What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
INTRODUCTION.
A. Is there truly a hell? Throughout the religious world, there are many different ideas as to what hell actually is. For instance:
1. The Jehovah Witnesses believe that hell, eternal torment, does not exist. “The concept of ‘soul,’ meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the ‘body,’ . . . does not exist in the Bible.” (Reasoning from The Scriptures, 1985, pg 169)
2. The Christian Science religion does not believe that heaven and hell are spiritual places. “The Christian Scientist, however, does not think of heaven and hell as physical locations, but as states of thought.” (The Christian Science Way of Life, 1962, pg 114)
B. Is the purpose of this lesson to discuss the subject of hell, giving consideration only to what the Bible teaches about hell and what the existence of it should mean to you and me.
I. THE VARIOUS USAGES OF THE WORD “HELL” IN THE BIBLE.
A. In the Old Testament, the word “hell” is translated from the Hebrew word SHEOL which refers to the unseen state. (Proverbs 23:14 reads, “Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (SHEOL - the unseen state or the grave, JMD).”
B. In the New Testament, there are three Greek words which are translated as “hell” in the King James Version.
1. HADES refers to the unseen world or grave.
a. Acts 2:27 reads, “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, (HADES, unseen world or grave, JMD) neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
b. Acts 2:31 reads, “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, (HADES - unseen world or grave, JMD) neither his flesh did see corruption.”
2. TARTAROO refers to the abode of the wicked dead, where they will suffer punishment for their evil deeds. 2 Peter 2:4 reads, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (TARTAROO - abode of the wicked dead, JMD), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;”
3. GEHENNA refers to a place of future punishment.
a. The term GEHENNA is originally from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned.
b. This term was used by Jesus to give a description of the eternal place of punishment. In Matthew 5:22, Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger o the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (the fires of GEHENNA, JMD).”
C. For the purpose of this lesson, we will focus our study on hell translated as GEHENNA, the eternal punishment.
II. HELL, THE PLACE OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.
A. The best way to describe hell with any degree of accuracy is to use the Bible, the inspired scriptures. Consider and take to heart what you are about to read.
1. Hell is a furnace of unquenchable fire; a place of wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:43-48)
2. Hell will consist of everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46)
3. Hell is considered a place of everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)
4. Hell is a place of eternal darkness. (2 Peter 2:12-17; Jude 1:13) {Note: Use example of the darkness in the caverns of the Lost Seas located in north Georgia.}
5. Hell is a lake burning with fire and brimstone. (Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 21:8) {Note: In the United States there was a river that was used to dump chemical waste. The Cuyahoga River, which is located in northeast Ohio, ran through Cleveland, Ohio. In 1936 and during the 1950's a portion of the river caught fire due to the pollutants. A fire in 1969 drew national attention due to a Time magazine article. Since that time, people have made great efforts to free the river of the pollutants. The river once again supports life. The Cuyahoga no longer burns. Unlike the Cuyahoga River, the lake of fire and brimstone will always burn, never being extinguished.}
6. Hell is the second death. (Revelation 20:14-15; 21:8)
B. Hell is a place of unquenchable fire; burning with fire and brimstone. All those who will dwell in hell will suffer everlasting punishment and destruction. The occupants will be absent from the presence of the Lord. What a most horrible second death this will be.
III. WHO WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL?
A. Those who are guilty of calling their brother a fool. (Matthew 5:22)
1. The word fool is translated from the Greek word MOROS. To call someone a fool is to refer to someone as being morally worthless, a scoundrel; fool or MOROS expresses contempt for one’s heart and character.
2. Christians are not in a position to feel contempt for another’s heart or character. This is where our love for all men comes into play, especially our love for our enemies.
3. In the same sermon on the mount, Jesus went on to say, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:44, KJV)
B. Those who live a life of hypocrisy. (Matthew 23:1-39)
1. The Pharisees had lived hypocritically. They taught the Law, but they did not keep the Law. (Matthew 23:2-4)
2. Jesus taught that a hypocrite lives outwardly in such a way so as to be seen and glorified by men, but inwardly, they violate the law. The hypocrite exalts himself above other men. (Matthew 23:5,11-12)
3. In seven different verses, Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites. (Matthew 23:13,14,15,23,25,27,29)
4. Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees serpents and offspring of vipers and questioned them as to how they would escape hell. (Matthew 23:33)
5. Christians will not escape the condemnation of hell if they live a hypocritical life. (Titus 1:15,16)
C. Those who offend (cause others to stumble) and work iniquity or lawlessness. (Matthew 13:41,42)
D. Those who are unkind and who show no compassion to those in need. (Matthew 25:41-46)
E. Those whose minds are set on earthly things, serving only their selfish needs and wants. These people are selfish, serving God only when it will benefit them physically. The only glory these people will have will be their own shame brought about by their worldly deeds. (Philippians 3:17-19)
F. Those who do not obey the gospel of Christ, having rejected God. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
G. Those who draw back from their faith in God. (Hebrews 10:36-39)
H. Those who are unjust, who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, who despise the government (authority), and who dare to go against the authority of God; being presumptuous, who are self-willed and are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries or angels. (2 Peter 2:9-17) {Note: The key verse is verse 17, explaining what will happen to those mentioned in verses 9 and 10.}
I. Those who are grumblers and complainers; walking according to their own selfishness, causing division. (Jude 1:12-16) {Note: Their end is described in verses 12 and 13.}
J. Those who are fearful (cowardly), unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers (sexually immoral), sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars. (Revelation 21:8)
CONCLUSION.
A. Where will you spend eternity? The only two choices for eternal abode is: Heaven or Hell.
B. To sum up the lesson, let us consider what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23.
C. If God is dwelling in Heaven, and those who do not obey God will not dwell with God, then where will the disobedient dwell? In hell!
D. Is there a hell? YES! However, you and I can avoid going there. In order to do so, we must make the right decision today.
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What Does the Bible Say About Hell? -- April 17, 2005 -- File # 299 - Hell
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK