Hell Is Hellish – Luke 16:22-26

In today’s text, Pastor Paul will explore the biblical description of hell, with the hope that believers will be compelled to proclaim the gospel to sinners so that they might avoid going there. Hell is real. Hell is hellish. Though this passage may be presented as a parable about Lazarus and the rich man, the reality it conveys is sobering—many are entering hell today and will remain there for eternity. On Earth, people receive second chances and opportunities to recover from failure. But once someone enters hell, there is no return.

Hell is described here as Hades. Hades is the general dwelling place of the dead. Broadly speaking, it consists of two realms—the place of blessing and the place of torment. The rich man, in torment, looked up and saw Lazarus in comfort. In Hebrew, Hades is referred to as Sheol, the realm of the dead. In this intermediate state, the righteous and the unrighteous are separated. What is experienced in Hades anticipates the final reality of hell.

Hades foreshadows hell. The dead await the return of Christ. After the millennial kingdom and the final judgment, those in Hades will be cast into hell (Gehenna), the lake of fire. In other words, sinners are presently confined in Hades awaiting their final sentencing. Revelation 20:14 declares, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”

Hell is a conscious state of existence following physical death. In hell, they experience real suffering rather than ceasing to exist. Some deny consciousness after death, but Scripture clearly teaches otherwise. “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom…” (Luke 16:23–25, 27–28). Both the rich man and Lazarus are conscious. They remember their lives, their identities, and even their families.

Although sinners are conscious in Hades, they are consciously separated from God. Their awareness intensifies their suffering. The rich man cried out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me… for I am in agony in this flame” (Luke 16:24). He was fully aware of his pain and helplessness.

Jesus depicts several sobering images of hell in this passage:

• Torment and fire. The agony never ends. Hell is the outpouring of God’s righteous wrath. It is divine justice. In hell, sinners are utterly separated from God and from all that is good.
• The undying worm. This imagery conveys relentless, unending torment without relief.
• Unquenchable thirst. The rich man longed for even a drop of water to cool his tongue (v. 24), but God’s judgment would not permit it.
• Memory and awareness. The rich man remembered the comforts of his earthly life, which only deepened his anguish. The torment is not merely physical but also psychological and spiritual.

The torment of hell is just. God’s justice demands full accountability. Hell is the consequence of a sinner’s decision to remain in unbelief. Even in torment, there is no repentance. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “The gates of hell are locked from the inside.”

• Christopher W. Morgan describes it this way:
• “Those in hell suffer intense and excruciating pain—emotional, spiritual, and physical. Hell is worse than being drowned in the sea. It is worse than any earthly suffering. The suffering never ends… The intensity of the suffering corresponds to the wickedness of the person’s behavior. Hell is utterly dreadful; the suffering is constant.”
• Revelation 14:11 declares, “The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night.”
• Hell is eternal because the soul does not die, and sin is committed against an eternal, holy God. The infinite worth of the One sinned against explains the eternal weight of judgment.

There are several impossibilities in hell:

• Irreversible unbelief. The rich man cried, “Father Abraham,” revealing his Jewish heritage. Yet lineage and religious background cannot save. There is no repentance after death.
• No transformation. If the heart is not changed on earth, it will not be changed in hell. The rich man sought relief, not repentance.
• Unbridgeable separation. A great chasm separates the righteous from the unrighteous. This division is fixed by God Himself.
• No mediator. The rich man appealed to Abraham, but there is no mediator in hell. The only mediator between God and man is Jesus Christ.
• No annihilation. Scripture does not teach that hell is temporary or that its inhabitants cease to exist. The language of “destroy” often refers to ruin and ongoing torment. Revelation describes the torment as “forever and ever.” Hell is a present and continuing reality.

Understanding the permanence of hell and the impossibility of escape should drive every Christian to examine their faith and urgently proclaim the gospel. None of us knows when our last day will be, yet most live as though we have unlimited time.

R.C. Sproul warns:
“Two words you never want to hear from God are ‘too late.’ God is merciful beyond human comprehension. But His mercy has a boundary—the end of your life. ‘It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment’ (Heb. 9:27). If we cry for mercy after we’re dead, it is too late. If you truly understand the reality of hell, you would crawl over broken glass to the cross—to the only One who can bring you safely home for eternity.”

Do you desire to be saved? Nothing is more important. Nothing should come before your salvation. Delaying your salvation is dangerous. Today is the day of salvation. If, by God’s grace, you understand the gospel, then repent of your sins and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life.