HELL 

It could easily be argued that the majority of people in our culture no longer believe in a biblical Hell. This term has been commonized by the casual way it is used in everyday speech. It is used with a careless flippancy by many people in the world today – Christians included

“That was a hell of a game.” “ Hell yes, Hell no”

“What the hell are you doing? “ What the hell?”  “go to hell”

“My boss/husband/wife/ is making my job a living hell.” 

AC/DC WROTE THE POPULAR SONG “HIGHWAY TO HELL” 

livin' easy Lovin' free Season ticket on a one way ride
Askin' nothin' Leave me be Takin' everythin' in my stride
Don't need reason Don't need rhyme Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do
Goin' down Party time
My friends are gonna be there too

CHORUS

I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell

This song written by a Satanic inspired heavy metal group which glorified hell as a place to party and be with your friends. 

CONCEPT OF HELL IN ANCIENT CULTURES

The idea of hell originated in many ancient cultures and religions, including those of Mesopotamia, Greece, Egypt, and India. The word "hell" comes from the Old English word hel, which referred to the underworld. It was a sojourn of the soul in the afterlife 

The afterlife is first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in the form of Sheol, a shadowy place for the dead. This is around the eighth century B.C. where Sheol is described or thought of as the underworld where the dead go after death. It's a place of darkness and stillness, and is often described as being deep within the earth.

The concept of Hell was known by the Israelites as Sheol. It is mentioned by Jacob when he is told of his son Joseph's death. He states in Genesis 37:35 that “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son”

Sheol is a Hebrew word of uncertain origin. It is a synonym of shahat which means pit or destruction and it connotes the place where those that had died were believed to be congregated. The word Sheol is believed by some to be borrowed from the Assyro-Babylonian language. 

Sheol ( Psalm 49:9; 89:48 ), is used to represent down in the lowest parts of the earth ( Deut 32:22 ; 1 Sam 28:11-15 ; Job 26:5 ; Psalm 86:13 ; Isa 7:11 ; Ezekiel 31:14-16 Ezekiel 31:18 ).

IS HELL A REAL PLACE?

The Bible is clear that hell exists and is a real place.  

JESUS SPOKE MORE ABOUT HELL THAN HE DID OF HEAVEN

He spoke of it often in his ministry. 

IT IS A PLACE TO FEAR FOR THE DESTINY OF YOUR SOUL

Matthew 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell". 

WHAT IS HELL LIKE?

Mark 9:47-48

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.  

Jesus describes some further details in Luke 16

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Physical suffering- it is hot, people will experience unendng thirst, feel tormented

Psychological suffering will recall your history and hope your family won’t go there.

Auditory, visual and emotional suffering.

Matthew 8:12 

while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

This is not metaphorical parable but real story

Scripture uses two terms for two locations or states as places of torment. Both places are commonly called “hell.” 

Hades is the current place of departed spirits who are not with the Lord, that is, those who never accepted the forgiveness that God offers in Jesus Christ. The rich man in Luke 16 describes his current location as a place of torment as the result of fire (verses 23–24). 

The second place of torment the word Gehenna or the lake of fire which will be the final place of punishment forever for those who die in their sins. Of course, whatever the differences between Jerusalem’s ancient garbage dump—a place called Gehenna—was illustrative of the ceaseless agonies of hell This dump was on the south side of Jerusalem. In Old Testament times, children had been sacrificed to idols there (2 Kings 23:10) in Jesus’ day, it was a place burning with constant fires to consume the waste that was thrown there. The material burned there included everything from household trash to animal carcasses to convicted criminals( Jeremiah 7:31-33) Needless to say, the Jews considered Gehenna a cursed place of impurity and uncleanness.
 

The word translated “hell” in Mark 9:43 is the Greek word Gehenna, which comes from the Hebrew name for a place called the “Valley of Hinnom.” Jesus uses this place to paint a vivid image of what hell is like. The Jewish people often associated the Valley of Hinnom with spiritual death.
 

In Mark 9:48 when Jesus says, “Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (ESV), He is quoting from Isaiah 66:24 “They will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” In both texts the word translated as “worm” literally means “grub” or “maggot.” A maggot would have an obvious association with a dump like Gehenna where dead bodies are thrown; however, the maggot Christ speaks of “will not die.”
 

Taken at face value, this text is one of the most horrific descriptions of what hell is like. The thought of eternal torment, likened to maggots eating away at a rotting corpse, is undoubtedly ghastly. Hell is so awful that Christ said, figuratively speaking, it’s better to cut off the hand that causes you to sin than to end up in Matthe 5:30
 Mark 9:48 does not mean that there are literal worms in hell or that there are worms that live forever; rather, Jesus is teaching the fact of unending suffering in hell—the “worm” never stops causing torment. Notice that the worm is personal. Both Isaiah 66:24 and Mark 9:48 use the word their to identify the worm’s owner. The sources of torment are attached each to its own host.

Hades and the lake of fire, one will probably be no better than the other for those who are experiencing them. In popular usage, hell is somewhat of an amalgamation of the two biblical terms. 

Jude 7 Hell called a place of eternal fire 

Jesus is speaking about the unending suffering of eternal Hell. People will not cease to exist. They will continue to exist and suffer. 

WHY WAS HELL CREATED?

Matthew 25:41 

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 

In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks of a time of final judgment. To those who are finally condemned He says, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (verse 41). If this refers to the lake of fire, then we know that it was created primarily for the spirit beings that rebelled, and their rebellion may very well have taken place long before the actual creation of the world.
 

Based upon this revelation by Jesus it makes sense to think that the lake of fire was created after the rebellion of Satan but before the rebellion of human beings (adam in Gen 3)or else it would have been created for Satan, his angels, and people who follow in that rebellion. Although God knows the end from the beginning, there is some sense in which God did not create the lake of fire for people, even though those who refuse to bow the knee to Him will go there anyway.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

The body goes to the grave, and the soul leaves our body and goes to one of two places.

There are holding places for the soul until it reaches its final destination. 

Paradise -- Heaven

Hades/Sheol -- Hell/lake of fire

For born again Christians he apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that Absent from body is to be present with the lord. 

Lets examine what happens to those who are not Christians. 

IF GOD IS GOOD HOW CAN HE SEND PEOPLE TO HELL?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come

But God is just and his justice demands that sin be punished. 

He doesn’t send good people there but SINNERS. 

GOD HAS REVEALED HIS TRUTH TO ALL MEN

BY HIS CREATION

as mentioned in Romans 1:18-24

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident [m]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator

IN CONSCIENCE

his law is  written on hearts Romans 2:14-15

14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do [n]instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having [the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

God has written his law in our hearts as an innate consciousness of right and wrong reflecting as creation God’s moral nature. 

GOD SHOWS HIMSELF TO EVERY PERSON THROUGH NATURE AND THROUGH CONSCIENCE THAT THERE IS A GOD AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO HIM. 

Jeremiah 29:13 Says, "YouWill Seek Me And Find Me When You Seek Me With All Your Heart."

Proverbs 8:17 says, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me".

John 8:32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].

EVERYONE MAKES A CHOICE TO IGNORE, REJECT OR ACCEPT GODS REVELATION AND TRUTH GIFT OF SALVATION

UNDERSTAND - ALL HAVE SINNED  AND DESERVE HELL

Romans 3:10-12 

10 As it is written:“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11  there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Romans 3:23 ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD

Romans 1:18 The wrath of Godis being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

Romans 2:5-6

5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:

SIN IS TO BE PUNISHED PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH AND SUFFER GODS WRATH

Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". 

John 3:36  says, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him"

when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with [b]His mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

In the NT hell is explained and warned of as a place of conscious, physical, eternal torment, fire, heat, punishment , suffering, physical, emotional, psychological pain and sense of loss under God’s wrath to satisfy his Justice.

WHO WILL GO TO HELL?

God keeps records of believers and if you are a true believer and have put your faith in Christ and called upon him by faith your name is written in the Lambs book of life

All those that are not believers will not be in the book.

ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WILL BE CAST INTO HELL AND WILL SUFFER GODS WRATH. 

This is the 2nd and final holding place using the word Gehenna 

Revelation 20: 11-15  

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

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

2 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 22:15  Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Contrary to the unbiblical view of Catholics who invented purgatory, scripture speaks of hell as forever, for eternity in the above verses. FOREVER

HOW DO I AVOID HELL?

The most important question is not when hell was created but how to avoid it

Those who have been born again, repent of your sinsm believe by faith that Jesus has paid for their sins on the cross, died, was buried and rose from the grave , and will call upon him to be their Saviour will be indwelt with the Holy Spirit will go to heaven . 

This is referred to as being born again or saved.

To avoid hell, cast yourself upon the mercy of Christ, the One who died to pay for the sins of all who would trust in Him. PRAY TO GOD HE WILL HEAR YOU

KNOW

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

REPENT

Acts 8: 22 Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you.

BELIEVE

John 3:15-16  so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 

ACCEPT/RECEIVE 

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,

CALL ON HIM BELIEVE BY FAITH

Romans 10:9-10  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12  And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved

HELL IS REAL AND MANY ARE GOING THERE

Matthew 7:13

Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide ]is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.

WHY AREN’T WE WARNING OTHERS MORE??