The Horrific Reality of Hell: NDEs & Jesus’ Urgent Truth

Hell is not a comfortable topic, but it is a deeply biblical one—and one that love compels us to face. If eternity is real, then there is nothing more urgent than understanding what God has said about it and responding while there is still time.

This post has two parts:

1. What Jesus and the New Testament teach about hell and unbelief
2. Patterns reported in modern near-death experiences (NDEs) of hellish realms

Scripture is the final authority for Christians. NDEs are not Scripture—but the sobering patterns many people report can serve as a warning that drives us back to what God has already said.

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1. What Jesus and the New Testament Say About Hell

If we find hell offensive, we must honestly grapple with this: no one in the Bible spoke about hell more than Jesus. The One who stretched out His arms on the cross is the same One who warned about the eternal consequences of unbelief.

1.1. Jesus’ Teaching on Hell

a) A real place of separation and conscious existence

Jesus describes hell not as an idea, but as a real state of existence after death:

• “Outer darkness” “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 8:12 (ESV)
• A place of unquenchable fire “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

Fire, darkness, “worm not dying”—these are images that point to ongoing ruin, corruption, and torment. Whether fully literal or partly symbolic, the point is unmistakable: hell is terrible beyond words.

b) Eternal consequences, not temporary inconvenience

Jesus draws a stark contrast between the destinies of the saved and the lost:

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
— Matthew 25:46

The same word “eternal” (Greek: aiōnios) is used for both life and punishment. If heaven is forever, then by Jesus’ own words, hell’s punishment is not a brief “rehabilitation.” It is a settled outcome for those who die outside God’s grace.

c) A place originally prepared for the devil and his angels

In the parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus says:

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
— Matthew 25:41

Hell was not designed as humanity’s original home. It is the proper destiny of Satan and his angels. But those who cling to rebellion and refuse God’s mercy share in that destiny.

d) The great reversal: comfort vs. torment

In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus tells of a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. After death:

• Lazarus is comforted “at Abraham’s side”
• The rich man is in “torment in Hades” (v. 23), conscious, in anguish, and aware of his lost condition

The rich man begs for relief and for someone to warn his brothers. Abraham responds:

“If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”
— Luke 16:31

Jesus is emphasizing: we have enough warning already—through Scripture and, ultimately, through His own resurrection.

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1.2. Hell and the Consequences of Unbelief

The New Testament shows that the dividing line is not between “good people and bad people” as the world defines it, but between those who receive God’s Son and those who refuse Him.

a) Condemned already without Christ

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
— John 3:18

The problem is not that we are neutral until we choose. We are already under condemnation because of sin. Christ comes as rescue for people already perishing (John 3:16–17).

b) Eternal destruction away from God’s presence

Paul writes:

“…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

— 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9

Here, Paul defines hell’s most terrifying reality: it is the complete absence of God’s goodness. Every good thing we experience on earth—love, light, warmth, joy, peace, friendship, beauty—comes from God (James 1:17). To demand eternity without God is to demand eternity without anything good.

Unbelief is not just a lack of information; it is a rejection of the Life-Giver. When we say to God, “Leave me alone,” hell is God finally honoring that request forever.

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2. The Wake-Up Call: Commonalities in “Distressing” Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)

While Scripture is our only flawless foundation, thousands of people who have been clinically dead and resuscitated report near-death experiences (NDEs). While the media often highlights the positive, peaceful “tunnels of light,” researchers point out that a significant number of NDEs are deeply distressing, horrifying, and hellish.

Many who experience these “tours of hell” believe God allowed them to see it as a severe mercy—a violent waking up to the reality of eternity before their time was permanently up. Strikingly, their reports echo the warnings of Jesus with terrifying consistency.

Here are the most common elements reported by those who have experienced a glimpse of hell:

a) Profound, Crushing Isolation and Darkness

Jesus spoke of “outer darkness,” and survivors of hellish NDEs universally report an oppressive, suffocating darkness. Even if they are aware of other souls around them, there is no fellowship, no comfort, and no connection. They describe a deep, agonizing loneliness—an absolute void of love or empathy.

b) Sensory Torment and Agony

People report intense, unbearable sensory experiences. Sometimes this is described as a literal, unquenchable fire that burns without consuming. Other times, it is experienced as a freezing, biting cold. They frequently report hearing the deafening sounds of weeping, wailing, screaming, and cursing—exactly as Jesus warned (weeping and gnashing of teeth). Many also describe the awful stench, an overpowering, putrid odor that adds to the overwhelming torment.

c) Malevolent, Demonic Entities

Many NDErs report being dragged downward or surrounded by terrifying, hostile beings. Far from the cartoonish image of demons ruling a kingdom, these entities are described as filled with pure, unadulterated hatred for humanity. They repeatedly mock, torment, and tear at the person, driven by a malice that earthly language cannot adequately capture.

d) The Agony of Regret and Hopelessness

Perhaps the most consistent and heartbreaking element of a distressing NDE is the crushing psychological weight of hopelessness. In this state, the veil is lifted. The person suddenly understands that they are entirely responsible for being there. They experience a “life review” where they see their selfishness, their pride, and their rejection of God’s grace. The realization that they threw away their chance at salvation—and that this state is now forever—produces a spiritual agony worse than any physical pain.

e) The Cry for Jesus

Many individuals who survived these terrifying experiences report that their rescue came only when they cried out to God or remembered the name of Jesus. Even atheists who had mocked faith their entire lives found themselves screaming out for Christ in the dark—and suddenly found themselves pulled back into their physical bodies, given a second chance to live for Him.

f) NDE Researcher John Burke Reports His Findings

John Burke is a renowned pastor, gifted speaker, and accomplished author whose work has touched the lives of countless individuals around the world. He has also conducted extensive research into Near-Death Experiences (NDE), exploring both accounts of heaven and hell, using these profound stories to provide insights into the afterlife and deepen our understanding of spiritual truths. Listen to what he has to say about the accounts of hell.

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The Ultimate Rescue Mission

Reading about the biblical reality of hell and the terrifying testimonies of those who have glimpsed it should rattle us. It is meant to. As the author of Hebrews warns, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

But we cannot end the conversation there, because God did not end the story there.

Why did Jesus talk so much about hell? Because He was on His way to the cross to absorb it for us.

On the cross, Jesus experienced the ultimate horrors of hell: He was forsaken by the Father, plunged into darkness, and endured the full wrath of God against human sin. He took the punishment we deserved so that we would never have to spend a single second in that terrible place.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9

Hell is real, but it does not have to be your destiny. The terrifying warnings of Scripture and the harrowing accounts of NDEs are not meant to paralyze us with fear—they are meant to drive us into the arms of the Savior.

If you are reading this and you do not know Christ, do not wait. The door of grace is still open. Acknowledge your sin, turn away from your rebellion, and put your full trust in Jesus Christ today. He is the only rescue, the only Truth, and the only Life.

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 4:7)