Let God Help
6. Is there really a Hell?
1. Old Testament References
Isaiah 66:24: This verse describes a place of torment: “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” This imagery suggests a place of continuous punishment.
Daniel 12:2. Also, references to the "Day of the Lord" in Ezekiel and Joel and other prophetic books, which describe punishment for the wicked and blessings for the righteous.
2. New Testament References
Matthew 25:46: Jesus speaks about the final judgment, stating, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” This contrast highlights the permanence of each destination.
Mark 9:43-48: Jesus warns about hell using vivid imagery: “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.” He emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the reality of hell.
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3. The Book of Revelation
Revelation 20:10, 14-15: This passage describes the final judgment and the fate of those whose names are not found in the Book of Life: “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” The "lake of fire" is often interpreted as a symbol of hell.
4. Jesus’ Teachings
Luke 16:19-31: In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus describes the rich man in torment after death: "In Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." This story illustrates a conscious afterlife experience of reward and punishment.
5. Apostolic Writings
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9: The Apostle Paul writes about the fate of those who do not obey the gospel: “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. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”