What is "hell"?

@ghost-of-a-duke said
What are we to make of Luke 16:

'One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. 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.’

Apparently Jesus was preaching a false doctrine. Jesus was not a Jehovah Witness.

Many churches and Christians would persecute / condemn Jesus if he were to appear today and preached as he did 2000 yrs ago.