What is Hell?

Art work by Duncan Long

I asked that question at work this past week. One lady replied, “Sitting in Chicago traffic and having to go to the bathroom really bad!” But what is hell to you? Or, what do you think hell will be?

Several don’t believe in hell. Others think it will be one big party. Here are some facts about hell: (to me, the last point about hell is enough to be called, “hell”!)

IN HELL – DARKNESS

1 Sam 2:9 “He will protect his godly ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.”

IN HELL – FIRE & BURNING

Matt 25:41 “Then He (Jesus) 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 (demons).”

Mark 9:48 “… and the fire never goes out.”

IN HELL – NO HOPE

Prov 11:7 “When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of the unjust perishes.”

IN HELL – NO MERCY

Psalms 103:4 “Who redeems your life from the Pit, Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion (tender mercies).”

IN HELL – NO PEACE

Isa 57:21 “There is no peace for the wicked, says my God.”

IN HELL – NO PURPOSE

Psalms 6:5 “For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol who will give You thanks?”

Eccl 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity (work)or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (Hades/Hell) where you are going.”

IN HELL – NO REST

Rev 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

IN HELL – NO WATER

Luke 16:24 “The Rich Man shouted, `Father Abraham, have some Pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in these flames.”

HELL IS A PLACE OF ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD

2 Thess 1:7-10 “And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing Judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power, when He comes to receive glory and praise from His Holy people. And you will be among those praising him on that day, for you believed what we testified about him.”

You, who are reading this, are alive. You still have hope! Recognize Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and ask Jesus to forgive you of your wrong doing, your sins. Then ask Him to live in you, to guide you. You do this, and mean it, you will escape hell.