“And in [H]ell he lift up his eyes, being in torment… and he cried…”  (Luke 16)

 

Sir Robert Anderson is one (1) of my favourite authors and trusted writers.  This man is very interesting.  Anderson has written many very sound books. Anderson was also the lead on the Jack “the Ripper” case of 1881. One (1) of Anderson’s books is called, “Forgotten Truths.”

In our present time there is also forgotten truths…forgotten at best and forsaken at worst. Those that hate our faith attack two (2) main doctrines. These being the virgin birth and the resurrection.  Many ministers on the other hand ignore, forget or forsake two (2) doctrines it seems to me. The first is the doctrine of election and that is why i speak on it as often as i do.  I seek to bring back that doctrine to the forefront. When a doctrine is ignored, forgotten, or forsaken one (1) must speak of it often if one (1) hopes to balance things out.

Another doctrine that has been ignored, forgotten or forsaken is the Lord’s teaching on Hell. Not only does our Lord Jesus speak on Hell but many of the inspired writers do.  John speaks of Hell, Revelation 21:8. King David speaks of Hell,  Psalms 9:17.  Paul speaks of Hell, 2 Thessalonians 1:9. The Lord speaks more about Hell than He does love, Matthew 13:50. Jude speaks of Hell, Jude v. 7.  Solomon speaks of Hell, Proverbs 15:24. Peter speaks on Hell, 2 Peter 2:4.

Let us make some observations on Hell from our quoted text above.  We read that he lift up his eyes in Hell, he is tormented, and he speaks. Let me put this into context.  Our Lord speaks of a rich man and a poor man named, Lazarus (not that Lazarus). The poor man desired the scraps or the crumbs from the richman’s table. The poor man was laden with sores and was in terrible shape, we are not told why. It came to pass that both men died.  An angel took the poor man to Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise as Christ called it while He hang upon the Cross. The rich man however, goes to Hell.

Abraham’s Bosom and Hell are separated by a wide gulf. The gulf is not too wide for the rich man to cry out to and be heard by Abraham and the poor man, Lazarus. The rich man asks Abraham to be merciful and to send Lazarus over to him with a drop of water on his finger that the rich man may find a secon’s relief from his suffering. Abraham explains that the gulf is too great and the rich man’s request cannot be filled. The rich man then asks Abraham to send someone to his brethren and warn them of this terrible place, but again, Abraham refuses him saying they would not believe if one (1) rise from the dead and warn them of the torment that awaits them.

Often times Hell is described as being out of the Presence of God. This is and is not true. While the sinners in Hell are outside of God’s mercy, they are not out of view of God. Besides when Hell is defined as being outside the Presence of God, what should this matter to the sinner?  This is how they like it or though they think. The sinner is ignorant of the fact that being outside the Presence of God is the same as being outside His mercies and everyday kindnesses. Doth not rain fall upon the garden of the just and the unjust alike?  Doth not the sun rise upon the saved and the lost? Doth not the lost taste their food which speaks of God’s goodness, yet they acknowledge it not? Is not air provided to the wicked as well as the wise? Doth not the reprobate enjoy the same general mercies as the Lord’s elect?

However, when the sinner wakes up in Hell these mercies and kindnesses are absent. Not only is Hell a place that is outside of God’s mercy, it is a place of God’s wrath and a place of continual torment.  Notice the rich man can see, think, speak, hear, feel, reason and he has wants. The rich man feels everything and notice those in Hell and those in Abraham’s Bosom can be recognized and have the same appearance as they did in the past life.  This speaks to the soul as I have defined it in past article.  The soul is the visible self in the afterlife and the spirit is the mind, emotions, reason, logic of the person.  The spirit and the soul is everything the man is without the limitations of the body.

The rich man is in torment. In other passages we are told the smoke of their torment rises to Heaven. We are told that Hell’s inhabitants weep while gnashing their teeth, this could speak to pain or it could speak to anger. Those in Hell shall gnash their teeth and blaspheme God and blame God for their lot in eternity. However, God did just as they desired, God judged them according to their works, the problem is they were found wanting.

It is written that in Hell, “their worm dieth not.”  Christ said through David, in the Psalms, “I am a worm and am no man.” I cannot be dogmatic on this point. I think this speaks to the body’s writhing in unspeakable pain, the involuntary wiggling and writhing like a worm is the destiny of the Christ rejecting sinner. It is an awful but deserved and just end to those that live in sin and have pleasure therein.

Why do ministers or some ministers ignore, forget or forsake this Biblical doctrine?  This doctrine of Hell is not a pleasant subject to be sure and can turn some off to the church. In our day and time a minister does not want to be known as a gloom and doomer or a fire and brimstone preacher.

Jonathan Edwards is known for his messages on Hell, but these are not the only messages he preached, he preached on the whole counsel of God, yet he is known for messages on Hell. In Hollywood it is called typecasting and many preachers do not want to be typecast as a hellfire preacher. Thus, Hell is ignored, forgotten, or forsaken. For the record, this preacher, this writer doth not, I say, doth not shy away from the doctrine of Hell. As i said above, Christ spoke at length on the subject of Hell.

Reader, When you wake up in eternity will you lift up your eyes in Hell, being tormented?  or will you wake up in the Presence of Christ, your Lord and Saviour?  Reader, I truly desire the latter be true for you. To those who are not saved, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Godspeed.