A Frightening Description of Hell

Revelation 14:9-13 gives us a frightening description of hell.

First, hell is for those who worship other gods instead of Jesus.  "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink the wine of God's wrath (Rev 14:9-10)."  The beast refers to the Roman emperor who demanded the worship of all citizens in the empire.  Those who worshiped the beast were symbolically marked by the emperor for protection, and by God for destruction.  We have beasts today.  It is anything that we worship instead of Jesus.  We can either have Jesus, or we can have something in His place.  But to worship something instead of Jesus leads to hell.  

Second, hell is experiencing the full force of God's wrath.  "He will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger (Rev 14:10)."  God's wrath is His extreme anger against sin.  Webster's 1828 dictionary defines wrath as "violent anger; vehement exasperation; indignation."  The phrase “poured full strength” is an interesting one.  It literally means mixed unmixed.  In that time, they would dilute wine with water to make it last longer, but then they would add spices to increase the kick.  The Greek text in this verse means that God will add spices to his wrath, and will not dilute it with water.  In other words, His wrath is going to be a hard drink.  That is what hell is.  No more of God's love, mercy, compassion, patience, goodness, and grace.  Only wrath at full force.

Third, hell is a place of intense physical pain.  "He will be tormented with fire and sulfur."  The Greek word for “tormented” is basanizo.  It means "an examination by torture, torment.  To torture, afflict with pain, vex, harass."

Fourth, hell is a place of unending pain.  "... and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever (Rev 14:11)."  This is one of the most hated doctrines in the Bible, the idea not only of hell, but of an eternal hell.  Yet over and over again the Bible reiterates this fact.  Unbelievers will experience the pain of hell for all eternity.

Fifth, hell is a place of unceasing pain.  "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 (Rev 14:11)."  Not only will the pain of hell last for eternity, but there will be no breaks; no rest; no time to catch your breath.  The pain will be constant.

Sixth, hell is the loss of heaven.  "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them (Rev 14:13).'"  The passage ends with a short description of the final destination for Christians.  Heaven will be a place of blessedness in God's presence, rest, and reward.  A perfect place.  Hell is not only terrible because of its pain, but because those who go there will never get to experience the paradise that is heaven.

Hell is not a pleasant subject, but it is real for those who die in their sins.  But there is good news.  There is hope.  No one has to go to hell.  God doesn't want anyone to go to hell.  He has provided a way of salvation.  He sent His Son, Jesus, to be punished in our place, so that we could be forgiven, reconciled to God, and receive the gift of heaven.  

You can have the assurance that you will go to heaven if you will...

1. Admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior.
2. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again.
3. Call on Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.