Would a Loving God Really Send People to Hell? This question unsettles many—and it should. But the answer isn’t found in wishful thinking or emotion. It’s found in the Word of God, confirmed by the lips of Jesus Christ. ⸻
HELL IS REAL — JESUS WARNED ABOUT IT MORE THAN ANYONE
Jesus, the Lamb of God, gave the most vivid warnings:
“Fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28
“Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:48
“Depart from Me… into the eternal fire.”
Matthew 25:41
He spoke of Gehenna 11 times—more than any other figure in Scripture. Altogether, Jesus referred to hell and judgment over 40 times, using phrases like:
• “Outer darkness”
• “Weeping and gnashing of teeth”
• “Unquenchable fire”
• “Eternal punishment”
Hell isn’t folklore. It’s real. And Jesus came to rescue us from it.
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BIBLICAL TERMS FOR HELL — WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE ACTUALLY SAY?
• Sheol (OT Hebrew): the grave, the realm of the dead (Psalm 16:10; Ecclesiastes 9:10)
• Hades (NT Greek): the temporary place of the unsaved dead (Luke 16:23)
• Gehenna: the eternal place of fire and judgment (Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:43)
• Tartarus: the abyss for rebellious angels (2 Peter 2:4)
Revelation 20 is clear: Hades will one day be cast into the Lake of Fire—the final hell.
“If anyone’s name was not found in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:15
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HELL IS JUST — BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY
Sin is treason against the infinite God. Hell is not an overreaction. It is the measured, eternal consequence of rejecting the Eternal One.
“The wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23
“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9
God takes no pleasure in judgment—but He won’t force anyone into His kingdom.
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FALSE TEACHINGS DENY HELL — BUT THE BIBLE AND EARLY CHURCH DID NOT
• Universalism says all are saved in the end. But Jesus said:
“Wide is the road that leads to destruction… and many enter through it.”
Matthew 7:13
• Annihilationism claims the lost simply cease to exist. But Jesus warned of “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41) and “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46) using the same word for eternity as for eternal life (aiōnios).
The early church fathers—Tertullian, Augustine, Chrysostom—firmly taught eternal conscious punishment. So did the Apostles’ Creed:
“He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”
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ESCHATOLOGY — HELL IS THE FINAL DESTINATION FOR THE REBELLIOUS
At the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20), the lost will be resurrected and judged.
Satan, the Antichrist, and all unbelievers will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
This is the second death. Revelation 20:14
But it doesn’t have to be your future.
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BUT GOD… RICH IN MERCY
“God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
“God demonstrates His love… while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Jesus took the wrath of hell on Himself—so you wouldn’t have to.
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HOW CAN YOU BE SAVED—AND KNOW IT?
1.Repent and believe
“Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
2.Confess Jesus as Lord
“If you confess with your mouth… and believe… you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
3.Trust God’s promise
“Whoever hears my word and believes… has eternal life. He does not come into judgment.” (John 5:24)
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ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
If you’re in Christ, you are sealed (Ephesians 1:13), secure (John 10:28), and eternally loved (Romans 8:38–39).
Hell is real. So is salvation. Flee to the Cross. Jesus saves.