Hell

The Bible teaches that there is a hell. Here are some facts about hell.

Hell is a place. It is a real place (not just an illustration or allegory). Described as beneath as opposed to heaven above. Cf. Proverbs 15:24, Isaiah 14:9. It is a place of torment, punishment. Cf. Luke 16:23, 28. It is a place of eternal fire (Hell cast into the lake of fire). Cf. Matthew 25:41-46, Mark 9:43-45, Revelation 20:13-15. The torments of hell shows to us just how bad our sin is, if God be just. We are all guilty. God does not leave the guilty unpunished. The guilt is punished in Christ or in hell.

Hell follows death (for the unbeliever). There is no soul sleep, no limbo, no purgatory. Cf. Psalm 16:10, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 . Immediately after death the rich man was in hell, according to Luke 16.

Hell is loss. It is the loss of life, the loss of opportunity, the loss of all. Cf. Mark 8:36, Matthew 18:11. (In death the Christian gains, Philippians 1:21 .)

Hell demonstrates the need for the gospel message. Because of the reality of sin, death and hell, we need a real answer. The gospel is the answer. Cf. 2 Timothy 1:10. Hell (along with the love of Christ) should motivate us to preach the gospel.

Hell shows us how bad the cross was. Jesus suffered hell for his people on the cross. God set forth Jesus as a sacrifice to atone for sins, to declare his righteousness and his justice. Cf. Romans 3:25-26.

Hell points us to the greatness of God’s grace and the power of the resurrection. Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification (Romans 4:25). He owns the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:18). The way to heaven is open. Jesus Christ is the way (John 14:6).

Hell

I have often heard it expressed that the Bible speaks more about Hell than Heaven, or that Jesus talked more about hell than about heaven. I don't know the truth of these statements, and it could actually be quite complicated in determing it -- for example, there are many other words in the Bible that refer to these places other than just these two. I can say that by running a simple search at KJVBible.net for the words heaven and hell, there is quite a disparity. 691 verses include some form of the word heaven/heavens. 55 verses include some form of the word hell. With that kind of disparity, my initial reaction would be that it is unlikely that the initial statement it true. But it is likely that a number of those verses about heaven do mean heaven/heavens in the sky and not heaven where God dwells.

Regardless, there are some very important things the Bible says about hell. For examples:

Matthew 5:22 Some in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:29-30 Some bodies to be cast into Hell.
Matthew 10:28 Someone is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 23:33 Can you escape the damnation of hell?
Mark 9:43 Hell fire shall never be quenched:
Luke 16:23 The rich man lift up his eyes in hell, being in torments.

The Bible declares for whom Hell is prepared, who will inhabit it for how long, and the nature of their existence in this place. Passages such as Matthew 25:41-46; 13:42; Revelation 20:14-15; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 8:31; and 2 Peter 2:4 are helpful in teaching us.

Paul writes, “...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels (when), In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (who): Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction (how long) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (the nature of their existence)” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

Are there degrees of punishment in Hell?

Some people believe there are degrees or differences of punishment in Hell (or the Lake of Fire), based on certain Scriptures listed below and perhaps others. What do you think? Do the comparisons of degree mean that or something else?

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. - Mark 6:11 (see also Matt 10:15ff & Luke 10:11-15)

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. - Luke 12:47,48

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. - Luke 20:46,47

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. - Matthew 11:20-24

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. - John 15:22-24

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? - Heb 10:29

Do these verses imply that there are differences in the amount and/or intensity of eternal punishment one receives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Greater, more

Matthew 23:14-15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

v. 14 The greater damnation
Degrees of punishment in hell is what I was taught concerning "the greater damnation". While that could be interpreted that way, there is a simpler possible comparison. Jesus condemns the hypocritical Pharisees, who made much religious show with their long prayers and such. But behind their religious façade lay hearts of evil which had no compassion even for the helpless, such as the widows. If they had the advantage, they would gladly devour their homes, their possessions, their all. In their weakest time with little defense, these hypocrites take advantage of widows. Perhaps, like some modern religions, they offer their prayers to obtain their substance. Whatever damnation they laid on the widows, theirs will be greater. Not that their eternal punishment will be greater than the eternal punishment of others, but what happens to them is greater and more severe than what they did to the helpless widows. Vengeance is God's; He will repay. Psalm 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

v. 15 Twofold more the child of hell
Just because one is a Jewish proselyte does not guarantee that one is bound for eternal punishment. Some proselytes gladly received the message of the apostles (e.g. Acts 2:10, 3:5; 13:43). So I don't see how it fits that this is referring to the destiny of the proselyte. They are not "two-fold" more children of hell in their destiny, but in their actions. The converts of the Pharisees learn their teachings, mimic their ways, and accentuate their flaws. So, what is bad in the teacher is worse in the student. Though Saul was not strictly a proselyte (if I understand the term), he was a disciple of the Pharisee Gamaliel. Gamaliel is presented as a fairly reasonable man who opposed killing Christians, prefering to let Christianity die out of its own accord (he hoped). Yet his disciple Saul was exceedingly mad against them. Where Gamaliel was willing to let them slowly die out as a Jewish sect, Saul just wanted them to die. He was quite successful in exterminating many of them (Cf. Acts 5:34-40; 22:3-4; 26:9-11). Is not this what Jesus meant?

"God doesn't send anyone to Hell"

Do you ever get tired of hearing this Biblically inaccurate statement? Or perhaps you are the one making such a statement? I don't see how anyone (regardless of their soteriology) other than a Universalist or "No-Heller" could say God doesn't send anyone to Hell. I mean, it's not like folks will voluntarily do a back flip off the high board into the lake of fire.

Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If God doesn't send someone to Hell, no one will ever go there.