34. Is there a Hell?

Key Verses / Passages

I can swear there ain’t no heaven — but I pray there ain’t no hell… Blood, Sweat and Tears - And when I Die (1969)

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Discussion

The concept of Hell can be one that is daunting to a believer when one does not know what it means.

So, knowing this let’s have a look at what the Old Testament has a couple of terms that are translated as “Hell”: 

•       Ge-Hinnom or “the valley of Hinnom”, refers to a place of never-ending burning because of divine punishment.  Why that valley?  Because some of the Kings of Judah had actually sacrificed their own children by fire (Jeremiah 7:31) which to the “God of the Living” was outrageous.

•       She-ol: the “grave”, a place where both the righteous and unrighteous dead go, regardless of their moral choices in life.  This possibly refers to a temporary location prior to the final judgement and condemnation to the Lake of Fire.

What did Jesus say about Hell - either as Hades (the Greek version of She–ol), She–ol or Ge–Hinnom?

He refers to it as a place of “the outer darkness” where there is a “gnashing of teeth and weeping” (Matt 8:12).  So, a place where there is no light, and misery so severe that one will grind their teeth to stop the misery.

Jesus describes “Hell” as a place of eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46) as opposed to being with Him for an “eternal life”.

Jesus mentions hell more than anyone else in the bible. He describes hell vividly as a place to rightly fear and doesn’t want anyone to go there - where God isn’t.

•       A place of eternal torment Luke 16:23

•       A place of unquenchable fire Mark 9:43

•       A place the worm (maggot) does not die   Mark 9:48

•       Where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret   Matt 13:42

•       A place from which there is no return   Luke 16:19-31

•       The outer darkness   Matt 25:30

Is there a hell? Yes! And you don’t want to go there, neither does Jesus want you to!

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Reflection / Questions

•       Much is written of hell, but Jesus provided a way out from the one certainty of life; death.  Jesus doesn’t want you there, He wants you with Him and the Father.  He paid an enormous price to save you from what He describes as “eternal torment”.  What is your response?

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Prayer

Create your own prayer of thanks, praise and adoration to Him for what you have learnt today.