The main “attraction” of hell
– Eternal separation from God
– Those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel – They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might… (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
Feature #1: Painful suffering as punishment for sin
– Hell is the punishment “for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil.” (Romans 2:8-9)
– In Jesus words, hell is: a fiery furnace; a place of outer darkness; where worm does not die and fire is not quenched; eternal punishment, being cut to pieces.
– It is so bad that people has to “thrown” in: “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15)
Feature #2: Torment is eternal
– And these (sinners) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Matthew 25:46)
– [Those who rebel against God] will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur… And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night … (Revelation 14:10-11)
Feature #3: Turn back is impossible
– At the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49-50)
The Final Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
– Every one will stand before judge to give an account of his/her life.
– For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27)
– … Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds. (1 Peter 1:17)
– For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthian 5:10)
Judgement is good news for the oppressed
– Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest
sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes. For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. (Psalm 96:11-13)
Judgement is also good news for the faithful servants
– Paul: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (1 Timothy 4:7-8)
– Jesus’ parable of the faithful servants: Matthew 25:14-30
How much time do you have?
– Two visions – two outcomes – two very different ways of life
– A God-centred way of life vs. a self-centred way of life
– Will you be faithful?
– Will you invest 100% of your life for God’s kingdom?
– Will you love your neighbours as yourself?
– Will you generously give to the other 99% of the world?
– Will the Lord’s appearance be good news?
– Will that day be an award giving ceremony for you? Or will it be what it is – the Judgement Day?
– Are you sure?
