Some of us have been throwing the word ‘hell’ around very loosely – so much so that it has lost its meaning. Some people, even religious people, will tell you that hell is not real – that it is just something used to scare children into behaving. However, the Bible is clear that hell is a very real place. It tells us that hell is a place where Satan and his angels, (the angels that chose to follow him when he was cast out of heaven) and unrepentant sinners will spend eternity.

Jesus compared hell to Gehenna, a refuse dump located south of Jerusalem. The fires burned there continually, consuming worm-infested garbage. He quoted Isaiah 66:24 in saying “the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” This gave His listeners a vivid picture of unending torment and exclusion from everything that is holy. Mark 9:47, 48

Reading the book of Revelation, we gain more insight into the place called hell. In chapter 20, Satan meets his doom. He is thrown into a lake of burning sulfur where he will be tormented day and night for eternity. The apostle John, who was given the vision that led to the writing of the Book of Revelation, records a glimpse of Judgment Day. Chapter 20:11-15 tells about it.

He saw the dead standing before the throne of God. All of the dead were there - everyone who had died – good or bad, young or old. Books were opened. One book was called the Book of Life. Each person was judged according to what he had done as was recorded in the books and if a person’s name was not found to be recorded in the Book of Life, he was throne into the lake of fire – the same lake of fire that Satan was thrown into.

According to Matthew 25:41, the lake of eternal fire was originally prepared only for Satan and his angels. How is it that others, now have become condemned to go to hell? The answer is in the book of John. God loved the world so much that He sent His son Jesus Christ so that everyone would have eternal life. However, those who do not believe in Jesus stand condemned. John 3:16-18

Jesus Christ paid the price for sin, securing salvation – eternal life - for His followers. (Philippians 4:3) Everyone is free to choose how he will deal with the inevitable sin of life. If anyone chooses not to accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation, he chooses to pay for his sin on his own. The wages of sin is death – spiritual death – away from God. (Romans 6:23)

1 Timothy 2:4,5 and 2 Peter 3:9 tell us that God wants all people to receive the salvation that Jesus gives. God sent Jesus Christ to save the world. Whoever believes in Him, has eternal life and his name is recorded in the Book of Life. John 3:16-18.

Hell is not a place that anyone would want to be in. Would you want even your worst enemy to be eternally condemned to the lake of fire? Hell is a real place, but it is something that no one should have to worry about. Repent. Ask for your sins to be forgiven. Accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation and tell others to do the same.



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