IS HELL REAL? IS HELL FOR ETERNITY?
It is an interesting fact that a much higher percentage
of people believe in the existence of hell than in the existence of heaven. However, according to the Bible, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible plainly and clearly teaches that Hell is a real place where the wicked/unbelievers are sent after death. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). The just punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Because all our sin is ultimately against God, and because God is an infinite and eternal being, the penalty for sin, death, must also be infinite and eternal. Hell is the infinite and eternal death that we have earned because of our sins.
The punishment for the wicked is death in hell, which throughout Scripture is described as “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12), “some to everlasting life and others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12 :2), a place “where neither fire is quenched” (Mark 9:44-49), a place of “wails” and “fire” (Luke 16:23-24), “eternal destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place of torment where “smoke will go up forever” (Revelation 14:10-11), and a “pit of brimstone” where the wicked are described as “tormented night and day forever” ( Revelation 20:10).
The punishment for the wicked in hell will never end, just as there is joy for the righteous in heaven. Jesus himself indicates that the punishment of hell will be as eternal as eternal life in heaven (Matthew 25:46). The wicked will forever be subject to God’s wrath and wrath. Those who will be in hell will receive God’s perfect judgment filled with righteousness (Psalm 76:10). Those who will be in Hell will know that their punishment is just and they alone will be guilty of it (Deuteronomy 32:3-5). Yes, hell is a place of lamentation and punishment that will last forever, without end. Praise be to God, that through Jesus, we can escape this eternal misery (John 3:16, 18, 36).