Many unbelievers deny it. Skeptics have scoffed at it. Professed Christians question it. Decidedly, it is an unpopular doctrine today. Preachers seldom mention it; some of them openly reject it. In view of this array of opposition what shall we say? Simply this; that men are but men, who of themselves know nothing beyond this present life on earth.
Now, God is GOD: He who made all things, who put man upon this earth, and to whom man therefore is accountable. As He is the Eternal I AM, let us inquire of Him; let His Word be our guide. What has He said?
"I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." Luke 12:4, 54And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12:4‑5). He who knows there is a hell which "is prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:4141Then 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)), tells us that men also may be cast into it.
"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." Matt. 10:2828And 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). It is possible, then, for the body as well as the soul to be cast into hell.
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works ... .And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:13-1513And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:13‑15). In this we see that being cast into hell—fire is after the dead are raised out of the sea and out of the graves: and the judgment is passed upon "whosoever is not found written in the book of life.”
The character of those cast into hell is described thus: "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." Rev. 21:88But 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). "The lake of fire this is the second death." Rev. 20:1414And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14).
There is no need of comment upon these statements of God's Word. God is too great, too good, too holy to deceive any of His creatures. It is the "God who cannot lie" that in love warns men lest they come into that place of torment.
From these few passages of Scripture (a few out of many others) we learn that there is a hell, the future doom of the lost who die in their sins unconverted to God; that their souls remain in conscious misery, apart from the body, until the resurrection of judgment (John 5:2929And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29)). Body and soul reunited, they will be raised: death and hades deliver up their dead to stand before the Great White Throne, God's last assize, from which they are cast into the dread Gehenna, or hell of fire, the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, the final doom of the devil and of the lost. Now it is the profligate's byword and the scoffer's jest: then it will be the awful answer to the slighted grace and love of God.
Reader, there is a hell. Flee from it while you may, to Christ, the only Savior. "This Man receiveth sinners.”