The subject of Hell is not a pleasant one, and the Lord never intended for it to be. The world has all but left behind the good and wise practice of Biblical standards. Millions believe that man is not of divine origin. Millions scoff at the biblical account of creation. Such departure from the Bible has lead countless people to also depart from a fundamental belief in Hell itself. Perhaps no generation has been any less concerned about hell than our generation.
Eleven times in the New Testament Jesus used the word "gehenna" (hell fire)
Hell is alluded to many times in scripture (Matthew 13:42; Matthew 25:41) "Flaming fire," "lake of fire," "everlasting fire," "everlasting chains of darkness"
Why does the Bible speak so much about Hell? Because God wanted us to know about its reality and about its seriousness.
Hell will be a place of...
...fire (Matthew 3:10-12; Matthew 13:39-42; Mark 9:44; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8)
...darkness (Matthew 25:30; Jude 13)
...no rest (Revelation 14:11)
...torment (Revelation 14:11; Matthew 25:30)
...no end (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
...second death (Revelation 20:14; Revelation 21:8)
...void of God's presence (Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
These things ought to be a great incentive to want to avoid such a place.
The population of Hell
Satan and wicked angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10)
Offenders and workers of iniquity (Matthew 13:42)
The moral reprobates (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10)
Infidels and the disobedient (2 Thessalonians 1:8)
Unfaithful Christians (Matthew 25:30; John 15:2)
Is it possible to avoid an eternity in Hell? If so, what are we to do to avoid it? We must acknowledge Christ as God's Son. We must search out those things in our lives which are not pleasing to God and repent (turn from) these things. We must be willing to confess Christ as the Son of God. We must be immersed (baptized) for the remission (taking away) of our sins. And then, with determination to live a faithful Christian life, we have the promise that Heaven will be our eternal home, and not the very real and very terrible place of Hell.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 3:10-12
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.Matthew 13:39-42
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.1 Corinthians 6:9,10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
