MISSIOLOGY
LECTURE 6
MOTIVATION FOR MISSIONS
HELL
We’ve got plenty of motivation to be involved in ‘missions’…to be a Missionary…to evangelize the lost. Jesus Christ has commanded us to do it. If we love people, we will do it. And, now, for potentially the greatest motivator of all…Hell.
You need to believe in Hell ! You need to think about Hell a lot. Hell should be on your mind. If you are planning to be a Missionary, then get use to thinking about Hell.
Jn 3:16-19 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation , that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Ps 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Oh, what a predicament the inhabitants of this world are in!
They are condemned to Hell. Jesus Christ went on a ‘mission’ to provide for them a way out of this. We are to continue His mission…in telling this lost world that they are condemned to Hell. You say you love them…do you love them enough to tell them about what they have in store for themselves upon death?!!!
Mt 25:41,46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: But the righteous into life eternal.
Isa 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
But, most will mock and scoff at the idea of “Hell”; even so-called Christians seem to also!
If you were to say the word “hell” outside of your Christian friends, you would be swearing. Hell is indeed a four letter word. Many a lost soul carelessly uses the word. When talked about in the biblical sense, it is scoffed and laughed at. Many so-called theologians have done the same. Robert Schuller said that “A person is in hell when he has lost his self esteem”. Billy Graham said “Hell...(is) not fire but something worse, a thirst for God that cannot be quenched. The Pope said it “is the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God...the pain, frustration and emptiness of life without God”. Is this what Hell is? A feeling, or a state of being?!
Decades ago fundamental preachers would preach frequently on Hell. They were often referred to as “Hellfire and Brimstone” preachers. Where are they all today?! When was the last time you heard a message with Hell as its theme? The greatest preacher of all time, Jesus Christ, spoke on Hell much more than He ever spoke on Heaven. Even though Hell is scoffed at and is generally unpopular as a message, it must needs be preached! Will you preach it?!
Matt 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
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.
People don’t want to believe in a literal Hell; it is just too disturbing…too awful…too….
The most common myth of Hell is that it is synonymous with the “grave”. Many of the Bible perversions out there have replaced the word “hell” with the word “grave” or “death”. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for this false teaching. Most will gladly welcome these mistranslations for they cannot conceive a God of love sending anyone to a horrible place called Hell. God is equally a God of wrath and a God of love. His love is shown by dying for us so we don’t have to go to Hell, even though we deserve it. Others, trusting in the King James Bible, pervert Hell to be a place of annihilation of the body and soul, for they can’t bear the thought of endless punishment for the wicked. But, Rv 20:10, 14 speaks of an “eternal torment” there, with Luke 16 telling us of the body and soul being present in this torment. Millions believe in Purgatory which wrongly assumes a middle area between Heaven and Hell where the “not so bad” are perfected so they can enter into Heaven. There is no verse in the Bible that even alludes to this tragic lie.
The Bible declares Hell plainly (Mt 5:29,30; 10:28, Lk 16:19-31, etc). The holiness of God demands Hell (Ps 7:11; 9:17). And, the love of God proves Hell (Jn 3:16). Hell is not a feeling or a state of mind. Hell is not another term for the grave. Hell is a real place with real live souls there. How motivated are you to rescue the perishing…to rescue those that have believed the lies…to those who have scoffed at the idea of Hell?!!!
How will they ever hear the truth about Hell?!
Rom 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Acts 26:16-18 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Hell is closer than you think…
The Bible describes its location as “down” (Ps 55:15, 2Pe 2:4, etc) in the “nether parts of the earth” (Ez 31:14, 32:18, etc) into the “lower parts of the earth” (Eph 4:9), “beneath” (Pv 15:24), Thus, Hell is currently located deep in the earth, and probably beyond the inner metal band where there is a molten lava center core. We are sitting right on top of Hell and we don’t even know it. The long past departed lost souls are screaming right under neath us and there is nothing we can do about it. Hell is closer to you than you think.
Let’s take a little glimpse of Hell through the eyes of someone that is there to tell us first hand:
Luke 16:19-31
23. Consciousness: it is the same person that was on the Earth just a few seconds ago; they are very aware of what
is going on around them. They know where they are. They seem to need to be taught about their situation there
in Hell.
Vision: Can see fairly far. Could make out other people.
Hearing: Able to carry on a conversation with the vocal chords and ears functioning just fine.
Pain sensing: The flame was tormenting him. The body (carcass) that he had was able apparently to be burned
but not be burned up. [Exodus 3:2 The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of
a bush: and he looked and behold, the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consummed.] [Hell is further
described as a furnace of fire in Mt 13:42] [Scientists have said that the earth’s inner core could be as hot as
12,000 degrees Fahrenheit!]
24. Tongue: was apparently very hot so that even just one drop of water would cool it to satisfaction. Interesting that
this one concern was so prominent for him. When one is near heat exhaustion, the one thing they just crave
is….water, even just one drop. There is an intense desire for an end to the torment.
26. Trapped: a great gulf fixed…boundaries…no way out.
27. Concern for lost souls on Earth
Oh the torment!....
Oh how motivated we should be for Missions…for becoming a Missionary…for evangelizing the lost! Look at these awful descriptions of what goes on in Hell:
There will beweeping (Matt 8:12), wailing (Matt 13:42), gnashing of teeth (Matt 13:50),darkness (Matt 25:30), flames (Luke 16:24),burning (Isa 33:14),torments (Luke 16:23), everlasting punishment! There is absolutely nothing “comforting” said about Hell. It is just 100% bad!
Hell is on fire!
Hell is called a “furnace of fire” (Mt 13:42), “everlasting fire” (Mt 18:8), a “fire that shall never be quenched” (Mk 9:43,45), “Hell fire” (Mt 5:22), and will be turned into the “Lake of Fire” which burns with “fire and brimstone” forever and ever (Rv 19:20, 20:10, 21:8). Fire is the key descriptive term for Hell. All these descriptions tell of real fire, for there is nothing in the narative that would allude to it being just symbolic. Focus on this one thing. Hell is on fire. It is really hot. It is a furnace of everlasting hellfire that shall never be quenched.
Hell is forever!
The Bible states that associated with Hell is an “everlasting fire” (Mt 18:8), an “everlasting punishment” (Mt 25:46), an “everlasting destruction” (2 Th 1:8,9), an “everlasting contempt” (Dn 12:2), and an “eternal damnation” (Mk 3:29). Those there will be “forever tormented” (Rv 14:11, 20:10) without any hope of escape (Lk 16:26, Pv 11:7). We would like to think that in a million or a billion years that these hopeless tormented ones would be let out of their prison, but it will never ever happen! Forever in Hell.
Hell will be cast into the Lake of Fire
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:14,15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire . This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire .
We learn from these passages the following:
1. (after the Great White Throne Judgement) The damned are “cast”, thrown, hurled from the presence of the Lord.
2. These damned are indeed “alive”, fully conscious, having some form of a body I assume.
3. A large body of fluid like substance. Its main characteristic is fire. A basically unending sea of fire. This fluid like area of fire has brimstone in it, which is a sulfur stone that gives off a sulfur gas when hot. Ever see molten lava? Magma is molten or partially molten rock beneath the Earth's surface. When magma erupts onto the surface, it is called lava. Magma typically consists of (1) a liquid portion (often referred to as the melt); (2) a solid portion made of minerals that crystallized directly from the melt; (3) solid rocks incorporated into the magma from along the conduit or reservoir, called xenoliths or inclusions; and (4) dissolved gases.
Volcanic fumes contain hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and glass particles. The Lake of Fire may be this, but for sure, the Hell in the center of the Earth is made up of this.
4. These 2, fire and brimstone make up the basic properties of the “lake”. Fire needs something to burn and thus there must be an eternal source of material to burn which when burned turns into a molten lake with brimstone: basically what we see with erupting volcanoes. Hell is not mentioned with a Lake; though it doesn mention flames.
5. This event of casting all the damned into this Lake is known as the Second Death. This is the eternal separation from God of all the damned. They were before His presence just prior to this…the Great White Throne Judgement. But, then they are cast from His presence forever…no hope of ever seeing anyone again…no hope of comfort ever again…no hope…no hope…no hope… But, there is hope right now for them…Missions…Missionaries….You!
Here is how it might be for those being cast into this Lake of fire and brimstone:
Try to imagine for every second, throughout eternity, your body with the most excruciating sunburn. Add to that the awful pain of your whole frame scalded with boiling water. To this, add the agony of bodily movement. The skin stretches. Untold daggers of pain flash through your body. You want to hold still, but the burning from the flames will not allow it. The bubbling brimstone makes you scream. Your hair is on fire. Your feet and hands blister, while you gnaw your tongue, trying to relieve the torment. Your throat is raw from screaming and wailing. Spasms of anguish drop you into the molten lava. You go under the surface gnashing your teeth. The burning brimstone flows into your mouth; runs down your throat and into your stomach. You are on fire inside and outside. Lava, red hot and smoking, flows in your ears. As your eyes try to focus in the endless, everlasting, permanent dwelling place of total torment and torturess surroundings with your burning and a feeling of melting of your eyes overwhelms you, you look and focus on worms that have totally engulfed your body. They are crawling on and in you. You can feel them. A scream comes from your burning, flaming, fiery lips. Breathing heavily from the concentrated exertion, you fill your lungs with smoke. While you cough and gasp, the word "WATER!!!" escapes your inflamed lips again. Your throat is on fire. Your tongue feels like a white-hot iron against the parched roof of your mouth. Your gums pulsate with agony, while every nerve in your teeth stabs you with flashes of indescribable permanent pain. [exerpt from BibleBelievers.com]
The suffering in Hell (and the Lake of Fire) is really indescribable.
Try to imagine forever without hope: like being left to die in the middle of the most barren wilderness; or like a man trapped beneath a fallen rock in a tunnel of a cave without anyone knowing his whereabouts. All that resounds through their mind is “no hope”, “no hope”! Those in Hell are forever banished from the Lord’s presence (2 Th 1:9) and will be forever forgotten.
While there with “no hope”, they will endlessly, and mercilessly by tormented in black flames with darkness, and, like the men in the Tribulation, will seek death and shall not find it (Rv 9:6). Their torment is a “grievous” one, much more than the “servant that lieth at home sick of the palsy” being thrown into convulsions by devils (Mt 8:6). Their torment is more “grievous” than the torment of the infernal locusts issuing from the Pit in the Tribulation period (Rv 9:5). They are “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). The flames “torment (them) day and night forever and ever” (Rv 20:10). They are unable to escape the tongue-gnawing “blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13). There is even a strange creature down there with them to torment them all the more. It is the “Worm”. The “worm dieth not” in Hell, according to Is 66:24 and Mk 9:44-48. Worms are associated with physical decay after death. Wycliff states that worms, or maggots, were continually at work in the garbage pile at the Valley of Hinnon (Gehenna). Geological scientists have discovered very large (up to 8 feet) wormlike creatures in the ocean floor at its deepest parts. It is estimated that the earths inner molten core is not very much further down in these places. The worms are attracted to this area due to the “heat” coming from “beneath”. In Is 14:11 it is said of Lucifer: “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (sheol)...the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee”. Oh what gruesomeness to have many 8 ft worms covering your body and eating it!!!
They are sinking, sinking, almost gone…who will help them…who will save them…who will go…??????!
In Hell there is grievous torments, maybe involving worms, with no means of escape, no possibility of reprieve, no hope of deliverance, never ever ending suffering for the eternally damned in a most gruesome place designed for the most Wicked of all, the Devil and his angels! Oh how despairing this is!! In closing on this most awful subject; the famous preacher Jonathan Edwards caught just a glimpse of Hell when he wrote that most famous sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God”. In it he wrote of those in Hell, saying: