His Teaching on Hell

There is currently a commercial on TV for some car. The scene is supposed to picture hell. This impish looking man is taking a man for a ride in this "great" car. The man asks to drive it. The impish looking man says, "This is hell, you get a mini-van," and as the man screams the car turns into a mini-van. That commercial illustrates as well as anything our society's attitude toward hell. It is not taken seriously. The idea of hell is made fun of, ridiculed and for many people it is an old-fashioned and out-dated idea they do not believe. Jesus' attitude and teaching about hell was greatly different than that. In Mark 9:43-48 Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Jesus clearly wanted His true followers to understand the seriousness of hell. Yes, salvation is by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. But a life of sin proves that you are not a believer and are going to that fire that is never quenched. So, this subject of hell is important for all of us to take seriously today.

I)   Jesus Assumes the Presence of Hell - Mark 9:43-48
     A) Ten times he uses the word Gehenna (lake of fire)
     B) Listen to one of them.
          1) Luke 12:4-5
          2) Matthew 23:15,33

II)   Jesus Asserts that There are Two Parts to the Torment of Hell - Mark 9:43-48
      A) The fire is never quenched
          1) Speaks of the outward torment
          2) It is eternal
      B) The worm never dies
          1) Speaks of inward corruption and suffering
          2) Again, it is eternal
      C) All the descriptions of the torments of hell fit in one of these two categories.

III)   Jesus Describes the Punishment of Hell
      A) Matthew 25: 30, 41, 46
          1) Separation - verse 41 - "Depart from me"
          2) Association - verse 41 - the most gruesome togetherness of all.
          3) Fire - verse 41 - everlasting fire
          4) Darkness - verse 30 - "darkness farthest out"
          5) Cursed - verse 41
      B) Luke 16: 22-28
          1) verse 23 - being in torments
          2) verses 23-24 - all his senses work
          3) verse 23 - aware of the bliss of heaven
          4) verse 24 - tormented in flames
          5) verse 25 - memory works
          6) verse 26 - no leaving or changing of places - no hope
          7) verses 27-28 - no desire for company

IV)   Jesus Reveals the Place of Hell - The Lake of Fire
       A) Revelation 20: 14-15
       B) Revelation 21:8
       C) Revelation 14: 9-11

Hell is considerably more than having to drive a mini-van! We better take it seriously! Don't leave any room for doubt. Flee from the wrath of God today. Make sure your name is in the Book of Life by repenting and calling upon the name of the Lord today!