4FPW Index

Bible Study 17
What And Where Is Hell?

When will a "harvest," or separation between the wicked and the righteous take place?
"The enemy that sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire: so shall it be in the end of this world."
Matthew 13:39, 40

Can we be certain that no person, righteous or wicked, will receive any reward or punishment before the Second Coming of Jesus?
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."
Matthew 16:27

Note: Bible statements regarding the judgment and punishment of the wicked and the eternal reward of the righteous are numerous and clear. They plainly reveal that the wicked are not now "burning in hell" nor yet have the righteous received their reward! Notice these typical Scripture declarations:

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished."
2 Peter 2:9

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
Revelation 22:12

Will God find pleasure in the death of the wicked?
"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die …?"
Ezekiel 33:11

Is it God's plan that anyone should perish?
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9 (New King James Version)

For whom will God prepare the final fire of judgment?

New Testament Prophecy:

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Matthew 25:41

Old Testament Prophecy:

"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee."
Ezekiel 28:18

How utterly complete will be the destruction of Satan and those wicked ones who have refused salvation?

Of Satan:

"All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more."
Ezekiel 28:19

Of The Wicked:

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch."
Malachi 4:1

Note: See how plainly the Bible describes the utter destruction of the wicked:

"The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy."
Psalm 145:20

"The wicked shall perish … they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away."
Psalm 37:20

"The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them."
Psalm 21:9

"They shall be as though they had not been."
Obadiah 16

After the destruction of the wicked is completed, how much fire will remain?
"Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."
Isaiah 47:14

What does the Bible call the death that is the final punishment of the wicked?
"The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Revelation 21:8

How clearly did Jesus indicate that the "second death" judgment will destroy both body and soul?
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Matthew 10:28

Note: The expression "hell" is actually translated from the original language meaning "grave." While some believe a soul cannot die or be destroyed, the Bible plainly declares, "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4.

What kind of fire will God use to ultimately cleanse the earth of sin?
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
Jude 7

Note: This "eternal" fire is not burning today! It is the effect of the fire that is eternal, and not the fire itself.

Is there another example of "eternal" or "unquenchable" fire in the Bible?
"But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched."
Jeremiah 17:27

Note: Ancient Jerusalem was burned with a fire that could not be quenched (Jeremiah 52:12, 13). It burned the city to the ground, but it is not burning today!

Doesn't the Bible contradict itself? Doesn't the Bible speak of Judgment Fire that burns for ever and ever?
"And the devil that received them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Revelation 20:10

Note: At first glance it may appear that the Bible is contradicting itself. But Scripture must be compared with Scripture. For example, the previous verse in Revelation (20:9) declares:

"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."
Revelation 20:9

Note: "Fire from God devours them!" God does not burn human beings for millions of years because they lived wickedly for 60, 70 or 80 years here on earth. This is not consistent with God's love or character or the whole of Scripture on the subject. The results of the fire are eternal, not the fire itself!

Are there other examples of "for ever" used in Scripture that can clarify this matter?
"His master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever."
Exodus 21:6

Note: "For ever" must necessarily mean for as long as the servant remained alive.

"But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.... For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord."
1 Samuel 1:22, 27, 28

4Previous Study:
(1,000 Years Of Peace)

4Next Study:
(The Bible And Good Health)

4Download PDF version of the complete book: (10 mins.)
4Acrobat PDF Reader not Installed?
4Free Download