Hell

Is Hell Real?

More people believe in the existence of heaven than believe in the existence of hell. According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven.

Hell is this infinite and eternal death which we have earned because of our sin.

We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23).

The just punishment for that sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Since all of our sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4)

Since God is an infinite and eternal Being, the punishment for sin, death, must also be infinite and eternal.

The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked/unbelieving are sent after death. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16, 18, 36)

What the Bible says About Eternity
(1) Everyone will exist eternally either in heaven or hell (Daniel 12:2,3; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28; Revelation 20:14,15).
(2) Everyone has only one life in which to determine their destiny (Hebrews 9:27).
(3) Heaven or hell is determined by whether a person believes (puts their trust) in Christ alone to save them (John 3:16, 36, etc.).

What the Bible says About Hell
(1) Hell was designed originally for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41; Jude 1:6; Revelation 20:10).
(2) Hell will also punish the sin of those who reject Christ (Matthew 13:41,50; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).
(3) Hell is conscious torment.

Matthew 13:50 "furnace of fire... weeping and gnashing of teeth"

Mark 9:48 "where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched"

Revelation 14:10 "he will be tormented with fire and brimstone"
(4) Hell is eternal and irreversible.

"eternal fire" (Matthew 25:41)

"unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12)

"shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2)

a place where "the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44-49)

a place of "torment" and "fire" (Luke 16:23-24)

"everlasting destruction" (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

a place where "the smoke of torment rises forever and ever" (Revelation 14:10-11)

a "lake of burning sulfur" where the wicked are "tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10; 14-15).

mist of darkness is reserved for ever - 2 Peter 2:17

the blackness of darkness for ever - Jude 1:13

Jesus Christ took hell very serious

So much so that He says that to remove your eye, cut off your hand or foot, if that would keep you out of hell! (Mark 9:43-47)

Jesus Christ spoke more on hell than any other subject. See how Jesus described hell:
"fire" Matt 7:19, 13:40, 25:41
"everlasting fire" Matt 18:8, 25:41
"eternal damnation" Mark 3:29
"hell fire" Matt 5:22, 18:9, Mark 9:47
"damnation" Matt 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47
"damnation of hell" Matt 23:33
"resurrection of damnation" John 5:29
"furnace of fire" Matt 13:42, 50
"the fire that never shall be quenched" Mark 9:43, 45
"the fire is not quenched" Mark 9:44, 46, 48
"Where their worm dieth not" Mark 9:44, 46, 48
"wailing and gnashing of teeth" Matt 13:42, 50
"weeping and gnashing of teeth" Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30
"torments" Luke 16:23
"tormented in this flame" Luke 16:24
"place of torment" Luke 16:28
"outer darkness" Matt 8:12, 22:13
"everlasting punishment" Matt 25:46

Wrong Views of Hell
(1) The second chance view - After death there is still a way to escape hell.
Answer: "It is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
(2) Universalism - All are eternally saved.
Answer: This denies the truth of salvation through Christ which means that a person decides to either trust in Christ or else he/she rejects Christ and goes to hell (John 3:16;3:36).
(3) Annihilationism - Hell means a person dies like an animal - ceases to exist.
Answer: This denies the resurrection of the unsaved (John 5:28). This denies conscious torment (Matthew 13:50).

Objections to the Biblical View of Hell

(1) A loving God would not send people to a horrible hell.
Response: God is just (Romans 2:11).

God has provided the way of salvation to all (John 3:16,17; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; 1 Timothy 2:6; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9).

Even those who haven't heard of Christ are accountable for God's revelation in nature (Romans 1:20). God will seek those who seek Him (Matthew 7:7; Luke 19:10).

Therefore God doesn't send people to hell, they choose it (Romans 1:18,21,25).

(2) Hell is too severe a punishment for man's sin.
Response: God is holy-perfect (1 Peter 1:14,15).

Sin is willful opposition to God our creator (Romans 1:18-32).

Our sin does merit hell (Romans 1:32; 2:2,5,6).

What is unfair and amazing is that Christ died for our sin and freely offers salvation to all (Romans 2:4; 3:22-24; 4:7,8; 5:8,9).

Biblical Terms Describing Where the Dead Are

Sheol - a Hebrew term simply describing "the grave" or "death" - Does not refer to "hell" specifically

Hades - A Greek term that usually refers to hell - a place of torment (Luke 10:15; 16:23, etc.)

Gehenna - A Greek term (borrowed from a literal burning dump near Jerusalem) that always refers to hell - a place of torment (Matthew 5:30; 23:33)

"Lake of fire"- the final abode of unbelievers after they are resurrected (Revelation 20:14,15)

"Abraham's bosom" - (Luke 16:22) a place of eternal comfort

"Paradise" - (Luke 23:43) a place of eternal comfort

"With the Lord" - a key phrase describes where church age believers are after death (Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 5:8)

"New heavens and earth" - where believers will be after they are resurrected (Revelation 20:4-6; 21:1-4