Hell License Is Real

For the past days we have looked with assisted eyes of faith at the reality of hell’s residents, experience and assistance. On this second to last day, before we end this week, as God determines, we are looking at the final reality in seeing that hell is real viewed from the set text. We are looking at the licence.

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16: 23 KJV

Hell Licence – And seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

We are looking at the word licence, in the sense of having official permission to do something or to have something. These three examples of the word licence bring us adequate and crystal clear evidence and meaning. These will leave us in no doubt by what we mean about licence in hell.

We first look at the incident in Jerusalem, when Paul is being stoned by a viciously incited mob. The commander of the Roman troops has come on the scene and he wants to know exactly what is going on, but the crowd is so noisy and unruly, he can do nothing but order soldiers to carry Paul into the barracks, for his safety. Before they take him straight through the barracks door, Paul asks the commander to speak to the people. Having received the commander’s permission, Paul addresses the people. And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. Acts 21: 40a KJV. Paul is able to speak, due to the licence given him by the one in authority.

Our second viewing is a conversation between Porcius Festus and King Agrippa concerning the prisoner Paul. He told him how, when he went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews, brought charges against the man Paul and asked that he be condemned.  Festus said that he categorically told them that it was not the Roman custom to hand over any one, without giving him the opportunity to defend himself against his accusers. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accuser face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. Acts 25: 16 KJV. Has not Governor Festus confirmed that in Roman law, the prisoner, guilty or innocent, has licence to a defence? 

Our third and final viewing is a bit different in that here we listen to Peter, as he addresses God’s elect, strangers in the world. He is admonishing them and reminding them at the same time that since Jesus Christ suffered in His Body, they should arm themselves with the same attitude, so none of them will live the rest of their earthly lives for any human desires. You see, before they were converted to The Way, they took daily licence and liberty to live the ways of the world. For you have given time enough in the past to the doing of the things which the Gentiles delight in pursuing, as you did, a course of habitual licence, debauchery, hard drinking, noisy revelry, drunkenness and unholy image-worship. 1 Peter 4: 3 WNT. Before giving our lives to Jesus, we too had free reign and licence to live as we desired.

Having received these pictures-explanations of licence – permission given by authority to do something; one’s lawful and legal right, regardless of who the person is; privilege and liberty to do things – we look at how licence plays out, from hell.

Hell dwellers have licence, permission or liberty to look up and see. What was he able to see when he looked up? He saw two people who represent the fullness, fruitfulness and faithfulness of God’s Word – the exact word that was offered him before this hell life.

Abraham – He is seen as our father of faith. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring – not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. Romans 4: 16.

Lazarus – He is seen as perfect testimony and unarguable evidence of the proof of our Lord’s Teachings on the Mount. The hell dweller looked up and saw that the Lord’s Word of faith is not just true, but it is trustworthy. There, in plain sight, was the poor man called Lazarus, whose poverty was excruciatingly poor. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 3. The hell dweller had the legal, lawful permission to look up into heaven and see heaven’s dwellers.