When I was checking the history of my preaching and the list of my messages, I was expecting to find a note telling me that I had preached about Christ’s doctrine of Hell, but I was mistaken. According to my records I have never examined what it was that the Son of God, the God of Love, had to say about Hell. Since we have an introduction to that subject here in this scripture, I feel obligated to correct that mistake and my former neglect.
“Christ’s Hell” is not a message on the Hell that Jesus Christ endured. That is a perfectly legitimate subject, because there is a sense in which Christ did taste “Hell” on behalf of those whom He saved. But what I am concerned with this morning, is what Jesus actually said and taught about Hell. Perhaps one reason that I have never addressed this subject, is because the Lord Jesus never sat down with his disciples and lectured them for forty minutes on this matter. There is no direct, analytical, in-depth and outlined Bible sermon on either the Lake of Fire or Hell. And from the lips of Christ there are less then ten references to “Hell” with about half them repeated again in other gospels. In other words, like the subject of God Himself, the Bible assumes that you and I should know this subject. Some might argue that so little reference to Hell, should prove that it doesn’t exist – or it doesn’t matter. But I think that the incidental references to Hell, suggest that the Lord already expects us to be aware of its existence and to understand its importance.
Trying to confine my thoughts this morning to the few references that our Saviour has made – what should we already know about Hell?
We should know that it is a PLACE OF FIRE.
“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: 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.”
It is not a problem for me, but those who hate the subject – Jehovah’s Witnesses and others – sometime point out that there are two Greek words which are translated “hell.” The word which Jesus used here, and used most often, was “geenna” (gheh’-en-nah). Those people are quick to point out that “geenna” was the Jerusalem garbage dump. As Strong’s Concordance puts it – “This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned.” Strong then added, it is “a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.” It is said that the fires burning at “geenna” were never put out, that there was always fuel for those flames. And that the flames were so intense that the periodic rains couldn’t put them out. The unbeliever wants you to think that Jesus was only saying that the wicked will be cast out like rubbish. But clearly that was not what He was saying.
There are far too many other scriptures which reiterate and corroborate that Hell is a place of some kind of very special flame. Eventually, as the Book of Revelation tells us, “death and hell (will be) cast into the lake of fire.” In that same context of Revelation 20 we read “and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Then in the next chapter we read, “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.” “Brimstone” is an ancient word which apparently refers to naturally burning pitch or tar. It might even speak of something like lava. Hell is a place of fire, flame and burning bitumen. The Lord Jesus was definitely warning people about the fires of Hell.
Secondly, Christ tells us that Hell is designed for BODIES.
“If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Again, the word that Jesus used was “geenna” (gheh’-en-nah).
To the best of my knowledge, the Jews never disposed of human bodies in “geenna” (gheh’-en-nah). They didn’t practice cremation, and they didn’t just cast their dead, even dead enemies into the garbage. Christ was not talking about that burning, stinking, filthy valley south of the city when He spoke about casting bodies into hell. He was talking about “Hell” as most people picture it today.
Admittedly, there is still a great deal of mystery in regard to Hell. Perhaps we could not endure – emotionally or mentally – a thorough understanding of all that is involved. And despite what some super-evangelists might think, if we knew everything that there was to know about Hell, I don’t think that it would be of much help in our evangelism. In fact, it would probably be counterproductive.
I am not able to explain how a natural human body can be condemned to the flames of Hell and not be consumed by those flames. Perhaps the Lord will somehow change the bodies of the wicked at the time of their condemnation. Or perhaps the fires of Hell will be of a special nature. But despite my ignorance and my questions, I still have no doubt that bodies will be cast into Hell, and into the Lake of Fire as well. I am sure, because the God who cannot lie has told me so.
Perhaps at this point we should turn to Luke 16, and another statement from the Lord Jesus. “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 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. 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. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
There are many reasons to believe that Christ was describing an actual pair of people. This was not a parable, an allegory, a fictitious story designed to teach some important truth. But this true story does teach an important truth. “There was a certain rich man” who died, and “in hell, he lift up his eyes, being in (physical) torments.” The word “flame” is used and those flames were real. The heat was real because the flames were real. The thirst was real because the heat was real.
Hell is a place for physical bodies – for your physical body, if you have not been saved by the grace of God.
But Hell is also a place for the torment of SOULS as well as bodies.
Matthew 10:28 – “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.” Remember that these are the words of the LORD Jesus – they are in red ink in some of your Bibles. It’s not that red ink is more important than black ink, but sometimes it helps to remember that certain words are coming from the Son of God Himself.
There is another word in this verse which the enemy of God loves to exploit – to the destruction of souls. It’s that word “destruction” or “destroy.” Just because the first definition of the word “destruction” refers to demolishing or annihilating something, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other definitions which might be used. Again according to Strong’s Concordance, this Greek word can mean, and does mean here – “to put out of the way entirely,” “abolish,” “put an end.” “to ruin,” to “render useless.” I don’t have time to prove it, but the human soul is eternal – it will never cease to exist – come to an end. Your soul will live for eternity in either the presence of God and His blessings or the absence of God and presence of His wrath. When the Lord Jesus said, “Ye must be born again,” He meant “ye MUST be born again.”
Please understand that I don’t understand, nor can I explain, all the details that relate to this vast subject. Just as I cannot tell you, for example, how a human body can be tormented in flames for eternity, I cannot tell you how a human soul can be tormented. But I know that it shall be because the Bible tells me so. Just as the Bible speaks about “eternal” and “everlasting life,” it also speaks of the exact opposite. “Then shall (the King) say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Which will it be for your soul?
Something else which the Lord Jesus tells us is that Hell is A PLACE OF GOD’S REJECTION.
After months of Jesus’ ministry, particularly in the north country, He began to rebuke them for their faithlessness and rejection. Matthew 11:20 – “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Christ Jesus lived in Capernaum for some time, and that became the center of His ministry. Bethsaida was the hometown of several of Jesus’ disciples. These communities in Galilee had the privilege of really knowing the ministry of Christ. But the human heart is a million times more prone to reject spiritual truth than to receive it. It is only by the grace of God that people see the truth to the point of believing it to be true. Nevertheless it is the responsibility of us all to repent before God and to believe in and on the Saviour. Those who do not put their love, trust, and hope in Christ, will be cast down to hell.
By the way, this is the first verse in the New Testament to use the Greek word “hades.” instead of “geenna.” That is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word “sheol” which is most often translated “hell” in the Old Testament. Even though there are differences between “hades” and “geehena” they mean exactly the same thing. Rejection of Christ and the gospel of Christ, will eventually mean complete rejection by God – and eternity in Hell fire. Christ Jesus, who cannot lie, has told us so.
Related to that point is that Hell will be the FUTURE of the HYPOCRITE.
Matthew 23:13 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” If these people do not enter into the kingdom of Heaven, then in what kingdom do they dwell? We will just let Christ Jesus speak on… “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” “Damnation” speaks about “judgment” or more specifically “condemnation.” In other words, these people, who despise and reject both man and God, will be condemned. Condemned to what or where? We’ll just let Jesus speak on. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Because these people are evangelizing souls into their false religion of good works and corrupt hopes, they are condemn them to Hell – to ”geenna” (gheh’-en-nah). The eternal future of those who reject Christ Jesus, is Hell and nothing but Hell. I’m not speaking metaphorically or explicatively, but really and truthfully. To reject Christ is to guarantee to oneself – Hell and finally to the Lake of Fire.
Beyond these and their counterparts in other gospels, there is only other place where the words of the Lord Jesus speak of Hell – in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation.
Christ Himself is THE MASTER OF HELL.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Be it known by all in this room that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and as such He is God in every point. By having the keys of death, we are being told that He who was dead, but who lived again, is the sovereign God over life and death. Satan cannot kill anyone on this earth without the permission of Christ – the Son of God. I’m not referring to Christians alone, but to anyone. And it is not Satan who sends anyone to Hell – it is the One to whom all judgment has been given – Christ.
There might be a great many lessons taught through that image of Christ and these keys. But one is that to be a friend of Christ means, deliverance or preservation from Hell. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” “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. “ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” These verses are from the Gospel of John. What is it to “perish”? It is the opposite to enjoying everlasting life – that is – it is condemnation in Hell. What is the wrath of God? Ultimately, it is condemnation in Hell. The Gospel of John never uses the words “hades” or “geenna” but the principle of Hell is clearly taught there.
Now going back to Matthew 5, please realize that the gracious, loving Lord Jesus was warning you. He was telling you and me to fear Hell and the fires of Hell. And what is the only escape from the hell which we all deserve? Salvation in Christ. Repent of your sin before God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, recognize His hand upon your soul.