The first occurrence of “Hell” in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy 32:22: “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.” Usually, the first time a word appears in the Bible it is very important because it helps explain later uses of the word. In this verse, substituting the word “hell” for the “grave” just does not make sense.

Another verse that also does not make sense if the word “Hell” is changed to “grave” is Psalm 9:17. It says: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” If it means grave, there is no threat here, since all people die. Also, if it means “grave,” it would imply that the righteous do not die.

Here are some Bible truths about Hell:

1. Jesus created it (John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16)

2. It was not made with man in mind – but for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41)

3. Jesus taught as though Hell was a real place – If there is no Hell, there is no reason for Him to have come and died for us.

4. It is a place of real fire and torment (Luke 16:23)

5. There is no escape (Luke 16:26)

6. It is a place of memory – of the chances you had to be saved

7. It is a place of eternal regret – wishing you had gotten saved when you had the chance!

8. It is a place of complete darkness (Jude 6 and 13)

9. The Bible does not mention Purgatory – the idea was made by people who believe in a works salvation.

10. Hell can be compared to a holding tank for the wicked. Once judged, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire – their permanent prison. (Revelation 20:12-15)

Some things you will never find in Hell:

• Gospel tracts

• Bibles

• Mercy

• Grace

• Hope

• Kindness

• Pleasure

• Things you have accumulated in this life.

If Hell and the Lake of Fire were not such horrible places, Jesus’ death would be meaningless. He gladly came, took our place and died to pay for our sins because, He, in love – does not desire any human to go there. He does, however, leave the choice with you, but there is only one Door – repent and believe on Jesus Christ today to be your Lord and Savior.

Death is sure in this world. Funerals take place every day all around the world. Everyone reading this will one day yield up the ghost. For the believer that has died and for those believers that knew him or her that passed away, however, there is hope.

Just this past week, I was in a memorial service. My sister-in-law, who had COVID, died. Both my brother and his wife were saved and loved the Lord. They served in their local church in various ways and were a blessing to many.

For my surviving brother, there is hope. He knows very well that he will see her again in glory. He has calmness of heart and is confident – because of the plain teaching of the Bible – that the Lord took her home to Heaven. Yes, certainly there will be a time of grieving, which is natural, but hope is dominant. She has merely gone on ahead to a sure future with Christ.

For those who do not know the Lord and the Word of God, death is a tragedy. For the believer, there is calmness and hope – no sting of death. You see, the grave can only claim the body but not the spirit or soul. Because believers know that they will receive an immortal body one day – the grave has no victory. Christ makes the difference.

There is a great difference between the way believers and unbelievers view death. Believers understand that what Christ has done for us, enables us, like Paul, to be able to say: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8). To the believer, death is but a doorway to a glorious and eternal future with Christ.

If you do not have such confidence when you or a loved one faces that dark hour, follow the link to learn more about Bible salvation.