Realities of Heaven & Hell

Slide 1: Questions: “Is there life after death?” " What Happens When You Die?” LUKE 16:19-31

Slide 2: The Realities of Heaven and Hell LUKE 16:19-31

Slide 3: Luke 16:19-31 "Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day. 20"And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22"Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.

Slide 4: Luke 16:19-31 "And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24"And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.' 25"But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.

Slide 5: Luke 16:19-31 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' 27"And he said, 'Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father's house-- 28for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

Slide 6: Luke 16:19-31 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30"But he said, 'No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' 31"But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.' "

Slide 7: Was This A Parable? 3. Jesus identified Lazarus; Lazarus was named. When giving a parable, Jesus never named a character—not even once. Also note: 2. Jesus did not say that this was a parable. These two facts, plus the language used to begin the account, point to it as an actual experience.

Slide 8: Three major differences I. (16:19-21) Life: a. The rich man was nameless, but Lazarus was named. Lazarus, means God is my Help. b. The rich man was wealthy; Lazarus was poor. c. The rich man was healthy; Lazarus was disabled. d. The rich man ate sumptuously; Lazarus had to beg.

Slide 9: • Note the charge is against the rich man and not society. Society is only an idea; men are a reality. • Each man is personally responsible for the poor and needy of the earth. • The picture is that of Lazarus lying at the rich man’s gate (most people would not allow this). The rich man was too occupied with his own estate, interests and pleasures; he ignored Lazarus lying at his gate. • That is Christ’s point. In this case the rich man was responsible for Lazarus.

Slide 10: Luke 16:19-21 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day. 20"And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.”

Slide 11: Luke 16:22-22 “Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom;”

Slide 12: II. (16:22) Death: Lazarus died and was escorted to Abraham’s bosom or Paradise; synonym used for the Kingdom of God, Heaven. 1. Lazarus lived on despite his body being dead. His being—his spirit and soul—did not die, nor cease to exist, nor fall into a state of sleep. 2. Lazarus’ soul was immediately met by angels. Instantaneously—as quick as the blinking of an eye—when Lazarus died, the angels stood by his body and carried his soul into Abraham’s Bosom.

Slide 13: Luke 16:22-23 “and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades…”

Slide 14: II. (16:22) Death: Rich man died and was buried in Hades; synonym used for the Hell. Note the only words said about the rich man’s death: “He died and was buried.” What a terrible and disappointing legacy for a man to leave behind. The rich man was probably buried in state in the finest clothes and within the very best grave and cemetery.

Slide 15: III. (16:23-31) Eternity: 1. The rich man was in hell; “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46).

Slide 16: Luke 16:23 "And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Slide 17: a. The rich man was able to see Lazarus; hear and talk to Abraham. “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out” (Luke 13:28).

Slide 18: Luke 16:23 "And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Slide 19: b. The rich man was able to feel torment. “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” (Rev. 14:11).

Slide 20: Luke 16:24 "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.'

Slide 21: c. The rich man was able to taste. “...the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable” (Luke 3:17).

Slide 22: Luke 16:25-26 "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'

Slide 23: 2. Lazarus was in Abraham’s Bosom; d. The rich man had memories of the past. The rich man remembered... · his sins (comfort, ease, indulgence, pleasure, extravagance). · · his missed opportunities (to help Lazarus). · · his deaf ear to conscience, God, the Word, Lazarus, and all others who were so needy. · his failure to seek the truth (Hebrews 11:6). · his rejection of warning after warning.

Slide 24: Luke 16:27-28 "And he said, 'Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father's house-- 28 for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

Slide 25: e. The rich man realized the truth and had compassion for others. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Slide 26: Luke 16:29-31 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30"But he said, 'No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' 31"But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.' "

Slide 27: Unbelief: --- To what does the passage liken unbelief? … v.31 --- Not listening to the Scriptures … the message of the Bible --- Note what it says about unbelief --- Unbelief will not be shaken, even by supernatural persuasion like someone rising from the dead.

Slide 28: Notes 1. The rich man was unable to intercede for his family; Lazarus rested in God’s presence.

Slide 29: Note the words, “Neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” Man’s unbelief is not due to lack of signs; it is due to their love for the world with all its creature comforts and recognition, indulgence and selfishness, pleasures and honors. A Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, has risen from the dead, yet men do not believe.

Slide 30: John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me;” The Scriptures and their testimony of the Lord’s resurrection are much greater testimony than a dead man standing before us in some ghostly, mysterious form

Slide 31: f. Note that Lazarus seemed to be totally unaware of Hades. He lived only in Abraham’s Bosom. • The rich man was fixed in hell; • Lazarus was fixed in Paradise. There was no passing from hell into heaven, or from heaven into hell. There was a permanent gulf, and it was there for the purpose of keeping one from passing over. The sinner, who chooses to be cut off from God and Paradise, has his wish. He is cut off.

Slide 32: What is Hell like? Hell is eternal separation, death, from God. (2Thessalonians 1:9) It is a place of great suffering and torment. (Revelation 20:10) It is a place of darkness, hidden from the light. (Jude 1:13) It is a place of unquenchable fire. (Mark 9:47-48)

Slide 33: Mark 9:47-48 "And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48where their worm does not die, and THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. Matthew 22:13 "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Slide 34: Revelation 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Slide 35: Revelation 14:10-11 “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will 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 goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Slide 36: What is Heaven like? It is a place of eternal life. (Revelation 22:5) It is a place of eternal light. (Revelation 22:5) It is a place of great beauty. (Rev. 21:10-21;22:7) It is a place without death. (Revelation 21:4) It is a place without sorrow and tears. (Rev. 21:4) It is a place without pain. (Revelation 21:4)

Slide 37: “It is a place of Eternal Life” “It is a place of Eternal Light” Revelation 22:5 “And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.”

Slide 38: Revelation 21:10-21 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.

Slide 39: Revelation 21:10-21(cont’d) And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15And the one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.

Slide 40: Revelation 21:10-21 (cont’d) And the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.

Slide 41: Revelation 21:10-21 (cont’d) And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. “It is a place of Great Beauty”

Slide 42: Revelation 21:22-27 And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed; 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Slide 43: Revelation 21:22-27 And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it.

Slide 44: Revelation 21:4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.“ It is a place without Death, Sorrow and Pain

Slide 45: Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Slide 46: John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 1 John 5:11-12 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Slide 47: Eternal Life …in Heaven or Hell … your choice Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,”