Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Eternity (Part 1)

May 5, 2026 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory provides practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through clear, Biblical teaching.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Eternity (Part 1) | May 5, 2026

Male announcer: ephesus, thessaloniki, the greek islands.
00:00:00.790 --> 00:00:03.693
The apostle paul didn't just write about these places, he
00:00:03.827 --> 00:00:06.463
Lived in them.
00:00:06.596 --> 00:00:06.830
And this may, so can you on the pathway to victory journeys of
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Paul cruise.
00:00:11.468 --> 00:00:12.836
Dr. robert jeffress: i've read the book of acts my entire life,
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But there's nothing like standing in ephesus, walking
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Where paul walked, and feeling the weight
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Of what happened there.
00:00:21.044 --> 00:00:22.479
Announcer: nine unforgettable nights aboard celebrity infinity
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Sailing round trip from athens with stops in mykonos, rhodes,
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Santorini, and more.
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And there's an optional pre-cruise extension in athens.
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Jeffress: every port carries the fingerprints
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Of god's redemptive plan.
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Every ancient stone tells a story.
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This is truly the trip of a lifetime, and i promise you, you
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Will never read the bible the same way again.
00:00:44.801 --> 00:00:48.304
Announcer: reserve your cabin today for the 2027 pathway to
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Victory journeys of paul cruise.
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Call... or visit ptv.org.
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♪♪♪
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Announcer: from the pulpit
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Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory".
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Throughout human history, people have developed seemingly
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Endless theories about what happens after death.
00:01:21.871 --> 00:01:25.074
How can we know what's really true?
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Well, because none of us have actually stepped into eternity,
00:01:27.844 --> 00:01:31.481
We're entirely unqualified to give our personal opinion
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About heaven or hell.
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So today, we're going to consult the authority about life
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Beyond the grave and discover what the bible says
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And doesn't say about our final destiny.
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My message is titled, "the truth about eternity,"
00:01:46.729 --> 00:01:50.400
On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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♪♪♪
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Male announcer: wars, natural disasters, global instability.
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Many people look at the headlines and wonder if we're
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Living in the end-times.
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In his brand new book, "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
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Dr. robert jeffress provides clear, biblical answers to the
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20 questions people ask most about the future.
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Request "ask dr. jeffress about the end times" when you
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Give a generous ministry gift to pathway to victory.
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♪♪♪
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Jeffress: rabbi harold kushner tells a story about a godless
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Immoral man who died and to his surprise, he awakened in a place
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That had soft music and warm lights and figures all dressed
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In white.
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And the godless man thought to himself, "well, you know,
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God must have a soft spot in his heart for people like me.
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I'm surprised i'm here."
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And so he went to one of the men dressed in white and he said,
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"buddy, do you know where you can get a drink around here?"
00:03:05.541 --> 00:03:08.911
The figure in white said, "well, if you're referring
00:03:08.911 --> 00:03:10.913
To alcoholic beverages, sir, we don't serve those here."
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He said, "well, where would i go for a game of blackjack
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Or poker?"
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He said, "well, sir, if you're talking about gambling, we don't
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Allow that either up here."
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The new entrant said, "well, if you don't have booze and
00:03:22.992 --> 00:03:26.963
You don't have gambling, what do you all do around here all day?"
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The man in white said, "well, we read psalms in the morning,
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We have prayer meetings all afternoon, and we read the bible
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And have bible studies at night."
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The guy said, "psalms, bible studies, prayer meetings.
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Boy, heaven isn't cracked up to what i thought
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It was gonna be like."
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The figure in white said to him, smilingly, "i can see you don't
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Understand, sir.
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We're in heaven.
00:03:53.323 --> 00:03:54.791
You're in hell."
00:03:54.791 --> 00:03:56.159
Now, you know, it's a cute story, but unfortunately,
00:03:58.027 --> 00:04:01.230
It's a misleading one.
00:04:01.230 --> 00:04:03.232
It's a misleading story that underscores one of the most
00:04:03.232 --> 00:04:06.769
Greatest misconceptions about eternity that
00:04:06.769 --> 00:04:10.306
Most people believe,
00:04:10.306 --> 00:04:11.974
And that is that when we die, regardless of who we are
00:04:11.974 --> 00:04:15.345
And what we've done, and what religion we've embraced
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Or rejected, we all go to the same place.
00:04:17.547 --> 00:04:21.517
In fact, an increasing number of christians and christian pastors
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Have also embraced that view that we all go
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To the same place, regardless of our beliefs.
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One popular christian writer actually uses, or misuses,
00:04:31.761 --> 00:04:36.499
The story of the prodigal son to illustrate that point.
00:04:36.499 --> 00:04:40.136
He says, "remember at the end of the prodigal son, both
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The younger son and the older son both ended up
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In the father's house.
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To the older son, it was hell; to the younger son,
00:04:49.612 --> 00:04:53.149
It was heaven."
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Have you ever heard a perversion of scripture like that before?
00:04:54.484 --> 00:04:56.986
But that's what many people believe, that it doesn't matter
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Who you are and what you believe, we all go to the same
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Place: that place filled with warm music and heavenly sunlight
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And figures dressed in white.
00:05:05.661 --> 00:05:07.997
But jesus said just the opposite.
00:05:07.997 --> 00:05:10.867
He said there is not one destination, there are two
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Possible eternal destinations.
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In fact, remember his words in matthew 7, verses 13 and 14?
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He said, "enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and
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The way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those
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Who enter it.
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But the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads
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To life, and few are those who find it."
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Up to this point in our series on bible prophecy, we've been
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Looking at what happens to christians when they die.
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We saw that when a christian dies, his spirit immediately
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Goes into the presence of christ.
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Resurrected bodies, eternal rewards, a recreated heaven
00:05:49.872 --> 00:05:53.843
And earth, that is the future of christians.
00:05:53.843 --> 00:05:58.214
But the bible said there are two ways that lead to two gates that
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Open to two different destinies.
00:06:03.352 --> 00:06:05.955
What is the destiny of those who die without christ?
00:06:05.955 --> 00:06:09.992
Well, that's what we're going to talk about today.
00:06:09.992 --> 00:06:11.761
If you have your bibles, turn to luke chapter 16.
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Luke chapter 16.
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We're gonna see what jesus says is the eternal fate, the destiny
00:06:18.434 --> 00:06:23.339
Of those who die without christ.
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Many of you may know the name of robert ingersoll.
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He was a famous atheist in the 19th century.
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He was to the 19th century, what the late madalyn murray o'hair
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Was to the 20th century: the most well-known atheist
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Of the day.
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Robert ingersoll used to travel by train all across america,
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Delivering lectures against christianity.
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And one of his most famous lectures was about the absurdity
00:06:50.032 --> 00:06:53.703
Of hell.
00:06:53.703 --> 00:06:55.037
In that particular lecture, he would talk about how hell is
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Nothing but a scarecrow for religion.
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It is a myth.
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He said no intelligent person actually believes in the reality
00:07:02.745 --> 00:07:06.048
Of hell, and on and on and on he went.
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After one of those lectures, a drunk came up to him
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And he said, "mr. ingersoll, i like what you had to say
00:07:11.654 --> 00:07:14.991
About hell tonight.
00:07:14.991 --> 00:07:16.459
But mr. ingersoll, i hope you're right because i'm depending
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On you."
00:07:20.830 --> 00:07:23.165
Unfortunately, many people are depending on the wrong person
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Or the wrong people to tell them what happens to us when we die.
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The only reliable guide to tell you what really awaits you
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Is somebody who's already been there before.
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For example, let's say you're planning a trip to paris
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In february.
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You've never been to paris before, so you want to know
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How to prepare for the trip, what to pack.
00:07:43.686 --> 00:07:45.621
You want to know what the weather is like in paris
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In february.
00:07:47.790 --> 00:07:49.125
So you say to your friend, you know, i wonder what paris
00:07:49.125 --> 00:07:50.793
Is like.
00:07:50.793 --> 00:07:52.161
I wonder how you ought to pack.
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And your friend says, confidently, "oh, it's sunny
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And warm in paris in february."
00:07:55.031 --> 00:07:57.300
And you say, "oh, i didn't realize you'd been
00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:58.935
To paris before."
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Your friend says, "oh, i've never been there before."
00:08:00.303 --> 00:08:02.939
You say, "well, how do you know it's sunny and warm in february
00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:06.008
In paris?"
00:08:06.008 --> 00:08:07.343
And your friend says, "well, i've just always imagined it
00:08:07.343 --> 00:08:09.145
To be that way."
00:08:09.145 --> 00:08:12.548
You know, there are a lot of people who are depending
00:08:12.548 --> 00:08:14.850
On other people's imagination to tell them what really
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Awaits them when they die.
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Listen to me this morning: when it comes to issues of life,
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Death, and eternity, you better depend on somebody who knows
00:08:23.326 --> 00:08:26.629
What they're talking about.
00:08:26.629 --> 00:08:28.397
The only reliable guide to an unknown destination is somebody
00:08:28.397 --> 00:08:32.201
Who has already been there.
00:08:32.201 --> 00:08:34.570
There's only one person who's seen life on the other side
00:08:34.570 --> 00:08:37.273
Of the grave and come back to tell us what awaits us.
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His name is jesus christ.
00:08:39.575 --> 00:08:42.411
And jesus had a great deal to say about the subject of hell.
00:08:42.411 --> 00:08:46.916
In fact, it's really interesting.
00:08:46.916 --> 00:08:48.851
Jesus talked more about hell than he did about heaven.
00:08:48.851 --> 00:08:53.089
In fact, if you look in the bible, you'll find that of the
00:08:53.089 --> 00:08:56.192
1850 verses that record jesus's words, 13% of them deal
00:08:56.192 --> 00:09:00.963
With the subject of hell and eternal judgment.
00:09:00.963 --> 00:09:04.634
And yet many people readily accept what jesus said
00:09:04.634 --> 00:09:07.103
About heaven.
00:09:07.103 --> 00:09:08.471
They want to dismiss what he said about hell.
00:09:08.471 --> 00:09:09.872
You can't be intellectually honest and do that.
00:09:09.872 --> 00:09:12.775
I think about the renowned agnostic philosopher
00:09:12.775 --> 00:09:15.978
Bertrand russell.
00:09:15.978 --> 00:09:17.413
Bertrand russell actually rejected christianity in general
00:09:17.413 --> 00:09:22.018
And jesus specifically because of what jesus said about hell.
00:09:22.018 --> 00:09:27.857
Russell wrote: "there is one very serious defect in my mind
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In christ's moral character.
00:09:32.528 --> 00:09:34.897
And that is that christ believed in hell.
00:09:34.897 --> 00:09:38.234
I do not myself feel that any person who is profoundly humane
00:09:38.234 --> 00:09:42.304
Can believe in everlasting punishment."
00:09:42.304 --> 00:09:45.574
Now, how's that for hubris to say, you know, that jesus,
00:09:45.574 --> 00:09:49.178
He'd be a pretty good guy, but unfortunately, he believed
00:09:49.178 --> 00:09:52.415
In hell and that means he's not as moral as i am and therefore,
00:09:52.415 --> 00:09:55.418
I can't believe in him.
00:09:55.418 --> 00:09:57.420
Now, you have to hand it to bertrand russell, at least
00:09:57.420 --> 00:10:00.623
He knew that jesus talked about hell.
00:10:00.623 --> 00:10:02.958
And at least he was intellectually honest enough
00:10:02.958 --> 00:10:05.494
To say, "look, if i'm going to accept jesus, i have to accept
00:10:05.494 --> 00:10:10.866
What he taught about hell.
00:10:10.866 --> 00:10:12.234
And i can't do that.
00:10:12.234 --> 00:10:13.569
Therefore, to reject what jesus said about hell is to reject
00:10:13.569 --> 00:10:17.707
Jesus himself."
00:10:17.707 --> 00:10:19.575
You can't say, "i believe what jesus said about heaven, but i
00:10:19.575 --> 00:10:23.079
Reject what he said about hell."
00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:25.548
You know, if jesus is not telling the truth about heaven,
00:10:25.548 --> 00:10:28.784
It's only because, number one, he really doesn't know
00:10:28.784 --> 00:10:32.221
What happens to an unbeliever when he dies.
00:10:32.221 --> 00:10:34.056
If that's true, he's not god.
00:10:34.056 --> 00:10:36.592
The only other reason would be that he's wrong about hell is
00:10:36.592 --> 00:10:40.663
He knew hell doesn't--didn't exist, but he was just trying
00:10:40.663 --> 00:10:43.099
To scare people.
00:10:43.099 --> 00:10:44.467
That makes jesus a liar.
00:10:44.467 --> 00:10:46.068
If you accept jesus as savior, you have to accept everything
00:10:46.068 --> 00:10:50.339
He taught, including what he taught about hell.
00:10:50.339 --> 00:10:53.309
Well, that begs the question: what did jesus teach about
00:10:53.309 --> 00:10:56.545
The future of unbelievers when they die?
00:10:56.545 --> 00:10:59.448
Look at the passage we read earlier today: luke 16,
00:10:59.448 --> 00:11:02.618
Verses 19 to 26: "now there was a certain rich man,
00:11:02.618 --> 00:11:06.455
And he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen,
00:11:06.455 --> 00:11:09.625
Daily living in splendor every day.
00:11:09.625 --> 00:11:12.495
And a certain poor man named lazarus was laid at his gate,
00:11:12.495 --> 00:11:15.931
Covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which
00:11:15.931 --> 00:11:20.503
Were falling from the rich man's table: besides, even the dogs
00:11:20.503 --> 00:11:24.740
Were coming and licking his sores.
00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:26.909
And it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away
00:11:26.909 --> 00:11:30.012
By the angels to abraham's bosom," that is the presence
00:11:30.012 --> 00:11:33.516
Of the lord.
00:11:33.516 --> 00:11:34.884
"and the rich man also died and was buried.
00:11:34.884 --> 00:11:37.553
And in hades, the rich man lifted up his eyes, being in
00:11:37.553 --> 00:11:41.457
Torment, and he saw abraham far away and lazarus in his bosom.
00:11:41.457 --> 00:11:46.295
And the rich man cried out and said, 'father abraham, have
00:11:46.295 --> 00:11:50.332
Mercy on me, and send lazarus that he may dip the tip of
00:11:50.332 --> 00:11:54.470
His finger in water and cool off my tongue, for i am in agony
00:11:54.470 --> 00:12:00.342
In this flame.'
00:12:00.342 --> 00:12:02.044
But abraham said, child, remember that during your life
00:12:02.044 --> 00:12:05.981
You received your good things, and likewise lazarus bad things;
00:12:05.981 --> 00:12:09.819
But now he is being comforted, and you are in agony.
00:12:09.819 --> 00:12:13.556
And besides all of this, between us and you there is a great
00:12:13.556 --> 00:12:16.659
Chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come from here
00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:21.664
To you may not be able, and that none may cross over there
00:12:21.664 --> 00:12:27.269
To us."
00:12:27.269 --> 00:12:30.272
I want you to notice in this passage, five truths that jesus
00:12:30.272 --> 00:12:34.410
Taught us about hell, the fate of those who die without christ.
00:12:34.410 --> 00:12:39.515
I want you to write them down on your outline and
00:12:39.515 --> 00:12:41.917
Remember them forever.
00:12:41.917 --> 00:12:43.285
What did jesus teach us about hell?
00:12:43.285 --> 00:12:44.987
First of all, jesus taught that hell is an actual location.
00:12:44.987 --> 00:12:49.558
It is an actual location.
00:12:49.558 --> 00:12:50.893
Again, it's popular today to try to theorize, "well, hell is
00:12:50.893 --> 00:12:54.163
Really just a state of mind.
00:12:54.163 --> 00:12:55.764
It's not an actual place."
00:12:55.764 --> 00:12:58.234
And yet, if you believe that heaven is an actual location,
00:12:58.234 --> 00:13:02.304
As we'll see next time, there's great reason to believe it is
00:13:02.304 --> 00:13:04.473
An actual location, if you believe that heaven is an actual
00:13:04.473 --> 00:13:07.710
Location, you logically have to accept that hell is a real
00:13:07.710 --> 00:13:11.714
Location as well.
00:13:11.714 --> 00:13:13.182
Why do i say that?
00:13:13.182 --> 00:13:14.516
Listen to jesus's words in matthew 25, verse 46.
00:13:14.516 --> 00:13:17.853
These are the words of the judgment he pronounces at his
00:13:17.853 --> 00:13:20.456
Second coming.
00:13:20.456 --> 00:13:21.824
He says in verse 46: "these," that is, the unrighteous, "will
00:13:21.824 --> 00:13:25.861
Go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go
00:13:25.861 --> 00:13:32.268
Into eternal life."
00:13:32.268 --> 00:13:34.069
Now, here's the point: the unrighteous are going
00:13:34.069 --> 00:13:37.539
To eternal punishment, the righteous to eternal life.
00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:40.109
You can't have one group of people at the judgment going
00:13:40.109 --> 00:13:43.679
To an actual location, heaven, and having another group going
00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:47.850
Into a state of mind.
00:13:47.850 --> 00:13:49.585
It doesn't work that way.
00:13:49.585 --> 00:13:50.920
Either they're both figurative states of mind or they're both
00:13:50.920 --> 00:13:54.490
Literal locations.
00:13:54.490 --> 00:13:56.325
Jesus taught that hell was an actual place.
00:13:56.325 --> 00:13:59.762
In fact, you'll notice that in the greek new testament,
00:13:59.762 --> 00:14:02.765
There are actually three words for hell that are all translated
00:14:02.765 --> 00:14:07.069
By the generic word in our english language, hell.
00:14:07.069 --> 00:14:09.838
I've put those on your outline for you.
00:14:09.838 --> 00:14:11.774
The first one is tartaros.
00:14:11.774 --> 00:14:14.977
That's not tartar sauce, that's tartaros.
00:14:14.977 --> 00:14:18.147
It's actually used only one time in the greek new testament
00:14:18.147 --> 00:14:21.450
In 2 peter 2:4, and it refers to a special place of judgment
00:14:21.450 --> 00:14:26.755
For the wicked angels.
00:14:26.755 --> 00:14:28.123
You say, "well, what wicked angels are you talking about?"
00:14:28.123 --> 00:14:30.592
It's the ones referred to in jude verse 6: "and the angels
00:14:30.592 --> 00:14:34.496
Who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their
00:14:34.496 --> 00:14:37.766
Proper abode, he has kept in eternal bonds under darkness
00:14:37.766 --> 00:14:42.471
For the judgment of the great day."
00:14:42.471 --> 00:14:44.139
This is a reference to genesis chapter 6 that tells us
00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:46.875
About a group of angels that left heaven.
00:14:46.875 --> 00:14:49.378
They were called the sons of god and they cohabitated with human
00:14:49.378 --> 00:14:53.282
Women on earth, the daughters of men.
00:14:53.282 --> 00:14:55.784
And because of that wickedness, they went after strange flesh.
00:14:55.784 --> 00:14:59.521
Because of that, god punished them and confined them to
00:14:59.521 --> 00:15:03.492
This place called tartaros.
00:15:03.492 --> 00:15:04.827
And it's sometimes translated "hell" in your english bible.
00:15:04.827 --> 00:15:08.831
The second word that is also translated "hell" in the bible
00:15:08.831 --> 00:15:12.568
Is the word "gehenna."
00:15:12.568 --> 00:15:15.004
Gehenna.
00:15:15.004 --> 00:15:16.338
And this is the most popular term for hell.
00:15:16.338 --> 00:15:18.407
It's used 12 times in the greek new testament and it's sometimes
00:15:18.407 --> 00:15:22.077
Translated "the lake of fire."
00:15:22.077 --> 00:15:24.513
This is the eternal residence of the unsaved.
00:15:24.513 --> 00:15:29.885
The eternal residence of the unsaved.
00:15:29.885 --> 00:15:32.421
That is the phrase jesus and the new testament writers used
00:15:32.421 --> 00:15:35.891
To describe the eternal destiny of those who die without christ.
00:15:35.891 --> 00:15:41.030
Remember revelation 20, verse 15: "and if any man's name was
00:15:41.030 --> 00:15:44.299
Not found written in the book of life, he was cast into," where?
00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:48.037
"gehenna, the lake of fire," to be tormented, day and night,
00:15:48.037 --> 00:15:52.641
Forever and ever.
00:15:52.641 --> 00:15:55.144
The third word that is translated sometimes "hell"
00:15:55.144 --> 00:15:57.946
In your bible is the word "hades."
00:15:57.946 --> 00:16:00.582
Hades.
00:16:00.582 --> 00:16:01.917
And that's the word we find here in luke 16.
00:16:01.917 --> 00:16:04.186
Now hades is the temporary place of the unsaved.
00:16:04.186 --> 00:16:08.991
When an unbeliever dies, he goes not to the lake of fire;
00:16:08.991 --> 00:16:13.128
That's his final judgment.
00:16:13.128 --> 00:16:14.763
He goes to this temporary place.
00:16:14.763 --> 00:16:16.231
It's not purgatory.
00:16:16.231 --> 00:16:17.699
It is a place of actual suffering.
00:16:17.699 --> 00:16:19.968
Just like when a christian dies, he doesn't go to the new heaven
00:16:19.968 --> 00:16:22.604
And new earth, that's still future.
00:16:22.604 --> 00:16:24.173
He goes into the presence of god to begin experience
00:16:24.173 --> 00:16:26.608
God's blessing.
00:16:26.608 --> 00:16:27.943
Hades is the temporary place of the unsaved.
00:16:27.943 --> 00:16:31.780
And, of course, we know in revelation chapter 20, at the
00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:34.783
End of time, at the great white throne judgment, the bible says,
00:16:34.783 --> 00:16:38.053
"and death and hades gave up the dead which were in them."
00:16:38.053 --> 00:16:41.056
That is all of the unsaved who were waiting in hades are placed
00:16:41.056 --> 00:16:45.928
Before the great white throne.
00:16:45.928 --> 00:16:47.296
They are judged, and then listen to revelation 20, verse 14:
00:16:47.296 --> 00:16:51.100
"and death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire."
00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:54.470
That is, they were moved from this temporary place
00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:57.439
To the eternal place.
00:16:57.439 --> 00:16:58.807
"this is the second death, the lake of fire."
00:16:58.807 --> 00:17:02.211
The reason i mention this is, in this parable, jesus is talking
00:17:02.211 --> 00:17:05.681
About the immediate place of the unsaved: hades.
00:17:05.681 --> 00:17:09.017
When the rich man died, he went into hades.
00:17:09.017 --> 00:17:12.721
But the things we're talking about that are true of hades
00:17:12.721 --> 00:17:16.325
Are also true of the eternal dwelling place for the unsaved,
00:17:16.325 --> 00:17:20.195
The lake of fire.
00:17:20.195 --> 00:17:21.830
What did jesus teach about these places?
00:17:21.830 --> 00:17:23.765
Not only is hell an actual location.
00:17:23.765 --> 00:17:25.767
Secondly, hell is a place of physical torment.
00:17:25.767 --> 00:17:29.838
It's a place of actual physical suffering.
00:17:29.838 --> 00:17:32.908
Look at verse 24: "the rich man cried out and he said,
00:17:32.908 --> 00:17:36.044
'father abraham, have mercy on me, and send lazarus
00:17:36.044 --> 00:17:39.648
To dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off
00:17:39.648 --> 00:17:42.651
For my tongue,
00:17:42.651 --> 00:17:43.986
For i am in agony in this flame.'"
00:17:43.986 --> 00:17:49.091
Some people try to turn down the temperature of hell,
00:17:51.226 --> 00:17:54.663
So to speak, by saying, "well, no loving god could actually
00:17:54.663 --> 00:17:59.768
Eternally torment people.
00:17:59.768 --> 00:18:02.905
That is just unthinkable."
00:18:02.905 --> 00:18:05.307
So many people in an attempt to diminish the reality of hell
00:18:05.307 --> 00:18:07.910
Have embraced the doctrine of annihilationism, the idea
00:18:07.910 --> 00:18:11.146
That unbelievers, after they are judged, they're cast
00:18:11.146 --> 00:18:14.216
In the lake of fire where they are instantaneously destroyed.
00:18:14.216 --> 00:18:18.353
That is, they cease to exist.
00:18:18.353 --> 00:18:21.757
Is that what the bible teaches?
00:18:21.757 --> 00:18:24.259
Well, actually, there are some words in the bible that could
00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:28.897
Support that doctrine, at least if you don't look at it
00:18:28.897 --> 00:18:31.133
Very closely.
00:18:31.133 --> 00:18:32.601
For example, john 3:16, we all know: "for god so loved
00:18:32.601 --> 00:18:35.837
The world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes
00:18:35.837 --> 00:18:38.974
In him shall not," what?
00:18:38.974 --> 00:18:40.876
"perish, but have eternal life."
00:18:40.876 --> 00:18:44.379
Or matthew 10:28: "and do not fear those who kill the body
00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:47.783
But are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able
00:18:47.783 --> 00:18:51.653
To destroy both the soul and the body in hell."
00:18:51.653 --> 00:18:56.525
Some people say, "well, these words 'perish' and 'destroy,'
00:18:56.525 --> 00:19:00.262
They mean instantaneous destruction.
00:19:00.262 --> 00:19:03.232
So maybe hell isn't that bad after all?
00:19:03.232 --> 00:19:05.234
Maybe it means you just cease to exist."
00:19:05.234 --> 00:19:07.636
But i want you to think about those words "perish"
00:19:07.636 --> 00:19:09.605
And "destroy."
00:19:09.605 --> 00:19:10.939
They don't always mean instantaneous destruction.
00:19:10.939 --> 00:19:13.141
For example, if you said, "the mountaineers perished
00:19:13.141 --> 00:19:18.213
From starvation when they got lost,"
00:19:18.213 --> 00:19:21.283
Does that mean they dropped dead after missing their first meal?
00:19:21.283 --> 00:19:23.885
No, it wasn't instantaneous.
00:19:23.952 --> 00:19:25.954
Starvation can take a long time: days, perhaps weeks.
00:19:25.954 --> 00:19:31.660
Or let's say i said, "my wood deck was destroyed
00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:36.632
By the texas sun."
00:19:36.632 --> 00:19:38.867
Does that mean that my wood deck on my patio just erupted
00:19:38.867 --> 00:19:42.204
In flames instantaneously and was gone?
00:19:42.204 --> 00:19:45.007
No, it's a long process it took to destroy that deck.
00:19:45.007 --> 00:19:49.411
What i'm saying to you is "perish" and "destroy"
00:19:49.411 --> 00:19:51.980
Don't always mean instantaneous destruction.
00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:54.416
They can mean a destruction that goes over a long period of time,
00:19:54.416 --> 00:19:58.020
And in this case, the bible teaches that period of time
00:19:58.020 --> 00:20:01.456
Is eternity.
00:20:01.456 --> 00:20:04.559
Turn over.
00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.894
Hold your place there and turn over to revelation 19, verse 20,
00:20:05.894 --> 00:20:08.363
Where i show you--can show you with absolute certainty
00:20:08.363 --> 00:20:11.600
That unbelievers do not simply perish when they land
00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:14.936
In the lake of fire.
00:20:14.936 --> 00:20:16.638
Revelation 19:20.
00:20:16.638 --> 00:20:17.973
The setting for this, remember, is the second coming of christ
00:20:17.973 --> 00:20:20.409
And notice what he does to the beast that is the antichrist
00:20:20.409 --> 00:20:23.378
And the false prophet: "and the beast was seized, and with him
00:20:23.378 --> 00:20:26.748
The false prophet who performed the signs in his presence,
00:20:26.748 --> 00:20:29.685
By which he deceived those who had received the mark of the
00:20:29.685 --> 00:20:31.953
Beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown
00:20:31.953 --> 00:20:36.591
Alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone."
00:20:36.591 --> 00:20:43.465
Now turn over to chapter 20, verse 10.
00:20:43.465 --> 00:20:46.401
It's 1000 years later, after the millennium, after the final
00:20:46.401 --> 00:20:50.172
Rebellion against god, and what does god do?
00:20:50.172 --> 00:20:53.241
"and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire
00:20:53.241 --> 00:20:59.314
And brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also."
00:20:59.314 --> 00:21:06.288
No, the beast and false prophet were thrown in there 1000 years
00:21:06.288 --> 00:21:09.191
Ahead of time.
00:21:09.191 --> 00:21:10.559
But when it's satan's turn to be thrown in the lake of fire,
00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:13.462
John says, the beast and the false prophet are still alive.
00:21:13.462 --> 00:21:18.467
After 1000 years of suffering, they are still there.
00:21:18.467 --> 00:21:23.672
"and they will be tormented," verse 10 says,
00:21:23.672 --> 00:21:26.575
"day and night forever and ever."
00:21:26.575 --> 00:21:32.280
Verse 15 says for the unsaved, "if any man's name was not found
00:21:32.280 --> 00:21:37.119
Written in the book of life, he was also cast into the lake
00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:41.323
Of fire," to be tormented day and night forever and ever.
00:21:41.323 --> 00:21:47.229
You've heard me say before, that word translated
00:21:47.229 --> 00:21:50.565
"forever and ever" is the greek word "aionios."
00:21:50.565 --> 00:21:54.102
And interestingly, it is the very same word, the word that
00:21:54.102 --> 00:21:58.106
Refers to the eternality of hell, that is used to describe
00:21:58.106 --> 00:22:01.910
The eternality of heaven as well.
00:22:01.910 --> 00:22:05.447
In revelation 22, verse 5, john says: "and there shall no longer
00:22:05.447 --> 00:22:09.084
Be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of the
00:22:09.084 --> 00:22:12.421
Day or the light of the sun, because the lord god shall
00:22:12.421 --> 00:22:15.657
Illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever."
00:22:15.657 --> 00:22:20.395
Do you see it?
00:22:20.395 --> 00:22:21.763
Same word that describes the eternality of hell is used
00:22:21.763 --> 00:22:25.200
To describe the eternality of heaven.
00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:27.469
I'll never forget hearing dr. criswell say years ago
00:22:27.469 --> 00:22:31.406
And it was such a perceptive comment.
00:22:31.406 --> 00:22:33.375
He said, "if you reduce by any amount, even one second,
00:22:33.375 --> 00:22:39.815
The time an unbeliever spends in hell, you have to subtract
00:22:39.815 --> 00:22:43.885
That same amount from the time that
00:22:43.885 --> 00:22:45.954
A believer spends in heaven,
00:22:45.954 --> 00:22:47.389
Because the same word describes both."
00:22:47.389 --> 00:22:49.424
Fact is, the punishment of hell is forever.
00:22:50.525 --> 00:22:53.929
Here is the awful truth about hell, ladies and gentlemen.
00:22:53.929 --> 00:22:58.834
If you end up there, if you end up in hell, after you have spent
00:22:58.834 --> 00:23:05.474
Ten billion, trillion years in that awful place, you will not
00:23:05.474 --> 00:23:12.447
Have reduced by one second, the time you have left
00:23:12.447 --> 00:23:17.152
To spend there.
00:23:17.152 --> 00:23:19.688
Hell is a place of eternal suffering.
00:23:19.688 --> 00:23:22.357
♪♪♪
00:23:23.225 --> 00:23:27.662
Jeffress: once we deal with the realities of hell, we're far
00:23:27.729 --> 00:23:31.199
More motivated to pursue the glories of heaven.
00:23:31.199 --> 00:23:34.503
There's so much more to learn from this shocking passage found
00:23:34.503 --> 00:23:37.939
In luke 16 regarding the truth about eternity, and i encourage
00:23:37.939 --> 00:23:42.878
You to join us again next time on "pathway to victory."
00:23:42.878 --> 00:23:45.981
But right now, i wanna relay my gratitude for the growing family
00:23:45.981 --> 00:23:50.085
Of friends responding every day to "pathway to victory."
00:23:50.085 --> 00:23:54.222
In the last 12 months, we've experienced a groundswell of new
00:23:54.289 --> 00:23:58.159
Supporters, people like you who share our passion for the truth
00:23:58.159 --> 00:24:02.697
Of god's word and who care deeply about our nation.
00:24:02.697 --> 00:24:06.668
As a result, we're reaching millions of new television
00:24:06.668 --> 00:24:09.738
Viewers and radio listeners all around the world who've come
00:24:09.738 --> 00:24:13.542
To rely on "pathway to victory" as their daily source
00:24:13.542 --> 00:24:17.279
Of biblical training.
00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.647
So thank you so much for your faithful support.
00:24:18.647 --> 00:24:21.950
Now, please stay right there.
00:24:21.950 --> 00:24:23.552
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
00:24:23.552 --> 00:24:28.089
Announcer: with everything happening in our world today.
00:24:28.156 --> 00:24:31.059
It's natural to wonder, are we living in the end-times?
00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:35.330
In his brand-new book "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
00:24:35.397 --> 00:24:39.501
Dr. robert jeffress answers the 20 questions people ask the
00:24:39.501 --> 00:24:42.904
Most about the future.
00:24:42.904 --> 00:24:44.306
Jeffress: in my 40+ years as a pastor, i've answered countless
00:24:44.306 --> 00:24:47.542
Questions about the end-times, and that's why i wrote this
00:24:47.542 --> 00:24:51.379
Book, to give you clear, biblical answers that will fill
00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:55.183
Your life with peace, joy, and excitement as we look forward to
00:24:55.183 --> 00:24:59.254
Our lord's return.
00:24:59.254 --> 00:25:00.889
Announcer: request your copy of "ask dr. jeffress about the
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End times" when you give a generous gift to support
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And when your ministry gift is $125 or more,
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You'll also receive dr. jeffress's bestselling book
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"perfect ending," also the stunning full-color resource
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"the end times illustrated," and the complete "perfect ending"
00:25:21.643 --> 00:25:25.180
Teaching series on both cd and dvd.
00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:28.249
Jeffress: the end-time events are going to be
00:25:28.249 --> 00:25:29.584
Very frightening.
00:25:29.584 --> 00:25:30.952
It's going to consist of economic turmoil.
00:25:30.952 --> 00:25:32.954
There'll be wars, there'll be unprecedented persecution.
00:25:32.954 --> 00:25:36.925
But fortunately christians don't have to fear that period
00:25:36.925 --> 00:25:39.961
Of time.
00:25:39.961 --> 00:25:41.296
Announcer: your generous support of "pathway to victory" helps us
00:25:41.296 --> 00:25:43.898
Proclaim the hope of christ's return through television,
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Radio, and online streaming to people across the country and
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Around the world.
00:25:51.072 --> 00:25:52.407
Together we're piercing the darkness with the light of
00:25:52.407 --> 00:25:55.276
God's word.
00:25:55.276 --> 00:25:56.645
Jeffress: "enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and
00:25:59.814 --> 00:26:03.685
The way is broad that leads to destruction and many are those
00:26:03.685 --> 00:26:07.689
Who enter it, but the gate is small and the way is narrow
00:26:07.689 --> 00:26:11.426
That leads to life.
00:26:11.426 --> 00:26:12.794
And few are those who find it."
00:26:12.794 --> 00:26:15.697
So which gate will you enter by: the one that leads to eternity
00:26:15.697 --> 00:26:20.168
With christ, or the one that leads to eternity without him?
00:26:20.168 --> 00:26:24.639
We only get one opportunity to choose.
00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:27.976
And next time we'll dig deeper into why rejecting the gospel
00:26:27.976 --> 00:26:31.713
Is such a monumental sin with irrevocable,
00:26:31.713 --> 00:26:35.083
Eternal consequences.
00:26:35.083 --> 00:26:37.018
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
00:26:37.018 --> 00:26:40.021
In our series, "perfect ending."
00:26:40.021 --> 00:26:43.458
Jeffress: do you have absolute assurance that when you awaken,
00:26:43.525 --> 00:26:46.394
You'll awaken in that real place of the presence of god?
00:26:46.394 --> 00:26:51.833
One writer said, "five seconds after you die, you will either
00:26:51.833 --> 00:26:58.540
Be experiencing eternal bliss or you will be catching your first
00:26:58.540 --> 00:27:05.013
Glimpse of unimaginable horror.
00:27:05.013 --> 00:27:08.883
Either way, your destiny will be irrevocably
00:27:08.883 --> 00:27:13.488
And eternally unchangeable."
00:27:13.488 --> 00:27:17.492
Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part 2
00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:20.428
Of the message, "the truth about eternity,"
00:27:20.428 --> 00:27:23.231
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:23.231 --> 00:27:27.202

Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Eternity (Part 1)

May 5, 2026 | 27:29

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