No one talked, taught and warned more of Hell than Christ. That is worth thinking about. Christ gives us more insight and instruction concerning Hell than any writer in the New Testament. He set forth the fact of men and woman in Hell clearly, deliberately and distinctly for all to see.
Matthew, Mark and Luke record Christ's teaching on Hell without toning it down, ignoring it, hiding it or obscuring it. We find no New Testament discussion on how the love of God corresponds with an eternal Hell. There is no hint of confused understanding concerning Hell in the New Testament. The Gospels were written during the period covered by the Book of Acts. In other words these Gospels containing Christ's teaching on Hell were written, given, shared, read and believed by the early Church in the midst of revivals and missionart activity. .
In Luke 16 Christ begins to teach on this subject by revealing the details of a real man who lived on earth but who was sent to Hell. "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day...the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell..." Here He teaches that this man died. His physical body was buried but he went to Hell.
What did Christ reveal concerning the state of man in Hell?
In Hell men see
"And in hell he lift up his eyes...and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom" (Lk.16:23). First of all it is revealed that he had eyes and could see. He of course could see where he was - in Hell. He could see what he missed - paradise. He could see the reward of the righteous - Lazarus and Abraham being comforted. The immediate sight of all this would have brought an immediate inward sight of himself - his foolishness, his wickedness, his hopelessness and his terrible loss.
In Hell men are tormented
It was in a state of "...being in torments" that he lifted up his eyes. Such a place will change how every man and woman looks at things. From that place all he could say was "...I am tormented in this flame..." In looking for mercy and relief all that Abraham could say to him was "...now [Lazarus] is comforted, and thou art tormented." In other words the only comfort he would ever have was enjoyed on earth but it was now all over. Christ uses two different words for this torment lest there be any misunderstanding. The word basanos means torture. The word odunaō means grieve or sorrow. This is eternal punishment. This is the result of a wasted life.
In Hell men pray
"And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me...for I am tormented in this flame." Here is a man who in life made no such cry or prayer but now he does. He asks two things i) for mercy for himself ii) and that his brothers might be warned about this place. He asked that Lazarus might be the one used to answer both prayers. In life we did not care about this poor man now this poor man is the only hope of such answers. Neither prayer could be answered. Prayers do not get answered in Hell. The rich man could not even direct his prayers to the LORD only to man. How hopeless a state.
In Hell men Remember
“…Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” All that men have in Hell are memories. Memories of what they once had in life. Memories of opportunities they despised. Memories of how they neglected seeking after God. Memories of how they stored up on earth but not in Heaven. Memories only torment them. Memories plague them. Such memories will cause eternal regret without relief.
In Hell men Thirst
Hell is a place of eternal thirst without relief “…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.” So terrible is the torment that this rich man asks for no more than a drop of water. All his riches will not purchase him even a drop of water in Hell. How vain, all that he gained and owned in life cannot even gain him one drop of water in Hell. It’s a place of eternal desire without satisfaction. In life a man may well get all he wants but not in eternity. The simplistist of things will not be granted.
In Hell men care about the eternal souls of their Family
“I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Finding his own situation so terrible, hopeless, inescapable and intolerable all he could think of was concerning not wanting his own brothers to come there. He can do nothing for himself. There is no escape. But at least maybe his brothers could be stopped if a messenger from the grave could be sent to warn them. If men in Hell could they would become missionaries to family and friends but they cannot warn.
It was Jesus Christ who lifted the veil from Hell to reveal the final state and destiny of them who reject the narrow way of the Cross. It was John the apostle of love who at the age of almost 100 also lifted the veil and revealed the same and the same destiny. When John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost it was The Revealtion (singular) of Jesus Christ that he wrote. Revelation literally means to remove the covering veil and to reveal what is underneath. The Christ that John revealed was one who would judge men and send them to Hell. A revelation of Christ is not complete until we see Him as the righteous judge of every man and see Him as the Lamb of God who was slane - finally coming with wrath to judge and cast all into the Lake of Fire whose names are not found in the Lamb's Book of Life.