Heaven and Hell According to the Bible
Summary
What does the Bible really say about heaven and hell? This Scripture-based study examines key passages about eternal life, judgment, rewards in heaven, and the reality of hell. Instead of tradition or speculation, this page looks directly at what the Bible reveals about eternity and what determines where we spend it, including a clear Old Testament reference to hell from Isaiah that many miss.
About This Study
This study is not affiliated with any denomination. It is based entirely on the Bible and reflects the teaching of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All conclusions are drawn directly from the full context of Scripture, with clear references so readers can examine the evidence for themselves.
Contents (Jump Links)
1. A Biblical Overview of Heaven and Hell
According to the Bible, heaven and hell are real places that God created. Heaven has a narrow gate, and hell has a wide gate (Matthew 7:13-4):
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Hell's wide gate means the majority of people will send themselves there because they don't truly care about God.
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Heaven's narrow gate means only a few who truly seek God, and know how to get their sins forgiven, will make it through there. How do we seek God? Set aside time to diligently study the Bible. How do we get our sins forgiven? By praying the Lord's prayer daily as Jesus instructed. See my page How to Be True Christians.
God revealed to us some information about heaven and hell. Apparently, there are various levels in both. There were verses that talked about “rewards in Heaven”. And other verses about good-hearted people who “shall see God”. And there were verses about the “lake of fire” and place of torment. And other verses about those with lesser punishment. I treat this as more information about God and His realm. For knowledge of God and the things related to Him, is spiritual maturity. It is something desired by God as evident in Jesus' parables.
One way to view heaven and hell is, they are the two extremes of existence. On the furthest extreme side of heaven, is God. And on the furthest extreme side of hell is the devil and the abyss (or will be after judgement day). God's place is pure goodness. The further away from God, the worse it gets. The Bible describes a range of states in heaven and a range in hell, with a wide chasm in between, separating the two. Resulting in no movement between the two sides after death.
This Bible reference describes heaven as an amazing place that cannot be conceived by people:
1 Corinthians 2:9
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” - the things God has prepared for those who love him.
One place we can have a peek at heaven is the Bible's description of Jesus after resurrection. The Bible says Jesus rose from the dead in the flesh. Then some time later (refer to passage below), He appeared in the middle of a closed-doors-room where His disciples were gathered. He asked them to touch Him and feel His flesh. Then asked them for food. They gave Him a piece of fish, and He ate it in their presence. This tells us He had a physical body, not just a ghost. But the appearing and disappearing from places, in the flesh, gives us a view into an awesome side of Jesus after resurrection!
Luke 24:36-44
As they were saying these things, He Himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
The Bible says Jesus is the "first-fruit"; He is the first of human-kind to rise from the dead. We can look at Jesus' activities on earth after resurrection as a reference point for us, which shows us what we may expect when we rise from the dead at the end of this age. But note, Jesus possessed all the heavenly rewards a human can possibly achieve; a fully loaded version of the heavenly rewards "so to speak". So for us, not likely achieving those reward levels as Jesus, may not possess the same awesome displays we saw from Him after His resurrection.
2. What Heaven Is Like According to Scripture
Scripture describing a glimpse of heaven. This first one is the best descriptive summary of heaven:
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived - God has prepared these things for those who love him.
Revelation 22:2
“In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations”.
Revelation 22:4-5
“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever”.
Revelation 21:1 & 3-4
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Notes: In the next age, the Bible says the "new earth" will be integrated in God's realm. And God Himself will walk among us.
Also note, the reference, "there was no longer any sea" does not mean there will not be an actual sea in the new earth. The Bible used the term "sea" to mean pagan / unbelievers areas (example in Revelation 13). Which obviously these areas will not exist in the new earth.
Hebrews 12:22-23
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect
Notes: "people made perfect" are those who are true Christian believers who's sins have been forgiven through the bread of life (the body of Jesus) that God gives to people who genuinely ask Him, i.e., in the Lord's Prayer.
John 14:2-3
[Jesus said:] “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”
Luke 20:34-36
34Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. 36In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.
Notes: This scripture is loaded with info. 1st observation, "those who are worthy" will make it there. Jesus has many other parables about the "worthy" ones - meaning those who's sins have been forgiven and have matured in the knowledge of God. The 2nd observation, people in heaven will be individuals like angels; not couples, no marriage. They will live forever, and be called children of God.
Jesus described eternal life as entering through a narrow gate:
Matthew 7:13-4
[Jesus said:] 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Notes: What is the "narrow gate that leads to life"? It means only a small percentage of the population will make it into heaven. "And only a few will find the narrow gate". This raises an important question: which church-denomination is the one. Because they can't all be correct with their interpretations, and definitely can't all fit in this narrow gate that only a few will find! Answer: None of the church-denominations; It'll be the few individuals who truly sought God, and found Him. But God wished the wide gate would have been the one that led to heaven. Unfortunately, He saw only the narrow gate did! Scripture portrays God as desiring that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9) - It is our choice in this life! More here: The Narrow Gate.
2.1 Rewards and Levels in Heaven
Matthew 5:11-12
11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
Revelation 22:12
Jesus said: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
Notes: The above 2 references give us evidence that there are "rewards" in heaven. Also, can be viewed as levels in heaven. And this part: "...Jesus will give each person according to what they have done", means those who's sins have been forgiven and matured in the knowledge of God. The more spiritual maturity, the more rewards in the new heaven and new earth.
Matthew 5:8
Jesus said: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Notes: This is consistent with the reference above (Rev 21:3), which says God Himself will live with people in the next age.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Notes: This is Paul talking to true believers about the rewards in heaven, which was also noted by Jesus in Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. We will receive the reward due us based on our behavior on earth. Meaning how much spiritual fruit we produced - examples, how wholeheartedly dedicated to the Lord we've been? genuinely seeking God in the scriptures? forgiving & loving others? knowing God and how to become righteous? Being wise and led others to righteousness, performed miracles in the name of Jesus, etc..
Note, "righteous" and "wicked" determine our eternal destination in terms of heaven or hell. Recall that "righteous" means sins forgiven, and "wicked" means sins not forgiven (see here for more on this). But within each category there are levels. For the "righteous there are various rewards in heaven. And for the "wicked" there are levels in how deep their hell is.
2.2 Additional Heaven References
God's dwelling place (Psalms 33:13).
[God] who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see (1 Timothy 6:16).
Where Christ is today (Acts 1:11).
Where true Christian believers go when they die (Philippians 1:21-23).
The Father's house (John 14:2).
A city designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10).
A better country (Hebrews 11:16).
Paradise (Luke 23:43).
3. What the Bible Says About Hell
Hell is the absence of God. Scripture warns that rejecting God carries eternal consequences, even for those who are outwardly religious. God does not send people to hell; when God leaves, you'll become in hell.
But while alive, you still have the chance to turn back to God, the biblical way, not the churches way. Look at my article, Are We True Christians, you'll see what I'm talking about.
You ask, "what then are all those references about throwing people in hell? Like this one:"
Revelation 20:14-15
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
"...Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” The "throwing" here is the effect of God's leaving.
Luke 16:23-24
23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity 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 fire.’
Notes: Another name for hell is "hades". A "place of torment", where people are in agony for eternity.
Matthew 13:42 Jesus said:
"They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 25:41
"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'"
Revelation 14:11
"And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name."
Matthew 8:12
"But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The same teaching from Jesus also describes a broad path leading to destruction, entered by many:
Matthew 7:13-4
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Notes: What is the "wide gate that leads to destruction"? It means most people on earth are going to hell. Why is the majority going to hell? Because they don't know God and they don't truly care to seek God. They'd pray to anybody and everything, except to God. Who is truly seeking God today? Look around you, and on social media. More here: The Narrow Gate.
3.1 The Hell Verse in the Old Testament:
Many think the Old Testament does not have any mention of hell and that hell is a concept made up by the New Testament authors. Well, here it is, very clearly described by the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 33:14
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the ungodly: "Who among us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with ever-burning flames?”
3.2 Are There Levels of Punishment in Hell?
Luke 12:47-48
Jesus said: 47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
Notes: This parable describes levels in hell. Some people will be in a worse place than others. The servant who does not know what his master wants will be beaten with fewer blows - the punishment is less severe than the one who knows the scripture but still reject. This was a scripture glimpse of how people who know vs. don't know the scripture will be judged. So a word of caution here. If you spend time reading my website pages, then decide, nah, not for me... You've just deepened your hell, for eternity! Why? because you've just learned so much more about God, and still said "I'll continue to pray to Mary" or I'm forever "by faith alone" as defined by the Protestants, not the biblical "by faith alone." See here for more.
John 9:41
Jesus said [to the Pharisees], “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Notes: When Jesus, God Himself, tells someone "your sins remain", it means this person is hell-bound. Only those who's sins are forgiven are "worthy of life in the next age".
3.3 Can People Cross Between Heaven and Hell?
Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and the Poor Man (Lazarus)
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity 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 fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Notes: "they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." I see comments on the internet from Atheists. They'd say things like, "if someone performs a miracle like restore a leg that was lost in the war, then I'll believe". But according to this parable, even if they do see that miracle, they'll likely come up with another condition before they believe. I guess the reason they chose to be Atheist in the first place tells a lot about them; likely with ears that can't hear and eyes that can't see. Which means God foresaw them and destined them accordingly. See my page Atheism - A Different Perspective.
4. What Determines Where We Spend Eternity
While alive, we only have two spiritual choices to make, according to the Bible:
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Accept God — which means, genuinely seek Him (He is clearly described in the bible), diligently understand His truth, and love Him based on that knowledge. He will then come close to us, forgive our sins, bless us, and bring us into His family. More details here: The Lord's Prayer is Severely Misunderstood.
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Reject God — and He will leave you. Then His absence is hell. He’s not sending you anywhere - He’s moving away from you because you insisted! Rejecting God also includes people misled by their church! More here: What Kind of a Loving God Sends People to Hell?
5. Final Thoughts: Eternity According to the Bible
The Bible presents heaven and hell as real and eternal realities, not symbols or traditions shaped by culture. Scripture consistently points to a coming judgment, a restored creation for those who belong to God, and separation from Him for those who reject Him. Rather than speculation, the Bible invites us to respond while we still have time — to seek God sincerely, understand His Word, and align our lives with the truth He has revealed.
Last updated: March 7, 2026
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