Bible believers believe in hell. There may be some disputing about exactly what hell is going to be like, but the reality of it is never called into question by those who truly believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word. This is because the Bible is so direct and clear about there being an eternal place of punishment. Hell is real, and that is just the truth of the matter.

Jesus referred to hell 11 times during His personal ministry (Matthew 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5). The word that He used was geenna, which refers to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13-15). We know this because, on one of the occasions that He used the word, He called it unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43).

Some teach that when we die, we cease to exist, but that is not the truth. The truth is the soul of man will never die. Everyone lives on after death. If that is not true, Jesus gave a parable based on a lie (Luke 16:19-31). Who can believe it? Just like there is going to be eternal life, there is going to be eternal punishment. Jesus said it, and He always spoke the truth.

Matthew 25:46 (ESV)
⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Man can deny the truth about hell, but that will not change it. If someone were to say that there is no sun, would that change its reality? Of course not. Truth is truth no matter what is said or believed by some. The question about hell is, “who is going to be there?” Paul tells us.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 (ESV)
⁸ In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Anyone who refuses to obey the gospel will experience eternal punishment in hell. The gospel is God’s power to save people (Romans 1:16), but it must be believed.

Romans 1:16 (ESV)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

As we saw in 2 Thessalonians, the gospel also has to be obeyed. Paul told the saints at Rome that they were set free when they obeyed from the heart (Romans 6:17). This obedience has to continue if salvation is to be maintained. We must be faithful until death to escape eternal punishment and receive his crown.

Revelation 2:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Hell is not a figment of our imagination, nor something that has just been conjured up by man. It is a place prepared by God for those who do not obey the gospel, or who are not faithful until death. This may not be a pleasant thing to ponder, but it is the truth.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.