What does present-day Christendom teach about heaven and the lake of fire?
Present-day Christendom speaks very little about the lake of fire and eternal doom. It also seldom describes heaven in definitive terms, generally presenting it only as a place believers go when they die if they are saved. It emphasizes these themes less than the eternal realities God has prepared.
Les explains that after contrasting the wisdom of men with the wisdom of God, Paul takes us back to an Old Testament reference in verse 9, where it is written that neither ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love him. Les then observes that in present-day Christendom we hear a lot about it, but almost nothing of the lake of fire and eternal doom. He notes we do not even hear much more about heaven in real definitive terms; it is treated simply as some place we will go when we die if we are saved. Yet this verse, Les teaches, gives a whole train load if we think on it. It has never entered the thoughts of man; we cannot begin to comprehend what God has already prepared. It is not something for someday only—it is already there for those who love Him. Les has emphasized in his Oklahoma classes that as believers we should get excited about our eternity and what is ahead.