II Peter 2: But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. II Peter 2:1-10

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; II Peter 2:1-10

6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men II Peter 2:1-10

8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. II Peter 2:1-10

10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. II Peter 2:1-10

The Unwanted Sermon II Peter 2:1-10

False Prophet’s Nature Brute beasts 2:12 Brute beasts 2:12 Stains upon Christianity 2:13 Stains upon Christianity 2:13 Dried-up springs of water 2:17 Dried-up springs of water 2:17 Unstable, storm-driven clouds 2:17 Unstable, storm-driven clouds 2:17 Dogs returning to their vomit 2:22 Dogs returning to their vomit 2:22 Hogs wallowing in the mud 2:22 Hogs wallowing in the mud 2:22

False Prophet’s Sins Propagating destructive heresies2:1 Propagating destructive heresies2:1 Denying Christ2:1 Denying Christ2:1 Materialism2:3a, 14 Materialism2:3a, 14 Lust and adultery2:10, 14 Lust and adultery2:10, 14 Pride and arrogance2:10 Pride and arrogance2:10 Scoffing at the “glorious ones”2:10 Scoffing at the “glorious ones”2:10 Blasphemy2:12 Blasphemy2:12 Seducing the unstable2:14b, 18 Seducing the unstable2:14b, 18 Boasting2:18 Boasting2:18 Hypocritical lying2:19-21 Hypocritical lying2:19-21

Judgment of False Prophets They will be judged not by angels (2:11) They will be judged not by angels (2:11) They will experience a swift and terrible end (2:1) They will experience a swift and terrible end (2:1) They will be caught and destroyed like wild beasts (2:12) They will be caught and destroyed like wild beasts (2:12) They will be destroyed (2:3) They will be destroyed (2:3) They will reap all that they have sowed (2:13) They will reap all that they have sowed (2:13) They will be consigned to the blackest darkness (2:17) They will be consigned to the blackest darkness (2:17)

Four Select Statements From II Peter 2 “bringing upon themselves swift destruction” “bringing upon themselves swift destruction” “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment…” “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment…” “For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved…” “For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved…”

HELL Sheol - abode of the dead (OT) Sheol - abode of the dead (OT) Hades - place of the dead (NT) Hades - place of the dead (NT) Gehenna - valley of (the son of) Hinnom, fig. hell Gehenna - valley of (the son of) Hinnom, fig. hell Tartarus - to incarcerate in Tartaros Tartarus - to incarcerate in Tartaros

The Unwanted Sermon Dante’s Inferno and Jonathan Edward’s Sermons William Booth - founder of Salvation Army In churches across America, hell is being frozen out as preachers find themselves increasingly hesitant to sermonize on the outpost for lost souls.

Why???? Gallop poll 2001 – 71% believed in hell Gallop poll 2001 – 71% believed in hell Emphasis in preaching – here and now Emphasis in preaching – here and now Too negative Too negative Consumer Christianity Consumer Christianity Fickleness Fickleness "It's a failure of nerve by churches that are not wanting to take on a non-popular stance." Hunsinger "It's a failure of nerve by churches that are not wanting to take on a non-popular stance." Hunsinger

Why Preach on Hell? Hell is a Biblical subject enough to go into the fiery hellMt 5:22 enough to go into the fiery hellMt 5:22 whole body to be thrown into hellMt 5:29 whole body to be thrown into hellMt 5:29 for your whole body to go into hellMt 5:30 for your whole body to go into hellMt 5:30 destroy both soul and body in hellMt 10:28 destroy both soul and body in hellMt 10:28 eyes and be cast into the fiery hellMt 18:9 eyes and be cast into the fiery hellMt 18:9 as much a son of hell as yourselvesMt 23:15 as much a son of hell as yourselvesMt 23:15 you escape the sentence of hellMt 23:33 you escape the sentence of hellMt 23:33

Why Preach on Hell? Hell is a Biblical subject your two hands, to go into hellMk 9:43 your two hands, to go into hellMk 9:43 your two feet, to be cast into hellMk 9:45 your two feet, to be cast into hellMk 9:45 two eyes, to be cast into hellMk 9:47 two eyes, to be cast into hellMk 9:47 has authority to cast into hellLk 12:5 has authority to cast into hellLk 12:5 our life, and is set on fire by hellJas 3:6 our life, and is set on fire by hellJas 3:6 but cast them into hell2Pe 2:4 but cast them into hell2Pe 2:4 NASV Exhaustive Concordance

What does the Bible say? Old Testament – very little on heaven or hell, but what it does say is that individuals are responsible to God. Old Testament – very little on heaven or hell, but what it does say is that individuals are responsible to God. Hell is a place of disintegration. Hell is a place of disintegration. Hell is a place of separation. Hell is a place of separation. Hell is a place of remembering. Hell is a place of remembering. Hell is a place where Jesus as Lord is acknowledged by everyone. Hell is a place where Jesus as Lord is acknowledged by everyone.

Closing Illustrations Two Columns Charley Peace