Hell

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Hell is the place of eternal punishment and torment for the damned. In Hell the "worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mk 9:48).

The scriptural references to the concept of hell (or eternal judgment) may be summarized to present a unified biblical view:

First and foremost:

  • hell is eternal (Isaiah 66:24; Matt. 18:8; 25:41; 25:46; 2 Thes. 1:9; Jude 1:7),
  • everlasting (Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:46),
  • and lasts forever and ever (Jude 1:13; Rev. 14:11; 20:10). There is no other way to state it; hell will never cease to exist.

Secondly, hell itself is described as:

  • a lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14, 15; 21:8),
  • eternal fire (Matt. 18:8, 25:41; Jude 1:7),
  • unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43),
  • the second death (Rev. 20:14),
  • and darkness (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; Jude 1:13).

The wicked consigned to hell will:

  • never cease to exist and their body will never be consumed (Isaiah 66:24; Mark 9:43, 48);
  • they must face eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46),
  • eternal destruction (Matt. 10:28; 2 Thes. 1:9),
  • and their torment will last forever and ever (Rev. 14:11; 20:10).

There will be:

  • weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30),
  • they will be weak (Isaiah 14:9-10)
  • and lack any interaction with those outside of hell (Ecc. 9:4-6).

Upon the unbeliever’s death, they will be:

  • an abhorrence (Isaiah 66:24),
  • shut out from the fellowship of God (2 Thes. 1:9),
  • experiencing God’s wrath (Rom. 2:8; Heb. 10:27; Rev. 14:10),
  • anger (Rev. 14:10),
  • indignation (Rom. 2:8),
  • retribution (2 Thes. 1:8),
  • vengeance (Heb. 10:30),
  • and judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; Heb. 9:27; 10:27, 30; Rev. 20:11-15).

Hell will be dreadful and painful for all, but for some it will be worse than others (Matt. 5:22; Rev. 20:12-14).

Finally, there will be no second chance for the unbeliever to change his destiny (Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:26; Heb. 9:27).

All in all, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31)."


  • Portions of this material have been adapted from Basictheology.com accessed 11/23/05.


See also

External links

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