Many avoid talking about it, some deny its existence altogether, and others misunderstand its purpose. Yet the Bible speaks clearly and repeatedly about hell as a real, eternal place of punishment for those who die in their sins without Christ. Understanding why hell exists is essential, not only for having a right view of God's justice but also for appreciating the full weight of the gospel.

This article will explore the purpose of hell according to Scripture. What was it created for? Why is it eternal? And how should this truth affect our hearts and actions today?

1. Hell Was Prepared for the Devil and His Angels

Jesus Christ taught that hell was not originally made for mankind. In Matthew 25:41, He says:

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

This tells us that hell was designed as a place of punishment for spiritual beings who rebelled against God. Satan, once an angel, became proud and led a rebellion in heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:4, 9). Along with him, other fallen angels (demons) turned against God and now work to destroy His creation. Hell is the righteous judgment awaiting them.

When human beings join in that rebellion—by rejecting God, resisting His Word, and choosing sin, they align themselves with the devil and thereby inherit his punishment. God does not desire for any human to perish (2 Peter 3:9), but He will not force anyone to believe, love, obey or follow Him.

2. Hell Exists Because God Is Holy and Just

Hell reveals the unchanging holiness and justice of God. God is love (1 John 4:8), but He is also righteous and just (Psalm 89:14). A just judge must punish evil. If a human judge allowed murderers and thieves to go free without penalty, we would rightly call him corrupt. Likewise, God cannot overlook sin without compromising His justice.

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” This death is not merely physical but spiritual and eternal. Every sin, whether in thought, word, or deed, is ultimately against a holy God. Psalm 51:4 says, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.” Because God is eternal, rebellion against Him deserves eternal punishment.

Hell is not unjust; it is the fair and measured response of a holy God to sin that is unrepented and unforgiven.

3. Hell Exists to Display God’s Wrath Against Sin

God’s wrath is not like human anger which is selfish, out-of-control, or unpredictable. Rather, His wrath is the settled, righteous opposition to all evil. Romans 1:18 says:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”

Hell is the full outpouring of that wrath. It is where sin receives its full and final judgment. It shows the seriousness of rebelling against the Creator. Those who mock sin, deny God's authority, or trivialize His commands will one day see how serious sin truly is.

Just as the cross reveals the depth of God's love, so hell reveals the depth of God's hatred for sin.

4. Hell Warns Us of the Consequences of Rejecting Salvation

Jesus spoke of hell more than any other figure in the Bible. Why? Because He wanted people to escape it. In Luke 16, He describes a rich man in hell who begs for someone to warn his brothers so they do not come to the same place of torment. That warning remains for us today.

John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already.” Jesus is the only way of escape (John 14:6). Hell exists to show what happens when people reject the only name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Hell is a testimony to the urgency of the gospel. It reminds us that eternity is at stake, and no decision is more important than trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation.

5. Hell Is Eternal Because Sin Without Atonement Has No End

Some ask, why is hell forever? The answer lies in the eternal nature of sin against an eternal God. If a person dies in their sins, they enter eternity without a covering, without Christ, without hope. There is no purgatory or second chance after death (Hebrews 9:27). Those in hell continue in their rebellion and hatred of God, just as Satan does. Thus, the punishment never ends.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” The same word used for eternal life is used for eternal punishment. If heaven is forever, so is hell.

6. Hell Magnifies the Glory of Christ and the Cross

The existence of hell shows us what Jesus truly saved us from. On the cross, Christ bore the wrath of God in our place (Isaiah 53:5-6). He experienced the darkness, the suffering, the separation from God that we deserved. When He said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), He was enduring what sinners would face in hell.

Without hell, the cross is stripped of its full meaning. But with hell, we see the price Jesus paid. We see the urgency of the gospel, the need for repentance, and the greatness of God’s mercy. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Flee from the Wrath to Come

Hell is real. It is not a myth, a metaphor, or a temporary state. It is the final and eternal judgment of God on sin. But God, in His love, has made a way for every sinner to escape it. That way is Jesus Christ.

You do not need to go to hell. God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Today, trust in Jesus alone to save you. The one who bore your judgment on the cross now offers you eternal life as a gift.

Flee to Christ. Believe the gospel. And thank God that you have been delivered from the wrath to come.