Some people have no worry or concern about going to hell as God’s punishment for sin. They talk about wanting to be with their friends and partying there.   How does the Bible describe hell?

Punishment with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord

2 Thessalonians 1:⁷ And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, ⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Outer darkness, weeping, gnashing of teeth

Matthew 8:⁸ The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. ⁹For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. ¹⁰When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ¹¹And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. ¹²But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Darkness is the absence of light. Currently God shines His sun on the evil and the good.

Matthew 5:⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

What does that mean to you?

The Egyptians experienced darkness that could be felt – Exodus 10:²¹ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. ²²And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: ²³They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

The Bible predicts there will be darkness causing pain – Revelation 16:¹⁰ And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, ¹¹And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

What does that mean to you?

Torment without rest

Revelation 14:¹¹ And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ¹¹And 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.

Jesus provided an escape from the judgement of hell

John 3:¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: ¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸He 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.

Why would anyone choose to be away from the Lord, Who gives light and life; punishment with everlasting destruction; outer darkness, weeping, gnashing of teeth; torment without rest?

Who is going to hell?

John 3: ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸He 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.

Do you know this song?

Jesus saves- Priscilla Owes, 1882

1. We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Bear the news to every land, Climb the mountains, cross the waves;
   Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

2. Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Sing, you islands of the sea; Echo back, you ocean caves;
   Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

3. Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Shout it brightly through the gloom, When the heart for mercy craves;
   Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

4. Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Shout salvation full and free; Highest hills and deepest caves;
   This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good  plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti