What Does the Bible Say about Hell?
Introduction
Hell is an uncomfortable topic preachers and Christians avoid.
No one wants to dwell on a topic that discusses eternal torment and pain.
Pastors avoid or minimize talking about hell to not scare their members or make them feel bad.
Those who evangelize also try not to mention it to make the Gospel attractive and presentable. However, hell is a reality we cannot run from.
The Bible talks about hell generously.
Therefore, it cannot be ignored or trivialized. If you are genuinely interested in this topic, you are in the right place.
This article will tell you all you need to know about hell.
What Does The Bible Say About Hell?
Hell is real
The question on most people’s lips is, is hell real?
They ask this question for many reasons.
One is because they want to understand why a loving God would want anybody to go through the anguish of burning in hell. Another reason is that some people do not believe that anywhere exists after death.
Unfortunately, the not-so-good news is that hell is real. Not only does it exist, the Bible confirms it.
Jesus, speaking in Mark 9:43, says, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched.”
We got two facts about hell from this scripture. The first is that hell is a place of fire, obviously with unendurable heat.
The second fact deduced from Jesus’ statement is that hellfire blazes for eternity.
According to Matthew 3:12, hell is a place of unquenchable fire.
To illustrate the level of anguish and torment in this place of eternal, unquenchable fire, Jesus uses a story about a certain rich man and a poor man named Lazarus.
The rich man lived a sinful life, while Lazarus lived righteously.
They both died, received judgment, and landed in their various places to spend eternity.
Unfortunately, the rich man went to hell.
After so much suffering, “Then 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.” (Luke 16:24)
Hell is everlasting
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).
Two realities exist after death, eternal life and eternal punishment.
Eternal or everlasting life is given to those who acknowledge God and live righteously.
While eternal condemnation is suffered by those who rebel against God, reject Him, or live in sin.
One is a place of eternal peace and bliss, while the other is eternal punishment, but the similar truth about both is they last forever.
This is sad news for those living recklessly with the mindset that there is nothing after death.
The Bible says in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. This is not physical death. It is an eternal death, accompanied by much suffering.
There’s no escaping hell.
No second chance to live right and go to heaven.
We all have the chance and opportunity now that we are alive.
Once death comes, judgment follows, then heaven or hell.
During his moment of torment in hell, the rich man begged Abraham to allow Lazarus to go to the world and warn his brothers about the reality of hell. However, Abraham declined, stating that there are more than enough prophets on earth capable of doing that (Luke 16:27-30).
That shows something.
Once we die, there is no coming back to earth, whether we made it to heaven or hell. Eternity has been activated, and we will spend it where the works of our hands take us.
Hell is prepared for the devil and his agents.
“Then He 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” (Matthew 25:41).
Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels.
Now, it might sound odd when you hear that the devil has angels, but that’s what happens when you rebel against God. You automatically belong to the devil.
God created everything for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11).
All His creations were supposed to serve and worship Him, including the devil or Lucifer.
Lucifer was an angel God created with so much beauty: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). But the devil rebelled against God. He recruited one-third of God’s angels in heaven, but a battle broke out, and he was defeated.
God then created hell for him and his angels as eternal punishment (Revelation 12:7-17, Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:4). However, they are currently not there.
They are roaming the world, tormenting, stealing, killing, and destroying (John 10:10).
Also, they are recruiting those who will join them to suffer eternal damnation.
Revelation 20:10 says. “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.”
Devil’s agents are not only extraterrestrial beings.
They are not only spirits but humans as well. For example, fake prophets are the devil’s agents.
Their mission is to use God’s Word to deceive.
They pry into people’s ignorance, misrepresent the Gospel, and teach people falsehood.
The Bible refers to them as wolves in sheep’s clothing because they look harmless. However, they are armed with claws and fangs, ready to pounce and devour their victims.
God does not discriminate.
He is a just God.
Everyone receives judgment based on the works of their hands. 2 Peter 2:4 says, “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.”
Therefore, you will also receive judgment if the angels can be judged.
Hell is prepared for sinners
The fact that hell is prepared for sinners has been a controversial topic for so long.
A particular group of people do not understand why a benevolent, loving, and kind God would send people to a place of pain and anguish.
They claim it stands against what God represents and what the Bible preaches. But the question is, should murderers, rapists, robbers, and other evil people be spared and walk freely?
What would be our reaction if criminals were pronounced free by our justice system today?
God is not partial. He has given us the free will to choose to accept Him or reject Him. However, He has also made clear the consequences of our choice.
Those who accept Him will enjoy eternal life.
While those who reject Him will suffer eternal perdition.
God’s Word is yes and amen.
We can do nothing to change it.
We must either align with it or reject it. But we must understand that our actions have consequences.
Revelation 21:8 says, “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.”
From this scripture, it is clear that one does not end in hell because of the magnitude of their sin.
In fact, there is no greater or smaller sin. A liar and murderer will suffer the same fate in hell. 
Having the Christian tag on your forehead does not qualify you as a candidate for heaven.
Your works or lifestyle must correlate with your confession and claim.
According to Matthew 7:20-23, on the last days, many will claim to have prophesied, cast out demons, and done wonders in God’s name, but He will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
You must work out your salvation daily with fear and trembling.
You must ensure that your name is written in the Book of Life. “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
Can we escape hell?
The answer depends on where you are.
Those who died as sinners cannot escape the claws of hell.
The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Lazarus and the rich man’s story also solidify this truth. We already have all the time while alive to repent and lead a good life.
Once we step into hell, there’s no second chance.
However, the case is different for those alive.
Being alive is a gift because every day is a new opportunity to change the trajectory of our destinies.
Those who live in sin are destined for hell. But they can accept Christ and change their course to heaven.
John 3:36 says, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Everyone born of a woman is in sin.
This is because we have a sinful nature due to the fall of man.
Being moral does not account for holiness because God’s Word says all our righteousness is like a filthy rag before God (Isaiah 64:6).
However, God provided us with a lasting solution.
He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrificial lamb to die on the cross so we can have eternal life (John 3:16).
Jesus paid the price for our sins so that we will not experience eternal death in hell as long as we accept Him into our lives.
So, yes, we can escape hell when we are still alive.
The thief on the cross escaped hell at the last minute. So, God wants us to reign with Him in heaven for eternity.
The Bible says He does not want any sinner to die but repent (Ezekiel 18:23)
Is the devil living in hell?
Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels. However, he is currently not there.
The Bible says the adversary is roaming about seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
According to Job 1:6-7, the sons of God presented themselves before God, and Satan came there. God then asked him where he came from. “So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Therefore, Satan is moving around the world, doing evil and deceiving God’s people.
God has banished the devil to hell, but the judgment will be fulfilled at the end of Jesus’ millennial reign (Revelation 20:7-10).
What are some Bible verses about hell?
“But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” – Matthew 5:22
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28
“and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:50
“as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” – Jude 1:7
“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” – Revelation 20:14
“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.” – Revelation 14:11
“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[a] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” – Revelation 20:10
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David Akeju is a Christian writer who believes in the transformational power of God’s Word. His articles and books have been published on global platforms, and thousands of lives have been touched. He works with pastors and ministers, churches and ministries, and brands.