What Will Hell Be Like?

You Don’t Have to Go to Hell to Imagine What Hell Will Be Like

“…and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night…” (Rev. 14:10-11; 21:8).

Immensely Horrifying.

Imagine the jumping, jerking, and thrashing about of billions trying to escape the inescapable pain of eternal fire. Visualize the expressions of those who are tormented there. Imagine the looks of anguish, shock, misery, horror, and hopelessness. Such a sight would keep us up night after night in horror.

Extremely Noisy.

Imagine the wailing, screaming, yelling, and pleas for mercy as well as the endless pleading for it all to stop. Sounds we could not bear to hear. Piercing cries making our hearts race, hair stand, knees knock, and bodies tremble. These unbearable sounds would force us to cover our ears in nightmarish terror.

Profusely Disheartening.

Imagine seeing people we have known in continuous pain and torment—neighbors, the mailman, the woman at the cleaners, the assistant store manager, and so on. Sadder still, would be seeing some of our children, spouses, siblings, cousins, other relatives, friends, and even church members there. We could not bear to watch.

Enormously Frightening.

Imagine that you and I died wrong and while standing before the Judgment Seat of God, heard him say, “Depart from me.” (Matt. 25:31-33,41). Then we see angels coming for us to take us to hell and while hovering above the heat and fiery flames they let us go. That is so frightening it may even help save us (Jude 23).

Richard Stevens III