Lk.16.19-31 Hell
Introduction
READ Luke 16:19-31
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, there are a number of spiritual realities that rise to the surface in this parable.
Among the first we have to consider is whether this is actually a parable.
That may sound strange, but I consider this event not a parable, but a literal historical occurrence.
And the reasons for this are very simple.
Differences between this story and parables:
1. Jesus uses real names of real people
If it’s a parable and not historical, this is the only parable that uses the names of real individuals.
2. There is nothing that dictates symbolism.
One of the primary characteristics of parables is that they tend to be fictional stories that illustrate in a symbolic way spiritual truths.
They may also be allegorical in nature.
3. Taking historically and literally, this story parallels exactly that which we know about hell from other passages of Scripture.
What I'd like to do is look at the story itself and then examine the question of hell's reality.
In the story the rich man is not named.
A strong church tradition in history calls him Divies.
The rest of the characters are named.
About the story itself, notice several general truths revealed here:
1. The rich man did not end up in hell because he was rich, but because he was godless.
2. Eternal Reward or Punishment Begins Immediately upon Death.
When Lazarus died he was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom;
When the rich man died and was buried – that's the grave.
That's where his body was.
But where was he himself? – his soul? Look at v. 23.
"And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment."
There are those (e.g., Jehovah's Witnesses) that teach that the body and soul are one and that there is no hell, only annihilation or cessation of existence.
3. There is no relief of torment in hell.
READ Luke 16:24, 26.
4. There is no opportunity for salvation after death.
By implication here, notice that the rich man became a believer, but his belief was too late to be saved.
READ Luke 16:27-28.
Now, suddenly the rich man has seen what his unbelief has cost him and is concerned about the salvation of his relatives.
So, how he knows the truth, but it does him no good.
He is sorry that he's in hell, he now believes, but he stays lost.
He is so concerned that he makes an interesting request:
He asks that Abraham send Lazarus back to his brothers.
READ 16:27-31.
Vs. 31 is very interesting – You know how we know that if someone rose from the dead and went back to his brothers that they still would not believe? –
Because at least two people rose from the dead and testified in Jesus' day and people still didn't believe.
1. Jesus raised Lazarus in John 11 (probably a different one) and the religious leaders wanted to kill him.
And they wanted to kill Jesus for raising him.
2. Jesus Himself rose from the dead, and people still don't believe.
But what about the reality of Hell itself?
Is it real or is it not real?
There are many today who question the reality of hell.
Among people today, it is mainly used as a swear word or in jokes.
For many, it sounds like something country corn flakes or something out from under a revival tent.
In our society today, most feel that the concept of an eternal place of torment is inappropriate for a God who is supposed to be a God of love.
In fact, I'm convinced that if the Supreme Court could rule on it, they'd outlaw hell as cruel and unusual punishment.
Frankly, ladies and gentlemen, the only thing that really matters to me is whether or not the Bible teaches a real hell, and if it does, what the Bible teaches about it.
So, I want us to look at what the Bible has to say about it.
Hell is usually understood as the final dwelling place of the ungodly dead.
There they suffer eternal punishment.
In the OT – one Hebrew word is used, but in the NT there are three words used that I want to mention.
OT Usage
Sheol (lAaåv.)—Very broad term that may refer to anything from simply the grave as a hole in the ground,
the dwelling place of the righteous after death
or the dwelling place of the ungodly after death
NT Usage –
The NT reveals more details about hell for us.
There are three words in the NT that are translated "hell":
Hades (a[|dhj)
Gehenna (ge,enna)
Tartaros (ta,rtaroj)
Let's look at these one at a time
1. Hades (a[|dhj)
Originally in paganism, a[|dhj referred only to the god of the nether world, but later came to refer to the place of the dead.
Here in Luke 16:23, a[|dhj is clearly depicted as a place of torment.
The same is implied in Luke 10:15 where Jesus says that Capernaum will be cast down into hell (a[|dhj).
Revelation 20:13 – depicts a[|dhj as a place of torment until the final judgment.
2. Gehenna (ge,enna) – the name of a valley on the southeast of Jerusalem into which little children were thrown as sacrifices to a god named Moloch, an idol that had the form of a bull.
The ritual of child sacrifice among the Jews ended with the reign of King Josiah but the site was so detested by the Jews that they used the valley for the dumping of refuse, dead bodies of animals and executed criminals.
The continuing fires in the valley led the people to transfer the name to the place in hades where the wicked dead suffer punishment.
But keep in mind that Hades and Gehenna, while both are translated "hell", do not refer to the same place.
Listen to Revelation 20:13-15:
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.
So this tells us that now people are in hell, but those people and hell are cast into the lake of fire. And that's where they stay.
So, from its use in the NT, Hades is viewed as the place that receives the souls of the ungodly in the intervening period between death and resurrection.
During this time the body and soul are separated.
Following the resurrection, when the soul and body are reunited, and at the judgment of the lost, Gehenna becomes the final place of punishment by eternal fire.
3. Tartaros (ta,rtaroj)
Tartaros (ta,rtaroj) was regarded by the ancient Greeks to be the abiding place where rebellious gods and other wicked people were punished.
It is only used one time in the NT: 2 Peter 2:4 –
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (Tartaros-ta,rtaroj) and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
So, this verse tells us that the angels are kept there until the final judgment.
This means that while a[|dhj is where the lost people go at death to wait until the final judgment, ta,rtaroj is where certain angels are waiting for the final judgment.
Other descriptions of suffering associated with hell.
After final judgment, the lost experience continual and unimaginable suffering.
The Bible describes this suffering in various ways:
"weeping and gnashing of teeth" and "outer darkness" (Matt. 8:12
Matt. 22:13
Matt. 24:51
Matt. 25:30
Another phrase is "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44, 46, 48.
This indicates spiritual, emotional, and physical suffering.
Degrees of Suffering –
Matt. 10;15 -- Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Matt. 11:22-24— 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Matt. 18:6 -- But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Verses like this demonstrate degrees of punishment (See also Mark 6:1 and Luke 10:12,14).
Two Major Interpretations
1. Is the punishment of hell eternal or temporal?
2. Does the Bible teach that hell is literal or figurative?
1. Eternal or Temporal?
The Bible teaches that the suffering of hell is eternal:
Isaiah 66:24 -- And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Matt. 25:46 -- And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Mark 9:44-48 -- 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Rev. 14:11 -- And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
These verses are clear that the suffering of the lost in hell is eternal.
2. Figurative or literal?
There are essentially three ways to approach this.
1. Hell is a metaphorical place and is not real (for those who do not believe the Bible)
2. Hell is a real place described by figurative language. Therefore, the images of fire not quenched and worms not dying are not literal, but only figures to try to describe the suffering.
Most likely this is the most popular view among Christians.
3. Hell is a real place described by both literal and figurative language. It has real fire, and real suffering.
I believe that the Bible clearly teaches that hell is a literal place with real fire.
Jesus said in Matt. 25:41 that the eternal fire was created for the devil and his angels.
If it was created, it has to be real.
One of the most revealing statements comes from the lips of Jesus Himself.
In Matt. 10:28 Jesus told his disciples
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Now, let's take the pinch test…
Was that a literal pinch or a figurative pinch?
Literal – know why?
Because the only body you can possibly have is a literal, real body.
And if the only body you have is a literal and real body and it can be cast into hell, then hell has to be real.
Because you cannot cast a real body into a metaphorical anything…..right?
Also, one of the most common differences of opinion is whether the images are real.
Again, some believe that hell is real, but the language used to describe it is figurative.
But there is strong evidence from the Bible that tell us that literal language is used, specifically where fire is concerned.
This is found in the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Turn to Matt. 13: 24-30. READ.
Notice what happens here.
In v. 36, after Jesus sent the multitudes away, the disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable of the wheat and the tares.
READ Matt. 13:36-43.
Notice that all the elements of the parable are symbolic and have literal meanings.
Let's have two columns:
SYMBOL LITERAL MEANING
1. Sower Son of Man
2. Field World
3. Good seed Children of Kingdom
4. Tares Children of wicked one
5. Enemy that sowed tares Devil
6. Harvest End of world
7. Reapers Angels
8. Tares gathered and burned Son of man send angels
gather all that do iniquity
cast into furnace of fire
weeping and gnashing of
teeth.
9. Wheat gathered into barn Righteous shine forth as the
sun in the kingdom of
the Father.
Notice that in no. 8 above, the symbol is fire, and when the literal meaning is given, you still have fire.
For those who refuse to believe that the fire is real, that means that Jesus is interpreting the symbol of fire with the same symbol – fire.
That is nonsense.
No, my friends, hell is a real place of real literal torment.
And the Bible teaches that it is forever.
I'm just glad that Jesus paid the price for my sin.