Do Unrepentant Sinners Suffer God’s Wrath Forever?

Do Unrepentant Sinners Suffer God’s Wrath Forever?

A couple of weeks ago I talked to a young man here in downtown Springfield, MO and he told me that Aaron and I preach too much hellfire and brimstone. In addition to this issue, he also said our problem is that punishment in Hell is not eternal. So the message this week is: Do Unrepentant Sinners Suffer God’s Wrath Forever? 

Do people who die in their sins suffer eternal damnation for their rebellion against God or do they merely burn for a little while? Do they suffer the agonies and horror of Hell just until their penance is paid and then God allows them to get out of Hell? What do you think tonight: is Hell everlasting punishment or is it a temporary holding place of pain until people “learn their lesson”?

Riches Profit Not

Let’s look to the Bible for the answer to these questions. In the Old Testament Proverbs 11:4 says: Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. The soul that sins, it shall die. So delivering from death cannot merely mean physical death in this life. The Bible says none of us are righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10-12). So none of us are righteous and our own righteousness cannot keep us from dying. We are all going to die one day. It’s the ultimate statistic – 10 out of 10 people die. Righteousness delivers from death, means the righteousness of Jesus delivers those who believe in Him from the second death (which I’ll talk about later).

Depart From Me Ye Cursed

In Matthew 25:41-46 Jesus says: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Please note Jesus is not talking about a works based religion here. You cannot earn your way to Heaven. What Jesus is talking about in these verses is that true Christians, true followers of His are different. We are new creatures in Christ. He gives us new desires and we want to join Him in His kingdom work.

Everlasting Punishment

But please notice what Jesus said about the unbelievers, about those who do not repent and surrender to His Lordship. He says that they will go away into everlasting punishment. Jesus is speaking here folks. This isn’t my interpretation. This isn’t my opinion. Jesus says that the unrighteous (that’s all unrepentant sinners) will go into everlasting punishment. Now I’m not the smartest person in the world, but when my Lord and Savior says that the unrighteous will suffer everlasting punishment, I take Him at His word. I believe Jesus! Hell is eternal. It is everlasting punishment.

Again Jesus tells us of the eternal punishment in Hell in Luke 16:19-31: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Jesus said the rich man died, buried and in Hell lifted up his eyes. The rich man was cast into Hell immediately after he died and after suffering there for over 2,000 years, he’s still suffering in agony in Hell. He may still be begging for a drop of water. He has no relief from his pain and suffering.

You Can’t Go Back And Forth

Abraham also told the rich man that there is a great gulf between Heaven and Hell. You cannot go from one to another. You can’t say well today I think I’ll go to Heaven. Then tomorrow I’ll go to Hell and see my friends because I’m tired of praising God. No, it’s either Heaven or Hell and the determination is based solely on whether you have repented and surrendered your life to Jesus in this life. No repentance, no salvation.

The apostle Paul clearly talks about Hell being eternal punishment in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-9: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

Vengeance With Flaming Fire

If you are out here tonight and you think God’s righteous judgment isn’t eternal punishment, please don’t miss this. Jesus is going to take vengeance with flaming fire on those who do not know God. Do you know God tonight? The only way to know God is through Jesus Christ the Lord. Have you repented and submitted to the Lordship of Jesus? If you have not, then you have the vengeance of flaming fire from Jesus Christ to look forward to. This should bother you tonight if you have never been born again. Don’t die in your sins as an unrepentant rebel against God.

This everlasting punishment is for those who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you surrendered your life to Jesus through repentance and faith in Him? If not, then you are not obeying the Gospel. You are still spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins. You are lost and on the broad road to destruction. Oh, can’t you see the dire predicament that you are in? Won’t you admit your guilt and cry out to the only Savior of mankind?

Everlasting Destruction

Again, for those of you who don’t believe that Hell is real, that it is not everlasting punishment, 2 Thessalonians 1:9 says: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Folks, this is very clear speech. There is no way to misinterpret this verse. Again, this isn’t our opinion, this is God’s Holy Word. Those of you who die in your sins as unrepentant sinners will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.

Even unbelievers today receive God’s general grace. The sun shines on the evil and the good and the rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). But once you die in your sins, you will be separated from God’s love for all of eternity. There is no mercy in Hell. There is no grace in Hell. There are no second chances in Hell. You do not just burn for a little while and then somehow get out of Hell.

It is a place of everlasting punishment. It is eternal. The smoke of your torment will rise forever and ever. You will have no rest day or night. This will happen whether you believe Hell is real or not. If you foolishly die in your sins, you will see in one second how real Hell is and you wish that you would have listened. You will wish that you would have heeded the warning.

Hope In Jesus Christ

But tonight, if your heart isn’t completely hardened over; if you have any concern over your immortal soul, if you have a conscience that isn’t completely seared over, there is hope for you.

There is hope in Jesus Christ. The Gospel, the Good News is that Jesus Christ left His throne over 2,000 years ago and was born in a lowly manger. We just celebrated Christmas last weekend. Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect, sinless life. Then He suffered, bled and died on the cruel cross for guilty sinners like you and me. He was buried in the tomb for three days and then He rose victoriously from the grave. Jesus defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan.

God offers eternal life to each and every person who repents and puts their trust in Jesus. You do not have to suffer God’s righteous judgment forever and ever. You do not have to suffer Jesus’ vengeance against your rebellion through flaming fire resulting in everlasting destruction and damnation. Yes, we talk about Hell a lot because Hell is real. It is everlasting punishment and people there suffer torments worse than we can even imagine and it never ends.

Believe In Jesus

But you don’t have to go there. You can be saved. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus said  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life (John 6:47). Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24).

Oh believe in the Lord Jesus tonight and be saved. You can avoid God’s righteous judgment and eternal condemnation. You can pass from spiritual death to spiritual life tonight. Right here, right now. Repent and believe the Gospel and be ye saved. Call upon the precious name of Jesus that is above all names and be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be save (Romans 10:13).

(This message was proclaimed in downtown Springfield, MO on December 30, 2016)