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It is impossible to talk about heaven without bringing up the topic of hell. This is one of the most misunderstood topics of the Bible, and therefore, people can make wrong conclusions about God's heart. There are many who teach that 'hell' is a real place; many others take an opposite stand because they cannot wrap their heads around the concept of a literal hell. Because I believe it exists as a literal place or not, does not make the reality of it appear nor disappear; we have to look at the Bible to see what it teaches about this very important topic.

So, putting our upbringing or preconceived notions aside, let's look and find out what God says about hell. As you read, don't feel in despair, keep reading... the ending is awesome because of the love of God!

What is hell?

The Bible teaches that hell is a place, just like heaven is a place. There is not one verse to support that that it is a place of non-existence; in fact, it is quite the opposite. The Bible teaches that hell is not a place of soul-sleep or annihilation, but a place of torment or judgment. (Read the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. Revelation says that everyone in this place, all of whom have not accepted Jesus Christ, are resurrected and judged by the Lord and then sent to another place called the 'lake of fire' in Revelation 20:11-15.

It would be helpful at this point to know that the word 'death' in the original language of the Bible literally means 'separation', meaning a person is separate from God. The 'lake of fire' is known as the 'second death' or 'second separation' because those who will inhabit it have already died (been separated) once and will experience separation (death) a second time, as they are condemned for the final time.

Place of judgement

Interesting enough, the Bible teaches that 'hell' is a temporary place of judgment, and the second stage for those in hell is to be transported to the 'lake of fire,' the final place of judgment.' Hence, as heaven is a real place, so is hell.' Hell is a place of darkness, (Matthew 22:13), not a party with friends.

All those who have rejected the Lord Jesus would stand at a final judgment and then hell is thrown into the permanent place for judgment, the 'lake of fire' (Revelation 20:14, 15).

The more I have studied this, I find it impossible to talk about hell (a temporary place of judgment), or the lake of fire (a permanent place of judgment), without addressing the heart of God on the issue.

Why hell was created

In order understand why a God of love would even mention hell, we must have a greater knowledge of why this place of judgment was created. It was a place that never was created for people; rather, it was created for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 15:41).

Why then, according to the Bible, would people end up there? If you go to the most popular verse of the New Testament, John 3:16, and keep reading the next two verses, we realize that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world (verse 17).

We also read that those that do not believe in Jesus (the Son) are already condemned; however, if they believe in Jesus, they can have eternal life. This means that God the Father's desire is that we realize that He has sent His Son to die for us and Jesus rose again, in order for us to be saved and experience real life and to possess eternal life now and with Him forever:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18

In fact, 2 Peter 3:9, says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance, and, so, receive the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23b).

It is not God's desire to send anyone to this place of judgment, but not to receive Jesus by faith sometime during our existence on earth results in paying for one's own sin for all of eternity.

God is so holy and we are so sinful that we desperately need such a huge payment for our sin that is beyond our ability: all of our efforts are inadequate.

For this reason, God sent his Son Jesus to die for us, to be the payment for our sin, so that we could escape judgment.

Sin is so powerful, the payment so great and God's standard so high, that when we do not accept and therefore reject Jesus, we communicate to God that we will pay for our own sin. Because this price is so large, it takes all eternity to satisfy His standard.

God's dilemma

So what did God do with this great dilemma of people having a payment for their sin that they could never repay? God paid it for us in the death of His son, who rose again from the dead, so that even though we deserved to be lost, He provided a way for us to be with Him in a real relationship.

Does God desire for anyone to go to hell? Absolutely not. He would accept anyone who would come to Him! How awesome is that? God knew we had a terrible problem and sent His own Son to solve it, and then calls us to accept Him.

What love! Notice, God does not force Himself on anyone, but says to all who would receive Him that He will give them the right to be a child of God (John 1:12). Why not receive Him today? (Romans 10:9-13).

Pastor Gary C. Simons serves as the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, 82 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda

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