Everything You May or May Not
Have Wanted to Know About Hell
Introduction: Jesus towards the end of His earthly ministry, contemplating the horrible consequences for His unrepentant people, He wept: (Matthew 23:37) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! (NKJV)
Likewise, the Apostle Paul solemnly cried out, (Romans 9:2-3) that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, (NKJV)
Contemplating eternal separation from God - namely, "hell" - is a horrible reality. No wonder many unbelievers deny its existence and even some believers at times doubt it. According to George Barna, CEO of Barna research reports that according to his polling on this subject that 76% of Americans believe that Heaven exists, while nearly the same proportion said that there is such a thing as hell (71%).
But when you ask them what hell is 39% say that hell is "a state of eternal separation from God's presence" and 32% says it is "an actual place of torment and suffering where people's souls go after death." But this is very telling: most Americans do not expect to experience hell first-hand; just one half of 1% expects to go to hell upon their death. 64% of Americans believe they will go to Heaven.
The teaching of hell has been called cruel, inhuman, and barbarous. Bertrand Russell said anyone who threatens people with eternal punishment, as Jesus did, is inhumane. Even believers question the justice of hell. In this pluralistic age, it seems too harsh a punishment just for believing the wrong thing.
Whatever else may be said against it, the Christian doctrine of hell cannot be an illusion. No compassionate person wishes there to be a hell. On the other hand, no realistic person can afford to ignore its possibility--certainly no one who takes the words of Scripture seriously. In fact, the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, in all of history to be in the best position to know had more to say about hell than He did about heaven.
I. THE NATURE AND LOCATION OF HELL
The Bible describes the reality of hell in many forceful figures of speech.
It is said to be "under the earth" (Phil. 2:10) and a place of "outer darkness" (Mt. 8:12, 22:13) that is "outside" the gate of the heavenly city (Rev. 22:15). Hell is away from the "presence of the Lord" (Mt. 25:41, 2 Thess. 1:7-9). In short, hell is the other direction from God.
The nature of hell is a horrifying reality. It is like being left outside in the dark forever (Mt. 8:12). Hell is a perpetually burning dump (Mk. 9:44-48), a bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1,3), an everlasting prison ( 1 Pet. 3:19), a place of anguish and regret (Lk. 16:28), and an eternal separation from God (2 Thess. 1:7-9). There is, in biblical language, "a great gulf fixed" between hell and Upper Paradise (Lk. 16:26) so that no one can pass from one side to the other.
The Inhabitants of Hell are Conscious (Mt. 25:41, 2 Thess. 1:7-9). People are conscious after they die, whether they are in heaven (2 Cor. 5:8, Phil 1:23, Rev. 6:9) or in hell. The rich man has consciousness in hell (Lk 16:26). The Beast was still conscious after 1,000 years in the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20, 20:10). Indeed, it makes no sense to resurrect unbelievers to everlasting judgment (Dan. 12:2, Jn 5:28-29) before the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:1-15) in order to punish them for their sins unless they are conscious.
Hell Is A Place Of Torment. One of the aspects of torment is living with the consequences of our own bad choices. It is the weeping and gnashing of teeth that result from the realization that we blew it and deserve the consequences.
Hell Is Also Depicted As A Place Of Eternal Fire. This fire is real and causes torment. People will have imperishable physical bodies in hell (Jn. 5:28-29, Rev. 20:13-15), so even though they are in flames they are not consumed.
Many unbelievers would be willing to accept a temporary hell, but the Bible speaks of it as everlasting. There are several lines of evidence that support this.
Hell Will Last As Long As Heaven Does. Heaven is described as "everlasting" in the Bible. But the same Greek word, aionion, used in the same context, also affirms that hell is "everlasting" (Mt. 25:41, 2 Thess. 1:7-9, Rev. 20:10). So, if heaven is forever, then so is hell. There is absolutely no ground in Scripture for supposing that hell is temporary and heaven is eternal.
II. JESUS TAUGHT THE EXISTENCE OF HELL.
Jesus warned, (Matthew 10:28) "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (NKJV)
(Matthew 25:41) "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: (NKJV)
Elsewhere He affirmed:
(Mark 9:43-44) "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (NKJV)
In the very vivid story in Luke 16, which, unlike parables, uses an actual name of a person (Lazarus), Jesus tells in graphic detail about a rich man in hell.
III. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THERE IS A HELL.
In addition to our Lord's words, the other inspired writings of the New Testament affirm the existence of hell. Perhaps the most vivid of all is found in Revelation. John declared: (Revelation 20:13-15) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (NKJV)
The second death is eternal separation of God in the lake of fire.
The Apostle Paul spoke of everlasting separation from God, saying that those (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (NKJV)
The writer of Hebrews added a note of finality when he wrote,
(Hebrews 9:27) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (NKJV)
IV. God's Love Demands A Hell.
The objection most often leveled against the doctrine of hell is that it is eminently unloving. An all-loving God could not possibly send anyone to hell. To be sure, the Bible asserts that "God is love" (1 Jn. 4:16). But love cannot act coercively, only persuasively. A God of love cannot force people to love Him. A loving being always gives "space" to others. He does not force himself upon them against their will. C. S. Lewis observed, "The Irresistible and the Indisputable are the two weapons which the very nature of His scheme forbids Him to use. Merely to override a human will . . . would be for Him useless. He cannot ravish. He can only woo." Therefore, those who do not wish to love God must be allowed not to love Him. Those who do not wish to be with Him must be allowed to be separated from Him. Jesus told us that if we love Him then we will keep His commandments. Hell is this eternal separation from God.
V. HUMAN DIGNITY DEMANDS A HELL
Since God cannot force people into heaven against their free choice, human free choice demands a hell. As C. S. Lewis said, "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'" Matthew 23:37 indicates that God wants to gather everyone, but they were not willing. Forcing people to do something against their will is an affront to their dignity and freedom of choice.
VI. GOD'S JUSTICE DEMANDS A HELL
In addition to the direct affirmations of Scripture, there are many other reasons for the existence of hell. One is that justice demands the existence of hell and God is just (Romans 2). And we know that all evil is not punished in this life. Many observers have noted that the wicked sometimes prosper (Ps. 73:3). Thus, the existence of a place of punishment for the wicked after this life is necessary to maintain the justice of God.
Surely, there would be no real justice in the universe unless there were a place of punishment for a demented soul like Hitler, who initiated the merciless slaughter of some six million Jews and others. God's justice demands that there is a hell.
VII. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY DEMANDS A HELL
Unless there is a hell there is no final victory over evil. For what frustrates good is evil. The wheat and tares cannot grow together forever. There must be an ultimate separation or else good will not triumph over evil. In society, punishment for evil is necessary that good might prevail. Likewise, in eternity good must triumph over evil. If it does not, then God is not in ultimate control. In brief, God's sovereignty demands a hell, otherwise He would not be the ultimate victor over evil which the Bible declares that He is (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Revelation 20-22).
VIII. THE CROSS OF CHRIST IMPLIES HELL
At the center of Christianity is the Cross (1 Cor. 1:17-18, 15:3). Without it there is no salvation (Jn. 10:1, 9-10, Acts 4:12, Ro. 4:25, Heb. 10:14). It is the very purpose for which Christ came into the world (Mk. 10:45, Lk. 19:10). Only through the Cross can we be delivered from our sins (Ro. 3:21-26).Jesus suffered great agony and was made perfect through sufferings. (Heb. 2:10-17, 5:7-9). Here is something to think about—why the Cross unless there is a hell? If there is no hell to shun, then the Cross is a sham. Christ's death is robbed of its eternal significance unless there is an eternal separation from God from which people need to be delivered.
IX. A RESPONSE TO OBJECTIONS ABOUT HELL
Unbelievers have offered many objections to the doctrine of hell. Given its reality, misery, and finality, it is not difficult to understand why unbelievers would wish there is no hell. But, as the brilliant mathematician Pascal argued in his famous "Wager," unbelievers have "everything to lose and nothing to gain" by not believing in hell. Nonetheless, their objections must be addressed.
Objection 1: Why punish people? Why not reform them? The answer is simple from both a biblical and rational point of view. First, God does try to reform people; the time of reformation is called life. Peter declared that (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (NKJV)
However, after the time of reformation comes the time of reckoning. Hebrews tells us that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb. 9:27). Further, hell is only for those who will not be reformed and unrepentant, the reprobate (2 Peter 2). I cannot say for sure, but perhaps God in His wisdom and goodness would not allow anyone to go to hell who He knew would go to heaven if He gave them more opportunity. He does not want "anyone to perish" (2 Pet. 3:9) but desires "all men to be saved" (1 Tim. 2:4).
Remember in the account of Lazarus the rich man wanted Father Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his brothers not to come to hell.
(Luke 16:27-29) "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 'for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' (NKJV)
(Luke 16:30-31) "And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' "But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'" (NKJV)
Humans are not objects to be manipulated; they are subjects to be respected because they are made in God's image. Human beings should be punished when they do evil because they were free and knew better.
Objection # 2: Isn't eternal damnation for temporal sins overkill? To punish a person eternally for what he did for a short time on earth seems at first to be extreme. However, on closer examination it turns out to be not only just but necessary. For one thing, only eternal punishment will suffice for sins against the eternal God.
What is more, the only alternative to eternal punishment is to rob man of his freedom and dignity. This could be done by either forced compliance or total annihilation. Forcing someone into heaven against his free choice he made while living his or her life on earth would be forced compliance.
Nor is annihilation an option. Annihilation of the wicked is contrary to both the nature of the immortal God and the nature of humans made in His image. It is not consistent with an all-loving God to snuff out those who did not choose to serve Him.
Without an eternal separation, there could be no heaven. Evil is contagious (1 Cor. 5:6) and must be quarantined. Like a deadly plague, if it is not contained it will continue to contaminate and corrupt. If God did not eventually separate the tares from the wheat, the tares would choke out the wheat. The only way to preserve an eternal place of good is for God to eternally separate all evil from it. The only way to have an eternal heaven is to have an eternal hell.
Believers wonder, "How can we be happy in heaven knowing a loved one is in hell?" Perhaps we have all struggled with this problem. However, once the emotional fog lifts, the mind can see that the very presupposition of this question is seriously flawed. It supposes that we are more merciful or more loving than God! He is infinitely more merciful and loving than we are. But hell cannot veto heaven! We can be happy in heaven the same way we can still enjoy eating knowing others are starving. And remember, just as bad memories can be healed here on earth, God will "wipe away all tears" in heaven (Rev. 21:4).
Objection # 3: Why did God create people He knew would go to hell? Some critics of hell argue that if God knew that His creatures would reject Him and end up in such a horrible place as hell, then why did He create them in the first place? Wouldn't it have been better never to have existed than to exist and go to hell? There are those who have at times wished for oblivion as an alternative to our suffering. But like the apostle's wish to be accursed for his brethren (Ro. 9:1-3), it is a wish that cannot be fulfilled. Like the desire never to have been born, once one has been created an immortal soul, the desire for mortality is no longer possible.
Life has been compared to a game but a very serious one. As in ever game, there are rules and there are results. C.S Lewis puts It, "If' a game is played, it must be possible to lose it." And simply' because some will lose in the game of life does not mean it should not be played. For example, before we take to the road each day we know that many people will be killed in traffic accidents. Yet we continue to drive. When we have children, we know great tragedy could befall our offspring or ourselves. Yet in all these cases our fore-knowledge of evil does not negate our will to permit the possibility of good. Why? Because when the game of life is played, some win and some must lose.
But we deem it worthwhile because it is better to have played with the opportunity to win than not to have played at all. From God's standpoint, it is better to have loved the whole world (Jn. 3:16) and lost some than not to have loved them at all. Life is a serious moral game, and morality is not possible without free choice. It was good for God to create free creatures, and it is good to be free. However, there are consequences to free choices—sometimes final and irrevocable consequences. Jesus passionately desired all His people to be in the fold, but mournfully added of some, "but you were not willing" (Mt. 23:37).
Objection # 4: Is it just to send people to hell when they can't help being sinners?
The Bible says we are born sinners (Ps. 51:5) and are "by nature the children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3, NKJV). But if sinners cannot avoid sinning, is it fair to send them to hell for what they could by themselves not stop doing?
It is true that men are born on a road that leads to hell. However if they remain on the road leading to destruction it is by their choice. We are given warning signs along the way to turn from destruction (Lk. 13:3, 2 Pet. 3:9). Furthermore, while human beings may sin because they are sinners (by nature), nonetheless, their sin nature does not force them to sin; they choose to sin.
As St. Augustine correctly said, "We are born with the propensity to sin and the necessity to die." Notice, he did not say we are born with the necessity to sin. While sin is inevitable since we are born with a bent in that direction, nonetheless, sin is not unavoidable. Likewise, the ultimate place to which sinners are destined is also avoidable. All one needs to do is to repent (Lk. 13:3, Acts 17:30, 2 Pet. 3:9). All men are held responsible for their decision to accept or reject God's offer of salvation. And responsibility always implies the ability to respond.
(John 3:16-18) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NKJV)
All who go to hell could have avoided going there if they had chosen not to. No pagan anywhere is without clear light from God so that he is "without excuse" (Ro. 1:19-20, 2:12- l 5). And those who seek, find. Just as God sent a missionary to Cornelius (Acts 10:3-5), so He will provide the message of salvation for all who seek it.
(Hebrews 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (NKJV)
Where Will You Spend Eternity? Heaven? Or Hell?
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment