Heaven is Real II

Friday 16 September
READ: Lk. 16:19 - 31
MORE LESSON: Rev. 20: 13 - 14

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is one of the scriptures that show the reality of hell. The rich man lived without remembering God and when he died, he ended in hell. Lazarus on the other hand, accepted the Lord and at death, he went to Abraham's bosom. It is not poverty or wealth that is the subject matter in this story; it is Heaven and hell. It is how you spend your life here on earth that determines the reward you will get in eternity. Good work is not enough to determine whether a man will end up with God or in hell; it is your disposition to Jesus Christ. Those that accept Jesus and live for Him will go to Heaven and those that refuse Him and live for sin and self will go to hell. Hell is a place of torment where there is fire, regret and anguish.
Hell is the place where all men who do not accept Jesus go immediately after they leave the earth. In hell, they will be tormented greatly while they wait for the lake of fire. Hell is terrible and unquantifiable in pain; it is not a place for any man to go. However, hell is still mere rehearsal; the lake of fire is the real place of eternal anguish and immeasurable pain. Men have been languishing in hell for millions of years and many are still going there and the place is so terrible. After the Great Judgment which will be after the second coming of Jesus, hell and all the people in it in addition to satan, the fallen angels, demons and all people without God will be thrown into the lake of fire for eternal punishment.
So the points to note are:
1. Hell is a place of torment and torture.
2. Hell is a place of painful memorial. In hell, people will remember the things that they did or didn't do and live in eternal regret. The rich man remembered the number of brethren he had on earth, in hell there will be remembrance of things.
3. Hell is a place of no return. The rich man begged to go back and warn others but there is no going back once a man enters hell. A man cannot correct anything or recover any lost opportunity in hell. In hell, the soul is lost forever.
4. Hell is a place of thirst. There is no water in hell. The thirst is at three levels-spirit, soul and body. It shows a perpetual state of need that will never be met.
5. Hell is a place of un-answered prayer. There will be no answered prayer in hell. The rich man’s prayer was not answered in hell.
6. Hell and all in it will be eventually cast into the lake of fire. Heb. 2:1-3 records, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Revoke every activity of the flesh and satan that can hinder your getting to Heaven.
* Ask God not to allow any of your loved ones to miss Heaven.
* Pray for the salvation of all your family members.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Every force of evil, darkness, and sin, I prophesy your end over my life today, in the name of Jesus.