Warnings about Hell

 

Suggested Reading:   Amos 4; Matthew 25; Luke 16; Psalm 15; Psalm 24; Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 49; Romans 9:6-24.

Introduction:

1. God sent prophets to Israel often, but they would not hear (Jer 7:13,25; 26:4-6; 29:19; 32:33; 35:15).
2. God is faithful, especially to His friends, so Jesus Christ clearly warned about hellfire (Matt 10:28).
3. Jesus preached and warned more about hell than any other speaker or writer in the New Testament.
4. He preached more about hell than about heaven, which helps us keep the danger front and center.
5. Paul was a faithful apostle, so he persuaded men due to the coming terror of the Lord (II Co 5:9-11).
6. I am commanded to warn you, or your blood will be on my hands (Eze 3:18,20: 33:6,8; Acts 20:26).
7. We have recently studied Acts 2, but the hell we are warned about here is not the grave of Acts 2:27.
8. There is pain and suffering far worse than Jerusalem’s end and far worse than you can even imagine.
9. God’s men must preach the whole counsel of God and hold nothing profitable back (Acts 20:20,27).
10. We here must deal with the second death, the lake of fire, and the terrible Day of Judgment coming.
11. I will preach this subject as Jesus and Paul did without regard to fatalistic presumptions of salvation.
12. Those that presume on election or imputed righteousness or such like are devilishly deceived fools.
13. Arminians presuming on eternal life without obedience due to their decision for Jesus are deceived.
14. Fatalists presume on eternal life without obedience by their false assumption they are God’s elect.
15. There is no confidence in election or imputed righteousness without all our diligence (II Pet 1:5-11).
16. Even the apostle Paul counted all things loss for Christ and used all means to be saved (Phil 3:8-11).
17. He exhorted his readers, even at the good church in Philippi, to fear and trembling (Phil 2:12-13).
18. The world will not mention eternal consequences, so we come apart to be reminded of true danger.
19. Without real authority and judgment … Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Caesar … you cannot imagine it.
20. We reject Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus, Bema. There is heaven and hell – paradise and the lake of fire.
21. If what I am about to show you from the Bible is half true, then you owe God 200% obedience, now!
22. An expected outcome of even 1% probability of hell overwhelmingly demands full evaluation of it.
23. 23. Men try to get rid of hell all kinds of ways – word games, grace revolution, annihilation (JW), unconverted elect (PB), universalism (many), life experience only (Schuller), merely a parable, etc.
24. Why is hell no longer preached? And what has been the consequence? A true sign of perilous times!
25. I preached on this subject long ago … Is there a Burning Hell? … July 16, 2000.
26. I preached on a related subject … The Judgment Seat of Christ … July 7, 2002.

 

Luke 12: 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.   Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which 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.

1. The context shows that these were disciples that would also preach (Matt 10:23-33).
2. There are twelve points to be taken from this warning about the danger of eternal hell.
   1. It is appropriate, even with friends, to remind one another about the danger of hell.
   2. Fear of death is natural and ordinary for all men, but it is actually a distracting fear.
   3. Death and dying, by any cause, even hateful violence, should not move Christians.
   4. A part of man does exist separate from his body; reject soul sleep, annihilation, etc.
   5. This other part of man cannot be hurt materially by men, for it is far beyond them.
   6. The resurrection reunites the spirit and body of all men (Matt 10:28; John 5:28-29).
   7. God has the power and will to kill your body, if the case in His wisdom calls for it.
   8. God has the power and will to throw your spirit into hell; reject any universalism.
   9. God’s power and will to throw the spirit of a man into hell ought to cause you fear.
   10. Hell, by comparison to death, is eternal torment of both the human body and spirit.
   11. A chief lesson is to live to please God and disregard expectations or threats of men.
   12. Another lesson is to get over minding earthly things like physical health and death.
3. There are other related lessons to learn from this passage that are found in the context.
   1. Jesus condemned the Pharisee’s hypocrisy – pretending to be righteous (Lu 12:1).
   2. He promised that all the sins hypocrites cover and hide will be exposed (Lu 12:2).
   3. There are strong reasons to trust God to care for you – sparrows, hair (Lu 12:5-6).
   4. Your sentence for eternity will reflect your public identity with Christ (Lu 12:8-9).
4. Persecution by enemies should not terrify disciples; God is much more to be feared.
   1. There is something far worse than death – that is fiery eternal torment after death.
   2. All that Jews or Romans then or ISIS today can do is to torture and kill your body.
   3. Hung, drawn, and quartered, like the English did, is an inconsequential nuisance.
   4. Examples of martyr deaths are nothing compared to hell, as Jesus intended here.
   5. Men fear cancer, heart attacks, and other ways of dying but neglect the real danger.
   6. Obsession about physical health shows incredible stupidity while the soul is at risk.
   7. Fear of hell alone is not the noble response, for it is devilish fear of pain by sinners.
   8. The real fear of God will result in an altered and changed life to please Him better.
   9. Rule your fear … not like Adam’s devilish intimidation … but like Isaiah and Paul.
   10. Knowledge of salvation does not end duty to fear; these were disciples and friends.
   11. We cannot be fatalists and ignore the motive that Jesus Himself used with friends.
   12. Paul used any means for salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 3:8-11; 2:12-13).

 

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.

1. There are but two places after death – the fires of hell or the Paradise of God – period!
2. Blessings on earth, which cause men to presume safety, are quickly, totally irrelevant.
3. The next thing the rich man knew after death was exceeding great torment in hellfire.
4. Hell is a place of torment. God knows pain better than you can imagine it at anytime.
5. The thought of one drop of water on your parched tongue is an idea worth seeking.
6. There is no travel between destinations. No helper from heaven. No escape from hell.
7. The memory of good times in this life are possible but don’t bring any comfort.
8. The way to avoid hell according to Abraham is to pay attention in church to scripture.
9. If preaching of God’s word does not excite you, then you are dead and going to hell.

 

Revelation 20: 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, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

1. You will stand before the Judgment throne of Almighty God and of the Lord Jesus.
2. The face of Jesus Christ on Judgment Day is very different from the face you imagine.
3. He will turn the universe upside down in the day of His wrath to judge rebel sinners.
4. All the dead will be brought – body and soul – to be judged by God by their works.
5. Every sin that you have ever done is written in the legal books of the omniscient God.
6. Sinners will be thrown in the lake of fire for eternal torment in the loneliness of terror.
7. If your name is not in the book of life, there is absolutely no hope for your salvation.
8. The only way your name is in the book of life is if you repent and obey God totally.
9. Why did He call it the lake of fire? Why not prison? Trouble? The end? Or loneliness?
10. Why did He call it the lake of fire? Because drowning and burning are our worst fears.
11. God will judge hypocrites with devouring fire and everlasting burnings (Is 33:10-14).

 

Matthew 7: 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1. You have talked and lied your way out of trouble before, but you will not do so then.
2. The only chance you have is to have lived your life in this world obediently to God.
3. Do not think any Arminian or Calvinist lie that a decision, faith, or baptism will help.
4. There will be many – not a few – presuming eternal life that will be soundly rejected.
5. They will have all kinds of religious works better than yours to claim … to no avail.
6. He must know you, otherwise you will be cast into hell. Knowing Him is irrelevant.
7. God knows those that are His. Who are they? They depart from iniquity (II Tim 2:19).

 

Matthew 5: 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

1. It is man’s depraved folly to limit God’s commandments to make them easier to keep.
2. But Jesus identified unjustified anger or name-calling as violating the Sixth command.
3. And the consequence of this lesser crime is just the same – the real danger of hell fire!
4. All murderers will be in the lake of fire, but so will angry name-callers (Rev 21:8).
5. Think of this the next time you use harsh language to your spouse, especially wives.
6. Your practical righteousness better exceed that of the Pharisees (Matthew 5:16-20).

 

Matthew 8: 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

1. The devils were exceeding fierce in these two possessed men, yet they feared Jesus.
2. They knew what men choose to ignore – a coming day of judgment to eternal torment.
3. The devils believe and tremble – but most men, even Christians, are at ease in Zion.
4. These devils do not lie to themselves like Robert Schuller, Billy Graham, and others.

 

 

Matthew 13: 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

1. The parable of the tares tells the truth – all offenders are thrown into a furnace of fire.
2. Jesus is coming with His mighty angels and no one will resist sentencing or execution.
3. The torment of hell is described in this place as wailing and gnashing of teeth. Hear it!
4. Stop offending God in your miserable life! Repent! Turn from your wickedness today!
5. Gnashing teeth occurs 7 times (Mat 8:12; 13:42,50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28).

 

Matthew 13: 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

1. The parable of the fishes tells the truth – all offenders are thrown into a furnace of fire.
2. Jesus is coming with His mighty angels and no one will resist sentencing or execution.
3. The torment of hell is described in this place as wailing and gnashing of teeth. Hear it!
4. Stop the wickedness in your miserable life! Repent! Turn from your sinfulness today!

 

 

Matthew 22: 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 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. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

1. The wedding is a metaphor or parable of the kingdom of Jesus Christ and His church.
2. Since the Jews rejected eternal life, God sent His apostles to the Gentiles to bid them.
3. In the process of preaching and baptizing, some sneak in that are only going to hell.
4. God will examine every guest and reject anyone without the righteousness of Christ.
5. How can you know you have His righteousness? By living righteously (I John 3:7)!
6. Sitting in this or any church is merely being called. A chosen man has a changed life.
7. Notice clearly that there are many called and get in as pretenders but only few chosen.
8. More of this parable … Two Parables Explained.

 

Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

1. There is no reason to make this damnation anything other than the eternal lake of fire.
2. The lesson to learn is that there is no way you can escape the damnation of your sins.
3. If this were merely and only death, what is the escape, since death itself is the escape?
4. Though Jesus punished them severely in 70 A.D., He punished them far worse later.

 

Matthew 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:   Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

1. There is no hope for the goats on Christ’s left hand – they will be cast down into hell.
2. As a shepherd easily divides and separates the two species – so Christ divides all men.
3. The goats will be cast into the lake of fire, which was made originally for the devils.
4. The proof of specie is not their faith or baptism at all, but rather their works of charity.
5. Your opinion of service to Christ is irrelevant, for He sees charity to the least brethren.

 

Mark 9 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:  48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

1. We cannot be surprised to see the modern versions removing much of these verses.
2. The argument is simple – mortification of every kind of sin is necessary to avoid hell.
3. It is better to lose practical and pleasant things of life than to spend eternity in hellfire.
4. Hell is terrible – for their worm (soul/spirit) of man will never die but live on forever.
5. Hell is terrible – for the fire is not quenched (it never dies down like fires you know).
6. The refining and preserving features of salt and fire will also consume and destroy.
7. Is it worth gaining the whole world in life to lose your soul to hell (Matthew 16:26)?

 

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

1. Forget all your excuses by twisting the election of God against Campbellite heretics.
2. The only belief that counts in a warning like this is a changed life (James 2:14-26).
3. The only hearing of the gospel that counts is doing it – read all verses (Jas 1:21-27).
4. The damnation here is surely what it should be – eternal damnation in the lake of fire.
5. We do not limit this to Israel and 70 A.D., for it is about the gospel to every creature.

 

 

Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

1. The unjust steward was wise only in a sense of protecting himself from great danger.
2. You will fail – you will die – but preparation now guarantees everlasting habitation.
3. Rather than fail or fall, why not guarantee not moving or falling (Ps 15:5; II Pet 1:10).
4. For much more about this parable … New Bible Economics. 

 

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

1. You never want to encounter God’s wrath for even a second, for it is divinely terrible.
2. But to any that do not believe on Jesus Christ, His wrath abides on them for eternity.
3. Think about God’s wrath – it is a fearful thing to fall into His hands (Heb 10:30-31).
4. Think about the threefold death that came on about 100 billion souls for Adam’s sin.
   1. He drowned the earth with a global flood in Noah’s day(Gen 7:11-24; II Peter 2:5).
   2. The suffocation and oxygen starvation of drowning is a very horrible way to die.
   3. Knowing you would die by drowning for several days adds greatly to its horror.
   4. Little babies drowned in the flood! Young married couples! Retirees! The handicapped! Precious little girls! Widows! S.S. teachers! And kind nurses!
5. Think about Sodom? The Canaanites? The Egyptians? Korah? Disobedient Israel?
6. Disobeying parents brought capital punishment – by stoning (Deut 21:18-21; 27:16).
7. He brought judgment so great that delicate women ate their children (Deut 28:56-57).
8. He cannot by any means clear guilty or acquit wicked (Ex 34:7; Nu 14:18; Nah 1:3).
9. He will not clear or acquit, for He wishes to see His vengeance on enemies (Nah 1:2).
10. God’s fierce indignation and furious vengeance is like fire (Nah 1:1-6; Rev 6:16-17).
11. See the catalog of verses below referencing the coming wrath of God stated here.

 

EXAMPLES OF THE WRATH OF GOD

Flood (II Pet 3:5-7)	Emerods (I Sa 6:1-12)	Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4)	Rome (Rev 18:1-8)
Babel (Gen 11:1-9)	Syrians (II Kgs 6:25-29)	Molech (Eze 20:25-26)	Ananias (Acts 5:1-11)
Sodom (Gen 19:24-25)	Assyria (Is 37:36-38)	Herod (Matt 2:1-3)	Corinth (I Co 11:29-30)
Egypt (Ex 10:7; 18:11)	Chaldean (Da 4:34-37)	Dark (Matt 26:45-54)	Other (Jer 32:20)
Canaan (Deut 2:25,34)	Darius (Dan 6:25-28)	70 A.D. (Matt 24:14)	Tsunami of 2004

Note: The only reason these powerful displays of God’s wrath and others like them are not retained is a choice (Rom 1:28).

 

 

John 5: 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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.

1. There is one resurrection coming, and it is near, to raise all dead bodies from graves.
2. All spirits, whether in heaven or hell, will be reunited with their bodies for all eternity.
3. Some will be received body and spirit into heaven to spend eternity with Jesus Christ.
4. Others will be sent down into the infernal abyss of darkness and fire for eternal pain.
5. The criterion in context here is whether you have believed the gospel of Jesus Christ.
6. The criterion stated is doing good, describing true believers (Gal 6:9-10; I Tim 6:18).

 

Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

1. When Paul preached the faith in Christ to a Roman governor, he preached hell to him.
2. We are to reason about the demands of a holy God against our depraved, sinful lives.
3. Think righteousness (Matt 5:20), temperance (Tit 2:12), and judgment (Ac 17:30-31).
4. Even this hardened governor of Rome, with power of life and death, trembled about it.
5. Convenient Christian! I defy you! God will mock you and turn you into burning pitch!

 

Romans 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

1. Revelation: creation (1:20), providence (1:21), conscience (2:12-16), scripture (3:1-4).
2. God revealed for man’s full understanding and guilt His eternal power and Godhead.
3. There is no restriction that the revelation missed eternal punishment for sins on earth.
4. There is good reason to believe that men know about hell already (Romans 2:5,8,16).
5. The problem is that man hates God and restraint so he sins anyway (Romans 1:21,32).
6. God rewires him to asinine, perverse sins as partial judgment (Romans 1:21,24,26,28).

 

Romans 14: 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

1. Paul knew that all Christians would appear before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ.
2. At that judgment throne, Christians will give an account of all they have done in life.
3. He lived a clear and obvious life dedicated to God and Christ for proof of eternal life.
4. He used any means to be ready (Phil 3:8-11); John wrote of boldness (I John 4:16-17).
5. Primitive Baptists and those tending to fatalism say this is not believers … yet Paul!
6. For more about this Judgment Day … Judgment Seat of Christ.

 

II Corinthians 5: 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

1. Paul and the other apostles worked sacrificially for God to accept them now and later.
2. This is an important aspect of apostolic doctrine (Phil 3:8-11; 2:12-13; II Pet 1:5-11).
3. Paul knew that all Christians would appear before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ.
4. At that judgment throne, Christians will receive a report of all they have done in life.
5. Paul knew about the Lord’s terror, so he used it to persuade men. This is preaching.
6. He lived a clear and obvious life dedicated to God and Christ for proof of eternal life.

 

II Thessalonians 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;

1. Jesus is coming again, but it will not be a secret rapture or event the world can ignore.
2. He is coming with His mighty angels, so there will be power galore greater than men.
3. He is coming in flaming fire to take vengeance on all that disregard God or the gospel.
4. They shall be punished with everlasting destruction – eternal torment that never ends.
5. The word destruction does not require annihilation, which would not be punishment.
6. Deliverance from this damnation is belief and obedience of the gospel (II Thess 1:10).

 

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

1. You have an appointment with death, and you will surely die no matter what you do.
2. Men have tried every conceivable way to defer or end death to no profit whatsoever.
3. Who will die next among your acquaintances? why do you think it will not be you?
4. There is something far worse after death – and that is damnation to the second death.
5. Your physical life is very inferior to your spiritual life, but why do you emphasize it?

 

I Peter 3: 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1. When Peter wrote his epistle, the disobedient of Noah’s generation were in prison.
2. If you do not grasp “prison,” learn of detention centers before trials and sentencing.
3. Compare spirits in prison to spirits of just men made perfect above (Heb 12:22-24).
4. The angels are presently chained up as well, waiting for their final, formal sentencing.
5. For details of this obscure, corrupted text … 1 Peter Three.

 

II Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

1. There are false teachers on their way to hell that use Christianity for moneymaking.
2. The judgment under consideration here is plainly stated in the following context (2:9).
3. There is no lingering or slumbering as many think – only God waiting to unload fury.
4. They were before of old ordained to this condemnation as Jude wrote of it (Jude 1:4).

 

II Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; Jude 1:6 And 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.

1. Hell, or the lake of fire, was first prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:41).
2. God did not spare the angels, so on what ridiculous basis would He ever spare you?
3. Angel spirits are not bound by chains you buy at the hardware, but by God’s chains.
4. Notice the darkness that will be repeated for human sinners (II Peter 2:17; Jude 1:13).
5. If “glorified” can be used in the past tense for the elect’s future glorification, so can “cast them down to hell” be used in the past tense for the future of the devils.
6. Or the angels are confined in some respect for their future and final casting into hell.

 

II Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

1. Sodom, Gomorrha, and neighboring cities were burned up and are still burning yet.
2. They were no worse than America today, especially San Fran, Vegas, Asheville, etc.
3. You qualify for similar sin and judgment by disrespecting civil government (context).
4. Jesus said Sodom and Gomorrha will get off lightly to gospel rejecters (Mark 6:11).
5. For more about the gay sin of sodomy … Sodomy is Not Gay.

 

II Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

1. Remember, this darkness was taught first by Jesus Christ (Matt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).
2. God once caused horror to Abraham, while asleep, with great darkness (Gen 15:12).
3. God knows how to make it so dark, even on earth, that you can feel it (Exodus 10:21).
4. When God gave the condemning law, there was thick darkness (Ex 20:21; Deut 4:11).
5. Darkness is frightening enough already for many, but God can make it extra special.
6. There are unseen spirits whose presence can cause your hair to stand up (Job 4:12-16).

 

 

Revelation 14: 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.

1. Babylon and the beast we understand to be symbols of the Roman Catholic Church.
2. Her spiritual fornication infected all nations and brought on them God’s judgment.
3. Those that receive the mark of the beast are those that partook of RCC sacraments.
4. Notice the details in their judgment that should provoke great fear of God’s wrath.
   1. God has a cup for them – the wine of His wrath and indignation without dilution.
   2. Each person submitting to the RCC shall be tormented with fire and brimstone.
   3. This eternal torment is something done in the presence of Jesus and His angels.
   4. You can think about the meekness and weakness of lambs, but not this One!
   5. The smoke of their torment ascends up forever – a perpetual incense for heaven.
   6. They have no rest day or night – a creative and new feature of unmitigated pain.

 

Revelation 19:20 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 them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

1. The beast and false prophet are also symbolic aspects of the Roman Catholic Church.
2. All those associated with that false religion will be cast into the lake of fire forever.
3. Those in heaven respond to this judgment by crying Alleluia – Jehovah is Salvation.
4. The four beasts before God get involved again as earlier – Amen! Alleluia! (Rev 5:14).
5. How long is forever and ever? It is eternal. It is everlasting. It continues. It goes on. It has no end. You never get to finish. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no hope. There is not break or respite. There is no reduction. Alleluia!

 

Revelation 21: 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 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.

1. If you want eternal life to inherit all things with God as Father, then be an overcomer!
2. It is only overcomers that are rewarded with various features of salvation (Rev 2-3).
3. But if you are a liar, you will have your part in the lake of fire, which is another death.
4. Brimstone. Sulphur and its flammable character. See also Gen 19:24 and Rev 19:20.

 

Ecclesiastes 12: 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

1. You know the first verse well and the truth it has from God’s inspired philosopher.
2. But notice how Solomon closes out his book of experimentation and observation.
   1. He finished with a final, strong reason for fear and obedience – coming judgment.
   2. God will bring every part of your life into judgment – thought, word, and actions.
   3. God will examine and judge every part of your life – marriage, alcohol, saving, church attendance, joy, respect of authority, anger, pornography, child training, hospitality, prayer, envy, whining, talebearing, housecleaning, graciousness, etc.
   4. What you think is secret, He will expose; you will have no secrets in that day; what you hide from us today, is fully known by Him now and will be revealed then.
   5. It is all coming out, whether good or evil, whether right or wrong. Be forewarned!

 

THE COMING WRATH OF GOD

Psalm 5:4-6	Romans 2:5	Colossians 3:6	Revelation 14:19
Psalm 7:11	Romans 2:8	I Thessalonians 1:10	Revelation 15:1
Psalm 9:17	Romans 5:9	I Thessalonians 5:9	Revelation 15:7
Psalm 11:4-6	Romans 9:22	Revelation 6:16	Revelation 16:1
John 3:36	Ephesians 2:3	Revelation 11:18	Revelation 16:19
Romans 1:18	Ephesians 5:6	Revelation 14:10	Revelation 19:15

 

THE COMING DAY OF JUDGMENT AND SENTENCING

Job 21:30	Matthew 12:36	Romans 14:10-12	II Peter 3:10-14
Psalm 9:7-8	Matthew 25:31-46	I Corinthians 4:5	Jude 1:6
Psalm 96:13	John 5:28-29	II Corinthians 5:9-11	Jude 1:14-15
Psalm 98:9	John 12:48	II Timothy 4:1	Revelation 6:17
Proverbs 11:4	Acts 17:30-31	Hebrews 9:27	Revelation 11:18
Ecclesiastes 3:17	Romans 2:5	I Peter 4:5	Revelation 16:14
Ecclesiastes 11:9	Romans 2:16	II Peter 2:9	Revelation 20:11-15
Ecclesiastes 12:14	Romans 3:6	II Peter 3:7

Note: More verses about the coming day of God’s judgment of all men: Judgment Seat of Christ. 

 

GOOD WORKS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION

Psalm 15:1-5	John 8:31-34	I Thessalonians 1:2-4	I Peter 1:17
Psalm 24:1-6	John 15:5-6	I Timothy 2:15	II Peter 1:5-11
Matthew 5:16-20	Acts 10:34-35	I Timothy 6:12	I John 2:4
Matthew 7:21-23	Romans 8:1-9	I Timothy 6:17-19	I John 3:4-13
Matthew 7:24-27	Romans 8:13	II Timothy 4:7-8	I John 3:14-24
Matthew 25:31-46	II Corinthians 5:17	Hebrews 5:9	I John 4:7-21
Luke 3:10-14	Galatians 6:7-10	James 1:21-25	Jude 1:20-21
Luke 19:1-10	Philippians 2:12-13	James 1:26-27	Revelation 12:17
John 5:29	Philippians 3:8-11	James 2:14-26	Revelation 22:14

 

Note: Many more verses for the necessity of good works: Salvation by Works. 

Conclusion:

1. We must not play games with election, unconditional salvation, imputed righteousness, or any heretical, fatalistic diversion that would dilute or distract from the necessity of good works by faith.
   1. If you like Romans 8:1a, then make sure you fulfill Romans 8:1b on a consistent, thorough basis.
   2. Learn Paul’s efforts for salvation (Phil 3:7-15); make sure you never approach his confidence.
   3. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, if God has worked in you (Phil 2:12-13).
   4. Examine and prove your own self to see if you are a reprobate or not (II Cor 13:5; II Pet 1:5-11).
2. The Bible teaches God’s sovereign choice, but it plainly teaches our duty to do things to avoid eternal judgment (Psalm 15:1-5; Matt 7:21-23; John 6:37-40; I Thess 1:2-4; II Pet 1:5-11; etc., etc.).
3.  Very few have heard about hell, and how many of them actually live in light of the terribleness of it?
4. You know there is a God in heaven – you tell me you believe it – but what are you doing about it?
5. Hypocrisy is terrible, and every man is prone to it; you might be better off to be a God-hating atheist.
6. Nothing in this world will remind you of eternal judgment to come, so we must remind one another.
7. How did Jesus preach? He never offered heaven, but He certainly warned about the danger of hell.
8. Is there such a thing as boldness in the Day of Judgment? Yes! But only a few have it (I John 4:17).
9. God is sovereign – you cannot turn off your life – you cannot eliminate hell – bow before Him now
10. Every person lives by assumptions of faith – belief in something they cannot see or prove. And you?
11. Assurance and confidence rise in direct relation to obedience; you can only blame yourself for terror.
12. A glorious Saviour and Surety stands over hell with all the authority of it. Put your total trust in Him.
13. A certain appointment has been made for you already (Hebrews 9:27). Just make sure you don’t die.
14. Jesus Christ has been appointed Judge, you had better repent and worship Him (Acts 17:30-31).
15. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31; Mark 16:16; II Thes 1:10).
16. We follow several scriptural procedures to reduce the number or percent of reprobates in our church.
    1. We are cautious and slow taking in new members – asking them to wait and attend for months.
    2. We ask youth to wait until 18 for baptism like the majority of church history until recent years.
    3. We ask a detailed profession of faith and life of grace by word and deed before membership.
    4. We practice consistent church discipline to identify sinners and get them out of the congregation.
    5. We pray for God to reveal strange children among us and to rid us of them (Psalm 144:7,11).
17. Don’t you dare put off reckoning with this coming event like Felix did. Do something about it today.

For Further Study:

1. The sermon outline, Is there a Burning Hell?
2. The sermon outline, The Judgment Seat of Christ.
3. The sermon outline, Assurance of Eternal Life.
4. The sermon outline, Eternal Life Is a Gift of God.
5. The sermon outline, Salvation by Works.
6. The sermon outline, Once Saved, Always Saved.
7. The sermon outline, Sojourning Here in Fear.
8. The sermon outline, Two Parables.
9. The sermon outline, Matthew 25: The Lord’s Coming.
10. The sermon outline, Occupy Till I Come.
11. The slide presentation, Three Choices for Living.

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