A Testimony from Hell

A Testimony from Hell 2021 10 10

Luke 16:19 – 31

During a trial in a court of law, various witnesses are called to give their testimony. They publicly declare what they have seen or experienced, so that those listening can make some kind of decision. The word  “testimony” means a “witness or affirmation.” Today, we are having a testimony right here in the 21st century world from someone who is presently in hell.

 

Luke 16:19 – 31

  1. This account we have just read is an historical accoun It has happened, and the people in the story are, today, exactly where they were when this all happened.
    • Lazarus is still in paradise, where he enjoys a wonderful friendship and fellowship with Abraham and all the saints who have left this life (Abraham’s bosom is a Jewish expression that comes from the practice of reclining at meals with the head of one resting on the chest of another, with the idea being in a position of comfort, friendship and close fellowship. Abraham’s bosom was a term to describe paradise.)
    • The rich man is still in hell, where he is tormented in the flame without relief. Both men are very much aware of what has happened and where they are.
      1. No one wants to die, but everyone does; in fact, death can come without warning.
    • The five main points to keep in mind as we look at this testimony from a man who is already in hell are: )   The Certainty of Death    2.)  Hell is Horrible   3.)  What Did the Rich Man Have to Say About Hell?  4.) The Preaching of the Prophets and Jesus Christ,   and 5.) The Hope of Heaven

 

  1. THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH
  1. I SAMUEL 20:3, “And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.”
    • Your next step could be your last You do not know when you are going to die.  Then what?
  2. Hebrews 9:27 states, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
    • You can cancel some appointments, or simply refuse to show up, but there is not one person who is going to miss this appointment!
    • All of us are going to be judged for the things done or not done in this life.
  3. Numbers 32:23, “and be sure your sin will find you out.”
    • All the things you might think were hidden and done in secret will be revealed and reviewed.
    • You don’t get a second chance at life. You have one life to live, and then the judgment.
      1. This rich man fared sumptuously, but he gave no thought to others or to his own soul.
      2. and when this man died he woke up in hell.

 

  1. HELL IS HORRIBLE
  1. You’ve heard people say, “I’m going to party with my friends in hell.”
    • But there are no parties in hell.
    • In hell you are all alone.Matthew 25:30  “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 
  2. There is not one good thing, nor is there one good grace or characteristic in hell.
    • All there is, is horror, and darkness and sorrow.
    • Hell is a conscious death, a death of constant condemnation, guilt, and torment, separated from God, the source of all life, for eternity!
    • Today if you are lost or not where you need to be with God you ought to be thankful when God deals with you and convicts
    • In hell, God is not going to deal with you. You will never feel God again.
    • In hell, nobody is going to be there for you.
    • In hell you will be all along, having made your bed in hell!
  3. Mark 9:43,44, “And if thy hand offend thee (causes you to sin), 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 dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
    • People say they drink to forget. In hell there will be no drinks; people will remember and regret, forever.
    • It will be a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

III. WHAT DID THE RICH MAN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HELL?

  1. There is no comfort: Luke 16:24, “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.”
    • Right now, we just take for granted that God sends the rain on the just and the unjust, and the sun to lighten the day.
      1. Hell is pitch dark and dry
  1. There is no way out: Luke 16:26, “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.”
    • In hell there is no parole, or bail, or weekend passes for good behavior.
    • There will be no mistrials or retrials. There is NO second chance!
    • There are no exit signs in hell! HELL IS HORRIBLE!!
  2. There is always room for one more: Proverbs 27:20, “Hell and destruction are never full.”
    • Isaiah 5:14, “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure:”
      1. Have you made sure that hell is not enlarging itself to make room for you?
      2. Have you made sure it is not reserving a place with your name on it?
  1. There are no phone calls from Hell: Luke 16:27,28, “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest 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.”
    • He is still telling people the same thing today. He is there and does not want anyone else to come there!
    • Abraham replied by saying, (Luke 16:29-31) “… 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.”

 

  1. THE PREACHING OF THE PROHPETS AND JESUS CHRIST
  1. Exodus 12:13, “and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Not just any blood would do—it was a pure, spotless lamb.
  2. Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
    • Reason means, “to discuss; to weigh both sides.”
  3. Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die…?”
    • God has neither pleasure nor delight in the death of a sinner. Why die and go to hell when there is a remedy? 1John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
  4. Zechariah 1:3, “Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”
    • Turn to God and away from death and hell.
  5. John 3:3, “… Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
    • Jesus and the prophets tell us to repent and make things right.
    • They tell us that there is a Heaven to gain and a hell to shun and lose.
    • Today, that rich man and his brothers have already made their choice.
    • Today we have even less of an excuse than the rich man, for in addition to the testimony of the inspired books of the Old Testament, we also have the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ, the FACT that he rose from the dead, and the testimony of almighty God through the inspired writers of the New Testament!
    • This day, at this moment, you still have that opportunity.But at any moment, you may not.Deuteronomy 30:19,20, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
  1. THE HOPE OF HEAVEN
  1. CONSIDER where you came from, whose you are, unto whom you owe your strength and possessions, the nearness of death, and the greatness of eternity. Are you really ready? Are you really saved?  Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ?
  2. REPENT – change your mind; don’t just feel sorry. Admit that God is right and you are wrong and you need a Saviour.  Stop trusting yourself or anything other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Put all your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. When you do, God will save you!
  3. Then, RESOLVE – come to a deliberate and fixed resolution to live from now on in service unto God your Saviour. If you cannot do this, you need to go back to #1 and do some serious soul searching!
    • James 2:20 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
    • James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

CONCLUSION:

  1. Luke 13:24-28, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”
    1. One day, it’s going to be too late!
  2. This morning we have received a testimony from hell, from a man who went there a long time ago, and who is still there, right now.  Luke 16:23, “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
    1. The rich man could see Abraham.
    2. You would think to see Abraham would be a pleasing sight, but to see him afar off was a tormenting sight, because where he was, all was horror, pain, and darkness.
    3. All he wanted was 1 drop of water and to tell his brothers about hell.
    4. he didn’t get either wish.
  3. One day God’s mercies toward fallen mankind will be over, and not one drop of mercy will be given.
    1. But today God’s mercies are renewed day by day, and while we are alive will never run dry. Today IS the day of salvation.  Make sure you ARE saved, right now.
    2. There is a day coming when it will be too late for anyone who isn’t ready for eternity.  That day could be just one step away for you!   You must be sure, now, today, that you are ready.  Be sure, right now, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is your Saviour!