UP or DOWN; You Choose!

In BSF this past week we studied Isaiah 14.  Question 10 of the homework was:  

Understanding that 14:9-11 gives a picture of the afterlife apart from God, describe the picture of the eternal existence for the wicked.  What conclusions could you draw from this about the continued existence of all people after death?

"Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. They will all respond and say to you, 'Even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us. Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you and worms are your covering.'"   --Isaiah 14:9-11 (NASB)

And,

"In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.  And, he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'  And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send me to my father's house--for I have five brothers--in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'  But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'  But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!'  But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.  --Luke 16:23-31 (NASB) 

 So, those in Sheol/Hell/Hades will be aware of new arrivals.  And, they will be aware of what they lost. And, they will have a very uncomfortable eternity while those with the Lord will have a very different and excellent eternity.

I already believed all this before we studied it but it never hurts to have it reinforced!

What I found very interesting is when I got home and checked my email, I found this picture which makes the decision pretty clear:

Make up your mind.  Which direction are you taking?

Blessings,

Mary