The Biblical Worldview on the Afterlife

Notes: The Biblical Worldview on the Afterlife
Greg Laurie
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Revelation 20
Music: Phil Wickham

There are many incorrect views of the afterlife.

Many people today don't believe in God but they do believe in Heaven.

Just because people believe in something does not have an impact if it does or doesn't actually exist.

What happens when we die?
When you die and your a Christian you go straight to Heaven. When you die and your not a Christian, you go to Hell.

According to scripture, more people are going to Hell than Heaven.

Knowing Hell is real, you would think that would motivate people to want to go to Heaven.

The price has already been paid by Jesus Christ for all of us to get to Heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 NKJV
[8] We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. [9] Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NKJV
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. [43] It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

Heaven is the earthly life of the believer glorified and perfected.

All of the clouding and damaging effects of sin will be removed.

What happens to the nonbeliever...
Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV
[11] Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. [13] The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. [14] Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

John sees a "Great White Thrown"

When the nonbeliever dies they go to Hades.

1. People in Hell suffer

Luke 16:23 NKJV
[23] And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

2. Once you are in Hell you cannot cross over to Heaven.

3. You are conscious in Hell and fully aware of where you are.

Luke 16:28 NKJV
[28] for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

Who will be at the Great White Throne of judgement? Everyone who has rejected Christ.

There are different kinds of sinners:
1. Out and out sinners.
The garden variety sinner.

2. Self righteous people
More refined people that were more moral to some degree. They think they are good people.

3. Procrastinators.

4. Unsaved church members.
Going to church doesn't get you to Heaven. Accepting Jesus Christ gets you to Heaven.

John 3:18 NKJV
[18] "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Rejection gets you in front of the Throne of Judgement.

All who go to Hell chose it.

Diluting the Gospel has horrible ramifications.

Jude 1:23 NKJV
[23] but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

We have the hope of Heaven but we don't want anyone to go to Hell.

Do your due diligence to keep those around you from Hell.