Beth-El Baptist Church

05/24/2009

Greg Tomlinson


Is Hell a real place?


The views of the existence and concept of hell range from it being purely figurative to a scary tactic in order to get people to behave to a place of eternal torment. The views of associated with hell include everyone goes to heaven to there is heaven and annihilation to everyone is destined to hell but by God's grace, He redeems some into heaven by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.


  1. How is hell described?

Deuteronomy 32:19-25 Psalm 18:4-14

Job 11:7-9 Proverbs 27:20

Isaiah 14:8 Matthew 23:33-35

Mark 9:43-48 Luke 16:19-28

James 3:5-6 Revelation 20:14

Isaiah 66:23-24 Matthew 8:10-13; 13:37-43; 47-50; 25:28-30

Ezekiel 22:19-22 1 Corinthians 2:9


Hell is described as a place of torment, eternal fire, where the worm does not die, weeping and gnashing of teeth as well as a place of outer (extreme) darkness. It is furthermore described as the proper outworking of the outpouring of the wrath of God.


  1. Couldn't this just be figurative language?

Matthew 25:31-46 2 Kings 23:10

2 Chronicles 28:1-4; 33:1-7 cmp Matthew 5:28-30; 10:28


The scriptures clearly indicate that there is a division of people. There are those who will enter into heaven and those who will enter into hell. This is necessitated by God (Matthew 25) separating the “sheep” from the “goats” and sending them into different places. This text does not make any sense apart from the reality that not everyone enters into heaven. Furthermore the language of hell as being a place of eternal fire and torment by necessity rejects the idea of annihilation. For if there were annihilation, then it would not be eternal but only temporary. Finally, one of the Greek words used for hell is “Ghehennah” which at the time of Jesus was in the valley of Hinnom where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned. It was an adequate way to describe to the people of Jerusalem concerning the reality of hell. It was not just a theoretical concept but a real place of which they could get a glimpse of its horrors just outside the city wall.


  1. How does one enter into hell?

Psalm 9:15-17 Isaiah 5:11-16; 14:12-15

Habakkuk 2:4-5 Matthew 5:21-24, 28-30

2 Peter 2:1-6 Revelation 20:12-15

Matthew 22:10-13 cmp Isaiah 61:10-11 Romans 5:12


The entrance into hell is simple. Sin against God. Those who reject the word and counsel of God will be sent to hell for not meeting the desired behavior fit for those in heaven. The entrance into hell requires that you name NOT be written down in the book of heaven. It is the most basic description of death. Death entered into the world by one man, Adam, who sinned against God at the beginning and who passed on the 'sin' gene to all of his children.


  1. How does one avoid hell?

2 Samuel 22:5-20 Psalm 116:1-5

Jonah 2:1-3 Matthew 11:20-24; 16:15-19; 18:7-9

Luke 13:24-30; 16:29-31 Acts 2:25-36

Job 29:14 Psalm 132:9

Romans 3:24-27


The only way to escape hell is to repent. This requires the recognition of one's own sins, one's own deserved place in hell with no escape except for a acceptable replacement to the judge. This only acceptable replacement for sins is Jesus Christ.


Summary:


Hell is real and not figurative. Eternal condemnation is real and reliable. The only way to escape the ravages of hell is through humble repentance toward God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ..