The Importance of HellAugust 2008 by Tim Keller There are plenty
of people today who don't believe in the Bible's teaching on
everlasting punishment, even those who do find it an unreal and
a remote concept. In 2003 a research group discovered 64% of
Americans expect to go to heaven when they die, but less than 1%
think they might go to hell. Not only are there plenty of people
today who don't believe in the Bible's teaching on everlasting
punishment, even those who do find it an unreal and a remote
concept. Nevertheless, it is a very important part of the
Christian faith, for several reasons. 1. It is important because
Jesus taught about it more than all other Biblical authors put
together. Jesus speaks of "eternal fire and punishment" as the
final abode of the angels and human beings who have rejected God
(Matthew 25:41,46) He says that those who give into sin will be
in danger of the "fire of hell" (Matthew 5:22; 18:8-9.) The word
Jesus uses for 'hell' is Gehenna, a valley in which piles of
garbage were da