Hell and Heaven are real, actual places of eternity. A description is probably not necessary as people regularly use the words. The word “Hell” is spoken by people who do not even believe in God: hotter than Hell, it will be a cold day in Hell, come Hell or high water, not a chance in Hell, it hurts like Hell, give them Hell, and go to Hell! If they want to give the extreme opposite analogy, they might say: A marriage made in Heaven, good Heavens, in Hog Heaven, Heaven help us, Heaven on earth, Heaven sent, it is heavenly, or even some paradise references. Hell is the epitome of negative, horrible, abominable, grotesque, appalling, and awful, while Heaven is portrayed as glorious, delightful, divine, wonderful, paradisiacal, perfect, and blissful.
1. What other phrases have you heard for Hell?
2. What other phrases have you heard for Heaven?
Everyone will end up in either place forever.
John 3:16 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. This verse refers to both places, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
3. How are both places described here?
4. What determines each person’s destination?
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5. Where does one find eternal life?
Romans 2:6-8 adds, “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
6. What is the result for those who are self-seeking and ignore the truth?
THERE IS A HELL
“I think hell's a real place where real people spend a real eternity.” Jerry Falwell
“There is no injustice in the grace of God. God is as just when He forgives a believer as when He casts a sinner into hell.” Charles Spurgeon
7. Do you agree or disagree with these quotes?
Revelation 21:8 says, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
8. How is Hell described?
“He also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Revelation 14:10-11
9. What descriptions are given of Hell?
“If we had more hell in the pulpit, we would have less hell in the pew.” Billy Graham
10. Do you think Hell is discussed too much or not enough?
Matthew 25:46 adds, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
11. How long is each destination?
“I would rather go to heaven alone than go to hell in company.” R.A. Torrey
12. How would you reply to the person who says, “I do not care where I go because I will have friends in both places?”
“Gehenna” is a Greek word translated as Hell. Charles C. Ryrie wrote that it is referencing a “refuse dump and a place of perpetual fire and loathsomeness, and the valley in Jerusalem illustrates the fire and awfulness of the lake of fire.”
13. As a summary, how would you describe Hell?
THERE IS A HEAVEN
“To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.” Jonathan Edwards
14. How do you view the worst day on earth compared to Hell, and the best day now compared to Heaven?
Jesus says in John 14:1-3, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
15. What does Jesus say about Heaven?
In Luke 23:43, Jesus is talking to a thief on the cross, “And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”
16. What images come to mind with the word “Paradise?”
Matthew 10:28 says, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
17. Who is being referenced?
Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
18. Does everyone go to Heaven? If not, do the majority of people?
Finally, Revelation 21:3-4 says, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’”
19. How is Heaven described?
“For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is. We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like. It is enough to know that we will be forever with Him.” William Barclay