Is hell real?
Just in case you want to know. Well, actually I wanted you to know. Hell is real, y'all. Jesus saves!
I asked ChatGPT how hell was described in the Bible. Here's the answer and it's spot on!
ChatGPT said:
Hell is described in various ways in the Bible, often using symbolic language, and the descriptions differ depending on the biblical term used (e.g., Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus). Below is a summary of how hell is described, organized by key themes and passages:
1. Hell as a Place of Fire and Torment
Matthew 13:50 — “...and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Mark 9:43 — “...to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”
Revelation 20:14-15 — “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
These passages describe hell as a place of unquenchable fire, intense suffering, and eternal separation from God.
2. Hell as a Place of Confinement and Darkness
2 Peter 2:4 — “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell [Tartarus] and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness.”
Jude 1:13 — “...for whom the blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”
Imagery of chains, darkness, and isolation suggests imprisonment and despair rather than physical torment alone.
3. Sheol and Hades — The Grave or Underworld
Ecclesiastes 9:10 — “There is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”
Luke 16:23 — “In Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off...”
These terms often refer to the realm of the dead, but in some New Testament uses (like in Luke), Hades includes torment or awareness.
4. Gehenna — A Place of Judgment
Matthew 5:22 — “...whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell [Gehenna] of fire.”
Matthew 10:28 — “Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”
Gehenna is seen as the final place of judgment, where body and soul can be destroyed or punished. It’s the clearest parallel to the modern concept of hell.
5. Duration: Eternal or Not?
Matthew 25:46 — “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Revelation 14:11 — “The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever...”
Many passages suggest eternal punishment, though some Christian traditions argue these could mean complete destruction or annihilation, not eternal conscious torment.
Summary Table
Term | Meaning | Description | Key Verses
Sheol The grave, realm of the dead Shadowy place, no praise of God Psalm 6:5, Eccl 9:10
Hades Underworld, temporary place Sometimes includes torment Luke 16:23, Rev 20:13
Gehenna Final place of judgment Fiery, destructive, eternal consequences Matt 10:28, Mark 9:43
Tartarus Deep abyss for fallen angels Gloomy prison for divine beings 2 Peter 2:4
