Is Hell Forever? Are People in Hell Now?

Approximate Reading Time: 15 minutes

[This article also includes a 2-part podcast discussion. Part 1: website, Apple or Android. Part 2: website, Apple, or Android]

I’m always learning, so I don’t pretend to have everything figured out. However, some subjects seem straightforward enough. Hell is one of those things that, although I hadn’t studied it extensively, I thought I understood.

Wrong.

I’ve spent the last few months studying for a series that examines the three major views on Hell (Universalism, Annihilationism, and Eternal Conscious Torment). While studying, I kept hitting a wall because people were talking about Hell as two different places. Even people who agree on what happens to the unsaved were contradicting one another in how they defined Hell. Likewise, I suspect many more people may not realize that their understanding of the “where and when” of Hell is a bit contradictory.

Let me demonstrate by asking the two questions I puzzled over.

Do the unsaved go to Hell when they die?

Do the unsaved spend eternity in Hell?

It’s probably not obvious why answering “yes” to both of those is impossible, even though many of us have been raised to think this way. But because so many people do try to answer yes to both, many of us grow to be confused about what Hell actually is. To that end, let’s look at what God has revealed about the future, what the Bible says about Hell, and why we may be so confused.

A sequence of events

Before digging in, we must look at what will happen after death. The specifics may differ, but this is something both Annihilationists and traditional views would mostly agree on. For sake of length, I’m only going to trace the journey of someone who dies without Jesus Christ.

The journey of the unsaved

Death – A person dies and their physical and spiritual presence on earth ends.

Waiting Room – God must judge them for breaking His law, but not yet. Therefore, their soul immediately goes somewhere to await God’s judgment. This is what many would call Hell.

Resurrection – Once the events in Revelation conclude, Revelation 20:13 shows that God resurrects every unsaved person who has ever existed.

Judgment – The bigger picture of Revelation 20:12-13 shows that these resurrected people are judged “according to what they had done.”

Final Sentencing – After being judged, Revelation 20:15 reveals that all unsaved will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire forever. This is what many would call Hell.

Do the unsaved immediately go to Hell when they die or is that where they go after judgment? I’m sure you can better appreciate my confusion. However, I believe there’s a clear answer.

But before we can find that answer, we need to add to the confusion by acknowledging that no Bible writer ever used the word “Hell” in the original Greek or Hebrew.

The names of Hell

As we’ll soon see, the greatest confusion about Hell comes not from the inspired writers, but from the human translators who allow us to read God’s word in our language. Whenever someone translates any language, they must make important decisions about what English word best fits the meaning and context of what they’re translating. These decisions can only be as perfect as the translator themselves, so it’s only logical that some decisions may not be the best ones.

In the Bible, four words are either directly translated as “Hell,” or are assumed to be talking about Hell by modern readers. These words are:

Sheol. Whenever the Old Testament talks about the afterlife for humans, they always call it Sheol. This simply meant “the grave,” and it’s where everybody went. It’s clear from reading the Old Testament that God hadn’t revealed much about the intricacies of the afterlife. I don’t think this is ever translated as “Hell,” but the contempt of Sheol comes up in the New Testament.

Example: The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. (Psalm 18:5, KJV) [As we see in more modern translations, the original Hebrew would read as “The sorrows of Sheol compassed me about.”]

Hades. This one shows up quite often in the New Testament. When the contents of the New Testament were written, readers of that time would have understood Hades the same way we think about it today. Hades is the god of the dead in Greek mythology, and the Bible writers adopted that word as a Greek comparison to the Hebrew word sheol. Although the writers didn’t believe Hades was a real deity, the concept made it obvious to Greek readers that they were talking about where the dead go.

Example: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) [In Greek, this reads “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.]

Tartarus. This is another example of borrowing Greek mythology for theological concepts. In mythology, wicked people went to Tartarus when they died. In the Bible, this word is only used once, though it’s likely also hinted at in Judge 1:6. In these, Tartarus refers to a prison where rebellious angels are chained up. Because of how it’s used, Tartarus may be a specific room in Hades.

Example: For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment (2 Peter 2:4) [In Greek, this reads “…but cast them into Tartarus and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness…”]

Gehenna. Gehenna is a place that is today known as the “Valley of Hinom” outside Jerusalem. Jeremiah 7:31 tells us that Israel used this place to sacrifice children to Moloch. In the New Testament, it’s commonly believed that the valley was used to burn garbage and dead animals, with fires burning non-stop. Jewish writings after Christ refer to Gehenna as a fiery place of torment for the wicked, and it’s possible that the Pharisees held this belief. It’s also worth noting that gehenna is only used by Christ in the gospels and once in James 3:6.

Example: And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. (Mark 9:45) [In Greek, this reads “…to be thrown into Gehenna.”)

It’s becoming obvious that “hell” is a translation decision, and one that perhaps isn’t as consistent as it should be. Using the word “hell” to describe both the immediate destination of the unsaved and their final judgment causes confusion about what will happen in each situation. 

That isn’t to say that the translators were in any way sinful in their decisions. However, it does explain why my two questions were so difficult to answer.

See for yourself

You can see all instances of these four words for yourself. Click each word below and scroll all the way down to “Concordance Results Shown Using the ESV.”

• Sheol
• Hades
• Tartarus
• Gehanna

Defining Hell

“If you die without Christ, you go straight to Hell and will be there forever” is a common belief among Christians, but it’s inaccurate. Saying “If you die without Christ, you’ll go to Hades until God resurrects you and throws you into the Lake of Fire” doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily, but it’s biblically accurate. Yet if we’re going to label something as Hell, it’s either where the unsaved go when they die or it’s the location of their final judgment. As we’ll continue to see, it cannot possibly be both.

Although the Bible’s original writers never used the word “Hell,” the concept is still present. For those who die without Christ, God clearly shows that there is something after death, then there will be a final judgment. However, these two are not the same thing. The Bible doesn’t define either as “Hell,” but we must ensure we understand both if we use that word.

And now that we understand the events that follow death and the various words used in the Bible, let’s discuss both the waiting room and the final destination.

Important: From this point, I’m going to pick a side. I’ll use “Hell” to refer to where the unsaved currently reside. I’ll use terms like “Lake of Fire” or “final judgment” for what happens after Hell, resurrection, and judgment. I’ll try to be neutral regarding Annihilation vs. Eternal Conscious Torment, but forgive me if 27 years of tradition makes my language accidentally lean in a particular direction.

God’s waiting room for the unsaved

The Bible has key moments where God reveals what happens when someone dies without Christ. Because they cannot enter Heaven while still guilty of sin, God sends them to a “waiting room.” This place is temporary and unpleasant, but it’s far from what awaits them when they suffer God’s wrath for their sin. Let’s look at a few verses that help us understand what’s coming next.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; (2 Peter 2:4)

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day (Jude 1:6)

First of all, Hell wasn’t designed to hold people. It was originally meant as a place where God would imprison rebellious spiritual beings. Although God doesn’t give us specifics, it was likely created as a response to the rebellion of Satan and other angels. And as humans sinned and died, they would also go to a place meant to hold spiritual beings that cannot be in God’s presence.

Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations. (Isaiah 14:9-12)

If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (Psalm 139:8)

Here, we see Sheol discussed as a place where people went when they died. The Old Testament doesn’t paint it as a place of suffering or blessing, but instead as the destination of all people at that time. (For a longer discussion on this, see my article about what happened when Jesus was in the grave)

All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:34)

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side (Luke 16:22-23)

We also see that Sheol isn’t a poetic idea, but a real place. When Jacob thought that Joseph was dead, he seemed certain he’d see his son when he died. Likewise, Jesus gives us a glimpse into an interesting aspect of Hell – it wasn’t just filled with wicked people. As I discuss in this article, absolutely everyone went to Sheol before Christ. After all, even the Old Testament saints didn’t yet have their sin paid for by Christ. Lazarus being present with Abraham while the rich man suffered shows how God used this waiting room.

Now, however, Hell is only filled with the unrighteous. Old Testament saints and New Testament Christians are in Heaven because Christ paid the debt that otherwise prevented them from being in God’s presence.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. (Acts 2:31)

Christ’s time in the grave is compared to something David wrote, perhaps not even realizing he was talking about the Savior. Christ went to Hell, though not to suffer. Instead, He was in the same place as Abraham and Lazarus.

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:13-14a)

Finally, we know that people are there now. At the final judgment that we’ll discuss, John sees Death and Hades give up the dead who are in them. In other words, people who are currently locked in Hell will be released through resurrection so they can stand before God.

This is the Hell that people go to when they die today without Christ. Luke 16:22-23 reveals that there is still suffering, but not as a judgment for a person’s sin. After all, how can God punish those He hasn’t yet judged? That would be injustice.

Instead, people suffer because the place is meant to hold angels who rebelled against God. People aren’t sent there to make them suffer. Instead, it’s like visiting Arizona in the summer – if you go there, suffering is inevitable.

As final judgment

Whether we call it Sheol, Hades, or Hell, the people there now won’t be there forever. God has them there until their day of judgment. Like a murderer in jail until the judge sentences them to execution, people in Hell are waiting for God’s judgment.

But if this is different from Hell, what exactly is this final judgment?

and the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:13-15)

Hell will be emptied of human souls at their resurrection. At the judgment, Hell and the unsaved will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Although we’re all guilty of sin, only those who have trusted Christ for salvation will have their names “written in the book of life.” As Revelation shows us, those whose names aren’t there will be judged the same way any criminal is judged – their deeds will be held against the law, and if they’re guilty they will be sentenced accordingly. 

Gehenna’s poor translation

Revelation makes it abundantly clear that Hell isn’t permanent. And as we discussed earlier, translation decisions for certain words help us better understand why we confuse the temporary waiting room and the eternal judgment. However, there may still be lingering questions about Christ’s statements that talk about fire and judgment, but don’t clearly say when these occur.

However, if we notice the language that Christ uses around the word Gehenna, it’s pretty obvious which place He’s talking about and why we need to be careful about using these verses to describe what people experience right now.

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5:22)

Notice how Christ talks about liability and judgment. These are statements of guilt and accountability for our actions. Since people won’t be judged until after the resurrection, this must be talking about the Lake of Fire.

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Matthew 23:33)

People aren’t sentenced to Hades or Sheol. They simply go there because there’s nowhere else for them. Thus, when Christ talks about the Pharisees being sentenced, He’s using justice language that is in line with the final judgment.

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ (Mark 9:47-48)

“Thrown into Gehenna” is the same language John uses for those who are “thrown into the Lake of Fire.” In both cases, this involved a guilty person being thrown somewhere. However, they cannot be sent to a place for the guilty without first standing before the judge, making it clear that this is the Lake of Fire.

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. (Matthew 10:28)

Although one of the more confusing (and debated) passages involving Gehenna, every other use of the term makes it obvious what Christ has in mind. We can debate what it means for God to destroy the soul and body, but there’s no arguing that Christ is referring to the Lake of Fire.

Gehenna is used 12 times in the Bible. Some obviously talk about the guilty being sentenced to the Lake of Fire. Some are less clear. However, it’s always important to use clear passages to interpret the unclear ones. So when a Bible writer uses the word Gehenna, we can safely assume they always had the Lake of Fire in mind.

Breaking it all down

That’s a lot to digest, so I’d like to simplify everything this article has discussed.

Sequence of Events. The unsaved person will follow a series of events: Death, waiting, resurrection, judgment, and a final sentencing.

“Grave” in Greek and Hebrew. The Hebrew word “Sheol” and Greek word “Hades” seem to be the same thing: the place where people go when they die. 

Hell is a Translation. No Bible writer ever wrote the word “Hell.” Instead, translators have taken three Greek words (and one Hebrew word) and used the word “Hell” to translate all of them, which has led to some confusion. I choose to use Hell when talking about Hades, the place where the unsaved are temporarily existing right now.

Hell is a waiting room. People don’t go to Hell as a punishment. That’s because God hasn’t yet judged them. However, there is suffering in Hell because the place is unpleasant. The only exception is a small area that is now empty, which once held the Old Testament saints who were waiting for the Messiah to pay for their sin so they could enter Heaven.

Gehenna is the Lake of Fire, and the Lake of Fire isn’t Hell. Revelation reveals that human souls will be removed from Hell and resurrected into their bodies so that the whole person can stand before the Judge. The modern idea of Hell mistakenly draws from references to the Lake of Fire and Gehenna. The Lake and Gehenna are the same things, and won’t have anyone in them until the final judgment in Revelation 20.

Hell is either now or in the future. We started with two questions: Do people go to Hell right when they die, and will they be in Hell forever? I said we couldn’t say yes to both because Hades will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. If we aren’t careful with how we translate Hades and Gehenna, then we teach that “Hell will be thrown into Hell,” and that just doesn’t make sense. Thus, if we’re going to call anything Hell, we either need to say it’s the waiting room where people are right now, or the final judgment of fire that hasn’t happened yet. 

Final thoughts

In the end, everything we’ve examined doesn’t change where people are now or where they’ll be after God’s judgment. However, we want to be careful not to declare something that isn’t supported anywhere in God’s word.

Today, we often talk about Hell as a place people go when they die and will burn there in eternal fire forever. It’s scary, and it’s a huge part of Christian culture in America. However, as we’ve seen, that’s not what happens. And even if it preaches really well or is an effective tool to scare people into Heaven, we must draw our truth from the Bible more than tradition or effectiveness.

I thought Hell was a simple thing and assumed a series about it would be incredibly straightforward. But as I tried to find harmony across the Bible, especially the New Testament, I realized I probably wasn’t the only one struggling to understand what the Bible reveals about Hell. And, as this article shows, that’s probably because the Bible doesn’t harmonize very well with how we typically talk about Hell.

This was pretty thorough for something that started as a prelude to a much bigger series. However, studying and writing this article cemented in my mind the important differences between the two places. Looking at how Hades and Gehenna are used was especially illuminating for my interpretations. Likewise, I hope it has been just as helpful for other believers who want to read their Bible better or understand what happens to those who die without Jesus Christ.