Article — Heaven and Hell — Q & A

Jesus tells a story of a rich man—an unbeliever—who immediately goes to a place of torment at death called Hades (or hell). After death, the rich man looked up across a great chasm where he saw a poor beggar who had died named Lazarus (a believer) being comforted at Abraham's side (sometimes called Abraham's bosom).

 

“In Hades he [the rich man] lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame’” (Luke 16:23-24).

 

While the primary purpose of this story is a warning against greed, the unbelieving rich man immediately finds himself in hell. He discovers that everything he had worked for is worthless. And after death, there's no way to cross the chasm from the torment side to the comfort side.

 

At the end of the age, an unbeliever's body is resurrected and goes before the Great White Throne for final judgment. His soul and body is then cast into the final hell called the Lake of Fire for eternal punishment. The Lake of Fire is also the final destination for Satan and his fallen angels.