Does A Christian Have To Believe In Hell?

Revelation 20:14-15, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

I was asked a question recently by a web visitor—Is it possible for a born-again Christian to deny the existence of Hell? Let me answer it this way—I have never met a truly born-again Christian who didn't believe in a literal Hell. I didn't say someone is not saved who denies Hell, I've just never met someone like that. For any religious person to deny the reality of a literal place called “Hell” the Bible calls, “ANOTHER SPIRIT” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Something is VERY WRONG with the theological mindset of a person who denies that Hell is a literal place of fire and brimstone, where the unsaved of all time will be punished for eternity without hope. 

Then there are professed Christians like Renee Roland on YouTube, who sincerely admits that she is “a sheep,” “doesn't know” if Hell exists and she is “still studying” the matter. Renee is not denying Hell, she simply hasn't come along that far yet in her Bible knowledge, and is ignorant of the Word of God, unqualified to teach it. So I don't have any opinion of her, she has openly admitted what she is doing. I do feel however, that until she becomes more learned in the Scriptures, she ought to refrain from making any more YouTube videos, because she is confusing people, in my humble opinion. HELL HAS FIRE!!! I like Renee's fighting spirit, and I am am glad she has read some of my writings online, but I cannot recommend her videos at this time until she settles this matter of eternal punishment. 

I highly recommend Dr. Max D. Younce's very helpful book: “A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF HELL” (available free online in .PDF format). 

Fewer people nowadays accept the idea of a literal Hell. National Geographic magazine published an article titled: 'The Campaign To Eliminate Hell.' I tell you with all Biblical certainty, THERE IS A LITERAL PLACE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE CALLED “HELL”! 

Revelation 21:7-8, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

I just don't understand how anyone, especially a professed child of God, could read this plain Scripture, and still doubt if Hell is a literal place of fire and brimstone!!! That is why I seriously DOUBT any professed Christian's salvation who boldly denies the reality of Hell, after having been taught the truth from God's Word. Something is VERY WRONG with the theological mindset of a professed Christian who denies the reality of a literal place of fire and brimstone called, “HELL”! What saith the Scripture? ...

2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

Pew Research statistics reveal that a shocking one-third (31%) of all adult professed Christians deny the existence of a burning eternal Hell. Of course, I seriously doubt if many of them are truly born-again Christians. Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist and Church of Christ are NOT Biblical Christians! SDA's and JW's deny the existence of a literal place of Hell, instead teaching the heresy of ANNIHILATION (i.e., you simply die and don't get resurrected in the future). Their rational is that sending someone to suffer in an eternal prison of fire and brimstone goes against the loving nature of God. Oh, how wrong they are! If God allows suffering, war, trauma, loneliness, pain, torment and death in this temporal life because of sin, what makes anyone think that He won't in the next eternal realm? Don't be a fool! 

Hell Is A Literal Place Of Fire And Brimstone

I am leery of the salvation claim of someone who denies the reality of Hell, because if there is no eternal punishment for sin, then why do we need a Savior? Seventh-Day Adventists, rationalize that it is beyond God's good nature to burn people in a Lake of Fire forever. That is how man FEELS, not what the VOICE of God's Word says. The Rapture, Age of the Earth, Zionism, Storehouse Tithing, Bride of Christ, Replacement Theology—these are all MINOR doctrinal disputes in the church. However, the reality of a burning Hell is a FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINE. Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Annihilation is not wrath! We all deserve to go straight to Hell and burn forever. 

Do you know how cults are started? Cults are started when unsaved people study the Bible, without the presence of the Author (i.e., the indwelling Holy Spirit). When a believer studies the Bible, the Holy Spirit teaches us. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” So when I hear someone who professes to be a Christian, but questions if Hell if real, I know they desperately need to be taught Bible doctrine. The Holy Spirit will bear witness with their spirit when taught, that there is a real place of Hell, which burns with fire and brimstone. What saith the Scripture? ...

Matthew 18:8, “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.”

The Bible refers to “EVERLASTING FIRE.” It would be very wrong to say this is only “symbolic.” If we start down that path, taking it upon ourselves as the reader to decide what is (or is not) “symbolic,” then we can literally wrest (twist) the Scripture to mean anything we want it to mean. That is exactly what unsaved people do (2nd Peter 3:16-17). If the Bible says “fire,” it means “fire.” If the Bible says “mansions,” it means “mansions.” In his massively popular, 'The MacArthur Study Bible,' when Dr. John MacArthur says that “BY HIS OWN BLOOD” in Hebrews 9:12 really refers to Jesus' “DEATH,” he is lying and wresting the Bible. “Blood” means “blood”! Jesus entered into the heavenly Holy Place by His own “BLOOD” to make redemption for us! Beware of anyone who spiritualizes the Bible to mean something other than what it plainly reads! When the Bible uses symbology, as in Revelation chapter one, it tells us and explains that “stars” mean “angels.” Never read into the Scripture something that is not there, unless you let people know that you are merely speculating. 

Hell is a literal place where all Christ-rejecters will spend eternity without hope, rest or relief. This simply cannot refer to soul sleep or annihilation, because the Bible says THEY HAVE NO REST. They are being TORMENTED! ...

Revelation 14:11, “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

The Bible plainly teaches that God created Hell for THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS, not for mankind. This again strongly REFUTES the heresy of Annihilation. If unsaved men simply die, and cease to exist as punishment, then how could this verse make any sense? ...

Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Did God prepare being unconscious in the grave (annihilation) for the Devil and fallen angels? No, He prepared a literal place of EVERLASTING FIRE for the Devil and demons, which is where all Christ-rejecting humans will spend eternity as well! Anyone who questions whether Hell is real, and has fire and brimstone, is woefully ignorant of the Word of God. We have an abundance of Scripture passages confirming the reality, horror and awfulness of Hell. 

What kind of God burns wicked people in Hell? A good God! What kind of judge puts criminals behind bars? A good judge! Our great and merciful God never sent anyone to Hell who didn't choose to go there! If you go to Hell someday, you will have no one to blame except yourself. God is a good God, and He freely offers to you an escape from God's wrath, through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” 

I cannot even image in my mind, not for a moment, questioning whether I deserve to be punished in a burning Hell forever and ever. I most certainly do, and so do you! How do I know that? Simply because God is absolutely holy, and I am a sinner. No human being can even begin to grasp the righteousness of God. We are all sinners, by both nature and by choice, but God is incapable of sinning! Therefore, committing even one sin is enough to keep us out of the Kingdom of God, and to damn us to the Lake of Fire for all eternity. If you understand this basic Biblical principle, then it becomes clear why we deserve to Go to Hell. Don't make the grave mistake of comparing yourself to other sinful humans; but rather, compare yourself to the righteous God of the inspired Holy Bible. 

“There is no greater joy in the Christian life than to trust Him and need no explanation.” —Dr. Jack Hyles