Hell’s Shocking Realities

“Hell’s Shocking Realities”

Rev. 20:11-15

 

SUBJECT: HELL/EVANGELISM

THEME: Perhaps a better understanding of Hell will stir us to become more consistent evangelists for our Lord.

RELEVANCE: Our compassion for the perishing multitudes must be informed and aroused by the realities of Hell, to encourage us to become involved or remain with the task of evangelism. Multitudes are dying without Christ and going to Hell, who will give themselves to consistently point them to Christ?

INTRODUCTION:

The dreadful final future of the unsaved is distinctly outlined for all to witness! Rev. 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is why we need to be motivated to share the Gospel and send out missionaries! Our neighbors and the world are destined for a Devil’s Hell forever! We must be concerned to reach them for Christ before it’s too late.  

MESSAGE:

I.  What Is Meant by “Hell”?

Hell is the place of imprisonment and punishment for those who revolt against God.

A. HELL WAS ORIGNALLY CREATED FOR SATAN AND THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS. Matthew 25:41

B. UNSAVED PEOPLE WILL BE COMMITTED TO HELL ALSO (Mt. 25:41-46).

C. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT AND WARNED PEOPLE MUCH OF AN ENDLESS HELL.

D. IN THE O.T. THE WORD HELL (SHEOL) HAS TWO MEANINGS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. Hell in common usage designates the grave and the place of future punishment for the unbelieving.

II. What Is Hell Really Like? (N.T.)

We need not be confused or vague about our perceptions of Hell. God afford us reliable insight into this subject in the Bible, especially the New Testament.

A. IMAGERY WE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO!

Hell is a place of conscious and everlasting punishment, judgment, and fiery torment for the wicked, the devil, and his angels.  

1. A Place of Punishment.

Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Hell is described as a real and final place of conscious torment, fire, and everlasting punishment for unrepentant sinners who reject God.

A.   The Idea of Punishment in Hell is Evident!

·        Revelation 20:15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

·        2 Thessalonians 1:9, Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

·        Matthew 13:42, And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

B.   God Warns of the Eternal Punishment of Hell.

·        Everlasting Punishment is Depicted: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:46).

·        Fire and Brimstone are Mentioned: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone... and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10).  

·        The Fiery Furnace is Declared: The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42).  

When referring to the final place of permanent punishment and fire, God uses imagery of unquenchable fire and eternal separation from God’s presence.  

2. A Place of Banishment.

2 Thes. 1:9, Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

They Shall Experience Everlasting Destruction, Vs 9   “....with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

A.   The phrase “Everlasting Destruction” is not a reference to total annihilation or a ceasing to exist.  Once a life begins it will last forever; the soul and spirit of a person will never cease to exist, they are everlasting in their nature.

B.   It actually means to be eternally separated from the presence of God—banished. This is just what the verse said.  It means complete and final ruin and loss from all that life and eternity could have been. It means being excluded from all the joy, pleasure, companionship, peace, and satisfaction of Heaven. Cut off, banished, separated from God and His glory forever! Everlasting destruction in HELL!

C.   Rev 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.

Leon Morris said, “If there is any truth in scripture at all, this is true---that those who stubbornly refuse to submit to the gospel, and to love and obey Jesus Christ, incur . . . .   an infinite and irreparable loss.  They pass into a night on which no morning ever dawns.”

3. A Place of Fire.

Mark 9:44-48, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [45] And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: [46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: [48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (See also Mt. 13:42,50; Mk. 9:44-48; Re. 20:15; 14:10)

1. Everlasting Fire is Defended: Matthew 25:41 declares eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
2. The Lake of Fire is Delineated: Revelation 20:15 tells us anyone not found in the book of life will be cast into a lake of fire.
3. A Fiery Furnace is Described: Matthew 13:42 points to a furnace of fire where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Hell is often described using fiery imagery to convey ultimate judgment, ongoing destruction, or eternal separation from goodness. These descriptions representing literal physical flames are powerful and profound indicators for spiritual anguish, darkness, and loss.

4. A Place of Darkness.

2 Peter 2:17, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. These false religious charlatans are fake! They promise spiritual help and wisdom but offer nothing real or sustaining. These deceivers are completely useless and face a final judgment of eternal darkness in Hell showing they lead people into spiritual blindness and will end up separated from God.

We are warned to watch out for corrupt leaders. These individuals use smooth words, appeal to carnality, and false promises of freedom to trick new believers, but they are really just chasing money and pleasing their own carnal desires.

“The mist of darkness is reserved for ever” points to their perpetual destination. Despite their boasting and manipulation, eternal gloom and divine blackness—judgment are safely stored up “reserved” as their certain punishment (Compass Bible Church). God describes aspects of final punishment using this imagery of “darkness.”

A.   There are Clear References to Darkness

·       “Outer Darkness”: Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13, and Matthew 25:30 explicitly use the phrase “outer darkness” where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

·       The “Mist of Darkness”: 2 Peter 2:17 and Jude 1:13 both speak of the “mist of darkness” or “blackness of darkness” reserved for the unrepentant.

B.   Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of Light and Darkness Imagery

·       Merged Ideas are the Correct Focus, not Contradictory: Many view these descriptions as complementary or literally multiple facets of separation from God, conveying total ruin, distress, and the absence of God’s light rather than a mere physical contradiction.

By “outer darkness,” we mean a state of intense separation, deep anguish, sorrow, and regret. Separation from God’s light involves complete detachment from God, who is the Source of light, goodness, and life. Beloved, we are referring to powerful and profound, multifaceted spiritual and physical torment.

B. DESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE HEART GRIPPING!

Visuals of Hell often evoke deep fear because of raw human suffering and psychological terrors. These haunting depictions warn people, enforce moral convictions, and explore the absolute depths of despair. To say the least, these depictions are nothing short of heart gripping!

1. There will be Consciousness and Feelings.

Luke 16:23, And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Also see Matt. 25:30)

The Bible views conscious feelings and emotions as an essential, designed part of human personhood. Because people are made in God’s image, experiencing emotions reflects God’s own capacity for love, grief, joy, and anger. Rather than ignoring feelings, Scripture teaches us to acknowledge, process, and align them with his truth.

A.   Hell is a Space of Awaken and Active Perception. The Bible portrays hell (Gehenna or the lake of fire) as a place of active, conscious awareness. Rather than a state of extinction, the lost will have experiences involving specific emotional and physical reactions like sorrow, pain, and distress.

B.   Note these Wide-Awake Expressions of Conscious Sufferings:

·        Deep Weeping: Jesus repeatedly uses the phrase “weeping” to denote intense sadness, grief, and crying out.

·        “Gnashing of Teeth”: The associated phrase “gnashing of teeth” points to severe physical pain, anger, frustration, or profound regret.

·        Torment and Anguish: When we examine Revelation 14:10 closely we note individuals being “tormented with fire and brimstone (sulfur),” implying an ongoing, conscious sensory and psychological burden.

·        No Rest Ever: Revelation 19:3 and 14:11 state there is “no rest day or night,” indicating an unbroken, alert state of suffering rather than unconsciousness or sleep.

The imagery of hell acts as a gripping, hyper-conscious awakening. These are stark, terrifying visuals—like unquenchable fire, dark pits, and eternal separation—they jolt the human conscience, forcing a sudden, acute awareness of mortality, moral accountability, and the heavy weight of earthly choices.

2. There will be Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth.

Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus uses this powerful imagery to describe the profound anguish, sorrow, and ultimate rejection experienced by those excluded from the Kingdom of God. –Bible Gateway

A.   The Bible, phrase “gnashing of teeth” appears seven times used only by Jesus in the Gospels (six times in Matthew, once in Luke) to describe the intense anguish, sorrow, and despair of those shut out from the kingdom of God. The phrase portrays extreme pain, agonizing grief, and bitter regret or frustration over eternal loss. (See Matt. 8:12; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; Luk. 13:28)

B.   Often when Jesus uses this phrase “gnashing of teeth”, it also symbolizes intense anger, rage, and bitter resentment rather than mere physical pain. These actions reflect bitter fury instead of humble repentance! People in outer darkness feel indignant rage and resentment toward God and the righteous because these individuals missed out on their expected rewards. The “gnashing of teeth” captures the defiant responses, outraged frustrations, rebellious attitudes, angry reaction to final judgment and eternal separation from God…an unyielding irritation towards God and His kingdom.

The Bible also uses many other descriptions of Hell! A place of remorse (Lk. 16:27-28), torment (Lk. 16:23; Re. 20:10), a place of worms (Mk. 9:44, 46, 48; Is. 66:24), thirst (Lk. 16:24), a place without hope of escape (Lk. 16:26), and a place of unfulfilled desires and unanswered prayers (Lk. 16:27-31). Beloved, these are heart breaking realizations regarding real people’s forever experiences. We need selfless courage to reach and warn them of the wrath to come!