What the Hell?

If we believe in an almighty God and an eternal heaven, then we must also believe in an everlasting separation from God in an actual place called HELL. But whether we choose to accept these things or not, heaven and hell are both a reality. The question is; "Where do we want our souls to exist once our flesh has died?" (pretty sure no one is choosing hell, right?)

Believers and non-believers alike think we have a pretty good idea of what hell is. Storybook lore and cartoons would teach us that hell is mainly fire, chains, rags for clothes and a horned, mustached devil with a red pitchfork. But what does the BIBLE say about hell? How do the scriptures describe it?

Firstly, we know from Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death", meaning it is because of our sin that we deserve the punishment of hell and this verse illustrates the seriousness of sin. This penalty for sin includes banishment from God's grace with no more chances at redemption. 2 Thessalonians1:9 says:

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

We can take from this that those who go to hell will be conscious of this fact as well, spending eternity knowing they rejected God and denied truth. They will be painfully aware of their choice, as they suffer the consequences, forever. It's a brutal thought that this mental and spiritual anguish will be infinite. But that is only the beginning. The physical torment will be just as sever and relentless.

The hell that is physically described in the scriptures is unmerciful and a place of misery. Mark 9:43 says "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..." So it is better for your body to lose a limb than to go into the place called hell. It is a place of torment and was "prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41) who rose up against God in a rebellion. A place created specifically for everlasting punishment. Matthew 8:12 says: "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Picture that; a sea of people in agony. Constant tears and crying and wails of suffering. Bodies and souls in such pain that they are grinding their teeth in anguish. Revelation 16:10 also mentions the darkness that Matthew described above. Imagine suffering in complete, eternal blackness. And it's odd how the scriptures comment on the darkness of hell considering how much fire is talked about.

That's one thing the cartoons got right... the fire. So much fire.

Hell is talked about quite a bit throughout the bible and in a lot of the scriptures it mentions a never-ending fire. Mark 9:48 tells us "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Isaiah prophesied about hell in 66:24 saying: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." Jesus mentions several times in the book of Matthew an "everlasting fire". Hell is filled with flames that will not die and cannot be quenched. It's a fire that burns hot and burns dark. It gives off no light yet blazes with a heat beyond compare. Now I'm not sure about the chains or tattered clothes, but the fire is REAL.

Jesus, at one point, even refers to hell as a "furnace of fire". And a furnace is a device made for a certain function; specifically to burn things. I believe Jesus used that term precisely to tell us that hell is a place that was designed for punishment, not torture or senseless suffering. Hell was created for a purpose. It was built to punish acts of rebellion and betrayal. Not just by the devil and his angels, but by those who choose to to deny Christ and his love. Those who choose not to accept is grace and his sacrifice. That is another misconception a lot of people have; God does not SEND anyone to hell. He sent his son to die on the cross to atone for our sins. Those who reject this gift are choosing to spend eternity in hell.

You may think you can live without God, but you sure don't want to die without him.