What Does the Bible Say About Hell? (and How to Avoid It)
- Amy Blossom
- Aug 15
- 6 min read
Many people believe that hell does not exist. However, the Bible tells us that hell is very real and gives many specifics about this horrible place.
If you are someone who does not believe in hell, at the very least, you should know what the Bible says about it...
What if You’re Wrong?
This is one of the most sobering questions that can be asked about eternity. Many people avoid thinking about hell, assuming it’s either a metaphor or a scare tactic. But the Bible speaks about hell quite a bit. In fact, Jesus Himself taught about it more than anyone else in Scripture.
These lives we live on earth are not the end. We must understand the reality of eternity - after our lives on earth are over. The truth is, living NOW for Jesus not only transforms our lives here on earth, but determines where we will spend eternity.
What the Bible Says About Hell...
The Bible uses several terms for hell:
Sheol (Old Testament Hebrew) – The realm of the dead, sometimes referring to the grave, sometimes to the place of punishment for the wicked. Found in Psalms 86:13 & 16:10 and Isaiah 38:18 just to name a few.
Hades (New Testament Greek) – The temporary place of the dead before final judgment. Found in Luke 16:23, Acts 2:27, Revelation 1:18.
Gehenna – A term used by Jesus, "Gehenna" most often refers to the final place of torment or the "lake of fire" as eternal punishment for those who reject God. Found in Matthew chapter 5, 10:28, Mark chapter 9, Luke 12:5, and James 3:6. (In these verses, you will see the word "hell" used, however an accordance lists the Greek word "geenna" or "Gehenna.")
The Lake of Fire – The final place of punishment after the last judgment. Found in Revelation 20:14–15.
While the words differ in context, the message is the same: hell is a real place, where souls are separated from God that everyone should want to avoid.
What Hell Is Really Like (According to Scripture)?
The Bible gives us clear and sobering descriptions of hell:
Outer darkness: “...outer darkness [where] there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth..” - Matthew 8:12
Weeping and gnashing of teeth: Matthew 13:41–42 describes hell as a furnace of fire.
Unquenchable fire: "...hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where
‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” : Mark 9:43–48
Eternal separation from God: "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power," - 2 Thessalonians 1:9
Torment day and night forever: "And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever...” - Revelation 20:10
No rest: "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night..." - Revelation 14:11
The Prophet Isaiah's Description of Hell
The prophet Isaiah said quite a bit about hell. In Isaiah 14:9-11 we read the account of the fall of the King of Babylon. While this passage does pertain to the physical king, it also is a typology of the spiritual king, or Satan.
Starting in verse 9 we read:
9 “Hell from beneath is excited about you,
To meet you at your coming;
It stirs up the dead for you,
All the chief ones of the earth;
It has raised up from their thrones
All the kings of the nations.
10 They all shall speak and say to you:
‘Have you also become as weak as we?
Have you become like us?
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
And the sound of your stringed instruments;
The maggot is spread under you,
And worms cover you.’
The first thing to point out is that the inhabitants of hell are excited to see Satan. Their excitement is not an indication of their happiness because there is no happiness in hell. Rather, it shows us that justice has finally come because Satan is in the place where he will be tortured eternally - the same way he tortured human beings throughout the ages.
Satan is not a winner. He is a loser. He does not end up in hell to be its "leader." There is no hierarchy or chain of command in hell. Satan will be forever face the torment and eternal punishment that he deserves, just like everyone else who ends up there. Satan has no equality with God, he is not God's opposite. Satan is a creature, created by GOD, who fell because of his pride - nothing more, nothing less.
Facts About Hell According to Isaiah
Isaiah gives us some good insight about the "people" in hell (or more appropriately, their spirits) and what they experience.
There is no pride in hell. The people in hell know Satan has arrived. That means that they are conscious and aware of their surroundings.
People know each other in hell. They know who Satan is and recognize him immediately.
All the people mock Satan which means they most likely all mock each other.
They are subjected to great pain and misery.
The people are covered with maggots and worms.
In Isaiah 14:15 God says to Satan: "Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit." This tells us that hell has levels. Satan will end up in the lowest depths of hell.
Many people flippantly say that they will “party in hell” or “hell is where all the cool people will be.” I hate to break it to you, but hell will not be a party. As mentioned above, hell will be a place where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Hell is not symbolic in Scripture — it is a place of conscious, eternal separation from God, where there is no hope, no light, and no relief from suffering.
Why Does God Warn Us About Hell?
Some people struggle with the idea of a loving God allowing hell to exist. But hell exists because God is holy and just. Sin is rebellion against a perfect God, and justice demands that rebellion be punished.
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” — Psalm 9:17
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” (v5) — see Romans 2:5–8.
It's important to note that hell was not created for people. Jesus said it was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). But when humans reject God’s gift of salvation, they choose the same eternal destiny as Satan.
God does NOT want people to go to hell. He wants everyone to spend eternity in Heaven with Him: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9).
BUT... we all have been given free will to choose. Going to hell is based on OUR choice. God will never force us to believe in Him or live for Jesus Christ, but there are consequences if we don’t.
The Better Path: Following Jesus
God’s warnings about hell are always paired with an invitation to life. Through Jesus
Christ, we can have:
Peace now: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you...” — John 14:27
Purpose now: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works...” — Ephesians 2:10
Eternal life later: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16
Following Jesus means acknowledging our sin, turning away from it (repentance) and embracing the life God intended for us — one marked by love, joy, and the certainty of eternity with Him, though His Son, Jesus Christ.
How to Make the Choice Today
The Bible is clear: salvation is by grace through faith, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8–9). It’s not about being “good enough” — it’s about trusting the One who was perfect FOR us.
If you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus, you can do that now. Pray from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner in need of Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my old life and choose to follow You. Please be my Lord and Savior from this day forward. Amen.”
The Choice Before You
Hell is real, but so is the offer of eternal life. Every day we are either moving toward God or away from Him. The choice is yours: live for the fleeting rewards of the world, or live for the eternal joy of knowing Jesus.
Jesus said: "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” — John 3:36
Choose Jesus today — and run your race with your eyes fixed on Him.
Blessings,
Amy
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