Burning Questions: If Hell Is Real, Why Are We Silent?

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Capture

She was a good woman.

Everybody said so.

She volunteered at the school.

She brought food when someone was sick.

She showed up at church.

She raised kind children.

She smiled warmly, lived decently, and died suddenly at fifty-three.

Now she is gone.

At the funeral, you sat in the pew and heard her praises sung.

Significance

Yet underneath all the praise sat the question nobody wanted to touch:

She never made a clear profession of faith.

Where is she now?

That “good woman” may have been your neighbor.

Your mother.

Your co-worker.

She may still be alive—close enough to reach, and yet unwarned.

If hell is real, why aren’t we screaming the truth?

Why aren’t you urgent?

Why aren’t I?

The disconnect between what we claim to believe and how we live reveals an uncomfortable truth:

We nod to hell in our statement of faith, then live as if everyone will be fine.

We believe hell exists in the same way we believe Antarctica exists—true but distant, real but irrelevant.

If people you love are actually going there, why are you so quiet?

The Setup

We must face three questions:

Is hell actually real?

Why are we so silent?

What does God expect us to do?

1. Is Hell Actually Real?

Why This Matters

Silence often starts with doubt.

The culture has grown unsure, and we’ve breathed that air long enough that our confidence has eroded.

But if we hold to the authority of Scripture, the question is settled.

Clarify the Bible’s Language

English translations often collapse several biblical terms into one word: “hell.”

But the Bible uses distinct terms that deepen in clarity as revelation progresses.

1. Sheol (Old Testament)

Sheol is the place of the dead—the grave, the realm of departed spirits.

Early Old Testament language often describes it as a shadowy, silent existence for ALL.

Genesis 37:35 CSB

35 All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.

Numbers 16:30 CSB

30 But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them along with all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have despised the Lord.”

Psalm 6:5 CSB

5 For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol?

Isaiah 38:18 CSB

18 For Sheol cannot thank you; Death cannot praise you. Those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.

Why this veil over the beyond?

C.S. Lewis, pondering in his Reflections on the Psalms, uncovers two reasons:

One: Israel escapes Egypt's afterlife obsession—mummies, tombs stocked for endless feasting.

God mutes heaven/hell talk to purge pagan distraction.

Two: the covenant pulses earthly.

Blessings? Long life in the land, fat harvests, many sons in Canaan, God's face in Jerusalem (Deut 28:1-14).

Curses? Exile, famine, sword—cut off now (Deut 28:15ff).

Faithfulness cashes in soil and sanctuary rewards.

But as revelation progressed, a differentiation emerged.

Daniel 12:2 CSB

2 Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.

The main point is not a map; it is this: death is not the end.

It is entry into either God’s judgment or God’s mercy.

2. Hades (Intermediate State)

In the New Testament, our resolution of our afterlife picture sharpens.

In the New Testament, “Hades” corresponds to Sheol and speaks to the intermediate state—between death and final judgment.

Here, Hades contains compartments—comfort for the righteous, distress for the wicked.

Luke 16:22–24 CSB

22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’

The rich man was fully awake, fully parched, and begging for a single drop of water.

Now, for the Christian believer as opposed to the Old Testament saint, the emphasis is not going to be with Father Abraham but Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:8 CSB

8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:23 CSB

23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—

Luke 23:43 CSB

43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Crucially, Hades is temporary.

Revelation 20:14 CSB

14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Revelation 20 tells us that Hades itself will eventually be cast into the Lake of Fire.

3. Gehenna (Final Judgment)

Jesus Christ—the meek and lowly Savior—spoke more about hell than anyone else in Scripture.

When Jesus warns about “hell” most often, He uses the word “Gehenna.”

To His listeners, this was not abstract theology; it was geographic.

That name came from the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem—associated with vile idolatry and judgment in Israel’s history.

Jeremiah 7:31 CSB

31 They have built the high places of Topheth in Ben Hinnom Valley in order to burn their sons and daughters in the fire, a thing I did not command; I never entertained the thought.

Jeremiah 19:6 CSB

6 “ ‘Therefore, look, the days are coming—this is the Lord’s declaration—when this place will no longer be called Topheth and Ben Hinnom Valley, but Slaughter Valley.

In Jesus’ day, it was the city garbage dump where fires burned perpetually to consume the trash.

Jesus used this visceral imagery to describe the final state of the wicked:

Mark 9:48 CSB

48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

Jesus speaks of unquenchable fire and the undying worm. He warns of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

These are not metaphors searching for milder meanings.

Hell is the place where God’s borrowed grace is permanently withdrawn.

Romans 2:4–5 CSB

4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.

Note:

2 Timothy 1:10 CSB

10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

This is not a footnote in His preaching.

It is a repeated warning from the lips of the Savior.

4. The Duration: Eternal

Christians disagree here.

Some Christians argue for annihilationism—final non-existence.

We want to believe the wicked simply cease to exist at some point.

But the text does not allow it.

In Matthew 25:46, Jesus uses identical language for both destinations:

Matthew 25:46 CSB

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Notice the symmetry.

The same adjective, “eternal” (aiōnios), describes both the punishment and the life.

The same word describes both destinies.

You cannot shorten hell without shortening heaven.

If the punishment is temporary, so is the salvation.

They stand or fall together.

Conclusion to Question One

Yes—hell is real.

It is final.

It is dreadful.

And it is taught by Christ Himself.

2. Why Am I So Quiet About It?

If it’s real, why the silence?

Three forces mute us.

1. We Think We Are Nicer Than Jesus.

Hell is real because Jesus said it is.

Do we believe Him?

Or have we decided we are more gracious than the Savior?

Jesus Himself announces the final sentence.

Matthew 7:23 CSB

23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

Matthew 25:41 CSB

41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

The question is not whether we prefer the doctrine, but whether we trust the Speaker.

Sometimes our silence is not compassion. It is unbelief disguised as politeness.

2. We Fear Man More Than God.

Proverbs 29:25 warns:

Proverbs 29:25 CSB

25 The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.

J. I. Packer put his finger on it: wrath has become taboo, and Christians have learned the taboo.

Speaking of judgment feels judgmental.

We mutter, "I don't want to offend," as if offense were worse than perishing.

But famous atheist magician Penn Jillette once asked a question that should haunt every Christian.

He said, “How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?”

If an atheist can see the urgency, why are we so quiet?

3. We Have Watered Down the Gospel.

We’ve watered down the gospel until it barely sounds like rescue.

If you never say what we are saved from, you will not plead with anyone to be saved.

So we invite people to church, but we don’t call them to Christ.

We talk about “getting to heaven,” but we don’t talk about sin, wrath, the cross, repentance, and faith.

R.C. Sproul warned: "A god who is all love, no sovereignty, no justice, and no wrath is an idol."

A softened gospel produces a softened urgency.

Paul warns:

2 Thessalonians 1:8–9 CSB

8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength

Hell should not make you smug. It should make you urgent.

Hell should not make you cruel. It should make you tender and bold.

2 Corinthians 5:11 CSB

11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences.

Paul’s fear produced persuasion.

We persuade because we know the Great White Throne is coming.

3. What Does God Expect Me to Do?

What practical step can you take?

Step 1: Repent of Your Silence.

To know danger and refuse to warn is sin.

Romans 10:14 presses the logic:

Romans 10:14 CSB

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

People cannot believe in the One they have not heard.

You cannot control outcomes, but you can control your obedience.

Stop making noble excuses.

Repent.

Ask God to forgive the quiet you’ve baptized as “being nice.”

Step 2: Pray for Anguish.

In Romans 9, Paul writes:

Romans 9:1–3 CSB

1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.

Paul was willing to trade his salvation for theirs.

Pray for this.

Ask God to break your heart for what breaks His.

As Spurgeon pleaded: "If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies... let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Step 3: Identify, Prepare, and Speak.

Name one person you have never spoken to plainly about Christ.

Pray daily for an opening.

Then take it.

Open simply: “Can I ask you something serious? Have you ever thought about what happens after we die?"

Listen. Then speak plainly: “I care about you. I believe God will judge sin. And I believe Christ is the only Savior.”

Present Christ plainly.

We have all sinned.

Christ died for our sins.

Turning from sin and trusting Him alone brings forgiveness and eternal life.

Offer to pray.

Offer to meet.

Keep it simple.

You do not need a speech; you just need to get started.

Conclusion: The Silence Ends Today

The doctrine of hell is not a liability to the gospel; it is a guardian of the gospel.

Think lightly of hell, and you will eventually think lightly of the cross.

Without the reality of Gehenna, the cross of Jesus becomes an overpayment for a debt that didn't exist.

When we minimize the danger, we minimize the Savior.

Jude commands us:

Jude 23 CSB

23 save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

"Snatching" is violent.

It is seizing someone by the arm as they step toward a cliff.

This is a rescue operation, not a social club.

Hell is real.

It is eternal.

Our silence is not harmless.

Someone warned you.

Someone risked awkwardness for your soul.

Now it’s your turn.

Repent, Believe, and Be Baptized

Spurgeon said, "Ungodly man, if thou art ever to be saved, thou must draw nigh to God in prayer. Go to him at this moment, just where thou art sitting, and confess all thy sin to him; there is no need for thee to utter a word that any of us can hear, for God can read the language of thy heart."

"Dear Jesus, I confess I'm a sinner deserving judgment. I've lived in rebellion. I cannot save myself. But I believe You died for my sins and rose to give me eternal life. Forgive me, come into my life, grant everlasting life. Help me live for You. Amen."

Baptism is the visible side of faith, the public confession of your commitment to follow Christ. To sign up, text BELIEVE to 706-525-5351 or visit www.mtcarmeldemorest.com/baptism.

A Prayer or Response

Lord, put Your fear in our hearts and fill us with Your love. Make us bold without pride and tender without compromise. Give us wisdom, timing, and plain speech. Use our voices to save one soul this week. In Jesus' name, Amen.