Transcript Heaven is for Real, And So Is Hell Matthew 25:31-46 Two Destinies • • • • Jesus is the voice of authority He speaks of existence for all.

Heaven is for Real,
And So Is Hell
Matthew 25:31-46
Two Destinies
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Jesus is the voice of authority
He speaks of existence for all on the other side
He speaks of two destinies for people
He speaks of Eternal Life or Eternal Death
(Matthew 25:46)
Two Journeys
• We have two journeys to take
• This has been altered for believers since
Christ came
• We will look at it in terms of BC/AD
Two Journeys
• BC - Before Christ came
– People’s sprits went to:
 Sheol - Old Testament place of dead
 Hades - Greek term that is equivalent to Hades
Two Journeys
• Luke 16 - Rich man and Lazarus
• vv. 22-26
• When Old Testament was translated into
Greek, Sheol was always translated Hades
• This was the world of departed spirits
Two Journeys
• Sheol or Hades observations
– A place distinguished from the grave (Is. 14:9)
– Sheol was spoken of a shadowy place of
darkness - a pit (Ez. 26:20)
– People united with ancestors but there were
different sides. One went to be with ancestors
(Gen. 15:15 - but in Luke 16 notice he was
separated from the wicked)
Two Journeys
• Sheol/Hades Observations
– On one side there was comfort on the other
agony (a foretaste of hell)
– THE DESTINIES WERE FIXED
Two Journeys
• AD - After Christ Came
– Jesus’ death and resurrection changed
everything for believers
– During the time of His death and ultimate
resurrection, Jesus entered Hades and emptied
out the “saved” side - that is carried their sprits
with Him to heaven (Acts 2:31; Eph. 4:8-10)
Two Journeys
• AD - After Christ
– For those who are not Christians
• Body deteriorates
• Spirit to Hades - still place of lost departed
spirits where there is suffering (2 Peter 2:9)
• Resurrection - Acts 24:15
• Judgment - Rev. 20:11-15
• Hell
Two Journeys
• AD - Since Christ Came
– For Believers
• Body Deteriorates (I opt for burial as a point of
witness)
• Spirit received into Christ’s presence (Acts 7:59)
• Resurrection (1 Thess. 4:16)
• Judgment
• Heaven
Two Choices
• Where one goes must be decided now
• It is determined by our relationship and
dependence upon Jesus
• John 3:16 or John 3:36