Hell Explained- The What, Why & Who of Hell

HELL is a LITERAL place of eternal torment and separation from God for those who have rejected God and the salvation found in Jesus Christ. Hell is a real place, just as Heaven is a real place. Jesus spoke consistently about Hell in his teachings in the gospels. As much as it is not a pleasant subject, it is a truth that cannot be denied, ignored, or swept under the carpet. Every man must face this reality at his death if he refuses to face it here.

Hell is the clear fate of many when they die. Jesus did not ignore it, and neither should we. In one of his clearest messages about hell, he referenced two actual persons who had lived and died in the days of Moses, Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man went to hell and the poor man to paradise. Hell is a place of terrible suffering and torment, and it is the definite eternal destination for billions of souls who reject God. We must therefore talk and warn men about it, just like Jesus did. Jesus said that a servant is not greater than his servant. Therefore if Jesus warned men, so must we.

Jesus reveals hell to the Apostle John

In the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, Jesus revealed clear details about the final judgment and the fate of Satan, the fallen angels, and all sinners in the lake of fire. The book of Revelation is also called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Revelations 1:1). Jesus himself revealed these end time events to John in spiritual visitations.

“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.” Revelations 21:8

1. What is Hell?

You can be sure despite what many falsely teach, that HELL is a literal place and not a state of consciousness. Hell is a place of eternal torment, filled with the fiery fire of God’s judgment. The Bible says that God is a consuming fire. God is Love, but he is also Holy and a God of divine Justice whose justice must stand. God cannot let sin go unpunished. Sin is an affront to his Holy nature. That is why Jesus had to die for sinners and sin, and why he boldly claimed himself exclusively to be the way, the truth, and the life and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).

Hell is a place of torment

Biblical descriptions of the torments of hell:

A place of eternal torment, a place of wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50).
A place of torment in flames and thirst. (Luke 16:24)
A place of blackest darkness (2 Peter 2:17).
A place where their worm does not die and fire is not quenched (Mark 9:45).
A place of fire and brimstone (Revelations 14:10).
A place where the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day and night (Revelations 14:11).

Some people joke that they will party in hell with their friends. There is no partying in hell; the torments ascend forever and ever with no rest.

Memory is retained in hell

In hell one retains their memory and remembers all they did on earth and all the people who told them the truth about salvation. Jesus revealed this in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.

The rich man in hell could see Lazarus, the poor man he despised on earth, in paradise. He desired that Lazarus would dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue but was told that no one could access hell from paradise. He could remember all his family members on earth and desired that they would be warned so as not to join him in hell; his memory was intact.

Hell is Eternal

Hell is eternal; it has no expiration date. The time and place to decide one’s eternal destiny and change it is here on Earth while one is still alive. In the grave, no man can repent. The Bible says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” Revelations 14. “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

Hell Vs. The Lake of Fire

After the final judgment, the Bible says that Hell shall be cast into the lake of fire together with all its inhabitants. The present hell is a holding place of torment for souls who perish without Jesus. Many people who have had visions or revelations of hell reveal that demons currently torment souls in hell. Satan and his demons have not been judged yet and are still working to take souls to hell.

Souls who die without Jesus are taken by demons and dragged to hell after death. Satan has legal rights over these souls who reject Jesus. Conversely, those who die in Jesus are taken by angels to heaven. The Bible reveals that after the final judgment which comes after the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth, Satan and his demons will be thrown into the lake of fire. Death, Hell, and all sinners will also be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20). God will finally end all evil for eternity.

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:10,14,15

2. Why was Hell Created?

Hell was created for the devil and his angels and not for man. Jesus mentions this in Matthew 25:41: “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.”

Satan was a created angel meant to worship and serve God, but he left his estate and rebelled against God. He tried to usurp God’s authority and exult himself as God. “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north” Isaiah 14:13

He was cast out of heaven as a result. This is mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 14:12 and by Apostle John, in Revelations 12: 9: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.“

The Fall of Man

Satan deceived Eve out of his deep hatred for God and man. His goal was to remove mankind from God’s presence forever and get them to share his fate of eternal damnation. Eve gave Adam the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil to eat after she ate it. This is the tree that God expressly forbade them not to eat from (read Genesis 3). Satan deceived Eve that they would become like God if they did this. God of course had told them they would surely die spiritually if they ate from this tree and they did. Sin entered them and they fell from their original sinless nature and union with God. Rebellion set in because the nature of Satan entered them. Rebellion is the fruit of the devil.

Satan tempted Adam and Eve because he wanted them to share in his eternal fate of separation from God. He knew that God hates sin and he knew that sin separates one from God and so through deception tempted Eve. He used the temptation and deception of “being like God”. This is one of the chief tricks of Satan: deception. His chief work is to convince men that they can be like God. It is the same lie he uses now in the new age spirituality movement, atheism, witchcraft, and the spirit of rebellion rampant in the world.

The chief tricks of Satan are rebellion, deception, and ignorance.

The Way to Eternal Life

God has made a way for mankind to be freed from the bondage of sin once and for all. This was by sending his only begotten sinless Son Jesus, himself God, to take on human form, come to earth, die as a sin offering for our sins in the hands of wicked men, rise from the dead, and take the keys of death and hades from the devil.

Jesus as a sinless offering for sins satisfied divine justice becoming the only acceptable offering for sin. “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). “And he is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2). Those who believe in him and his sacrifice on their behalf become born again. They become sons of God; a new creation. And they consequently pass from death to life.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” God loves us and made a way for our redemption. If we reject this way there is no other way for us to be with God and when we die, our fate is therefore eternal separation from God. Acts 4:12 says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

God does not send people to hell

Many people accuse God of being evil and sending people to hell. But when we understand the plan of salvation, we realize clearly that it is not God who sends people to hell. He made a way for us not to go there by freely giving his only begotten son for us to atone for our sins. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17

Apostle Paul asks, “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” Hebrews 2:3

Why Man Goes to Hell

All those who rebel against God and reject Jesus cannot be with God for eternity. Hell is willful separation from God. Man condemns himself to hell by rejecting God. God gives everyone above the age of accountability a chance to believe in Jesus Christ. No one goes to hell who has not rejected God and rejected Jesus. Everyone is given a fair chance. “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15

We cannot decide to know God how we please, nor create God in our image. We also cannot manufacture our own way to get to heaven but must go through the way God himself has provided. And that is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. People go to hell for rejecting God. God cannot force people into heaven, neither can he accept sinners into heaven. He gives us this life to choose to be with him or not. Therefore, he has given us free will because he loves us. He wants us to love him freely because he wants children and not robots. Everyone will be held accountable for their free will choice.

Romans 1:19-21 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

3. Who Goes to Hell?

Jesus reveals who goes to hell in his teachings in the gospels:

a) The unbelieving and rebellious- Those who reject his sacrifice for their sins.

These have chosen Satan as their father and master for he is the chief rebel against God. As a result, those who reject God and choose sin, make their choice for Satan and end up in hell with the devil for eternity. This includes those who try to come up with their own ways to get to heaven apart from Jesus Christ. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

b) The disobedient, unforgiving, lukewarm, and sinful believers

Those who once accepted Jesus but did not truly follow him. They live in willful sin and disobedience. Jesus called these “hypocrites.” They claim to follow Jesus but deep down they do not, but only use the name of Jesus for their profit. It is not enough to claim to know Jesus, we must prove it with our lives. To love Jesus is to obey him and leave our sins behind. We must show by our works and lives that we love Jesus. “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:26-27

If we willfully continue in our sins and practice lawlessness then we are no longer his. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:21-23.

Jesus also talked about the disobedient in the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14), in the parable of the unforgiving servant who refused to forgive his fellow servant despite himself having been forgiven of more sin (Matthew 18: 21-35), and in the parable of the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1–13). He also says that he will vomit the lukewarm Christians out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16)

Satan Knows His Time is Short

Satan’s fate is sealed. The Bible already tells us his end. He will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. But human beings still have hope as long as they are alive. Jesus died for humans and not angels. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelations 20: 10

Satan knows his end and he knows his time is short. His goal is to deceive as many as possible to end up in hell with him for he hates God and hates mankind. Apostle John tells us, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelations 12:12

The Bible says in Isaiah 5:14 that “hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure”. This shows that many are sadly ending up in hell. Many who have been taken to hell by the mercy of God in Near-Death-Experiences and Visions mention seeing souls enter hell by the second. Hell is enlarging by the second as souls descend into its belly who have rejected God. Please do not go there! God has made a way!

God has made a Way

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are all naturally born sinners because we are the seed of Adam and Eve. Our nature is predisposed to sin. We chose to rebel against God in the Garden of Eden. Mankind made this choice, not God. We chose to listen to Satan and separated ourselves from God. As a result, we doomed ourselves to eternal hell forever.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” Ephesians 2: 3-5.

God by his mercy made a way to redeem us. The first Adam sinned and all sinned with him receiving death and condemnation. Jesus Christ, the second Adam died for sins once and for all, so that those who receive him might have eternal life through his life. Through the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross as the sinless lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, we can be saved.

“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:18-19

When we accept Jesus’s sacrifice on our behalf and accept him as our mediator, we are born again into the Kingdom of God. We pass from death to life and are united with God our Father again.

Choose God, Jesus Christ, and Heaven

God has prepared a glorious eternity for those who choose him. The glorious eternal celestial Kingdom of God is prepared for us who love him. The last chapter of the bible, Revelations 22, concludes the matter detailing the eternal destiny of the saints of God. Will you be there? To love God is to love his son Jesus Christ who died for us and choose to obey the Father.

Eternity is real. Heaven is real and hell is real. We get to choose our destiny while we live. Right now, while you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. Do not let your pride and ego get in the way. None of us will be here forever. And none of us can save our own souls. Receive him when he calls you. Jesus said, “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

Jesus has prepared a place for those who love him

Before Jesus was crucified, he said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. “And you know the way where I am going” (John 14:1-4). What a great comfort to know Jesus has prepared a place for us and wants us to be with him so dearly that he gave his life for us.

God is love and sent his own Son to die for us. What greater love is there than this? Jesus laid his life down for us so that we may partake of heaven and eternity with him. Praise God!

Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

Receive Jesus Christ today! Simply ask him to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior. Believe in him and what he did on the cross for you by becoming a sin offering for you. Accept his sacrifice for your sins and you will be saved. And then confess him boldly as your Lord and Savior. It is that simple. It is a decision of the heart, mind, and soul. We give him our lives to receive his eternal life. When we receive him, our names are written in the Book of Life in Heaven (Revelation 20:12). Heaven becomes our eternal home and we are united with our Father forever.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” John 1:12

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This article has been developed and compiled into an 18-page PDF booklet with further expanded Bible readings included.

This booklet can be used as an evangelism tract or as a guide for further personal or group study on the subject of Hell and the eternal destiny of souls. Click here to download.

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Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, died for us on the cross taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.

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