What About Hell? Heaven Series (Part Three)

So in this series, I've been talking about heaven and how awesome it's going to be. But is it the default destination? Does everyone except the really really bad people go there? Or is it the people who were born Christians. Or perhaps the ones who go to church and who are good people? Who really goes to heaven and why? And if someone is not going to heaven, where do they go? 

Hell is one of those topics no one wants to talk about. But really if you knew how bad it sucked and thought someone was going there when they died, how much would you have to hate someone to not tell them because it's a little uncomfortable to talk about?

Lets start with what the Bible says about hell.
Here's 19 things we see about what is hell like from Luke 16:19-31
"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "

1.   Vs. 23-He was tormented
2.   Vs. 23-He looked and saw far away showing there was physical sight.
3.   Vs. 23- He saw even into heaven.
4.   Vs. 23-Recognized people, even people he had only heard about.
5.   Vs. 24-He called out, meaning he had a voice and a desire/longing.
6.   Vs. 24- There was such despair that he wanted relief from the hands of the man with sores.
7.   Vs. 24- He had continual unmet hopes and expectations {send Lazarus-even just a drop}
8.   Vs. 24-He wanted pity
9.   Vs. 24-He was in agony
10. Vs. 24-He had a tongue, showing his physical body was in torment.
11. Vs. 25-He remembered life on earth
12. Vs. 25-Agony is contrasted with comfort, showing he will never be comforted.
13. Vs. 26-There is a separation between good things and hell which can never be bridged.
14. Vs. 27-He remembers family and cares for them.
15. Vs. 27- His desire was for none to be there.
16. Vs. 30- He had thoughts, opinions and ideas but could do nothing about them.
17. Vs. 30- He knew what he deserves.
18.   He’s alone
19.   He was experiencing unending regret

Here's a few words the Bible uses to describe hell; fire, burning wind, fiery oven, flames of fire, judgment by fire, unquenchable fire, furnace of fire, eternal fire, eternal punishment, fiery hell, pits of darkness, lake of fire, Punishment and restraint. 

Yikes!  So basically, it's gonna be awful. Really awful.

And here's some things that the people in hell will be going through:
Torment, no rest day and night, weeping and gnashing of teeth (yelled at), tormented, death, their worm does not die, destruction.

So why does there need to be a hell?
This is a good question, since many would say that God could just destroy the evil people, rather than condemn them to a place of torment. The problem is that God made spiritual beings as eternal creatures. 

Since God is absolutely holy, He cannot be in the direct presence of sinful creatures. Therefore, all who are sinful must be separated from God and cannot be allowed to enter into His home. Hell is the place where these people must go, away from the presence of God.

"What Sends You to Hell/Who will go to hell? Idolatry, adultery, prostitution, theft, greed, drunkenness, swindling, impurity, witchcraft, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, dissensions, factions, envy, orgies, lying, cowardice, unbelief, sorcery, sexual immorality, homosexual offenses, slander, hatred, selfish ambition, abomination, murder.     

The list is fairly extensive and includes some things that all of us have done. At the end of the first creation we will appear before the great white throne of God.12 God will go through the "books" to see if we have committed any of the deeds listed in the table above.13 In addition, the names will be checked to see if they are written in the book of life.12 Anyone whose name is not found in the book of life14 will be thrown into the lake of fire, based upon the evil deeds that they had done in their lives.15 God does not grade on the curve, so all people who have been guilty of any one of the violations above and whose names are not in the book of life will be sent to hell.16

As with any transgression of law, we are convicted on the basis of our guilt with regard to the crime. The good things that we have done do not change or impact the charge for which we stand trial. Only those whose moral record is perfect or those who have been made righteous (i.e., based upon the moral perfection of Jesus Christ) will escape the great white throne judgment."

So basically, we all deserve hell because none of us have lived the perfect life. No one except Jesus who is 100% man and 100% God, who put on skin and came to live to live the perfect life we couldn't. Then He died, paying the penalty we rightly deserved to pay. He rose Himself from the dead proving He was God and the only One able to conquer death and forgive us. 

His life, death and resurrection allows us to be offered a pardon, a get out of jail free card if you will, as a free gift. Have you received that gift from Him? Or are you hoping your guilt will somehow be covered up by good things you do? God is just and will not let the guilty go unpunished. 


Praise God He wrathed/punished Himself that we might receive forgiveness! And thereby not be an inhabitant of hell...  ever... no matter what.

If you haven't asked Him to forgive you and submit your life to Him. Why not do it now? 

If you have, why not spend time thanking God for saving you from the awfulness of hell. And why not tell someone about it today?

About Laura

Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has four kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks 10-20 times a year. Laura is an award winning author of a 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, recently released Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest and youtube.

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Many thoughts and verses referenced from Godandscience.com