Hadean World: Where Do We Go When We Die? Pt . 1

1. Hadean World: Where Do We Go When We Die? Pt. 1 Text: Lk. 16:19-31 Scripture Reading: Mt. 7:13-14

2. “Where do we go when we die?” (Varying answers) Lk. 16:19-31 19. "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20. "And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21. and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22. "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23. "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24. "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' 25. "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26. 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' 27. "And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house-- 28. for I have five brothers--in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29. "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30. "But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' 31. "But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" Intro “Where do we go when we die?” Hadean World Pt. 1

3. Lk. 16:19-31: Jesus makes two things very clear: • Both men physically died • Both men (even after death) were still living in some form with their consciousness in tact. • There is life after this one! • Both men were not sleeping or dreaming, they were both conscious and aware of what was going on • The rich man was feeling pain and regret • Lk. 16:23-24: He could see, feel, speak, and hear! • Lk. 16:24: He could experience thirst. • Lk. 16:27-28, 30: He experienced concern for his family, and he could remember the past. Life Continues Even After Physical Death He was alive in at least some form! Hadean World Pt. 1

4. Mt. 7:13-14 13. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. • This life can be seen as “open enrollment”: • “Open Enrollment” is a time for change to a current policy. • Life can be seen as “open enrollment.” As long as we live, we have the ability to switch sides – to freely move back and forth from lost to saved. • At the point of death, the window of opportunity for change is over, the time for “open enrollment” has expired! We need to make sure what gate we have went through and what road we travel before we die! Life Continues Even After Physical Death Physical life and all its actions decide where we will go when we die! Hadean World Pt. 1

5. Physical death – spirit (soul) is separated from the body • (Js. 2:26) • Eccl. 12:7: The soul will return to God who gave it… • Ps. 90:10: Moses wrote about life, “For soon it is gone and we fly away.” • The soul and the body do not “sleep together” in the grave, but are separated. Eccl. 12:7 7. then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. Spiritual death – spirit (or soul) is separated from God (Is. 59:1-2; I Pet. 3:12) Death Is a Separation This type of separation can happen in this life through sin! Hadean World Pt. 1

6. At the point of physical death we go to Hades • Job 14:13-14; Ps. 16:10: Sheol – Hebrew equivalent to Hades (Acts 2:27). • Sheol (H7585) and Hades (G86) both simply refer to “the place of the dead.” • Hades (G86) literally refers to a place that is “the unseen world.” Job 14:13-14 13. "Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me! 14. "If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes. Death Is a Separation We need to make sure our souls are only separated from our bodies at death, and not our souls from God! Hadean World Pt. 1

7. Not only is there is separation in death, whether physical or spiritual, there is also a separation at death in Hades • Paradise: Pleasant side of Hades • “Abraham’s bosom” (Lk. 16:22) – the waiting place for the righteous. • We know Paradise is in Hades because Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Lk. 23:43) • Ps. 16:10: After dying on the cross, Jesus fulfilled an O.T. prophecy (Ps. 16:10) that God would not abandon His soul to Sheol (H7585). • Acts 2:27: When Peter quoted from Ps. 16:10 he used the Greek word “Hades” (G86), indicating Hades and Sheol are the same! • Jesus went to Hades (Paradise) for 3 days. He would not be left there – He rose from the dead never to physically die again (Acts 2:32-33) Division in Hades: Paradise and Tartarus Ps. 16:10 10. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. Acts 2:27 (KJV: “Hades” G86 rendered “Hell”) 27. BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. Hadean World Pt. 1

8. Tartarus: Unpleasant side of Hades • II Pet. 2:4: A word for “hell” is used only once in N.T.: Tartarus (G5020) means “deepest abyss of Hades” – the waiting place for the unrighteous. • Peter compares the fate of false teachers to the fate of sinful angels! • A place of darkness, “reserved for judgment” (Jude 6) so is not the final destination of the wicked (Hell), but is a place of waiting for judgment. • 1889 Darby Bible says, “deepest pit of gloom.” • 1898 YLT (Young’s Literal Translation): “cast them down to Tartarus.” • Lk. 16:23: This fits with the “torments” part of Hades. II Pet. 2:4 4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; Division in Hades: Paradise and Tartarus A huge chasm separates Paradise from Tartarus! No mention of “Purgatory” – Purely Catholic doctrine There is a separation at death: the righteous from the wicked! Hadean World Pt. 1

9. Death is something all will face – need to be prepared as life will not end with death! Our souls will live on forever – in one of two very different places! When we die, the time for change is over – either we will enter Paradise to meet Lazarus and Abraham or into Tartaruswith false teachers and disobedient angels to await final judgment! Conclusion Hadean World Pt. 1

10. Nothing better than to enter eternal bliss, and nothing worse than to enter eternal torments! Where will your soul reside for eternity? Will the angels bear you away to bliss or torments? We need to prepare now to meet God and live forever with Him! Conclusion Hadean World Pt. 1

11. Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)