Scripture Spotlight

A Stench in the Nostrils

David Scott Fields II, Senior Writer • August 1, 2024

There are many reasons to avoid Hell! The most prominent being that our loving Savior died to pay the price for our sins and provided eternal life with Him as a free gift, so there is really no reason someone should choose to go to Hell. There is also the fact that in Hell there will be:

Unquenchable flames and some kind of horrible undying worm!

“And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”

Mark 9:47-48 ESV

Unending torment and no rest of any kind even for a moment!

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Revelation 14:9-11 ESV

No light at all!

They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray…For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.”

2 Peter 2:14-15, 17 ESV

Constant weeping and/or teeth grinding!

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 8:11-12 ESV

No water (save perhaps bitter tears)!

“Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.”

Luke 16:24 ESV

The list could go on and on, but while doing some research for a novel I am currently writing, I was reminded of one that probably doesn’t come to mind very often. I needed to know what sulfur smells like as my characters have to traverse a lava tube. Apparently sulfur smells like rotten eggs. The Second Death, the ultimate Hell, is called the “Lake of Fire and Sulfur” (Rev. 20:10 ESV). So apparently Hell with all its torments will stink too!

It is likely Hell will assault all five senses of every person who goes there – and it will be unending without apology for those who reject Christ’s loving sacrifice. If Hell has one virtue for the sinner (and I use the word virtue loosely) it is that they can sin without restraint – which I would guess will mostly take the form of blasphemy. But there will be no pleasure from sin in Hell as there is here on Earth for the pleasure of sin is only for a season (See Hebrews 11:25).

Ultimately those who reject Christ willfully choose to go to Hell – for there is literally nowhere else to go. If you reject perfect peace, there is nothing left but perfect torment. But while you are still breathing, there is still hope. If you have not already, there is no better time than now to “repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

References

Scripture quotations taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.