•   Some say there isn’t a hell.
• Some say there is annihilation.
•   Some say the devil reigns in hell.
• Some say there is a second chance.
•   “I would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven.”
•   “I would rather party with my friends in hell than be with boring saints in heaven.”

THE REALITY OF HELL: THERE IS ONE.

•   For further study, see Erasing Hell by Francis Chan.
  •   Last week, we talked about heaven. (Revelation 21)
  •   The books of deeds and The Book of Life (those who’re forgiven, whose price is paid) are two separate books.
  •   Remember the new heaven and new earth has upgrades, and there will be no devil.

Revelation 20:15 10And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

• •  This is not new, nor is it the only content in Scripture about hell. It is reinforcing the Old Testament.

THE OLD TESTAMENT POINTS TO A FINAL JUDGMENT AND HELL.

Daniel 12:1–3 1At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

JESUS REVEALS HELL. (See also Matthew 8:11-12 and Matthew 25:41)

Matthew 13:36–43 36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

JESUS TALKING ABOUT HADES, WHICH IS THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. (See also Luke 16:23-26)

Mark 9:42–44 42If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

THE APOSTLES AFFIRM HELL EXISTS. (John wrote Revelation. See also Jude 6-7 and Thessalonians 1:8-9)

Revelation 14:9–11 9A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”