Understanding the Reality of Hell: What the Bible Really Teaches

The greatness of God is something the church has often forgotten. He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), and immutable (unchanging). His character—His holiness, love, justice, and righteousness—has never changed and never will. Understanding God's greatness helps us appreciate the seriousness of our salvation and the reality of hell.

What is Hell and Why Should We Talk About It?

Hell is a subject rarely discussed, yet Jesus spoke more about hell than heaven. If we're to preach and teach like Jesus, we must address this difficult topic. The reason is simple: love. We don't want anyone to go there, and we want to reach our family, friends, neighbors, classmates, and coworkers with the gospel message so they won't face eternal destruction.

Is Hell a Real Place or Just a Metaphor?

Hell is a very real place—more real than New York City, Washington D.C., or any earthly location. Three times in the New Testament, it is referred to as "that place" or "this place" (Matthew 8:12, 20:13; Luke 16:28). It's not a figment of someone's imagination but a real geographical location on God's map.

Why is Hell Necessary in God's Plan?

The very attributes of God necessitate hell's existence:

1. God's holiness demands it - "You who are of purer eyes than to behold evil" (Habakkuk 1:13). No sin can exist in God's presence.

2. God's righteousness demands it - Every sin must receive just punishment.

3. God's love demands it - He loves His people so much He wants to protect them from all evil.

4. God's wrath demands it - "God is angry with the wicked every day" (Psalm 7:11).

Who Will Be in Hell?

Hell is heavily populated. More people will go to hell than heaven. According to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, those who will not inherit the kingdom of God include:

• Fornicators (those having sex outside marriage)
• Idolaters
• Adulterers
• Effeminates and sodomites (homosexuals)
• Thieves
• The covetous
• Drunkards
• Revilers
• Swindlers

But it's not just the "worst" people who will be there. Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that many religious people who claimed to serve God will hear, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity, I never knew you." Both the outwardly wicked and the outwardly religious who don't truly know Christ will find themselves in hell.

What Will Hell Be Like According to the Bible?

Eternal Separation

Hell means eternal separation from saved loved ones. Unsaved husbands will be separated from saved wives, unsaved children from saved parents. Yet, surprisingly, it is not separation from God. God will be in hell because He is omnipresent, and He Himself will administer His wrath (Revelation 14:10).

A Fiery Furnace

Matthew 13:42 describes hell as a fiery furnace where people will be "roasted alive" yet never die. Those in hell will receive resurrection bodies perfectly suited to their environment—bodies that will never burn up yet will be on fire, with an intensified ability to feel pain.

A Lake of Fire

Revelation 19:20 describes people being "thrown alive into the lake of fire." They will be immersed in fire, engulfed in it, yet never able to escape. The imagery is like being submerged in an active volcano of molten lava.

Unquenchable Fire

Mark 9:43-48 repeatedly emphasizes that hell's fire "shall never be quenched." This fire cannot be turned off, blown out, or extinguished by any means. It is the eternal fire of God's wrath.

Eternal Duration

Hell is forever, day and night. Revelation 14:11 says, "The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever. And they have no rest, day or night." There is never a break, never a release, never time off from the pains of hell.

Unmitigated Torment

Matthew 13:42,50 describes "weeping and gnashing of teeth." This isn't ordinary weeping but "the weeping"—more intense than all the weeping in human history combined. The gnashing of teeth indicates rage and anger, not repentance. People in hell are angrier with God there than they ever were on earth.

Outer Darkness

Matthew 8:12 describes hell as "outer darkness"—complete blindness where you can't see your hand in front of your face. This physical and spiritual blindness creates eternal panic.

Conscious Awareness

Those in hell will have full consciousness and extraordinary memory. Luke 16:25 shows they will remember their earthly lives and opportunities to accept the gospel that they rejected. These memories will haunt them throughout eternity.

Inescapable

Revelation 9:2 calls hell "the bottomless pit." There are many roads leading to hell, but none leading out. There are no exit signs, no parole, no weekend leave, no vacation.

How Easy Is It to Go to Hell?

Tragically, hell is easily accessed. You don't have to do anything special to go to hell—just remain as you are in unbelief. Jesus called it "the broad gate that leads to destruction" (Matthew 7:13). All you have to do to go to hell is be born and never be born again.

How Can We Avoid Hell?

Jesus used radical language to emphasize the importance of avoiding hell: "If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out... if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off" (Matthew 5:29-30). He wasn't advocating self-mutilation but emphasizing that we should do whatever it takes to avoid sin and its eternal consequences.

This calls for radical repentance and dealing with sin decisively. Whatever sacrifice is necessary, whatever the Holy Spirit is convicting you of—deal with it now. Don't play with sin that could send you to hell.

Life Application

Today is the day of salvation. You don't know what tomorrow holds. The floods, disasters, and sudden deaths we witness are God's providential warnings, calling us to repentance before it's too late.

If you've never truly committed your life to Christ, do so today. Ask Him for forgiveness and mercy. Say, "Be merciful to me, forgive me, and give me the grace to live a life pleasing to you."

For those who are believers, let this understanding of hell motivate you to share the gospel with urgency. Who in your life needs to hear this message?

Ask yourself:

1. Am I taking my salvation for granted, or am I truly grateful that God has rescued me from hell?
2. Is there any sin in my life that I need to deal with radically?
3. Who do I know that needs to hear the gospel message before it's too late?
4. How can I "redeem the time" and make the most of every opportunity to live for Christ and share His message?

Remember, God didn't save you to help with loneliness or boost your self-esteem. He saved you from His wrath. Whatever you must do today—repent, turn to Christ, and live under His lordship.