Scott LaPierre Ministries

Scott LaPierre Ministries


What Happens to Unbelievers When They Die? (Luke 16:24-29)

December 11, 2022

The account of the rich man and Lazarus shows us what happens to unbelievers when they die. There are 13 verses in the account and most of them focus on the rich man. Aside from being told Lazarus was in comfort at Abraham’s side, or bosom, there’s nothing else said about him. Instead, almost all the attention is on the rich man and his experience as an unbeliever.

Table of ContentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: When unbelievers die (Part One) they are in torment.Lesson One: When unbelievers die (Part Two) they receive no second chances.Lesson One: When unbelievers die (Part Three) they remember their earthly lives.Lesson Two: The living shouldn’t communicate with the dead.

https://youtu.be/vQyOkFVOtOs
The account of the rich man and Lazarus shows us what happens to unbelievers when they die. The focus is on the rich man and his experience.

Family Worship Guide

Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions:

Day 1: Luke 16:23, 24-25, 28, Daniel 12:2, Revelation 14:10-11, Matthew 5:29, 7:13, Mark 9:44-48: what are some of the unbiblical beliefs about the afterlife held by false religions? How are those beliefs shown to be untrue by this account? What are some other verses in Scripture that tell us unbelievers experience eternal torment when they die?

Day 2: Luke 16:26, Hebrews 9:27, Luke 16:25, 27-28 cf. 1 Corinthians 13:9-12: why do you think unbelievers don’t receive second chances when they die? How can we tell from the account that the rich man remembered his earthly life? What are some things from his earthly life that he remembered?

Day 3: Luke 16:29, 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Isaiah 8:19: why do you think God doesn’t want the living attempting to communicate with the dead? Can you find other verses in Scripture that condemn mediums, Ouija boards, or séances? Can you think of individuals in Scripture, besides Saul, who consulted mediums?

Sermon Notes

The title of this morning’s sermon is, “What Happens to Unbelievers When They Die?”

On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse, and we find ourselves at Luke 16:24. We are in the account of the rich man and Lazarus.

As you know, religions have different beliefs about what happens when you die. I looked up the beliefs of the top five religions…

Sikhism is fifth. Sikhs do not believe in an afterlife, such as heaven or hell. They believe in reincarnation and the way you live in this life determines your form in the next life.

Buddhism is fourth. Buddhists also believe in reincarnation, and they believe people who attain a state of enlightenment can enter Nirvana, the highest state of perfect peace and happiness where suffering and desires do not exist.

Hinduism is third. Hindus also believe in reincarnation. People are reincarnated based on their karma, or how they lived their previous life.

Islam is second. Muslims believe everyone will be resurrected into either paradise or hell based on their obedience to the Five Pillars.

Christianity is first, largely because it includes all religions that call themselves Christian, including those we consider to be cults. Among the cults there are different beliefs about the afterlife. For example…

Mormons believe there are different levels or kingdoms: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness.301 People go to different kingdoms depending on what they believed and how they lived this life.302

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe our souls are immortal: they believe our souls cease functioning just like our physical bodies. When people die, they experience soul sleep. Unrighteous people remain dead for eternity, or are annihilated, but the righteous are resurrected.

Seventh-day Adventists also believe in soul sleep and annihilation. When Christ returns, He will awaken believers to go to heaven with Him while unbelievers cea...