2. Why Do We Need To Discuss The Teaching Of Hell? 1. Most people would hope it does not exist. 2. Many religions teach that there is no such place. 3. The idea of 'no burning hell' is comforting to those that are not preparing to go to heaven. 4.No deterrent, no consequences, no restraint. 5. But in spite of what people hope for, what they teach, or what comforts them, we are compelled to show that the idea of an eternal burning hell is a teaching of the Bible.

3. Definitions The word HELL comes from the Greek word GEHENNA. 1. This is the only word that should be rendered hell, a permanent place of punishment, in the New Testament. 2. It is used 12 times in the New Testament, 11 of these times by the Lord Himself in the gospel accounts. 3. The only other place found is Jas. 3:6.

4. Descriptions Of Hell Look at the descriptive terms mentioned in: Matt. 13:42; -- furnace of fire where weeping and gnashing of teeth Matt. 25:46; eternal punishment Phil. 3:19; destruction 2 Thes. 1:9; eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord Heb. 10:39; destruction 2 Pet. 2:17; black darkness Rev. 21:8. second death

5. Definitions The word HADES should never be rendered hell, as it is so done in the KJV. Because it by no means refers to the same place that the word Gehenna does. It is sometimes urged that the word GEHENNA simply means "The Valley of Hinnom." "The Valley of Hinnom was a deep, narrow valley southeast of Jerusalem, and lying immediately to the south of Mt. Zion. The Greek word GEHENNA is first found applied to it in the Septuagint translation of Jos. 18:16. (For a history of the valley see the following passages of scripture: Jos. 15:8; "The only fire certainly known to have been kindled there was the fire in which children were sacrificed to the god Moloch. Some want to call it the city dump where fires burned continually, but there is no evidence that this is so.

6. What About Eternal Punishment? First, let us consider Matt. 10:28. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." This passage clearly teaches that when your body has been killed that your SOUL has not been killed. Your soul lives on AFTER your body has been killed! When your body is dead your soul is NOT DEAD.

7. What About Eternal Punishment? But many times people will call our attention to the word 'destroy' in the latter part of the verse, "fear him which is able to DESTROY both soul and body in hell." Some think that this teaches that one's soul will be extinguished or annihilated, and therefore cannot be "cast into hell fire." Hence the word "destroy" used in Matt. 10:28 regarding the soul of man being cast into hell does NOT teach that the soul is annihilated or extinguished or ceased to exist.

8. What About Eternal Punishment? Second, let's consider Mk. 9:43-48. This passage speaks of being "cast into hell fire, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched." In this passage, the corruption of the soul is compared with the corruption of the body. In the case of the BODY, it is eaten with worms until it is consumed and then the worm dies; but in the case of the SOUL "their worm dieth not." Hence the soul is never consumed. Acts 12:23. This teaches the eternal existence of the soul. This passage clearly teaches that the disobedient will be cast into hell fire and that the fire is never quenched and that the soul never ceases to be -- never dies -- but exists eternally.

9. Eternal Punishment Heb. 10:28,29. "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" This passage speaks of a punishment inflicted upon the sinner that is SORER THAN DEATH WITHOUT MERCY. This would not be mere physical death or extinction of life for it is to be worse than death. Now let's raise the question: What kind of a punishment is SORER than death without mercy?

10. Everlasting Punishment Daniel 12:2. God has Daniel to say: "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Observe here that there are TWO classes to be rewarded at the resurrection, one to EVERLASTING LIFE, and the other to EVERLASTING SHAME AND CONTEMPT. The life of the one, and the contempt of the other are EQUAL in duration, each being everlasting. Hence, as long as the righteous live, the wicked will suffer everlasting shame and contempt.

11. Everlasting Punishment The Lord Jesus said in Jno. 5:28,29, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done GOOD, unto the RESURRECTION OF LIFE and they that have done EVIL, unto the RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION." Now read with me 2 Thes. 1;7-10; follow this with Rom. 2:8,9. We see from these passages, that "destruction" when referring to the punishment of the wicked, means "tribulation and anguish." How long will they suffer "tribulation and anguish?" Let's let Paul answer: "Punished with everlasting destruction" or substituting his own meaning of the term, it is "everlasting tribulation and anguish."

12. Conclusion We have shown you that the Bible clearly teaches that there will be punishment after death from this lifetime, and that the character of that punishment is described as being "tormented in flames" and that the duration of that punishment will be everlasting -- never ending. To close your minds to these facts will not help you escape. Jesus said; "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Mk. 16:15,16. The apostle Peter said, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins." Acts 2;38 Jude tells of all kinds of wicked ones and their ultimate end if they did not change. Do not go to this place of torment that we have been talking about, but rather turn to the Lord in humble obedience to His will, and He will save you in heaven at last. Truly, there is a burning hell, and I am sure that you do not want to go there. Won't you come to Jesus even today?