What is Hell? What is Hell going to be like according to the Bible? Hell is also known as Hades, Sheol or Gehenna and it is mentioned over 50 times in the Bible. Jesus Himself talked more about Hell, than he did about Heaven, and he described it vividly. Most churches today don’t even talk about Hell anymore.
Jesus believed and He warned people against the reality of Hell. We know that true Christianity is built on the Bible… not the Bible plus anything else. What is the Bible? What is the Word of God? It is Jesus Himself.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
Jesus Himself is truth and our whole faith is based on Jesus Christ. True Christianity is built on what Jesus says and not what we feel like we want to believe. Let’s have a look at what Jesus says about Hell.
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” – Matthew 25:41
There will be a everlasting fire, that’s prepared for the devil and his angels. You won’t be alone if you go to Hell, but with the devil himself and his demons forever and ever.
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” – Matthew 25:46
Hell is also a place of eternal punishment for those people who wanted to live a life in sin.
49 “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:49-50
Do you know how bad Hell will be? If people are going to do that for all eternity – wailing, crying, and gnashing on their teeth? Hell is not a place that you or I want to go to.
43 “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” – Mark 9:43 – 47
Jesus warns us about the absolute reality of Hell, and that we will go there for all eternity and suffer, if we don’t turn away from our sins.
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 25:30
Why does Jesus say that it will be the outer darkness? Because it will be a place without God, and God is light.
“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:9
Imagine a place without God. All good things come from God, imagine just for a second, what Hell will be like. A dark place of punishment with the devil and his demons. A place where the fire that never stops. Where wailing and gnashing of teeth that never ever stops. If you go there you’ll be tormented for all eternity and it’s a place without God. Jesus says further:
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28
The body and the soul will be tormented in Hell. Now you know, what Jesus says about Hell.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8
The Bible is very clear, that those who CHOOSE sin will be judged by God, and as a punishment, will be without God, and have suffering for all eternity. There is no way out. You need to know, that God is love and He does give you time to come to Him. But He is also just; He is the ultimate judge, and He will judge you based on the way that you lived your life.
All those secret sins you have – God knows. He knows your heart and He will judge you. You’ve got to remember, God is holy, and perfect. All of us, we all, have sinned against Him and against His law. Whether we like it or not, that doesn’t matter. What matters, is the truth and only truth matters at the end. God is just. He did not even spare the angels that sinned against Him, so He won’t spare us from his righteous judgment.
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” – 2 Peter 2:4
We see that there’s already demons in Hell right now; in chains of darkness. What else will Hell be like? There will be different degrees of punishment.
12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” – Revelation 20:12-13
Jesus also talked about this in the parable of the wicked servant.
42 “And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” – Luke 12:42-48
Some people will be punished more than others. If you are a Christian leader – be very, very careful, because if you don’t preach the Word of God in a truthful, balanced way, it will cause some people to stumble. And if you’re a false preacher, leader, minister, you will have the worst punishment of all, that’s waiting for you in Hell.
“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6
The whole chapter of 2 Peter 2 talks about destructive doctrines and false teachers. Verse 17 says that false teachers and prophets are like wells without water.
“These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.” – 2 Peter 2:17
The worst of Hell is reserved for false teachers.
We all know John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is true – it is the most amazing thing that Jesus did for us. Most of us just stop there and say “I’m good” but let’s look at John 3:17 that says “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
“Might” be saved – a lot of Christians say: “I am saved”. Saved from what exactly? Let’s go a bit further to John 3:36 – “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
When Jesus took your sins, on the cross, He took God’s wrath on Him. That is why Jesus suffered so much at death. If God did not spare His wrath of punishment on His Son, Jesus Christ, then He won’t spare it on you in Hell. People say: “God is love.” Yes, He is love, that’s true but He is also holy, He is also just. He cannot let you go into Heaven if you are full of sin. Have you ever lied in your life? Well, then you’re a liar. Have you ever stolen something? Then you’re a thief. If you’ve sinned against God, if you broke one of His laws, you broke all of them.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” – James 2:10
Nobody is good enough for God because all of us sinned against God. We broke His Holy law. But the amazing thing is that God gave us a way out; a way out from all this punishment. It is through Jesus Christ, His Son.
23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” – Romans 3:23-26
The blood of Jesus Christ paid for your sins and mine. But only if you accept that Jesus Christ took your punishment from God, in your place, and He died for me and for you, so that we will be saved from the torment of Hell. That’s what we will be saved from – from Hell for all eternity.
You are still here on earth, and every second that you breathe, God is giving you time to accept Him as your Lord and Savior, so that you will be saved and have eternal life.
And it’s your choice – God gave you free choice to choose Him or not. Sometimes we make this very complicated; but it’s very simple – It’s Hell or God. Choose Jesus Christ so that you will be saved. Repent of all your sins and God will forgive you.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20
God is waiting for you to hear Him. It is time to open the door.