OceanSide church of Christ
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ONLY TWO OPTIONS
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
One of the most famous
sermons in the world is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
1.
It has been
studied.
2.
It has been
preached.
3.
It has been
memorized.
4.
It has changed the lives of
millions.
B.
In Jesus’ sermon, He
mentions both heaven and hell.
1.
Heaven (16 times); Reward (4
times); Life (1 time)
2.
Hell (3 times); Destruction
(1 time)
3.
Matthew
7:13-14
Enter ye in at
the strait gate: for wide is the
gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which
go in thereat: because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it.
C.
Heaven and hell, life and
destruction, these are the only two options with regard to man’s final
destiny.
D.
Each individual chooses his
eternal abode. Before choosing, it
is wise to study the two places. In
this lesson we will be contrasting our “Only Two Options.”
I.
PROMINENT FIGURE
A.
Hell’s prominent figure is
none other than Satan.
1.
Hell was originally prepared
for him and his angels (Matt. 25:41).
2.
In Revelation 20:10, we read
of his entrance into hell.
And the devil
that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast
and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented night and day for ever and
ever.
3.
NOTE: Satan is not ruling in this place. He, like all others there, is suffering
punishment. It is his ultimate
defeat.
B.
Heaven’s prominent figure is
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
1.
Revelation
22:3-4
And there shall
be no more curse: but the throne of
God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face, and his
name shall be in their fore-heads.
2.
Jesus will reside in heaven
having totally defeated all of His enemies. He will reign in triumph and
victory.
II. THE
ENVIRONMENT
A. Hell
is described as a place of “outer darkness.”
1.
This description is found three times in the New Testament, and is used
only by Matthew (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).
And cast ye the
unprofitable servant into outer darkness…
2.
This darkness could be the result of several
things:
a.
The lack of physical light, such as the sun and
moon.
b.
The lack of divine presence.
c.
The presence of all that is vile, evil, and wicked.
B.
Heaven is a place of light.
There is no night there.
1.
Revelation 21:23
And the city had
no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and
the Lamb is the light thereof.
2.
It is difficult to imagine a Being whose glory is so brilliant that He
out shines the sun and moon.
III. THE
AMENITIES
A.
Hell is a place of total
discomfort.
1.
It is a place that burns
with fire and brimstone.
a.
Matthew 25:41
Then shall he
say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into
ever-lasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
b.
In Mark 9:43-48, Jesus speaks of hell. Five (5) times He states that the fire
there “shall never be quenched.”
2.
It is the fire that causes those therein to writhe in torments (Luke
16:24).
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.
3.
This torment is so discomforting that there is no rest in that place
(Rev. 14:9-11).
And the third
angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and
his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into
the cup of his indigna-tion; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth
up for ever and ever: and they have
no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoso-ever
receiveth the mark of his name.
B.
Heaven is a place of comfort
and rest.
1.
In Luke 16, the disposition
of Lazarus is contrasted with that of the rich man. Lazarus was comforted in the hereafter
(Luke 16:25).
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.
2.
Instead of having no rest,
the faithful are able to rest from their labors (Rev.
14:13).
And I heard a
voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith
the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow
them.
IV. THE
POPULATION
A. The
population of hell includes the vilest offenders.
1.
We have already seen that Satan, the archenemy of man, will be
there.
2.
The most evil of men will be there also (Rev.
21:8).
But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
B. The
population of heaven includes the holy, the righteous, the kind, the
care-givers, and the peacemakers.
1.
Revelation 21:24
And the nations
of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it…
2.
Matthew 25:34-36
Then shall the
King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me
meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink: I was a stranger, and ye
took me in: naked, and ye clothed me:
I was sick, and ye visited me:
I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
V. THE
ACTIVITY
A.
One of the main activities
of those in hell will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Five (5) times this phrase is used in
the gospel narratives (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke
13:28).
B.
In heaven, the activities of
the saved will involve rejoicing and praising the God of
heaven.
1.
The five talent man and the
two talent man were both rewarded by being invited into “the joy of thy lord”
(Matt. 25:21, 23).
2.
Revelation
19:5
And a voice came
out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his saints, and ye that fear
him, both small and great.
CONCLUSION
A.
The contrast between heaven
and hell is “bi-polar” in nature.
1.
Jesus vs.
Satan
2.
Light vs. outer
darkness
3.
Comfort vs.
discomfort
4.
Righteousness vs.
wickedness
5.
Praise vs.
weeping
B.
These are the only two
destinations God has reserved for man.
Which one will you select?
1.
If you go to hell, you will
have earned it (Rom. 6:23a).
For the wages of
sin is death…
2.
If you go to heaven, it will
be God’s gift to you (Rom. 6:23b).
…but the gift of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ONLY
TWO OPTIONS
Victor
M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
One of
the most famous sermons in the world is Jesus’ Sermon on the
Mount.
B.
In
Jesus’ sermon, He mentions both heaven and hell.
1.
Heaven (16 times); Reward (4 times); Life (1 time)
2.
Hell (3 times); Destruction (1 time)
3.
Matthew 7:13-14
C.
Heaven and hell, life and destruction, these are the only two options for
our destiny.
D.
Each individual chooses his eternal abode. Before choosing, it is wise to study the
two places. In this lesson we will
be contrasting our “Only Two Options.”
I.
PROMINENT FIGURE
A.
Hell’s prominent figure is none other than Satan.
1.
Hell was originally prepared for him and his angels (Matt.
25:41).
2.
In Revelation 20:10, we read of his entrance into
hell.
3.
NOTE: Satan is not ruling in
this place. He, like all others
there, is suffering punishment. It
is his ultimate defeat.
B.
Heaven’s prominent figure is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of
God
1.
Revelation 22:3-4
2.
Jesus will reside in heaven having totally defeated all of His
enemies. He will reign in triumph
and victory.
II.
THE ENVIRONMENT
A.
Hell is described as a place of “outer darkness.”
1.
This description is found three times in the New Testament, and is used
only by Matthew (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).
2.
This darkness could be the result of several
things:
a.
The lack of physical light, such as the sun and
moon.
b.
The lack of divine presence.
c.
The presence of all that is vile, evil, and wicked.
B.
Heaven is a place of light.
There is no night there.
1.
Revelation 21:23
2.
It is difficult to imagine a Being whose glory is so brilliant that He
out shines the sun.
III. THE
AMENITIES
A.
Hell is a place of total discomfort.
1.
It is a place that burns with fire and brimstone.
a.
Matthew 25:41
b.
In Mark 9:43-48, Jesus speaks of hell. Five (5) times He states that the fire
there “shall never be quenched.”
2.
It is the fire that causes those therein to writhe in torments (Luke
16:24).
3.
This torment is so discomforting that there is no rest in that place
(Rev. 14:9-11).
B.
Heaven is a place of comfort and rest.
1.
In Luke 16, the disposition of Lazarus is contrasted with that of the
rich man. Lazarus was comforted in
the hereafter (Luke 16:25).
2.
The faithful are able to rest from their labors (Rev.
14:13).
IV. THE
POPULATION
A.
The population of hell includes the vilest
offenders.
1.
We have already seen that Satan, the archenemy of man, will be
there.
2.
The most evil of men will be there also (Rev.
21:8).
B.
The population of heaven includes the holy, the righteous, the kind, the
care-givers, and the peacemakers (Rev. 21:24; Matt.
25:34-36).
V.
THE ACTIVITY
A.
One of the main activities of those in hell will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth. Five (5) times this
phrase is used in the gospels (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke
13:28).
B.
In heaven, the activities of the saved will involve rejoicing and
praising the God.
1.
The five talent man and the two talent man were both rewarded by being
invited into “the joy of thy lord” (Matt. 25:21, 23).
2.
Revelation 19:5
CONCLUSION
A.
The contrast between heaven and hell is “bi-polar” in
nature.
B.
These are the only two destinations God has reserved for man. Which one will you
select?
1.
If you go to hell, you will have earned it (Rom.
6:23a).
2.
If you go to heaven, it will be God’s gift to you (Rom.
6:23b).
ONLY
TWO OPTIONS
Victor
M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
One of the most famous ______________ in the world is Jesus’ Sermon on
the Mount.
B.
In Jesus’ sermon, He mentions both __________________ and
______________.
1.
Heaven (16 times); Reward (4 times); Life (1 time)
2.
Hell (3 times); Destruction (1 time)
3.
Matthew 7:13-14
C.
Heaven and hell, life and destruction, these are the only two options for
our eternal _____________.
D.
Each individual _____________ his eternal abode. Before choosing, it is wise to study the
two places. In this lesson we will
be contrasting our “Only Two Options.”
I.
PROMINENT ___________________
A.
Hell’s prominent figure is none other than
___________________.
1.
Hell was originally ____________________ for him and his angels (Matt.
25:41).
2.
In Revelation 20:10, we read of his entrance into
hell.
3.
NOTE: Satan is not
____________ in this place. He,
like all others there, is suffering punishment. It is his ultimate
defeat.
B.
Heaven’s prominent figure is Jesus Christ, the ________________ of
God
1.
Revelation 22:3-4
2.
Jesus will reside in heaven having totally defeated all of His
enemies. He will reign in triumph
and ____________________.
II.
THE ENVIRONMENT
A.
Hell is described as a place of “___________
___________________.”
1.
This description is found three times in the New Testament, and is used
only by Matthew (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).
2.
This darkness could be the result of several
things:
a.
The lack of ______________ light, such as the sun and
moon.
b.
The lack of divine ____________________.
c.
The presence of all that is vile, evil, and wicked.
B.
Heaven is a place of light.
There is no _________________ there.
1.
Revelation 21:23
2.
It is difficult to imagine a Being whose glory is so brilliant that He
out shines the sun.
III. THE
AMENITIES
A.
Hell is a place of total __________________.
1.
It is a place that burns with fire and
________________.
a.
Matthew 25:41
b.
In Mark 9:43-48, Jesus speaks of hell. Five (5) times He states that the fire
there “shall never be __________________.”
2.
It is the fire that causes those therein to writhe in _____________ (Luke
16:24).
3.
This torment is so discomforting that there is no ________ in that place
(Rev. 14:9-11).
B.
Heaven is a place of comfort and rest.
1.
In Luke 16, the disposition of _______________ is contrasted with that of
the rich man. Lazarus was comforted
in the hereafter (Luke 16:25).
2.
The faithful are able to rest from their ______________ (Rev.
14:13).
IV. THE
POPULATION
A.
The population of hell includes the vilest
offenders.
1.
We have already seen that Satan, the archenemy of man, will be
there.
2.
The most evil of ____________ will be there also (Rev.
21:8).
B.
The population of heaven includes the holy, the righteous, the kind, the
___________-givers, and the ____________________ (Rev. 21:24; Matt.
25:34-36).
V.
THE ACTIVITY
A.
One of the main activities of those in hell will be _________________ and
gnashing of teeth. Five (5) times
this phrase is used in the gospels (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke
13:28).
B.
In heaven, the activities of the saved will involve rejoicing and
________________ the God.
1.
The five talent man and the two talent man were both rewarded by being
invited into “the __________ of thy lord” (Matt. 25:21,
23).
2.
Revelation 19:5
CONCLUSION
A.
The contrast between heaven and hell is “bi-_________________” in
nature.
B.
These are the only two destinations God has reserved for man. Which one will you
select?
1.
If you go to hell, you will have ________________ it (Rom.
6:23a).
2.
If you go to heaven, it will be God’s ______________ to you (Rom.
6:23b).