Farewell to Hope, Part 1

Sometimes people make jokes about how as if it's going to be a big party, perhaps even more tragic. There are people who don't believe it even exists at all is a place of fire that never burns away five, a place of tormenting thirst, guilt and regret. 60 when John says the place where they have no rest day or night.

Revelation 1411 and June 1 13 says it's a place of total darkness. And you say, Stephen. These are figures of speech, furnace of fire you're trying to scare a signature God's gift of eternal life, and rightfully so, we need to remember that every person ever lived will exist forever your own wisdom for the heart.

Stephen is working through a series called is hell for real well. It is for real.

And even though it's an unpleasant topic.

We need to talk about it because the Bible talks about Stephen will be taking you to Revelation chapter 20 today he's calling the lesson you're about to hear.

Farewell to help stay with us. One of the most widely followed financial crimes in recent history involving Bernie Madoff amassed so many millions. In fact, for decades been a leader on Wall Street and impressive business manager given millions to charities, university endowments, social causes. Most importantly, his investors, but then to the shock of the financial world. Bernie Madoff was found guilty of leading a Ponzi us Ponzi is a an old scam. In fact, named after Charles Ponzi, who was caught in the first lucrative scam of this sort in 1910, where he convinced investors of incredible gains all allow simply taking the money of his newest investors and giving it to those who had invested in him earlier. As long as new investors can be found.

The scam would grow until finally it collapsed, as they all do under its own weight. Bernie Madoff Ponzi goes down in the books is the largest Ponzi of all time. In fact I read when he was finally caught in the net it actually manipulated about $64 billion lavish lifestyle. He financed this incredible lifestyle. It is from his yacht and villa on the French Riviera to his million-dollar apartment in New York.

His attorneys argued that the Ponzi art are that that this Ponzi by Madoff was actually just something that had grown beyond his ability to shut down wanted to be was caught.

It was also argue that people got rich off his investments and that his returns. The charity had been helped by the goodness of Madoff's heart. Even a medic, was taking money to blog somebody giving to somebody else, which is notice stealing. In the end all his investors lost everything their savings, their homes, charities send in schools lost million-dollar endowments and there were even some took their lives. I read a small book by Brian Ross investigative correspondent for ABC covered Bernie's life and very very sketchy overview, and of course this trial.

Most of all when I was struck by the gravity of this final courtroom setting was time for the judge to deliver the sentence courtroom was packed.

Of course, with with investors and family and reporters and business associates and some of the well-known high profile investors. The judge said Mr. Madoff please stand.

He stood is the judgment of this court that the defendant, Bernard L. Madoff shall be and hereby is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 150 years, 150 years will be equivalent to 1800 months was the guarantee that the 70-year-old Bernie Madoff would spend the rest of his life in prison.

There were cheers courtroom applause and there were some who went for justice had been served as much as people intuitively appreciate and believe injustice like this in a courtroom setting. Ask the average person on the street what they think about the justice of God and you get a dozen different opinions asked the average person on the street about the justice of God being served in a literal place called hell and then with much more emotion you'll get a few dozen rightly any discussion about a literal place where eternal justice is served has long since moved out of the mainstream religious scene, especially this country.

Ask the average church member was the last time you heard a sermon on Helen they'll give you a blank stare must aggressively go to colonial and the site is overhearing.

Lately, historian Martin Marty wrote hell has disappeared and no one noticed a recent Newsweek article said today, hell has become the church's H word. In other words, good people never say it is impolite crude Gordon Kaufman of Harvard Divinity school, believes that this is actually a good trend, he wrote. I don't think there is any future for hell of Ellie is out of bounds is out of step with the world and the average church member than really know much about it. In America, one evangelical theologian deliver this rather timely challenge if we come to the Scriptures with our minds made up expecting to hear from it only an echo of our own thoughts and never the thunderclap of God's thought and he will not speak and we will only be confirmed in our own conclusions.

We must allow the word of God to confront us to disturb us to overthrow our personal patterns of thought and behavior will put you see, the question isn't what you think and what do I think how we feel about hell the question. The question is what is God say about the subject and guess what he has actually said an awful lot about this place called hell fact more than we might even imagine when the rather well-known North Carolina evangelist born and bred here had the accent to match Vance Hafner.

If you've ever heard him is now the Lord been with the Lord for years when he was beginning his his ministry.

He pastored a country church and there was a farmer like his preaching on Helen set one particular servicing. He came up to having a reason why don't you preach about the meek and lowly. Jesus had a reply letter I got my information about how and it's true. These gentlemen, the shocking truth is the fact that nearly every single New Testament reference to eternal punishment in hell comes from the lips of Jesus Christ, as if to imply that this place is so terrible that no human being can be depended upon to describe it to speak of it, but the creator delivers to us the news to share with our world that this place is real. According to the Bible, there is a coming judgment and eternal consignment in the lake of fire before that there is this judgment before that sentence is delivered.

This judgment that we have been studying. If you have your Bibles and Revelation chapter 20 I divided that last paragraph perhaps the most overlooked paragraph in all the Bible into four sections the first section was this unforgettable setting that I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it from his presence of earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

We study this terrifying moment where everything will be will be changed. The universe exploding literally for leading reconstructed at some later time after this room setting, but here will the world of unbelievers stand.

This is the judgment of unbelievers, the judgment of believers has already taken place. We call it the bema seat to place not to determine whether or not you get into heaven but your awards for how you've lived in faithfulness to God on earth. This is the judgment for unbelievers and they will be confronted with the truth they denied and dismissed as they stand before God and they will virtually stand here alone, no defender, no advocate for, they denied the gospel they had heard or seen the gospel of conscience, the gospel of creation and/or the gospel of Christ. Here they stand in his presence. Madoff did before his judge so all of the world of unbelievers will be standing before the great white throne. They will be found guilty God for them will not be some cosmic therapist not some grandfatherly figure who will say there there. He will be the holy and righteous judge, then we listened in on the what we call the unavoidable salmon verse 12 records and I saw the dead, the great and the small standing before the throne. This is very clear.

Then when he says great and small. He started by those who were impressive and important and well-connected. These are the emperors, the dictators who didn't know God through Christ. The reason that these are the movers and shakers of the planet. These people mattered and the smaller there. The ground is equal level small meaning insignificant and yet they had enough pride in themselves to reject creator God we notice. Thirdly, this undeniable standard. Verse 12 is not to say the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. I mentioned that I would say more about the purpose of these books being open not to determine whether or not they are in hell or be sent to hell for, but to determine the level of punishment they will receive. Let me say just a few things about that. Everyone here before this great white throne will suffer in hell but not all will suffer the same degree in hell, Jesus Christ, again, is the one who delivers the truth Jesus when he said his 12 disciples preaching ministry expedition Matthews gospel records Christ telling them quote whoever does not receive you, that is, they don't heed your words as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.

Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. Matthew 1014 50 Jesus also warned the hypocrites in his audience, the scribes and religious leaders. He said who like to walk around in long robes who like respectful greetings in the marketplaces and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets for appearances sake. And that's the key for all it's all a scam. In religious terms for appearances sake off her long prayers. These will receive greater judgment. Matthew 1230 to 40 and looks gospel the Lord made a distinction between the punishment of two servants when he said the servant who knew the master's will and did not act in accordance with his will, will receive many lashes. This is a reference to eternal judgment punishment, but the one who did not know it but committed deeds worthy of a flogging that is he still violated the will of his master will receive but if you look 1247 to 48 hours. They both sinned against their master, but they will be judged by how much they knew about the Masters will they will both be punished for sinning against their Lord but they will not be punished to the same degree. One commentator put it this way all unbelievers will be miserable in hell but not equally miserable. The very fact that there are degrees of punishment in hell is a severe warning, especially in this country that has a church on every corner. This is really preaching the gospel.

The easy access to the true, certainly for those sitting in this auditorium at 8 o'clock and 930 now 11 same message surrounded by the truth of the gospel is a severe warning to hear understand what it means and rejected one commentator said MR de Haan is now the Lord is in hell for the pagan headhunter who has never heard the word of God is going to be heaven compared to what it will be for you who have heard the pleading of the gospel and have rejected in other words, those who had the maximum opportunity to believe in the gospel of Christ, and yet reject him will experience the maximum punishment fire of so with the sermon I delivered to you another warning and yet another invitation to believe for after hearing this, your condemnation will only be greater in this day there is a judgment coming and those who knowingly reject Christ the greatest torments of hell away from my staff members sent me a link to a website called the blasphemy challenge. I don't recommend you Google that the blasphemy challenge in which the designers of this website is encouraged people to take them up on the challenge and deny the existence of God the spirit. They incorrectly assumed that blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

That is simply denying his existence is in some uniquely unpardonable. Frankly, every sin is on hardenable unless you go to Christ and asking for pardon right. Let's go to the cross. He can't remember every sin which go to the cross and asked him to forgive your sin and your sinful Nass and he doesn't pay for 99.99% of them know that one over the area that's that's the one I I didn't die for knowing died for them all, will they incorrectly infected the horror of their thinking. They incorrectly misinterpreted and say well if we then verbally deny the existence of the Holy Spirit and that will consign us irredeemably to hell. So take the challenge. They asked individuals video their response they have to login downloaded to the side and I went to the archives and watched in horror one person after another, stopped many of the teenagers 20s and 30s who verbally said, we deny the existence of the Holy Spirit that one young man propped his eaters iPhone owners camera on something so that it shot upward and he stood back behind him was a church and he said I'm standing here front of a church accepting this challenge. She said I deny the existence of the Holy Spirit and then he walked forward and leaned down toward his camera and he said, and I am not afraid taking pride in their blasphemy condemnation will only be that much greater. And I wondered if they knew it. But according to this text. Those statements will be brought forward as evidence of the guilt and the justice of God sent that when will they give an account. When John tells us here in this opening courtroom scene where the books are open so you have an unforgettable setting an unavoidable summons and undeniable standard is.

These books are opened and the actions and secrets and in the words and deeds we talked about different kinds of books that this could represent in our last study together will all be judged against the perfect holy standard of God in the fourth and final a division of our exposition of this paragraph. John now shows us the terrible delivery of an unpardonable sin, God the son opens one more but notice the middle part of verse 12 and books were opened. And another book was open, which is the book of life endeavors. 15 and if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. So the only book that were given the title to is this last book, the book of life. So after presenting the books.

The evidence, God the son, we know it's God the son because Jesus Christ said that the father has delivered the right to judge the world to the son. John 517 and 20, so took Christ. Now, as it were, leans forward and opens one volume one more book. It is effectively the register of heaven. The names of everyone been born again, my faith in Christ alone. This is the register of the citizens of heaven. This is not a book of church affiliation. This is in the book of church membership. Nobody steps forward and says hey, wait a second Baptist and I've been baptized Catholic and I have been catechized. The other method is not been mesmerized. Whatever note is a step forward and say that Jesus did not say believe on the church and now shows now is get a step towards a wagon. I did want to be one.

As a result, my life right now. I wanted BB the man before I place my faith.did not say believe on yourself and now Shelby said to believe on the Lord Jesus now shall be saved to the Philippian jailer is helpful. Also believed heard all that night baptized their names entered in the book of life. So John writes, God the son is opening this book. He is allowing the court then the implication will be just as he's allowed the evidence of the other books to be at the disposal of those standing before him that when standing before him as access to.

Maybe Jesus Christ shows them not so much whose names are here, but the fact that their name is not, maybe someone will come up and sit and wait a second. It should be right about here. There's my grandmother's name.

There's my father's name weighted. It skips a generation that that should that should be were mine. But it is there. Truthfully, everyone would say. I knew my name was in fact I've seen all the evidence I didn't need it anyway but if confronted me with the undeniable truth. I had no interest in you. I no interest in being in your kingdom.

I no interest in you being my king only kingdom I cared about was the kingdom of earth the only king I cared about was me to them.

Christ will deliver then they would admit is just right. It is this eternal sentence of banishment from the king and his king. Verse 15 says again, look there. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life. Note he was thrown into the lake of fire that no that is so clear, that is so undeniably horrifying that people immediately shift into high gear and we gotta find a way to maneuver around this paragraph, especially the last phrase because we kinda like the Bible and we like to think we sort of like God so that she can be what he mean that there there's gotta be something more manageable something a little more comforting something the less severe something lasts eternal fact. If you notice just before verse 15. The last part of verse 14 John writes this is the second death, the lake of fire, and that phrase is given rise to one of the more popular maneuverings around the truth of and I'll give you two of them very quickly. The first is annihilation is tough work, but it is a view that the souls of the unredeemed are not eternally damn they are, eventually, annihilated, exterminated, terminated in the fires of hell depending on that they were depending on how bad day they acted really bad people live a lot longer before people really good. You know, just never heard the gospel of Christ, just a second or two and when John called it. I just showed you the second death that that must mean deceased existing will let me give you an answer of the Bible actually speaks of two different kinds of death, physical and spiritual death that the word death.

Here are five toss refers to the separation of the material.

What you see and the immaterial, that which I really am that you can't see the material was stolen spirit.

In other words, death.

If I were to die before I finish this sermon there will be a separation between my body and my soul, my body you'll bury your plan a wonderful sermon funeral.

I hope and lots of nice things will be said that, I'm sure I'm fully deserving of an annual gathering, the cavity potato salad go home talk about the next pastor Okada telework trust, but my soul my spirit, which is been awakened will be immediately with crime, so there's been a separation death on a test. Mean separation numbers.

Death is not when soul ceases to exist like that separation is temporary, even for the unbeliever. Their bodies will be physically resurrected, joined with her.

So which is been in Hades the place of torment awaiting the final judgment loosing thing. We've Artie spent time studying that the body will be resurrected.

God will be constructed immortalizing student to be able to take the effects of hell forever reuniting with us all. And here they stand at the judgment death does not mean cessation. It means separation. So when John says this is the second death.

What he means is this separation between that sold in that immortalize body from God is and you never need to ask the question, is a person going to cease to exist. Question is where will that person. Since forever your own wisdom for the hearts were committed to teaching verse by verse through books of the Bible.

Sometimes that brings us to unpleasant topics like the topic of hell, but it's in the Bible because God wants us to know about it.

Now there's more to this lesson, but our time is running short. So we need to stop right here for today were going to bring you the conclusion to this message on our next broadcast your listening to Stephen Davey are Bible teacher here on wisdom for the hearts if you missed a portion of today's lesson and would like to hear the whole thing.

We've posted it to our website wisdom online.org before we and our time for today I want to remind you about our app the wisdom international app will work with your smart phone or tablet or smart TV. It's free to install and use and it's a great companion for your personal Bible study. Glad you joined us today and I invite you back for the conclusion to this lesson at this same time tomorrow here on wisdom from the heart