Hell: A Place Best Avoided
Article:
Humanity has long grappled with the question of what becomes of us after death. Various religions propose that those deemed “bad” face eternal damnation in hell once they pass away. Within mainstream Christianity, interpretations of hell vary significantly. Some envision it as a fiery realm of ceaseless torment and “fire and brimstone,” where sinners endure perpetual suffering.
Dante Alighieri, in his epic “The Divine Comedy,” depicted hell as a place where sinners suffer poetic justice, punished in manners befitting their earthly sins. More contemporary Christian teachings have evolved towards a conception of hell as an eternal separation from God, rather than a place of physical torture. The prevailing Christian view is that hell is a permanent state of anguish reserved for nonbelievers and the wicked.
What is hell?
The detailed depictions of hell as a place of eternal torment or dark isolation from God are not explicitly supported by biblical scripture. In fact, such descriptions contradict one of the clearest biblical statements about the consequence of sin. In Romans 6:23, Apostle Paul articulates that sin leads to death, not eternal torment, and contrasts this with the promise of eternal life through Christ Jesus.
Paul emphasizes that sin results in eternal death—a stark contrast to the notion of an everlasting life in hell. His teaching aligns with Revelation 20:14, which describes the irredeemably evil’s fate as “the second death in the lake of fire,” a final obliteration, not an eternal torment. This interpretation is supported by other scriptures, like Matthew 10:28, which states that the lake of fire will completely destroy the wicked, and Malachi 4:1, which foretells a day when all evildoers will be consumed by fire.
In the New Testament, three Greek terms are translated into “hell”: Hades, Gehenna, and Tartaroo. Hades refers to a generic abode of the dead, similar to the Hebrew “Sheol,” indicating a grave or pit. Gehenna, originally a valley in Jerusalem where pagan sacrifices occurred, later symbolized the destructive “lake of fire” mentioned in Revelation 19:20. Tartaroo, mentioned once in 2 Peter 2:3, refers to a temporary holding place for demons awaiting judgment.
The parable of Lazarus and the rich man illustrates the stark contrasts between earthly life and the afterlife. In life, the rich man enjoyed luxury, while Lazarus suffered in poverty. In death, while Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s bosom, the rich man found himself in Hades, enduring torment. The rich man, in his agony, pleaded not for escape but for a momentary relief from Lazarus, which highlights the reversal of their fortunes and the rich man’s continued expectation of servitude from Lazarus.
Who was the first person to go to hell?
It might be inferred that the rich man was among the first to experience hell, though the Bible does not specify an individual explicitly. The Bible, mentioning hell 167 times, frames it as a real place, contrasting with heaven, a realm prepared by Jesus for those who love Him.
Hell is depicted as originally intended for the devil and his demons; however, due to human sinfulness, all who reach the age of accountability are deemed deserving of this fate. Jesus’ teachings in John 3:3 and Matthew 25:46 emphasize the necessity of being “born again” to avoid eternal punishment. Similarly, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 warns of eternal separation from God for those who reject the gospel of Jesus.
Ultimately, John 3:18 encapsulates the criteria for salvation or damnation: belief in Jesus. True belief, however, demands a profound transformation—a shift from self-worship to devoting one’s entire being to God.
