In this message we begin to explore what the Scriptures reveal about the afterlife for those that die outside of Christ.  We’re going to ask a lot of questions like, “Who spoke most about hell?”; “How is hell described in the Bible?”; “Is anyone in hell right now?”; “What is the difference between Hades and Hell?”; “What Biblical images are used to depict hell?”; and “Will all men suffer alike in hell?”

Teaching Notes:

The Doctrine Of Hell – Pt. 1

What is the missing element in our presentation of the gospel in America? Why is American Christianity so impotent?  I believe the answer could be that we do not want to tell the sinner exactly what he needs to be saved from – everlasting punishment in hell. Turn on Christian TV and listen to a gospel presentation, and see if the preacher mentions warns his audience to flee from the wrath to come.  This doctrine is detested by the natural man. If someone is faithful to warn his hearers that they need to be saved from hell, he will likely be scorned and mocked as a “Hell-fire and damnation preacher.” In most evangelical churches today, this doctrine is largely ignored. They may have it written in their statement of faith, but it may as well not be there, because those occupying the pulpits won’t mention it. There is no doctrine more unpopular in our day than the doctrine of hell.

R.C. Sproul says, “we no longer believe in justification by faith; we believe in justification by death.” As soon as someone dies, everyone assumes he is in “a better place”, no matter how ungodly he lived while on earth. When is the last time you heard “hell” mentioned at a funeral? No one fears death or the afterlife anymore, because no one takes the Biblical teaching on hell seriously anymore. No matter how ungodly a man was while he lived, at his funeral everyone will say “he’s in a better place.” It seems that in the mind of our culture, no one goes to hell any more.

I’ve noticed recently that even amongst Christians, the belief in a place of conscious eternal punishment is being discarded rapidly.  If this trend continues, it may not be too many years from now, when it will become a rare thing for a person to believe in Hell.

Why is it important that we believe in hell?  Can we scare people into heaven by preaching hell? I wish it were possible, but it’s not. However, the truth about hell can assist in bringing conviction of sin to the sinner. Hell teaches the sinner how serious and heinous his sins are in the sight of God, so that he will flee from the wrath to come and run into the arms of Jesus Christ, His Savior. In fact, unless a person believes in hell, it is doubtful whether he will ever believe savingly on Jesus Christ. If there is no hell, after all, what in the world is he being saved from?

In our study on Hell, we are going to seek to ask and answer several questions, always looking to the Word of God for the answers.

1.  Who in the Bible uses the term “Hell”?

• The word “hell” is never found in the Old Testament.  The KJV erroneously uses the term “hell” in several places in the OT, but the word is really “sheol” (the place of departed spirits).  Because the doctrine of hell (or of heaven) is not fully developed in the Old Testament, we will look to the New Testament writings to develop our doctrine in this study.

• The word “hell” is found 13 times in the NASB.  11 of those times it is in Mt. Mark and Luke. Every time the word is found in the synoptic gospels, it is found issuing forth from the lips of Jesus.  85% of the time the word is found in the NT, Jesus is the one speaking it!  James and Peter each use the term one time.

2.  How Else Is Hell Described in the New Testament?

The term is never found in the writings of John, Paul, Jude, or the author of Hebrews.  However, these authors do refer to hell, but under different terminology. Here are some other expressions used to describe the final abode of the wicked:

• Perishing (John 3:16)
• The day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom.2:5)
• Death (Rom.6:23)
• The severity of God (Rom.11:22)
• Condemned (Mk.16:16)
• Shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal.5:19-21)
• Whose end is destruction (Phil.3:19)
• The wrath to come (1Thess.1:10)
• Retribution (2Thess.1:8)
• Eternal destruction (2Thess.1:9)
• A terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries (Heb.10:27)
• It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb.10:31)
• Punishment (Heb.10:29)
• Vengeance (Heb.30)
• The day of judgment (2Pet.2:9)
• Black darkness reserved for them forever (Jude 13)
• The wrath of Him that sits on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb (Rev.6:16)
• The wine of the wrath of God which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger (Rev.14:10)
• Tormented with fire and brimstone (Rev.14:10)
• The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever (Rev.14:11)
• Where they have no rest day and night (Rev.14:11)
• The lake of fire (Rev.20:10,15)
• The 2^nd Death (Rev.21:8)

3.  Is Anyone In Hell Right Now?

No. When a lost man dies today, his soul goes to Hades, awaiting the Final Judgment (Luke 16:19-31).  However, Hades is not the final destination of lost men. They will be resurrected (Acts 24:15) and judged (Rev.20:11-15). Those not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire, which is hell or the 2^nd death.

4.  What is the difference between Hades and Hell?

Hades is the place of departed souls (Acts 2:27).  It is temporary until the final Judgment (Rev.20:11-15).  It is like being in jail awaiting your trial and judgment. Hell, on the other hand is the place of bodies and souls of the lost (Mt.10:28).  It is permanent and eternal.  It is like being cast into prison with a life (eternal) sentence after your trial and judgment.

5.  What Biblical Images Are Used To Depict Hell?

• Fire:

Mt.25:41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, `Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels”

Mt.3:12 “And His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Mt.13:41-42 “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Rev.14:10  “…he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

Rev.20:15  “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

• Darkness:

Mt.8:12 “but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” See also Mt.22:13; 25:30.

Jude 13 “… for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.”

• Prison:

1Pet.3:18-19  “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison”  (This passage is speaking of Hades, but may also throw light on hell.)

Jude 6  “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.”  (Although this is speaking of the present condition of these angels in Hades, it may throw light on hell.)

• Pit:

Luke 8:31 “And they were entreating Him not to command them to depart into the abyss.”

Mt. 8:29 “And behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with You, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”  (This passage shows that the abyss mentioned in Luke 8:31 is where the demons expected to be tormented, for both accounts are describing the same event.)

2Pet.2:4  “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;”

Rev.9:1-2  “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. And he opened the bottomless pit; and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.”

6.  How Else Is Hell Described in the Bible?

• A Place:

Luke 16:27-28 “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house – for I have five brothers – in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”

Acts 1:25 “…Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

It makes sense that hell would be a place, as the Bible declares that heaven is also a place (Jn.14:2)

• A Place of Torment:

Luke 16:23, 28 “And in Hades he lifted up his eyes being in torment…so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”

Rev.14:10-11 “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Rev.20:10 “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Mt.8:29 “And behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with You, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?””

• A Place of Punishment:

Mt. 25:46 “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Heb.10:29 “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

2Pet.2:9  “then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,”

• A Place of Divine Wrath:

Mt.3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

1Thess.1:10 “…and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

Rev.14:10 “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger”

• A Place of Destruction:

2Thess.1:9 “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”

Mt.7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.”

Rom.9:22 “What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?”

2Pet.3:7 “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

• A Place of Death:

Rom.6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Rev.20:14 “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”

• A Place of Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth:

Mt.8:12 “but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Mt.13:42 “and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Mt.22:13 “”Then the king said to the servants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.””

Luke13:28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out.”

• A Place where the Worm Does Not Die and the Fire is Not Quenched:

Mk.9:43-49  “”And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. “And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. “For everyone will be salted with fire.”

The Greek word for hell in this passage is “Gehenna”.  It means “the Valley of the son of Hinnom”. In the OT, it was the site where the children of Israel offered their children to Molech. A large image of the god Molech was constructed and it was heated up with fire until it was red hot, and the children were placed onto the red hot arms of this god. In order to drown out the screams of the children, the people would beat on drums. Later this site became Jerusalem’s garbage dump. The bodies of animals and executed criminals were cast into it to be burned.  Fire burned there day and night 365 days a year, burning up city’s garbage. Further, worms (maggots) continually fed on the dead bodies of animals and filthy garbage.  That is what Jesus compared hell to!

• A Place Where There Is No Rest Day or Night:

Rev.14:10 “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night”

• A Place Where Men Are Conscious:

This is implied from the fact that hell is a place of punishment, wrath, torment, and weeping and gnashing of teeth.  If a man is unconscious he will not experience any of those things.

7.  What Can We Learn of Hell From Luke 16:19-31?

Most scholars assume that the experience of souls in Hades and hell will be similar, except that in hell, souls will be reunited with their bodies in hell, and it will be unending.  If that is true, we learn that:

• People Will be Conscious in Hell.  The rich man can see, speak, reason, feel agony, and remember things.

• People Can Never Escape Hell. There is a chasm fixed so that no one can cross over. If this is true, then the teaching of the Universalists is wrong who believe that after suffering in hell for a time commensurate with their sins, all men will go to heaven.

8.  Will All Men Suffer Alike In Hell?

• Luke 12:47-48  “ “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

• Mt.11:20-24 “Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

• Heb.10:28-29 “Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

Some sin in ignorance, others against light and knowledge. Some have had the advantage of a written law, the law of Moses, while others had only the light of nature. Some have had the advantage of a preached gospel and have despised it, while others never heard the gospel in their entire life. The more light a man has, the more responsible he will be, and the greater his punishment will be in hell if he rejects it.

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