That’s in the Bible
Is Hell a Real Place?
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: On the Day of Judgment, we will all be judged. And we’ll either be going to heaven or to hell. But that fact isn’t enough information for many people. They still wonder: is hell real? And what is hell like and is hell eternal?
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The Bible: the basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible.
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: I’m Bob Pellien and welcome to the program That’s in the Bible. In a recent episode, we discussed the Bible’s teachings of Judgment Day, and we learned that a fiery punishment is waiting for those who continue to break God’s laws. Now, this led to questions being sent in regarding hell and the afterlife. And one of those that we received was a question from Jhansen in Sydney, Australia.
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What does the Bible say about what eternal life will be like? And what about eternal hell?
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So dear friends, let’s expand Jhansen’s question to also include: What events will take place on Judgment Day, and beyond? What is hell like and how is eternal punishment described in the Bible? And what does the Bible say about what eternal life will be like?
Well, let’s start with the first of these questions. What events will take place on Judgment Day, and beyond? Let’s start here in 2 Peter chapter three, and let’s read together verses seven and ten:
But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
2 Pet. 3:7,10 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, here we see that the earth, the earth that we’re living in today, it’s reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment. The Day of Judgment is also what the Bible calls the day of the Lord or the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we read, what will happen on that day?
We read that the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. And both the earth, the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, dear friends, everything and everyone will be wiped off the face of the earth on that day. No one will remain living on the earth. Those judged guilty on Judgment Day, the Bible says that they will be burned up and die. Now some might think, well, if the guilty will be burned up and die, then that’s the end of their punishment, one would assume.
So let’s ask, is that really the end of it all? Is death on Judgment Day the only, or let’s say, the complete punishment for those that are found guilty on that day? Let’s this time turn to the Book of Revelation. We’ll be reading several quotes from Revelation chapter 20. Let’s read first verse five, which says:
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished …
Revelation 20:5 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Here we learn, dear friends, that the dead will actually be resurrected. They will live again. And when will those who died on Judgment Day be brought back to life again? Well the Bible said that the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
So for a span of, a long time, a thousand years, no one will be alive on the earth. The only one that will be left on the earth is the devil himself. Being alone, alone with no one to deceive, no one to lie to. And that’s why it’s also called in the Bible as Satan’s prison. And, well, what will happen after the 1000 years? Let’s continue going back to Revelation 20. Let’s read verses seven, eight and nine:
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
Revelation 20:7-9 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, here we can now see that when the thousand years have expired, and all of the guilty who die on Judgment Day, they’ll be resurrected, they will come back to life, and the devil will once again have people to deceive. How does the Bible describe it?
Well, we read Satan will be released from his prison and he will go out and deceive the nations, deceives them again. What will Satan convince the people to do? Well, the Bible also recorded here that he’s going to gather them together to battle. And how many people will be with him, which is the same amount of people that he deceived in the first place, to be guilty and end up joining him?
Well, the Bible said, their number is as the sand of the sea, for the majority of people in this life now are deceived by the devil, will be judged guilty, and will join him after the Judgment Day. Dear friends, what is this battle though the guilty will join the devil in? It was also recorded that they went up on the breadth of the earth, they surrounded the camp of the saints, the beloved city. This is their last attempt to unjustly enter the Holy City of the saints.
But the Bible also recorded, though what will happen, and we know it will happen because it’s already written. The Bible teaches that fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. We should notice that this is a different fire from the fire used on Judgment Day. And dear friends, if you continue reading in the Book of Revelation, which, as we know, was a vision of the future given to Apostle John to record, it records that God wins that battle and sends Satan and his followers to their eternal punishment.
So, how is eternal punishment described? And where will all these guilty that joined with Satan receive their punishment? Where’s the punishment? Also recorded in the Book of Revelation, this time we’ll go to, return to chapter 20 and just go ahead to verse ten, which says:
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 20:10 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So here we see that they were cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Some people ask what’s the difference between hell versus the lake of fire. They’re both described as a horrific place of punishment where the devil is sent to. And what will happen to the devil and his followers there?
We also read they will be tormented. And how long will their torment last as their punishment? The Bible says, day and night, forever and ever. Therefore, the death we currently witness in this life, or the death on Judgment Day, it’s not the full punishment God has set for the guilty. No guilty person can escape the punishment set by God because they will be raised back to life in order to be cast into the lake of fire forever and ever.
What will life be like in the lake of fire, one may ask? Well, let’s continue reading, same book and chapter Revelation 20. Let’s go to verse 14. It says:
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:14 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, the Bible, describes and says that the lake of fire is the second death. So life in the everlasting punishment is also called the second death. But why is it called that? What dies? A person’s freedom dies. Their freedom to enjoy, their freedom to be happy, their freedom to be without suffering. It’s an eternal death. And as we read in verse ten, it includes being tormented day and night forever and ever.
So there may be a lot of movies, storytellers that describe this torment in so many different ways, but you know, dear friends, since the Bible simply presents a lake of fire or hell as a place where there is torment, we will not add to the descriptions given to us in the Holy Bible. For us, this is complete enough. Suffice it to say that it’s a place that none of us should ever allow ourselves to be brought to.
Don’t fall for any media depiction or romanticized version of hell, because it will be torment. Why are we sure? That’s in the Bible.
And dear friends, since we’re confident that nobody joining us wants that for themselves, nor for anyone that you may love, is there another option? What other option is offered by our loving creator for those who instead choose to oppose Satan’s plan to bring you with him to eternal torment? What does the Bible say about what eternal life would be like, should you choose that instead? The Bible’s description of it, I quote now turning to the Holy Scriptures, Revelation 2,1 one through four:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So here, dear friends, we can see that eternal life, well, it’s the exact opposite of eternal punishment, right? We’re not being tormented day and night, forever and ever. So where would one live eternal life? Well, the Bible called it as we read the Holy City, New Jerusalem.
And how does the Bible describe the wonderful life there? Well, we also read that God will dwell with them and they shall be His people. And what’s the major difference between eternal life from this life that we’re living now? The Bible also described that, it said that there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. Why no more crying? Because God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more pain. The former things have passed away.
Friends, this is the life that we should all strive to achieve and aspire for, right? And who are those that will reach that Holy City? Are you one of those who will reach the Holy City? If so, what will we experience on Judgment Day? Well, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the Apostle wrote the following, I quote:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 New King James Version
Who are those that will not be judged guilty on that day, and will never have to experience the torture of hell?
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Well we read here they are those in Christ. So obviously, dear friends, it’s vital that in this life we strive and make sure that we are in Christ. Well, what if one is in Christ but dies before Christ returns there?
Well, it also made mention here that the dead in Christ will rise first. So they are the first to be resurrected or brought back to life. They are the first because we learned earlier that, well, the guilty, they’ll be resurrected but 1000 years after Judgment Day. So how about those in Christ who are still alive when he returns? Will they experience the fire that will burn everyone on Earth? Well, we read 16 let’s just include 17, it adds:
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So the Bible teaches that those who are alive and remain in Christ on His return shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Who is the “them” they will meet? They’ll be catching up with those who died in Christ, and were resurrected from their graves on Judgment Day.
Those still alive on that day well, they will then escape the fire that will burn everyone and everything on earth. Now what’s the great blessing for those in Christ and who will escape the destruction of Judgment Day? Let’s also read now Revelation 20 verse six, and it reads this way:
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Here the Bible teaches us they’re blessed and holy he who has part in the first resurrection. And what’s the blessing of being in Christ and being part of the first resurrection? Well, as we read over such, the second death has no power. We learned that the second death is the terrible fate of living out eternity in the lake of fire. So the blessing of being in Christ is salvation and eternal life in the Holy City.
Dear friends, make sure you are in Christ when that day comes, so you can have the opportunity to make it to that Holy City.
So let’s review the questions that we began with, and as well what the Bible has revealed to us. We asked:
What events take place on Judgment Day and beyond? Well, we learned that for those in Christ that have died, they will be resurrected on that day. And for those in Christ still alive, they will join the resurrected to escape the destruction. For the guilty, they will be burned up, destroyed, and die. But after 1000 years, they will be brought back to life to justly receive their punishment.
We also asked: What is hell like? How is eternal punishment described? Well, the Bible did describe it. It’s described as a lake of fire. And this is the location of the eternal torment of those found guilty on Judgment Day. Those there will be tormented day and night. And that’s forever and ever.
We also received the question: What does the Bible say about what eternal life will be like? And as we have learned, the eternal life is a wonderful life with God in the Holy City.
This short life that we are living right now and the way that we live it, well, that will determine which of the two places we will spend eternity. The lake of fire or the Holy City. And the determining factor is if we are in the majority, deceived by the devil or among the few that live in Christ. So dear friends, let’s do everything in our power to strive to make sure that we are in Christ.
We’ve already learned together that being in Christ can be accomplished by entering in through him, through Christ. And he spoke of that in John chapter ten, verse nine.
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I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe…
John 10:9 Revised English Bible
And those that have done so and have entered in through him are in his sheepfold or flock, which is also referred to as the body, his body. And that’s Colossians 1:18.
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And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:18 New King James Version
And that body is identified as none other than his church. And by the way, the apostles also identified that church as the Church Of Christ in Acts 20:28.
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Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.
Acts 20:28 George Lamsa Translation
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, that’s in the Bible. Well, we’d like you to continue learning about the teachings of the Bible taught here inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, or Church Of Christ. To do so, please visit us online and browse the different topics. Or better, set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel. And if you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us. I’m Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching. See you next time right here on That in the Bible.
