The question of who will go to hell is an important one for Christians to consider. The Bible has a lot to say on this topic, though interpretations vary. At a basic level, hell is a place of eternal separation from God and torment for those who reject Christ and do not repent of their sins. However, the specifics of who will end up there are more complex.
According to traditional Christian theology, those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are destined for hell. This includes nonbelievers, followers of other religions, and even some who profess Christianity but do not have a genuine, saving faith. Biblical passages like John 3:18 and John 14:6 support this view: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18).
However, some verses also indicate that our actions and deeds play a role. Passages like Matthew 25:31-46 talk about the final judgment, where God will separate the sheep from the goats based on how they treated others, especially the vulnerable and needy. This suggests that how we live is also important, not just what we believe. Many Christians thus argue that non-Christians who still lived morally and cared for others may receive some mercy, while hypocritical or unrepentant believers may face judgment. But interpretations vary.
The Catholic and Orthodox traditions also include the doctrine of purgatory – a place or state of purification for those who died in friendship with God but needed to atone for lesser sins before entering heaven. So some destined for heaven may first spend time in a purgatorial state of cleansing.
Other debated cases include:
– Those who never heard the gospel or who only heard a distorted version – Some argue God judges them based on their response to what they knew of God or their conscience, while others insist they still go to hell.
– Babies, young children and the mentally disabled – Many Christians believe they inherit original sin but are not morally accountable, so God shows them mercy. But some Calvinists argue even they deserve damnation.
– Backsliders – Christians who abandon the faith. Some think they lose salvation and go to hell unless they repent, others say salvation can’t be lost so they still go to heaven.
– Universalists – Believe eventually all will be saved through Christ’s redemption, even if after a purgatorial state. So by this view, no one stays in hell forever. But this is a minority perspective.
– Annihilationists – Believe the unsaved are destroyed rather than tormented eternally. The “fire” of hell consumes them entirely.
So in summary, according to mainstream traditional Christianity, all who knowingly reject Christ and cling to their sin will end up in hell. But there is debate over borderline cases of those who maybe did not have full knowledge or opportunity to accept the gospel. There are also perspectives like universalism and annihilationism that offer alternate visions. Ultimately, we cannot know exactly how God weighs these complex factors in judging each soul. But the safest path is to trust in Christ and live as He commands.
Looking at several key passages can help shed light on this difficult topic:
Matthew 13:40-42
Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This passage indicates that at the final judgment, those who lived sinfully and broke God’s laws will be thrown into hell, represented as a fiery furnace. This applies to unrepentant sinners and evil doers.
Mark 9:42-48
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 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. 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.
Jesus warns against sin and causing others to sin, saying it is better to take drastic measures than end up in hell, depicted as a place of eternal, unquenchable fire inhabited by worms (possibly representing conscience). His warnings indicate hell is far worse than any earthly pain we can imagine.
Luke 13:22-28
He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
This story of Jesus emphasizes that salvation is through the “narrow door” of faith in him. Many who assume they are saved will be turned away, while outsiders like Gentiles will be let in. It warns that hell awaits those who try to get in by their own merits rather than God’s grace.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Belief in Christ grants eternal life, while those who reject him remain under God’s judgment. Hell is existence under God’s wrath.
Romans 2:5-8
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Paul indicates a coming day of judgment where God will give eternal life or wrath based on a person’s deeds and obedience to truth. The disobedient store up wrath for themselves.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
Paul teaches Christ will return to judge those who do not know God or obey the gospel. They will face eternal destruction and separation from God’s presence and glory.
Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 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.
The book of Revelation describes the final judgment before God’s throne, where the unsaved are thrown into the lake of fire along with death and hades. This represents the second death of eternal punishment that awaits those not written in the book of life.
In conclusion, the Bible warns consistently and urgently about the danger of hell and the need to avoid it through repentance and faith in Christ. God promises to judge all people based on sin and rejection of his truth. Those who continually resist and rebel will suffer eternal separation from God’s goodness and glory. But God desires everyone to repent and receive redemption through his Son. The way to avoid hell is to heed Christ’s call to follow him in this life.