“. . .I am tormented in this FLAME” Luke 16:24
The inevitability of death is indisputable, so also unquestionable is the reality of both heaven and hell. Without exceptions, eternity awaits everyone, whether rich or poor, black, or white, male, and female alike, we all face the same eternal realism the moment our eyes are closed in death. This is a respected rich man who at a time was reigning like a king but now lamenting in the flame of hell paying for every act of atrocities he has ever committed while on earth, every act of disobedience and rebellion against the Almighty Judge of heaven.
Power and position, fame and fortune, race or nationality makes no difference at death, the question is where will you spend eternity? This is a crucial question that must never be ignored by anyone, but to be answered with all sincerity of heart, because it is too risky for any man to gamble with his eternal future, his OWN SOUL. We must be certain about it, for hell is a place of endless torment. It has an entrance but no exits. No way out!
Religion, good works, church membership or self-righteousness can never atone for man’s sins or satisfy the demand of God’s required righteousness for heaven, only the blood of Jesus does that, therefore, only Jesus can save.
Lazarus and the Rich Man
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 sees 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 received 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 would 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. Luke 16:19-31
The text above was not a parable, allegory or a made-up story, this is the Lord Jesus himself, sharing a true story about what happened to real people who at a time lived on this earth but now passed on. He is telling us the events following their death. Lazarus was the real name of the beggar in abject poverty who had nothing as far as this world is concerned but was recognized by heaven, he was despised and rejected by men but accepted by God. He was extremely needy and wretched both physically and materially but spiritually rich and wealthy, he had no savings accounts to his name but was a saved soul to God, had no net worth but was heaven worthy.
Out of destitution and desperation, he will drag his sores covered body to the gate of the rich man or carried there by well-wishers desiring the crumbs from a greatly wealthy man who should give him food, let him inside his house, instruct one of his physicians to attend to him but conceivably instead, he saw his presence at his gate as image of embarrassment and insult yes, by not giving him food, unleashing his dogs to bombard him and eat his sores to increase his pain and make his life more miserable.
Nothing in the story shows any sympathy or empathy in the part of this rich man. Possibly the crumbs were sneaked through the gate by one caring servant who cleans the table or sweeps the floor.
Eventually the beggar died. I love that, it was the beggar who died, the pain, the sores, the shame and all the miserableness not Lazarus because believers don’t die, they sleep, absent in the body is to be present with the Lord for nothing dies in the hand of God the author and the giver of life, the resurrection and life.
Bible never told us of any burial nevertheless, he was heroically welcomed into the glorious presence of God, celebrated at the gate of glory. His pain was gone, and all the wounds in his body disappeared and a celestial body was given him. According to Jesus, he was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom? Not one angel but angels in plural.
Afterwards, the rich man who lived in absolute pleasure, and in perfect luxury, who lived only to feed the flesh but spiritually bankrupt died. He was buried as a rich man should be buried but a befitting burial does not determine eternal destination nor guarantee acceptance to heaven. As he closed his eyes in death, to friends, family, fame and fortune and all the worldly paraphernalia that have kept him bound and far away from God, he lifted up his eyes in hell, being tormented in flames and sees Father Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom in glory. Surprisingly, he started praying to God. Those who fail to pray now will have to pray latter for every man shall pray. His prayer was ignored, and plea rejected, he wished he could leave but there is no way of escape. And he cried to God for mercy and requested for a drop of the fingertip water only to cool his tongue, it was not given to him because there is no water allowed in hell.
Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:35-37.
Neither poverty nor wealth is a prerequisite for heaven or debarment from it, eternal peace and joy of heaven depends on a meaningful ‘Personal Relationship’ with God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah. No matter the challenges, it pays to stick to God like Lazarus and trust not in riches like this rich man but in the living God.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1Timothy 6:17
Reason for Hell
The reason for hell is the same reason for prison houses as we know it, where people face the consequences for violating the laws of the land. Hell was originally created for Satan and all his cohorts to be punished forever; not for human being. God is just and holy and sin must be judged, and sinners punished to exalt righteousness, avenge all iniquities and establish justice. It was the introduction of sin that brought death to humanity and to be free from hell we must be free from sin.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved Acts 4:12
Vision of Hell
In the year 2015, I had a vision of hell. I saw a man with a dilapidated and shredded body stooped down in an iron-like cage amidst ashes and could not lift his head. He looked like he had been there for a long time and was in serious pain and anguish.
I could feel his hopelessness over my being. As I looked at his grayish body trying to figure out what was going on, I felt someone’s presence beside me who said to me “His name is Fred, and he lived in the 1830s” after hearing that, the scene flipped over to a busy city street and I heard that very man preaching over the radio, it was during the day time and passersby stopped as they heard his voice.
I now knew that he was a popular and admired preacher at a time but now in hell. After this I found myself back at the first place and saw the same man again in the cage and the man standing by me said to me “He is here in this condition because he did not make me his focus” Then I soberly asked him, who are you?
As he disappeared, I heard a loud echoing voice saying, I am the King of kings and Lord of Lords, then I woke up from my sleep.
Regrettably, this preacher did not finish well, reason being he did not make Jesus his focus. I don’t know what his focus was, maybe money, pleasure, men’s applause, self-obsession or secret sins of any kind, I don’t know what made him to preach about heaven and was shut out of it. What is your focus?
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 2Corinthians 4:5
Our focus must be only, always and absolutely Jesus Christ, in all our teaching outreaches and ministerial endeavors, Jesus must be made known to people to escape damnation of hell. There is nothing on earth worth going to HELL for.
DESCRIPTION OF HELL
Hell is a place of: –
- Souls of the Wicked
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. Matthew 10:28
- Unquenchable Fire
……but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:12
- Outer Darkness
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:12
- Furnace OF Fire
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth Matthew 13:42
- Weeping and gnashing of Teeth
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth Matthew 13;41-42
- Lake of Fire
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
- No Rest
And the smoke of their torment ascends for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Rev. 14:11
- Eternal Damnation
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Matthew 23:33
- Separation from God’s Presence
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. 2Thessalonians. 1:8-9
- Never Dying Worms. Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:44
- Pit of Destruction But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. Psalm 55:23
- Everlasting Destruction. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction? 2Thess. 1:8. Jesus warned seriously about the danger and horror of hell because death is sure, and Judgment is certain.
In God’s word he says,
“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: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 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: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43–48
The most valuable possession of man is not material, monetary or intellectual property but his soul, all the money and resources in the world cannot buy a single soul. Choose right today, choose heaven, and shun hell.
Because if you die as a sinner, hell is the answer. But if you entrust your life into the hand of Jesus, he will grant you eternal security and your soul shall be preserved forever.
He will be with you here in this present world and you will also see him in the one to come.
“…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2Timothy 1:12
How to Escape the Damnation of Hell
- Genuine repentance and true conversion
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19
- Complete trust and faith in Jesus Christ
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house’. Acts 16:30-31
- Living in obedience to God’s Word.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. 1Peter 1:23
- Steadfastness in prayer and personal growth
Pray without ceasing. 1Thessalinians 5:17
- Live a Spirit-filled and Spirit-controlled life.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die, but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:13-14
- Steadfastness in the church fellowship
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25
- Serving effectively in the kingdom
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13
- Daily Self-examination.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 1Corinthians 13:5
- Genuine love toward all and hold no evil.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9
- Surround yourself with holy, righteous and heaven bound people.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33
THE CONCLUSION
Where would you spend your eternity?
Eternal truth has been presented to you for the salvation of your soul, and for your eternity with Jesus to be made possible. Those who reject the word of God shall be judged by the same word they rejected.
He that rejects me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12:48
The word of God is the TRUTH to live by, the only sure foundation to build your life on, unfailing, unfading, unchanging and infallible, those who believe and embrace it shall live forever. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 2Corinthians 13:8. No matter what is going on in the world, the message of the kingdom remains the same. HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD. Hebrews 12:14.
Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2Timothy 2:19. There is an eternal choice that must be made. Choose life and live.
