The Reality of Hell - I

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by some special friends of this ministry pastor Greg wanted to see a special word of thanks to the harvest partners to make this ministry possible next time your online check out Pastor Greg's personal blog@blog.greglaurie.com they are not to have. We believe the Bible we are to accept this. Most people are actually coming up to the new beginning pastor Greg Laurie says we can shy away from the truth.

There's just too much. There is a hell if you want to go to heaven. My friend, you will if you want to go to hell. You will really your choice is why an effective many times and yet it represents a place something doesn't even exist today on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie points out the word, hell, vocabulary, because deep down we all know will see hell is a very real danger must be of hell is much too hot, much too long a story before of man who was living in Chicago is very cold there. He decided he wanted to take a break, so he went for a vacation to Florida now. As it turns out his wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him the next day so when he arrived in Florida you want to love his wife know that he arrived safely.

So he shot off a quick email that you just chain email address and he had memorized and you want to release. He thought he had the send off the message to his wife of the problem was get one letter wrong in her email address and the message did not go to her at all, but it went to a elderly woman whose husband weapon to be a pastor had just passed away the day before she was reading her emails and she shrieked and fainted. Her family came running in the room to see what happened and they saw the message from her husband on the computer screen and the message that there is wife just checked in.

Everything is prepared for your arrival tomorrow, but it was a PS that got them PS it sure is hot down here so that all just a joke. We've been talking about heaven together and what a wonderful topic that is and you need to know.

Just as surely as there is a heaven, awaiting the follower of Jesus Christ. There is also a place called hell awaiting the nonbeliever I was interviewed last week. The Christian television show and the interviewer asked me why I spoke so much on each journey. He said I've noticed when I watch you prefixing your TV programs and so forth of your Crusades, and it seems like whatever topic you're dealing with. You always come back to the eternal in your messages and I thought about for a moment and I said in response. You know, I guess the answer is when you get down to it, it's the most important thing the rents I mean as a pastor, I want to teach the word of God.

I want to help people grow in their faith as followers of Jesus. I want them to learn how to know God's will and resist temptation and have great marriages and all the things we talked about as pastors and teachers, but when it's all said and done. The biggest thing I want to see happen is people who were on their way to hell instead go to have. I want people to change their eternal address of that why I do what I do and really when you get down to it, is there anything more important than that. We been talking at length about heaven that the popular subject because most people believe in it, and most people believe there going there for every American believes that he's going to hell. There are 120 who believe they're going to have a so most people believe that I haven't most people think you're going to heaven. And some believe in hell, but even let things go go there but that is in direct contradiction to what Jesus said because he said broad is the way that leads to this function in many there are that go that way, but narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there are that find if we believe the Bible hope you do most people today are not headed to heaven, if we believe the Bible, we have to accept the simple fact that most people are actually headed to hell. Why don't we don't like to hear that we don't like to use the word in our culture today. In fact we use the word hell to punctuate our sentences. Someone will say something like, well, all hell just broke loose and that usually is a way to say that it's a worst-case scenario.

Another might say a situation though so bad it's hellish or a certain person is really difficult in view what men listen there hell on wheels and another person that there really angry will say to one another, to give you a piece of my mind Norman to give you hell what is with this. It's funny how people will say to another person, you can go to hell, but at the same time, the site I don't believe a place called hell actually exists, but is not as effective. When you exhibit you will place it doesn't exist. Why the summons to go to hell because deep down inside, even if your nonbeliever you know there's a hell that's what that's what we say that the same reason a person will use the name above all names Jesus Christ in a form of cursing or to emphasize a point. Jesus Christ also asked why they say that why is it when the camera capture instead of the nail. You say that instead of St. Pare, Christian, is there is no power in the name of Chris. There is power in the name of Jesus, and it is the name above all names in the Bible says everyone will bow before him in that final day and acknowledged that he is the Lord to the glory of God the father listen. Hell is a real place, but because were uncomfortable with that idea will make jokes about it. You know, there's actually a town I read about in Michigan called hell.

Hell, Michigan. Can you imagine it was founded in 1841 and George Reeves amended discover the Slow Swampy Pl. in Southeast, MI. I didn't know what the name and summits and what you want to call it that. I don't care name and hell, if you want to. And so they get hello Michigan or people will joke about medium Woody Allen said hell is the future abode of all people who personally annoy me." Comedian Jim Carrey said maybe there is no actual place called hell maybe hell is just having the listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they're eating sandwiches."

Hey Jim Woody, there is a hell, it's not a joke. Laugh it off. If you choose to, but it really is there in the fact of the matter is, as Jesus Christ spoke more about hell than all the other preachers of the Bible put together the fact of the matter is, as most of the teaching we have on the topic of hell, was given to us by Christ himself know that surprises some people because they would say what was in Jesus, the very personification of love and mercy and grace. Why would he talk about hell for that very reason because he was a personification of love and grace and mercy.

He doesn't want any man or woman uniquely made in his image to spend eternity in this place called hell and Jesus being God knows all about it because he is seen it with his own eyes and so he warns us about it. It's been estimated that about 40 parables of Jesus told more than half of them dealt with God eternal judgment and hell. Make no mistake about it, there is a real hell for real people. JI Packer said and I quote an endless hell can no more be removed from the New Testament than an endless heaven can it's there now. It's funny how hell becomes more most popular run given what time were and I think believe in hell, probably went up after 9/11 because when something evil is done, or we could take place. People tend to believe in evil Moran and they also believe in the place of final retribution but with things are going this badly. I believe in hell actually starts to go down a recent Gallup poll revealed that believe in hell is down right now to me is so stupid that's like taking a fall and say what you know.

More Americans today believe there's a place called California. Then those that believe there's a place called Arizona. So and I don't mean the Savior from Arizona itself IT IS VERY HOT. THERE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT HELL THAT THAT'S IN MICHIGAN RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU KNOW IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU BELIEVE IN IT OR NOT, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S POPULAR OR NOT WHAT IS IN YEARS AGO.

JOHN LENNON FAMOUSLY SAYING IMAGINE THERE'S NO HEAVEN IT'S EASY IF YOU TRY NO HELL BELOW US ABOVE US ONLY SKY IMAGINE ALL HE WANTS. THERE IS A HEAVEN AND THERE IS HELL. MR. GREG MOORE WILL HAVE THE SECOND HALF OF THIS MESSAGE JUST A MOMENT. SO MANY LISTENERS HAVE COMMENTED ON THE STRENGTH HE RECEIVED FROM THESE DAILY MESSAGES GOD'S WORD MINISTERS TO THEM AND IT OFTEN GETS THEM THROUGH SOME OF THEIR DARKEST HOURS YESTERDAY. I LISTENED TO THE ASSAILANT. I FOUND RECENTLY. I LISTEN TO YOUR SERMON ABOUT HOW YOU HANDLED YOUR SON'S TRAGIC DEATH AND I EXPLAINED SOMETHING SIMILAR. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING TO MEET ME FILLING SAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY AT OUR CHURCH WHEN THEY WERE STAND HEAD ON BY AN ELDERLY MAN TYPING I LAST SETTING, 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND A FOUR-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE ACCIDENT MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS CURRENTLY AT A REHABILITATION CENTER TRYING TO RECOVER FROM A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. MY STEPDAUGHTER WHO IS DRIVING MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITHIN A FEW BROKEN BONES AND A CONCUSSION IS HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER THAT WE LOST. I'M GRATEFUL THAT GOD HAS LED ME TO LISTEN TO YOUR SERMON AND HELP PREPARE ME FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES IN MY HEART SO THAT I COULD STAND STRONG IN MY FAITH WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY DAUGHTERS COMPLETE.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE REVEALING YOUR SERMONS ABOUT DEATH AS A PROVIDE A WONDERFUL FOUNDATION WHEN THINGS DON'T GO THEIR WAY AND WE EXPECT THEM TO GOD'S WORD IS SUCH A COMFORT TO SO MANY DIFFICULT TIMES, AND IF YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR STORY. WHY NOT DROP PASTOR GREG AN EMAIL SEND IT TO great@harvest.org again that's greg@harvest.org will today. Pastor Greg is presenting a look at the reality of judgment beyond the grave and how we can avoid it. It's one of the past years most requested studies.

You can get a copy of harvest.org Pastor Greg continues now the Bible actually teaches that there are two deaths one is physical death and the other is spiritual death. Jesus warned that we are to fear the second death more than the first – over in Revelation 20 we read death and Hades were cast some of the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Also, in Revelation 21 we read that cowered to turn away from God and unbelievers in the corrupted murderers and the immoral and those that practice witchcraft and idol worshipers and liars, their doom is in the lake that burns with fire.

This is the second death. The second death is hell, which is eternal separation from God. Last forever.

One commentator wrote eternity to the godly visit day that has no sunset eternity to the wicked is a knife that has no son.

Why now there are different ways at the Bible describes hell one picture we have of hell in the Bible is hell is like a garbage dump, but is only getting garbage dump we've ever seen. I don't know if you've ever taken your own trash so that dump and looked around, but usually you'll find all kinds of amazing stuff. Their rubbish and and things cast off and then you'll see there's an old refrigerator and it television set part of a car sticking out and you think how hard people may have work to obtain those items and now here they are sitting on the job, but the dump in this day also known as Gehenna was far worse than that you would not only throw your trash and rubbish.

There was a place where also you would throw dead body and it would constantly be burning and you can imagine what a horrific place, as was so Jesus takes this picture.

Gehenna job if you will, and uses it to describe how number two. Hell is described like a prison. One of the clearest pictures Christ gave him hell was that of being incarcerated. He told a parable of the King servant was sent to jail for cruel and unforgiving behavior than out of this morning. This is all my heavenly father will treat each of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

I do get letters from time to time from people in prison that snore radio broadcasts. We were in South Dakota during our crusade by the honor of receiving a special blanket from the Native Americans therein. I was made in a grave and so the man who gave me this blanket actually heard the gospel on a radio broadcast in prison came to Christ and now he's serving the Lord in his preaching the gospel and so I was a great thing here and you remember what we had. Michael frenzies here are not too long ago and he was a member of the mob of the Mafia, and he talked about how he was put in solitary confinement in the hole as they call it the they would let about one hour a day and sometimes it would be 3 o'clock in the morning and you'd be allowed to walk around the yard a little bit and he would be put back in this tiny self but unfortunately for Michael, get a copy of the Bible and was able to turn to God, and that time but in this place called hell. This eternal prison you don't have time in the yard and you certainly don't have a Bible it's too late for that. But the most well-known picture given to us fell in Scripture is where hell is likened unto a fire that never stops burning and that brings us toward tax that will get a look together at now and that's Luke chapter 16, where hell is described as an unquenchable fire and we read these words of Jesus and by the way, before we meet them, let me say this at the outset what we are about to read is true. And by that I mean it's not a parable Jesus would tell parables which is another word for an illustration to make a point learn a parable.

The parable of the soul, and so forth.

This was an actual event.

Reason being that actual names are used in this story, so you might describe this as a behind-the-scenes look into the invisible world. If you'll wondered what happens on the other side when believers and nonbelievers pass into eternity. Here is a glimpse into that, given by Christ himself. Luke 16 verse 19. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man stable. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. So here is this two-story we have the name of one of the men Lazarus and the other man the wealthy man is described as a certain man one man owned everything yet he possessed nothing. The other on nothing but inherited everything one went to comfort the other went to torment the believing man, Lazarus was ushered by the angels into the presence of God into a place called Paradise by the way, prior to the arrival of Jesus and his death and resurrection.

When a person would die in faith. They went to paradise or to Abraham's bosom as the King James version describes remember when Jesus was crucified and that man next to him came to his senses when he heard the Lord say father forgive them for they know not what they do.

The men said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come in your kingdom and Jesus said, verily, verily I say unto you, today you will be with me in a while paragraphs so that man went into this place of list. This place called paradise that was before Jesus died and rose again from the dead. But the Bible says that after his sudden death he preached to those that were in this waiting place. If you will that were reading about here in Luke. So now when a believer dies they go straight to heaven right into the presence of God.

The Bible says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. One of the thing about that thief on the cross, you might describe what happened to him as a deathbed conversion, and I hope this gives a measure of hope to you that maybe have given up on certain people who have no need for God.

Or at least I don't think they have a need for God and the wonder of the lever come to Christ. Don't stop praying for them because we hear glorious stories of people coming to the Lord right before their death. My own mother did not really come to Christ until about a month before she went to heaven. And I pray for her for all of my life as a Christian.

So maybe you know someone right now in your file. Michael never come around.

They may listen. Sometimes we know someone that died, and we fear there and hell right now even that people say they're in hell you don't know who's in hell.

Okay, you're not in a position to say who's in hell no, I do think I can affordably say is in heaven because of a person is put their faith in Christ. I can say there in heaven. The Bible assures us of this, but I don't know if a person did not place their faith in Christ. Mother was unless you were with the person when they pass into eternity in their final moments you don't know what happened. It is possible that person you know you share the gospel with the person that you told about Jesus. It may be in the last few moments of their life. They called on the Lord and you know it if they did, he would forgive them and accept them and they haven't so you might be surprised to see him in glory.

Still, as I've often said that we three surprises and we get the heaven number one.

A lot of the people we never thought we would see there will be there. Number two. Some of the people we were sure we would see there will not be there. And number three. We will be there but we all expect to be there, but I think there be some surprises in heaven. Quite frankly, so don't give up on that person and remember that no one wants to save a person more than the Lord Jesus Christ and if there was any movement on their part toward God. You can be sure that he would forgive and asked them, even if it was on their very deathbed. So a believer goes heaven.

What happens to the nonbeliever, will they pass over to the other side to but it's a pretty bleak scenario for the believer it's entrance in the paradise in the presence of Jesus. For the nonbeliever that marked his entrance into Hades. The other is a hell, but listen hell was not made for people. Jesus said, hell was created for the devil and his angels. It was never God's intention to send a person the help he does everything he can to keep you out of hell.

But God has given to you in the me about free will. I have the ability to choose, and God will not violate that if you want to go to heaven. My friend, you will put your faith in if you want to go to hell. You will absolutely your joy. Hell was a strong danger. Today's message is a strong warning.

Pastor Greg Laurie with a study called the reality of hell and he'll continue this teaching here on a new beginning. But if you like a permanent copy of the full presentation, call us at 1-800-821-3300. Just mention that titled the reality of hell is one of the most requested studies of the past year and again our phone number 1-800-821-3300 or simply go online to harvest.org and were so excited about Pastor Greg's book on the life of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash is called Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon. Johnny had such a complicated life, a man of faith, but also men who failed more times than he could count Pastor Greg if you would speak to the person listening who has a family member that's caught in that vortex between sin and sainthood. Maybe it's a prodigal child or maybe it's a spouse or parent. Having tracked the path the Johnny walked in seeing how that ended. You said he finished well maybe you can offer some hope on how God's grace is bigger yes I would say stop judging them and start loving them, you know Jesus said Judge not lest you be judged, and that could better be translated, condemned, not lest you be condemned were far too quick to write people lost all their not a Christian, how do you know if they're Christian or not. Well they did this thing they say they're Christian but they did this thing okay. Only God knows their heart, so I think you need to be very careful to not condemn them, and instead pray for them.

What is the Bible tell us to do it.

We see a brother or a sister overtaken in a fault present. It says if you see a brother or sister overtaken in sin, you are spiritual, kick them when they're down and make sure you tell everybody about how horrible they are not. The Bible doesn't say that it's as if you see someone that's stumbling in sin, you are spiritual listen, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, lest you also be tempted. Let me paraphrase that help them get back up again and don't think that your above it all because you could do the same thing under the certain circumstances, so we want to always be humble about these things and seek to help lift people up. Our job is not to knock people down. It's the lift them up. Here's a perfect example. The story of the prodigal son as told by Jesus, which is effectively of Sophie of God what is God like bullets, he would.

Jesus says, according to the story, God is like a father who had two sons, one of the sons run away from home and the father loves the son. The father missed the sun and when the son returned home.

The father ran to his son and threw his arms around them and accepted him and forgave him. Should that not be how we treat people who've wandered off and want to come back again that they are loved and there cared for.

I was speaking some time ago to a father whose child is a very well-known celebrity and I won't say who it was but does this child which was the child was young adult really, but they had wandered off from the faith that they were raised in the father cut off communication with them and I said to him, you need to reestablish communication is how can you help them.

If you're not communicating with them, which he did and I think he ended up saving that young person's life. As a result, and I know sometimes our kids disappointed as they let us down so we say were not talking anymore when I get together anymore. While luck if they want to come back. They need to know their loved and they need to know they can come back home again if you will enemy literally moving back in your house but back home spiritually. So I think that's I guess we have to be honest with people, and that there trapped in center living in sin, we need to tell them what the Bible says because the Bible says people of the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. So if you really love someone, you will tell them the truth.

However, having told them the truth now.

Our objective is to win them back to help them back to look them up again as a said not knock them down great insight and you'll see that grace demonstrated in the life of Johnny Cash it's throughout Pastor Greg's new book called Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon. Would you let us send this your way. Call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg brings more hard-hitting insights about the reality of hell, and the joy of heaven is the kind of truth we don't hear much anymore. That's next time on a new beginning.

Greg Laurie possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org