What is hell?
Quick Answer
Hell is the place of eternal separation from God and conscious punishment for those who reject His salvation - a destiny Jesus warned about more than anyone else in Scripture.
Understanding Hell
Hell is the final destiny of all who die without saving faith in God. It is described as a place of fire, darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth - images conveying utter anguish and loss. The Greek word 'Gehenna' (used by Jesus) referred to the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem, associated with fire and judgment. Hell is not God's absence (for God is omnipresent) but His presence in judgment rather than blessing. It is the just consequence of sin against an infinite, holy God. Though a difficult doctrine, Jesus spoke of hell frequently, warning people to avoid it at any cost. Hell is eternal, conscious separation from all that is good, beautiful, and true. The doctrine underscores the seriousness of sin and the urgency of the gospel.
In the Old Testament
The Old Testament uses 'Sheol' for the realm of the dead, sometimes meaning simply the grave, other times a shadowy underworld. The Valley of Hinnom (Ge-Hinnom/Gehenna) was where child sacrifice occurred in Israel's darkest times (Jeremiah 7:31), becoming a symbol of divine judgment. Isaiah concludes with a vision of the wicked whose 'worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched' (Isaiah 66:24). Daniel prophesies that some will awake to 'shame and everlasting contempt' (Daniel 12:2). These passages lay the groundwork for fuller New Testament revelation.
In the New Testament
Jesus is the primary teacher on hell in Scripture. He used 'Gehenna' to warn of eternal punishment, describing fire that is not quenched and worms that do not die. His parable of the rich man and Lazarus depicts conscious torment after death. Jesus warned that broad is the way leading to destruction (Matthew 7:13). The epistles affirm eternal judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:9, Jude 7). Revelation describes the 'lake of fire' as the final destination of Satan, his angels, and all whose names are not in the book of life. The doctrine of hell makes the gospel truly good news - rescue from this destiny is available through Christ.
Key Scripture References
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Read full commentary →Mark 9:43“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.”
Read full commentary →Revelation 20:15“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Read full commentary →Matthew 10:28“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.”
Read full commentary →2 Thessalonians 1:9“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
Read full commentary →Luke 16:23-24“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And 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.”
Read full commentary →Related Concepts
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Sanctification is the ongoing process by which God transforms believers to become more like Christ in character and conduct, separating them from sin for holy purposes.
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