Welcome to another enlightening episode of *Bible Stories*! Today, we’re diving deep into a topic that has sparked countless questions and discussions over the centuries—the truth about life in hell, according to the Bible. What if I told you that hell, as many imagine it, is currently empty? It’s a surprising thought, right? But the Bible has some profound truths to reveal about the nature of hell, the afterlife, and the eternal consequences of our choices. As believers, understanding what the Bible truly says about hell isn’t just a matter of curiosity; it’s about grasping the reality of God’s justice, mercy, and the destiny that awaits every soul. In this video, we’ll explore what hell is really like, who is destined to go there, and what the Bible teaches us about the different realms of the afterlife. Whether you’re new to these concepts or have been studying the Scriptures for years, this episode will provide you with fresh insights and deeper understanding.
But before we get started, I want to invite you to join our growing community here at *Bible Stories*. If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode. Don’t forget to leave a like if you find this video helpful, and share your thoughts in the comments below—we love hearing from you! And if you feel inspired by today’s message, please share this video with your church group, family, and friends. Together, we can spread the truth of God’s Word far and wide. What if I told you that hell is currently empty? You might be surprised to learn that even those who have committed the gravest sins aren’t yet facing eternal flames. But before we dive into this topic, welcome to “God’s Word Unmasked,” where we explore the depths of biblical history to uncover hidden truths and fascinating stories.
If you enjoy our content, consider subscribing; we promise to keep bringing you thought-provoking and enlightening videos. Welcome back to our “Life After Death” series. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the other videos in this series, which are available in the playlist linked in the description box below. In our previous discussions, we examined what the Bible really says about whether people go directly to heaven when they die. Today, we’ll explore what hell is truly like according to the Bible.
We all know that as believers in Christ, we will enter paradise after death—a topic we’ll explore in greater detail in another video. But what actually happens to those who don’t believe in God? Fortunately, the Bible provides clear answers. To understand, we must recognize that what we commonly think of as “hell” is not just one place but actually comprises three distinct realms. Let’s start with a story Jesus tells about the rich man and Lazarus, which will help us grasp this concept. We’ll provide a brief summary, but for the full story, check the link in the description below. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus shares a powerful narrative about two men: a wealthy man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man enjoyed a life of luxury, while Lazarus, covered in sores, lay at the rich man’s gate, longing for the scraps from his table. When both men died, their fates were dramatically reversed. Lazarus, the poor man, was carried by angels to a place of comfort and rest known as Abraham’s bosom, often interpreted as paradise. The rich man, however, found himself in Hades, a place of torment. Despite being in the same general realm of the dead, a great chasm separated them, preventing the rich man from crossing over to where Lazarus was. Desperate, the rich man cried out to Abraham for mercy, asking him to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, for he was tormented in flames. But Abraham reminded him that during his lifetime, he had received good things while Lazarus had endured evil. Now, their roles were reversed, and the gulf between them was fixed, making it impossible to cross.
This story reveals the agony of the rich man’s situation, tormented by flames and longing for even a drop of water. It also illustrates that there is no crossing between the comfort of paradise and the torment of Hades. Now, let’s delve deeper. In the Old Testament, Hades is often translated as Sheol, the realm of the dead—a place where all souls go after death. However, as we see in the story of Lazarus and the rich man, not all souls experience the same fate in Hades. In ancient Jewish understanding, Sheol was where the dead awaited final judgment; both the righteous and the unrighteous went there, but their experiences were vastly different. For example, in Psalm 16, King David expresses his deep trust in God to preserve life from death, stating, “For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.” This verse suggests that even the righteous went to Sheol but awaited their deliverance.
Furthermore, Enoch, who had visions of different heavenly realms, believed that the spirits of the unrighteous are held in a place of great pain, awaiting the day of judgment. The Book of Jasher, which speaks of the wicked descending into a dark place filled with sorrow and suffering, reinforces the idea that Sheol, or Hades, is not a place of rest for those who have lived in defiance of God. In summary, the first part of hell is in Hades, known as a place of torment for those who do not believe in Christ. Hades is a realm of suffering, a foretaste of the final judgment to come. The rich man’s experience gives us a glimpse of what this torment is like—being tormented in flames, where relief is unattainable and the suffering is endless. The Bible also describes Hades as a place of regret and despair. Sheol, or Hades, represents the first aspect of hell, a place of conscious torment where the unrighteous are separated from the righteous, awaiting the final judgment. It is a place of fire, regret, and unending pain, where the consequences of a life lived apart from God are fully realized. The torment in Hades is just a prelude to the final eternal punishment that awaits after the day of judgment. Next, we’ll explore the second part of hell: Tartarus. This place is described as a prison for fallen angels and demons, a realm of even deeper darkness and torment. Tartarus is mentioned in both biblical and extra-biblical texts as a place of severe punishment.
In Greek understanding, Tartarus was a deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment for the wicked. The Bible adopts this concept to Let’s take a closer look at where certain fallen angels are held until the day of judgment. In 2 Peter, we find a passage that says, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment.” The word “hell” in this verse is actually translated from the Greek word “Tartarus.” Here, Peter explains that God did not spare these rebellious angels but instead cast them into Tartarus, a place of deep darkness where they are bound in chains, awaiting their final judgment. The Book of Enoch adds more details about Tartarus.
It describes the fall of certain angels, often called the Watchers, who descended to Earth and took human wives, resulting in the birth of the Nephilim. Due to their disobedience, these angels were bound by God and thrown into a place of deep darkness, consistent with the Tartarus described by Peter. In the Book of Enoch, it is written that the Lord commanded the angel Raphael to bind Azazel, one of the leaders of these fallen angels, and cast him into darkness, making an opening in the desert of Dudael and throwing him there. Azazel was covered with jagged rocks and left in darkness, never to see the light again. This scene closely mirrors Peter’s description of Tartarus, where the rebellious angels are imprisoned.
Another reference to this concept is found in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in Luke 8:30-31. In this passage, Jesus encounters a man possessed by demons in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus asks the man’s name, he replies “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. The demons then beg Jesus not to send them into the “abyss,” which can be understood as Tartarus. The Book of Enoch and Peter’s epistle both describe how these fallen angels are kept in Tartarus, awaiting final judgment. This concept is not just a creation of apocryphal texts; it is acknowledged in the New Testament as the place where God’s judgment on these rebellious angels is executed. Jude 1:6 reinforces this by stating, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. The torment experienced in Tartarus is said to be even more intense than the suffering in Hades. While Hades is where the souls of the unrighteous dead await judgment, Tartarus is reserved for the fallen angels who committed grave sins against God. The fact that these angels are held in Tartarus highlights the severity of their rebellion and the seriousness of their punishment. We’ve now covered Sheol or Hades, the place where the souls of the unrighteous await judgment, and Tartarus, the abyss where fallen angels are held in chains. Now, let’s explore the most terrifying part of hell: the Lake of Fire. This is the final destination for all who do not believe in Christ—the place of ultimate and eternal punishment. The Lake of Fire is described as the final place of torment for the wicked after the day of judgment. Unlike Sheol or Hades, which are temporary holding places, the Lake of Fire is permanent. This is the hell most people think of—a place of eternal fire, torment, and separation from God. The Book of Revelation paints a clear picture of this final judgment, stating, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” This passage from Revelation emphasizes the finality and severity of the Lake of Fire as the ultimate punishment for those who are not found in the Book of Life. The final judgment is described as the moment when death and Hades themselves are cast into the Lake of Fire, a place known as the second death, signifying a final and irreversible state. Anyone whose name isn’t found in the Book of Life will be thrown into this Lake, where they will face eternal punishment. The Book of Enoch offers a vivid depiction of the fate of the wicked, describing a blazing fire reserved for the unrighteous and the fallen angels. This fire is unquenchable, and the torment experienced there is beyond anything imaginable.
In Enoch 54, it is written that on that great day, the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Phanuel will seize the wicked and cast them into a burning furnace, so the Lord of Spirits may take vengeance on them for their unrighteousness in following Satan and leading others astray. This furnace, described as the Lake of Fire, is where God’s wrath is fully unleashed upon those aligned with Satan. It’s crucial to understand that no one is currently in the Lake of Fire. This place of ultimate punishment is reserved for after the final judgment. As Revelation 20:14 states, only after this judgment will death, Hades, and all whose names are not in the Book of Life be cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation also mentions that the Beast and the False Prophet, who deceived many, will be captured and cast alive into this Lake, burning with brimstone. The Lake of Fire is depicted as a place of unimaginable torment, unlike the temporary suffering in Hades. The punishment here is eternal—where the fire is never quenched, and the pain never ends. In Mark 9, Jesus warns about the severity of this place, saying that it is better to lose a hand than to be thrown into hell, where the fire is never quenched, and the worm never dies. This vivid imagery illustrates a terrifying scene of endless decay and burning, a place of eternal suffering for the soul. As we’ve discussed, the Lake of Fire isn’t a current destination for the dead but a future reality after the day of judgment. Revelation 20 makes it clear that only after the final judgment will the unrighteous be cast into this Lake. This serves as a sobering reminder that the choices we make in this life have eternal consequences.
Revelation 20:10 further states that after the final battle, Satan himself will be cast into the Lake of Fire, where he will join the Beast and the False Prophet. This moment will mark the ultimate defeat of evil and the beginning of eternal torment for all who have opposed God. The Lake of Fire is the final destination for all who reject Christ—a place of eternal punishment, burning with fire and brimstone, where suffering never ends. Even the mightiest of beings, including Satan, will be tormented day and night forever. When someone dies today, they do not go directly to the Lake of Fire, which is often thought of as hell. Instead, those who do not believe in Christ go to Hades, specifically to the tormenting portion of it. This is a place of suffering and regret, where souls wait in anguish until the final Judgment Day. In contrast, those who have followed Christ and lived righteously are taken to the other side of Hades—a place of peace and comfort, often referred to as Paradise. Here, they wait peacefully until Judgment Day, free from the torment that the unrighteous endure. Tartarus, as we’ve discussed, is a separate place within hell, reserved for higher beings—fallen angels who have sinned against God. They are bound in chains of darkness, awaiting their own final judgment. Finally, after Judgment Day, both humans and these higher beings who have rejected God will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
This is the true hell—a place of eternal torment, where suffering never ends. The Lake of Fire is the final and permanent destination for all who have turned away from God. Jesus came and died to show us the path to life, to save us from the torment of Hades, Tartarus, and ultimately the Lake of Fire. He offers us the way to Paradise, a place of rest and peace, as we await the day when all things are made new. Remember, the choices we make now determine where our souls will spend eternity—whether in the comfort of Paradise or in the torment of Hades leading to the Lake of Fire. As we wrap up today’s discussion on the truth about life in hell, it’s clear that the Bible offers a sobering yet vital message. Hell is not just a place of torment but a reality that reflects the ultimate consequences of rejecting God’s love and mercy. But it’s also important to remember that this knowledge isn’t meant to inspire fear; it’s a call to live in the light of God’s truth, making choices that align with His will and lead us toward eternal life in His presence. Jesus Christ came to show us the path to salvation, to save us from the torment of Hades, Tartarus, and ultimately the Lake of Fire. The choices we make now have eternal significance—whether we choose the comfort of Paradise or the torment of eternal separation from God. I hope today’s episode has given you a deeper understanding of these critical truths and has encouraged you to reflect on your own spiritual journey. If this video resonated with you, please give it a thumbs up and share it with others.
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