5 Things the Bible Says About Hell and Who Will Go There
Recently I’ve come across some erroneous doctrines that say there is no hell, or that nobody’s going there. This belief is in complete contradiction to the Bible.
There are hundreds of Bible verses about hell. Jesus talked about hell quite frequently. Although we don’t like to think about the idea of hell, it’s important that we understand what the Bible really says.
The Bible describes hell as a real place—just as real as heaven and earth. (Philippians 2:10)
Hell is a real place that was created for the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41).
the Bible states that those who do not receive the forgiveness of their sins will also spend forever in hell, unable to escape.
Hell is referred to in the Bible as the second death (Revelation 20:14), the lake of fire and sulfur (Revelation 21:8), and a place of everlasting torment (Revelation 20:10).
Here are 5 things the Bible Says About Hell:
1. Hell is a Real Place of Pain and Torment
Revelation 20:14-15 “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
This verse clearly states that anyone’s name not found in the book of life is thrown into the lake of fire. Hell is real.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Matthew 13:42 “And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Everything good comes from God (James 1:17). Without the Lord’s presence, there is nothing left but complete darkness, agony, evil, suffering, and torment. It’s impossible to imagine an existence without the presence of God.
2. Hell is Forever
Matthew 25:46 “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Hell lasts forever and ever and ever.
Trying to understand eternity is really difficult with our finite human brains, but it’s simply a torment that will never, ever, ever end.
Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
The pain and suffering will have no end, which is quite hard to grasp. The reality of it is absolutely horrific.
3. No One Can Escape Hell Once There
For those who end up in hell, it’s totally game over. There’s no escape, no way out, no retreat, no second chances. The regret alone will be absolutely tormenting.
Everyone in hell will have had the chance during this life to accept the payment and forgiveness of their sin, yet refused it. The regret, heartache, grief, and pain will be overwhelming.
Matthew 13:42 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
4. You Are Alone in Hell
I’ve heard people make comments that portray hell as a place of partying with others who ended up there. This is such deception. Hell is a place of tormenting isolation.
Community and relationships come from God. Celebration, joy, and parties come from God alone. These are things that those in heaven will be experiencing, not those in hell.
There is no joy or community in hell. The souls of those in hell will be in absolute loneliness, estranged from all good.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,”
5. There’s No Rest in Hell
Revelation 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
In hell, there’s no break from the pain and torment. There’s not a time-out where you can catch your breath. There is no rest from the anguish. There’s no relief ever. It’s unbearable to even think about.
Who Will Go to Hell?
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 ESV
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. – Psalm 51:5 ESV
Sin brings death—spiritually, physically and eternally (Romans 6:23). The payment for sin is death. This is why Jesus had to die to become the payment for our sin.
We are all born dead in our sins (Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:1) because of Adam’s transgression. We inherited a sinful nature.
For those who die physically and don’t have their sins forgiven, they will end up in hell. The only way to receive forgiveness of sin and receive a new spirit is through the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22).
How Could a Loving God Send People to Hell?
This is a common question. If God is Love as He describes Himself (1 John 4:8), how could He possibly send anyone to hell?
The truth is that God is not sending people to hell.
God sent His son to pay the price for sin. Jesus went to hell in your place and was punished for your sin.
God made the way of escape for every human. If a person chooses to reject this provision, then they choose to spend eternity in hell.
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
For more about this, read Does God Decide Who Goes to Heaven and Hell?
More Bible Verses About Hell:
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
“And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,”
“And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
”For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;”
“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
“And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”
“And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”
“where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”
”For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.”
“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
“The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.”
“And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.”
“And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
Matthew 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
