Part One: What Will Hell Be Like?

Although Jesus spoke more about Hell than Heaven, the Bible does not provide many details concerning what Hell will be like. In the Gospels, Jesus describes Hell in various ways. For example, Jesus describes it as both “eternal fire” (Matt. 25:4) as well as “outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” ( 22:13). Jesus adds in Mark that Hell is where the “worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (9:48).  Since fire and darkness seem inherently incompatible, many people assume the terms are used metaphorically rather than literally to emphasize the gravity and horrible consequences awaiting those who reject God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Even if metaphorical, however, “eternal fire” and “outer darkness” captures the image of suffering in ways far worse than anything we can experience or understand in this life. In this sense, even a metaphorical description of Hell is literal in that it portrays an existence in the worst of all possible worlds. Perhaps the Apostle Paul reveals the literal reality of Hell best when he says it will be “everlasting destruction  . . . shut out from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thess. 1:9). In other words, eternal separation from God and all that is good, lovely, beautiful, and peaceful—prevented from experiencing everlasting life in the best of all possible worlds.

Years ago, I heard what I think is an excellent illustration to imagine what Hell will be like in a  way people can more easily grasp how eternally tragic and dreadful it will be: It said that this life is as close to Hell as a Christian will ever experience—and as close to Heaven as a non-Christian will ever experience.

Think about this. Pain, suffering, evil, sickness, and natural disasters are common in this world. So are murders, rapes, wars, terrorism, crimes, and corrupt evil political leaders and dictators. Likewise, this world is full of broken families and abused, discarded, starving children. Our cities are the haunts of mentally damaged, drug-addicted, homeless people. Can you imagine spending eternity in a world immeasurably worse than this? That’s Hell. That’s where people who reject Jesus Christ’s free gift of salvation into the best of all possible worlds will spend eternity—in the worse of all possible worlds.

The good news is, no one has to spend eternity in Hell. In fact, the Bible teaches that God does not want anyone to go to Hell. Rather His desire if for everyone to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Of course, God not wanting anyone to perish is not the same as saying many won’t.  People who reject Christ will (John 3: 18).

This blog introduces my new six-part blog series, where I’ll demonstrate that God doesn’t send people to Hell. People enter a Christless eternity by slapping away God’s extended hand of forgiveness, love, and eternal fellowship through Jesus Christ in “a new heaven and in a new earth (Rev. 21:1). Such a decision results in eternal separation from God in Hell. I’ll end the series with how to avoid it! ©