The Institutions of God(7) Hell I. Introduction. A. Heaven had a prepared place for prepared people. B. Hell is a prepared place for unprepared people. C. Many people find it difficult to accept that a righteous God would create such a place as Hell. 1. Created because he is righteous. 2. No person has to go there--it is a choice made by each one. 3. Since God has the power to save, he has the power to condemn: Luke 12:6. D. Many people have strange ideas about Hell. 1. Some do not believe it exists. 2. Others believe that you are burned up--and it is over. 3. Only the Bible reveals the facts about the place of torment. E. Words translated "Hell" in King James: 1. Hades-realm of departed; intermediate state of dead. 2. Gehenna: Valley of Hinnom(discuss). 3. The word "Hell"(English): to cover, to conceal, to hide. a. Some verses(KJ) refer to grave(Acts 2:27, 31). b. The word is an appropriate description. II. Body. A. A place prepared for the Devil and his angels. 1. These have no choice--no offer of repentance. 2. Christ died for mankind, not for rebellious spiritual beings. 3. Note Jude 6. B. A place that people choose to go to. 1. The power of choice is built into human beings. a. Choice may be deliberate. b. Choice may be through neglect. c. Choice may be through ignorance. 2. When one fails to choose to follow the truth, such a one follows the false way. C. The nature of Hell. 1. A place of darkness. a. God, who is light, is not there: II Thessalonians 1:9. b. Yet--a place of unquenchable fire: Mark 9:43. 2. A place of eternal punishment. a. Lasts as long as eternal life(never-ending). b. Note: Matthew 25:46. c. Results in: Matthew 8:12. d. For some, seems too harsh: yet-Romans 9:14-15, 18. e. Jehovah sent his Son for all of mankind. 3. Will there be degrees of punishment? a. Jesus taught: Luke 11:47-48. b. Do not know how this will occur--even the least punishment in Hell is horrible. 4. Residence of all those evil men and women who refused to follow the Laws of God. D. The population of Hell. 1. Satan and his angels: II Peter 2:4. 2. Those who choose immorality: Revelation 21:8. 3. Those who refuse the gospel: II Thessalonians 1:8. 4. Anyone whose name is not in the book of life: Revelation 20:15. 5. Those who leave the Lord and his church(the apostate): as Judas--Acts 1:25. 6. Those who have not obeyed the gospel: Mark 16:15-16. E. Can one avoid the punishment of Gehenna(Hell)? Matthew 23:33 1. Surely--this is why Christ died--to offer the alternative: heaven. 2. The alien can become a Christian and live faithful to the Lord. 3. The apostate(erring) can return to His master. III. Conclusion. A. The opposite of Heaven is Hell. B. The choice is up to you.-jy