INTRODUCTION

 A. As no one has gone to hell and came back to tell the truth about it, thousands, nay millions, doubt that  

" infierno" is indeed real.

 1. Is there really a place of eternal punishment for the devil, his angels and all the wicked?

 2. What does the Bible say about Infierno or the Lake of Fire? Let us know the Truth as Jesus said in John 8:32.

 B. Our approach in this study shall be as follows:

 1. Hell- Defined and Described Biblically

 2.Arguments Against the Existence of Hell

 3. Arguments Proving the Reality of Hell

 4. Who Are Destined to Eternal Punishment?

DISCUSSION

 A. Hell Defined and Described Biblically

  1. The Spanish " infierno" came from Italian " inferno" and from Latin " infernus" which literally means " of the lower regions."

 - "Infierno" state or place resembling hell or intense fire

 - Translated as " hell" or " hell fire"- place of eternal fire as punishment for the wicked.

  2. Hell is a spiritual realm of evil and suffering depicted as a place of perpetual fire

    - Beneath the earth where the wicked are punished after death

  3. Descriptions of Hell are not Literal but Figurative ( anthropomorphic)

  a. Revelation 21:8 " fiery lake of burning sulfur, the second death."

  b. Matthew 25:46 " eternal punishment"

  c. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 "...eternal destruction, shut out from the presence of the Lord, from the majesty of His power"

  d. Matthew 13:50 " fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"

  e. Matthew 25:30 " darkness"

  f. Mark 9:48 " hell..where their worm does not die.."

   4. The preceding verses were written in the language of man or known as " anthropomorphism!"

B. Arguments Against the Existence of Hell

  1. Inconsistent with the Nature and Traits of God- benevolent, merciful and good

    - none can be damned

    - omnipotent God would not let that happen

   2. Campaign to Eliminate Hell

    - called also annihilation theory taught by one big religious group

     - 1982 Edward Fudge in his book Fire That Consumes

     - evangelical scholars oppose the idea that " sinners are doomed to eternal torment"

   3. Survey about 20 years ago or more, American belief on Gehenna or Hell had dropped from 71 to 58%

   4. Preston Sprinkle, co author of Erasing Hell in 2011 advocates the annihilation theory

   5. Origen, 3rd Century AD taught universalism that the wicked would repent and would be saved

   6. Irenaeus, 2nd Century bishop was the intellectual forefather of the so called " annihilation theory."

   - Against Heresies- he taught that the " soul is NOT immortal" would die and fade from existence

 C. Arguments Proving the Reality of Hell

   1. Jesus Himself Proved the Reality of Hell in the New Testament

     a. Matthew 5:29-30 " gouge out eye or cut off hand than whole body go to Hell"

     b. Matthew 10:28 " destroy both soul and body in hell"

     c. Matthew 13:42 " fiery furnace..weeping and gnashing of teeth"

     d. Matthew 22:13 " outer darkness..weeping and gnashing of teeth"

   2. New Testament Writers Talked About Hell

     a. 2 Peter 2:4 " angels who sinned were sent to hell"

     b. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 " punished with everlasting destruction; shut out from the presence of the Lord..."

     c. Revelation 20:15 " no name in the Book of Life..thrown into the Lake of Fire"

     d.Hebrews 2:3 " resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment"

     e. Hebrews 10:27 " fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire"

     f. Jude 1:6 " angels who..abandoned their own home- kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day"

 D.Who are Destined to Eternal Punishment?

  1. The wicked, the unrighteous or the disobedient are destined to eternal punishment

    a. Proverbs 16:4 " The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the Day of Trouble..."

    b. Mark 16:16 " but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

    c. John 3:18 " whoever does not believe stands condemned already"

  2. Apostle John is more specific in Revelation 21:8 " But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur- this is the second death." ( NIV)

  3. Apostle Paul stated it differently in Galatians 5:19-21 " The acts of sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage selfish ambtion, dissension, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies..those who live like will NOT inherit the kingdom of God."

   4. Finally, in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 we read " He ( Jesus) will punish those who do not KNOW God and do not OBEY the gospel of our Lord Jesus- they will be punished with everlasting destruction..."

CONCLUSION

 A.Hell is REAL and not a make-believe place, what shall we do as God's children?

   1. In Revelation 2:10, Jesus said " Be faithful till death and I will give you the crown of life."

   2. In Philippians 2:12, Paul wrote "as you have always...work out your salvation with fear and trembling"

  B. To avoid going to hell for eternal punishment, do the following:

   1. " Believe and be baptized to be saved," Mark 16:16

   2. " Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," Acts 2:38

   3. Jesus is inviting everyone to come to Him to have spiritual rest, Matthew 11:28-30

   4. " Now is the time, today is the Day of Salvation" 2 Corinthians 6:2