If you didn’t get a chance to check out part one of this blog series, you can check it out here. In this part we’ll be talking about hell specifically and what the Bible says about it.
I alluded to this in Part One, but I wanted to explicitly say it in this blog, there is a physical realm and spiritual realm. We are made up of body, soul and spirit and is our spirit that lives on for eternity; we are spiritual beings having a human experience. How do we know there is a spiritual realm? Well, the triune God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit… The Holy Spirit is not visible in the physical realm but He is oh so present (John 14:16-18). Another way we know this is because in the Bible the opposition we fight is spiritual – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Satan and his demons (the other fallen angels we discussed in part one) operate spiritually.
Those are just a couple of examples, there is so much to talk about when it comes to the spiritual realm but I mention it in brief to reiterate that the spiritual realm is real and unlike this earthly experience, it is forever. It is relevant in the context of heaven and hell because when we die that is the context in which we will exist, spiritually.
In the spiritual realm you still have your senses, you can still think and you can still feel. This makes going to hell even worse and here is what the Bible says about Hell and what the experience is like there.
The environment of Hell
- It is a place totally devoid of God’s presence (Job 18:21)
This is important because while here on earth we operate under God’s grace and His presence, although you may not recognise it, is here. It is Him who ensures the Sun is the perfect distance from the Earth to ensure there are perfect conditions for His children on Earth… the very function of the human body is God’s handiwork and the Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). God is love, peace… Just taking those two characteristics alone, imagine a place that is totally devoid of love and peace? It is unimaginable really because we are privy to God’s grace. The opposite of love is hate and the opposite of peace is stress or anxiousness; that is a just glimpse of how one may feel consistently while being in the environment of Hell.
- It is consumed with fire and unbearably hot
Jesus says it is a place ‘where maggots never die and the fire never goes out’ (Mark 9:48). Revelation 14:10 says that in hell people are tormented with fire and Brimstone… For context, brimstone turns to its liquid form, sulphur at around 444.6°C – how hot! Jesus says in Matthew 13:42, there will be a fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. All of us will face judgement by God and for those that find themselves not in right standing with God, Jesus says that such persons will go to an eternal fire prepared for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41). The rich man Jesus spoke about in Luke 16:24 who was in Hell, called out for a drop of water because he was ‘in anguish in these flames’. Matthew 5:22, Jesus also says ‘if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell’. To put this into real life… Have you ever burned yourself or been on holiday and it is so hot that you’re desperate for air conditioning? Based on the scriptures above the level of heat and burning, is nothing to what we could have experienced on this Earth.
- It is dark
Matthew 25:30 is the scripture that tells us there is darkness and also weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- It is a place of torment
Taking into account all of the above, you can only imagine that Hell is a place of torment, but the Bible states that it is in Luke 16:23. Hell was created for Satan and his followers as punishment, not a place intended for any child of God (all of humanity). The demons that live there have licence to torment and torture anyone who finds themselves there.
A couple of scriptures that tie up this blog, from the words of Jesus:
Mark 8:36 – What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Matthew 5:30 – And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Going to hell is not a vibe, it ain’t cute or fun as the world may portray it in films and in music videos. It is not your eternal home… Heaven is. Jesus said “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”… y’all this Heaven place as described in the Bible sounds unreal in the best way possible. How to bag an eternity with Jesus in Heaven? As a starting point, accept Him into your life by saying the below prayer. I hope this blog was interesting, this is hard hitting and not a sexy topic but my heart is just to use my platform to let you know what is already there is black and white, and give it to you in a way that is more palatable.
Prayer to accept Jesus into your life
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Saviour and decide to live for and with you.
Love,
Dom xx
