Somebody Loves You

Raul Ries: And because God loves us so much, and God loves the world so much, and he's not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance, he wanted to warn the world that once you die, it's over. You either go to hell and you live forever, or you go to heaven and you live forever with Jesus Christ.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Somebody Loves You radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Ries in Diamond Bar, California. Today, as we continue our study of the spiritual realm, we're glad to have you with us. When life gets busy, you may not give much thought to what comes next.

But Raul will urge us today to consider our eternal future. Stay with us to see that receiving Jesus' salvation assures us of a heavenly home. Let's join Raul Ries in Ephesians chapter 4 beginning in verse 8 with the lesson, Christ Descended To Hell.

Raul Ries: Tonight, what I would like to do is I would like to take this section that Paul is dealing with here, not only dealing with Christ descending to hell and leading captivity free, and then ascending to heaven, and then giving gifts to each one of us so that we could be used in the kingdom of God. That was the purpose of Christ giving gifts unto man.

But we're going to deal with the doctrine of hell. Now, the reason is because many people do not believe in a literal hell. Now, the only place that you and I can learn about hell is where? From the Bible. This subject of hell is really not a popular subject among people. Nobody really wants to talk about it, but did you know that Jesus talked more about hell than heaven? Yes, he talked more about hell than he did about heaven.

And probably the reason that he did that is because he understood the heart of man. Like Jeremiah 17:9 says what? The heart is deceitful, desperately wicked. Who can know it? I, the Lord, know your hearts. I know what happens with you. And because God loves us so much, and God loves the world so much, and he is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance, he wanted to warn the world that once you die, it's over. You either go to hell and you live forever, or you go to heaven and you live forever with Jesus Christ.

So we must be careful how we live. And the reason is because we all are going to stand in judgment with God. That's important to understand. I love what Christ says about the believer, because sometimes as believers, we can kind of get a little bit confused. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you've repented, you have confessed him, you've accepted him into your heart by faith and he's written your name in the book of life, and you're living for him now, then the Bible says, because of what Christ did for us through redemption of the cross, that your sin and sins have been judged on Calvary at the cross.

When you stand in the presence of God when you die, you will never, ever, ever have to stand in the presence of God to be judged for your sins. But as a believer, you will be judged for your works. That is your motive behind your works. You see, we're not here by coincidence. When the purpose of God for the whole world is that everyone will be saved so that God can begin not only to pour out his spirit upon them and give them his gifts, and then begin to train them for the time to come.

You see, when we have our new heavenly bodies, whatever God is going to do with us, but I know one thing he's going to do with us. The Bible says that we are going to rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years on the earth. And then beyond that, I don't know, but he knows, because there's going to be a new heaven and a new earth created by Jesus Christ.

Now, the Bible is very clear about this judgment. Now, some people ask where did Jesus go the three days and the three nights that he was on the cross, and the answer is very clear. It's found here in the book of Ephesians. We see it. We know that he went down to the center of the earth. Let me read to you from the book of Ephesians chapter 4 beginning with verse 8. He says, therefore he says, and he's quoting from Psalm 68:18. When he, Christ, ascended on high to heaven, he led captivity captive and he gave gifts unto man.

Notice that. Remember on the day of Pentecost what happened? The Holy Spirit came upon all 120 of them and they received the Holy Spirit. Watch this. And now this, this is what happened. He ascended, what does it mean, but that he also first, before he went to heaven, look what he says, because what did he do? After three days, he came back and for 40 days, which we call the post-resurrection time, he walked and he ate and he drank with the disciples and then he went, he ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives according to the book of Acts chapter 1.

You see, but these three days and three nights when he died, he went to hell. Watch this. And now this that he ascended, what's that mean, but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth. That's hell. He who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things.

Now, in 1 Peter, write this down, 1 Peter chapter 3, verses 18 to 20, very important scripture. It actually unites with what Paul is talking about here with Peter. Listen to what he says. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, he made us alive by the Holy Spirit. By whom also, here it is, Jesus, he went down and preached to the spirits in prison.

Notice he's talking about what? Hell. About Hades, that prison where the Old Testament saints were, the wicked and the righteous, and I'll show you in a moment, who formerly were disobedient when once the divine long-suffering waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight souls, were saved through the water. What is he talking about? He's talking about all the people that perished on the day when Noah entered the ark.

Remember we talked about the millions of people, eight billion people went into eternity, only how many people? We talked about eight people survived the flood. The rest of the people went to hell because they did not have God. Only eight people were saved. This is what he's talking about. Hell immediately became full by the millions of people that perished in the flood.

But then the question is this. Are you saying that hell is a real place? Yes, once again I say. Hell is a real place. I can tell you right now this very moment that people that are in the center of the earth wish and pray every day. They don't stop praying and they're wishing they could have had another chance, but they can't. Once you die, it's over. It's over, it's history. Once you enter eternity, it's over.

Listen to the scriptures, what they say. In Matthew 5:22, this is the voice of Jesus. He says, but I say unto you, that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother Raca shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, you fool, shall be in danger of hell and fire. That is of Gehenna, the lake of fire.

Here's Jesus again in Matthew 10:28. And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. But rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Notice that. I mean, you don't have to worry about who kills you, but it's after they kill you where you're going. Worry about that. Matthew 12:40. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, here it is, so will the son of man be three days and three nights, where? In the heart of the earth. Where is that? Hell. So hell is in the center of the earth.

Watch this. Matthew 13:40-42. Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, speaking of the sower. He says, so it will be at the end of the world, at the end of the age. The son of man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and those who practice sin or lawlessness, and will cast them into a furnace of fire and there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. That's Jesus speaking. Jesus is saying that. That's where the lake of fire is.

And the only reason that men will go to hell into the lake of fire is because they have made the choice to reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and their Savior. That's what the Bible teaches. The first thing that he does in verse 8, he tells you that Jesus is the gift giver. He's the one that gives gifts unto man. You see, God has given each believer at least one spiritual gift.

And the gift is to be used for the unifying or the building up of the body of Jesus Christ so that we can work in harmony together. You see, that's why Christ gives us gifts so that we can work together. But we must make a distinction between the spiritual gifts and the natural abilities you were born with. Don't confuse those two.

Let's go ahead and look right now very quickly at what he says in verse 9. And that is, now this he ascended, what does it mean, but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth. Notice the record of his descending into hell here as we read in 1 Peter chapter 4:2. It's important that we understand that here Jesus is talking about he himself going down into hell.

The word hell is a very interesting word. It's actually interpreted as Hades or Sheol in the Old Testament. And they're the same actually in meaning. It means the unseen state of the underworld. The Bible in the New Testament gives us the greatest definition about hell. Now, most interpreters, when they're actually reading the gospels of Jesus Christ and whenever you're reading a parable or you're studying a parable, parables were used by Christ as story forms to actually illustrate something that he was trying to teach to the disciples.

And so what he did is that when it came to Luke's gospel chapter 16 verse 19 through 31, turn to that very quickly. We're going to kind of finish there in that chapter there. Luke chapter 16 beginning with verse 19. He says there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and notice, and fared sumptuously every day, which means he was rich, he had everything that he ever wanted and he was a partier.

He would have parties almost every night and people were coming to his parties. And he was actually showing off his money. But then in the next verse it says this. But also there was a certain beggar by the name of Lazarus. There is the guy's name that he uses. Lazarus was a real person. Never, ever in the parables that Jesus ever used people's names, only here. So this is not a parable. This is a literal story that happened.

And his name was Lazarus and he was poor and he was full of sores, and notice, and who was laid at his gate. He was a street person. Nobody cared for him. Nobody took care of him, but he wandered down the streets and he came to this rich man's house. And when he came, the rich man was having a huge party. But something happened. Look what it says in verse 21.

He says he was desiring to be fed with the crumbs which actually fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked up his sores. And so it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the same night, the rich man also died and was buried. What I love about the rich man and the poor beggar is this: that the poor beggar when he died, who came for him? The angels of the Lord.

Did you notice that when it said that? He had a reception. Can you imagine what a comfort that is to all of us? You don't have to be afraid to die. No matter how you die as a Christian, the angels will be there to take you to be with the Lord. But let me say this to you that are non-believers. If you die without Christ, the angels will come to get you, but they'll carry you and they'll dump you into hell. You'll see that in a moment.

It's incredible what God teaches in his word. Now, watch what he says beginning here as we look at verse 22 and 23. The first thing, the best description of hell is found here. The first thing is what? That hell is a real place. It is a place, write this down, a place of torment. That's the first thing about hell. It is a place of torment. Verses 22 and 23 of chapter 16, listen to what he says.

And so it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom, but the rich man also died and was buried. And here it is, and being in torments in hell, he lifted up his eyes and he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Hey, wait a minute. I thought you said that he died. Yeah, he died. Then why can he see? Who does he see in hell? He sees the beggar that was at his door, in the gates.

He literally has contact on the other side watching in Abraham's bosom the rich man on one side and the poor beggar on the other side. He is being tormented and he is being comforted. Notice the difference. And you see, before Jesus Christ died and rose again, every person that died in the Old Testament up to that time went to hell.

After Jesus Christ died and rose again and went, ascended to heaven, every person that ever died from that point on until he comes again, every person goes to heaven, not to hell. Why? Because he cleaned up hell. That's what I read to you before. He descended to let captivity free.

Secondly, first one is a place of torment. Secondly, hell is a place where people have eyes to see. Eyes to see. Verse 23. And being in torments in hell, he lifted up his eyes and he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in bosom. Did you notice a second thing there? That not only he had eyes, but he had the knowledge to know who Abraham was, never meeting him. Interesting.

Three. Hell is a place where people can speak. They can speak. They can communicate. Watch this. Luke 16:24. And then he cried out and he 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. Notice how hell is not a party scene like most heathens say.

Fourthly. Hell is a place where people have feelings, emotions. Listen. Verse 24. Then he cried and said, father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, here it is, for I am tormented in this flame. I can't stand it. Fifthly. Hell is a place where people have a mind to remember. Wow. Like a computer. Everything you ever, ever put into your mind, it's going to be there for eternity. If you go to hell.

Listen to what he says. Verse 25. But Abraham said, son, remember that in your lifetime, remember, and here it is, hey, go back and remind yourself, go back in your mind. Remember that in your lifetime, you received every good thing and likewise Lazarus every evil thing, but now he is being comforted and you are tormented. Notice that. Go back and think on your life.

And you know what? That rich man could go back and think on his childhood, on his teenage years, adulthood, and even his old age, if he was an old man, he could remember everything he had ever done. Not only a mind to think, but six. Hell is a place where people are worried about their loved ones. Did you know that? That people in hell are worrying about their loved ones.

Verse 27 and 28. Then he said, here's Abraham. And the rich man says, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers that they may testify to them lest they also come to this place of torment. Underline that. I have five brothers. He knew how many brothers he had. He could think of his family in hell.

And then let me give you seventh. Hell is also a place for people who reject the word of God. Who reject the word of God. Luke 16:29. Look what he says. And Abraham said to him, look at, they have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. What's that? They have the Old Testament. The New Testament wasn't written yet. They have Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1st, 2nd Samuel, and so on and so on, all the way through the Old Testament, they have the scriptures there without ignorance. Notice that.

And then eighth. Hell is a place for people who have rejected Jesus Christ. Watch this. Luke 16:30-31. And then he said, no, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. I guarantee it. Watch this. But he said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, if they don't believe the scriptures, neither will they be persuaded though one would rise from the dead. Who rose from the dead? Jesus Christ and people still today do not believe.

Nobody really believes until they go there. Nobody really believes until they go there. But thank God that you and I do not have to go there. That we are going to be in the presence of Jesus Christ. Why? Because the record in verse 10 of chapter 4 of Ephesians is what? That because he descended, he also ascended on high. Jesus became our victor.

He died for you and he rose again from the dead, like Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled, if you believe in me, believe also this, that I'm going to prepare a place for you, and if I go, I'm coming back again to receive you unto myself so that where I am, you also are going to be with me. I like that.

Guest (Male): Today's lesson illustrates the depth of passion that Jesus has for each one of us, as he voluntarily died and then spent three days completely separated from God so that by trusting in him alone, we would never have to experience that torment. You're listening to Somebody Loves You radio with Raul Ries. Today's study was titled Christ Descended To Hell. If you'd like to get an unedited version, we'll be happy to send one to you for a donation of five dollars or more. Just call us at 800-634-9165.

To further establish your faith in the Lord's saving love, we'd like to offer you Raul's four-part series titled Heaven Or Hell. It's available on CD and USB. Every message in this series explores what the Bible teaches about the afterlife and the decision each of us has to make to either receive or reject God's gift of salvation.

Visit somebodylovesyou.com or call 800-634-9165 to order Raul's four-lesson Heaven or Hell study. We'll send you the CD set for 18 dollars or the thumb drive for just 10 dollars. The phone number again is 800-634-9165. Or you can write to Somebody Loves You radio, P.O. Box 4440, Diamond Bar, California, 91765.

Somebody Loves You radio with Raul Ries is completely listener supported. Thank you for partnering with us. Your donations are a great blessing and help us reach more people with the good news of Christ. Tune in again next time for another thought-provoking glimpse into the spiritual realm. You'll find fresh confidence in God's unparalleled power as you learn about his sovereignty over the hosts of angels and demons that are battling daily for our lives. Now with a closing comment, here's Raul once again.

Raul Ries: Now, let me conclude with this. How do I stay out of hell? That's a good question. Well, first of all, we need to be able to live lives that are pleasing to Jesus Christ. We have to. We have to make a commitment that as for me and my house, we are going to serve the Lord. Secondly, we need to be able to yield our bodies and our minds to Jesus Christ. How do we do that? By submission and by getting into the word. By getting into the word of God, putting on Christ in your mind.

And then thirdly, we need to be in the word of God, coming to the services, getting fed, growing, and putting the word of God in active duty in your life. Fourthly, we need to be in prayer, in communion with God, praying for one another, praying for others, praying to God in worship.

And then fifthly, we need to be in fellowship with other people. Why? Other people need our fellowship as we need their fellowship, one with another. And six, we need to be taught not only the word of God, but we also need to give the word of God to others that need it. Don't keep it all to yourself. Give it to others.