Could Every Damned Sinner Weep a Whole Ocean!
The sermon warns of the eternal and unending nature of God's judgment and punishment, emphasizing the reality and seriousness of hell.
Thomas Brooks delivers a powerful sermon on the eternal torment of hell, emphasizing that the fires of hell are unquenchable and everlasting, unlike earthly fires that can be extinguished. He warns that no amount of tears or time can alleviate the suffering of the damned, who are bound in eternal darkness and punishment. Brooks highlights the seriousness of hell, urging listeners to recognize it as a real and terrifying reality, not to be taken lightly. He poignantly illustrates the despair of those in hell, who would wish for death but find it forever out of reach. The sermon serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance.
Text
"They will be tormented day and night forever and ever!"
Revelation 20:10
Our earthly fires may be quenched and extinguished.
The hottest flames, the greatest conflagrations have
been quenched and extinguished by water. Fires on
our hearths and in our chimneys often die and go out
by themselves. Our fire is maintained with wood--and
put out with water. But the fire of hell never goes out;
it can never be quenched. It is . . .
an everlasting fire,
an eternal fire,
an unquenchable fire!
In Mark 9 from verse 43 to verse 49, this fire is five
times said to be unquenchable--as if the Lord could
never speak enough of it. Beloved, the Holy Spirit is
never guilty of idle repetitions; but by these frequent
repetitions, the Holy Spirit would awaken men, and
teach them to look upon hell as a real thing, and as
a serious thing, and not sport with unquenchable
flames--nor go to hell in a dream!
Certainly the fire into which the damned shall be cast
shall be without all intermission of time or punishment.
No tears, nor blood, nor time--can extinguish the fire
of hell. Could every damned sinner weep a whole
ocean--yet all those oceans of tears together, would
never extinguish one spark of infernal fire!
The damned are in "everlasting chains of darkness;"
they are under the "vengeance of eternal fire;"
they are "in blackness of darkness forever."
Said a poor despairing creature on his deathbed,
"Oh, that word 'forever'--breaks my heart!"
The damned in hell would gladly die--but they cannot.
They shall be always a-dying--yet never dead.
They shall be always a-consuming--yet never consumed.
"The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever!"
Revelation 14:11
Sermon Outline
- I. The Fire of Hell
- A. Unquenchable and Everlasting
- B. No Intermission of Time or Punishment
- C. No Extinction by Tears or Blood
- II. The Condition of the Damned
- A. In Everlasting Chains of Darkness
- B. Under the Vengeance of Eternal Fire
- C. In Blackness of Darkness Forever
Key Quotes
“They will be tormented day and night forever and ever!” — Thomas Brooks
“Could every damned sinner weep a whole ocean--yet all those oceans of tears together, would never extinguish one spark of infernal fire!” — Thomas Brooks
“The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- The reality of hell should motivate us to live a life of repentance and obedience to God.
- The eternal nature of God's judgment should cause us to take sin seriously and seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
- The seriousness of hell should prompt us to share the gospel with others and warn them of the dangers of eternal punishment.