Does Hell Exist? If so, what's it like? Where is it?
Hello brothers and sisters in Christ and friends, I pray this is a
blessing to you all. Curious, have you ever wondered what Hell's like and if
it's real? Or where it is? This study looks into those questions and verses
that teach not only the existence of Hell, but also describe it in living color
and vivid detail. We all need to stick to the Word of God - it's the only sure
foundation. ~ if you appreciate this, please consider sharing with friends, family,
or neighbors who you know are saved or may not be saved. ~ take care, your
friend/brother, SH
Jesus’ description of
Hell
A few weeks ago, I was
talking with a Jehovha’s false Witness (JfW) and he explained how he believed (according to their
propaganda) that Hell does not exist and concept of flames came from Greek
mythology. He then went on to explain the best he knew about the words used to
define the place in eternity for those who reject God: the word ‘Hell’ is quite a few
times in the English, and this word has 3 Biblical names behind the teaching of
it. Those 3 words are: ‘Hades’,
and ‘Gehenna’,
and ‘Sheol’.
This scholarly JfW then proceeded to define each of
those places and then used his definitions to try to redefine other literal
Greek texts that actually describe Hell and the Lake of Fire. I used that to
make a strong case that he was allegorizing God’s Word.
But, he’s not alone – do
you realize that we have many other false teachers around us
who want to allegorize
Hell? To name a few: Rob Bell, Joel Hunter, Brian McLaren.
Rick Warren and Bill
Hybels appear to as well. I cannot find out who any other names that have come
out so bold as to deny the Scriptures on Hell – those are the only ones I’ve
found.
The word ‘Hell’ in case
you didn’t already know is not actually in the text but the word for Hades is
sometimes used in the place for the word ‘Hades’. So, let’s next take a look at
the three words behind the word Hell:
-- Hebrew
word: ‘Sheol’
‘H7585 sh'owl
sheh-ole' or shol {sheh-ole'}; from H7592; Hades or the world of the dead (as
if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates.’
-- Greek
word: ‘Gehenna’
‘G1067 geena
gheh'-en-nah of Hebrew origin (H1516 and H2011);
valley of (the son of) Hinnom; ge-henna
(or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used
(figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment.’
-- Greek
word: ‘Hades’
– this word is not used English translations, except for just about a dozen
times in the ‘New Testament’, so here’s the Greek word definition:
‘G86 haides
hah'-dace from G1 (as negative particle) and G1492; properly, unseen, i.e.
"Hades" or the place (state) of departed souls.’
Simply put, Sheol is the
place of the dead, and includes both sides of Hades – Hell and Paradise. Hell
is still taking in people (which is described in Luke 16) who die without
repentance and without Christ’s blood covering them. But, Paradise is empty,
because those who die in Christ are present with the Lord instantaneously (2nd
Corinthians 5:8). Hades in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40). And, another
note here – Hell is used to describe the place of torment, which some try to
say doesn’t exist. There’s more verses, but that gives you a brief catch-up.
The subject of Hell is
not concept in just the ‘Old Testament’ or the ‘New Testament’. This is a
subject throughout Scripture. But, we find the most detail about Hell in Jesus’
teachings and in the book of Revelation when we see God spell out how He will
wrap up the rebellion the devil started and tricked men into joining.
Let’s first look at some
verses in the Old Testament on Hell:
“For a fire is kindled in My anger,
and shall burn to the lowest Hell…” (Deuteronomy 32:22)
“The wicked shall be turned into Hell,
and all the nations that forget God.”
(Psalm 9:17)
“Let death seize them; let them go
down alive into Hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.”
(Psalm 55:15)
“Her [seductive, immoral woman] house is the way to Hell,
descending to the chambers of death.” (Proverbs 7:27)
“Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; so how much more
the hearts of the sons of men.” (Proverbs 15:11)
“Hell and Destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are
never satisfied.” (Proverbs 27:20)
God also mentioned a
little detail of Hell through the prophet Daniel:
“And many of those who sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and
everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
I’m sure there are other
passages in the Old Testament, but those are the main ones I’ve found so far.
So, now, let’s look at the description we get from Jesus in the New Testament.
***
In the New Testament, we
see actual descriptions of Hell – not just the name used, but also visual
pictures like – fire, furnace, gnashing of teeth, torment and flame. So, with
that said, let’s look at some of those passages.
First note, John the
Baptizer referred to eternal torment as a place of fire 4 times:
Matthew 3:10, and verse
12, and Luke 3:9 and verse 17.
***
Jesus used the word “fire” is describe Hell 15 times in
Matthew through John
“But I say to you that whoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And
whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But
whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.”
(Matthew 5:22)
“Every tree that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19)
“Therefore as the tares are gathered
and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.”
(Matthew 13:40)
“… and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will
be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42)
“… and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:50)
“… If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and
cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed,
rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.”
(Matthew 18:8)
“And if your eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with
one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”
(Matthew 18:9)
“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…’” (Matthew 25:41)
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut
it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two
hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- where 'Their
worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' And if your foot causes you
to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having
two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched--
where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' And if your eye
causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of
God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire--
where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'”
(Mark 9:48)
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is
cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into
the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6)
***
The phrase - “gnashing of teeth” – used
7 times to by Jesus to describe Hell.
(Matthew 13:42, and verse
50)
“But the sons of the kingdom will be
cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
(Matthew 8:12)
“Then the king said to the servants,
‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 22:13)
“… and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with
the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
(Matthew 24:51)
“‘And cast the unprofitable servant
into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
(Matthew 25:30)
“There will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.” (Luke 13:28)
***
The phrase “Furnace of Fire” – used
2 times
(Matthew 13:42, and verse
50)
***
The word “torment” – used
one time
“Then he said, 'I beg you therefore,
father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'”
(Luke 16:27-28) – real-time description from a rich man
that is in Hell right now ~ a true story Jesus told with 2 names and 3 real
people mentioned.
The word “flame” used one time
“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.’”
(Luke 16:24)
As you just saw, in 18
different passages, Jesus described Hell and the Lake of Fire. Quite a few of
those passages have at least 2 or 3 adjectives to describe Hell. And, beyond
that, we get an even better look in the book of Revelation.
***
Other passages that
describe Hell and the Lake of Fire:
“Then the beast was captured, and with
him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence... These two were cast
alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
(Revelation 19:20)
“… And they will be tormented day and night forever and
ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
“Then Death and Hades were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the
Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation
20:14-15)
“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.” (Revelation 21:8)
***
So, for those who are
using the Scriptures and taking them literally – you’re right about Hell – it’s
in the Word of God. That is why we MUST plead with people to repent and turn
from their sin to follow Christ, while they’re still breathing.
This study is free and
you’re welcome to (even
encouraged to) share it! I’m praying that it helps many to get
right with God, while they’re still breathing!
Till next time, let’s
keep studying the Word of God and learning to follow His ways ~ a growing
servant/life-slave of Jesus, SH