Note 10 at 2 Th. 1:9: Hell is the place where the unbelieving dead presently go (see note 13 at Mt. 5:22, p. 128). After the great white throne judgment of Revelation 20, all the unrighteous will be cast into the lake of fire along with the devil for all eternity (see note 4 at Mk. 3:29, p. 186).

These are places of torment. There will be fire, thirst, torment, and agony over lost loved ones (see note 7 at Lk. 16:28, p. 361). Our imagination cannot conceive all the horrors of eternal damnation. But surely the greatest of all punishments will be eternal separation from the presence of God.

We take a lot of things for granted. Even unbelievers receive many things from the goodness of God. God makes His sun to rise on the just and the unjust. He sends rain on everyone, regardless of their relationship to Him. He provides food for us all and we have the beauties of nature that have brought joy to each one of us. Despite how desperate anyone's plight might be, we have all enjoyed some pleasures and kindnesses from others.

But those who spend eternity in the lake of fire will have nothing good. God is good (Mk. 10:18) and to be banished from the presence of God is to be banished from all that is good. There will be no one to comfort, no hope, no relief. There will be memories of all the times God tried to reach out to them and prevent them from going to that terrible place. There will be eternal remorse, shame, and guilt. All eternity will be spent with the one they loved and served so well-the devil.