Ever wondered how many times the word ‘hell’ is mentioned in the Bible? The answer may surprise you. While hell and the concept of eternal damnation are frequently spoken of in religious circles, the word ‘hell’ itself is not mentioned as often as one might think. In fact, the word ‘hell’ appears only 54 times in the entire Bible.
So what does the Bible actually have to say about hell? In the Old Testament, hell is mentions primarily as Sheol, a place of darkness where all the dead go, and there is no distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The New Testament, however, speaks of hell more frequently, as a place of final judgement and punishment for the wicked. In the New Testament, we learn that hell is a place of eternal torment and punishment for those who have rejected God and have not accepted Jesus as their Savior.
The Bible also speaks of a lake of fire that is the final destination for Satan and those who have chosen to follow him, and this is the source of the popular image of hell as a fiery furnace. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God and all the joys and love of heaven, and it is a place that no one should ever want to experience.
The Bible also speaks of a place known as Hades, which is sometimes thought to be a place of temporary punishment before entering heaven or hell. However, the Bible actually speaks very little of Hades, and it is not considered to be a ‘real’ place of eternal punishment.
No matter what the Bible says about hell, it is clear that it is a place that humans should never want to experience. The Bible is clear that salvation and redemption can only be found through Jesus Christ, and those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior can look forward to the joys of eternal life in heaven.