R1142 I Believe In Heaven and Hell. PT.1

Dr. Wilton, I just read one of your books and I must say it was just the medicine that I needed. Welcome to The Encouraging Word with Dr. Don Wilton, well-known author and evangelist for our message, I Believe in Heaven and Hell. Today we'll be looking at both of these wonderful places that indeed do exist, both heaven and hell.

There's an awful lot said about both, but today we're going to find out what God's Word says about this, the perspective that we should have on heaven and hell in our day-to-day life. As we study God's Word, know that we're available for you both online at theencouragingword.org and at the other end of this phone number, 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673. We'd love to talk, to listen, to pray, and connect with some of our free resources like our daily Encouraging Word Bible Guide and so much more. Again, online at theencouragingword.org or 866-899-9673.

Now Dr. Wilton. Jesus Christ has an encouraging word just for you today. And do you know that you can go to heaven?

In fact, there are a lot of people that we know, moms and dads and brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, wives and husbands, friends and neighbors who are already there. And it's a wonderful thing to know that heaven is real. And I'm so grateful that we can come together like this and we can thank the Lord Jesus for this incredible promise in God's Word, that you can have the absolute assurance in your heart.

Heaven is not an I think so, maybe, it's an I know so for surely. God has said it and I want to invite you today to trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord. You want to go to heaven, you give your life to Christ. That's how you go to heaven. You give your heart to the Lord Jesus. And when you've given your heart to Jesus, He will take you home to be with Him. You will be with Him forever and forever. In fact, today, that's what we're going to be considering from God's Word.

Here it is. I believe in heaven and hell. I absolutely believe it. I want to pray for you for just a moment.

Would you bow your heads with me? Father, right now, together with thousands of people, I pray for somebody who is standing right on the edge of making an eternal decision. Lord, there is somebody right now listening to this encouraging word. They may be in the Genesis service. They may be right here in downtown Spartanburg in this grand celebration worship service. They may be in a restaurant preparing for people to come and eat. They may be on duty as a police officer or firefighter, one of our nurses, a doctor.

They may be seated right there right now in that nursing home. Something very precious to you, Lord, and how much we love them. There may be someone in a prison cell right now incarcerated, locked up, and right now they are listening to God's Word and it's time because heaven or hell is at stake. Father, you've said that it is not your desire that anyone would perish, but that all would know you. That's why Jesus came and died on a cross. And it's in the name of Jesus today that we present God's truth. And so we ask you to do your work by your Spirit as we pray these things in Jesus' name together.

Amen. I have in my hand a wonderful book. You may not be able to see it where you are, but it's written by Dr. Billy Graham.

It's Dr. Graham's book and it's entitled Nearing Home. We know that heaven is our final home, the place where we will be spending all eternity. Why wouldn't we want to know what heaven will be like? Admittedly, the Bible doesn't answer all our questions about heaven. One reason I've realized is that heaven is so much greater than anything our living minds and limited minds can ever imagine. Even if God answered all our questions about heaven, we wouldn't be able to understand them. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

Isn't that a beautiful passage? Only in heaven will we be able to grasp completely its endless glory and wonder. Then the Bible says we will share in the glory to be revealed. But even if the Bible doesn't tell us everything we want to know about heaven, it does tell us everything we need to know about heaven. And everything without exception that it tells us about heaven should make us want to go there.

On the other hand, everything without exception that the Bible tells us about hell should make us not want to go there. What then is heaven like? The Bible tells us at least five important truths about heaven.

Well, I wish I could read you this. You need to read it for yourself. But Dr. Graham talks about the fact that heaven is glorious, heaven is perfect, heaven is joyous, heaven is active, heaven is absolutely certain. And he goes into God's truth.

He takes God's word and he gives to us what the Bible tells us concerning the real reality of heaven. I want to show you something today, and I'm going to invite you to open your Bibles to the book of Revelation. So we're going to be in the final chapter of the book, the Bible. The book of Revelation, and we're going to look at a number of verses together.

I want you to focus particularly on Revelation chapter 20, and I'm going to begin reading at verse 11. Now folks, while you're turning there, let me just say this to you very quickly and I'll be very quick. Jesus has come back.

You and I talked about this last week. I spoke to you about the fact that I believe that Jesus is coming back. And Jesus has come back. In chapter 19 we are told that Jesus comes and he lands right there in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives.

It's actually quite an amazing story. There's a lot of things that are going to happen when Jesus comes back just like he's promised, and from within him will well up springs of living water, and the prophet tells us that that water, that living water is going to flow down the Kidron Valley and take a left hand turn, and it's going to come out in the Dead Sea, and the Dead Sea, which is absolutely dead, is going to come back to life. Jesus is going to march down right past the church of the teardrop, past the Garden of Gethsemane, and he's going to march across the Golden Gate, and that gate is going to be open for the first time where the temple mound is, and Jesus together with all believers is going to march to the battlefields of Armageddon where the Bible says just by the word of his mouth that the Lord Jesus Christ who is the word of God is going to speak defeat upon anti-Christ and the forces that come against God Jehovah. That will precipitate the thousand year reign, and just before the thousand year reign the Bible says in Revelation chapter 20 in the first five verses that Satan will be taken captive. You see the other two members of the unholy trinity have already been cast into the lake of fire. They've already been sent into the pit of hell according to Revelation chapter 19. The Bible says both anti-Christ and the false prophet are taken into custody by God himself, and they are cast from his presence into the pit of hell forever and forever and forever there is never again another mention of either anti-Christ or the false prophet. In Revelation chapter 20 in verse 1 the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ following the battle of Armageddon takes Satan, that old serpent which is the devil, and through his angel who has the key to the abyss takes him and casts him into outer darkness and sets a seal upon him for a period of a thousand years after which he would be loosed for a little while just so that he can come up and that God in a moment of time can pour fire down out of heaven and devour him at which time Satan himself the devil will be thrown into hell forever and forever and forever. In fact the Bible says in Revelation chapter 20 and in verse 10 that the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. Remember the other two members of the unholy trinity have already been thrown there according to Revelation chapter 19.

And what happens to them? It's not a good picture. It's not a happy story. Hell is not a happy thing. And there's not a single person who has to go there.

And God never sends anybody there. That's why Jesus died. Please forgive the interruption. We'll be back with the rest of today's message in just a moment. But Dr. Wilton wants me to stop for just a moment to remind you that when he says a statement like that's why Jesus died you need to know that we're ready to pray with you about whatever God is stirring in your life about not only his death but his resurrection and the reality he did that for you. If you want to talk we're available 24 hours a day at this phone number 866-899-WORD. As always we suggest you maybe jot a note of it or put it in your cell phone. It's not right now maybe it's two o'clock in the morning three o'clock in the morning you need to talk with someone need to pray someone.

We're here for you at 866-899-9673. We'll be back in just a moment right after this with the conclusion of today's message. Are you seeking or rejecting God? The proof of love is the investment of time. You already know God loves you. He sent his son to die on the cross for your sins so that you could be forgiven and free. But have you ever wondered how to love him in return? The Bible says love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. How do you do that?

How do you practically live out that kind of love? This month Dr. Don Wilton wants to help encourage and inspire you to pursue the God who is pursuing you in his message Going After Jesus. Going After Jesus is available on CD or DVD for your gift of any amount today. Write to us at post office box 2110 Spartanburg, South Carolina 29304 or call us toll free at 866-899-WORD or visit online at theencouragingword.org.

Thank you for your support. The Encouraging Word is a viewer and listener supported ministry that broadcast the good news of Jesus Christ around the world. And now the conclusion of today's message. I believe in heaven and hell with Dr. Don Wilton. In fact the Bible says in Revelation chapter 20 and in verse 10 that the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. Remember the other two members of the unholy trinity have already been thrown there according to Revelation chapter 19.

And what happens to them? It's not a good picture. It's not a happy story. Hell is not a happy thing. And there's not a single person who has to go there. And God never sends anybody there. That's why Jesus died.

There's not a single person ever born who will ever be born or whoever will be born before Jesus comes back in the clouds to take us to be with himself that ever goes to hell because God sends you there. The Bible says that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believes in him, watch this, shall not perish but shall have everlasting life. That's why I want to invite you today to give your life to Jesus Christ. That's why I want to invite you today to trust Jesus.

You need to do that today right now. You need to open your heart to him and invite him to come into your heart and into your life so that your name can be written in God's book in heaven so that you can know that you know that you know that you know beyond any doubt that when Jesus comes back again or if you and I were to die before that coming that we would indeed be absent from the body present with the Lord, we would go straight to heaven to be with Jesus forever. Let's pick up at verse 11 of Revelation chapter 20. And then I saw a great white throne and him that sat upon it from whom the earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was found no place for them to hide. And I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne and the books were opened.

And another book was opened which is the Lamb's Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books and the sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into hell. That is the lake of fire because the lake of fire is the second death.

It's spiritual death, it's eternal death. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire. And then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from where God is prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling of God is among mankind with men and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death. There will be no more mourning. There will be no more crying. There will be no more pain because the old order of things has passed away. Revelation chapter 22 and verse one, then the angel showed me the river of water of life as clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and the lamb down the middle of the great street of the city on each side of the river stood the tree of life bearing 12 crops of fruit and yielding its fruit every month.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the lamb will be in the city and they will serve him. They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads.

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun for the Lord God will give them light and they will reign forever and forever and forever. May the Lord write his word upon our hearts today. I present to you God's encouraging word, this absolute truth.

I'm sharing with you truth. That's why I believe these things. Jesus Christ is real to me.

He's my Savior and my Lord. I'm not a religious man, I'm a Christian man. Religion cannot give me what my Christian faith gives me. Religion gives me a belief in something.

Christianity gives me my belief in someone. His name is Jesus and Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. No man can come to our Father which art in heaven but by me. I want to invite you to trust the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior today. I want you to give your life to Christ today, not tomorrow because you may not be alive tomorrow.

None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. I pray you and I will be alive tomorrow but none of us know this is the accepted time. This is the day of salvation. This is the moment that God is giving to each one of us as we gather together in pulpits all across the world today as the word of God goes forth from little places and big places under trees in rooms of every kind and persuasion among every person of every culture in every continent in every manner you and I could ever imagine.

And it's the same word. Jesus loves you. He died for you and he wants you to be with him in heaven forever. I believe these things. You know that the Bible tells us a number of things about heaven and hell.

Let me share just a few very brief things today about a huge eternal subject. Number one, the Bible tells us that both heaven and hell are places, they're real places folks. In Luke chapter 16 Jesus told the story about two men, one a rich man and the other man a poor man and about their two lives and about how both of these men died and faced the absolute certainty of life after death. You see until I had studied these things I always was under the impression that when a person dies that they're dead. The Bible says not a single person who's died is dead. Eternity is real and both heaven and hell are real places. Jesus said it, one man died and he went to hell, the other man died and he went to heaven. The Bible uses many different terms to talk about hell. Hell is the final place. That's what the Bible talks about in the book of Revelation. Hell is the final place. Bible talks about the abyss, about Gehenna, about Hades, but hell is real. Jesus said so and if Jesus said it we can believe it. My goodness our time is gone now but as we think of what Dr. Don and my dad used to remind me, trust the red letters. Jesus said it and it is so and Jesus has done all of this, this reality of heaven and hell and the option to spend eternity with him in heaven is his free gift to you but you must receive it.

That package that stays in the back room and never opened is not going to be a blessing to you. The reality of the gift of eternal life, the gift of not just taking care of heaven but also the life we live right now is available as you pray to say yes to Jesus. We love to talk with you, pray with you about that decision and watch God work in your life. We also have some free resources that will help you grow in your life living in a sense a heavenly life right here and now even though sometimes it feels like hell.

I believe in heaven and hell. Today's message from Dr. Wilton is available on CD or DVD. Just let us know.

You can ask for R1142. Just let us know you're interested in today's message. Know this, we stand ready to connect with you at 866-899-9673 not just now but 24 hours a day.

Come on down, store it in your cell, 866-899-9673 or online at theencouragingword.org. Till next time, have a blessed day and join us again for the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton. Are you seeking or rejecting God? The proof of love is the investment of time. You already know God loves you. He sent His Son to die on the cross for your sins so that you could be forgiven and free. But have you ever wondered how to love Him in return? The Bible says, love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. How do you do that?

How do you practically live out that kind of love? This month, Dr. Don Wilton wants to help encourage and inspire you to pursue the God who is pursuing you in His message, Going After Jesus. Going After Jesus is available on CD or DVD for your gift of any amount today.

Write to us at post office box 2110, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29304 or call us toll free at 866-899-WORD or visit online at theencouragingword.org. Thank you for your support. The Encouraging Word is a viewer and listener supported ministry that broadcasts the good news of Jesus Christ around the world. Well here I am again. What a day this has been. You know, one of the things I want to say to you is let's stay connected. You know, we've got so many means to be able to do that.

You can write to us, email us. We stay connected in so many ways, and your life is very important to me. I see you there, and God shows me, and I want to be able to pray with you and connect with you and be a vital part of your relationship, your growth. Your needs are maintained. I'm walking in your shoes, and I want to pray for you. Please don't stop, call us, write us, keep praying, keep giving, keep connecting, keep rejoicing, keep celebrating, keep striving. God is on his throne. This is The Encouraging Word, and now you know why.