STU:The other side of death  by Richard W. DeHaan

   By Richard W. DeHaan, teacher of the Radio Bible Class, worldwide
ministry through radio, television, literature.

   THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED

   It's a well-known and documented fact that down through the ages
mankind has always believed in some kind of conscious existence after
death. In spite of our modern philosophies, that persuasion is still
prevalent today. I realize that some atheistic humanists claim life is
only the result of a series of accidents in the evolutionary process,
and they are denying any existence beyond the grave. Even though they
have made a profound impact upon our society, they have not succeeded
in erasing the deep conviction that there is life after death.

   In recent years, belief in life beyond the grave has received added
support from some rather unexpected quarters. A number of psychiatrists
and psychologists who specialize in working with the dying say the have
absolute proof of conscious existence after death. They present as
evidence the testimonies of certain people who have survived, even
though they have been declared clinically dead. Those who have been
brought back tell of passing through a tunnel, of being conscious of a
bright light, of hearing beautiful music, or of seeing departed loved
ones. Some claim they have seen Jesus, the virgin Mary, or other
religious figures. The public is gladly accepting their reports as
evidence that we continue to live on the other side of death.

   Even though these reports may be very interesting, they are not a
good source of information about life beyond the grave. Serious
questions remain unanswered. How can we be sure that those persons,
even though declared "clinically dead", were really beyond all
possibility of resuscitation? How can we be sure that the mind was not
playing tricks on individuals in traumatic situations? How can we be
sure that certain drugs did not produce hallucinations, and thus result
in stories of seeing a tunnel or a figure of light, or of conversing
with friends? And how can we be sure that there are no valid
explanations for these phenomena?

   I believe that we should turn from the tales of mere human
experience to the testimony of the Bible to find valid, acceptable
evidence about the hereafter. The Scriptures are the only reliable
authority for information about the other side of death. In this
booklet we will examine what the Bible says about life beyond the grave.

   We will begin in this lesson by considering three characteristics
the Bible ascribes to the souls of the dead. I trust that you will
weight carefully what the Word of God has to say, and that you will
think about your own relationship to your future beyond the grave.

   THEY ARE CONSCIOUS

   The first characteristic of the souls of the departed is that they
do have a conscious existence. Some teachers say that when people die,
they simply pass out of existence like an animal. They believe that God
will recreate them at some future resurrection. But the Bible, both by
implication and by direct statement, indicates clearly that a person is
conscious on the other side. The apostle Paul said this in 2
Corinthians 5 when he wrote,

   Therefore, we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at
home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (For we walk by faith, no
by sight); We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

   Did you catch what the apostle said? "Absent from the body--present
with the Lord!" That statement can have no meaning unless it is
interpreted as teaching that the soul is conscious after death and can
enjoy the presence of God.

   The apostle made a similar statement in the book of Philippians:

   For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in
the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor, yet what I shall choose I
know not. For I am in strait between two, having a desire to depart and
to be with Christ, which is far better (Philippians 1:21-23).

   The apostle was torn between two desires--the wish to die and the
need to live. He wanted to remain alive for the benefit of others who
needed him. but personally he would rather die so that he could enter
into the presence of his Saviour. For him that choice had the greater
appeal.

   Paul certainly could never have spoken of death as "gain" or as
being "far better" if he expected to lapse into an unconscious state
until after the resurrection. No, that was not his prospect. Rather, he
anticipated the full awareness of being with Christ. That's what made
death gain for him and far better!

   THEY CAN COMMUNICATE

   The Bible teaches that the dead recognize each other and can talk to
one another. The prophet Isaiah said that when the king of Babylon
would arrive in Sheol (the place of the dead), the souls there would
speak to him.

   Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it
stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it
hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All
they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become as weak as we?
Art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to sheol, and
the noise of thy lutes; the worm is spread under thee, and the worms
cover thee (Isaiah 14:9-11).

   The certainly could not speak to him unless they were conscious and
had the ability to converse! We also find evidence for communication
between the souls of the dead in our Lord's story about the rich man
and Lazarus. In Luke 16 we are told that when the rich man entered
Hades, he saw Abraham and Lazarus afar off and cried out,

   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 the flame (Luke 16:24).

   These words were the beginning of an extended verbal exchange
between Abraham and the rich man. Yes, there was both a recognition and
a communication. Some believe it may have taken a special miracle for
the rich man, residing in the place of torment, to see Lazarus in the
realm of the blessed. But certainly the power to communicate was there.

   You know, that comforts and encourages me as I think about my loved
ones in glory. The saints in Heaven today do know one another. They
converse with each other. Those gone on before are enjoying the
presence of the Lord and blessed fellowship with the other citizens of
Heaven right now. How foolish we would be to feel sorry for them or to
treat their death as an awful tragedy! We at times may weep for
ourselves as we remember them, but we should rejoice for them because
they are experiencing the glories of being with Christ.

   THEY CAN REMEMBER

   In addition, the Bible ascribes to the souls of the dead the ability
to remember what happened to them while here on earth. This fact also
was revealed in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. When the wealthy
man spoke to Abraham, the patriarch replied as follows:

   Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things,
and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art
tormented (Luke 16:25).

   Notice that Abraham said, "Son, remember". And the wealthy man did
remember his life. He also remembered his five brothers, who were
apparently living godless lives. He therefore made the request that
Lazarus be sent to testify to them. He didn't want them to share his
sad, hopeless fate. Yes, he remembered?

   Memory no doubt plays a great part in the suffering of the lost in
Hades as they wait the resurrection and the judgement. How terrible the
remorse of a condemned sinner, remembering the missed opportunities and
the wrong decisions of his earthly life. And those who heard the
message of salvation most clearly, and who deliberately rebelled
against God, will have the most painful memories of all.

   It's altogether different for the believer. The more dedicated his
life of devotion to Christ, the more precious and enjoyable will be his
memories of earth. What a warning this is to the unbeliever? And what a
blessing it is to the saint! Yes, on the other side of death memory
will bring either bitter remorse or wonderful joy.

   I'm well award that what we've been talking about raises some
interesting questions. Do those on the other side of death know what is
taking place on the planet? If they do, how do the receive the
information? Can they see what's going on right now? Do angels tell
them? Do they talk about us?

   My firm conviction is that the people who are now in Heaven are
award of the actual events of earth and are concerned about them. The
very fact that the souls of those on the other side are conscious, can
communicate, and have a memory tells us that they think and talk about
us. They are vitally interested in us and in the fulfillment of God's
plan for this world. It seems very unlikely that a solid curtain would
be drawn across the scene of earth, blocking out all the association
and identification with the past and the present.

   An interesting description of a scene in Heaven during the
tribulation, recorded for us in the book of Revelation, gives us some
information. John wrote:

   And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the
testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying,
How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our
blood on them that dwell on earth?

   And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said
unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they
were, should be fulfilled (Revelation 6:9-11).

   In verse 9 the author referred to the "souls of them that were slain
for the work of God." These people were on the other side of death.
They had been martyred for their testimony. Notice, they were
conscious. They were concerned about God's dealing with those "that
dwell on the earth". And they were told to "rest yet for a little
season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that
should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

   HOW THEY KNOW

   Even though I believe the souls on the other side are aware of what
is happening here, just how they receive their information I'm not
sure. Some Bible scholars are convinced that those who have died, at
least believers, can actually look right down upon the earth and see
what's going on. They usually quote Hebrews 12:1 as evidence:

   Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us (Hebrews 12:1).

   They say this verse means that the saints in Heaven are watching us
as we "run...the race before us." Others claim that the term
"witnesses" refers to the men and women mentioned in chapter 11 whose
lives were a testimony to the power of faith. They don't like the idea
of spectators in Heaven observing everything that's going on down here.
Life is full of sin, they say, and not fit for the eyes of the
redeemed. Furthermore, they object that being able to observe events on
earth would amount to a gross invasion of privacy.

   Another group of Bible students believe that the citizens of Heaven
know what's happening on earth through the ministry of angels. Jesus
spoke of "joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that
repenteth" (Luke 15:10). These people surmise that the angels share the
good news that someone has been saved with the saints in glory.

   It could also be that those who arrive on the other side through the
gateway of death carry with them the latest information about friends
and loved ones here on earth. I can just imagine the saints in Heaven
awaiting with longing hearts for the coming of those who have just
died. They hang on every word the say, and pump them for all the
information they can give about their loved ones and what is
transpiring here. I believe that the saints in glory are vitally
interested in us, and that they know at least something of what's going
on down here.

   THE JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS

   Most of the current "death and dying" literature gives a false
picture of the hereafter. It portrays everyone as receiving some kind
of a non-material form and picking up, more or less, where he or she
left off in this world. Nothing is said about a bodily resurrection or
a judgment. Nor is there any mention of a genuine distinction in
destinies.

   The depiction by these people modern writers flatly contradicts the
teaching of the Bible. According to the Scriptures, everyone will
receive a resurrection body, stand before God for judgment, and spend
eternity in either Heaven or Hell.

   In the preceding lesson, we saw that those who are on the other side
of death are conscious, that they can communicate with each other, and
they have a memory. We also expressed our belief that they are
concerned about us here on earth. And that they know something about
what we are doing.

   In this chapter and the next, we will discuss the resurrections and
judgments that await the saved and the unsaved. We will begin with a
look at what the Bible teaches about the judgment of believers.

   WHEN THE JUDGEMENT OCCURS

   The judgment seat of Christ will take place immediately following
the resurrection and rapture of believers, which is described in 1
Thessalonians 4.

   For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in
Christ shall rise first; Then we who are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

   This passage teaches that when the Lord Jesus Christ comes for His
own, those who have died in the faith, along with every living saint,
will be "caught up together...to meet the Lord in the air." There,
after the translation of the church, the judgment of believers will
take place. The Scriptures indicate that even while Christians are
being judged in Heaven, the unbelievers left behind on this earth will
pass through a time of great tribulation. The Antichrist will rise to
power. Terrible disturbances in nature will occur. Diving judgments
will be poured out on the unbelieving nations. Those who turn to God
will be dreadfully persecuted and many will die for their faith.
Through it all, the Jewish nation will be brought to Christ, and this
planet will be prepared for our Lord's millennial rule.

   Yes, during those dreadful days on earth, the saints of the church
age will be examined at the judgment seat of Christ in Heaven. This
will be in preparation for their reign with Him when He returns to rule
the earth as the mighty King of kings.

   THE NEED FOR JUDGMENT

   It may seem strange to some that we as believers need to be judged.
After all, we've already been justified because of what Christ did for
us on Calvary's cross. He paid the penalty for our sin. We possess
everlasting life right now. Our destiny is sealed. We know that we are
going to Heaven when we die. Why then this judgment?

   Perhaps the best way to answer this question is to review the three
judgments in the Bible which have special meaning for believers. The
first took place at Calvary, and it had to do with our guilt. There God
poured out upon Jesus Christ His wrath against the sins of the world.
And there Jesus Christ took the punishment that you and I deserved.
Paul said that God "hath made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us,
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians
5:21).

   The second judgment of believers takes place in this life. It is
occurring right here and now. This is God's chastening of Christians
during their lifetime. Though we are saved by grace, we are "created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). When a Christian becomes
careless in his conduct, he invites the chastening hand of the Lord.
The author of Hebrews wrote, "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth" (Hebrews 12:6).

   The third judgment of Christians will occur when we appear at the
judgment seat of Christ. This will take place after we receive our
resurrection bodies (see 2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment is
necessary so that God can purge away the unconfessed and unforsaken
sins in the lives of His children. You see, the Lord wants us to be
perfect and spotless before Him. If we refuse His daily cleansing now,
we can be sure it will come later on the other side.

   TWO IMPORTANT FACTS

   To avoid misunderstanding on this point, let me emphasize first that
the examination of believers at the judgment seat of Christ has nothing
to do with whether or not he will go to Heaven or Hell. that was
settled in this life when he placed his trust in Christ. the judgment
of believers therefore relates to their cleansing, to the loss or gain
of rewards, and to their preparation for reigning with Christ in the
kingdom age of eternity to follow.

   I want to make a second point very clear. Every sin that we've ever
acknowledged sincerely and tried to overcome has been erased. We have
this promise:

   If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

   At the judgment seat of Christ, God is not going to drag out all
those things which we did before we were saved. Nor is He going to
bring back all those things we've already acknowledged and confessed.
Rather, it will be those unconfessed and unforsaken sins that will be
placed before us to our shame and grief. Remember, that which is wrong
must be made right. The judgment of believers will be used to purge the
dross from their lives. The apostle Paul wrote,

   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that
everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).

   And he also made the following comments:

   For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which
is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble---Every man's work shall be
made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man's work of what sort
it is. If nay man's work abide which he hath built upon it, he shall
receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer
loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet as by fire (1 Corinthians
3:11-15).

   This important passage is quite shocking when its truth first
strikes home. You see, even though every believer builds upon the same
foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ, we are reminded in these verses that
different Christians build different kinds of structures upon that
foundation. For some, the material of their building is gold, silver,
and precious stones--which are images that probably refer to such
things as sound doctrine, Christlike conduct, and unselfish service.
For others, however, the materials are mainly wood, hay and
stubble--which could stand for carelessness about doctrine, a carnal
way of life, and self-centeredness in relationships.

   When we stand at the judgment seat of Christ, what we have done will
be tested by fire. That which is represented by wood, hay, and stubble
will be burned away. Only the gold, silver, and precious stones will
stay with us as we enter the kingdom age and then go on into eternity.
We will suffer loss at that judgment to the extent that we have
constructed a life of wood, hay, and stubble. And we will be rewarded
to the extent that we have built into it the gold, silver, and precious
stones.

   In his second epistle, the apostle Peter spoke about an abundant
entrance into the "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ" (2 Peter 1:11). All who have been sound in doctrine, Christlike
in conduct, and unselfish in service will have an abundant entree into
the halls of paradise. But those who have been careless, carnal, and
self-centered will get in, as it were, by "the skin of the teeth".
Remember what Paul said, "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet as by fire" (1
Corinthians 3:15). What a terrible way to go! How much better the
prospect of verse 14: "If any man's work abide which he hath built upon
it, he shall receive a reward" (1 Corinthians 3:14).

   TWO ILLUSTRATIONS

   One of the wonderful things about the judgment seat of Christ is
that many sincere Christians who are never given much glory down here
will receive the recognition they deserve over there on the other side.
Let me quote two illustrations from my father's booklet, The Judgment
Seat of Christ. "Here is a preacher endowed by God with a wonderful
personality, a marvelous voice, a thorough education, a brilliant mind,
all of which are not of his own choosing, but God's gift through his
parents and his forebears. He has a great church, and a wonderful
congregation. He has a big salary, lives in a $25, 000 home, rides
around in a Cadillac, and wears $200 suits. Mind you, I don't begrudge
him that at all. I just state it as a fact. He is popular, everyone
praises him, and they shower him with gifts on every hand. His picture
appears in the paper and he is in great demand everywhere.

   "That man has a great responsibility. If he uses it to its fullest
in all humility, he will receive his proper reward, but if he wastes
his talents by becoming proud, becoming too big to kneel in the gutter
with a drunkard, hobnobs only with the hoity-toities, flies all over
the world for pleasure, lives on the fat of the land, struts and bows
to the plaudits of men, waters down his message to suit his rich
deacons, and wastes his time in looking over his investments, he has
his reward already. And if he is really saved, " said Dr. De Haan, "he
may awaken someday to find nothing but ashes left at the judgment seat
of Christ."

   "But out there in the hills is another picture. In an unpainted
house lives a little preacher, serving a little church of only fifty
members. He received $35.00 a week, drives a rickety Ford. He is not a
great orator, his talents are but few, he has no money to support a
good library or to broaden his education by trans-Atlantic flights. Few
ever hear of him, and seldom does he receive a compliment or a word of
encouragement, but day in and day out, year in and year out, he pleads,
he plods through the mud, to deal with the sinners, to visit a dying,
poverty-stricken woodsman, to help and assist and preach and work. Long
hours he spends agonizing for souls and then dies an early death due to
overwork and undernourishment. He is buried, with few people at his
funeral. Listen friend, I'd like to be there at the judgment seat of
Christ when his rewards are handed out. He will hear that welcome work
of commendation from the Lord: "Well done, thou good and faithful
servant....Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21)."

   Those who work in the hard, obscure places are someday going to be
recognized. And those who couldn't sing in public or teach a Sunday
school class, but were beautiful Christians on a one-to-one basis, will
be rewarded. Many of them are building far more gold, silver, and
precious stones into their lives than some of the world's most famous
and best preachers.

   For that reason, I sincerely believe that there are going to be some
tremendous surprises on the other side. Many who stand in the spotlight
of man's applause in this life will lurk in the shadows in that coming
day when the Lord Himself acknowledges and praises those who labored in
the out-of-the-way and discouraging places.

   My friend, take heart. Your talents may be small. Your opportunities
may be limited. Perhaps you're not appreciated by others. But don't
give up. Just be faithful. It will be worth it all when you see Christ.
The Lord Jesus said,

   The Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His
angels, and then He shall reward every man according to hsi words
(Matthew 16:27). Christian brother, if you are living for earthly
pleasures, material enjoyments, or sinful indulgences, you'll be
ashamed when you stand before the Lord. You'll think of what you could
have been, but were not. You'll enter the kingdom--but without reward.
How you'll wish you had done differently! I therefore urge you to put
first things first. Be among those who will enjoy an abundant entrance
into the "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

   Won't you confess your sins to the Lord right now? Tell Him you're
sorry for living so selfishly. Promise Him that with His help you'll
live a life that blesses others and bring praise to His name. Then go
out and follow Him!

   THE ETERNAL HELL

   I believe that on the other side of death an eternity of punishment
awaits all who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that's not a
popular doctrine. And I can well understand why! People don't like the
idea of human suffering, especially when it is intense and without any
hope of relief.

   No wonder most Christians, even though they acknowledge a belief in
Hell, refuse to reflect upon it very much! I don't enjoy thinking or
talking about Hell either. It's hard enough to see suffering in this
life, let alone to contemplate the awful conditions that lie ahead for
every unbeliever.

   I would like to believe along with many others, that everyone is
going to Heaven. But that prospect is not taught in the Bible, so I
cannot preach it as a valid hope. I have no choice in the matter. If
I'm going to discharge my solemn responsibility as a minister of the
gospel to proclaim the whole counsel of God, I must declare
unequivocally that there is an eternal Heaven to gain and an
everlasting Hell to shun.

   In this chapter I am fulfilling my duty to tell you what the Bible
says about Hell. It teaches these three specific facts:

   1. It will be a place of physical suffering. 2. It will be a place
of graded suffering. 3. It will be a place of eternal suffering.

   This is serious business. I trust that you will pay close attention
as you read these words, and that you will reflect carefully upon them.

   A PLACE OF PHYSICAL SUFFERING

   The first truth the Bible teaches us about Hell is that it will be a
place of suffering. The Lord Jesus Himself said this:

   As, therefore, the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so
shall it be in the end of this age. The Son of man shall send forth His
angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that
offend, and them who do iniquity, And shall cast them into a furnace of
fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:40-42).

   The Lord Jesus also talked about the suffering of Hell in another
passage. (By the way, it is striking that the words of this verse came
from the lips of the tender, compassionate, and loving Lord Jesus!) He
said,

   But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12).

   Remember, when Jesus mentioned the "sons of the kingdom", He was
referring to unbelievers of His own nation--not the Gentiles.

   In an effort to minimize the reality of Hell, some people try to
tell us that it is not a real place. They indicate that the suffering
is only mental. But friend, believe me, there is also a physical
suffering. The body is involved. If you doubt it, read this verse:

   And fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell (Matthew 10:28).

   Hell will be a real place. The people who must go there will do so
as total human beings, having both a soul and body. That its suffering
are both physical and mental cannot be denied.

   How foolish, then, for some to make light of Hell! How foolish the
jesting of those who try to minimize its awful prospect by saying,
"Well, if I'm going to Hell, I know I'll have lots of company." How
foolish was that inventor who boasted that if Hell got too hot, he'd
simply devise something to cool it down. That sort of talk always
disturbs me. The subject of Hell is nothing to joke about, for the
suffering to be faced there will be real.

   A PLACE OF GRADED SUFFERING

   The second fact the Bible teaches about Hell is that not everyone
who goes there will be suffering to the same degree. In John's vivid
description of the judgment of the great white throne in Revelation 20,
we learn what's going to happen to those who cross over to the other
side without having been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. The
apostle wrote,

   And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place
for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and
the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book
of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the
dead that were in it, and death and hades delivered up the dead that
were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15).

   In verse 12 we are told that when the small and great stand before
God, they will be judged "out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works." They were lost because of their
failure to believe. They refused to trust Christ for salvation. Even
so, the degree of their punishment is related directly to what they
did. As verse 12 says, those who stand before God's great white throne
will be judged "according to their works."

   In that day, not all will be punished alike. Even in His judgment of
the wicked, God is righteous and fair. The Lord sees the whole picture,
and judges according to absolute truth. As fallen, sinful human beings,
we are often unfair, vindictive, and cruel in our treatment of others.
But God never is. He is perfectly just. I like Abraham's expression of
confidence in the justice of God when he said, "Shall not the Judge of
all the earth do right?" Yes, indeed He will! The punishment of Hell
will be exactly right for everyone who is there.

   A PLACE OF ETERNAL SUFFERING

   The third fact the Bible teaches about Hell is something that we
would just as soon not think about. It's not a pleasant thought.
Frankly, we'd all rather avoid it. but we must face up to the fact that
Hell is eternal! Please don't just take my word for it. Here's what the
Lord Jesus Himself had to say, And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off;
it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than, having two hands,
to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, Where
their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:43, 44).

   Two expressions in these verses, "the fire that never shall be
quenched, " and "their worm dieth not, " do not make any sense unless
we take them to mean that the suffering of Hell will go on forever.
It's not enough to say that the fire continues after the wicked have
been annihilated. What purpose would that serve? The same way with the
words, "their worm dieth not." That doesn't make sense either unless
the wicked continue to exist.

   The eternal nature of suffering in Hell is also indicated in a
passage from the book of Revelation. John wrote,

   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
indignation; 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 forever and ever; and they have no
rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever
receiveth the mark of his name (Revelation 14:9-11).

   Note again the opening words of verse 11, "And the smoke of their
torment ascendeth up forever and ever." Yes, Hell will be a place of
eternal suffering. Don't let anyone tell you that the expression
"forever and ever" in Revelation 14:11 is a mistranslation. Some claim
that the Greek words in that verse translated "forever and ever" should
have been rendered "into ages of ages." This would imply an ending at
some future time. but that is an erroneous translation. It overlooks
the fact that the Greek work aion, which sometimes refers to an age of
undetermined length, also indicates the idea of eternity. And when
occurring in a combination with aiones, as in Revelation 14:11, the
phrase always means "forever and ever."

   According to Kittel, an authority in the original language, this is
true of both classical and biblical Greek. The combination of the Greek
words aiones and aionon occurs 14 times in the book of Revelation.
Seven times it relates to the eternal existence and reign of the Father
and Son. Three times to the never-ending glory that is given them. Once
to the everlasting reign of the saints in Heaven. Once to the unending
punishment of Satan in the lake of fire. Once to the ceaseless smoke
which will rise from the place where the harlot is cast. And once to
the perpetual smoke of the torment of the worshipers of the beast.

   Friend, if God is eternal, and if the reign of the saved in Heaven
is forever, then so is the suffering of Satan and all of his followers
in the lake of fire. It just will not do to take to the expression
"forever and ever" as it's used in the book of Revelation and make it
mean something else in respect to the lost. If "forever and ever" means
"everlasting" when it applies to God, it means "everlasting" when it
describes the punishment of the wicked in Hell. It's that simple.

   The wicked in Hell will endure eternal punishment. This truth may
not be pleasant to accept, but believe it we must. Adolphe Monad, an
outstanding French preacher, made a very penetrating observation when
he wrote: "I did everything I could to avoid seeing eternal suffering
in the Word of God, but I did not succeed in it...When I heard Jesus
Christ declare that the wicked would go away into eternal punishment,
and the righteous into eternal life, and that therefore the sufferings
of the one class would be eternal in the same sense that the felicity
of the other would be...I gave in; I bowed my head; I put my hand over
my mouth; and I made myself believe in eternal suffering."

   SUMMARY

   As we have seen in this chapter, the Bible teaches three things
about Hell: (1) It will be a place of physical suffering. (2) It will
be a place of graded suffering. (3) It will be a place of eternal
suffering. Hell is also a place to be avoided. And I might add, I'm
glad to say that you don't have to go there. In His great love for you,
God has made a way of escape. Knowing that we as sinners are lost and
condemned and could never save ourselves, He made full provision for
our redemption. He send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into this
world. He came in human flesh. He kept God's law perfectly. He went to
the cross of Calvary. He died there, shedding His blood for our sins,
and then arose from the grave as proof that the penalty for sin had
been paid.

   Because of what He did there, salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and
deliverance from condemnation are now offered freely to all who will
believe on Him. Yes, it's available to everyone who receives Him as
personal Savior. The Bible says,

   For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life
(John 3:16).

   If you have never received Christ as your Savior, why not bow your
head right now and pray something like this: "Lord Jesus, I believe
what the Bible says about You. I believe that You are truly God. I
believe that You died on the cross to pay the price for my sins. I
believe that You broke the power of death by rising from the grave. I
receive You as my Savior. I am trusting You and You alone for my
salvation. Lord Jesus, save me."

   If you prayed that, you have passed from death unto life. And now
Heaven, not Hell, is your eternal home. Believer it--and thank God for
it!

   THE BELIEVER'S GLORIOUS FUTURE

   For most people, living is a mixture of pleasure and pain, of joy
and sorrow. There are moments that are so filled with enjoyment that we
wish they'd go on forever--but we know they can't we realize that our
tomorrows will bring their share of cares and concerns. No one who sees
the whole picture of our journey here below would dare say that it is
all sunshine and roses. In fact, some of the passages of life are so
dark and foreboding that living would not be worth the trouble if
something better were not in prospect on the other side.

   But a glorious day is coming! The child of God can look forward to a
time when he will enjoy complete and unalloyed happiness. We who are
Christians have the bright hope of going to a land where death, pain,
grief, and disappointment will never enter. Yes, there is a wonderful,
indescribable, and never-ending glory on the other side. For that
reason, the believer loves to sing with the hymnwriter Avis B.
Christiansen,

   There may be tears to shed as we travel home, There may be weary
hours, dreary days and lone, But there'll be no more heartache round
the heavenly throne, Only glory, wondrous glory by and by.

   In this study I would like to consider with you four of the glories
that will be shared by every believer on the other side of death. They
are:

   1. The glory of exquisite beauty.

   2. The glory of endless time.

   3. The glory of complete satisfaction.

   4. The glory of sinless perfection.

   As we consider them together, I'm sure that if you are a believer in
Christ your heart will say a hearty "Amen" to the blessings that await
us. But if you're not a Christian, I trust you'll think seriously about
what you'll be missing if you die without receiving Him as your Savior.

   THE GLORY OF EXQUISITE BEAUTY

   The breathtaking loveliness of our future home in Heaven is
graphically described for us in the last tow chapters of the Bible.
Here is how John began:

   And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John,
saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice
out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and
He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself
shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are
passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).

   The apostle continued with his glowing description:

   And there came unto me one of the sever angels who had the seven
bowls full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come
here, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me
away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that
great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Having the glory of God; and her light was like a stone most precious,
even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and
high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angles, and names
written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel (Revelation 21:9-12).

   John then went on to tell us what is inside the city. He told of a
golden street, a crystal-clear river, and the tree of life.

   And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was
of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, and it were,
transparent glass. And he showed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was
there the tree of life, which bore twelve kinds of fruits, and yielded
her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing
of the nations (Revelation 21:21; 22:1, 2).

   My friend, the place that awaits the believer on the other side of
death will be lovely beyond description. The lights and colors of the
new Jerusalem will far surpass the most brilliant reflections of any
sunset we've ever seen. Imagine the most beautiful scenes on earth, and
then remember that they're only faint previews of what we're going to
see over there. Yes, our new home will be one of exquisite beauty!

   THE GLORY OF ENDLESS TIME

   The second glory of the other side is that we will have all eternity
to enjoy the pleasures God has waiting for those who love Him.
Revelation 22:5 assures us that we shall "reign forever and ever."

   Because time will be endless over there, life will be completely
different from what it is now. Here we are so conscious of the clock
and the calendar. The days seem to speed by all too swiftly. Nothing
lasts. Everything changes. Time runs out for everyone.

   When we reach the other side, however, we shall live in eternal
daylight. We'll never feel the pressures of fleeting hours and days.
We'll always have forever ahead of us. The old familiar hymn "Amazing
Grace" sums up our prospect well when it says,

   When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we've first begun.

   What a wonderful thought--the glory of endless time! Never will we
be separated from our loved ones. Never will we grow old. And we will
never be frustrated by an unfinished task.

   We'll have all eternity to enjoy the presence of God. We will have
forever to explore His great universe. Yes, endless time will certainly
be one of Heaven's greatest glories!

   THE GLORIES OF COMPLETE SATISFACTION

   The third glory that awaits us in Heaven is that we will be
completely fulfilled and satisfied in the presence of Christ. The
believer does experience a sense of fulfillment down here--but it's
never complete. God has created us to know Him, to worship Him, and to
serve Him. And even though we do get to know the Lord better after
we're saved, there is so much that we don't know. We worship the Lord
sincerely, but not perfectly. Earthly and selfish thoughts crows in to
mar those sacred moments. And even though we do try to serve the Lord
now, exercising dominion over creation as His image-bearers, our
motives are often impure and our devotion is faulty.

   We long for the day when our knowledge of God will be increased, our
worship of God will be perfect, and our service for God will be fully
acceptable to Him. That will be the case in Heaven. There will be
complete satisfaction.

   First of all, our knowledge will be increased. Nothing will stand
between us and the Lord to obscure our perception of Him. The puzzles
and misunderstandings of this life will be gone forever.

   Our worship of God will also be perfect. We will be in His immediate
presence, and we'll actually see Christ in His glorified body. None of
the symbolic elements of earthly worship will be needed over there. And
there will be no temple. John said of the new Jerusalem, "And I saw no
temple in it; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of
it." Yes, on the other side our worship of God will be faultless.

   In addition, our service for God will be fully acceptable to Him. We
sometimes think of life over there as nothing more than playing harps
and floating around on fleecy clouds. But that's not the case at all!
We'll be busy serving the Lord. Revelation 22:3 says, "...and His
servants shall serve Him." That work will certainly be rewarding and
interesting! A full, active, productive eternity of doing the will of
God awaits us. And this service for God, along with our perfect worship
of God and increased knowledge of God, will give us a sense of deep
satisfaction.

   THE GLORY OF SINLESS PERFECTION

   In our lives here on earth we are troubled by sin within and evil
without. We can't escape it. But over there we'll be completely free
from both a sinful nature and a sinful environment. Yes, one of the
glories of the other side will be our deliverance from the power and
presence of sin. We're going to be as spotless and pure as the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself. The apostle John told us:

   Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be
like Him; for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

   When we reach the other side, we're going to be like Christ. That
means no sin, no defilement, and no imperfection.

   What a contrast between our sinless state over there and what we are
down here! You see, in this present life we continually do battle with
the flesh. The sinful nature we were born with remains within us even
after we are born again. As a result, our most noble deeds are
tarnished by pride. Life's most beautiful relationships are marred by
impure or selfish thoughts. And even when we're not committing some
overt act of evil, we are oftentimes guilty of sins of omission. We
don't do all we should and we aren't everything we ought to be.
Besides, we're troubled by our own personal character traits--a quick
temper, a stubborn disposition, a selfish attitude, a jealous spirit.

   But in Heaven we're going to be like Jesus Christ. A perfect people
contribute to a perfect environment. Again, what a contrast to our
present world! Crime, violence, and immorality exist on every hand.
White-collar crimes committed by businessmen are costing the consumers
of our country some 35 billion dollars a year. In our cities, those who
are getting along in years hardly dare venture out at night for fear of
being mugged. Vile theatrical productions are advertised openly on
television, on billboards, and in newspapers. And homosexuals and
lesbians talk freely about their relationships. No wonder our earth has
been called a "moral cesspool"!

   When we reach the other side, we'll never again encounter any crime.
We'll never again be the victims of violence. We'll never again see any
immorality. In John's description of the heavenly Jerusalem, we are
told,

   And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defileth,
neither he that worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they who are
written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27).

   Having been exposed to a sinful environment all of our lives, we can
hardly conceive of a place where people are sinless and the environment
perfect! What a glorious future awaits every child of God!

   REVIEW

   In this chapter we have seen four of the glories that will await us
on the other side: The glory of exquisite beauty, of endless time, of
complete satisfaction, and of sinless perfection. Over there we'll
behold a beauty beyond anything we've ever seen down here. We'll have
all eternity to enjoy the pleasures God has prepared for His own. We'll
find complete satisfaction in our new knowledge of God, our perfect
worship, and our joyous service for Him. And we'll experience sinless
perfection in a perfect environment. Yes, what a wonderful outlook for
all who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

   Since Heaven is going to be such a wonderful place, I'm looking
forward to going there. What about you? Is the bright prospect we've
been talking about yours? Can you say the Heaven is your eternal home?
If you're not sure, I urge you to accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior
today. The Bible says,

   For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ, our Lord (Romans 6:23).

   God Himself will give you that life if you trust in His Son. So why
not settle your eternal destiny by receiving the Lord Jesus by faith?
If you do, and I hope you will right now, you will rejoice in these
meaningful and comforting words of the Lord Jesus, "I am the way, the
truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, buy by Me" (John
14:6).

   Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version, (c) 1979,
1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

   "The Other Side of Death, " by Richard DeHaan. Copyright 1988 Radio
Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Used by Permission.