John K. Jenkins Sr - What in Hell Do You Want (01/25/2026)
In this powerful Christmas message on Revelation 20, the preacher warns that hell is a real, eternal place of torment prepared for the devil, not for people—but unbelief and unrighteous living lead straight there. He stresses that Jesus came at Christmas to deliver us from that fate through His birth, death, and the washing, sanctification, and justification He provides, urging everyone to turn to Christ for salvation.
Reading from Revelation 20
So if you have your Bibles, turn to Revelation 20, or write this down. And I want to start at verse 11—I’m sorry, I’m going to start at verse 10. Verse 10. Can y’all throw verse 10 up? I told y’all verse 11—this is to the production team. Thank you. Yeah, verse 10: «The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.»
The Great White Throne Judgment
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Judgment of the Dead
The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
What in Hell Do You Want?
I want to ask a question: What in hell do you want? Go ahead, ask your neighbor that question real quick. I’m giving you permission to ask him, «What in hell do you want?» I’m not cussing—it’s really a legitimate question. But allow me to talk about this, because I want to tell you why Christmas is so important. There is a reason why it’s so important, and it has to do with hell.
Lack of Reverence for God
Many people have not given the proper reverence to Christianity, and we have treated church and God very nonchalantly. Some of us think it’s just a game. Some of us don’t think it’s real. Some of you would much rather be at home watching TV, talking on the phone, at a party. Unfortunately, people have gathered an attitude—usually or often acquired from their friends or maybe even their parents—that they don’t treat church with the respect and honor, and the Lord Jesus with the respect and honor that is due to Him.
Evidence of Unbelief
Some of you don’t really believe that there is a hell. It’s reflected that you don’t really believe it because of the music you listen to, the shows you watch on television, the movies you rent, how you spend your money, how you do the things that you do, your activities, your lifestyle. We have not given to Christ what is due to Him—the respect and honor that’s due to Him.
There Is a Hell – No Escape, No Purgatory
Now, I know some people don’t believe that there is a hell, but there is. Tell your neighbor, «There is a hell.» Matter of fact, tell your neighbor, «I sure am not going to wait to find out if there is.» The truth be told, you’re going to one place or the other. You’re either going to heaven or you’re going to hell. The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that there is no hell. The Catholic Church teaches that there is an in-between place called Purgatory.
Let me be clear—there’s no such teaching of a place called Purgatory anywhere in the Scriptures. By the way, in case you didn’t know, in hell there’s no furloughs, no annual leave, no sick leave, no time off, no bonuses, no vacation, no cruises, no leave without pay, no transfers, no TDYs, no R&R, no mental health days. There’s no way out. It’s eternal damnation.
Description of Hell – Place of Torment
As a matter of fact, let me just give you my quick points about this, and I’ll be finished so y’all can go home and open your gifts and do whatever you got to do when you go home. The Scripture gives us some clear things about hell. Let me give you my first point: the description of hell. Can I give you the description of hell? This is my first point. Here’s what hell looks like according to Revelation chapter 20, verse 10: It’s a place of torment.
Torment Day and Night Forever
That’s what hell is—a place of torment. It says it’s a place where it’s torment day and night, and guess what? It lasts forever. Mark chapter 9:43–48 says this—just jot it down, read it when you get an opportunity: There’s worms that never die. There is an unquenchable fire. That’s in Mark 9:43 and 48. It describes hell as a place of torment that goes on day and night forever. There’s worms upon your flesh that never die. There’s an unquenchable fire.
Outer Darkness, Weeping, and Gnashing of Teeth
According to Matthew 8:12, there’s outer darkness there. There’s darkness there—there is no light there. According to Matthew 8:12, there’s weeping, crying, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. People are gritting their teeth 'cause God gave you the opportunity to get saved, but you chose to do your own thing. Jesus has done everything possible to try to tell us that hell is not a place that we want to go.
Nothing in Hell I Want
Go ahead, look at your neighbor—say, «There’s nothing in hell that I want.» Matter of fact, tell them, «Not a damned thing that I want in there.» Just hang with me for just a few moments. I’m not cussing—that’s a damnable place. It’s a place of damnation. I should have waited till I got to that point before I used it in that sentence. I went a little early.
The Design and Duration of Hell
Let me tell you that it’s a horrible place. Now, I know some of your theology makes you think and wonder, «Why would such a loving God make such a horrible place?» That brings me to my second point, which is the design of hell. Hell has a design. Somebody say, «It has a design.» According to Matthew chapter 25 and verse 41, God didn’t make hell for you. He didn’t plan for you to go there.
Prepared for the Devil and His Angels
According to Matthew 25:41, hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels. God created hell for them, not for you. Go ahead, look at the person—tell them, «God didn’t make hell for you.» But if you want to go there, He’ll let you go. But He don’t want you to go there. I want you to be clear about this.
Everlasting Punishment – Forever and Ever
And here’s point three—I’m almost finished. I only got four points. The duration of hell—I’ve already mentioned it quickly. The duration of hell is everlasting. According to Matthew 25:46, it says everlasting punishment. Everlasting. Revelation 20:10 says forever and ever. And forever and ever is a really long time. Somebody say, «It’s forever and ever.» When they add that extra «and ever» on there, that means it’s a really, really long time. You don’t want to go to hell.
Who Is Destined for Hell?
So the question is, who’s going to hell? I’m glad you asked the question. Let me tell you who’s destined for hell. Look, let me read John 3:18 to you. Let me tell you what it says: «He who does not believe is condemned already.» The fact that you refuse to accept and believe that Jesus Christ is God—that He was born of a virgin, born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes—when you refuse to believe that His death on the cross is sufficient enough to forgive you of your sins and appease a holy God—if you refuse to embrace that, the Scripture says you are condemned already. Amen.
Those Who Don’t Know God or Obey the Gospel
That’s what John 3:18 says. 2 Thessalonians chapter 1:8 and 9 says who’s going to hell—who’s destined for hell: those who don’t know God and those who don’t obey the gospel. You don’t have a personal relationship with God. You have not surrendered to Christ. You don’t walk with Him. You don’t get to know Him. You don’t know Him, and you don’t obey the teachings of the Gospel—you’re destined for hell.
The Unrighteous and Specific Sins
I’m almost finished—I’m coming to a close. But let me read this last verse. Well, I got—I’m sorry, I said I got four points. I’m sorry, I really got five. 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 9-10. Can I read that to you? 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: «Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?» Look at your neighbor—say, «The unrighteous.» I hope that ain’t you.
List of Sins That Exclude from God’s Kingdom
Verse 9 says, «Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.» I didn’t write this—this was here when I got here. I hope you don’t fall in any one of those categories.
The Good News – Deliverance Through Jesus
But hold up—I can’t stop at verse 10. I got to read verse 11 and give you the good news. Somebody said there’s some good news—yeah, that there’s deliverance from hell. You can be delivered from hell. Here’s where I want to shout, 'cause verse 11 said—can y’all put verse 11 up there? Do y’all have that? Matter of fact, I want you to put verses 9, 10, and 11 up there.
Such Were Some of You – But Now Changed
Let’s start—let me start back and read verse 9. Oh, y’all got your Bibles, don’t y’all? Okay, here’s what it says: «Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?» You won’t tell God when you stand before Him that I did not tell you this. «Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.»
But here’s where deliverance is: «And such were some of you.» Come on, look up and down your row—somebody on your row fell in some of these categories, some of them cast in multiple areas on this list right here. But the great news is, «Such were some of you.» That’s where we were. That’s where we used to be. That’s how we used to live. That’s how we used to walk. That’s where we came from.
Washed, Sanctified, Justified in Jesus’ Name
But «you were washed,» woo, «but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.» The reason Christmas is so important is it represents the day that Jesus came, was born, and lived and died on the cross. Had He not been born, He could not have died. That’s why this day is so important. It’s not a day to go shopping. It’s not a day to buy gifts.
Why Christmas Really Matters – Jesus Came
This is a day to thank God that He came. Somebody ought to give God a shout that He came. I’m so glad that He came. I’m so glad that He came. He came, and because He came, I got washed. I got sanctified. I got justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. Thank God for Jesus. There’s power in the name of Jesus, healing in the name of Jesus, deliverance in the name of Jesus. Thank God He came.
Delivered from Hell – Nothing I Want There
Somebody tell your neighbor, «I’ve been delivered from hell.» I shouldn’t be in hell. I should have gone to hell. I should have been condemned to hell. I should have been punished in hell. But thanks be to God—Jesus came. Hey, He came. It should have been me in hell, but He came. What in hell do I want? Not a damn thing. Go ahead, high-five somebody—I give you permission. Tell them, «Not a damn thing that I want.»
Praise and Invitation – Choose Jesus Today
I don’t want anything in hell, but I want everything that Jesus has for me. He washed me. He sanctified me. He justified me. Hey, hey—such were some of you. You should have went to hell, and you should have went to hell, you should have went to hell, and you should have went, and you, and you, and you. But thanks be to God. Hey, my God, my God, my God, my God. Woo.
Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for Jesus. To God be the glory. To God be the glory. Everybody shout—say, «For the things He has done.» Thank You, Jesus, for all You’ve done. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord, for all the things, for all the things, for all the things, for all the things, for all the things, for everything—for waking me up and starting me on my way.
To God be the glory. Hallelujah, Jesus. Oh, glory to Your name, Jesus. You’ve been so good to us. You’ve been so kind. You’ve been so gracious. Glory to the matchless name of Jesus. Hallelujah to the matchless name of Jesus. There is nobody like You in all of the earth. God, we can shout 'cause we were such people. Yes, sir.
From Darkness to Light – God Interrupted Our Path
The key word here is «were.» Anybody here glad, other than me, that you was on your way to hell and God interrupted your journey? Thank You—opened our eyes, called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. «And such were…» The problem is, there’s some of you here, and «such are» some of you. You don’t have to stay in that condition. You can be changed.
Invitation to Salvation – Come to Jesus Now
If you’re here today and you don’t know the Lord Jesus, you can get forgiveness of your sins, yes, and you can have a personal relationship with Jesus. It just requires you to humble yourself and acknowledge that you need a relationship with Jesus. Everybody here who is saved at some point had to say, «I need Jesus.» Amen. And if that’s you, I want to invite you to come and say yes to the Lord Jesus right now.
Altar Call for the Unsure, Backslidden, or Seeking a Church Home
Just get out of your seat and just make your way down here. We’re going to shout and give God the praise and celebrate 'cause we know what it’s like to make a choice for Jesus. We know how our lives have been changed since we met Jesus. Or maybe you backslid—maybe you once walked with God, but you’re out of fellowship with Him now. We can help you get restored to Him, reconnected with Him.
Or maybe you are unsure and you need assurance that you’re saved. Or maybe you’re saved but you need a church home. This here is a great church for you to be a part of. A whole bunch of y’all come, but you’re not committed. So I want to invite you to come and make a commitment to the Lord—unsaved, backslid, unsure, you need a church home. Come on.