I absolutely hate a horror movie. I actually don’t think I ever watched one in all my life. As soon as I hear the scary music or even sense that there is any form of horror or demonism in the show I don’t watch it period! I most certainly am not one of those people who find pleasure in frightening myself, nor am I one to purposely put daunting images in my mind.
I think my attitude towards these horror films was due to the fact that they would always remind me of the most horror-filled place I knew of - HELL.
The topic of HELL is, unfortunately, not one we hear much about in our churches today, but Jesus spoke on hell again and again and he made it clear that Hell is a real place where people actually go, or more like, are thrown. In this blog, We are going to look at FIVE terrifying things about Hell.
Let’s jump right into it!
The Fire of Hell Never Goes Out
When Jesus spoke about hell, he made it clear that it was a place where the fire never goes out. Imagine that!!! We have all seen fire eventually die down, but it is frightening to know that hell is a place where the fire keeps going.
Look at what Jesus says in Mark 9:43:
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.” (Mark 9:43)
This is a special kind of fire that never loses its fury. So hell is a place where it is hot, hot hot.
If there is one thing I hate about the summer, it’s the intense heat. But the heat that we feel from the sun is nothing compared with the heat of Hell. There is no heat on earth that we could compare it to. It is a heat that will burn without end. That’s a very scary thought!
Hell has WORMS that never die
As Jesus continued speaking about hell, he said:
“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:47-48).
I think it is safe to say that we all hate worms (maggots). These worms in hell are a special kind because the heat doesn’t affect them. But what are these worms doing?
The good news translation says:
“Tere 'the worms that eat them never die, and the fire that burns them is never put out.” (Mark 9:48)
These worms feed on the people who are in hell. Imagine that!! Those in hell will continually be gnawed upon by worms. So those in hell will have to deal with at least two terrible things - continuous heat and worms feeding on their bodies
Hell is a place where people will be in everlasting Torment
Jesus in his vivid description of Hell said that it was a place where people would be tormented. Look at what He says:
“The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side” (Luke 16:23).
This little story above is about a rich man who died and went to hell. Jesus is giving the story and He said that the guy was in torment after his death. He was actually feeling everything.
The word ‘torment’ carries with it the notion of being tortured. So, hell is a place of unimaginable torture!! And please remember, this torture is not for a weekend - it is forever and ever!!! Look at what Jesus said:
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment...” (Mathew 25:46).
There is ABSOLUTELY NO MERCY in Hell
Back in the day when I would get in a fight, it was always a wonderful thing to know that it would be parted........especially if I was losing. We all know what it means for unpleasant experiences to come to an end, or for someone to intervene and help us out.
In hell, however, there is no one to help us out. There is no referee to intervene when the beaten received is too severe. There is no police authority to call on when inhumane treatment is being dished out. Hell is a place where evil and darkness literally have their way.
As obvious as it is evil has no good in it. So the good quality, mercy, is not present in evil. In hell, there is no mercy whatsoever. Look at what the rich man in hell said:
“ Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24).
The rich man in hell asked for pity. He was crying out for a little compassion. He asked Abraham to let Lazarus dip his finger in water so that he could have just a drop of water. Imagine that! Not even one drop of water will be afforded to the inhabitants of hell.
In their utter misery, they will not receive one ounce of compassion!!!
People in Hell will have everlasting regret.
It’s one thing to feel you know what you’re missing out on, but it’s totally another thing to literally see what you missed out on. Every soul in hell will see where they should have been - They will see heaven as clear as day.
In the midst of all the agony in hell, the inhabitants of hell will have an eternal time to reflect on why they aren’t in heaven. Hell is a place deep regret!
There will be church-goers in hell. People who faithfully listened to the message that salvation is only found in Jesus. They faithfully listened, but never responded to what they heard. And they will eternally ask themselves ‘why didn’t I turn from sin and accept Jesus as the Lord of my life?’ Over and over, with the deepest feelings of regret, they will ask themselves: ‘why?’
The rich man in hell saw heaven. Look at what the Bible says:
“In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side” (Luke 16:24).
This guy in hell had the ability to see far away and he saw Abraham with Lazarus by his side. What is interesting to me is that he is able to look into another beautiful world (heaven) while he is in hell. He will repeatedly see where he could have ended up and deeply desire to go there. But his desire will never be satisfied. He will only have everlasting regret.
Look at what Abraham said to the rich man:
“Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony” (Luke 16:25).
Abraham said ‘remember’. The rich man in hell has all the time to recall how his life was. He has all his memories intact and is able to think back on his life. He will remember the many times the Lord sent people his way to share the gospel with him and he rejected it. He will also remember how he exalted his wealth above God’s truth. But all his remembrance will only deepen his regret.
My friend Hell is no joke. It is a place that is more scary than your deepest fears and you wouldn’t want your greatest enemy to end up there.
Maybe you are wondering why there is such a place. Look at what the Bible tells us about hell.
“"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” (Mathew 25:41).
Hell wasn’t prepared for you and I. It was prepared for the devil and his angels. But the devil wants company and he knows the only way for him to get others to enter Hell with him is if he can try and deceive people into rejecting Jesus as their savior.
Have you turned from your sin and put your trust in Jesus as yet? If you want to do that please commit your life now. Let me help you. Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of eternal life that is only found in Jesus Christ. I come to you today by faith, in total agreement with you that I am indeed a sinner in need of your forgiveness. Forgive me Lord for all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from all my sins and I place my trust in Jesus as my saviour. Save me, Jesus. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me an insatiable desire for your Holy Word. Write my name in the book of life and use me for your glory. All these things I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer and you meant it, tell someone. Go to a Bible teaching church and speak with someone godly there. It’s now time for you to grow up in your new-found faith and one of the best ways is to be taught by someone godly within a church community.
May the Good Lord bless you.
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