What Does the Bible Say About Hell — In Biblical Context
The Bible describes hell as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering and darkness, prepared for the devil and his angels.
The Bible describes hell as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering and darkness, prepared for the devil and his angels.
"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 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Hell is a difficult but clearly biblical doctrine. Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else in Scripture, describing it as a place of 'outer darkness' (Matthew 25:30), 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Matthew 13:42), and 'everlasting fire' (Matthew 25:41). The rich man in Luke 16 experienced conscious torment. Revelation describes the 'lake of fire' as the final destiny of the unrepentant (Revelation 20:15). Hell was originally prepared for Satan and fallen angels (Matthew 25:41), not for humans—God desires all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Hell's existence underscores the seriousness of sin, the reality of human choice, and the urgency of the gospel message. God has done everything possible through Christ to keep people from hell.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Matthew 25:41, sits inside Matthew 25. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"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."
Supporting Passages
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
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