The Suffering Of Hell

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Thursday January 17, 2008

Lets take a closer look at the account of the rich man and Lazarus.

Luke 16:19-26 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
19. "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. The rich man also died and was buried. 23. In 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 fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

As we pointed out yesterday, the rich man went straight to a place referred to as "hell"; where he was immediately burning in flames! But what is really torture is the fact that the rich man could actually SEE PARADISE from inside the flames!! That's like dying of starvation with a feast in full view!!

Also, as we saw yesterday, the book of Revelation tells us that this "paradise" is where the "tree of life" is:

Revelation 2:7 (NIV)
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

So the rich man was burning in hell while within seeing distance of the place where the "tree of life" is!!

On the other hand, Luke 16:22 (above) tells us that when Lazarus died, angels carried him to Abraham's side!!

Abraham is the "father of faith" according to the Bible, and all of us believers are "children of Abraham" by faith!! Lazarus was given the seat of honor in paradise, and the rich man, who had wronged Lazarus all his life, had to watch him get royal treatment!!

No, hell is not a "big party". It is the place where suffering is given a new meaning.

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your Word that tells me the spiritual truths that will bless my life as well as the lives of others. Thank You for providing us an escape from the suffering of hell. Help me understand Your Word so I can follow Your ways closely.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

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