A Hell We Can’t Deny

God uses clear and simple terms to explain hell to us:

A furnace of fire, eternal fire, eternal punishment (Mt 13:42, 50; 25:41, 46)
Outer darkness, the place of weeping and torment (8:12)
The wrath of God (Rom 2:5)
Everlasting separation from the Lord and the glory of his power (2 Thess 1:9)
The bottomless pit (Rev 9:1, 11)
Continuous torment (14:10, 11)
The lake of fire and the second death (21:8)
A place for the devil and his demons (Mt 25:41).

God does not prevaricate in describing hell as the wrathful punishment of sin and eternal separation from his glory in the terrible abyss of death.

God does not want the idea of hell to be pleasant or beautiful, it’s meant to reveal the true consequences of rebelling against the Almighty. Trying to beautify or soften what God says about this subject isn’t faithful to the One who is speaking to warn us through the Word.

SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER:

Matthew 13:42 (CSB) They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 8:12 (CSB) But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Romans 2:5 (CSB) Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 (CSB) They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength…

Revelation 14:10-11 (CSB) he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, 11 and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest, day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name.

Revelation 21:8 (CSB) But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.