WHERE IS HELL?

Hell (in Greek, Hades) is a real, spiritual place where the souls of the unrighteous dead go after death. Though it is invisible to human eyes, Scripture describes it as a place of conscious torment and separation from God (Luke 16:23-24). It is not the final destination, but a temporary holding place for the wicked, until the final judgment.

WHO GOES TO HELL?
Hell is the destination for those who die outside of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Those who reject the grace of God offered through the sacrifice of Jesus on the crossnare choosing to remain under the judgment of their sin.

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:36 (NKJV)

At death, a person’s eternal fate is sealed (Hebrews 9:27). Those who die in sin unrepentant and without Christ descend into Hades, where they are held in torment until the day of final judgment. Jesus described this vividly in the story of the rich man and Lazarus:

“And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
Luke 16:23 (NKJV)

They will remain in Hades until the Great White Throne Judgment, described in Revelation 20:

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it… And the dead were judged according to their works… Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
Revelation 20:11-14 (NKJV)

After judgment, all who are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire an eternal place of punishment prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). This is the final, irreversible destination of the wicked.

WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS?
Those who die in Christ do not go to Hades, but rather to Paradise a place of peace, rest, and fellowship with God. Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross:

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (NKJV)

This is a temporary state of blessedness where the righteous await the resurrection at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), when their bodies will be transformed and glorified, and they will be forever with the Lord in Heaven.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NKJV)

THE URGENCY OF DECISION
There is no second chance to repent after death. Once a soul enters eternity, their destiny is fixed.

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)

So the question remains: Have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living under His grace, or are you walking toward eternal separation from God? The Bible urges us: