chapter 19
Revelation chapter 19. Now Revelation 19 is a description of the battle of Armageddon and it
is the second to last battle in history, the last being of course the battle of Gog and Magog
and the battle of Armageddon is when Jesus Christ comes on a white horse with his army to fight
And they are, obviously this is like,
we talk about a battle, but it's not necessarily a battle
because there's no casualties on the Lord side.
You know, the Lord obviously destroys him
and this is when they are essentially located,
relocated to the lake of fire,
verse 20 of Revelation 19 says,
and the beast was taken,
and with him the false prophet
that wrought miracles before him,
with which he deceived them
that had received the mark of the beast,
and then that worshiped this image,
these both were cast alive into the lake of fire,
burning with brimstone.
Look at chapter 20.
And verse number ten, it says in the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are,
which by the way they were there for a thousand years prior to this event here in Revelation 20 verse 10, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
And so, we see here that the elements that the Bible describes as hell to have is fire, brimstone, darkness, warm diethnot, the fire is not quench, there's torment, day and night, there is no rest, there's brimstone, it's not a pleasant place to go to, and this is how God selected hell to be.
Here's my last point regarding the doctrine of hell and this is something we already obviously know and that is the location of hell
Where is hell now? Hell is as I mentioned in the center of the earth and this is something that
Can be easily proven because of the fact that Jesus Christ set himself for as Jonah
Jonah's three days and three nights in the well's belly
So shall the Son of man referring to himself be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth and the heart of the earth
Is referring to the center of the earth, right?
And obviously even from a scientific perspective we understand that what is in the center of the earth, magma, lava, you know, brimstone, fire, and we know this because of the volcanoes that erupt, right, where fire, magma, lava is proceeding forth.
And so we see here that according to the Bible that's exactly where hell is.
Now people sometimes have a hard time conceiving this because of the fact that we know that the center of the earth is a physical place.
But it seems to also house the souls of the dam. So how do you mix the two right?
How is it that a soul can be sent to the center of the earth where literal fire?
Brimstone and magma are and be tormented if one is spiritual and one is physical and
This is the mystery of a lot of things in the Bible, you know, for example, we are a physical being
That houses a soul
Where's the soul? I don't know
You know, you can open me up and you won't find it, but there's a soul in here
There's a soul in you, right? There's the real Bruce Mejia is in here. He's the one who's speaking to you
He's just using this physical body to be able to carry that out, right?
You think of for example the Bible the Bible is a physical book, but it's also spiritual
Right, you know the unsaved can scour this but they will never understand they'll never learn it because it has to be understood spiritually
You know, it is a spiritual book that the Holy Spirit utilizes
It's content to be able to communicate to us the unsearchable riches of Christ
Right, and so we see that God often uses physical things to encapsulate that which is spiritual
So us for example, we have the Bible and we have the concept of hell as well
Hell is found in the center of the earth and you know what? It houses the souls of the damned
You say so you told me right now that if we were to go down there right now
We would see the soul is never gonna happen
You know that it's hell is so far removed from our capability of being able to research
You know it's in the center of the earth
It's just never gonna happen and I don't know maybe someone out here
You maybe one of you guys know you know people have tried drilling within the crust
I mean how far did they even get does anybody know and know how far?
OK, thank you.
Not far.
Very accurate there.
Yeah, not far at all.
And don't bring up to me the sounds of hell either, OK?
Well, the Russians, that's a fake video.
I saw a diagram where it was just like the deepest
we've ever gone.
It just didn't even scratch the surface.
It's just never going to happen, right?
And again, you can scour this body all you want.
You'll never find the soul because it is an immaterial thing
that you can't see with the naked eye.
And so, but here's the thing.
Then how do you know hell exists?
Because the Bible says it.
It tells us where it is.
It says that Jesus Christ went there.
He says that he was in the heart of the earth.
That's where it's at, OK?
Now here's the thing is that you know hell the current hell that houses the souls of the dam will not always be there
Because according to the Bible one day it will be relocated to the lake of fire. So the Bible teaches, right?
Matthew chapter 12, or I already read that verse to you.
Revelation 20 verse 14 says,
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death,
and whose server was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire.
Now, where the lake of fire is,
we don't necessarily know.
We can say it's the sun.
That is somewhat of a lake of fire, if you think about it.
We just know that it proceeds forth
from the presence of God.
And so death and hell are cast in there.
Now what is the conclusion of the matter?
Look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 11.
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord.
Now I hope you know the terror of the Lord.
Especially after this sermon, you know the hell exists.
It's a real place where the souls of the dam are gonna go.
It's a place where our souls are today.
And you know what?
There's people in hell today that are hoping
you become a soul in there.
There you know, there's there's mothers. There are fathers. There are brothers sisters
There are various people in hell today
That are hoping to God that someone just like in Luke chapter 16 is sent to their brothers to their father's house to their brother's house
To preach the gospel unto them so that they can escape that place of torment
And he says here knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men
We are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your consciousness
What does the Bible teaching us it's saying having this knowledge that there is a place of eternal damnation of fire and torment
Where there's just no coming back from this
Well, I think that you know when a person dies to go to purgatory to be sanctified of their sins
Yeah, every single pope really thinks that right now
You know every single Catholic who has ever died they split hell wide open and you know what?
I'm sure the thing right now. Wow a purgatory is pretty hot
Wow purgatory feels a lot like hell because it is hell
What a rude awakening that many people have gotten since the beginning of time right?
To just open their eyes and hell and say you know think think about the person who had a soul owner come to them
Who cussed out the soul winner who mistreated the evangelist the preacher?
You think they're not thinking about that person when they go to hell. They're thinking that guy was right and
I rejected it. I hope he comes back and tells my family
I'm sure there's a lot of people praying in hell today
You know and unfortunately their prayers are not necessarily answered
You know, but you're not knowing therefore the terror that we know the terror of the Lord
We know the hell exists. We escaped hell
We fled from the wrath to come
But know what the Bible says about hell. Let's persuade men
Let's go and preach the gospel. Let's get people saved. You know, let's let's recognize that
People are dying and going to hell every single day and it's our responsibility to bring the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ
You know to them so they can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
Let's you know some have compassion making a difference others save with fear
Pulling them out of the fire, right and the Bible seems to indicate that we're like, you know
We're like lifeguards
Pulling people out of that lake of fire that destiny that they are destined to go to
That's their fate if we don't pull them out.
And so very important doctrine this evening.
Obviously we all believe in hell in this building,
but it's also important to just reinforce
and remind us of the reality of that eternal damnation,
to be motivated, to go preach the gospel to your family,
preach the gospel to your friends,
preach the gospel to complete strangers, amen.
Let's persuade them, let's pray.
Father, we thank you so much for your word
and thank you for saving us from hell, Lord.
Thank you for the solider who came to us.
I pray that you'd help us, Lord, to defend the doctrine of hell.
So many out there try to mitigate, minimize the reality and the severity of eternal punishment.
Help us to defend this doctrine because wicked people abound, Lord, who are twisting the scriptures.
and trying to cause people not to believe in hell,
therefore cause them not to be saved.
And I pray that you'd help us as your people
to persuade men, fill us with your spirit to do so.
We love you, we thank you.
Pray the things in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Song number 19, there is a fountain
as our last song this evening.
Song number 19.
We'll sing it on that first verse.
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel's veins
And sinners plunge beneath that flood
And sinners plunge beneath that blood, Whose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoices to see That fountain in his day.
Wash all my sins away. Wash all my sins away. Wash all my sins away.
There may I loval as He. Wash all my sins away.
We're dying land, thy precious blood shall never lose its vow.
Till all the ransom church forgot, be safe to sin no more.
Be safe to sin no more.
to sin no more.
Till all the ransom church of God
be saved to sin no more.
Air sins by faith, I saw the stream,
And shall be till I die.
Redeeming love and love.
Lie silent in the grave.
When this poor lid is being stammering tongue,
Wonderful scene you are dismissed