THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL
Luke 16:19-31 & John 5:24-25
The common denominator in time and in eternity is Jesus Christ. He is the center. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever," Heb. 13:8. He is the Alpha and Omega "who is, and who was and who is to come," Rev. 1:8. His relationship to time is constantly the same! He is the Lord of time because he is the Lord of eternity! He is here now, he came in the past and he will come again! As believers we are united to him "who is, and who was and who is to come," Rev. 1:8. Being "In Christ" puts us in eternity because Christ is eternal. He shares with us his victories! Being "In Christ" makes us heirs of all things; the world, life, death, the present and the future, all are ours because all belong to him, 1 Cor. 3:21-22. "All things were created by him and for him." Jesus is the common denominator in time and in eternity. He is the center.
Furthermore, the
past, present and future victories of Jesus are shared with us! Our old sinful person was crucified 2000 years ago, it is crucified daily and it will
be put to death when we die. We were raised
with Christ when he rose 2000 years ago, we raise to new life daily and we
will be raised on the last day! We ascended
with Christ 2000 years ago, we reign with Christ Now and we will reign with Christ in the future. When we speak
about our salvation we say that we
were saved (justified) 2000 years ago, we are being saved (from present evil) now, and we will be saved (when we are
glorified). From eternity's perspective
we are already predestined, called, justified and glorified, Ro. 8:30. From times perspective there is an
unfolding because God reveals himself in time. This is why scripture refers to
him as the one "who is, and who was
and who is to come."
DOES THIS MEAN THAT
GOD PREDETERMINES EVERYTHING?
Not in the least! The existence of evil proves the
existence of human freedom. God is not the author of evil. Evil does not exist in eternity (Rev. 21:27; 22:15) and therefore
it is not determined by God but by man. Evil exists "outside" of eternity in its own dimension. In the book of Genesis,
the tree of life (which represents communion with God and eternal life) was
immediately cut off from man as soon as he sinned. In the book of Revelation once the tree of life
(eternity) is restored "nothing impure will ever enter it - Everyone who loves and practices
falsehood" will be "outside" the realm of
eternity, Rev. 21:27; 22:15. Therefore the
presence of evil is the greatest proof of man's freedom. God is not evil
nor wills evil. Evil is something man freely chooses. It exists independent of
God though He suffers its consequences and bares its curse so as to overcome it
with good. However just as man is free
in time to choose against God and become a slave to his passions, he is also freed by following Christ to
serve God, Ro. 6:11-23. It is the nature
of grace to provide man with the means
by which he may find freedom. In the OT,
this means was the Word of Promise. In the NT it is Jesus, the word become flesh! Faith or trust in God's word brought
man into harmony with God. This
resulted in following God's truth, being transformed by it and being taken up
into glory. All men are offered the means by which they may be saved but
not all men trust God. When a person trusts God it may be said that their
actions are predestined because they
do what God desires. However when they follow evil, it is
themselves that have determined their destiny not God. God predestines and man is free.
THE STORY OF THE RICH
MAN AND LAZARUS ILLUSTRATE THIS TRUTH
The differences between the two men in the story are as follows: One was rich and lived in luxury while the other was poor and suffered. Yet the poverty of Lazarus and the wealth of the rich man is not what qualified each for their final destiny. The determining factor was receiving the testimony of the Word of God (Moses and the prophets), Luke 16:29. Remember it is the nature of grace to provide man with the means by which he may find freedom. The primary means is the word of God!
The fact that Lazarus was saved while the rich man was lost indicates to us that Lazarus put his trust in God's word which resulted in him being transformed by it and being taken up into glory when he died. If the rich man had trusted God's word he would have helped Lazarus! But he did not! Therefore when Lazarus died the angels escorted him into eternity but when the rich man died he went to hell where "a great chasm has been fixed" and he could not cross over into eternity, v. 22, 23, 26.
The difference
between heaven and hell is the quality of life: Those in heaven "behold the face of God" while
those in hell are "shut out"
from his presence by their sin, Matt. 5:8; 2 Thess. 1:9. Why are they shut out of God's presence? Because capacity for communing with God has not been built into
their souls and therefore the love of
God is experienced as wrath. This is illustrated by one of the visions of
the Lord's appearance in Revelation 6:16. The "sky receded like a scroll, rolling up" and the Lord
appears. The unbelievers call to "the
mountains and the rocks. "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who
sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb!" God has put at our disposal the means by which we can prepare ourselves to behold the face of
God and enter into eternity. Are you
building the capacity in your soul to behold the face of God?
WHAT JUDGMENT DAY WILL BRING
Hebrews 9:27-28 & Revelation 6:12-17
Most people are curious about what happens after this life and what heaven and hell are. The two verses referred to above tell us that judgment comes after death and that some will want to hide from the presence of God. In this message we’d like to consider several aspects of the judgment to come and how we might prepare ourselves to meet our maker.
First we’d like to see that ON JUDGMENT DAY THE “VEIL” THAT DIVIDES THIS WORLD FROM
ETERNITY WILL BE LIFTED
The Bible says, “Now we see a poor reflection as in a mirror [polished metal]; then [when perfect love comes] we shall see face to face,” 1 Cor. 13:12. The difference between this world and eternity is sight. This world is cloaked in darkness so that men do not see clearly. We are like blind men and women! It’s for this reason that when Isaiah foretells the birth of the Messiah he says, “The People walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned,” Isaiah 9:2. This lack of sight is related to the power of death, which lingers like a shadow ever reminding us of our limitations. Man cannot see eternity face to face - he only sees a poor reflection of what is to come! Man in his limited abilities cannot see eternity.
It’s for this reason that when Moses asked if he could behold the glory of God without any limitations, God said to him “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live,” Exodus 33:20. Flesh and blood cannot inherit eternity! Man’s limitations are not compatible with eternity! So God hides Moses in the cleft of the rock and covers him allowing him to see a part of him but not his fullness, Exodus 33:21-23. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Rock that covers us and reveals God to us, 1 Cor. 10:4; John 14:9. However even the partial view Moses had of God caused him to radiate the glory of God so much that he had to put a veil over his face, Exodus 34:29ff. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 says that Moses had to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not be overwhelmed with guilt and condemnation. Sinful man cannot behold Glory! Therefore the limitations of this world and the veil of darkness that hangs over it prevent us from being utterly destroyed! Judgment hasn’t come because God is patient not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. God’s desires that we hide in the cleft of the Rock so that we are not destroyed when the veil of this life is lifted! The veil can only be removed safely if we are hiding in Jesus! When the veil is lifted the glory of the Lord will cause those who have no covering to flee from the guilt and condemnation they feel! The difference between heaven and hell is that some enter eternity able to see the face of God while others enter eternity and flee from his majestic and glorious presence!
Isaiah the prophet speaking of the final judgment refers to two groups of people. Speaking of the first group in Chapter 24:1 and 5 he says “the Lord is going to lay waste the earth … and scatter its inhabitants” because they have defiled the earth, disobeyed the laws and broken the everlasting covenant. “Therefore a curse consumes the earth, its people must bear their guilt,” v.6. What is this curse? The people must bear their guilt!
The second group of people is referred to in verses 14-16 of chapter 24: “They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the Lord’s majesty. Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: Glory to the righteous One.” This second group will fulfill the Psalm that says “From the rising of the sun [in the east] to the place where it sets [in the west], the name of the Lord is to be praised!” 113:3 For the first group which must bear their guilt, when the floodgates of heaven are opened they flee only to be caught in a snare, v. 18. So heavy upon them is the guilt of their rebellion that they fall never to rise again, v.20!
“They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days. The moon will be abashed, the sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders, gloriously,” vs. 21-23.
The glory of God will drive those bound by guilt away from God’s presence! They will flee from that which magnifies their guilt, (Luke 16:26; 2 Thess. 1:6-9; Rev. 6:12-17). Continuing in chapter 25 Isaiah says “On this mountain [Mt Zion] the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine – the best meats and the finest wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.” He will “wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth,” vs. 6-8.
The difference between heaven and hell is that once the shroud, the sheet or veil of this life is removed some enter eternity able to see the face of God while others will enter eternity with their guilt and flee from his majestic and glorious presence of God! Those who flee will be tormented by their own indifference towards God’s love. They will have to live with their guilt and self-imposed condemnation forever! This is hell!
The way to avoid the torments of hell, is to take refuge in the Rock, Jesus is the Rock! Believe that Jesus’ death atones for and covers your guilt so as to give you confidence and peace in his majestic and glorious presence! The gates to eternity are already open, so enter in and keep the faith. God promises to keep you in perfect peace if you trust in Jesus! “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal,” Isaiah 26:3-4.
Bill Redondo, Send Email
