The Punishment of Hell

God’s Plan For Us 3 lessons left in this series Hell Heaven The Lord is My Shepherd

My Apology Some of the Scripture quoted as ESV is really from the NIV. I used a different online Bible source than usual (Bible Gateway: It’s terrific, but it wasn’t working well) and didn’t properly select my choice of Bible version.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV) These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Scripture declares that the faithful will be rewarded in heaven, and the wicked punished in hell. In the Hall of Faith chapter, we see this description of heaven as a ______ prepared by ________.

Rev 7:15-17 (ESV) “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” How is life in heaven described?

Rev 14:13 (ESV) And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” How is life in heaven described?

Mark 9:45-49 (ESV) And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. If you didn’t know already, Hell ain’t like heaven. This isn’t a description of Hell. It’s a description of how awful Hell is.

Matt 10:28 (ESV) And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. The English word for “hell” appears 14 times in the English Standard Version New Testament. Twelve of the 14 times, it comes out of Jesus’ mouth. Why do you think Jesus used this term more than the authors of the New Testament?

Matt 10:28 (ESV) And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. His words describe “the destruction (not the loss of being, but of well-being) of ‘both body and soul’”. -W.E. Vine, Vine’s Complete Expository of Old and New Testament Words

Matt 25:45-46 (ESV) Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Some have tried to argue that man will be annihilated in Hell. What does Jesus say about it?

Matt 7:13-14 (ESV) "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Will every soul spend eternity in heaven or hell? Are there more options?

Matt 7:13-14 (ESV) "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Will every soul spend eternity in heaven or hell? Are there more options? Do we have a choice in eternal destination?

Matt 25:21 (ESV) His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' Those who obey the Gospel will benefit from God’s grace and mercy and will hear Him say, “___ ____, ___ ___ _______ _______.”

Matt 25:30 (ESV) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Those who refuse to obey the Gospel will _________.

Matt 25:30 (ESV) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Those who refuse to obey the Gospel will _________. These people will be “entirely separated from him who is ‘light’”. -Wayne Jackson, A New Testament Commentary 1 John 1:5 (ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Rev 14:11 (ESV) And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." Will there be fellowship with God in Hell?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Rev 14:11 (ESV) And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." Will there be fellowship with God in Hell? Will there be relief from pain in Hell?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Rev 14:11 (ESV) And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." Will there be fellowship with God in Hell? Will there be relief from pain in Hell? Will there be rest in Hell?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Rev 14:11 (ESV) And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." Will there be fellowship with God in Hell? Will there be relief from pain in Hell? Will there be rest in Hell? Will there be hope for tomorrow in Hell?

Rom 3:21-26 (ESV) But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Does God offer salvation from the eternal punishment of Hell?

Hell is a place away from God

Matt 25:31-33 (ESV) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. We learned about the judgment last week. How are the righteous and wicked divided?

Matt 25:34-36 (ESV) "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' We learned about the judgment last week. How are the righteous and wicked divided?

Matt 25:37-40 (ESV) "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' We learned about the judgment last week. How are the righteous and wicked divided?

Matt 25:41-43 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' We learned about the judgment last week. How are the righteous and wicked divided?

Matt 25:44-46 (ESV) "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." We learned about the judgment last week. How are the righteous and wicked divided?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. What does the Judge’s sentence to “Depart from me” tell us about Hell?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. What does the Judge’s sentence to “Depart from me” tell us about Hell? Is this sentence complete and final?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. What does the Judge’s sentence to “Depart from me” tell us about Hell? Is this sentence complete and final? Do the sentenced have any further opportunity to plead with, or return to, God?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. What does the Judge’s sentence to “Depart from me” tell us about Hell? Is this sentence complete and final? Do the sentenced have any further opportunity to plead with, or return to, God? If the sentenced are separated from God eternally, who will they spend eternity with?

Matt 25:41 (ESV) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. “Jesus is now saying that those on his left at the judgment will find their eternal habitation in the place where the evil are. Satan and all those associated with him.” -Leon Morris, The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians

1 John 1:5 (ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Because of the separation from God, there will be no _______ in Hell.

1 John 4:8 (ESV) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Because of the separation from God, there will be no _______ in Hell.

Rom 2:6 (ESV) He will render to each one according to his works: Rom 2:11 (ESV) For God shows no partiality. Because of the separation from God, there will be no _______ in Hell.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." Because of the separation from God, there will be no _______ in Hell.

Matt 25:30 (ESV) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Hell is a place without God and the characteristics that make Him what He is: light, love, justice, and holiness. Does Jesus’ description sound appropriate?

Hell is a place of sin

Rev 20:14-15 (ESV) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. How is Hell described here?

Rev 20:14-15 (ESV) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. How is Hell described here? Who’s there?

Rev 20:14-15 (ESV) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. How is Hell described here? Who’s there? Why weren’t they written in the Book of Life? Rev 21:27 (ESV) Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 21:8 (ESV) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." What keeps the inhabitants of Hell from enjoying their eternal reward in heaven?

Rev 21:8 (ESV) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." What keeps the inhabitants of Hell from enjoying their eternal reward in heaven? What do we need to do to avoid this? Rev 21:7 (ESV) He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son

1 Cor 6:9-11 (ESV) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. What is the dirty little secret of the church?

Hell is a place of punishment

Matt 5:29-30 (ESV) If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. We shouldn’t obey God solely to avoid His retribution. We should obey God in order to please Him. Nevertheless, the threat of punishment should provide a very real incentive to choose obedience.

Matt 5:29-30 (ESV) If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. “’Hell’ here means ‘Gehenna’ where the whole body will be consumed. The Jews under the law condemned adultery and some other sins of the flesh by putting to death the guilty parties. At Jerusalem, the guilty party was taken by the chief witness to a spot overhanging Gehenna (valley of Hinnon) and cast down on a rock in the valley; the second witness hurled a great stone on his breast.

Matt 5:29-30 (ESV) If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. “If he survived this, the spectators stoned him till he died. Sometime the body was burned to death in Gehenna.” -H. Leo Boles, A Commentary on the Gospel According to Matthew

Matt 5:29-30 (ESV) If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. As gruesome as this punishment sounds, it pales in comparison to eternal punishment. The punishment in Hell is harsher still.

Matt 13:41-42 (ESV) The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In the parable of the wheat and the tares, how does Jesus describe the punishment of Hell?

2 Thess 1:5-9 (ESV) This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering-- 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 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. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, Will those who do not obey the Gospel suffer the punishment of Hell? Will a righteous God punish people eternally in Hell?

Next Week: Heaven