Hell Is for Real

A Day is Coming! – a Day of Judgment! – a Day of Reckoning!

Romans 2:16, In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ

Between death and resurrection is this reality: So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades… 24, ‘send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’  Luke 16:22

For those who don’t embrace Jesus as their King in this life, at death their spirit goes to Hades.  For those who repent of their sins and ask Jesus to be their Lord, their spirit goes to Heaven – absent from the body and to be present with the Lord, II Corinthians 5:8.

Then comes A Day – a Day of Resurrection, Judgment, and Sentencing.

John 5:28-29, the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil,

On that Day of “Trial”, the Book and the books will be opened.  I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life, Revelation 20:12.

So, each person has their own book filled with all their good, bad and ugly – ALL their words, deeds and thoughts known!

Psalm 44:21, For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Ecclesiastes 12:14, God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Jeremiah 23:24, Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the Lord.

Luke 8:17, For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

Every person ever conceived will be judged on that Day, first as to whether a true Christian or as a rejector of God’s offer and goodness.  Is their name in the Book of Life?  Those receiving life do so because of the work of Jesus Who paid their sin debt, those condemned will be judged on their works and receive a just sentence – a sentence to HELL!

What is that?  Six marks of Hell: 1) great darkness, 2) weeping/gnashing – Matthew 25:30, 3) fire – 25:41, 4) eternal, 5) punishment – 25:46, 6) degrees – Matthew 11:24, “it shall be more tolerable”.

Jesus emphasized the horror of Hell when He said it would be better to suffer great violence here than go there – If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, Mark 9:43.

HELL is necessary, just, and right:

• it shows God’s sovereignty – His rule of Satan and all who follow his advice of “don’t follow God”, “God is not worthy: He is not loving, good, kind, just, holy, King” – and, “do it your way!”
• God keeps His word – He does as He declared, Matthew 13:41-42
• Jesus’ death on the cross is magnified by the horrors of Hell.
• God’s holiness is glorified.
• God vindicates the suffering of the righteous who were persecuted for His name’s sake.
• God is just – He renders exact rewards or results for all aspects of each person’s life.
• It shows God’s infinite worth – failing to give thanks for His infinite blessings is infinite.

Hell is the destination for those who reject God, sent there by a God of love, who is holy and just.

To send someone – anyone – to Hell is not something God delights in…

• God is not willing that any should perish, II Peter 3:9.
• God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, Ezekiel 33:11.