Five Things You Should Know About Hell

By A. Friesen

1. Hell is a real place.

 The Bible supplies clear evidence that Hell is a real place.  Matthew 5:29 says, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” This verse uses the action verb cast which demonstrates that one is actually thrown into a real place.  Revelation 14:10 says, "He himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” This verse is another example of a real place of fire and brimstone. Other verses that back up a literal Hell are Matthew 7:13, 14; Matthew16:18; Matthew 23:33; Matthew 5:21-22;

2. Hell is a place of suffering and torment.

Luke 16:23-24 says, "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Hell is not a place were people get together and party. It is a place of torment and suffering. As we see from the Bible a person still retains their physical awareness. The rich man was thirsty and could feel pain. People that go to Hell still have a memory, a conscience, and are still in control of all their senses. There is real pain and suffering in Hell.

3. A person goes directly to Heaven or Hell when he dies.

Luke 16:22- 23 says, "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”  This verse clearly demonstrates that right after the beggar died he went to Heaven, and as soon as the rich man died he went right to Hell. The Roman Catholics believe in purgatory, a supposed place in between death and Hell.  Catholics believe that if one suffers long enough in purgatory or if his loved ones pray for him, give money to the Catholic Church or do good deeds then the loved one can go to Heaven.  If this does not happen they eventually go to Hell. The Bible does not ever mention a sinner having a second chance to go to Heaven. There is no in between and no leaving Hell and going to Heaven or vise versa.  Luke 16:26 says, “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”

4. Those that will spend eternity in Hell.

Those who reject Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will spend an eternity in Hell. The reason that one goes to Hell is because Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will live with Him in Heaven, and those who reject this will spend an eternity in Christ.  Ac 16:31 says, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…”  Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

5. Hell will last for all eternity.

Hell is not a short time of suffering or a place where people cease to exist. Hell will last forever.  This horrible place, hell, is where those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will spend the rest of eternity. Revelation 20:10 says, “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.” Matthew 25:41, 46 says, "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Jude 1:6 says, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;” Remember, no one, no matter how sinful he is, needs to spend eternity in Hell.  Be sure to read the article, Knowing God, on this site. 

Hell by John R. Rice;

 Is There a Hell? by Herbert Lockyer;

Hell by Oliver B. Greene