Recently, David Lee Roth said on stage:
“Ozzy Osbourne and I became very, very good friends on that tour. And the sad news is that he has departed. I once asked a Buddhist monk, ‘Do you think there’s laughter in heaven?’ And he told me, ‘No, I don’t think so.’ So Ozzy Osbourne, save me a seat, and when I get to hell, we’ll have a drink, brother.”
This study isn’t a shot at David Lee Roth, Ozzy, or any other artist. I’m not here to judge anyone’s soul—that belongs to the Lord alone. But Scripture tells us to “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and, “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). I believe David Lee Roth has been misled by false ideas—and so have many others. Have you? This study comes from a deep place in my heart because I was deceived for a long time too.
A lot of people think hell will just be a place for partiers to reunite and keep the good times rolling. What about heaven? Well, that’s where the boring people go—sitting on clouds, strumming harps, doing nothing fun.
I get that. There was a time when I called myself a Christian but wasn’t serious about Jesus. He was cool and all, but I wasn’t into church or religion. Jesus was more like my “homeboy,” and the devil was who I hung out with on the weekends. My idea of hell wasn’t biblical, but cultural. I thought of it as a dark, flame-lit rave, where the devil played DJ while the rebels kept partying. Honestly, it didn’t sound like a bad alternative if I didn’t get into paradise. Then someone asked me, “What do you think Jesus actually said about that?” I had no answer. So I opened the Bible, and it shattered every false picture I had of heaven, hell, and eternity.
First, let’s not ignore that David Lee Roth asked a Buddhist monk if there’s laughter in heaven. The Buddhist religion doesn’t even teach about a permanent heaven—only temporary realms like Devaloka1, where spirits wait until their next lives. Why ask a Buddhist what heaven is like? Why not ask the One who has been there? Jesus spoke clearly enough about heaven and hell.
Hell, He said, is eternal separation from the presence of God (Matthew 7:23). Think about that. Jesus is life, love, joy, and true happiness—not superficial happiness, but deep, lasting joy without fear, pain, or sorrow. That’s what He offers His followers forever.
And here’s something important to consider: God doesn’t send anyone to hell out of cruelty. He’s not looking to punish. In fact, multiple times Scripture tells us that He wants everyone to be saved, and He’s waiting for them to repent!2 Hell is simply the result of someone saying “no” to God’s invitation to life and joy. He respects our choice, even if that choice is tragic.
As for this idea that the devil will be handing out drinks in hell—Jesus said hell is “the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). It wasn’t designed as a torture chamber for “bad people.” Hell is a place of torment built for Satan and the rebellious angels who have already chosen life away from the presence of God.
And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
Jude 6
The devil won’t be in charge in hell. The demons don’t have a party to throw, but they do have a lesson to offer:
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
James 2:19
And suddenly they [demons] cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
Matthew 8:29
Hell is the absence of everything that makes life worth living—love, light, joy, and peace. Heaven isn’t about floating on clouds. It’s about living life the way it was always meant to be. Imagine joy that never fades, love without pain, and life without fear. That’s what God offers—not just in eternity, but starting now.
Maybe you feel like following Jesus means giving up joy, but the truth is, He’s the source of joy. The world offers pleasure, but as Moses recognized, it’s only “the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25). After that drink, how long is it going to be before it wears off and you want another one? After that one night stand, brace yourself for the guilt and regret in the morning. The pleasures that the world offer are superficial and temporary.
Heaven is life, love, and joy in the presence of the One who knows you best and loves you deepest. Hell is the absence of all of that. Where are you choosing to spend eternity? Are you betting on a party that Jesus says doesn’t exist?
Maybe you feel like you’ve already made too many mistakes or like heaven isn’t for someone like you. But Jesus came for the broken and the lost—He came for me, and He came for you. The offer of His love and joy is open right now.
If you want to explore the Bible one-on-one in a real and meaningful way—faith, questions, fears, doubts, and all—request a personal study here.
And Christian, pray with me for David Lee Roth and for a world that’s been deceived about heaven and hell. Let’s keep pursuing God’s truth. Also, check out our recent study about one of the worst realities of hell that no one talks about.