"What hell is"

SCENE-SETTER: There are two fundamental misconceptions about hell: 1) where we go when we die (i.e., hell is not an option); and 2) what it's like to be there. The two opposing extremes, here, range from "hell doesn't exist" to "can't wait to go there and party it up" and that's why it needs to be talked about. Discussing hell is something more and more churches shy away from today. However, Jesus spoke more than anyone in the Bible about it in order to deter us from ending up there, leaving the only other eternal future: everlasting life with God in Heaven.

• 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLV): "The time will come when people will not listen to the truth. They will look for teachers who will tell them only what they want to hear. They will not listen to the truth. Instead, they will listen to stories made up by men."
  
  
  • (Notice the words "The time will come..." -- that time is here, so that's a prophecy fulfilled)
  
  
• Revelation 22:18-19 (NKJV): Therefore, a WARNING to such teachers (i.e., pastors, preachers, priests, etc.): anyone who proclaims what is not in the Bible and/or dismisses what is, God will enact an appropriate measure by either adding calamities or taking away from their inheritance in Heaven

• REINCARNATION (Hinduism, Buddhism, other Eastern religions): rebirth of a human being after their bodily death, whether in consciousness, mind, soul, animal, spiritual, vegetable, or another human¹
  
  
  • How disproven: Hebrews 9:27 (NLV): "It is in the plan that all men die once. After that, they will stand before God and be judged," for which judgment is explained, below, for "limbo"
  
  
• LIMBO (Roman Catholic theology): "border place between heaven and hell where dwell those souls who, though not condemned to punishment, are deprived of the joy of eternal existence with God in heaven"²
  
  
  • How disproven:
    
    
    • Luke 16:26 (NKJV): If limbo is temporary, then it is disproven by this verse that states this "border place" is a impassable gulf chasm that separates those in Paradise (Heaven's waiting room) from Hades (hell's waiting room), for which none can pass across it from one place to the other
      
      
      • This concludes no one is in that "great gulf fixed;" hence, no "border place," collapsing the limbo premise
      
      
    • Matthew 25:31-34,41,46 (NKJV): If limbo is permanent, then it is disproven by this verse where, on Judgment Day, Jesus judges every human being to either "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" or "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels"
  
  
• NO EXISTANCE AFTER DEATH (atheiests and agnostics): death is the final end of consciousness and life
  
  
  • How disproven:
    
    
    • Luke 16:19-31 (NKJV): this non-parable, true story by Jesus describes the beggar Lazarus who died and was carried to Abraham by the angels while a rich man who knew Lazarus but never helped him, also died and had an exchange with Abraham from his "torments in Hades"
      
      
      • (The key reason it is not a parable is because real names of actual people from the Bible are used)
      
      
    • Also, recall the above verse in Matthew 25 where Jesus judged the cursed into EVERLASTING fire, concluding the soul and body live forever
      
      
      • Matthew 10:28 (NKJV): Yes--body, too, as Jesus said: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
      
      
    • Revelation 20:13-15 (NKJV): Again, connected to the above Matthew 25 verse, those in Hades were judged to be cast into the "Lake of Fire" which is "the second death," -- more proof events happen after death
  
  
• SOUL SLEEP (aka, "unconscious state after death"): suggests that the soul is unconscious between death and the resurrection (meaning, the Day of Judgment")³
  
  
  • How disproven: see the above Luke 16 reference on Jesus' non-parable story about Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man -- they had a conversation after their death ... and Judgment Day has not yet come (as of my writing, here)
  
  
• PURGATORY (Catholic teaching)⁴:
  "a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace [aka, saved], are not entirely free from venial ("small-time") faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions."

  Unrepented "venial faults" (sin at time of death) require temporary punishment and are the impetus for purgatory

  This temporary punishment is either endured during mortal life, after death, or a combination of
  
  
  • How disproven:
    
    
    • Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV): clearly states that after death is the judgment -- there is no process between the two and no more time to "get right with God"
      
      
    • Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:14,22,28; 1 John 1:7 (NKJV): the fatal flaw with "temporary punishment" (collapsing the concept of venial faults and--hence--purgatory): Christ was offered only one time to cover the totality of our lifetime sins--not some ... and that's because man cannot pay-in-full for ANY sin
      
      
    • Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5 (NKJV): man is saved by grace through faith -- not by his own works

• Matthew 25:41,46 (NKJV): Temporary; rather, it is FOREVER
  
  
  • (Same verse) A glamerous place where those there will be "partying it up"; rather, it is a everlasting fire with torments from demons (see below "executioners")
  
  
• A place where man shall be rewarded for praising Satan and doing his bidding, on earth
  
  
  • John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV): Since Satan wants to only steal, kill, and destroy on earth, why would he reward man in hell? Satan hates all mankind, regardless if they serve him
    
    
  • Job 33:22, Psalm 78:49 (NKJV): What awaits in hell are demons ("angels of destruction") as "executioners"

• Psalm 9:17 (NKJV): The removal of God (and His attributes) from people and places who do not want Him (e.g., the public school system)
  
  
• It is located under the earth's surface
  
  
  • Philippians 2:11 (NIV): "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,..."
    
    
  • Numbers 16:30 (NIV): Moses said, "...the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down ... into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt."
    
    
  • Ezekiel 26:19-20 (NKJV): God said, "...then I will bring you down with those who descend into the Pit, ... and I will make you dwell in the lowest part of the earth..."
    
    
  • Psalm 73:18-19 (NKJV): "You cast them down to destruction ... They are utterly consumed with terrors."
    
    
  • It contains prison cells ("chambers") made of earthen bars
    
    
    • Isaiah 24:22 (NKJV): "...As prisoners are gathered in the pit, And will be shut up in the prison;..."
      
      
    • Proverbs 7:27 (NKJV): "Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death."
      
      
    • Job 17:16 (NIV): "Will it go down to the gates of death?"
      
      
    • Jonah 2:6 (NKJV): "...The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God."
    
    
  • Isaiah 14:12,15: Satan and his demons are there
  
  
• It is the removal of God's attributes, which can be seen as the opposite of the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)):
  
  
  • Love (hell is hate)
    
    
  • Joy, gentleness, self-control (hell is wailing and gnashing of teeth) (Matthew 13:42 (NKJV))
    
    
  • Peace, longsuffering, kindness, and goodness (hell is where these end, now with God's full-strength fury poured out, tormenting those with fire and burning sulphur) (Revelation 14:10-11 (NKJV))
    
    
  • Faithfulness (men who were unfaithful in life no longer require this attribute in hell -- but they will become believers in God, Heaven, and hell because Philippians 2:10-11 (NIV) states "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.")
  
  
• It is the worst possible offense and pain to mankind's five senses plus memory and bodily needs because--as mentioned above--God pours out His fury, full-strength:
  
  
  • Matthew 10:28 (NKJV): Again, and for context, Jesus stated, "...But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
    
    
  • SIGHT: as some men chose to live in darkness (as God is "the Father of lights" per James 1:17 (NKJV)) they will be cast into "outer darkness," unable to see their hands in front of their face (Matthew 8:12 (NKJV))
    
    
    • This means they will not see anyone else -- they will be alone and can't talk to anyone else
    
    
  • HEARING: As mentioned above, those in hell will be wailing (crying and screaming) and gnashing (grinding) their teeth, since they are consistently burning
    
    
    • Notice the word "teeth" used -- another proof that your body will exist in hell--not just your soul
    
    
  • TOUCH:
    
    
    • As mentioned above, the rich man said he was "tormented in this flame" and "tormenting those with fire and burning sulphur"
      
      
      • (As an aside, some would ask, how can you combine darkness with fire? Is that not contradictory? No--He is God!)
      
      
    • Isaiah 14:11, Job 24:19-20, Isaiah 66:24 (NKJV): Maggots are spread under him and worms cover him, both feeding on him to no end, as their maggots and worms never die
      
      
    • Mark 9:47-48 & Job (NKJV):
      
      
      • Verse 48: Jesus said, "...where Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched"
        
        
        • Notice He used the phrase "Their worm" meaning: 1) each person will have their own worm(s); and 2) worms require decaying flesh to feed on, which means they will not be a skeleton because that worm never dies
        
        
      • Verse 47: Jesus continues: "...better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire..." further proving our decaying body (with eyes) will be there -- not just a skeleton
    
    
  • TASTE: There is no water in hell because water/rain is an attribute of God; hence, the everlasting fire cannot be quenched
    
    
    • Luke 16:24 (NKJV): From the true story of the rich man in hell and Lazarus in Paradise, the rich man asked for just a drop of water to cool his tongue but he could not have it -- if he could get water where he was, he would ask for it there
      
      
    • John 4:10 (NKJV): Jesus told the Samarian woman at the well that God freely offers the gift of "living water."
    
    
  • SMELL: As mentioned above, the neverending smell of burning bodies and sulphur/brimstone
    
    
    • Isaiah 34:3 (NKJV): "...Their stench shall rise from their corpses..."
    
    
  • MEMORY: Memories of life will be remembered, including the eternal regret of not believing in God and likely recalling all their unsaved friends and family in hell with them (or on their way)
    
    
    • Luke 16:27-28 (NKJV): From the above true story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man asked that Lazarus would testify to the rich man's father and five brothers
    
    
  • In addition, God's attribute of oxygen is removed
    
    
    • Isaiah 42:5 (NKJV): God "...gives breath to the people on it [the earth]..." -- not below it
      
      
    • Job 14:10 (NKJV): "But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last..."
      
      
    • Psalm 78:39 (NKJV): "...A breath that passes away and does not come again."
  
  
• Not everyone suffers the same torment--there are varying degrees of torment in hell
  
  
  • Matthew 23:14 (NLV): Jesus warned the "teachers of the Law and proud religious law-keepers, you who pretend to be someone you are not ... You will be punished all the more because of this."
    
    
  • Revelation 22:18 (NIV): If anyone adds to the perfect words of the Bible (e.g., add lies and false doctrine about what happens when you die), Jesus said, "God will add to him the plaques that are written in this book..."

• What Bill had was a vision-- a temporary removal of his spirit from his body ... and this is why I believe this can happen today, just as it happened in Biblical times:
  
  
  • Joel 2:28 (echoed in Acts 2:17) (NKJV): "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh ... Your young men shall see visions."

• Matthew 12:37 (NIV): You decide your own fate with your free will, beliefs, and words; as Jesus said, "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."