Scripture References

Hell is a general term used to describe the place of suffering, torment, anguish, outer darkness, and unquenchable fire that unbelievers go to after they die, having rejected Jesus and His gift of salvation. Although this description is accurate, there are two specific locations of “hell” in Scripture: Hades and the Lake of Fire. Hades is a temporary holding place for unbelievers and the Lake of Fire is their eternal destination.

When an unbeliever dies, their soul immediately departs their physical body and enters Hades. Meanwhile, their physical body returns to the “dust of the earth” to await its resurrection from the grave. While in Hades, unbelievers experience continuous suffering and torment for their sins and unbelief. On judgment day, their bodies will be raised from the grave and reunited with their souls in Hades before standing in God’s presence at the great white throne judgment. After each one’s sinful works are fully exposed by Jesus and accounted for, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Unbelievers are not annihilated in the Lake of Fire but undergo eternal torment in varying degrees. This unfortunate reality results from them rejecting the only means available for their salvation to avoid such a fate—Jesus Christ and His shed blood. It is also because their sins remain “on the books” forever without any chance beyond the grave to eradicate them.

One reason for eternal suffering is that unbelievers are not rendered perfect and sinless upon their death like believers who trusted Jesus for their forgiveness and redemption (Romans 8:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, with nothing in Scripture to suggest they ever stop sinning in hell or the Lake of Fire, their eternal consequences are justified for an eternity of sins committed. However, even if God prevented unbelievers from sinning after death, their eternal punishment is still warranted for sins committed throughout their lifetime. To better explain this truth, consider this human example:

• In a court of law, a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for a one-time offense like murder is never viewed as excessive or unjustified punishment but reasonable and necessary due to the severity of the crime. If the murder victim were a high-ranking government official like the President, Prime Minister, or reigning Monarch, the severe penalty might even increase due to the victim’s prominent ranking in society. Therefore, justified sentences in a court of law are those that fit the nature of the crime, not the time spent committing it.

When unbelievers sin, they transgress not only against themselves and others but God—who is holy, righteous, and supreme overall. Moreover, their sins are not one-time occurrences but repeat offenses perpetrated continually throughout their lifetime through their words, actions, attitudes, thoughts, and motives. For these reasons and more, their eternal consequences carry an even weightier, more severe penalty than any crime in a human court.

Adding to the severity of unbelievers’ eternal punishment for their sins is the penalty ascribed for their unbelief. Jesus went to great lengths to provide for their forgiveness and salvation. He willingly and lovingly suffered a sacrificial death on the cross to save them from their sins’ eternal consequences. However, having rejected His gracious gift of salvation through unbelief, unbelievers’ sins remain “on the books” forever without any chance beyond the grave to eradicate them. For this reason, Hebrews 10:29 says, “How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:31 concludes with, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

(See the Scripture References link at the top of the page.)

Related Subjects Commentaries:

• Annihilation

• Death

• Judgment of God