The Gospel of the Kingdom of God In this series we shall study – – – – – – – – – Plans, Prophecies, and Expectations The Kingdom Is At Hand! The Kingdom’s Nature The Kingdom Comes The Kingdom’s Citizens The Kingdom’s Laws The Kingdom’s Rewards The Kingdom’s Defenders The Kingdom’s Future WARNING: Today’s sermon includes frightening imagery. – The Kingdom’s Alternative: Hell The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom’s Alternative • Outline – Hell is a placed prepared for certain beings – What happens after death? – Judgment – Symbolic Word Pictures of Hell A place prepared… • Jesus said that a place has been prepared in the next life for the saved (John 14:3) • He also described another prepared place – For the beast & the false prophet (Rev. 19:20) • Represent systems of false religion and blasphemy – – – – For the devil, Satan (Rev. 20:10) For the devil’s angels (Matt. 25:41) For Hades and Death (Rev. 20:14) For anyone not in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15) • Sinners (Rev. 21:8) • The accursed ones (Matt. 25:41) – Sound like your kind of company? • Hell is a real place occupied by real beings! What happens after death? 1. Physical body dies 2. Spirit goes to Hades (Luke 16:19-31) 3. Resurrection 4. Judgment 5. Saved to heaven, lost to hell Judgment • Rev. 20:12-13 – all judged from the book • “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41) Symbolic Word Pictures of Hell • • • • • • Lake of fire (Rev. 20:10) Furnace of fire (Matt. 13:42) Eternal fire (Matt. 25:41) Darkness (Matt. 25:30) Away from God (2 Thess. 1:9) Undying worm (Mark. 9:48) The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom’s Alternative • Summary – Hell is a placed prepared for certain beings – but it is not God’s desire for any of us to perish. – When you die, you go to Hades to wait – Resurrection, then Judgment – Hell: eternal suffering in a conscious state of awareness The Gospel of the Kingdom • You don’t have to go to hell! • Obey the Gospel: believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and the blood of Jesus will wash away your sins, so that you can stand justified before God and gain eternal life in heaven. • If you have become overcome by sin, repent and return today! Hear , believe, and obey the Gospel today!