3 False Teachings About Hell

The classic Christian doctrine of hell is one of the most hated doctrines.  Over the years many false teachers have distorted this doctrine to make Christianity more acceptable.  The top three false teachings about hell are:

One:  Hell does not exist.  Some do not believe in an afterlife at all (atheists), and others believe that everyone goes to heaven (some universalists). 

Two:  Hell is not eternal.  Some believe that hell is real, but eventually the damned are destroyed and cease to exist (Seventh-Day Adventists).  Others believe that while some go to hell temporarily, eventually everyone gets to go to heaven (some universalists). 

Three:  Hell is annihilation.  According to Jehovah's Witnesses, hell is real, but the orthodox Christian understanding is wrong.  Rather than being a place of conscious, eternal torment, hell is annihilation.  When the damned die, their souls are destroyed and they cease to exist. 

Unfortunately, these concepts of hell do not come close to the clear, Biblical teaching on hell.  The reason for these departures from orthodoxy have nothing to do with careful Bible study, but are an attempt to make Christianity more appealing, or to make God more understandable.

The Biblical teaching on hell can be summarized in one sentence:  Hell is the place of conscious, eternal punishment for those who reject Jesus Christ.  The following is a list of Biblical facts about hell.  You can hover over the reference to read the verse.

The Bible describes hell as...

• The hell of fire.  Mt 5:22
• A place of outer darkness.  Mt 8:12
• A place where body and soul are destroyed.  Mt 10:28
• A place to be feared.  Mt 10:28
• A blazing, or fiery furnace.  Mt 13:41-42
• A place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Mt 8:12
• A place of eternal fire.  Mt 25:41
• A place of eternal punishment.  Mt 25:46
• An unquenchable fire.  Mk 9:43
• A place where the worm does not die.  Mk 9:48
• A place of torment.  Lk 16:23-24
• A place of agony.  Lk 16:23-24
• A place where people will be in flames.  Lk 16:23-24
• The penalty of eternal destruction.  2 Thess 1:9
• A place of eternal separation from God.  2 Thess 1:9
• A place where the smoke and torment of unbelievers will last forever.  Rev 14:11

Is the doctrine of hell unpleasant?  It is terrifying!  "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31)."  But the good news (gospel) is that God has mercifully provided a way for salvation.  He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).  

Hell is all too real.  But you don't have to be afraid if you are saved.  The question is, Are you saved?  If you died today, are you sure you would go to heaven?  You can be sure.  How?  Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).