THREE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL

LUKE 16:19-31

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE LOCATION IS DIFFERENT [v. 22-23]

1. Heaven is often referred to as “Up” [Gn. 28:12, Dt. 4:39, Mk. 16:19, Acts 7:55, Rev. 4:1]

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter .

2. Hell is often referred to as “Down” [Ps. 55:15, Is. 14:15, Lk. 10:15, 2 Pet. 2:4]

Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell:

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell

3. Heaven and Hell were never side by side [2 Kings 2:11] [some good people held this view- M. Cambron, B. Kelley]

The verses we’ve already used and others like this one:

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

II. THE CONDITIONS ARE DIFFERENT [v. 23-25, 28]

1. Hell is a Place of Deserved Torment [Rev. 20:11-15, 2 Th. 1:8-9]

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 which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell 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.

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

2. Heaven is a Place of Comfort [Eph. 2:4-7, Rev. 21:3-5]

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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

3. Heaven and Hell are Real Places. Limbo & Purgatory are fictional.

III. THE INHABITANTS ARE DIFFERENT [v. 25-26]

1. Heaven’s Inhabitants are Saved by Grace [1 Th. 1:5-6, 9-10; 5:9-11]

2. Hell’s Inhabitants Rejected Christ [2 Th. 1:7-10]

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

3. Hell’s Inhabitants are Still Rebellious [Lk. 16:27-31]