heaven, hell, and a loving, holy...

1 | P a g e GOT PROOF #7 Heaven Hell and a Loving God

GOT PROOF #7 Pastor David Staff

Heaven, Hell, and a Loving, Holy God Romans 8, John3:16-19, 36, Revelation 21-22

His name was Paul. He was Jesus’ chosen apostle to the Gentiles. And he truly was one of

the most remarkable men who ever lived. But how did he know? How did he know that his outlook,

that his assessment of what was coming was really true when he wrote:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

(Romans 8:18-19)

He said

What no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man imagined

what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Is all that really true? How could Paul know? His certainty, it seems, came from a personal

experience, described in 2 Corinthians 12.

2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (he is speaking about himself) was caught up into the 3rd heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And

I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter…(12:7) so to

keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being conceited.

We listen to Paul. We wonder, “Wow…what’s ahead? What’s so great it eclipses any

suffering, so fantastic no human being has ever begun to see, hear, imagie it? What’s ahead?

The Bible is clear. What’s ahead is eternity. Eternity. Eccl 3:11 says “God has put eternity

into man’s heart.” We all sense it’s coming.

The Bible also reveals that every person will spend eternity in one of two places. Eternity can

be incredibly enjoyed in “heaven,” or eternity can be gruelingly endured in in “hell.” Scripture’s focus:

There is an ETERNAL future for every human being. WHERE each person spends that future

is LIFE’S most important CHOICE.

And that’s the rub. Many wonder how a loving God could ever create and maintain a place like

“hell” where people will go forever. We’re quite good with a wonderful place to go for forever, but not

so good with a horrible place. “So, God – we have a lot of opinions about this? What have You


revealed about eternal destinations?” 3 truths

#1 In Scripture, Heaven and Hell are pictured vividly, described clearly.

Let’s begin with HEAVEN which Jesus described as His Father’s house, full of prepared dwelling

places” (John 14). To the thief hanging next to him, a “paradise” (Luke 23:43). Scripture’s most

expansive picture is Revelation 21 (p.1041). Heaven is a newly created universe, a magnificent

dwelling place, and an unending age of productive service and discovery.

A NEW CREATED UNIVERSE Rev. 21:1 REV 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

A MAGNIFICENT DWELLING PLACE. Rev. 21:2-27

Relationally, a place of exclusive intimacy with God 21:2-8

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

Aesthetically, a place of stunning beauty by God 21:9-27

REV 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “ Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” :10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.i

At the center of this new universe, a city (vs. 10-11) shining with the brilliance of God Himself, and full of God’s redeemed people from every age

At the center of this city (vs. 23), the glory of God Himself illuminating everything.

Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which have not entered the heart of man

ALL that God has prepared for those who love Him.ii

An ETERNAL AGE of PRODUCTIVE SERVICE & DISCOVERY Rev. 22:1-5

REV 22:1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be


any curseiii; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Ray Stedman (In this new universe, from this matchless city, without the frustration of the curse of sin in the physics

of nature…) Every moment of eternity will be an adventure of discovery.iv

But then, Scripture also speaks of HELL. In the Old Testament, called “SHEOL.” Psalm 31:17

says, “Let the wicked be put to shame; let them go dumbfounded to Sheol. 66 times,v it speaks of

the “realm of the dead.” Numbers 16:30 describes the earth opens its mouth to receive those who

rebel against God.

"Sheolvi -- The dominate feature for Sheol’s inhabitants is their separation from Him (His life). They cannot remember, praise, or thank Yahweh (Ps 6:6, Is. 38:18, Jonah 2:5). The `land of forgetfulness` (Ps 88:12), where inhabitants are cut off and forgotten (Ps 88:5). Hence Sheol is a fitting place for the wicked who forget God (Ps 9:17; 31:17; 55:15)."

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself and the other NT authors reinforce and expand “Sheol,”

naming it “Hades” or “Hell.” Jesus spoke people experiencing destruction in GEHENNAvii (Matthew

5:29, 10:28), a literal valley outside the southside wall of ancient Jerusalem.

In Solomon’s day, a garden spot. But when God’s people Israel began worshipping Baal, in “Gehenna” they would construct altars, offer human sacrifices – sometimes their own children – to the god Molech.

In Jesus’ day, the valley was where garbage burned continually, where the bodies of criminals would be buried. “Gehenna” became the symbol to all Israel of the unending judgment of God upon the wickedviii.

Jesus Himself spoke or wrote very directly about the reality of hell:ix

Luke 16:19 (p.876) “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead,


they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Just think about the incredible truths Jesus himself is teaching here?

(1) Someone’s actual destiny may not be obvious in one’s present circumstances (vss. 19-23) (2) Someone’s actual destiny will be sealed the moment this life ends (vss. 24-26) (3) Someone’s actual destiny is determined by my response to God’s Word (vss. 27-31)

Jesus’ day: Moses and the Prophets

Today: Gospel and the Scriptures Jesus’ teaching should sober the heart, for in the earliest moments after your body dies, you will know

EXACTLY what lies ahead for endless ages to come. Summarized:

HEAVEN is a freshly created universe of beauty, joy and enterprise where the fullness of joys a holy & righteous God provides are experienced; while

HELL is a place of grueling, ongoing suffering and separation from God and eternal life for those who, without righteousness, ended this life outside the family of God.

Second, what is the purpose for heaven and hell?

#2 The purpose of Heaven is the grace-giving love of a Joyous God

(an eternal giving of the fullest possible joy in His Holy Presence)

In other words, God has purposed “heaven” to be the never-ending experience of

discovering of the limitless love/joys of God. Paul moved by the Spirit wrote Eph 2:4-9 (p.976 ESV)

2:4-9 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our

trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us

with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, WHY? 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable

riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is

not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Randy Alcorn asks “What’s Most Important about Heaven?” Answer:

This is it: Heaven is the place God lives (Deut 26:15, Matt 6:9). In the new heavens and earth, “The dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God…They will see his face” (Rev 21:3, 22:4).x

On the other hand, the purpose of hell is a holy God’s righteous judgment.

Psalm 96:12 Let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13

before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

One of the most joyous promises of Scripture is that God will come and He is perfectly capable of

meting out righteous judgment on all that has happened. In righteousness, all wrongs will be satisfied

as a result of the righteous judgments of God.


And yet, the sin against God that will land people in Hell is the sin of unbelief. xi

John 3:16 (p.888 ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not

condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Have you ever stopped to ponder how serious unbelief is? Ajith Fernando offers this illustration.

Society rightly agrees that certain crimes are more serious than others.

A parking violation – minor offense A robbery – more serious

The most serious offense is treason. Treason is a crime of national proportions affecting not just a few but the security and welfare of the whole

nation.

In 1905 Norway had abolished the death penalty. But from 1940 to 1945, a man named Quisling was the governor of Norway, and he aided the Nazis in bleeding his country. After the war, when Quisling was tried, Norway determined that there was no punishment severe enough in their laws to adequately respond to his

treachery and restore the honor of the nation which had been so degraded through his actions.

So they reinstituted the death penalty and applied it to Quisling.

The Bible presents unbelief as such an act of treason.

Unbelief is not only acting in a way that displeases God, it is rejecting the One who owns and runs the Universe (cf. Romans 1:21-25). It seeks to put in place another government. Unbelief rejects the idea that the glory of God is what is needed for the welfare of the universe and instead seeks to glorify and worship

created objects.

Unbelief is an open act of rebellion against the glory of God. It is extremely serious…which is why it merits a punishment of such enormity.xii

Bottom line: HEAVEN is the greatest demonstration to the joyous, grace-driven, loving, giving

heart of God…who in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches

of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

What an incredible outcome for believing in God’s Son! That’s ALL God asks.

Conversely, Hell will be the greatest monument to human freedom. All God does in the end

with people (Keller writes) is give them what they most want…including freedom from Himself.xiii C.S.

Lewis:

“There are only two kinds of people in the end; those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end,

‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell chose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell.

No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock, it is opened.”xiv


#3 The joys of Heaven are too often undervalued; while the reality of Hell is too easily dismissed

The JOYS OF HEAVEN too often undervalued.

Randy Alcorn quotes Richard Baxterxv

If there be so certain and glorious a rest for the saints, why is there no more industrious seeking after it? One would think, if a man did but once hear of such unspeakable glory to be obtained, and believed what he heard to be true, he should be

transported with the vehemence of his desire after it, and should almost forget to eat and drink and should care for nothing else, but how to get this treasure.

And yet people hear of it daily, and profess to believe it…do as little mind it, or labor for it, as if they had never heard of any such thing, or did not believe one word they hear. xvi

“We need to stop acting as if Heaven were a myth, an impossible dream, a relentlessly dull meeting, or an unimportant distraction from real life. We need to see Heaven for what it is: the realm we’re made for. If we do, we’ll embrace it with

contagious joy, excitement, and anticipation.

THE REALITY OF HELL too easily dismissed. Though John Thomas reflected on what he called “That Hideous Doctrine,” he offered this

That hideous doctrine of hell is fading. How often have you thought of it in the past month, for instance? Does it make any difference in your concern for others, in your witness? Is it a constant and proper burden?

Most believers would have to say no.

The reality of hell, however, demands we haul the monstrous thing out again and study it until it changes us. Ugly, garish, and familiar as it is, this doctrine will indeed have a daily, practical, and personal effect on every believer who comes to terms with its force.xvii

C.S. Lewis on the pathway to hell

“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,...Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.”xviii

SOME PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

#1 Captured by what’s ahead, let’s prepare to talk both about the grace of God, and the judgment of God.

C.S. Lewis – “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

We are made for “another world” – a world of holiness and righteousness, and joy -- even

though we are fully compromised by sin. It is the GRACE of God that can take us there, and we

should talk about it more and be prepared to share with others about it. People speak so excitedly

about the cruise they’ve taken, the vacation overseas or in the islands they’ve enjoyed. What about

heaven? What about the presence of God and the truth that “In your presence is fullness of joy”


Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

But also, are we ready to share the other prospect, that of the judgment of God on the

“treason” of unbelief.

#2 The true “lostness” of people can re-energize our love and motivation to share Christ

Perhaps to learn from Jeremiah the prophet:

Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? Oh that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for

the slain of my people. (8:21-9:2, cf. 9:10, 13:17, 14:17)

#3 Pray … Care … and when God opens the door, share what God has said.

Copyright 2018 © David A. Staff

All rights reserved

i REV 21:12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

REV 21:15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

REV 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. ii 1 Corinthians 2:9 iii Cf. Genesis 3:16-17, Romans 8:20-21 iv Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Eternal Perspective Ministries, 2004), 431. v Philip Johnston, Shades of Sheol, p. 71, 75. vi Johnston, p.76 Sheol is a place…

of no return (Job 16:22) a place of captivity with gates and bars (Jonah 2:6) of darkness (Ps 88:6,12) of inactivity and silence: those there must be roused to greet a newcomer and then describe themselves as weak (Is 14:9f,) being the great leveler of all, small or great, slave or free (Job 3:13-19)

those who go down to Sheol `lie still` (Ezk.32:21) Inactivity is the norm. vii or the Hinnom Valley viii Paul VanGorder, “Eternal Destinations,” Radio Bible Class booklet ix Jesus said that those condemned by God would “go into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” that they will “go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:45-46).. Jesus said that those who did not believe would “die in their sins” (John 8:24) and “perish” (John 3:16). Other NT passages speak of eternal destruction – Phil 3:19, 1 Thess 5:3, 2 Thess 1:9, 2 Peter 3:7). Peter said, “The Lord is does not desire that any should perish…” (2 Peter 3:9)…but many will. x Randy Alcorn, The Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven (Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 1999), 39-40. xi Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (New York: Riverhead Books, 2008), 72-82. In his book The Reason for God, Tim Keller notes the beliefs that are tucked inside people’s objections to a God who judges. #1 A God of judgment simply can’t exist. In other words, God shouldn’t judge people for coming to their own sincerely held beliefs, even if they differ with what’s found in the Bible or in Christianity. #2 A God of judgment cannot be a God of love. A real God “of love” people reason would let go of His wrath and anger, and forgive and accept everyone. #3 A loving God would not allow Hell. Fighting evil and injustice is one thing, they reason, but sending people to hell – eternal punishment – is another. Many cannot even begin to reconcile the idea of hell with a loving God. xii Ajith Fernando, Crucial Questions About Hell (Crossway Books, 1991), 100-104. xiii Keller, 82. xiv C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, Chapter 9. xv Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691) was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymnodist, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Baxter xviRichard Baxter, in Alcorn, Heaven p. 451 xvii John Thomas, “That Hideous Doctrine,” Moody Magazine September 1985, 91. xviii C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Baxter

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