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Hell — We Don't Want To Go There

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

According to a February 26, 2003 Harris Poll, 31 percent of people do not believe in Hell (see tables). Many folks (even those who consider themselves religious) seldom consider what it will be like to be lost in Hell. Hell is a subject that the devil would like for us to forget about, but Jesus taught more on Hell than He did on any other subject. In fact, the devil would like for us to reason Hell right out of our minds and existence.

Some people think that death is the supreme tragedy in a person’s life, however, death is not the supreme tragedy because there is life after death (John 11:25-26; cf. Mark 12:26-27; Revelation 6:9-10; Revelation 20:4). Everyone will continue to live either in Heaven (“life eternal”) or Hell (“everlasting punishment”) after this life is over (Matthew 25:46; John 5:29).

To stand before the Lord in judgment and to hear Him say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41 ESV) will be the most terrible words anyone will ever hear. Oh, what tragedy of tragedies is a person lost in Hell!

Hell Is A Horrible, Helpless, And Hopeless Place

The Bible declares that Hell is a horrible place. In fact, words cannot properly describe the horror and pain that exists there. It is beyond human comprehension. We read in Revelation 20:10 that those who are lost in Hell will be “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone….and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”. In this same book, we also read, “And the smoke of their [those who are lost] torment ascends up forever and ever and they shall have no rest day or night” (Revelation 14:11).

Consider this, have you ever burned the tip of your finger? Do you remember the excruciating pain? Try to imagine what it would be like to be burning over every square inch of your body. Try to imagine you are also burning all on the inside and even your soul is eternally on fire, always burning, but never consumed.

You are screaming and pleading for just one drop of water on the tip of your tongue (Luke 16:24), but there is none. This goes on forever and ever. In Hell there will be no relief; there will be no hope. Hell is a hopeless and a helpless place.

Hell Is A Permanent Place

It would be bearable if you knew that in a million years it would end. But after one has been in Hell a million years, Hell will have just begun. There is no way out of this horrible place. There is no escape. The excruciating agony there will never end.

Notice, there will be “weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth” in that place (Matthew 13:42). Notice there will be people constantly screaming because of the intense pain in Hell. They will be cast into outer darkness, away from the presence of the Lord, who is the source of all light and love (1 John 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:9).

Hell’s Punishment Is Eternal And Everlasting

Our Lord says in Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life”. Everlasting punishment will last as long as eternal life in Heaven. The comparison is: Hell is ugly and horrible; Heaven is wonderful and beautiful. What Heaven is on one hand, Hell is the direct opposite.

Everyone in Hell will be constantly screaming and begging for mercy, but there will be none. Jesus says those who are lost “will be cast out into outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12).

With all of the weeping, screaming, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, there will be no hope that the continued pain and suffering will never end. In Mark 9:47-48 ESV Jesus says the lost will be, “thrown into Hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”  The worm is a flesh-eating maggot that does not die, but will continuously feed forever and ever on the lost in Hell. The fires of Hell will never go out.

Conclusion:

Sadly, some members of the Lord’s church will be lost in Hell. Jesus says, “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12).

Dear readers, “now is the accepted time” (2 Corinthians 6:2) to be concerned about the eternal fires of Hell – not when one arrives there. Folks in Hell will learn too late that God really meant what He said in His word about this horrible place. If one goes to Hell, he or she will only have themselves to blame.

The picture of Hell is so frighteningly, horribly, and terribly unimaginable, that our Lord boldly challenges all mankind to make whatever sacrifice necessary to escape its horrors (Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 6:19-25,33; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 10:37-39; Matthew 16:24-26).

Brethren and friends, let’s make certain that we are preparing ourselves to enter into that Heavenly abode that is reserved for God’s faithful children (1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 2:10).

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