When you ask someone what they think Hell is really like, they will tell you it is a place of torment and suffering, or it is an unknown bad outcome after death. The only way to answer this question is to go to the scriptures to see what they say about Hell. The reason we go to scripture is that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16).

  Before we describe what Hell is like, we have to determine if it is a real place. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes it as a very real place that was originally created for the devil and his angels. I am unaware of any scripture that indicates that the devil and his angels will be running Hell, but they will have the same status as the rest of the lost souls that will be incarcerated there. In Mark 9:43-48, we see again that Jesus refers to Hell as a very real place. Referring to Hell as a very real place continues in the scripture with Paul's reference in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 that those who know not God and obey not the Gospel will be punished. John in Revelation 21:8 states, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Make no mistake Hell is revealed in the scriptures to be a real place, just as real as Heaven.

 How is Hell described in the scriptures? It is described as a lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15), a place of outer darkness (Matthew 25:30), and Jesus states that it is a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). Hell is also a place of tribulation and anguish (Romans 2:8-9).

 There is no down time in Hell. The torment in Revelation 14:11 is described as forever and ever. In Mark 9:47-48 we are told the fire is not quenched. Jesus in Matthew 18:8 and Matthew 25:46 describes the fire and punishment as everlasting. There is also no hope once one enters the place of torment. Jesus tells us in Luke 16:26 that there is a great gulf fixed that none can pass through.

 Finally, those of you who do not believe in Hell, I liken you unto a man who has cancer but does not believe he has it or is unaware of the cancer. The reality is that the cancer exists and Hell exists whether we believe it or not.

 Charles Royal, Decatur AL