2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” Could be the beginning of part 2. As Sodom was destroyed with fire, so the heavens and earth which are now are reserved for fire. Notice the day that is looked forward to—”until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” Psalm 1:5 does not teach that the ungodly will not exist to stand in judgment, but rather, that they will be in judgment without a place to stand before God. They will be cast away.

John 5:28, 29 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” The wicked will be raised again. They will stand before an all holy God and will be condemned. Imagine that. Hell is the place of condemnation for the condemned! Paul shared a view with the Pharisees that there would be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15). That means the unjust will live again, but that they would receive the reward of the unjust—condemnation! See also Acts 24:15

Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” First contrast verse 7, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” Now, the one who does not overcome. The one who fails. The one who is guilty of crimes like these will inherit HELL, that place of condemnation. The state of hell is views as a lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

Is Eternal Punishment! In the balance of this lesson I will show that Hell is the place of eternal punishment. Punishment can only exist if one exists who is being punished. Nothing cannot be punished. Something is punished. For punishment to be eternal, something must exist eternally to be punished!

Is it only Satan and His angels who will suffer eternal fire? 1. Everlasting Fire “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matt. 25:41) Everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. But those who are cursed and are taken into everlasting fire are those people, even Christians who were indifferent to needy brethren (Matt. 25:42ff). So, these are people thrown into everlasting fire. This fire never ends. Are we to believe those cast into it will end and that they will cease to exist or no longer have consciousness? Are we to believe that only Satan and his fallen angels will suffer for eternity? Is it only Satan and His angels who will suffer eternal fire?

Revelation 14:9-11 9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Who? Anyone! The person who compromises the faith to appease or partake of that which is in the world. What ascends? How long does it ascend? Is it not fair to ask, “How could their torment ascend forever if they cease to exist forever?

Revelation 20:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

NO END Mark 9:42-48 Worm Doesn’t Die Fire Not Quenched Worm eats flesh of animal When consumed worm dies Fire Not Quenched Burning trash When consumed fire goes out NO END

2. Everlasting Punishment “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46) Eternal Life Everlasting Punishment Is it not a fair question to ask, “How can the punishment be everlasting if there is nothing being punished?” “Can punishment that ends be everlasting?” (Curtis Porter). AS ONE IS, SO IS THE OTHER!

3. Eternal Condemnation 28 "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" (Mk. 3:28, 29) Jesus says not that one is subject to condemnation, but rather, eternal condemnation! I ask, “How much more explicit does the Lord have to be to make us believe hell is eternal suffering?”

“What will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God “What will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17) The answer is explicitly given! “Sin will be punished - its wages is death - "but, the free gift of God is eternal life is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). Thanks be to God who saves all who "call on the name of the Lord" (Acts 2:21, 37-41; Rom. 10:9-13). Accept God's gift of eternal life like Saul: "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Heaven is real and eternal; so is hell. Where will you spend eternity?” (Joe Price).

4. Eternal Destruction 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:8, 9) “everlasting destruction” — means everlasting ruin. It is not the end of being, but the end of anything that is of well being.

Revelation 20:14, 15 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Hebrews 10:28, 29 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? People under Moses’ law died without mercy when they broke the law. They died a physical death. The contrast is that a worse punishment is awaiting those who reject Jesus’ law. They died a physical death. How could this be a worse death if all it means is that they would be annihilated?

Is It Just For A Loving God To Send People To Hell? Hell is not for reform Those who lived their lives rejecting God inherit an eternity where God has rejected them It is just to meet out rewards based on behavior (2 Thess. 1:4-7) God’s ways are higher than our ways

Isaiah 55:7-9 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:7-9 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. The problem with man, since his creation, has been that he thinks, he can outthink and overthink God. Nothing will show man how grievous his error is than when he hears the words on judgment day, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” and when he sees the horrors of hell as his eternal destination (Matt. 25:41).

Escape Hell! Have your name written in the book of life by obeying the gospel (Phil. 4:3)! Listen to God’s word (Rev. 2:7) Believe in the position of Jesus as the Son of God (Rom. 10:9, 10) Repent of your sins (Rev. 9:20, 21) Confess your Lord (Rom. 10:9, 10) Be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) Remain faithful (Rev. 2:10)