It sounds like a strange question. But we don't have to guess, because Jesus actually answered it.
In Luke 16, Jesus tells about two men who died. One was rich. The other was a poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus goes to heaven. The rich man goes to hell. And then the rich man starts talking:
"Then the rich man said, 'Please, Father Abraham, at least send Lazarus to my father's home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.' The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.' But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead'" (Luke 16:27–31 NLT).
"Please warn my family"
That's what someone in hell would tell you. You can feel the urgency in his words. He's tormented, and he's begging someone in heaven to go tell his family on earth not to come there.
Why would he say that? He calls it "a place of torment," and the rest of Scripture describes it the same way:
Never-ending fire (Luke 3:17), a "fiery lake of burning sulfur" (Revelation 21:8 NLT).
Outer darkness, "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12 NLT).
Separated from the presence and goodness of God (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
You could sum it up like this: no more comfort, no more relationships, no more second chances. Only pain. Only regret. Only isolation.
The man in hell became an evangelist. He just became one too late.
And notice Abraham's answer: even someone rising from the dead wouldn't convince people who refuse to listen. Someone has risen from the dead. His name is Jesus.
Nobody has to go there
Every heart comes preprogrammed with hell as its destination. But nobody has to end up there. The moment you turn from your sin and trust Jesus, He recalculates your eternal destination. The thief on the cross was one breath from hell, and Jesus told him, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43 ESV).
Friend, it's not too late. A lifetime of sin can be forgiven in a moment. A lifetime of turning your back on God can be forgiven in a moment. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18 ESV).
Here's the gospel, plain and simple:
Everyone has sinned. "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard" (Romans 3:23 NLT).
Sin deserves to be punished. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23 NLT).
Someone must pay. You can pay for your sin in an eternity away from God, or you can let Jesus pay for it. But someone is paying that debt.
Jesus paid it. He lived the sinless life you couldn't, died for your sins in your place, and rose from the dead.
You respond. When you hear the gospel, believe it, and turn from your sin to trust Jesus, you're saved.
So warn them
If you know Jesus, the man in hell is talking to you too. Who in your life needs to take eternity seriously? Invite them to church. Have the conversation. Eternity is too real to put it off one more day.
For more on what the Bible says about hell, read Is Hell Real?
Scripture: Luke 16:19–31; Luke 3:17; Revelation 21:8; Matthew 8:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Luke 23:43; Isaiah 1:18; Romans 3:23–24; 6:23