Question 47: What is Hell?

Paul writes to encourage believers facing intense persecution for their faith. Paul explains that when Jesus returns, he will punish those who refuse to know God and obey the gospel. This punishment is final—permanent exclusion from God's presence and glory. It’s a conscious, eternal separation from the one who created humanity for relationship with himself. Since people are created with a built-in longing to be with God, experiencing his complete absence brings torment. Jesus uses vivid imagery to describe this eternal separation as weeping, gnashing of teeth, outer darkness and unquenchable fire (Matthew 13:42, 8:12, Mark 9:43)...