What Should Christians Do with Hell?

1. Introduction: Criticism
2. "Preaching Souls into Hell"
3. Judging Visions, Dreams, Songs, Tracts and Sermons on Hell
4. What Jesus has said Concerning Hell & Eternal Judgment?
5. Talking to the Young About Hell
6. Word Study: Sheol, Hell, Paradise, etc.
7. Hell Is …

I. Introduction: CRITICISM

A. He was a slightly toned-down "fire and brimstone" type preacher ("Don't Talk About Hell")

From a July 28, 1998 Greenfield Massachussetts Newspaper article "Impressions of a Travelling Tent Revival":

The senior Evangalist was an enthusiastic man in his 60's, and very theatrical in his preaching style. The older Reynolds had what sounded like the typical well-educated upper class deep south accent. He was a slightly toned-down "fire and brimstone" type preacher, focusing on the Biblical events of the crucifixion, "real life" stories about sinners, visions of Hell, and "saving" members of the audience. He seemed to be the least concerned with alienating people with his specific view of what Christianity should be by making moralist statements about homosexuality, dancing and drugs, and illustrating the benefits of disciplinary beatings. He made it clear throughout the night that both he and his son Mark, the guitar player, had been great sinners in their pasts. He himself had been in the Marines and told a story about stealing a car at the age of 17 or 18 while in the Service. He also mentioned being beaten by his mother with a large stick. He seemed to not be upset by this, but rather approved of it.

He then described the vision of a preacher named William A. Warden who prayed for a vision of Hell, and was allowed by God to go to Hell in spirit only. He described in great detail the visions he saw there, acting out the various parts to much audience approval, ending with a re-enactment of Warden’s vision of Judas roaring "Leave me alone!"

This past week, Evang. Jason Nunley. (There were rumblings of "fear mongering".)

B. You Don't Talk About it Enough

• August 19, 2024, Rachel Weeping for Her Children

Matthew 2:18 — In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

"You don't hear many mommas and you don't hear many daddy's asking God for their children. This sound of weeping is missing. Most of us don't really believe in hell. You don't hear it preached much today. The Bible said it, and not me. The Bible said, … [Matthew 7:13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: I've got children tonight that is [sic] lost without God and when I think about them dieing lost and going into a literal hell I can't enjoy nothing. "

Hebrews 9:27 — And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

• December 18, 2011, In "Loving Thy Neighbor" preached by James Reynolds, Sr:

God give us compassion. I went up the other night on the street and you know as well as I do I can’t stand long on my leg. Wish I could, but as I sat in the car my heart was broken. I think there was that man right there and I believe that there was one other one out there in the dark filled with compassion. They were out there because they don’t want people to be lost and go to that awful place called hell. How many know that hell is forever and ever and ever? God, give us compassion. Are you trying to encourage us to go on the street? Yes. … Be like the Samaritan that went and had compassion and did something for that one and dying on the road to hell.

C. How Shall We Judge Ourselves in this matter? (Too much? Not Enough?)

• Feelings, Common Sense

1 Corinthians 11:13 — Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

"I appeal to your natural sense of what is proper and right."

• Led by the Spirit, What saith the Scripture?

Romans 3:4 — God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

II. "Preaching Souls into Hell"

2 Corinthians 5:1-11 — For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Hebrews 10:31 — It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Jude 1:22,23 — And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

• Nothing we say will change the outcome for those past. All we say concerning Hell informs and moves those yet living. Fear is a great motivator and just if the danger is REAL and not IMAGINED.
• "SURGEON GENERAL WARNING" on cigarreettes. (Alcohol? It is poison)
• Talking to the Sinner about Hell

a) There is a Living Death (Romans 7:24 - O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?) b) There is impending Danger of Dying in Your Sin (I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Galatians 5:19-21, vs.21b "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God") c) There is an Eternal Death (The Grave is not the end)

Hebrews 9:27 — And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

1 Peter 4:5 — Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For the sinner, Hell is the place they are headed if they die in their sin. This is the reality they must confront if they are to escape it.

Luke 12:5 — But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Matthew 25:46 — And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

• Talking to Christians about the Sinner and Hell

III. Judging Visions, Dreams, Songs, Tracts and Sermons on Hell

1. Too Late

(Oak Ridge Boys, Album "Talk About the Good Times, 1971")

• When time runs out for you

• And hope for life is through

• The deadline you have crossed

• God's mercy ever lost

• Too late too late for tears

• Too late you've wasted precious years

• What will your answer be

• Facing eternity

• Perhaps this very day

• The Spirit calls your way

• Give Him your life, your all

• This could be your last call

2. 23 1/2 Minutes in Hell

3. Rev. Ward Vision of Hell

4. Dante's Inferno

IV. What Jesus has said Concerning Hell & Eternal Judgment?

As far as man's imaginations can stretch, is how many different opinions of hell. But what has Jesus said on the subject?

• "The Gates of Hell" attack the Church (because they hate the Christ of that Church)

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

• In Danger of "Hell Fire"

Matthew 5:22 … But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

• "Cast Into Hell"

Matthew 5:30 — Mt 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

V. Talking to the Young About Hell

DEATH IS FEARED EVEN BY BELIEVERS. IT IS AN UNKNOWN. JESUS DEFEATED DEATH AND HELL AT THE CROSS. HE CONQUERED DEATH. WE NEED NOT BE AFRAID

1 Corinthians 15:55 — O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

VI. Word Study (started by Pastor & D.B.I. Graduate Bobby Derocher)

• THANTOS : Death, to be dead
• GRAVE: Hades , the place of the unseen, the place of departed souls, the grave, hell

SHEOL: HEBREW – Used in the O.T.

• (The place where the spirits of men go at the time of physical death. Literally means "place of the dead")
• Translated hell, the grave, the pit. Appears 65 times in the O.T. 31 times translated grave; 31 times translated hell; 3 times translated the pit

Psalm 49:15 — But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. [Sheol - grave]

Psalm 16:10 — For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. [Hell - sheol]

• Peter quotes Psalm 16:10 in his sermon recorded in Acts 2: 27-31

Acts 2:27 — Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 2:31 — He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

HADES: GREEK – Used in the N.T.

• The Greek equivalent to sheol

• The unseen

• The place of departed souls

• Grave, hell

• Abraham’s Bosom & Hades (Luke 16:22-26)

• A great gulf fixed between two sides: 1) One side was Paradise and 2) One side was Hades

• The rich man went to Hades

• The begger went to Abrham’s bosom

Luke 23:43 — And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Paradise: paradeisos an Eden (place of future happiness, “paradise”) :- paradise. Believed to be Abraham’s bosom

2 Cor. 12:4 — How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Ephesians 4:8 — Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Psalm 68:18 — Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

Matthew 12:40 — For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

CHRIST WENT DOWN INTO PARADISE AND LED THEM TO HEAVEN. Christ went to the bosom of Abraham and took the souls with Him to heaven. He also preached to the dead in Hades

I Peter 4:6 — For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

1 Peter 3:18 — For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Proverbs 15:24 — The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Revelation 1:18 — I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

• "Death & Hell" & "The Lake of Fire"

Revelation 20:13,14,15 — 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

VII. Hell Is …

A sermon outline by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. titled "Hell"

Luke 16:23 — in hell he lifted up his eyes.

1. Introduction

The rich man —

the beggar, Lazarus — God is my help.

Some believed this would to be the only hell they shall know.

Some don't believe in a hell.

Some believe it to be the place of the dead.

2. There is a place called hell.

The Bible says there is.

Hell is a place.

It is more than a word, it is a place. And really it does not make too much difference what you call it, it still is a place.

The young woman dying, said to her father, "father, why did you not tell me there was such a place?" "What place?" "A hell!" He said, "Jenny, there is no such place. God is merciful. There'll be no future suffering!" She said, "I know better! My feet are slipping into it at this moment. I am lost. Why did you not tell me there was such a place?"

A young man who had been raised as a Jehovah's Witness, he said, "all of my life I was taught that there was no Hell." However, he murdered a man and he said, "when I pulled the trigger I knew there was a place called hell."

Hell is a prepared place.

Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his Angels. Matthew 25:41

Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. However, Hell is a prepared place for an unprepared people.

Hell is not death or the grave.

Revelation 20:14 — death and hell were cast into the Lake of fire.

The body goes to the grave, the spirit and soul into hell.