What is hell like?
Tormented sinners burning in fiery flames? Little red devils running around, poking and jabbing their screaming victims with pitchforks? For accurate answers we need to go to the source of truth - God's Word.
Jesus clearly taught about a real place called hell (Matthew 5:22-30; Luke 16:19-31). Therefore, the issue isn't, "Does hell exist?" but, "What is hell like?"
The Bible tells us three main things about hell:
It will last forever (Mathew 25:46).
It will be punishment for sin and unbelief (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
It will be separation from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
The Bible also describes hell as "the second death" (Revelation 21:8). In the Bible, death always refers to physical or spiritual separation (not nothingness). So, while the first death will be the physical separation from life, the second death will be separation from the source of life - God. In short, heaven will be eternal life for the believer. Hell will be eternal death for the unbeliever. C.S. Lewis probably summed it up best when he said that sin is a person saying to God, "Go away and leave me alone." Hell is God finally saying to that person, "You may have your wish," and leaving him or her alone for eternity. How should we as believers respond to the Biblical truth of hell?
First, we need to take life, and death, more seriously.
Second, we need to share our faith with unbelievers. People
around us are sick with sin, and we have the cure for their spiritual disease.
Third, we should be grateful to a loving God for delivering us from Hell.
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