Hell, as an experience

The state of final separation from God, and so from all light, love, peace, pleasure and fulfilment.

Hell is separation from God

2 Thessalonians 1:8–10 See also Matthew 7:23, Matthew 8:12, Matthew 25:32; Revelation 21:8

in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.

The final state of the wicked is one of eternal punishment

Matthew 25:41–46 “eternal punishment” means the punishment that is part of, and belongs to, the final order of things that follows this present age. This is usually, though not invariably, understood as an unending process of punishment consciously experienced by the wicked. See also Jude 1:7

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Biblical expressions for final punishment

God's wrath

John 3:36 See also Deuteronomy 32:22; Zephaniah 1:18; Matthew 3:7; Romans 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 19:15–16

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

Torment

Luke 16:23–24 See also Matthew 8:29; Revelation 14:11, Revelation 20:10

In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

Corruption

Psalm 55:23; 2 Peter 1:4

Destruction

Galatians 6:8 See also Deuteronomy 7:10; Psalm 88:11; John 17:12; Romans 9:22; Philippians 3:18–19; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Revelation 17:8

The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Unquenchable fire

In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

Intense darkness, emphasising utter isolation

Jude 1:13 See also Matthew 22:13; 2 Peter 2:17; Jude 1:6

They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Death

John 8:21 See also Job 28:22; Proverbs 15:11; Isaiah 28:15; Hosea 13:14; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 1 Corinthians 15:54–55

Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

The second death

Revelation 20:14–15 See also Revelation 20:6, Revelation 21:8

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death — the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The finality of hell

Luke 16:26 See also Hebrews 6:4–6, Hebrews 10:26–27; Revelation 16:11

And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’