Descriptions of Hell in the New
Testament (location, temperature...)

There are over 162 references in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) that warn of Hell.

Over 70 of these references are attributed to Jesus.

According to the gospels, Jesus spoke more on Hell than on any other subject. However, many skeptics and religious liberals suggest that the frequency with which Hell appears in individual gospels may reflect the beliefs of their authors or of the authors' faith group more than that of Jesus.

The Bible states that after his death, Jesus descended into Hell. But his soul did not remain there, nor did his body decay. The implication is that Hell is located underground, apparently in a cavern deep under the surface of the earth. Consider:

	Matthew 12:40: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." 2 [If interpreted literally, this passage does conflict with other verses in the Bible which imply that Jesus was buried on a Friday afternoon, and resurrected very early on Sunday morning, totaling three days but only two nights.]
	Acts 2:29-31: "...let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried...Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption."
	Romans 10:6-7: " Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)"
	Ephesians 4:7-9: "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?)"
	The Apostles' Creed: "...Jesus Christ...died, and was buried, He descended into Hell. The third day, he rose again from the dead."

The "Hell Hole" Hoax: This was broadcast on three episodes of a Trinity Broadcasting Network program in the early 1990s. It involved a deep well allegedly drilled in Siberia. The scientists lowered a microphone into the "hell hole" and allegedly recorded the sounds of millions (perhaps billions) of people being tortured deep under the earth. ₃The claim was quickly shown to be a hoax, dreamed up by an editor of a conservative Christian newsletter. The Biblical Archaeology Review printed a story about the Well to Hell. They felt that the story was so outrageous that nobody would believe it. But many of their readers did. Now, almost a decade later, the hoax is still being presented as fact. ₁ More details.

"Stairway to Hell:" Some horror movies include some sort of access port that connects Hell to the earth's surface.  One urban legend states that just such a stairway exists in the small town of Stull, near  Lawrence, KS. The gateway to Hell is rumored to be in or near a collapsing church in an ancient cemetery. The tale apparently originated in a recording by an alternative music group Urge Overkill; the album cover had a picture of the cemetery and church. There are a number of tall tales related to this area. None are believed to have any validity.

Near Death Experiences (NDE): Dr. Maurice Rawlings, a specialist in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease, wrote a book in 1979 in which he recorded the NDE memories of some of his patients. These are individuals who have suffered a clinical death (generally, their heart stopped and breathing ceased). But before real or biological death happened, as their brain cells were being starved of oxygen, they went through a very special experience. When they were returned to life, most remembered passing through a long luminous tunnel, feeling at peace, sensing love, being welcomed, and talking to God or to long-dead family members. But others recalled a deeply disturbing experience. They felt that they were being drawn down into Hell. They remembered heat, flames, screams of the inhabitants, etc. Dr. Rawlings wrote that, according to his patients, "...this place seems to be underground or within the earth in some way." ₅ Many skeptics suggest that NDEs are simply hallucinations caused by the person's brain cells being starved of oxygen and their brain gradually shutting down. Those who expect to go to heaven after death would probably have a positive experience. The small minority who believes that they are destined for Hell would likely have their hallucinations also match their expectations.

Matthew 13:42: "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Matt 25:41: "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 passage relates to Jesus' judgment of all the world. It describes precisely how Jesus will separate the "sheep" -- those who will spend eternity with God in Heaven -- and the "goats" -- those who will be tortured for all eternity in Hell. The criteria was based on the good works (or lack thereof) of people while they lived on earth. This conflicts with many references in the Christian Scriptures which specify that salvation depends upon one's beliefs, not good works.

Mark 9:43-48: 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." The reference to fire is repeated three more times in the passage for emphasis.

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." This is a plea described as coming from an inhabitant of Hell.

Revelation 20:13-15: "...hell delivered up the dead which were in them...And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Revelation 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." Brimstone is sulphur. In order for sulphur to form a lake, it must be molten. Thus, its temperature must be at or above 444.6 °C or 832 °F. That is the boiling point of sulfur. 

In spite of the flames, Hell is totally dark:

	Matthew 8:12: "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness..."
	Matthew 22:13: "...take him away, and cast him into outer darkness."
	Matthew 25:30: "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness..."

Torturing prisoners with sulphur: 

Revelation 14:10: "...and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." The "Lamb" here refers to Jesus. It is not clear whether Jesus and the angels are present as torturers or merely as observers.

Worms -- apparently flesh-eating:

Mark 9:44-48: "Where their worm dieth not..." The immortal worm is repeated three times in this passage for emphasis. One point of interest is that the author of Mark refers to "their worm" not to "the worms." That seems to imply that each prisoner has his own worm.

Extreme thirst: 

Luke 16:23-26: "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."

Prisoner's reaction to the torment:

	Matthew 8:12: "...there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
	Matthew 13:42: "... there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
	Matthew 13:50: " there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
	Matthew 25:30: "... there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:46: " And these shall go away into everlasting punishment."

Mark 9:43-48: "...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" The unquenched fire is mentioned three times in this passage for emphasis.

Revelation 14:11: " And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night..." 

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