01 Dec Why God Made Hell: What The Bible Says 

If God is a good God, why did He create a place of eternal punishment? Was hell really necessary? What purpose does hell serve today? These questions and more are often asked by both believers and unbelievers alike. Because eternity is on the line, Christians need to educate themselves on the topic of hell. Having the ability to answer questions like the ones above will open the door for you to share your faith and the gift of eternity in heaven.

So, why did God make hell? At the beginning of the world, everything was perfect. There was no sin in the world. As God designed the world, He created everything to reflect His goodness and perfection. However, sin quickly entered the world through Adam and Eve. Satan, an angel who rebelled against God, was cast out of heaven. Because of sin, God had to create hell, a place that is void of His goodness and mercy.

None of us like to discuss the topic of hell. In fact, most people shy away from the topic of death altogether. However, as Christians, we know our eternal destiny. We have been called by God to share the truth of eternity with the people around us, spreading the good news of the Gospel. By educating yourself on the topic of hell, you can more effectively share your faith with the people you meet.

In this post, we will take a closer look at what the Bible says about the reason God created hell. We will also cover popular questions regarding the location of hell, what hell looks like, and much more. Through this article, we hope to provide you with valuable insight that will inform your view of heaven, hell, and the Gospel.

What the Bible Says About Why God Made Hell

While there are many educated pastors, teachers, and theologians, the Bible is the most reliable source for learning more about why God made hell. Fortunately, we can find great insight into this very topic in both the Old and New Testaments. 

What is Hell?

Before we can begin taking a closer look at why God created hell, we must first develop an understanding of what hell really is. Throughout the Bible, we find countless mentions of hell as the “lake of fire”. We read of horrible sounds and horrific sights. Hell is a place that is void of everything that is good. In hell, there is no access to the many gifts that God has created for our enjoyment.

While some religions teach that hell is simply a state of mind, the Bible teaches that hell is a physical location, located deep within the core of the earth. Although much of hell remains a mystery due to a lack of human understanding, there are several details we can find throughout the Bible. A few of the defining factors of hell include the following: 

• Everlasting Fire
• Eternal Separation from God
• Weeping
• Darkness
• Gnashing of Teeth
• Torment and Anguish

These are very real attributes that are confirmed in numerous places throughout Scripture. From these facts, we know that hell is, in fact, a real location where unbelievers will go upon death.

Why Did God Create Hell?

As mentioned previously, hell did not exist during creation. When God created the world, He created a perfect place that reflected His goodness and perfection. However, sin quickly entered the world. God is pure perfection. While He is gracious and loving, He can not have anything unholy enter His presence. 

Once sin entered the world, death quickly followed. While God wishes for all people to spend eternity in heaven, many choose to reject the free gift of salvation that grants them forgiveness for their intentional and unintentional sins. Although hell is a harsh reality of life in a fallen world, there is hope! Through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, we are provided with the ability to escape the punishment we deserve in hell, instead spending eternity in the presence of God.

Is Hell a Real Place?

You have likely heard concepts and theories of other religions who teach that hell is simply a state of being, it is not a physical location. However, from the countless descriptions found throughout Scripture, we know that hell is a real place.

Hell is the eternal destination for anyone who did not accept the gift of salvation, repenting of their sins before death. Hell is a horrific place full of nothing but torment and anguish. Hell is located deep within the center of the earth. However, if you were able to dig to this location, you would not find anything. This is due to the fact that the demons and spirits found in hell exist only in the spiritual dimension, not the physical dimension.

What Does Hell Look Like?

Much like heaven, we are not provided with many visual descriptions of what hell looks like. This is likely because human knowledge and language are incapable of properly capturing the horrors that are to be found in hell. From the descriptions found in the Bible, we can assume that hell is a fiery place. 

When speaking of hell, Revelation 21:8 reads, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

We also find that hell is described as a place of overwhelming darkness, both metaphorically and realistically. Hell is described as the “realm of darkness” in many passages throughout the Bible.

While we may not have a precise description of what hell looks like, we are provided with enough to know that it is not a place we want to spend eternity! In addition to the awful sights, sounds, and smells, the Bible also says that hell will be full of constant torment and anguish with no relief for all of eternity. Yikes! 

Bible Verses On the Topic of Hell

The best way to learn more about hell is to read about it in the Bible. While there are countless Bible verses about hell, here are a few of the most popular verses in which to begin your study:

• Acts 2:27
• Matthew 13:42; 50
• Matthew 25:41; 46
• Mark 9:43
• Psalm 9:17
• Revelation 20:10; 14-15
• Revelation 21:8
• 2 Peter 2:4
• 2 Thessalonians 1:9

By taking the time to develop your own understanding of what the Bible says about hell and why it was created, you can more effectively share your beliefs with those around you. As Christians, we are called to share the good news of the Gospel – a topic that heavily involves our eternal destination.

Heaven vs. Hell

We all want to believe in life after death. When someone dies, we console their loved ones with the fact that they are now in a “better place”. Unfortunately, however, this isn’t always the case. Because God is a gracious God, He has provided a way for all of us to spend eternity in heaven. God sent His son Jesus Christ to earth to take on the punishment we deserve. This incredible sacrifice grants each of us the opportunity to receive forgiveness for our sins, past, present, and future.  

God is perfectly just and righteous in all of His ways. He cannot let sin go unpunished. While we all have the ability to receive forgiveness, many people will reject this gift. Because of this, there must be an alternative to eternity in heaven. That place is hell.

Hell is completely the opposite of everything that is heaven. Heaven is a peaceful, beautiful place where believers will spend eternity glorifying God. In hell, people will face an eternity separated from Him, suffering eternal torment and punishment.

In His great grace, God has provided a way for us to spend eternity by His side. However, we must accept salvation, acknowledging our great need for a Savior, and committing our lives to follow Him.

You can learn more about accepting Jesus as your Savior and spending eternity in heaven here.

In Conclusion

In the beginning, hell did not exist. In a perfect world, we would all spend eternity in the presence of God. However, sin quickly entered the world. Because God can not have anything less than perfection in His presence, the need for an alternate destination arose. Hell is the eternal destination of those who refuse to acknowledge their need for a Savior and accept forgiveness for their sins through salvation. 

At Liberty Justice HQ, we are passionate about spreading the good news of the Gospel, in hopes that people will accept the gift of salvation. Through this gift, you are granted forgiveness of your sins and given eternal life in the presence of God. If you have further questions about what it means to be saved, or how you can be sure that you will not spend eternity in hell, do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We would consider it a privilege to provide you with resources as you embark on this important journey. Eternity is at stake, do you know where you are going?