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| THE TRUTH ABOUT |
| 1) Hell is not a "state of mind", a "concept", or a "feeling". It is a real, literal place of misery reserved for the ones who die without acccepting Jesus as their savior. In verse 24 we read that the rich man was "tormented in this flame" and begged for only a drop of water to cool his tongue. 2) There is no way out. Once you enter, you are there for all eternity. Living family members cannot "pray you out" through petitioning God or "pay you out" through offerings. IT IS PERMANENT. In verse 26, Abraham explains to the rich man that between Heaven and hell "there is a great gulf fixed". No one can get to Heaven from hell, and no one can get to hell from Heaven. 3) Hell is not a cartoonish place with a lot of smoke where all of the bad people of the world go when they die. Many people who lived "good" lives are today in hell because they never received Jesus Christ into their hearts. It is not just a place that you go to when you die that is "not as good as heaven". It is a place of total, eternal misery. Jesus Christ himself described hell in Matthew 13:49,50: |
| Before we delve into the truths about Hell, please read the following passage from the Bible for reference: |
| Luke 16:19-31 19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who 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 lifted 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 who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from there. 27 Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldst 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. |
| 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. |
| 4) The decision to accept the gift of salvation must be made during our lifetime, after death it will be too late. The time is now! The rich man regretted not doing what was necessary to avoid the circumstance he was in. In verses 27 and 28, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus to tell his five brothers how to avoid it themselves. But Abraham made it clear that they had Moses and the prophets to persuade them to make the right choice, and if that was not enough, not even a visit from a dead man would be. |
| Does hell sound to you like a place that you want to go to? Are you ready to make the decision that will eliminate that possibility? Then continue on to the next page |
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