Is HELL For Real?

Is Hell For Real?

The Bible says: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him” (Luke 12:4-5).

These verses make four points:

1. Hell comes after death.
2. It is more to be feared than death.
3. Only God can put you there.
4. Hell and the grave are not the same.

Jesus Himself spoke these words, and He never resorted to scare tactics; He spoke the truth. He described hell as a place of “torment” (Luke 16:23) and a place of “unquenchable fire” (Mark 9:43-48).

In Matthew 25:41 the Lord says, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil.” Notice the words “the everlasting fire.” Notice also that hell was originally prepared for “the devil.” Does anyone doubt that the devil will be severely punished? Then how can anyone doubt the reality and severity of hell?

Hell is the place where the rebellious suffer under the wrath of a righteous God. It certainly will not be less severe than God describes it: “And the devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone … and will be tormented day and night for ever and ever … And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10,15).

What About Heaven?

God has given us the choice of where we are going after death – either heaven or hell.

If you want to end up in hell, just keep insisting you are good enough to go to heaven. Just keep trusting your own good works and your own religiousness, and you are as sure to go to hell as you are to die. God says that salvation is “not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:9).

It is impossible to do enough good works or to be good enough to go to heaven. You are lost in sin already, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If you were not lost, it would not have been necessary for God to give His only Son to suffer and die for you.

The Choice Is Yours!

If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved from hell (Acts 16:31).Why? Because “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

If you believe in the Son you will have everlasting life in heaven. However, if you do not believe the Son, you will experience the wrath of God in hell (John 3:36).

Won’t you turn now from self and sin and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? Be saved from the terrible doom that awaits those who refuse God’s wonderful plan of salvation. Hell is real, but you do not have to spend eternity proving it!

Scriptures from The New King James Version, ©1994, Thomas Nelson, Inc. By permission.