9 Things You Should Know About Hell

Generally it has been observed that there are more people who are likely to believe in heaven than hell.
There are many who cannot stomach the idea that a place of eternal punishment like hell can actually exist.
Many have trouble believing that a God of love would allow multitudes of people to suffer eternal torment in hell.
Furthermore, others believe in the idea that bad people will be subjected to annihilation or a form of non-existence or complete destruction as opposed to consciously suffering in an actual place called hell.

So does hell exist and what does it look like?

In the Bible, Jesus described the nature and appearance of hell more than He did about heaven.
So the question is why would Jesus describe hell and speak about what would happen in hell more often than heaven?

Understanding the reality of hell is just as important as believing in the reality of heaven. In speaking about hell and by even describing what hell will be like, God intends to warn us about the serious and tragic consequences of rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Furthermore, by describing what hell is like, God does not want us to be deceived about its existence.
Hell is a real place where real pain and real suffering will be experienced.
Hell is also a terrifying place and no sane person should desire to end up there. Therefore our understanding of the reality of hell should be one of the motivators to help us to share the Gospel. The reality of hell should also motivate any unbeliever to understand the eternal consequences of refusing to accept salvation through Jesus Christ.

So hell is an expression of God’s eternal wrath and punishment for sin. It is a place we should be afraid of entering. We should legitimately fear the eternal consequence of rejecting Christ and facing eternal torment. We should legitimately fear the reality that there is no second chance for anyone who dies and goes to hell. We should realize that as long as we have life on this planet, then we have an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and thereby receive eternal life.
John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Below are 9 Biblical descriptions about the nature of hell

1. It is a place of everlasting fire (Matthew 25:41)
2. It is a place of outer darkness (Matthew 22:13)
3. It is a place of weeping & gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30)
4. It is a place of eternal torment (Luke 16:22-28)
5. It is a lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10)
6. It is a place where there is no rest day and night (Revelation 14:11)
7. It is a place described as having burning sulfur (Revelation 21:8)
8. It is a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43)
9. Hell is a place of eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46)

So from the 9 descriptions above, we learn that hell is described by God as an actual place that exists. It is a real place where torment, pain, weeping and unrest is experienced without end. Hell is real and it is a terrible place to end up.

The vivid and Biblical descriptions regarding the nature of hell serve as a warning to humanity that we must understand the consequence of sin and the reality that God is love – but He is also the God of justice.
These descriptions warn us that hell is a place we should legitimately be afraid of, because by nature we ought to genuinely shun any place where there is going to be eternal torment.
Therefore we must seek God and a genuine relationship with Him. We must seek Jesus Christ who is able to give us an abundant eternal life where there is no weeping or sorrow or pain or sin (Revelation 21:4; John 10:10).
Also Christians must seek to help others escape the consequence of hell by preaching the Gospel to them. Jude 1:23 says: Save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

What Sends A Person To Hell and What Sends Him to Heaven?

The reality is that were it not for the love and grace of God – the entire population of mankind deserves to be sent to hell. Why? Because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23).
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death or eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23).
Hell exists because sin exists. Therefore if God is to enact justice, then hell exists to punish those who have chosen to reject His love, His mercy, His grace and His salvation through Jesus Christ who paid for our sins on the cross.

Sin is what sends people to hell. Sin is what nailed Jesus to the cross as He became our Substitute to pay for our sins. Sin is the reason why we need a Saviour. The existence of sin is why we need salvation – and Jesus Christ is the only answer and the only way through which we can be saved from the consequences of sin.

1 John 5:12 says: Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

So a person who chooses to live without a relationship with Christ, but instead chooses to live in sin and lawlessness against God, that person will tragically go to hell when he/she dies.

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.

Galatians 5:19-21 says: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

The only answer to the problem of sin is Jesus Christ who bore all our sins on the cross and took our place and punishment for our sins (1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2).

God offers salvation as a free gift. We are not saved by our own effort to be a good person, but we are saved by grace because of the sacrifice Jesus paid for our sins on the cross.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

So it’s important to understand that it is not God’s desire that any person should perish in hell. God desires that all people should repent and follow Him (2 Peter 3:9). God desires that we all seek to know Him and have a genuine relationship with Him.
Jesus did not die on the cross for perfect people. Jesus died on the cross for sinners.
In Luke 5:32 Jesus says: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance
However, we have a choice: to either choose Jesus Christ and be saved – or to reject Jesus Christ and forfeit eternal life. What is your choice?

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST?

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This means that we have all broken God’s laws and God’s 10 Commandments like those mentioned in Exodus 20:1-17. For example, if you have told a lie; if you have stolen something; if you have lusted after somebody or if you have coveted. This means you are guilty of breaking at least one or more of God’s 10 Commandments. Breaking God’s commandments makes us sinners. The fact that we are sinners who have broken God’s law means that we are accountable to God who is the Lawgiver. Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner who has broken God’s commandments and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to change your mind about sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
Today I repent and have decided to follow you. Thank you for forgiving all my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

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