More often than not, though, while the word “Halloween” makes us think of fright; the word “fright” does not necessarily invoke the thought of Halloween. There are so many other things in life that invoke fear. Children (and some adults) are oftentimes scared of the dark, certain animals, a notorious bully, or one of any number of things. If, however, I were to ask what the most frightening thought you could imagine is, how would you answer? A number of disastrous scenarios no doubt come to mind, but center-most should be the thought of hell. Could there be anything more devastating than the thought of spending an eternity separate from God and His saints in a lake of fire and brimstone located in a place of outer darkness? In the manner the Bible depicts the reality and nature of hell, it surely is the most frightening thought possible.
Hell is frightening because of its location. Where is hell? It is not where God is. Its actual “physical” location is unknown and unimportant, because in the end it is where God is not and that is a frightening thought. In one of the most chilling and sobering passages of the Bible (Matthew 25:41ff), Jesus declares the separation that will exist between God and the lost. To the goats on the left, Jesus will state, “Depart from me” (vs. 41). This is not just a temporary departure, but one that will ever exist. And the reason this is so tragic is because of what exists in God’s presence. Heaven is a place of life (Romans 6:23), thus hell is a place of death (Revelation 21:8). Heaven is a place void of sorrow, pain, tears, and suffering (Revelation 21:1-4), thus hell is a place where these shall all exist (Luke 16:19-31). Heaven is a place of Divine light (Revelation 22:5), but hell is a place of outer darkness (Matthew 25:30). In heaven there will be victorious singing (Revelation 15:2-3), but in hell there will be nothing but cries of pain (Matthew 8:12). Such is a sobering and frightening realization, because the location of hell is where God is not.
Hell is frightening because of its legion. Scripture clearly indicates that hell will be a highly populated place. Christ’s plea to the world was to “enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matthew 7:13). By far the vast majority of this world’s comprehensive population will be lost because of their refusal to submit to God. And is it not the case that we are often identified by the company that we keep. If in eternity we find ourselves among the depraved heathen lost forever, it will be because we were ourselves a depraved heathen, and for all time we will have to contemplate the gravity of our decision to choose sin rather than the Savior. To be counted among such an unfortunate lot as the legion that will inhabit hell is a very frightening thought.
Hell is frightening because of its length. Even with the depths of our intellect, we cannot fathom the extent of eternity. It is time unending. In fact to equate eternity even with time unending still does it an injustice. Any suffering we must endure in this life is only temporary. At some point it always ends, even if that point is death. But to consider suffering as intense as will be experienced in hell, knowing that it will never relent, it will never improve, and it will never end. Such length makes the thought of hell frightening beyond comprehension.
The very thought of hell should scare us to death. The idea that it consists of separation from God, fellowship with the most wicked to have ever lived, and a punishment that will never end is one that should haunt our consciences day and night. Why would anyone reject the mercy and grace of a loving God only to experience such horrific punishment? It truly is the most frightening thought possible.