WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.320 Go ahead and take your Bibles, turn over to Luke chapter 16 this morning. Luke chapter 16 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:11.779 is as we're going to continue in our series here we started last week, more than a name, 00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:18.000 you know, and we talked about the reality of a name because, you know, we can spend a lifetime 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:24.640 establishing a good name. You know, we can spend a lifetime putting, making sure people 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:32.880 think a certain thing when they mention your name and the things associated with it. But, 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:38.480 you know, the reality is, is all the things we do here upon this earth, you know, you could have 00:00:38.480 --> 00:00:45.980 be known for kind deeds or a good working ethic or even religious activities, you know, that people 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:52.159 do. But, you know, we may be respected in the community. You know, you might be the leader at 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:58.140 work, you might raise a good family, but the reality is you can still be lost and end up in 00:00:58.140 --> 00:01:04.319 hell in eternity. And we're going to look here this morning because we're going to look at an individual 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:12.439 that the Bible speaks about because this man here in Luke 16 had a pretty good life. He wore nice 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:22.140 clothes, had plenty to eat. You know, he definitely, the Bible identifies him as a rich man, but yet 00:01:22.140 --> 00:01:30.079 when he closed his eyes in death, he woke up in a place called hell. So let's take our Bibles 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:36.599 this morning and look here at chapter 16. Let's look down at verse 19 as we take just a moment here 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:46.740 this morning to consider the reality that there, the people in hell, it has, there's no name in hell. 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:55.619 Luke chapter 16, look down at verse 19. We see here as we look here, it says, there was a certain rich man 00:01:55.619 --> 00:02:02.219 which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:08.680 named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:14.060 from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. It came to pass that 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:19.920 the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was 00:02:19.920 --> 00:02:26.400 buried. And in hell, he lifted up his eyes, seeing in torment and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:32.000 his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:39.360 the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I'm a torment in this flame. But Abraham said, 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:45.900 son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things and likewise rather Lazarus evil 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:52.000 things. But now he is comforted and now art tormented. Beside all this between us and you, 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:57.659 there's a great gulf fix so that they which would have passed from thence to you cannot, 00:02:57.659 --> 00:03:03.419 neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. And he said, I pray thee therefore, 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:09.659 father, that thou would have sent him to my father's house for I have five brother that he may testify 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:16.840 unto them lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:22.840 and the prophets, let them hear them. And he said, nay, father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:28.640 dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will 00:03:28.640 --> 00:03:36.159 they be persuaded the one rose from the dead. Let's pray. Heavenly fathers, we come before you this 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:44.580 morning once again, Lord, as we look at this account of this man with no name in hell. Lord, pray that we 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:53.040 might be reminded of the necessity and the importance of this account and what is given to us. Lord, 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:59.060 we pray just have your hand upon each heart here today, each life that we might be sure the reality 00:03:59.060 --> 00:04:07.140 that we have, that our name might be written and sealed in your book. And Lord, we just ask it all in 00:04:07.140 --> 00:04:13.460 your precious name. Amen. You know, as we look here this morning, you know, some assume that that to 00:04:13.460 --> 00:04:19.060 hear in Luke 16, it's just another one of Jesus's parables. You know, Jesus is teaching a lot in 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:25.879 parables, but I really don't believe that this is just a parable because there's some elements in it 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:32.079 that are distinct from parables. Number one, in parables, Jesus never mentions anybody's name, 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:40.620 but we do have a name here. And he's speaking about specific individuals because notice in our text 00:04:40.620 --> 00:04:48.500 there it was a certain rich man. In other words, Jesus is speaking about a specific individual. 00:04:49.540 --> 00:04:58.199 Parables, in sense, they have a generic person. Here you have a specific person, a specific individual. 00:04:58.540 --> 00:05:07.220 And we know that this story here breaks the rule in the sense that he names Lazarus clearly. 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:14.180 The rich man, however, is not identified by name. And so today we're going to find the reality 00:05:14.180 --> 00:05:21.580 that there are no names in hell. You know, because in this life, our name serves as an identity. 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:28.960 You know, it's very important, but in hell a person's name is forever blotted from the eternal record of 00:05:28.960 --> 00:05:34.540 God. And we're going to look at the scripture and what it has to say about that because consider the 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:41.340 reality how tragic to live an entire life building a respected name only and to arrive in hell 00:05:41.340 --> 00:05:47.640 without one. And we're going to look here this morning because the first thing, let's look at the 00:05:47.640 --> 00:05:53.660 where of this rich man. You know, this Bible specifically tells us that this rich man was in a specific 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:59.780 location. He said when this man died, he ended up someplace very specific that he was in hell. 00:05:59.779 --> 00:06:07.539 This man woke up in a place called hell. The reality of hell. Because I want you to see that 00:06:07.539 --> 00:06:15.219 hell is an actual place. Hell is an actual place. And people often use the word hell to describe 00:06:15.219 --> 00:06:20.259 something. You know, we see it attached as an adjective to things, you know, describing whether 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:26.740 it's good or bad. You know, we kind of throw that term around today. It's really lost a lot of 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:31.800 emphasis or thought because people use it in a sense that they give no thought for even using it. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:39.079 You know, it just gets tossed around like it's nothing, you know. They use it to describe a fantastic 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:49.579 deal or how awesome a game was or by just kind of degrading the reality and the dynamics of this place 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:58.060 that we're speaking of. Because when we use a word in that fashion, it kind of brings to people's mind 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:03.839 that there's no punch, there's no reality to it. You know, there's nothing about it that's essential 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:10.099 or that we need to pay attention to. Because, you know, I've even spoke to many people, you know, 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:17.939 that oftentimes that people assume that hell is here on earth or a state of mind rather than a reality. 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:24.459 You know, you have people today that kind of think in that nature. You know, look here in verse 23 00:07:24.459 --> 00:07:31.699 of our text here. It tells us very clearly this, and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment. 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:40.800 In hell, you know, the Bible speaks more about this place called hell than it does heaven. Hell is mentioned 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:50.040 more in scripture than heaven is. And most people do believe in some kind of eternal place that people 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:54.800 go to after they die. I mean, that's kind of a universal thought. I mean, very few people are like, 00:07:54.860 --> 00:08:00.960 well, we just die and that's it. Almost everybody carries with them a concept that there's something 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:07.180 that they do. You know, we talk about rest in peace, you know, and we talk about, you know, 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:13.719 when people die, you know, may they rest in peace. They speak of their loved ones looking down on them 00:08:13.719 --> 00:08:21.240 and being happy and all these things. You ever notice that's how people oftentimes refer to what 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:32.240 happens afterwards. They attach flowery depictions in their mind about what's taking place. But, you 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:36.500 know, according to the scripture, not everyone goes to heaven. It's not a place of default. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:44.879 Look at the book of Psalms. They're in Psalms chapter 9. Psalms chapter 9 here in verse 17. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:50.879 The Bible makes it very clear. God makes a very clear statement about the 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:57.600 reality of hell. Here in verse 17 of Psalm 9, it says, and the wicked shall be turned into hell 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:04.600 in all the nations that forget God. Notice what the wicked shall be turned into hell. In other words, 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:09.860 that's their destination. But I want you to understand hell is an actual place. It's a place 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:14.519 though, because sometimes people use the word hell and they have a different picture of hell than what 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:20.759 it really is. You know, because hell is an awful place. Because look back in Luke, 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:25.720 chapter 16 there, look at verse 23 again. And in hell he lifted up his eyes and knows what the 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:34.600 next phrase is. Being in what? Torment. Being in torment. You know, you know, when we talk about 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:41.419 who goes to hell and why they go there, it's important that we realize that hell truly is a 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:48.379 terrible place. It's a place that you wouldn't, you don't want to go. The fact that life can be cruel 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:54.059 and sometimes maybe tormenting is usually the motivating factor for people to speak 00:09:54.059 --> 00:10:00.219 of tough situations as going through hell. You know, I've had people, well, I'm not, God's not going to 00:10:00.219 --> 00:10:03.159 say, I've had somebody actually tell me that I'm not going to go to hell because I've already been 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:11.579 through it. I want you to understand that life might have a hard punch on you, but the hardest 00:10:11.579 --> 00:10:21.039 life is still better than a place called hell. This life is a far better place than that. It's clear 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:26.419 what kind of torment the rich man in hell was actually experiencing. You know, notice what he says 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:32.159 there in verse 24, and in hell he lifted up being in torment, and seeing Abraham afar off and Lazarus in 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:37.379 his bosom, and he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:44.539 the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. You know, the picture 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:52.579 we see here is one of pain, one of agony, you know, one of separation, because the pain we experience in 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:59.740 this life is definitely not pleasant, and sometimes it even seems unbearable, but there's a vast difference 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:05.659 from the reality of hell, because Jesus made a comparison between the pains in this life 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:11.399 and the awful sufferings in hell. Look over to Matthew chapter 18 for a moment. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:19.320 Matthew chapter 18 in verse 8, Jesus speaking about the specifics of hell. Notice what he says here in 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:25.180 verse 8, he says, therefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off and cast them from thee. 00:11:25.179 --> 00:11:30.719 It is better for thee to enter into the life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet 00:11:30.719 --> 00:11:37.219 to be cast into everlasting fire. Now I want you to understand that hell is an actual place, 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:45.019 and hell is an awful place, but also that hell is an avoidable place. You know, God did not create hell 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:58.220 for people. You know, that's the reality. God did not create hell for people, but for Satan and the angels 00:11:58.220 --> 00:12:06.079 that rebelled against God in heaven. You know, Matthew 25 in verse 41 says this, then you shall say also 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:11.759 unto them on the left hand, depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:19.800 his angels. When God created hell, it was for a specific purpose, and it was a purpose that now has 00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:27.100 expanded, because God didn't create it to put people there. You know, some people have a false ideology 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:32.640 that says God sent some people to hell and sent some people to heaven. God never intended anybody to go to hell. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:41.679 God says it's an avoidable place, because hell was created for the devil and his angels, and heaven was 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:48.699 intended to be our home for eternity. You know, think about when Jesus was repairing here in John 00:12:48.699 --> 00:12:55.059 chapter 14. Think about the statement that Jesus makes to his disciples. He tells them there in chapter 14 00:12:55.059 --> 00:13:00.159 in verse 1, he says, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:06.199 house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And 00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:11.000 if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:18.959 there ye may be also. Now, I want to understand, if you miss heaven, there's an, some people think 00:13:18.959 --> 00:13:26.319 there's an empty space because God made heaven to be able to hold everybody. You know, that would make a 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:31.220 logical thing. God says my intention is not to send anybody to hell, but to have a prepared place 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:37.440 for all who will call upon him. In other words, heaven's not going to run out of space. 00:13:38.900 --> 00:13:46.840 God created heaven with enough space for everybody, a place for everybody. But the reality is, is not all 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:52.960 will go there. Because we'll see that contrast in that. I want you to understand, you know, look over to 00:13:52.960 --> 00:14:00.780 2 Peter chapter 3. 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 9, because this verse really plays this out for us. 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:07.040 It presents a reality of this and this rich man, because it tells us here, the Lord is not slack 00:14:07.040 --> 00:14:13.120 concerning his promises. Some men count slackness, but long suffering toward us, not willing that what? 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:18.019 Any should what? Perish, but that all should come to repentance. 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:24.439 You know, I think the Bible's clear that God made a place prepared to hold everybody. 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:32.639 When he created man, he did not create a place for their eternity in hell. We're going to find here, 00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:38.360 and we're going to talk about that, some things about hell here in a minute, because we find here that 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:44.399 if you reject Christ, something happens. You know, look over to Isaiah chapter 5. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:53.919 Because Isaiah gives us a little insight. Isaiah chapter 5 and verse 14, because this is a statement 00:14:53.919 --> 00:15:00.799 that you never see the opposite spoken of of heaven. What we hear about heaven is God is a prepared 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:08.079 place. Isaiah 5 verse 14 makes a statement in there, and it says this, hell hath enlarged herself. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:13.579 Think about why did hell have to get bigger? Yeah. I want you to understand, hell hath enlarged 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:20.940 yourself. Why did hell have to enlarge? Because the number of people rejecting the Savior. 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:26.020 The difference between heaven and hell is Jesus Christ. You know, John 3 says this, 00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:30.120 he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth now in the Son 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:37.800 shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. You know, the reality is, is nobody has to go to hell. 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:45.519 Nobody has to go to hell. We're all sinners and deserve eternal punishment, but God's plan of 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:50.559 redemption has taken place for us. You know, we understand that God's not willing that any should 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:58.259 perish, but have everlasting life. You know, think about the reality. He makes it clear, John 3 16, 00:15:58.319 --> 00:16:02.399 that's the end of that verse, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:09.319 life. You know, we find the where of this rich man here with no name, but we find also the what, 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:15.639 the what of this rich man. What is hell like? You ever notice nobody writes books that says 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:19.319 to hell and back? You know, you got a lot of people who write books about, well, I went to heaven, 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:23.120 which I, well, that's another discussion for another day. But you know, nobody talks about, 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:28.960 I went to visit hell, because no one's ever been there and back to tell about it. The interesting 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:34.740 thing you'll find, there's been some, I believe, that have been to heaven and been back to talk 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:43.400 about it. You have cases of people being resurrected. You know, where was Lazarus? Martha and Mary's 00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:48.440 brother, different Lazarus. When God told him to come forth, where had he been? He'd been in Abraham's 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:53.620 bosom. We'll talk about that just a little bit, because we need a little bit of understanding in 00:16:53.620 --> 00:17:00.000 that, but we'll get to that here in a moment. But I want you to understand, oftentimes people try to 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:06.319 soften the reality of this place, but they must look to God's word for the facts about what it is. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:15.900 Because hell is a place of tormenting forces. You know, notice some of the torments the Bible describes 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:25.180 about hell. It's a place of fire. You know, look at verse 24 in our text. It says this, 00:17:25.280 --> 00:17:31.080 and he cried and said to Abraham, Father Abraham, mercy on me, and send Lazarus, he may dip the tip 00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:38.060 of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am what? I am tormented in this flame. You know, 00:17:38.560 --> 00:17:45.280 God repeats this aspect of hell in a number of different scriptures. You know, Matthew chapter 3, 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:51.019 verse 12, whose fan is in his hand, who will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:58.920 under the garner, but he will burn up the shaft with unquenchable fire. You know, think about Matthew 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:05.200 chapter 13, where he talks about that as there, therefore the tares are gathered and burned in 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:09.839 the fire, so shall be the end of the world. The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:15.220 gather out his kingdom all that offend, and they shall do, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:21.740 them into a furnace of fire, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mark chapter 9, 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:27.640 verse 44, describes it as where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark tells us 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:33.779 something very important. The worm there is talking about an individual. It's talking about your soul. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:41.339 Because that's another falsehood about, that you find, that you just get annihilated in hell. That term 00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:47.220 there, where the worm, it's talking about an individual, and it says, it's never ending. 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:54.779 We find also, it's a place of darkness. You know, you think about, it's a place of darkness. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:03.159 You know, how many of you went on a cave tour? You know, I've been down in some caves, and one thing 00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:08.379 they always do when you go into a big cave, have you noticed what they do when they get down in the 00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:15.300 deepest part of the cave? What do they do? They turn the light out. Now, I don't know about you, but 00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:20.100 when they turn the light out, there's a difference about that darkness. It's different from just the 00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:29.560 sun going down. It's different from just a dark night, or, you know, even a dark room. I mean, 00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:34.720 it's interesting. You can go into a room, and shut it up, and you'll pull the shades, and turn the light 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:39.640 out at night, and there's still something there that's different about when you're down in that cave. 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:47.500 I mean, you literally cannot see, what, your hand in front of your face. I mean, you could smack your 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:54.819 face and not see your hand. It's a different darkness, isn't it? It's a darkness to a whole 00:19:54.819 --> 00:20:00.620 different level, and it's almost, it's a darkness that you almost feel. I mean, it has a different feel 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:08.539 to it when the lights go out. The eeriness of where it is. Even the voices in the darkness become 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:18.419 distorted of where they're coming from, you know. The reality is, think about being in that cave 00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:24.299 alone and the lights out. The feeling of despair, how do you get someplace? That's God's descriptor of 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:30.299 hell, of what people will face. And we see here that there's no light in hell. You know, notice 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:35.779 what it tells us in 2 Peter chapter 2. It says, for if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:43.419 them down to hell, and be delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment. You know, 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:49.000 Revelation 9-2 talks about, he opened the bottomless pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:53.859 smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and air were darkened by reason of the smoke. 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:59.219 of the pit, you know. I want you to understand it's darkness, but it's also a place of loneliness. 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:06.219 Loneliness is one of the most discouraging feelings a person can have. The great part is, 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:15.639 if you're saved, you're never alone. Jesus says he'll never leave us or forsake us. Isaiah 41-10 00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:21.799 tells us this, fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:26.319 thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with thy right hand of righteousness. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:34.539 Hebrews 13-5, for he has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. You know, the reality is not 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:40.180 the same for an unsaved person, because an unsaved person can be alone, even here on earth. 00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:47.200 They can be alone, and he's going to be more alone in hell. Loneliness prevails in the place 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:53.519 called hell. Notice here, the rich man in Luke 16 cries out to Abraham to send Lazarus to his 00:21:53.519 --> 00:22:00.240 assistance. No doubt in life, the rich man had had little time for this beggar outside his gate, 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:07.900 but now he's asking for him to comfort him. The request is denied. You know, the rich man remained 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:15.000 in hell alone. You know, consider what it tells us there in verse 25, Abraham's response. He says, 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:20.000 Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, 00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:28.820 but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. It's also a place of remembrance. You know, 00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:33.460 while we have many memories that bring back thoughts of maybe happy times with family or 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:38.620 friends, I want you to understand, I don't think hell is a place of happy thoughts, but it's a place 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:45.420 where people remember. Remember their life. You know, one of the greatest torments of life is to 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:50.759 know you had opportunity and you missed it. I imagine in hell, there's going to be people who remember 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:54.799 when they were told the gospel and said, not today. They're going to look back and recount 00:22:54.799 --> 00:23:01.720 those things. They're going to remember their life. Many will remember things that went on, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:08.240 and opportunities. How horrible to remember for eternity rejected and missed opportunities. 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:14.000 But hell is also, the Bible tells us, a place of tantalizing demons. 00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:19.720 You know, have you ever noticed that people sometimes boast and laugh about the party they're 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:24.440 going to have in hell? That seems to be the playoff. Well, I'm going to be there with my friends. 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:31.279 They boast and laugh, and sometimes party goers have a comment is that they always want to know 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:36.399 who else is going to be at the party. Well, you know, the Bible tells us who's going to be 00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:44.279 at what they think is going to be a party in hell, and it's going to be the demons. Satan and his demons 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:50.500 are going to be there. Notice in Revelation chapter 19 and verse 20, it says this, and the beast was 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:55.879 taken, and with him the false prophet, and these both were cast alive into the lake of fire, 00:23:55.880 --> 00:24:01.880 burning with brimstone. You know, in Revelation 20 verse 10, and the devil that deceived them was 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:06.660 cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they shall 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:13.860 be tormented day and night forever and ever. You know, we see here Revelation 21 8, but the fearful 00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:18.960 and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:24.060 liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:31.139 death. You know, when you read the guest list in hell, it's no way there's going to be a party. 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:36.079 By the way, a party would be a pretty lame without something, because, you know, what's one thing, 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:44.519 what are some things that people associate with parties? Alcohol and food. You know, they think about 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:51.579 all those common things that we have even at a gathering. But notice this rich man in hell said, 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:57.879 what, could you just send Lazarus over that he may drip his finger in water to cool my tongue? 00:24:58.119 --> 00:25:01.939 You know, there's no food or drink. The rich man could not get a drop of water, 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:08.439 much less a six-pack of his favorite brew. You know, the devil and his demons will scream in 00:25:08.439 --> 00:25:14.659 tantalizing mockery of those who have joined them. You know, it's a place of torment even because of the 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:20.300 company. But hell is a place of terrifying rejection. You know, one of the most horrifying 00:25:20.300 --> 00:25:27.360 aspects of hell is there is no end. There's no exit sign. In hell, no doors or windows to escape. 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:34.300 There's no break time or vacation. There's no recess to punch the clock, you know, to get out. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:42.460 This is a never-ending and eternal place of rejection. You know, consider what it tells us in our 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:51.380 text. Look at verse 16. It says this in Luke 16. It says, tells us this in verse 26. It says, 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:56.460 and beside all this, between us and you there's a great gulf fixed, so that they would pass from 00:25:56.460 --> 00:26:04.240 thence and cannot, neither can they pass to us that they would come from thence. No one can leave, 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:11.279 and no one can come for a visit. You know, I think we find here that Scripture emphasizes the eternity 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:20.160 and the finality of hell more than once. You know, consider 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. 2 Thessalonians 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:25.639 chapter 1 in verse 9. The Bible says this, who shall be punished from everlasting destruction, 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:32.299 from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. Revelation 14 11 describes it, 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:39.079 and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night. 00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:45.379 You know, we find that this rich man was there, the where he was in hell, the what, what hell was like 00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:48.439 for this rich man. But then we talk about the why. 00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:55.879 The why. Why doesn't this rich man in hell at least have a name? Why did Jesus omit his name? 00:26:57.399 --> 00:27:05.980 He mentioned Lazarus, a certain individual. He talks about a certain rich man. But I want you to see 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:13.079 here a name seen. While there are many, as many, over 8 billion people, they tell us alive today, 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:20.620 on the planet Earth. And there's many who have lived before us, and you know, if the Lord terrors, 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:27.380 there's going to be many that live after us. I mean, the Earth is multiplying with many individuals, 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:33.520 and the Bible teaches us that God knows each individual. You know, consider that in fact, 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:40.640 it is God who creates us and forms us in our mother's womb. You know, Psalm 139 makes it clear, 00:27:40.800 --> 00:27:46.340 for thou hast possessed my reins, thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. You know, we realize that 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:53.480 it goes on, talks about that your substance is not hid from Him. And you know, we understand that God 00:27:53.480 --> 00:28:00.700 knows every individual. Matter of fact, God told Jeremiah the prophet that God not only knew him 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:06.819 before his birth, but even back when he had a wonderful plan for his life. Jeremiah chapter 1 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:12.500 and verse 5 says, Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:21.500 womb, I sanctify thee, and I ordain thee a prophet unto the nations. You know, a name seen, but also a name 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:27.599 sealed. You know, the Bible tells us something, because when we think about why is this rich man 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:35.799 not named, but Lazarus is. That creates a question that needs to be answered, and I think the Bible 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:42.900 we're going to find here gives us that answer. In a name sealed, because the Bible tells us that we 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:50.259 accept Christ as our Savior, that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. I think that is our name being sealed 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:55.279 also, because we're going to look here at how that is sealed. Look over to Ephesians chapter 1. 00:28:56.220 --> 00:29:02.619 Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 13. Notice what it tells us, it says, In whom thou ye also trusted, 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:08.039 after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, whom also after that ye believed, 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:15.359 ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Because what does the sealing of the Holy Spirit do for 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:23.839 an individual? What does that seal? Preservation, but it does what? We use the term, have you ever 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:30.799 heard of a guarantee? When we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, we are guaranteed a place in heaven. He is 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:38.139 the earnest of our salvation. When we understand that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:43.000 you know, Ephesians 1.14 says that, which is the earnest of our inheritance unto the redemption, 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:49.839 the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory. You know, I want you to understand that we 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:56.980 ought to be grateful that our salvation is assured and nothing can separate you from the relationship 00:29:56.980 --> 00:30:05.900 that you have in God once you become His child. You're sealed. And I want you to see how that applies 00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:12.259 here. You know, think about, turn over to John chapter 10 for a moment. John chapter 10 and verse 28. 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:16.720 Look what Jesus promises. He says this. He says, and I give unto them eternal life, 00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:21.960 and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. You know, 00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:29.339 think about the power of that statement. Jesus says that once they're there, it's a never. Never perish. 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:41.099 He says, once you're saved, you are locked in. It's settled. You know, think about 2 Timothy chapter 1 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:47.119 in verse 12, where Paul says, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:54.000 that which I have committed unto him against that day. What is that day? That day that he meets 00:30:54.000 --> 00:31:01.439 the Savior, saying, I know my name is written down. But I want you to understand the Bible also speaks 00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:05.839 about names being stricken, because you can have a name that's sealed or you can have a name that's 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:11.139 stricken. Look at Revelation chapter 3 and verse 5. It says, he that overcometh, the same shall be 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:16.619 clothed in white raiment. And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but will confess 00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:23.899 his name before my Father and before his angels. You know, this gets into a lot of questions that people 00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:30.539 have in the Bible sometime. But the Bible makes it clear that God has a book of everybody that's lived. 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:40.859 everybody's name, I believe, is written down as an individual. God keeps track of everybody. 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:48.720 Every individual born has been written into what we might call God's general book of life. Everybody 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:55.879 that's been born. God keeps track of everybody. Nobody slips through the cracks. You know, God's the 00:31:55.880 --> 00:32:02.580 ultimate record keeper. I mean, he's got everything in detail. Matter of fact, he doesn't just know the 00:32:02.580 --> 00:32:10.360 person's name. He knows what they've done. He's a record keeper and knows for sure. Now that's, you 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:18.100 might say that's good and bad. You know, people who keep great records are good and bad. Amen? Because 00:32:18.100 --> 00:32:23.020 sometimes the things you don't want them to remember, they have written down. And the other 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:26.980 times the good things that you want them to remember, they have written down. You know, it's good and bad. 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:32.639 You know, record keepers are good and bad in that sense. And we find out that your life, God records 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:41.000 and writes down your life. God has a record of that. And when you trust Christ as your Savior, 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:45.200 some give it a picture of this, that God seals your name 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:51.539 in the book. Because he talks about your name being blotted out. When we consider this man in hell 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:57.779 doesn't have a name, what happened to his name? Very simply, he could have been blotted out. His name 00:32:57.779 --> 00:33:05.559 was not sealed. When we trust Christ as Savior, as we've seen, our name is sealed by the Holy Spirit. 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:11.019 It can never be forgotten, deleted, erased, or blotted out. It's sealed under the day of redemption. 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:20.639 But those who reject Christ, what happened to their name? It's blotted out. Never to be remembered again. 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:24.740 Notice what Revelation 20 and verse 15 says. It says, 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:28.440 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:33.900 I think we could build a case that God wants a space for everybody. 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:42.820 But it says when they die without Christ, their name is blotted out. Their name is stricken. 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:48.180 That's why there's no names in hell. The rich man had a name on earth, 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:52.120 but now he goes nameless for eternity in the lake of fire. 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:56.900 The great thing is that doesn't have to be the case for you. 00:33:56.900 --> 00:34:01.400 There's been some great hymns written. 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.580 One is, 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:05.120 Is my name written there? 00:34:05.300 --> 00:34:05.900 Think about, 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:10.180 My name is written there on the pages white and fair. 00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:13.740 The book of thy kingdom is my name written there. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:16.760 The Bible tells us that we're also going to have a new name 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:18.440 in glory. 00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:20.400 Think about that song, 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:21.619 A New Name in Glory, 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:23.079 that that was written. 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.420 And you know, 00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:25.559 talking about that reality. 00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:26.579 You know, 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.779 that I was once a sinner, 00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:31.119 but I came pardoned to receive from my Lord. 00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:32.179 This was freely given, 00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:34.819 and I found that he always kept his word. 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:37.400 There's a new name written down in glory, 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:38.619 and it's mine. 00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.239 Yes, 00:34:39.279 --> 00:34:39.699 it's mine. 00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:40.639 I think our name, 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:42.759 God gives us a new name also. 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:44.779 You ever notice that you find that in scripture? 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:46.380 That God will give people 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:48.719 a new name. 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:50.739 Abram to Abraham. 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.219 Yep. 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:51.739 Yep. 00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:53.219 Sarai to Sarah. 00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:56.519 And there was transitional moments in their life. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.019 Think about, 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:59.759 Saul became Paul. 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:01.339 Simon became Peter. 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:01.899 I mean, 00:35:01.939 --> 00:35:03.059 we see a pattern 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:05.079 of these things, 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.459 but the reality is 00:35:06.459 --> 00:35:08.199 that we need to understand 00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:09.039 and grab a hold of, 00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:10.219 is your name sealed 00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:12.500 in the book of life? 00:35:13.459 --> 00:35:14.479 Is your name 00:35:14.479 --> 00:35:16.359 sealed there? 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:16.960 Savior. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:18.860 Because no one is prepared to live 00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:20.220 until they're prepared to die. 00:35:20.700 --> 00:35:22.280 And no one is prepared to die 00:35:22.280 --> 00:35:24.220 until they've trusted Jesus Christ 00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:25.820 as their Savior. 00:35:26.620 --> 00:35:26.840 You know, 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.780 your name can appear 00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:29.340 a lot of places down here on earth. 00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:31.820 It can appear on a membership role of a church. 00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:36.240 It can appear on a baptismal certificate. 00:35:37.600 --> 00:35:40.340 Your name can be on an office store 00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:43.000 or an executive suite, 00:35:43.100 --> 00:35:45.180 but the only thing that will matter when we die 00:35:45.180 --> 00:35:46.740 is our name written 00:35:46.740 --> 00:35:49.059 and sealed in the book. 00:35:49.300 --> 00:35:49.480 You know, 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.559 if you're not saved, 00:35:50.620 --> 00:35:52.480 you can be today. 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:54.280 You know, 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:55.260 the great part is 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.199 is there's an opportunity 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:57.740 for your name to be sealed 00:35:57.740 --> 00:36:00.559 with the Lord for eternity 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:02.780 because you don't want to go someplace 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:04.059 where there will be no name. 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.619 It's a pretty stark reality 00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:07.139 that Jesus speaks about here 00:36:07.139 --> 00:36:08.480 that we ought to understand 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.480 the implications 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.500 and the reality 00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:14.199 of hell. 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:16.780 If you're saved, 00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:20.300 who you're telling about 00:36:20.300 --> 00:36:22.780 the life that Christ has given to you? 00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.880 Are you warning others 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:25.060 about a place called hell? 00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:27.140 Are you urging them not to go there? 00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:28.940 That God has a place prepared 00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:31.340 and desires for them to come. 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:31.860 Matter of fact, 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:33.420 He paid all the expenses 00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.600 for us to get there. 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:38.080 Important things to consider. 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:40.240 The reality that there's no name 00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:41.880 in hell. 00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:43.820 Let's pray. 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.400 Heavenly Father, 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.860 through thé „, 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:45.860