What is Hell like?
As you study the Bible, whether you want to accept it or not, you cannot avoid warnings of a place of eternal punishment known as hell. Yet in spite of that many who profess to believe in God, deny the existence of hell and virtually everyone thinks that they will NOT go there. Many see it as a place only for the devil and his angels and those who are really wicked – like Hitler, Stalin, mass murderers, and other vicious tyrants, etc. And, in spite of Biblical teachings, some have differing views about what hell is like. In a recent Barna survey (www.barna.org , Americans describe their views about life after death, 2001-03) More than 3000 Americans were asked about their views about life after death. Concerning hell, 39% of Americans believe it to be a place of eternal separation from God’s presence, while only 32% described it as an actual place of torment and suffering. 13% believed hell is “just a symbol of an unknown bad outcome after death.” But with all these differences, what does the Bible say? Let us take a few moments to notice how hell is described in the New Testament.
While the word is used in the Old Testament, there it often has reference to the grave (hades) (Prov. 15:11, Deut. 32:22, etc.). In this study we will focus on the use of this word in the New Testament and as it applies to one’s eternal destiny after this life is over.
There are two words in the New Testament translated hell, but there are also a number of descriptive words that obviously apply to that place (outer darkness, punishment, etc.). The first word is Tartaros found only in 2 Peter 2:4 where it has reference to the angels of God who sinned being reserved in that place waiting for their final judgment (condemnation). The word was actually a Greek word used to describe the “the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds” (Thayer). This word is worthy of our consideration as we study Revelation 20:10 which speaks of the Devil being cast into “the lake of fire and brimstone” (see also Matthew 25:41). This same “lake of fire” is where the wicked and those whose names are not found written in the book of life will be cast for eternity (Revelation 20:14-15, 21:8).
Jesus often used the word “Gehenna” which is translated hell to describe the place where the wicked would God (Matthew 5:22, 29, 10:28, etc). The word is used 12 times, 11 of them spoken by Jesus. It was reference to a valley south of Jerusalem with a tragic history. In that valley, Baal was worshipped, including human sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6). Righteous King Josiah defiled the valley making it unfit for pagan worship. During the time of Jesus, it was the garbage dump of Jerusalem, including the place where carcasses of dead animals and executed criminals. Fires were frequently lit to consume the debris and rotting flesh. Maggots were continually present. (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary) The point Jesus was making in referring to this place, was to give a glimpse of how horrible hell will actually be. He found the worst possible place that the Jews could relate to and basically warned them, Hell is worse in every way.
What could make hell worse than the defiled, disgusting garbage dump of Jerusalem? Consider what the Bible says about hell.
It is described in terms of pain. In many of His parables, Jesus made reference to those who would be cast into a furnace of fire where “there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42). Anyone who has suffered from burns can relate to the pain they cause. Imagine the pain of burning, but it is never quenched, not even by death. Gnashing of teeth describes pain so intense it is almost (?) unbearable. Revelation 20:10, while referring to the Devil says, “they will be tormented day and night forever.” Revelation 20:14-15 also puts the wicked in this place. In Luke 16:23, the rich man (in the account of The rich man and Lazarus) after he died awoke “in torments in hades” (the waiting place of the dead). 2 Thessalonians 1:6 says, “since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you…” Those who give God’s people grief (and refuse to repent) will be met with tribulation, a word that means trouble or affliction. One of the greatest incentives to avoid hell is found when we consider how much suffering is involved for those condemned to it. I am convinced that if we really understood how terrible the sufferings of hell will be, we would do ANYTHING to avoid going there.
It is described in terms of darkness. Again, in teaching parables about the coming judgment, more than once condemned souls were to be cast out into “the outer darkness.” (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). In 2 Peter 2:4, the sinful angels were delivered into “chains of darkness.” The fate of false teachers is described as being “reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” (2 Peter 2:17, Jude 13). No one likes to stay in the dark all the time. Evil and that which is bad and tragic are often associated with that which is dark (cf. 1 Thess. 5:4-7, Romans 13:11-13). We need light for bearing and to accomplish good. In hell, it will be pitch black, if you will – with NO source of light whatsoever. The reason for this is borne out in our next point.
It is described in terms of separation. In hell we will be separated from God. In the account of the rich man and Lazarus, the righteous and wicked were separated by a great gulf (Luke 16:26). Darkness is the absence of light. In hell one will be separated from God, who is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5). In Matthew 25:41 the Lord tells those on His left, “depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire…” A sad thought to consider is that even though hell will be full of people, it will be a lonely place because of the absence of loving relationships with God and others.
It is described in terms of constant decay. Jesus spoke of hell as a place, “where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). The type of worm mentioned in this text would be a maggot which preys on dead and rotting flesh. While in heaven “all things will be made new,” (Rev. 21:5, 2 Peter 3:13), in hell everything will chaotic and misery – with NO hope.
Finally, it is described in terms of eternity. In the above, several texts have mentioned eternity. While some believe heaven is forever, they choose to reject that the same wording describes hell. Consider Matthew 25:46 which says, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” It is a place where the worm does NOT die, there is the blackness of darkness FOREVER, and torments will never cease. Friends, FOREVER is a long time!
Truly, hell is a terrible place. We may not want to think about it, but if we are not prepared, that is where we will spend eternity, with NO hope whatsoever. But you don’t have to go there. If you will obey His gospel, you can be delivered from it. Are you a Christian?
TATJR