21/08/2026
WHAT IS HELL ACCORDING TO THE HOLY BIBLE?
Hell is one of the most serious, sobering, and urgent subjects in the Holy Bible. Yet it is a subject that deserves to be preached faithfully in our churches today.
Unfortunately, some ministers, Bishops, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists, and Teachers avoid preaching biblical truths because they are afraid of offending people, losing members, or becoming unpopular. But the preacher's responsibility is not to preach only what people want to hear, but to proclaim the whole counsel of God.
Paul instructed Timothy:
2 Timothy 4:2–4
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.
The message of hell is not intended merely to frighten people. It should awaken the conscience, bring conviction, expose sin, call people to repentance, and remind believers that eternity is real.
WHAT IS HELL?
According to Scripture, hell is associated with God's final judgment and the punishment of those who ultimately reject God and remain in rebellion against Him.
The Bible uses several terms when discussing the realm of the dead and final judgment, including Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and the lake of fire. Nevertheless, Scripture clearly teaches that there is a real and terrible final judgment for the wicked.
Jesus Himself repeatedly warned about it.
Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
HELL IS NOT A MYTH
Some people speak about hell as though it were merely an ancient religious idea designed to frighten people. But the Bible repeatedly presents God's judgment as a reality.
Matthew 13:47–50 describes the separation of the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age.
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and separate the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
This is not a subject that Jesus treated casually.
If Jesus warned about judgment, why should the Church be afraid to preach about it?
PSALM 9:17—A SOBERING WARNING:
Psalm 9:17
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
This verse is a solemn reminder that God does not overlook wickedness forever. Scripture consistently teaches that humanity will ultimately answer to God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
There is coming a day when every person will stand before God.
SOME DAY, YOU AND I WILL DIE
This is a reality that nobody can escape.
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
You may be wealthy.
You may be poor.
You may be educated.
You may be powerful.
You may be beautiful or handsome.
You may have political connections.
You may have millions of followers.
You may own businesses, houses, vehicles, land, and possessions.
But none of these things can cancel the appointment of death.
James 4:14
whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a v***r that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Jesus asked:
Mark 8:36–37
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
That question should make every human being stop and examine his or her life.
WHO WILL GO TO HELL ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?
This is where the message becomes extremely serious.
The Bible warns that those who persist in unrighteousness, reject God, refuse repentance, and remain outside of Christ will face judgment.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
2. THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN THE WORKS OF THE FLESH
Paul then gives this solemn warning
Galatians 5:19–21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
JESUS PREACHED ABOUT HELL
Jesus spoke about hell more directly than many people realize.
He warned about hell in:
- Matthew 5:22
- Matthew 5:29–30
- Matthew 10:28
- Matthew 18:8–9
- Matthew 23:15
- Matthew 23:33
- Mark 9:43–48
- Luke 12:5
Jesus even told the account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19–31, which contains a serious warning about the consequences of rejecting God.
GOD DOES NOT WANT PEOPLE TO PERISH
The Apostle Peter clearly reveals God's patience toward humanity.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
What a powerful statement!
God's warning about judgment is accompanied by God's invitation to repentance.
He warns because He wants us to turn to Him.
He exposes sin because He wants us to be saved.
He sent His Son because He loves the world.
John 3:16–17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
REPENTANCE IS URGENT
The message of hell should not leave us hopeless. It should drive us toward Jesus Christ.
Jesus began His earthly ministry with a call to repentance:
Matthew 4:17
“Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The Apostle Peter preached:
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.
And Paul declared:
Acts 17:30–31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordaine
DO NOT LET THE WORLD DISTRACT YOU FROM ETERNITY
The world tells us to pursue money, pleasure, popularity, possessions, fame, and temporary satisfaction.
But the Bible tells us that this present world is temporary.
Hebrews 11:25 Moses said:
I rather choose to suffer the affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
1 John 2:15–17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Everything around us is temporary.
Your money is temporary.
Your possessions are temporary.
Your position is temporary.
Your physical life is temporary.
But eternity is forever.
THE FINAL JUDGMENT
The Bible ultimately points toward a final judgment.
Revelation 20:11–15 describes the great white throne judgment and the dead standing before God.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
This is why eternity must never be treated as a joke.
THE GOOD NEWS: JESUS OFFERS SALVATION
The message of hell is not the end of the Gospel.
The Gospel is that Jesus Christ came to save sinners.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10:9–10 teaches that salvation is received through faith in Christ and confession of Him as Lord.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Therefore, the message is simple and urgent:
Repent.
Believe the Gospel.
Turn away from sin.
Put your faith in Jesus Christ.
Prepare for eternity.
The Church must not preach only prosperity.
The Church must not preach only success.
The Church must not preach only motivational messages.
THE CHURCH MUST PREACH THE 22 CARDINALS DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE.
The Holy Bible
The Godhead
Virgin Birth
Total Depravity
Repentance
SALVATION
Restitution
Justification
Water Baptism:
Lord’s Supper
Sanctification
Holy Ghost Baptism
Redemption and Healing
Personal Evangelism
Marriage
The Rapture
Resurrection of the Dead
Great Tribulation
Millennial Reign
Great White Throne Judgment
New Heaven and New Earth:
Hell:
WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?
You may have another year.
You may have another decade.
You may have many more years.
But none of us knows the exact length of our earthly life.
James 4:14 reminds us that life is like a v***r.
Therefore, do not postpone repentance.
Do not wait until tomorrow to seek God.
Isaiah 55:6–7
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him…”
The message of hell is a warning—but the message of the Gospel is an invitation.
An invitation to repent.
An invitation to believe.
An invitation to receive mercy.
An invitation to follow Jesus Christ.
Preach heaven. Preach repentance. Preach holiness. Preach salvation. And do not be afraid to preach the biblical warning about judgment.
Because the greatest tragedy is not losing wealth, popularity, possessions, or status.
The greatest tragedy is gaining the whole world and losing your soul.
Mark 8:36
