Old Testament Reference to Hell

The biblical teaching of hell is often questioned today, even by some Christians. If someone would ask you where in the Bible it talks about hell, it's pretty clear in the New Testament. For example, see Matthew 25:41. It's much more difficult to find a clear reference in the Old Testament. The Old Testament has a lot of references to death, "going down to the grave" or "the depths," but isn't much more specific than that. 

Today I came across a reference to hell that I've never noticed before. God says, "For a fire has been kindled by my wrath, one that burns to the realms of death below" (Deuteronomy 32:22). According to the People's Bible, the Hebrew word "Sheol" used here for death basically means a person's fixed destiny in the afterlife, whether good or bad. The passage points out that the fire of God's wrath is not limited to our time on earth but will follow some to their eternal life. Thanks be to God we do not have to fear God's wrath because "the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7)!