1.
Newsweek
report of 1991. Seventy percent of Americans believe heaven exists; only about
fifty percent believe there is a hell.
2.
Ultimately,
mans polls are of little importance. What really matter is "What do the
scriptures say?"
I. Perception
of hell.
A. Old
Testament prophets taught the reality of hell.
1. David
wrote of the existence of hell Psalm 9:17.
2. Daniel
spoke of the existence of hell Daniel 12:2.
B. Jesus
taught the reality of hell.
1. Greek
word, Gehenna, used eleven times by Jesus.
2. Jesus
referred to hell as everlasting punishment Matthew 25:46.
C. New
Testament preachers taught the reality of hell.
1. John
the Baptist spoke of the existence hell Matthew 3:11.
2. Peter
spoke of the existence of hell II Peter 2:4-9.
II. Punishment
of hell.
A. Place
of separation (from God).
1. Place
of darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth Matthew 25:30.
2. Place
of death - Revelation 21:8, Romans 6:23.
B. Place
of suffering.
1. Tribulation
and anguish Romans 2:8-9.
2. Not
annihilation, but punishment Hebrews 10:27-29.
C. No
relief.
1. Tormented
night and day Revelation 20:10.
2. Unquenchable
thirst Luke 16:24.
III. People
of hell.
A. Those
who are ignorant of the gospel.
1. How
can man believe in him of whom he has not heard - Romans 10:13-14.
2. It
is impossible to have faith without first hearing the gospel Romans 10:17.
B. Those
who are disobedient to the gospel.
1. Not
enough to have knowledge of gospel, must obey - II Thessalonians 1:7-9.
2. Many
may be religious, but still not obey the gospel - Matthew 7:21-23.
C. Those
persons who have obeyed the gospel but have gone back into the world.
1. Their
latter end is worse than the beginning II Peter 2:20-22.
2. Those
who fall away are worthy of much sorer punishment Hebrews 10:26-30.
