Satan is called the father of lies in John 8:44, and with good reason.   He authored the lie that neither he, nor God, nor heaven, nor hell, really exist.  He also convinces people to believe in silly myths like purgatory, reincarnation and reincarnation.  Measured against eternity, even the longest human life is comparable to a drop of water from the Atlantic Ocean, and you will spend it somewhere.  When you leave this world, you will find yourself in only one of two places. 

            Heaven will be any absolutely marvelous place for a number of reasons, none more important than the fact that the redeemed will spend eternity with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is a place of unimaginable beauty whose residents will enjoy absolute freedom from the cruelty and inhumanity that plagues this world.  There won’t be any sickness, sadness, pain, or loneliness in heaven, and those who were forced to rely upon crutches, wheelchairs, and other devices to assist those with physical limitations will no longer need them.   For some people, death will be end of all their troubles.  Unfortunately for many more, it will be just the beginning.

            People who’ve never visited Los Angeles, California know it’s a real geographical location, but are skeptical of the existence of hell.  But despite rampant skepticism, if not full-blown unbelief, hell is most assuredly not only real, but is the single most horrific reality that exists in the universe.  Had the Lord Jesus Christ only mentioned hell once, that would be adequate proof that that hell is a reality.  However, he warned about this place over and over again, and He never attributed one trait to hell that would make anyone want to be there.

            Hell is a place of confinement for the unredeemed as they await the final judgement, and their wait is torturous.  At this moment, a myriad of people are experiencing its horrors, which include unquenchable fire, indescribable physical pain and unrelenting thirst.  And though I’m unable to recall from memory a scripture that explicitly says so, I believe that hell will have an unbearably foul stench.  And despite being in such agony that it defies description, those in hell retain full possession of their cognitive abilities and are acutely aware that their plight could have been avoided.  Luke 16:19-31 offers a look into the peril of a man confined to hell.

            ¹⁹ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

²⁰ And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

²¹ And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³ And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴ And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵ But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶ And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

²⁷ Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

²⁸ For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

²⁹ Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

³⁰ And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

³¹ And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

          Several things can be gleaned from this.  The rich man addressed Abraham by name, eliminating any possibility that this is merely a parable.  The rich man knew who Abraham was, spoke to him, and responded to what he said.  I don’t believe that those in hell are currently able to communicate with those in heaven, but that illustrated that the rich man could see, hear, and speak.

          One aspect of this story I find interesting is that the rich man only asked for a small quality of water.  Scripture doesn’t explain why, but I believe it was likely because the rich man knew more water was unattainable.  Even now, some 2000 years later, he’s never gotten the drop of water he longed for, nor has he had any relief from the pain.  The rich man also remembered his life, as evidenced by his recollection of having had five brothers.  Interestingly enough, the unnamed rich man never indicated that he believed his confinement in hell was unfair.  He seemed to instinctively know that he had no one to blame for his situation except himself.

          Those in hell will not be there forever, as Revelation 20:13 says that hell will deliver up its dead.  They will be resurrected to face the Great White Throne judgement, which will at least provide temporary respite from hell’s punishing heat.  In one regard, this judgement will be similar to cases presided over by human judges, specifically the presentation of evidence against the accused.  But once judgment is rendered, the condemned are remanded to the lake of fire.

          There will no appeals, no plea deals, and no smart lawyer will get you off.  Some people get ten years in our worldly prisons while others get twenty of thirty.  Here everyone will receive infinite life sentences in the lake of fire, which could very well make hell look like a vacation.  Satan and his demons will be there too, but they will rule over or subjugate anyone.  They’ll be in eternal conscious torment like everyone else. Its too late for them, but its not late for you.