Hell Is Not Separation From God

There are many preachers and churches today who say, in their statement of faith or list of beliefs, that hell is separation from God.  They do not say that hell is eternal torment in the lake of fire and brimstone because they don't want to scare people about hell, so they just say that hell is separation from God.  But actually, nothing could be further from the truth.  Even in hell people will not be separated from God and they will be on fire forever as shown in the following scriptures.
Revelation 14:9: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 14:10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presences of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
These verses makes it clear that the unsaved will be in torment in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Lamb.

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.

Psalm 139:8: If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
So while they are trying to not scare people about hell-fire, they are actually telling a lie about hell being separation from God.

Admittedly, hell is a terrible thought that no one likes to talk about or think about, but as Christians we have to be truthful and honest about it and warn people.  Imagine if your neighbor's house was on fire; you wouldn't just go over there and knock on the door real softly so you wouldn't scare them.  Of course not, you would yell loudly for them to get out of the house; you would try to save them.  In the same manner, we should warn people of hell and try to keep them from going there.  We should always tell them with love and compassion for them and show them that we care, and tell them that we are all sinners and everyone deserves to go to hell to pay for their sin.  We would never say rudely, "you're going to hell."  If it wasn't for God's grace and mercy when he saved us, we would be going there ourselves.

This doctrine of "Hell is separation from God" has infiltrated many baptist churches today because they want to tone down the reality of how bad hell really is.  They try to replace what the bible says about hell being a place with fire and brimstone with the concept of "Hell is just separation from God."  Hell is far worse than that.  It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth that lasts forever and  ever.
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

If hell really was just separation from God, that would not make the unsaved want to get saved because they don't want anything to do with God right now.  They would like to be separated from God, but on the contrary they will be in torment in the presence of the Lamb, Jesus.

The following are bible verses that explain what Hell really is.

Hell is a place of flaming fire. that is not quenched.

Revelation 20:10: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Revelation 20:14: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death."
Revelation 20:15: "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

II Thessalonians 1:8: "In flaming fire Taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."
II Thessalonians 1:9: "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

Mark 9:43: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"
Mark 9:44: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Mark 9:45: "And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"
Mark 9:46 "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Mark 9:47: "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:"
Mark 9:48: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

Luke 16:23: " And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."
Luke 16:24: "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."

Jude 1:7: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

Hell is a place of smothering smoke.

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."

Hell is a place of black darkness.

Jude 1:13: "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

Hell is a place of weeping and wailing.

Matthew 22:13: "Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Hell is a place of everlasting chains.

Jude 1:6: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Hell is a place of flesh-eating worms.

Isaiah 14:11:"Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee."
Isaiah 66:24: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched: and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."

Hell is a place of no rest day nor night - no sleep.

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."

So, as I said, Hell is a terrible thought, but the truth is that it is a reality and Jesus spoke much more about hell than he did heaven.  The good news is that anyone who trusts Jesus to be their savior will never have to go there.  God loves people so much that he did everything he could to keep us out of hell by giving his only begotten Son to pay for our sins.  He saves us by his grace and mercy.  If it were not for God's great mercy we would all end up in hell forever.  I am very thankful that Jesus saved me.

God's Simple Plan Of Salvation