September 8, 2023
You may not be aware of this. If you use any modern translation of the Bible, the use of the word hell has been dramatically reduced. The KJV uses the word hell 54 times. The NIV and the NASB use the word hell 13 times, the English Standard Version 14 times, and the New Living Translation uses the word hell 17 times. Not sure what the difference is with other modern translations, but I am sure the use of the word ‘hell’ is reduced. It does make a person wonder why that is the case. If the Bible is the “infallible and inerrant” Word of God, how come the word hell went from being mentioned 54 times in the KJV down to 13 times in the NIV and NASB? A reduction of 31 represents a 57% drop, which is very significant. Is it just a result of “better” scholarship or something more sinister?
One website writes that “Hell is mentioned 167 times in the Bible, sometimes called Gehenna, Hades, the pit, the Abyss or everlasting punishment.” (Got Questions). Other words for hell include: Sheol in the Old Testament and Hades in the New Testament, perdition, the lake of fire, underworld, Tartarus, Abaddon, and Apollyon. This article is not an attempt to get into the weeds about the supposed meaning of particular words, so I mention all this in passing. Almost everyone knows the word “hell” and its basic meaning. By contrast, very few people know the meaning of the words above, which are sometimes used as a substitute for the word hell. Newer translations boast of being more readable and understandable than the KJV. Using other unfamiliar words, instead of the word ‘hell’ (Sheol, for instance), contradicts that boast.
Some “scholars” attribute the decrease in the mention of hell in newer translations to the fact that newer versions are based on “better” texts discovered after the KJV was written in the early part of the 17th century. I have addressed these older texts in other articles. Older doesn’t necessarily mean better. There are a large number of Christians who believe these older texts are corrupt. They are not better; they are far worse. This is not just because they diminish the use of the word ‘hell’ so many times, but also for many other reasons. See that article if you are interested in more information.
As we get started, please remember that any vital word in scripture may have different meanings depending on the context. We should not be surprised that hell, and the other words mentioned above, can be used in a variety of ways. Proper interpretation of the Bible is much more dependent on the context than it is on the supposed meaning of a particular word. The Bible defines itself.
Listen to sermons today, and if the doctrine of hell is preached, it is barely touched on. Hell is one of those subjects that seeker-sensitive churches and pastors avoid, like COVID-19 or talking about sin. There are many other controversial subjects that pulpits around our nation also avoid out of fear. Some of those fears include losing church members, losing revenue, losing reputation, and not being liked. How are church building mortgages to be paid? How can churches fund ministry and salaries if they teach on subjects that divide people, like sin, homosexuality, only two genders, and damnation?
Larry Alex Taunton is an author and speaker. He recently did a podcast about the British form of warfare known as ‘the square’, which was very successful. Troops formed a square and, from that position, were highly effective in battle. If one side of the square were weakened or destroyed, the other sides would crumble with it. Taunton compares that war strategy to the first commandment, which says we are to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. These elements represent the four sides of a spiritual square. His point is that the mind-side of the square has retreated and fragmented with the 1859 publication of Charles Darwin’s book on evolution. Darwin’s book gave atheists respectability in the minds of many others. Christians, for the most part, failed to address this issue and retreated into the walls of the church on this and many other subjects.
Even today, that remains true. Many Christians dislike the idea of engaging in politics or discussing controversial topics. Some prominent figures in Christianity avoid talking about sin. They rarely mention the evils of abortion, gay marriage, homosexuality, fornication, greed, or gender fluidity. This explains why the Western world has almost entirely removed Christian influence from our government and culture—shame on us. The Christian perspective is eroded, and the enemy is invading and attacking the other three sides of the spiritual square. The doctrine of hell is one of those controversial (mind-centered) topics that polite, refined, and compassionate Christians never address. If they do mention hell, they often want to reassure everyone that only the worst sinners, like Stalin and Hitler, go there. No one objects to those guys being sent to hell, no matter how terrible hell is, because they believe those two deserve it.
Pew Research conducted a study in 2021. The majority of U.S. adults say they believe in heaven and hell. More Americans believe in heaven than in hell, which is not surprising. Among all U.S. adults, 73% believe in heaven, while only 62% believe in hell. Of Christians, 93% believe in heaven, but only 62% believe in hell — a difference of 31%. Pulpits across the nation frequently discuss the bliss of heaven and the unconditional love of God, but they almost never talk about hell. I believe that explains the significant difference. The Bible speaks about both heaven and hell. Why then do many more Christians believe in heaven than in hell?
One in six US adults doesn’t believe in any afterlife. Belief in hell among Christians is falling with each passing year. Some big names in Christianity do not believe in hell as most do. For instance, Billy Graham saw hell as separation from God, not endless punishment, while others understand hell as a place of eternal torment and punishment. Some religious people believe everyone will eventually go to heaven; they are Universalists. They believe that God is love (that is true, but He has other attributes too!) and that God’s salvific love is unconditional (that is false). If everyone eventually goes to heaven, obviously, there is no hell.
As mentioned, many people believe in heaven and hell. Fewer believe in hell. Ask any random person on the street if they are a good person, and almost everyone will say yes. If everyone is a good person, and only bad people go to hell, then basically no one is going to hell. These folks may even see hell as a real place of torment and punishment, but they are not bad people and aren’t going to hell. Only the worst of the worst go to hell, not your average fornicator, homosexual, drunkard, idolater, liar, thief, murderer, etc. According to themselves, they are good people, and good people do not go to hell.
Is anyone in hell?
Only a few people, who are the worst of the worst, are in hell. That is odd because Jesus taught the exact opposite. Jesus said the gate is small and the path is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. He also said, “The way is broad and the gate wide that leads to destruction, and many are those who find that path.” Maybe we need to ask again, who goes to hell?
The usual answer to that question, from a non-Catholic perspective, is that anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ goes to hell. Even those who say they believe in Jesus Christ but never repent of their sins do not go to hell. If they die committing the worst of sins, they go to heaven and not hell. The condition is that they trust that Christ paid the penalty for their sins. Repentance is not a requirement of salvation. Only those who do not trust in Christ for their salvation go to hell, according to these folks.
For the Catholic, anyone who dies with a mortal sin on their soul goes to hell. That is substantially different from the typical Protestant or Baptist Church. These non-Catholic denominations believe that a genuine Christian may die with unconfessed and unrepentant “mortal sins” on his or her soul and not go to hell. They go to heaven because they believe in the doctrine of eternal security. Once they are saved, they are always saved.
For those non-Catholics who believe in once saved always saved, hell is reserved mainly for those who do not trust Christ for their salvation. Christian liars, Christian thieves, Christian homosexuals, Christian adulterers, Christian fornicators, Christian revilers, Christian idolaters, and so on, all go to heaven because they trust that Christ died for them. Their repentance from sin is not required. This false dogma eliminates the threat of hell for many millions of carnal Christians and is therefore a hazardous belief. In their theology, only the worst of the worst go to hell. Carnal Christians are told that they have nothing to fear about going to hell. This lie will cost many of them eternal life, and hell will be their eternal home.
Why do some reject the concept of hell as eternal punishment?
Some people reject the doctrine of hell because they believe it would be unjust of God to send anyone to eternal hellfire or eternal punishment. No one deserves eternal punishment for sins that took only minutes to commit. No one deserves everlasting hell for a life of sin because life is so short compared to eternity. By that logic, the child rapist should not be sentenced to years in prison because rape only takes a few minutes. The duration of a crime or sin has little bearing on the guilt of it or the appropriate punishment. Sin does infinite damage in the universe and reverberates through time. Unrestrained sin will bring endless misery. Sin is an attack on the infinite God first and foremost. Secondarily, sin is an act of selfishness that brings hurt, pain, and misery to another person. Sin is rejecting God and His will in our lives. This crime is the worst we can commit in the universe. It gives birth to every other lawless act committed by us. Sin against God is a big deal, the biggest of deals. The length of time in committing a sin or sins has nothing to do with sin’s blameworthiness or guilt. The number of sins committed is not the primary issue. Sin is an assault on God Himself and is therefore the most heinous of crimes committed on the most innocent, who is also the most holy person.
A similar objection is that a finite being can’t commit an infinite sin. Only infinite sins should be punished endlessly. This makes eternal punishment unjust, according to some. However, God is the sovereign LORD of the entire universe, and our obligation to Him corresponds to His infinite glory. If we sin against another person, who is our equal, that is one thing. But to sin against the sovereign of the universe is a much more serious criminal act and much more blameworthy. Our guilt is much more pronounced. The fact that we are so much below God, in every way, makes us all the more guilty, not less guilty. We are therefore more deserving of His endless disapproval and punishment.
The last objection, that I am aware of, is that sin is not an infinite evil, and therefore, endless punishment is unjust. Sin, unrestrained, will cause infinite evil in the universe. To restrain sin, God must make the sanction equal to the good He is securing. What then does sin deserve? Is a slap on the hand sufficient punishment, or is something more called for? Those who think endless punishment is what sin deserves consider sin the ultimate evil because it is an attack on God Himself. It is an attempt to dethrone God and run Him out of His universe. God’s interests and well-being are of infinite value and importance to humankind. Sin deserves endless punishment. Anything less is unjust because it does not reflect the value or importance of God’s rule, which is our obligation to choose. Our obligation is endless, as is our guilt, if we choose to sin against God.
According to Carrie Lloyd Shaw, there are three reasons she does not believe in hell as many Christians do. Her three reasons are: 1) Hell does not fit the gospel narrative, 2) Hell does not fit the character of God, and 3) Hell isn’t found in the Bible. We will look more closely at each of these.
Hell does not fit the gospel narrative.
She references passages of scripture that address a just and loving God, who is for, not against, His creation. Adam and his posterity all died physically because of Adam’s first sin. God banished Adam and Eve from the garden (the tree of life) and God’s presence. Thereafter, physical death or physical mortality would reign in human beings. However, God does not want any to perish. He offers salvation as a free gift. She believes that physical death or mortality is punishment enough for sin. Death is our enemy.
“Hell – further punishment after death – simply doesn’t fit the gospel narrative.” Taken from her piece dated August 9, 2021, YouTube.
My response.
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:16, 17
God told Adam not to eat of the fruit of the one tree in the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He told Adam that if he did, he would die that day. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. They did not die physically that day, but eventually they did die, hundreds of years later. But that day they ate of the forbidden fruit, they died eternally because of their sin. They died the very day they ate of the fruit, just like God said. They sinned against the God who created them.
Moreover, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden, which contained the tree of life. Physical death is a consequence of the fall of Adam on all humanity, but eternal death is a punishment for our sins. Adam’s descendants are judged on their conduct, not Adam’s. Even those people who turn from sin to serve God die physically. Both good and bad people die physically. Mortality can’t be the only punishment from God for a sinful life, because the unrepentant and the repentant all die physically. For example, if I commit a serious crime and am sent to prison for the crime, my innocent family members will suffer many of the awful consequences but share in none of my guilt. My family will likely become impoverished because of my crime. However, my family spends no time in prison, only I do. In the same way, Adam is guilty of his crime/sin, but all humanity suffers the consequence of his sin, which is physical death. In addition, Adam was punished for his sin because of his guilt. He lost eternal life by breaking the law of God. But we are not guilty for his sin, even though we suffer some of the consequences of that first sin.
In my opinion, physical death is not a sufficient response to the evil of sin. It does not look like justice. Sinners and saints alike die physically. And almost no one dies physically, the very day they sin. Physical death might even be considered a blessing or a favor for the unrepentant sinner who dies in their sins. It is certainly no penalty. If sinners know that when they die, they are annihilated and cease to exist, that is more like a reward than a punishment. If this is the extent of God’s justice, many will be disappointed and struggle to understand why the guilty will not be punished. Annihilation is not punishment, nor is it justice.
Hell does not fit the character of God.
She writes, “God is not a vindictive sadist. It simply doesn’t fit the character of a good and gracious God to punish people by ‘holding them, like a loathsome spider, over a flame for all eternity.’ That phrase was taken from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, ‘Sinners in the Hands of an angry god’. “I would have serious concerns about other aspects of God’s character if I truly believed He is capable of sustaining such indefinite torture, even to those I might consider deserving of such a fate.”
My response.
Notice her use of the word torture. I wonder if she believes that having criminals sent to prison is also a form of torture. Some people consider it torture to lock another person up. Did God torture Adam and Eve by kicking them out of the Garden of Eden? Did God torture Adam and Eve with the other things that God did, which created difficulties for each of them throughout their lives? The word torture is an inflammatory device meant to elicit a strong repulsion in us. Who is for torture? Not very many, that’s for sure. But what constitutes torture and who gets to decide that?
She does not believe that hell, as a place of eternal torture and punishment for wicked people, fits the character of God. But apparently, she does believe that annihilation demonstrates the justice of God and aligns with His character. If criminals escape their crimes in this world and the next, how can that be justice? Annihilation is not justice. This would tarnish the character of God and make the concept of annihilation false.
Many Christians believe that God’s salvific love is unconditional. Many of these folks have only heard about the love of God, not about the hate of God. Suggesting that God hates sin is usually not a problem for Christians. But to tell them that God hates sinners (those people who refuse to humble themselves and repent) is a bridge too far for them. But that is what the Word of God teaches about the character of God. The love of God requires that He judge sin and sinners. His love is always in operation, even when He must send unrepentant sinners to hellfire. Justice is a characteristic of His love.
The God of the Bible destroyed whole nations of people (men, women, and children) who rejected Him and His laws. He is a God of love. His patience wears out, and He is forced to do the unthinkable: have everyone killed. Because Israel became apostate, God destroyed Israel. God’s love moved Him to do this. Most Jews were brutally killed, and those who did not die by the sword died by famine or pestilence. The remaining ones became slaves. Carrie might even call that torture, which is not in the character of God. God told them that many would die of starvation. Is that torture? If God were going to kill everyone, why didn’t He just instantly kill them so there would be no suffering at all? Their awful deaths were punishment for their obstinate sinfulness. Sin deserves that, according to God, who is love, holy, light, just, and impartial. Is God trying to tell us something about the punishment of hell?
Most Christians, in my observation, don’t believe in what the Bible teaches about God, sin, faith, and the conditional nature of salvation. They create a God of their liking, one who fits their ideas of a good and righteous God. They practice a Christian form of idolatry. They prefer to believe what they want to be true, not what is true.
I believe the issue for her, and others, is that the duration and the torture of hell are incompatible with their idea of a good God. We all believe the God of the Bible is a good God. He is perfect love and holiness at the same time. We all agree on that. He is so good that He is just. Therefore, He punishes evil doers who refuse His offer of pardon. Refusing his offer of pardon makes them all the more blameworthy and guilty. To refuse infinite love is an infinite sin. Is it not?
The good God of the Bible punished unrepentant Israel with famine, pestilence, the sword, and slavery for rejecting Him. Our good and just God also destroyed all living beings with a great flood during the time of Noah. The suffering must have been intense over many months. God also destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with hellfire. In some of these cases, it involved prolonged suffering. All that came from the hand of our good and loving God. And God was just in all that He did. God bent over backward to avoid doing it, but the good of the universe required that He judge this great wickedness with an appropriate punishment. I do not believe that annihilation fits that description of a proper sentence.
It seems the only real issue Carrie (and others) have is the endless duration of the “torture” and punishment. Her other problem is that she thinks death and annihilation are sufficient punishment for rejecting God. By the way, rejecting God is the worst crime in the universe. It is also the father and mother of all other crimes. The rejection of God and His rule gives birth to all the evil in the universe.
Hell isn’t found in the Bible.
Carrie lets the reader know that the word “hell” is used in the Bible, mainly in the KJV. But better translations of the Bible use the word less than the KJV, in her opinion, and the opinion of many others, but not all. Please recall my earlier comments about newer translations of the Bible using older manuscripts. These older manuscripts are assumed to be better because they are older, but that is not the case. These older manuscripts are very corrupt. She thinks they are great and much better than the KJV. I disagree with her.
After her interpretation of a few of the words used for the word “hell”, she summarizes her argument. She returns to the idea that mortality is the ultimate punishment for sin. When we die, we cease life, all life, not just physical life. I think she is talking about annihilation. The grave is punishment enough for sin, according to Carrie. She notes one exception, Luke 16:19-31, in which the rich man, after death, finds himself in Hades (hell), in anguish in this flame, while, in contrast, the angels take Lazarus to the bosom of Abraham, a state of comfort. She says this is never to be interpreted literally, as a parable. She does not believe that scripture teaches a literal place of punishment or hell as most of us understand it.
My response.
Annihilation is no preventive against sin. Ceasing to exist after death is no deterrent to wickedness. It is an encouragement to sin. It is an easy escape and provides no incentive to get things right with God and man before we die. If both the righteous and the unrighteous die physically, and they do, then dying unrepentant makes sense. Live a whole sinful life, die, and cease to exist. That is not justice and is not punishment commensurate with sin.
We are all aware that many criminals get away with their crimes here on earth. And if God doesn’t punish them in the afterlife, what does that say about the character of God? What does that say about the justice of God? What does that say about the Word of God?
I completely disagree with her about the parable in Luke 16, the rich man and Lazarus. She insists that we should not take that as a literal truth about hell. Are we to assume that the omniscient God, who inspired the writers of the Bible, provided us with a parable that would convey a message that would take us off track and into serious error? That seems pretty sloppy to me. If this parable doesn’t mean what it states literally (that sinners are in conscious torment after death), then what exactly does it mean? How are we to understand it? The parable speaks about consciousness and suffering after death. Jesus told this parable so that we would realize how awful it will be for those who die in their sins. If annihilation were real, this parable would amount to a lie.
Summary of Carrie’s two reasons why she does not believe in hell
It seems that the real issues are 1) whether there is punishment in addition to physical death, and 2) what is the duration of the punishment of sinners? Is there punishment beyond physical death? Is punishment endless, or does it end someday?
It seems to me that the answer is that punishment is beyond physical death and that it is endless in duration. If that doesn’t inspire or motivate a person to get right with God, what will? After we consider a few theories about hell, we will examine what Jesus taught about hell. Hopefully, that will answer any questions and settle the issues.
What is hell?
There are various views on what hell is actually like, which is no surprise. Some think that hell is annihilation, as already mentioned. The soul that dies unsaved simply ceases to exist. Others believe that hell includes punishment, but it is temporary. After temporary punishment comes annihilation. But others think that hell is merely an endless unconscious separation from God, not a place of punishment. Is the person conscious during this time? If not, it makes no sense and is equivalent to annihilation. Others believe that hell is not simply separation from God but also eternal punishment in the lake of fire. There may be more theories that I am unaware of.
What did Jesus say about hell?
We know more about hell from Jesus than from any other person. Interesting! Since Jesus spoke about hell and He is the ultimate authority, His comments should be believed and should settle the issue.
“And if thy right eye, offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should perish, and not that thy whole body be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29
If hell is simply physical death and annihilation, then this statement by Jesus makes no sense whatsoever. Jesus is saying that sin is so dangerous that it would be better to lose an eye than to keep it in our lives. Losing a body part is preferable to dying with your entire body intact but being cast into hell. If hell is annihilation, where sinners simply cease to exist, then hell (death) is heaven for the unrepentant sinner.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
If death is the final punishment for sin and we cease to exist, why should Jesus or anyone else care about our souls? If we cease to exist when we die physically, then our souls must also cease to exist when we die physically. Why should the fact that both body and soul can be destroyed in hell be more fearful than simply having your body destroyed physically? The obvious inference is that a man may kill the body, but the greater concern is to fear the one (Jesus) who can cast both body and soul into hell. There is no hint of annihilation. The opposite is true. This warning is to convince us that consciousness continues after physical death. Fear Him who can send both body and soul to hell.
“And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12
Sometimes the reality of hell is described in terms other than the word ‘hell’. Their Messiah told the Jews that the “children of the kingdom (Jewish people)” shall be cast out of the “kingdom of heaven” into the place of “outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (hell)”. These religious hypocrites were told that they were not eternally secure because they descended from the line of Abraham and were part of the nation of Israel. The weeping and gnashing of teeth continues for those in hell, while the joys of heaven also live on for the real children of God.
“And if thine right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” Matthew 18:9
This is very much like Matthew 5:29. It is better to lose one eye, if that will get sin out of your life, than to die with both eyes intact and be cast into hellfire. Physical death is not the end of existence. Jesus said that hell has fire and sinners go there after physical death.
“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into fire that never shall be quenched: And if thy foot offend thee, cut if off: for it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out:…….hell fire, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-49
In this section, Jesus says that hell has fire that is never quenched. It never goes out, and the worm dieth not. How does it get any clearer? The worm does not die in the fire that is never quenched. The burning bush that Moses encountered was on fire but was not burned up. Those in hell live in fire that is not quenched, and like a worm, they die not in hell’s fire. At all costs, avoid hell, says Jesus. If physical death was all hell meant, then His statement makes no sense. Everyone dies; even the righteous can’t avoid physical death. But the second death can be avoided.
“And I say unto you my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, fear him.” Luke 12:4,5
If the death of the physical body were the end of existence, then this statement by Jesus makes no sense whatsoever. Physical death is not the end of existence. Jesus tells us not to fear him who can kill your body but has no power over your soul and can’t cast you into hell. Instead, fear him who can kill the body and cast your soul into hell. Fear God. If physical death is the end of existence, then we should fear the man who can kill the body. Jesus is telling us the exact opposite.
“Then shall ye begin to say, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Luke 13:26-28
The word hell is not used in the passage, but hell is present. Jesus was warning these religious hypocrites that the place where they are going (hell) is a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why? They will see all the children of God in the kingdom of God, but they themselves are cast out of the kingdom of God. Hell is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Charles Stanley wrote a book titled Eternal Security. His explanation for “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is that this expression only means frustration and anger, and definitely not hell. How a Christian leader can be so blind is a marvel to me. In this parable, Jesus tells us that these folks are cast out of the kingdom of God, and that is why they are weeping and gnashing their teeth. That they may be angry and frustrated also is not the point. If they were annihilated at death, then there would be no weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he crieth and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16:22-24.
The author cautions us not to take this story or parable literally. Wait just a minute. Jesus has been telling us about the reality of hellfire fire not just in this story about the rich man and Lazarus. Reread all of the other passages that talk about the reality of a place called hell, where the fire is not quenched, and the worm does not die. That seems to be the exact same message that Jesus told in this passage. Are we to assume that in all these cases, Jesus never meant for us to take hellfire literally? Her position is not credible in my estimation.
“For we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the LORD, and again, The LORD shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30, 31
This verse and others speak of the LORD’s vengeance. He will judge His people, and everyone will be judged according to their actions. As mentioned earlier, many criminals today get away with their crimes and go unpunished. If death is the cessation of existence, then the wicked will never be held responsible, contrary to this promise from God. If physical death is the end, why is it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God? It makes no sense.
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 6, 7
These angels and humans suffer “the vengeance of eternal fire.” The fire is not quenched, and the worm dieth not.” Physical death is not the vengeance of God, nor is it justice.
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4.
Peter goes on to say that God didn’t spare the angels who sinned, or the old-world sinners, save Noah and his family, or Sodom and Gomorrah, as an example to those who would live ungodly. “The LORD knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” 2 Peter 2:9. The angels and these others are all “reserved unto judgment” at a future time. Angels at this judgment do not cease to exist, nor does anyone else. That makes this warning all the more important. We are told that sinners will be judged and punished after physical death. There is no indication at all that the punishment is annihilation. Annihilation is more like a reward rather than a punishment.
“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:13-15.
The physically dead were brought forth to stand in judgment according to their works. Hell and death were cast into the lake of fire. Water doesn’t burn, and fire is not wet. The second death is like a sea of fire that never goes out and never quenches the thirst. The fire is never quenched, and the worm dieth not. It is endless. If words mean anything, this is the meaning.
The issue
When pastors do not preach and teach on the reality of a literal hell, they are robbing their listeners of the truth. That may cost them their souls.
These same leaders tell their congregations that they can be living in sin when they die and avoid hell. It is to deceive them. It is to destroy their hope of eternal life and, in essence, to tell them there is no hell. Eternal security is not true and has deceived an untold number of people.
Hell, like the punishments for criminal conduct in our nation, is a deterrent to sin. It is like sanctions for breaking our nation’s laws, which deter criminal conduct. Without these consequences, we encourage lawlessness, and the blood of many will be on the hands of these pastors. We must warn people that breaking the law will be punished by God and the courts. Not to do so is the most unloving thing a person can do. Can you imagine a doctor prescribing poison to a patient? What would you think of a doctor who refused to tell you about your cancer?
If not endless punishment, then punishment in duration sufficient to demonstrate to the universe that God is both just and holy is essential to the well-being of the universe. Physical death for sin falls short of demonstrating that. All, even those who become new creations in Jesus Christ, die physically. As mentioned, not all criminals are caught and punished for their crimes here on earth. Justice has not yet been served. For God to annihilate the wicked, many of whom have escaped punishment here on earth, appears to reward sin. The unrepentant wicked must suffer punishment for their crimes sufficient to uphold the honor of the law and the honor of God. It must also deter sin in others.
Antecedents do not change behavior; consequences do. That is a life and management principle. It is a universal principle. Physical death is inevitable both for the good and the bad and is therefore no threat to the wicked. It is not a sufficient warning (antecedent) against sin. Eternal punishment has teeth. Annihilation has no teeth and appears to be a reward.
Let me conclude this article by emphasizing that God does not want anyone to perish in hell. He desires everyone’s salvation. He has provided a way for us to be saved if we accept the conditions. He rescued us from sin by dying and suffering for us. All God asks is that we repent of our sins and sincerely follow Him. Salvation is a wonderful gift of grace and truth. To reject this offer is a sin against God and all humanity. It seems to me and many others that hell is the only fair punishment. In any case, God will be seen as just and the one who justifies those who believe in Him. All glory and honor belong to Him.
