This article is solely based on scriptural reference as proof of the existence of a literal hell.
Some people think hell is the grave, others think hell is a literal burning place but that will only be there on the last day after the final judgment.
Hell is also referred to as Hades or Gehenna.It is a spiritual place where the unrighteous go when they die.
Let’s begin from the famous story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31.
Though many refer to it as a parable, the bible doesn’t say it’s a parable. When Jesus was about to tell a parable, the bible says, “and He told them a parable…….”
But here Jesus just began, “there was a certain rich man…..”
And Jesus didn’t use specific names in parables,but here He did.He mentioned names;Lazarus and Abraham.
LUKE 16
19 THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN, WHICH WAS CLOTHED IN PURPLE AND FINE LINEN, AND FARED SUMPTUOUSLY EVERY DAY:
20 AND THERE WAS A CERTAIN BEGGAR NAMED LAZARUS, WHICH WAS LAID AT HIS GATE, FULL OF SORES,
21 AND DESIRING TO BE FED WITH THE CRUMBS WHICH FELL FROM THE RICH MAN'S TABLE: MOREOVER THE DOGS CAME AND LICKED HIS SORES.
22 AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT THE BEGGAR DIED, AND WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS INTO ABRAHAM'S BOSOM: THE RICH MAN ALSO DIED, AND WAS BURIED;
23 AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS, AND SEETH ABRAHAM AFAR OFF, AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM.
24 AND HE CRIED AND SAID, FATHER ABRAHAM, HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND SEND LAZARUS THAT HE MAY DIP THE TIP OF HIS FINGER IN WATER, AND COOL MY TONGUE; FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME.
So after the begger died, he went to a place where he was carried by the angels (paradise).
And when the rich man also died and was buried, but he didn’t just go to the grave,he went to a place beyond the grave, a place where he was in torment (hell).
We know this hell where the rich man was isn’t the grave because the bible says he could see Abraham. That means he had the ability to see, people in the grave can’t see. And there’s no fire or torment in the grave.
25 BUT ABRAHAM SAID, SON, REMEMBER THAT THOU IN THY LIFETIME RECEIVED THY GOOD THINGS, AND LIKEWISE LAZARUS EVIL THINGS: BUT NOW HE IS COMFORTED, AND THOU ART TORMENTED.
26 AND BESIDE ALL THIS, BETWEEN US AND YOU THERE IS A GREAT GULF FIXED: SO THAT THEY WHICH WOULD PASS FROM HENCE TO YOU CANNOT; NEITHER CAN THEY PASS TO US THAT WOULD COME FROM THENCE.
27 THEN HE SAID, I PRAY THEE THEREFORE, FATHER, THAT THOU WOULD SEND HIM TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE:
28 FOR I HAVE FIVE BRETHREN; THAT HE MAY TESTIFY UNTO THEM, LEST THEY ALSO COME INTO THIS PLACE OF TORMENT.
29 ABRAHAM SAITH UNTO HIM, THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS; LET THEM HEAR THEM.
30 AND HE SAID, NAY, FATHER ABRAHAM: BUT IF ONE WENT UNTO THEM FROM THE DEAD, THEY WILL REPENT.
We can again tell that the rich man also had the ability to remember. This is something people in graves can’t do. He could still remember that he had 5 brothers who were still on earth even while he was burning in hell.
He was in hell while life still went on normally on earth. It wasn’t on the last day. He was aware that right at the time he was burning in hell, there were still people alive on earth living normally, who could also endup where he was if they too died in sin. And that’s why he said,” let someone go to my brothers on earth and preach to them, so they don’t come to the place where I am.”
If hell was the grave, then there would be no escape from it because both the righteous and the unrighteous die and go to the grave. But this man knew that there was a possibility of his brothers escaping hell if they repented while on earth.
This place he was in wasn’t the grave. It was a literal burning hell that people could avoid if they repented. And it wasn’t on the last day, it was while life still went on here on earth, that’s why he wanted someone to go and warn people on earth. If it was on the last day, time for repentance would have already been over.
Matthew 9:43-44
“AND IF THY HAND OFFENDS THEE, CUT IT OFF: IT IS BETTER FOR THEE TO ENTER INTO LIFE MAIMED, THAN HAVING TWO HANDS TO GO INTO HELL, INTO THE FIRE THAT NEVER SHALL BE QUENCHED: WHERE THEIR WORM DIETH NOT, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.”
Again, Jesus is showing us that it’s possible to escape hell, if we let go of the things that cause us to sin(repentance).It’s possible for someone not to go there. So again, it isn’t the grave because everyone goes to the grave, but not everyone goes to hell.
It’s described as a place of fire and worms, this isn’t a description of the grave.
Hell is like a remand prison where the unrighteous await the final judgment, while the righteous await the final day in paradise.
The bible says hell itself will be cast into the lake of fire.(Revelation 20:14)
And people will be brought from hell to stand before God at the time of the great white throne judgment and all unrighteous people will be cast into the lake of fire, that’s the final destruction.(Revelation 20:13)
Revelation 21:8 “but the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
The lake of fire is also a literal place with burning fire and brimstone.
There are so many scriptural references of a literal burning hell.
Psalm 139:8
“IF I ASCEND UP INTO HEAVEN, THOU ART THERE: IF I MAKE MY BED IN HELL, BEHOLD, THOU ART THERE.”
This is a contrast between Heaven and Hell; not between Heaven and the grave. And notice that it says "If I make my bed in hell." Everyone who goes to Hell chooses to go there by rejecting Jesus as their Christ. Sinful people “make their own bed in Hell”.They make a personal decision to go there.
Isaiah 5:14
“THEREFORE HELL HATH ENLARGED HERSELF, AND OPENED HER MOUTH WITHOUT MEASURE: AND THEIR GLORY, AND THEIR MULTITUDE, AND THEIR POMP, AND HE THAT REJOICETH, SHALL DESCEND INTO IT.”
Both the righteous and unrighteous go to the grave, so if hell meant the grave, it wouldn’t make sense for God to condemn the unrighteous to the hell if it’s the same destination of the righteous?
Matthew 23:15
“WOE UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE COMPASS SEA AND LAND TO MAKE ONE PROSELYTE, AND WHEN HE IS MADE, YE MAKE HIM TWOFOLD MORE THE CHILD OF HELL THAN YOURSELVES.”
The bible says those who believe in Jesus Christ are children of God. But Jesus was referring to the Pharisees as children of hell, and He said they were making other people to also be children of hell.
This wouldn’t make sense if hell was the same as the grave because these people would have already gone to the grave even without the influence of the Pharisees. But Jesus was saying the Pharisees were making the people to be fit for hell.
Matthew 23:33&34
“YE SERPENTS, YE GENERATION OF VIPERS, HOW CAN YE ESCAPE THE DAMNATION OF HELL? WHEREFORE, BEHOLD, I SEND UNTO YOU PROPHETS, AND WISE MEN, AND SCRIBES: AND SOME OF THEM YE SHALL KILL AND CRUCIFY; AND SOME OF THEM SHALL YE SCOURGE IN YOUR SYNAGOGUES, AND PERSECUTE THEM FROM CITY TO CITY."
Jesus was again saying hell is a place that’s possible to be escaped from.Why would He warn the Pharisees about “escaping the damnation of hell” if it meant the grave because both the righteous and unrighteous go to the grave,but not everyone goes to hell.
Luke 12:5
“BUT I WILL FOREWARN YOU WHOM YE SHALL FEAR: FEAR HIM, WHICH AFTER HE HATH KILLED HATH POWER TO CAST INTO HELL; YEA, I SAY UNTO YOU, FEAR HIM.”
This verse also wouldn’t make sense if hell was the grave. Men can kill you and take you to the grave. But only God can cast you into hell after you are dead.
Revelation 1:18
“I AM HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD; AND, BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, AMEN; AND HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL AND OF DEATH.”
There are so many verses that talk of a burning hell, but these are just a few of them.
Hell is real and anyone who dies without repenting will end up there.
Unless you accept Jesus Christ as your savior and turn from your sinful ways, you will end up there.
The bible says each person will be judged according to their works.
It’s your faith in Jesus Christ that will save you, but it is your works that will cause you to be condemned.
Faith without works is dead.
If you just say you’ve accepted Christ but still living in sin, you are only lying to yourself. You will still end up in hell when you die.
True repentance is accepting Jesus Christ as your savior then turning from your sinful ways.
When the people asked Peter what to do to be saved,this is the answer that he gave them.It’s still the same answer today.
Acts 2:38
“THEN PETER SAID UNTO THEM, REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.
FOR THE PROMISE IS UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, AND TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF, EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL.”
We all have a choice to make.
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