HEAVEN AND HELL??
Many people have questions about heaven and hell. Some believe the Bible answers these questions, as the inspired words of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In the Bible, the Son of God speaks about heaven and hell.
JESUS’ AUTHORITY TO SPEAK FOR GOD
The biblical Scriptures reveals Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God, who spoke about heaven and hell.
Jesus demonstrated he is the divine Son of God, the final authoritative spokesperson of God (Hebrews 1:1-3). He showed God’s authority by the miraculous things he did, which no one else could do. For instance, he demonstrated control of nature and life by calming a stormy sea and raising people from the dead (Mark 4:35-41; John 11:38-44). And He fulfilled all Scriptures concerning God’s promised Savior of the world (Luke 24:44-48).
The Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ, who informs us about heaven and hell, made everything that exists (John 1:1-3, 14; Colossians 1:16).
God the Father affirmed Jesus Christ as his Son and divine spokesperson when the Father said: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7).
When God tells us anything, including things about heaven and hell, it is because “God is love” (1 John 4:8; John 3:16).
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST COMMENTS ON HEAVEN AND HELL:
HIS RESPONSE TO SOME UNBELIEVERS
Jesus responded with loving concern to “the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection–Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mark 12:18-25)–“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).
PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS (Matthew 25:31-46)
Jesus said: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Christ advises us to “fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into HELL”(Luke 12:5).
A RICH MAN AND A BEGGAR (Luke 16:19-31)
The Lord said: “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side [in Heaven]. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades [Hell], where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this PLACE OF TORMENT.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
OTHER COMMENTS JESUS MADE ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL
Jesus told some who were talking about others who perished because they were wicked sinners, “but unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:1-6). And he said: “you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” And if “you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” (John 8:21-24; John 3:16-18).
And if you perish in hell, a place of torment, “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.” (Luke 13:28).
WHY THE LORD TELLS US ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL
The Bible says, God’s “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish [in hell] but have eternal life [in heaven] (John 3:16; 14:2-3).
