What It Takes to Go To Hell

26/08/2018 13:17

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Date: 24 August, 2018
Text: Revelation 20
Title: What it takes to go to Hell.
 
Introduction:
 
There are a lot of people in the world who want to believe in Heaven but do not want to believe in Hell.
 
I point out to unbelievers that Hell is real. Even atheists say, "Damn you" or "Go to Hell." The reason they do is that they are sinners and are sinning by acting as if they are God and pronouncing judgment (as God) upon someone else and seeking to consign them to a very real place. There is something of substance in those wicked words from the mouth of man and something awfully real about those Holy Word from the lips of God.
 
Hell is so bad that God created it for the Devil and his fallen angels.
Mat 25:41  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:
exp. They have already been condemned by God without mercy to an eternity in the lake of fire.
 
Mankind is as close to that condemnation as they can get. The only thing between them and a certain eternity in the lake of fire is that THEY ARE NOT YET CONDEMNED WITHOUT MERCY.
 
1.) They are condemned. 
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
 
2.) But God is willing to pardon them.
a. He doesn't want them to go there.
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
b. He wants them to believe the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
c. He invites and encourages them to change their eternity.
Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
 
exp. People laugh at hell - almost demonically - joke about being there with their friends - say that they are not bothered.... BUT GOD WOULD HAVE THEM KNOW.
 
Pople in hell....
1. Are deceived.
10  And the devil that deceived them
exp. You think there is no hell. Most people in Hell would probably have agreed with you in life. They didn't think it was real - they believed the Devil's lie. 
 ill. Only the reality of enemy of God, Satan, could possibly explain they fascination our world has with evolution. They are mesmerized by millions and millions of years. They don't care that evolution can't explain....
1.) life
2.) design
3.) personality
4.) individuality
5.) conscience
6.) wisdom, knowledge, and creativity
Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
app. Friend it would be good for you to believe God's Word instead of the Devil's lie. People in hell are deceived.
 
2. Are baptized in fire.
 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, 
exp. We're reading in this verse about he devil's final judgment after the Millenium. He had been consigned their for the 1,000 years but was let back out for just a little while according to the wisdom and good purpose of God.
note: Hell is a lake of fire and brimstone.
ill. Watching a man and his father drive through what nearly looked like Hell - fire was all around their vehicle cutting them off in every direction. The care was beginning to heat up and they were in a panic - crying out to God for mercy.
exp. Nobody will laught at hell in hell.
Revelation 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10  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:
11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
app. I want to be very clear this morning. Hell is not described as fire - HELL IS a FIRE AND WILL BE A FIRE FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.
 
3. Are alive.
where the beast and the false prophet are, 
exp. These false prophets were cast into Hell before the Millenium (1,000 years ago) notice please - they are still there in our passage 1,000 years later.
 ill. When someone is cast into Hell they are not annihilated. (JW's teach that God's judgment on the wicked is annhilation.)
Luke 16:19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
app. If you know someone in hell today - know this - they would plead with you to repent and not come to that awful place. It is a living hell!
 
4. Are continually tormented
and shall be tormented day and night 
 exp. This seems repetitive and obvious - but the pain of hell never subsides. It never get's better.
ill. One of the great comforts to any person suffering with illness or pain - generally their is hope for improvement. But, when the hope of improvement is taken away THEN IT IS HOPELESS.
 Ill. The rich man was in so much pain - he believed that a drip of water from a dirty hand would comfort him.
Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ill. I've heard a woman scream in pain at A and E - the sounds of hell would be torment - let alone the pain of the suffering.
 
5. Are never coming out.
for ever and ever.
exp. There is no such thing as purgatory. Hell is eternal.
2 Thesallonians 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
 exp. God himself will not pull people out of Hell - "from the presence of the Lord and FROM THE GLORY OF HIS POWER.
 
My message this morning is, "What it takes to go to Hell."
exp. Don't be the person we are considering this morning. They pushed through life to a point of no return....
 
I. To go to Hell you have to die.
11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12  And I saw the dead....
exp. Death is a one way departure of your soul from your body.
ill. Going on the log ride at the Mega Mall - once you depart - you are along for the ride. It doesn't matter how badly you want off -you are committed until the ride is over.
 ill. Until a person dies - they can still get off of the ride. At any time they can stop what they are doing and cry out to God for His mercy.
hymn: God's final call
God’s Final call
Someday you’ll hear God’s Final Call to you
To take his offer of salvation true-
This could be it my friend if you but knew-
God’s Final Call, God’s Final Call
How can you live another day in sin,
Thinking some day with Christ you will begin?
O will you hear above the world’s loud din-
God’s Final Call, God’s Final Call
If you reject God’s Final Call of grace,
You’ll have no chance your footsteps to retrace
All hope will then be gone and doom you’ll face.
O hear his call! God’s Final Call
app. Everyone in this room who is not saved can in God's mercy still get saved today. The living aren't cast into Hell but the dead. The problem is friend - you don't know when you are going to die.
 ill. The people crossing the Italian bridge had no idea that on the other side was eternity. We've recently had a family member on my wife's side find out she had terminal cancer only to be buried two weeks later. 
app. If you are going to do anything about your eternity - you must do it before you die. 
2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
 
II. To go to Hell you have to face the judgment.
12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 
and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: 
exp. Everyone in Hell passed through death to the judgment before departing to that awful place. They had to see the Holy God whom they had scorned. They had to look at the Son whose nail prints and scars showed that they had rejected the truth of His suffering for them. THEN THEY ARE JUDGED.
Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
 note: The person sitting upon that throne is JESUS! Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
App. Friend, imagine the sorrow in the eyes of Jesus as he lovingly looks at you and says, Why didn't you take my gift of everlasting life - I died for you.
Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 app. Will you be able to curse the judge who so tried to save your soul that He took your place on a cross of shame and took the sin of the world upon himself?
 
III. To go to Hell you have to be accused and condemned for your works.
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
exp. This will be a lengthy judgment. Because these people didn't allow their wicked human hearts to be cleansed by the blood of the lamb - their list of violations will be innumerable.
Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
ill. Good people don't go to Hell. 
8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, 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.
exp. If you think you are safe because you are a good person - God would remind you - 
Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
 app. The Lord will need nothing but His law to testify against you that you have violated it.
Jas 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
app. There is no man living who will face this judgment without being condemned for His works. The fire of hell will be hotter for those who have more greatly transgressed and yet it will not seem a lenient penalty for any unbeliever who is condemned.
 
IV. To go to Hell you have to be resurrected to damnation.
13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
exp. I hear people say all the time - when you die you go in the grave and that is it. 
 question: Is that it? Have you ever noticed that a dead body is not the same as a live body. Why? Becaue the soul of that person has departed that body.
ill. A woman got a face transplant this past week. If you get a prosthetic limb or a new heart, organ - you are the same person. WHO YOU ARE IS NOT YOUR BODY.
exp. The God that gave that soul a body - is going to give that soul a body that will be their own for all eternity.
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
 ill. Jesus had no doubt that those who rejected God's truth - regardless of their beliefs would face the fire of Hell unless they repented. Matthew 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
app. Don't think you will escape in the grave. God will bring that body back to life to be cast into a lake of fire.
 
V. To go to Hell you have to die twice.
14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
exp. Literally - death and the grave - were cast into the lake of fire.  When death is cast into the lake of fire - that is the second death.
 ill. To go to Hell you have to die twice and be born once. To go to Heaven you have to be born twice and die once.
John 3:1  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
 app. Have you been born twice? You will only die once. If you have only been born of water - you will die twice. Everyone in Hell faces the second death. Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death;
 
VI. To go to Hell you have to have no record in the book of life.
15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
exp. The rest of Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; (is) but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ill. When someone receives eternal life in Jesus, God puts a record down in His eternal book - the Book of Life. If your name is there - you can not go to Hell.
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
ill. Traveling to Manchester - I thought I had booked baggage on both my flights but had not - we looked in vain for that baggage and I had to pay a price.
question: If that book was before us this evening would you look in vain for your name? You had best be certain. 
ill. I hear unbelievers often say to my question asking, "Do you know for sure that if you died you'd go to Heaven." with a statement about finding out after they die.
ill. That's like planning a great trip without planning the trip - you show up at the airport hoping for tickets - but it is a fools hope when those tickets were not purchased and those plans really made.
app. You won't get to Heaven by accident. If you don't think you are saved, you need to know that you are.1Jn 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
 
conclusion: Hell is just and God has done everything possible to keep you from going there. If you died today where would you go?
 
Are you prepared to die? After death it is too late.
 
Are you prepared to face the judge? You will after you die.
 
Do you think you are a good person? Your works will condemn you.
 
Do you think you will just go in the grave? God will raise you up to face the judgment.
 
Have you been only born once - you will die twice? Have you been born again?
 
Is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life? If it isn't there - it doesn't matter how religious, how much you believe in God, how much you have 'done for God."
 

Date: 24 August, 2018

Text: Revelation 20:10-15

Title: What it takes to go to Hell.

 

Introduction:

 

There are a lot of people in the world who want to believe in Heaven but do not want to believe in Hell.

 

I point out to unbelievers that Hell is real. Even atheists say, "Damn you" or "Go to Hell." The reason they do is that they are sinners and are sinning by acting as if they are God and pronouncing judgment (as God) upon someone else and seeking to consign them to a very real place. There is something of substance in those wicked words from the mouth of man and something awfully real about those Holy Word from the lips of God.

 

Hell is so bad that God created it for the Devil and his fallen angels.

Mat 25:41  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:

exp. They have already been condemned by God without mercy to an eternity in the lake of fire.

 

Mankind is as close to that condemnation as they can get. The only thing between them and a certain eternity in the lake of fire is that THEY ARE NOT YET CONDEMNED WITHOUT MERCY.

 

1.) They are condemned. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

2.) But God is willing to pardon them.

a. He doesn't want them to go there.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

b. He wants them to believe the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

c. He invites and encourages them to change their eternity.

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

exp. People laugh at hell - almost demonically - joke about being there with their friends - say that they are not bothered.... BUT GOD WOULD HAVE THEM KNOW.

 

Pople in hell....

1. Are deceived.

10  And the devil that deceived them

exp. You think there is no hell. Most people in Hell would probably have agreed with you in life. They didn't think it was real - they believed the Devil's lie. 

 ill. Only the reality of enemy of God, Satan, could possibly explain they fascination our world has with evolution. They are mesmerized by millions and millions of years. They don't care that evolution can't explain....

1.) life

2.) design

3.) personality

4.) individuality

5.) conscience

6.) wisdom, knowledge, and creativity

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

app. Friend it would be good for you to believe God's Word instead of the Devil's lie. People in hell are deceived.

 

2. Are baptized in fire.

 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, 

exp. We're reading in this verse about he devil's final judgment after the Millenium. He had been consigned their for the 1,000 years but was let back out for just a little while according to the wisdom and good purpose of God.

note: Hell is a lake of fire and brimstone.

ill. Watching a man and his father drive through what nearly looked like Hell - fire was all around their vehicle cutting them off in every direction. The care was beginning to heat up and they were in a panic - crying out to God for mercy.

exp. Nobody will laught at hell in hell.

Revelation 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10  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:

11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

app. I want to be very clear this morning. Hell is not described as fire - HELL IS a FIRE AND WILL BE A FIRE FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.

 

3. Are alive.

where the beast and the false prophet are, 

exp. These false prophets were cast into Hell before the Millenium (1,000 years ago) notice please - they are still there in our passage 1,000 years later.

 ill. When someone is cast into Hell they are not annihilated. (JW's teach that God's judgment on the wicked is annhilation.)

Luke 16:19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

app. If you know someone in hell today - know this - they would plead with you to repent and not come to that awful place. It is a living hell!

 

4. Are continually tormented

and shall be tormented day and night 

 exp. This seems repetitive and obvious - but the pain of hell never subsides. It never get's better.

ill. One of the great comforts to any person suffering with illness or pain - generally their is hope for improvement. But, when the hope of improvement is taken away THEN IT IS HOPELESS.

 Ill. The rich man was in so much pain - he believed that a drip of water from a dirty hand would comfort him.

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 13:50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

ill. I've heard a woman scream in pain at A and E - the sounds of hell would be torment - let alone the pain of the suffering.

 

5. Are never coming out.

for ever and ever.

exp. There is no such thing as purgatory. Hell is eternal.

2 Thesallonians 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

 exp. God himself will not pull people out of Hell - "from the presence of the Lord and FROM THE GLORY OF HIS POWER.

 

My message this morning is, "What it takes to go to Hell."

exp. Don't be the person we are considering this morning. They pushed through life to a point of no return....

 

I. To go to Hell you have to die.

11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12  And I saw the dead....

exp. Death is a one way departure of your soul from your body.

ill. Going on the log ride at the Mega Mall - once you depart - you are along for the ride. It doesn't matter how badly you want off -you are committed until the ride is over.

 ill. Until a person dies - they can still get off of the ride. At any time they can stop what they are doing and cry out to God for His mercy.

hymn: God's final call

God’s Final call

Someday you’ll hear God’s Final Call to you

To take his offer of salvation true-

This could be it my friend if you but knew-

God’s Final Call, God’s Final Call

How can you live another day in sin,

Thinking some day with Christ you will begin?

O will you hear above the world’s loud din-

God’s Final Call, God’s Final Call

If you reject God’s Final Call of grace,

You’ll have no chance your footsteps to retrace

All hope will then be gone and doom you’ll face.

O hear his call! God’s Final Call

app. Everyone in this room who is not saved can in God's mercy still get saved today. The living aren't cast into Hell but the dead. The problem is friend - you don't know when you are going to die.

 ill. The people crossing the Italian bridge had no idea that on the other side was eternity. We've recently had a family member on my wife's side find out she had terminal cancer only to be buried two weeks later. 

app. If you are going to do anything about your eternity - you must do it before you die. 

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

II. To go to Hell you have to face the judgment.

12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 

and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: 

exp. Everyone in Hell passed through death to the judgment before departing to that awful place. They had to see the Holy God whom they had scorned. They had to look at the Son whose nail prints and scars showed that they had rejected the truth of His suffering for them. THEN THEY ARE JUDGED.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 note: The person sitting upon that throne is JESUS! Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

App. Friend, imagine the sorrow in the eyes of Jesus as he lovingly looks at you and says, Why didn't you take my gift of everlasting life - I died for you.

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 app. Will you be able to curse the judge who so tried to save your soul that He took your place on a cross of shame and took the sin of the world upon himself?

 

III. To go to Hell you have to be accused and condemned for your works.

and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

exp. This will be a lengthy judgment. Because these people didn't allow their wicked human hearts to be cleansed by the blood of the lamb - their list of violations will be innumerable.

Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

ill. Good people don't go to Hell. 

8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, 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.

exp. If you think you are safe because you are a good person - God would remind you - 

Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 app. The Lord will need nothing but His law to testify against you that you have violated it.

Jas 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

app. There is no man living who will face this judgment without being condemned for His works. The fire of hell will be hotter for those who have more greatly transgressed and yet it will not seem a lenient penalty for any unbeliever who is condemned.

 

IV. To go to Hell you have to be resurrected to damnation.

13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

exp. I hear people say all the time - when you die you go in the grave and that is it. 

 question: Is that it? Have you ever noticed that a dead body is not the same as a live body. Why? Becaue the soul of that person has departed that body.

ill. A woman got a face transplant this past week. If you get a prosthetic limb or a new heart, organ - you are the same person. WHO YOU ARE IS NOT YOUR BODY.

exp. The God that gave that soul a body - is going to give that soul a body that will be their own for all eternity.

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

 ill. Jesus had no doubt that those who rejected God's truth - regardless of their beliefs would face the fire of Hell unless they repented. Matthew 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

app. Don't think you will escape in the grave. God will bring that body back to life to be cast into a lake of fire.

 

V. To go to Hell you have to die twice.

14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

exp. Literally - death and the grave - were cast into the lake of fire.  When death is cast into the lake of fire - that is the second death.

 ill. To go to Hell you have to die twice and be born once. To go to Heaven you have to be born twice and die once.

John 3:1  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

 app. Have you been born twice? You will only die once. If you have only been born of water - you will die twice. Everyone in Hell faces the second death. Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death;

 

VI. To go to Hell you have to have no record in the book of life.

15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

exp. The rest of Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; (is) but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ill. When someone receives eternal life in Jesus, God puts a record down in His eternal book - the Book of Life. If your name is there - you can not go to Hell.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

ill. Traveling to Manchester - I thought I had booked baggage on both my flights but had not - we looked in vain for that baggage and I had to pay a price.

question: If that book was before us this evening would you look in vain for your name? You had best be certain. 

ill. I hear unbelievers often say to my question asking, "Do you know for sure that if you died you'd go to Heaven." with a statement about finding out after they die.

ill. That's like planning a great trip without planning the trip - you show up at the airport hoping for tickets - but it is a fools hope when those tickets were not purchased and those plans really made.

app. You won't get to Heaven by accident. If you don't think you are saved, you need to know that you are.1Jn 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

conclusion: Hell is just and God has done everything possible to keep you from going there. If you died today where would you go?

 

Are you prepared to die? After death it is too late.

 

Are you prepared to face the judge? You will after you die.

 

Do you think you are a good person? Your works will condemn you.

 

Do you think you will just go in the grave? God will raise you up to face the judgment.

 

Have you been only born once - you will die twice? Have you been born again?

 

Is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life? If it isn't there - it doesn't matter how religious, how much you believe in God, how much you have 'done for God."

 

 

Believers - we are not going to Hell - let us do everything in our power to keep others from going there as well.

Believers - we are not going to Hell - let us do everything in our power to keep others from going there as well.
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Free Baptist Church

Dryden Terrace,
Loanhead EH20 9JL 01968381360, 0757 005 5211 freebaptistinfo@gmail.com
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