Want to begin tonight by telling story of a young man named Robert. He came from a long line of preachers - father, grandfather, great grandfather. The family had hoped young Robert would also be a preacher. Unfortunately, as a young boy growing up he was not inclined to be a good boy all the time. And every time he disobeyed - his father would say: If you don’t straighten up, going to burn in hell, suffer forever and ever. You are going to burn and burn and burn in Hell. Finally, Robert left home, said in a note to his father – if that is the kind of God you serve - I hate Him, I hate Him, I hate him!

He became the famous atheist, Robert Ingersoll.

This young man became the victim of what I believe is the most misunderstood and misrepresented subject of God’ Word – The subject of Hell Fire.

Tonight the Bible Truth! We want the Biblical Facts Actually, the subject of hell fire as a place of final punishment, is one of the most solemn of all Bible topics.

It is repeatedly mentioned in Revelation and by our Lord Himself to help men realize the awfulness of sin.

I’m sure you will agree that there is no more serious question in scripture than that of Apostle Peter in : I Peter 4:17

“What shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

No doubt people have asked this question for centuries and are certainly asking it today. Now, first of all, let me tell you that I believe in Hell Fire.

And I think it ought to be preached. If it’s in this book, and it is, then it’s important.

But, the fist thing we need to know about Hell, is that - no one saved in heaven simply because scared of Hell Fire.Romans 2:4 Goodness of God leads to repentance.The very first and most important thing – to see the love of God. See His love on Calvary’s cross dying in love for us.

Must see Jesus as sin pardoning Savior. Old rugged Cross! The very first step in approaching God is to know and believe the love He has for us - I John 4:16 He is still same God of love today. The cross reveals that God is for man - not against him.

Some believe God hates sinners – Can’t wait to send them to hell. God loves sinners. Romans 5:8 But because of lack of the true Holy Spirit’s power - preachers have resorted to all kinds of teachings - to compel to be Christian. Jonathan Edwards - “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God” - sermon in 1741.

The Most Famous Sermon ever. – In fact many others have preached this sermon. Most pastors have their own version of this.

Describes hell and God – holding man above flames.

My question - are sinners in hand of angry God with a sadistic urge?

To suspend them by a thread over hungry flames at last to plunge them into inferno below?

Does He then watch as they writhe and scream through all eternity? In flames hot enough to bring excruciating agony but not death.

No friends - if only one text to use. John 3:16 Notice - “not perish” – doesn’t say would burn for eternity.This is consistent throughout the word of God. 2 Peter 3:9 The fate of the sinner is clear in: Romans 6:23 Bible promises - “wages of sin is death.”

There are only Two rewards – eternal death or eternal life.

Now this death is not the death which all face in this world if the Lord should tarry and not come.

The scriptures say in: Hebrews 9:27 “Appointed unto all men once to die”Now listen dear friends, if penalty for sin is burning in Hell Fire for eternity and Jesus had to pay that penalty for all - He would need to be burning in hell today.

Bible makes it clear in a verse we used last night, but now let’s see how it relates to our subject tonight. John 5:28, 29 Notice - “Hour is coming.”

When? At the resurrection - which comes at the end of the world.Jesus makes this so clear in Matthew 13:37-43 “So shall it be at the end of the world.”Jesus wants us to understand that no one is burning in hell today.

The Inspired Apostle Peter makes it even more plain. 2 Peter 2:9 This agrees perfectly with the rest of scripture. Job 21: 30 Okay, let’s talk about the place of punishment – WHEN and WHERE does Hell Fire Occur?

Is Hell burning today – Where is the FIRE LOCATED?

The Book of Revelation gives light on the subject. Revelation 21:8

Second death - what does this mean? Means must take place after resurrection of the wicked. Which is at the end of 1000 years.

Can be no second death without second life.

They died a first death - then come up at the resurrection of the wicked to die the second death, which is the penalty for sin.The first death is the death we die as a natural result of living in this fallen world. The second death is an eternal death as a result of personal rebellion against God.

The second death is an eternal endless death.

The Bible tells us how this will happen in: Revelation 20:9 Consuming Flame of God envelopes great army of Satan. . .

And destroys them from the face of the earth. You will understand more about this on another night - 1000 years.

2 Peter 3: 10-13 So we see hell not a place down under - located here on top of old earth.

Now we see how big it is - just as large as earth itself.

Whole world going to be on fire. How long will fire burn? Don’t know - but not for eternity.

Because the earth becomes the home of the saved! Matthew. 5:5 - “meek inherit the earth”So the Fire has to go out.

Psalms 104:35 - "Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more.”

Bible says the fire will go out: Isaiah 47:14 “Stubble” - ever see burn - quickly

Some think soul - going to burn forever.

Think error from two things. Misunderstanding of soul.

They have misunderstood what a soul really is. Confused about whether it is immortal or not.

But we learned that a soul not immortal. Ezekial 18:4 – “Soul sinneth it shall die.”

Notice other translations – “A person who sins will die”A soul in scripture generally applies to a living person or being. That’s how the word is predominately used.

Review – What the Bible says on this. Jesus taught us clearly - man completely destroyed in hell.

Matthew 10:28 Jesus is trying to tell us that Man completely “destroyed”.

Only way to have eternal life is to have Christ. I John 5:11, 12 I Timothy 6:16 says only Jesus has immortality.Have to have Jesus to have life - not give it to those who do not have Him.

Those who are lost have spurned His offer of grace and rebelled against the truths of His Word.

The saved get immortality at His Second Coming. Paul describes it clearly and vividly in: I Corinthians 15:51-53

Now some may wonder about certain perplexing Bible texts.

Such as the ones that say unquenchable fire.

Must let the Bible explain - Jeremiah 17:27

Jerusalem destroyed by unquenchable fire. Does not mean the fire never goes out.

2 Chronicles 36:16-21 tells of this destruction of fire - done by Babylon.

Jerusalem was destroyed and man could not stop it.

Now then this word “eternal” or “everlasting”.

First I want to show us a text which tells us something about God. Isaiah 33:14 God is an eternal, devouring Fire to sinners. But, do you remember the story of the 3 Hebrews? So this is one angle on this – Let’s look at another.

These words “Eternal” and “Everlasting” are only mentioned in four texts.

Now, what if had hundred say one thing only few opposite?

What should we believe?

I believe we should let Bible explain - line those few up with rest. Jude 7 “Sodom and Gomorrah” - example of eternal fire.

Are they still burning? - No at base of Masada perhaps.

No sir, not at all friends - Peter tells just how complete the destruction was - 2 Peter 2:6 What does it say? – “Turned them to ashes.”

The Bible tells us just how God did this in Genesis 19:24 Again - an example of what will happen to those who live ungodly.

Another text causes concern - Matthew 25:46 Please note - verse reads “punishment” not “punishing”.

Well, let’s see just what is this punishment? 2 Thessalonian 1:8, 9 “Punished with everlasting destruction.”

Want you to realize both punishment and destruction are related to nouns not verbs. Everlasting destruction or punishment IS NOT Everlasting Punishing

Wicked destroyed by fire but cannot continue to experience “destruction”.

It is a perpetual state - the irreversible result of the finished work of the fire.

“Everlasting” is a relative term - such as “always” Which means it could mean duration or results.

Example: “Always smiling” - not at 3 a.m.

Destruction shall be so complete - Satan himself destroyed!! Ezekial 28:18, 19 Never be anymore!This is what hell fire is really for - destroy sin and its miserable instigator. Matthew 25:41 Revelation 20: 10,14,15 shows this clearly! Those not in Book of Life – follow in Rebellion mentioned in Revelation

Now you see why we have to cover all of the material we have covered? God doesn’t want to destroy them – 2 Peter 3:9, Rom. 6:23 God has done and is doing all that He can to save all who will respond to His great gift of salvation in Christ.He doesn’t want any to be lost. But, we must give ourselves fully to Jesus out of love in response to His grace and mercy.

The last book of the OT describes it this way. Malachi 4:1,3 “Neither root nor branch” - wicked - “ashes under feet.”Psalms 37:10,11, 20 “Wicked perish” - consume away into smoke.

Thankful that some are restudying this subject today as they have come to realize the inconsistencies and discrepancies of the traditional teachings.

Today - theology of men has painted heavenly Father as cruel God. Micah 7:18 Who is like Him? To die for us - Has already paid price for all. He doesn’t want to punish us. Ezekiel 18:32 God Pleads with all today. – Isaiah 55:7 Now some go to opposite extreme - Say God’s not going to punish me for this little thing.

We need to fear the true punishment from God if sinner.

In between two extremes is Bible picture of God of mercy and justice.

Our sentence is in accordance with our wrong. Revelation 20:12

Here see - rewards us according to what our life reveals.

There will perhaps be different lengths of duration and intensity of punishment.

But all will end in death - “wages of sin is death.”

Soon even this great enemy of ours - “death” will come to an end!Revelation 20:13, 14 Death and hell - (Hades - grave, verse 13 - see margin) - cast in fire.

Death will be destroyed. 2 Corintians 15:26Death and hell usually associated - hell, grave, “Hades” almost always.Soon no more dying, tears, pain. Even Devil - miserable instigator of sin destroyed.

Some think he is in charge of hell - on assignment by God. Not so. Revelation 1:18 Jesus has keys.

We have to answer to Him for rejection of love on Calvary’s cross.

Okay - but what about words - “forever and ever”?

Doesn’t Bible say - sinners burn forever. Revelation 20:10

Revelation 14:11 What does this Expression mean?

Again - relative. Biblical idiom used in those times different than used today.

Must understand Bible’s use of word. Exodus 21:6

Slave to serve forever, but that could only be as long as he lives.

See used to denote length of time a thing can exist under the prevailing conditions.

Servant - only for a lifetime, may seem like forever if young, but not if 80.

Look at another example. I Samuel 1:22

Hannah took son to serve in the Lord’s house forever.

Verse 28 says as long as he lives. By the way Jonah 2:6 tells us Jonah was in the whale’s belly forever. That was only 3 days. Jonah 1:17

We must also look at these verses in their proper context and not remove them from the rest of the narrative.

Let’s go back to Revelation 20:10 but read verse 9 through the end of the chapter. Revelation 20:9, 10

Notice verse 9 says: “Fire from God devoured them” as they were all cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone.

Just as when Sodom and Gomorrah were totally destroyed by a Lake of Fire and Brimstone from God.

As the Bible clearly says they were an example for those who throughout history refuse to give their lives to Jesus and obey God.

But they are not burning today – Nothing is left of them – completely destroyed – the results of the fire were destruction forever.

These passages are all describing the great White Throne Judgment –

When God fulfills His purpose to do away with sin and everything associated forever.

Even Death and Hades (Hell or the Grave) are cast into the lake of fire and verse 14 states unequivocally that this is the 2nd Death!

Revelation 20:14, 15

Someday universe will be clean once more. No more sin, pain, suffering death. Revelation 21:4

We will talk more about this when we cover the Millennium in our next presentation and when we cover Heaven.

It’s going to be great to see the truth and will of God revealed in these subjects

Do you want to live in that pure and holy, sinless world?

Listen carefully - no one is going to be lost because they stole, killed or committed adultery.

He will be lost because he refused to turn to Christ for deliverance from those sins.

The greatest sin is to spurn God’s invitation!

Proverb 15:11 says, “Hell and destruction are before the Lord - how much more the hearts of men.”

Jesus is in control of hell fire. He knows the final destruction of sin and sinners. He does not want any to perish.

He is wooing hearts tonight to make that full surrender to follow in obedience to Him.

God reaches out in Love to a lost and dying world – offering His Salvation through the death of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross.

Do you want to make that full surrender to Jesus again tonight?