"Is hell real? Is hell eternal?"

The topic of Hell is a frightening one, but one that needs to be addressed. Because Hell is a real place of eternal separation from God filled with torment and suffering the likes of which we can't begin to imagine, we need to warn those who have never accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior about Hell.

Is hell real? Studies show that over 90% of people in the world believe in a "heaven" while less than 50% believe in an eternal hell. According to the Bible, hell is most definitely real! The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never-ending as the bliss of the righteous in Heaven. The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout Scripture as "everlasting fire" (Matthew 25:41), "unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12), "shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2), a place where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44-49), a place of "torments" and "flame" (Luke 16:23,24), "everlasting destruction" (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place of torment with "fire and brimstone" where "the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever" (Revelation 14:10,11), and a "lake of fire and brimstone" where the wicked are "tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). Jesus Himself indicates that the punishment in hell itself is everlasting - not merely the smoke and flames (Matthew 25:46).

The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God in hell. They consciously suffer shame and contempt and the assaults of an accusing conscience -- along with the fiery wrath of an offended deity -- for all of eternity. Even those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Psalms 76:10). Those who are in the very real hell will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (Deuteronomy 32:3-5). Yes, hell is real. Yes, hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end! Praise God that through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16,18,36).

Do you (or anyone else) have to go to Hell? No, thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord! Jesus left the splendor and majesty of Heaven to pay the penalty for all our sins through His death on the cross. His blood shed on our behalf met the requirements of divine justice and obtained salvation for all who will put their trust in Him alone as their Savior. If you have never accepted Jesus, I beg you to do so today. He loves you and wants you to join Him in Heaven someday. If you don't accept Him, you'll have an eternity to think about the biggest mistake you ever made.