Sunday Sermons

Eternity

Mark Dunagan
01/01/06 - Sunday Morning

Eternity

In this lesson we want to learn what happens after death, what hell is, and what heaven is, addressing a number of misconceptions that, from time to time, circulate among men concerning both.

Hell

Read Matthew 13:37-43. This is the interpretation of the parable of the tares recorded in 13:24-30.

· From verse 41, what two kinds of people will be cast into hell?

· How is hell described?

Notice that this parable reveals that good and evil will continue to co-exist in this world even after the death of Christ. Good will not eradicate all the evil in the world, yet neither will evil overcome good; both will exist right up until the Second Coming. Observe also that hell is described as a place of conscious punishment, “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (13:42). Added to this, only two groups of people exist, those who are the wheat and others who are the tares. We become as the wheat as a result of listening to God’s message and we become as the tares if we choose to listen to the devil’s message.

Read Matthew 22:1-14. This is the parable of the marriage feast. The first seven verses talk about the Jewish rejection of the gospel. The last seven verses talk about the rest of the world being given the opportunity to come to Christ.

· What did the Jews do wrong in verses five and six?

· What was the man doing wrong who came to the wedding without a wedding garment? Remember that at such regal weddings garments were provided for all the guests.

· What picture is Jesus giving us about hell in verse 13?

Notice in verse 14 that many (the whole world) receives the gospel call, but few are chosen because few will respond by preparing themselves properly for the occasion. In contrast those who soften their hearts to be receptive to the will of God, and were repenting of old, destructive lifestyles, were considered clothed for the feast.

Read Matthew 25:31-46.

· For whom did God originally prepare this everlasting fire?

One reason to avoid hell is the miserable company that exists in such a place, including “the devil and his angels”. God did not design mankind for an eternity in hell because it is God’s desire that no one perish (2 Peter 3:9).

· How long does the punishment last?

· How long does heaven last?

Read Mark 9:43-48. Notice that this passage teaches us that no matter how dear something is to us, if it causes us to stumble we must remove ourselves from it rather than enter into hell. The word Jesus uses for hell is Gehenna, meaning the valley of Hinnom. In Jesus' day this valley was a virtual garbage dump south of Jerusalem. The valley had a history of child sacrifice and much uncleanness. Bodies of animals, criminals and the poor were dumped there. Fires constantly burned and worms constantly fed on the flesh. Jesus says in this passage that hell will be a place like this, yet different in that the fire will not be quenched and the worm will not die. Observe that hell is a place of perpetual corruption; nothing gets any better there, improvement is not possible, and thus it is a place of hopelessness. We need to remind our neighbors that in this life even the unbeliever shares in God’s physical blessings (Acts 14:16). Yet hell is a place completely void of any blessings. In hell there is no one to love and no one will love you in return because love is one of God’s blessings. Carefully observe that the one who spoke most about hell is Jesus. One cannot at the same time believe in Jesus and reject what the Bible says about hell.

C.S. Lewis noted that some people are continually trying to wed Heaven and Hell. “The attempt is based on the belief that reality never presents us with an absolutely unavoidable ‘either-or’; that, granted skill and patience and (above all) time enough, some way of embracing both alternatives can always be found; that mere development or adjustment or refinement will somehow turn evil into good without our being called on for a final and total rejection of anything one should like to retain. You cannot take all luggage with you on all journeys; on one journey even your right hand and your right eye may be among the things you have to leave behind. We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually near and finally meet at the center” (The Great Divorce, pp. vii-viii).

Read Revelation 14:10-11. This passage speaks of the idolaters of the Roman Empire.

· How long is hell in this passage?

Read Revelation 20:10-15. Scripture reveals a picture of the final day of judgment. Who is cast in the lake of fire in these verses? Notice from this passage that death and Hades (hell, KJV) will be cast into the lake of fire.

Hades

Heaven and hell are the final abodes of the wicked and the righteous, but prior to the final judgment all departed spirits go to Hades, the unseen realm of the dead, where one is either in paradise or torment. Read Luke 16:19-31. Notice in this story that Jesus tells us that both Lazarus and the rich man are in Hades, yet one is being comforted and the other is being tormented.

· Why could not Lazarus come over and give the rich man water?

· Is there any mercy for those who died in sin?

· Are there any second chances? What did the rich man wish for his five brothers?

· What is the only warning that his five brothers would receive concerning what happens after death?

· If we have loved ones who died outside of Christ what is their wish for us?

· Do they want us to obey the gospel or reject it and join them?

· Is the rich man conscious after death?

· Is his torment only temporary?

Heaven

Consider the following passages on this glorious place. Remember hell is far more horrible that we can imagine while heaven is far more glorious. Jesus said our reward in heaven is great (Matthew 5:12).

· Is heaven cold, all white and antiseptic? Matthew 8:11

· Is heaven a place of inactivity and boredom? Matthew 25:23

· Will heaven become ordinary after a while? 1 Peter 1:4

· How can we enjoy heaven if loved ones end up lost? Revelation 21:4

Carefully note that heaven is not a rest from activity but from meaningless and frustrating activity (Revelation 14:13), even in Eden (the sinless paradise) man had a purpose and mission (Genesis 2:15). Heaven is that place of complete and absolute fulfillment and satisfaction that never wears off. It is unfading in its beauty and glory (1 Peter 1:4). Heaven is great because it is when we meet the Creator Himself face to face (1 John 3:1-3; Revelation 22:4; Matthew 5:8).

Do not make the mistake of assuming that heaven is one long “church service”. Remember our services here are carried out in mortal bodies, with imperfect people. Heaven is eternal companionship with our God who created us and sent His Son to die for our sins. Heaven is finally being “home” (Hebrews 11:16).

The Final Judgment

Now it is important to understand more clearly what Judgment Day is since it appears that when we die we are already judged as to whether we will go to heaven or hell. Judgment Day is actually a sentencing day in which all the rewards and punishments are handed out, for what we actually did (2 Corinthians 5:10). It does appear that there could be varying degrees of punishment in hell, though hell is still eternal and unbearable for all who go there. Read Luke 12:47-48 and Matthew 11:23-24.

Concluding Thoughts

“A sum can be put right: but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never by simply going on. Evil can be undone, but it cannot ‘develop’ into good. Time does not heal it. It is still ‘either-or’. If we insist on keeping Hell, we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell” (The Great Divorce pp. viii-ix).

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017