What the Bible Says About Hell

WHAT DOES
THE BIBLE SAY
ABOUT HELL?
CONTENTS
W
hy did someone as
good and loving as
What Happened To Christ spend so
The Subject Of Hell? . . . 2 much time warning us about
What Does The Bible “the fire that shall never be
Say About Hell? quenched”— a place of
It’s A Place Of Choice. . . 4 “weeping and gnashing of
It’s A Place Of Truth . . . 7 teeth”? Why did He talk more
about the fires of hell than
It’s A Place Of
Fair Treatment. . . . . . . 12 about the joys of heaven?
The subject of hell is so
It’s A Place Of
Lost Hope . . . . . . . . . . 15 sobering that many are more
comfortable ignoring it. But
What’s The Fate
Of Those Who there is no subject more
Never Hear? . . . . . . . . 26 deserving of our honest
The Fire Of Hell . . . . . 28 concern. In the following
pages, RBC senior research
Trust God
To Do Right. . . . . . . . . 30 editor Herb Vander Lugt leads
us in a discussion that we hope
Defining Our Terms. . . 31
will reawaken those of us who
are living as if there is no
tomorrow for the lost.
Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Design: Terry Bidgood
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 1990,2002 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

WHAT used in an aggressive,
HAPPENED profane way, the less
threatening it seems to
TO THE SUBJECT the user. Accordingly, the
OF HELL? subject of hell has become

C
ountless people as prevalent in street talk as
among us seem it is absent in Sunday
obsessed with sermons.
the subject of hell. Even
irreligious individuals talk
of “going to hell and back” The more hell
for something they love. shows up in casual
They speak of certainties
as being “sure as hell,” or conversation, the
impossibilities as occurring less it is actually
“when hell freezes over.” thought about.
And bad experiences are
said to “hurt like hell.”
Many otherwise polite It wasn’t always that
people regularly inject color, way. Historically, most
emotion, and profanity into religions have held openly
their conversation by to the idea of an after-death
adding a casual or angry judgment followed by
reference to hell to almost punishment for evildoers.
any combination of words. In the New Encyclopedia
Yet ironically, the more Britannica, we read:
hell shows up in casual The view that hell is
conversation, the less it is the final dwellingplace
actually thought about— of the damned after a
even in religious circles. last judgment is held by
The more such a word is the western prophetic
2

religions: Zoroastrianism, about the subject of hell.
Judaism, Christianity, Jesus, the prime example
and Islam. . . . Some of God’s love, spoke of hell
modern theologians have repeatedly. He said that
again questioned the some would rise from death
literalistic view but still to “the resurrection of
hold that hell is, at least, condemnation” (Jn. 5:29).
a state of separation of He declared that those who
the wicked from the go to hell enter the horrible
good (Vol.5, p.814). place where “their worm
Our present reluctance does not die and the fire
to think seriously about the is not quenched” (Mk.
reality of future punishment 9:44,46,48). He also
may stem in part from an depicted it as a place of
inadequate concept of “outer darkness,” where
God. We have forgotten there “will be weeping
that He is a God to be and gnashing of teeth”
feared. The Russian (Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).
theologian Berdyaev said, Bertrand Russell said
“It is remarkable how little he decided to become an
people think about hell or atheist when he read the
trouble about it. This is the words of Jesus about hell.
most striking evidence of But did he act wisely? At
human frivolity” (The least he was consistent. He
Destiny Of Man, Scribner, realized that hell deserves
1937, p.33). What he wrote to be taken seriously. He
more than 50 years ago is knew that it doesn’t make
even more true today than sense to say you believe in
when he penned it. Christ while rejecting what
We do not do people a He and His book say about
favor when we remain silent an eternal “lake of fire.”
3

WHAT DOES of life rather than the path
THE BIBLE SAY of death and judgment.
Over and over, Jesus
ABOUT HELL? Himself urged His listeners
to make wise choices with
questions like:
What will it profit a
A Place man if he gains the whole
of Choice world, and loses his own
soul? Or what will a man
give in exchange for his
soul? (Mk. 8:36-37).
Yet the same Bible
also reminds us that most
people will risk their eternal
HELL IS A PLACE souls rather than feel
OF CHOICE obligated or indebted to

P
eople don’t choose the love and mercy of
hell with a full God. In some cases, this
understanding of stubborn independence is
what they are doing. They easy to see. Some will even
don’t have a clear picture of tell you that if there really is
the eternal happiness they a heaven and a hell they
will miss or the everlasting would rather go to the place
separation and darkness below because that’s where
they will endure. But their friends will be. Others
according to the Bible, say that heaven and God
hell is a place of choice. and eternal goodness sound
As a result, the Bible boring. Still others are so
repeatedly appeals to its angry at God for the pain
readers to choose the way and rejection that He has
4

allowed them to experience choices for which they
that they have literally will be held accountable.
challenged Him to send Certainly they fail to
them to the devil and his understand the full weight
place. of their choices. They fail
to realize that just as the
first man and woman made
choices that resulted in
The choices may enormous loss, so also we
be underrated, who are made in the image
but the choices of God continue to be held
accountable for the choices
are still there. we make. With such
choices and consequences
in mind, the apostle Paul
Most people, however, wrote:
are merely ignoring the The wrath of God is
long-term possibilities of revealed from heaven
their own choices. They are against all ungodliness
either counting on the hope and unrighteousness of
that God is too loving to men, who suppress the
send them to hell, or they truth in unrighteousness,
are assuming that they because what may be
aren’t bad enough to be known of God is manifest
sent there. Many are so in them, for God has
preoccupied with trying to shown it to them
survive day-to-day struggles (Rom. 1:18-19).
that they have chosen not As God’s creatures,
to worry about the future. we owe Him glory and
In the process, such thanksgiving. God has a
people make personal right to expect that we as a
5

race and as individuals Enter by the narrow gate;
recognize His lordship, give for wide is the gate and
Him thanks, and live in broad is the way that
grateful obedience to Him. leads to destruction, and
But in our pride, we have there are many who go in
refused to glorify God as by it. Because narrow is
God. Instead, we have the gate and difficult is
become preoccupied with the way which leads to
ourselves and our own life, and there are few
happiness. We have who find it (Mt. 7:13-14).
chosen to love ourselves Proportionately, this is
rather than God—to glorify still true. While religion is
ourselves rather than the common all over the world,
Lord. This is why “the how many people do you
wrath of God” (Rom. 1:18) know who actually and
rests upon the human race. consistently love God and
This divine wrath is a express their gratitude to
terrible reality. It is God’s Him? If you think carefully
revulsion against the things and honestly, you will have
that contradict His holy to admit that no one does.
being. It is God’s reaction But Christians freely admit
to those who choose evil this and have placed their
while rejecting His love. trust for salvation in Jesus
Some accuse God of Christ, believing that He
vindictiveness. But we paid for their sins when He
would be wise to withhold died on the cross. When
our criticism and respond as people refuse to believe on
quickly as we can to God’s Him, they are choosing to
invitation to escape the stand on their own merits.
eternal fires. It was Christ To be placed on the road to
Himself who urged us: heaven, we must
6

acknowledge our sin,
admit that we can’t save
ourselves, and place our
trust in Jesus Christ. John A Place
3:16 states: of Truth
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.
If you haven’t chosen HELL IS A PLACE
to believe on Jesus Christ, OF TRUTH

T
you are choosing the path he second point
to hell. Don’t listen to the we need to see is
behaviorists who suggest that hell is a place
that you have no real of truth. Even though it is
choices of your own. sometimes described as a
Reject the New Age place of outer darkness, it is
thinking that says you are a place of the light of truth.
governed by a non-moral Hell will finally expose the
Force. Accept the teaching true nature of all who have
of the Bible. If you reject consistently rejected the
Christ, you will have no love and grace and mercy
right to blame anyone but of God. In the meantime,
yourself when you someday the true nature of human
find yourself in hell. You hearts is often buried under
will have to admit that deceptive appearances.
you made the wrong Now, most people don’t
choice. You won’t be think of themselves as
able to blame God. deserving of everlasting
7

punishment. Many who The Wickedness
have chosen to live their Of Public Enemies.
lives apart from God don’t In some respects, human
look any different than wickedness is terrible to
others who openly admit contemplate. Think of what
their need of the forgiveness God sees as He looks down
and mercy of Christ. on the world of mankind.
But present appearances He watches the murders,
are deceiving. While the adulteries, thefts, fights,
Bible says that most people and physical and emotional
are headed for the lake of
fire, many of them don’t
look as though they deserve Think of the pain,
a fire reserved for the devil the anxiety, the
and his angels. Evil men
like Stalin or Hitler or serial tears, and the
killers might seem to qualify, countless victims
but not the rank-and-file of that God sees.
people who seem to live
basically decent lives.
Yet from the Bible’s point torment that occur day
of view, such evaluations are and night in every part of
extremely misleading and the world. He sees the child
even deceptive. The Bible abusers—their lust, cruelty,
shows us that the fires and and heartlessness. He sees
blackness of hell will make wives crying, children
eternal statements about abandoned, friends
(1) the true wickedness and partners betrayed,
of public enemies and governments oppressing,
(2) the true wickedness and religious leaders
of good people. fleecing their trusting flocks.
8

It is the moral and cruelty that continues to
spiritual condition that God produce rapists, child
has been patiently tolerating molesters, embezzlers, and
ever since man’s fall into sin. pornographers. When the
Read the apostle Paul’s judgment of God falls, and
timeless and universal when such persons are
description of the human sentenced to the lake of fire
condition: described in Revelation
They have all turned 20:11-15, the fire will make
aside; they have together an eternal statement of truth
become unprofitable; about those who have lived
there is none who does their lives at the expense of
good, no, not one. Their others.
throat is an open tomb; What we need to realize,
with their tongues they however, is that Romans 3
have practiced deceit; the was not written merely to
poison of asps is under tell the truth about those
their lips; whose mouth public enemies who will one
is full of cursing and day find their rightful place
bitterness. Their feet are in hell. It also describes:
swift to shed blood; The Wickedness
destruction and misery Of Good People. A
are in their ways; and the closer look shows that
way of peace they have Romans 3:10-18 doesn’t
not known. There is no just describe the judgment-
fear of God before their deserving character of those
eyes (Rom. 3:12-18). we call public enemies.
This is a striking Verse 10 expresses the
picture of the dishonesty, inclusive argument of the
the greed, the profanity, the first three chapters of
deceitfulness, and the Romans, when it says of
9

mankind, religious and made just to abide by the
non-religious alike: external requirements of civil
There is none righteous, and religious law. We were
no, not one; there is none made to worship God from
who understands; there our hearts and to love one
is none who seeks after another as He has loved us.
God. They have all When we measure
turned aside; they ourselves by that evaluation,
have together become the threat of hell becomes
unprofitable; there is more of an issue. The
none who does good, irresistible fire of judgment
no, not one (3:10-12). will expose the enormous
We don’t like to think deception that now hides
that good people deserve behind social and religious
to go to hell. But our good courtesies and proprieties.
impression of decent law- We have good reason to
abiding neighbors is not a shudder at the thought of
real reflection of the truth. standing in God’s presence
We think naturally in very on our own merits. If we’re
man-centered ways rather honest, we must admit that
than in the God-centered apart from Christ we deserve
measurement described in to hear Him sentence us to
Romans 3. Man wasn’t made hell. In God’s sight, no one
to be a decent public servant. is really a good person.
He was made to glorify his As many as have sinned
Maker and to enjoy Him without law will also
forever. We weren’t made to perish without law, and
live decent, self-serving lives. as many as have sinned
We were made to depend in the law will be judged
gratefully on the love and by the law (for not the
goodness of God. We weren’t hearers of the law are just
10

in the sight of God, but by saying that what we call
the doers of the law will sins are merely weaknesses.
be justified; for when Others affirm that God is so
Gentiles, who do not loving that He will never
have the law, by nature
do the things in the law,
these, although not All people, at one
having the law, are a time or another,
law to themselves, who
show the work of the law sense that there
written in their hearts, is a God to
their conscience also whom they
bearing witness, and
between themselves their are morally
thoughts accusing or else accountable.
excusing them) in the day
when God will judge the
secrets of men by Jesus punish anyone on the other
Christ, according to my side of death. They don’t
gospel (Rom. 2:12-16). want to acknowledge their
All people, at one time sin and believe on Jesus
or another, sense that there Christ. But the day is coming
is a God to whom they are when they will stand before
morally accountable, that God for final judgment. There
they have sinned, and that they will see themselves as
they need divine forgiveness. they really are. Stripped of all
But most men and women their self-righteousness, they
stifle these disquieting will recognize their guilt
thoughts. Some do so by before God. And nothing
denying the existence of a less than the lake of fire will
personal God. Some do so ultimately tell the truth.
11

the exact degree of
punishment he will receive.
God will be perfectly fair.
A Place The final judgment is
of Fair depicted graphically in
Treatment Revelation 20:11-15. This
is the great white throne
judgment. The Judge is none
other than Jesus Christ (Jn.
5:24-30). All the unsaved
will receive new bodies and
HELL IS A PLACE OF will stand to be judged. Then
FAIR TREATMENT the books containing the life

W
e have seen that record of every person and
hell is the place the one special book of life
people choose, will be opened. The opening
even if unknowingly, when of these books shows that
they go their own way those who rejected God’s
instead of listening to God. gift of salvation will receive
We have also noted that hell perfect justice.
is a place that will forever In Romans 2:1-16, Paul
tell the truth about the real pointed out that God will
character of those who have look at what people have
rejected and resisted God’s done with their privileges
provision for their salvation. and opportunities, and that
We are now ready to He will be completely
consider a third fact—that impartial and fair (vv.5-11).
hell will be a place of fair Those who possessed His
treatment. Before anyone Word, the law of verses 12-
goes there, he will stand at a 14, will be held accountable
final judgment to determine for their response to it.
12

Those who never received beyond our control. Yet we
special revelation will be make choices after weighing
held accountable only for options. Therefore, we are
what they knew (vv.14-16). all accountable—at least to
Jesus taught this same some degree. And God
principle when He said that understands to what extent.
the servant who knew his He also knows how much
master’s will and disobeyed we need His mercy.
would be beaten with When the young man
“many stripes,” but that who died in a gang war
stands before Jesus Christ,
he will find that the Lord
God’s love will understands all the
be just, and circumstances of his short,
violent, and troubled life—
His justice will his absent father, his
be loving. immoral mother, his
disadvantaged peers, his
complete ignorance of the
the servant who had less gospel message, and his
knowledge would be beaten despair. The Lord Jesus will
with “few” (Lk. 12:47-48). take all these factors into
No judge or jury fully consideration. He knows
understands the person on exactly the degree of
trial. No human being can responsibility of this young
evaluate the exact degree man and will give him a
of accountability in himself sentence that perfectly suits
or anyone else. We are his offense.
all profoundly influenced The rich, respectable
by hereditary and landlord who died without
environmental factors Christ may receive a far
13

more severe sentence than universe. No one will be
most of his tenants, even able to appeal His decisions.
those who had many In fact, no one will feel the
brushes with the law. The need to do so. Every person
Lord Jesus will take into will acknowledge Him as
account their respective Lord and admit that His
privileges. He will see verdict has been absolutely
perfectly the underlying
greed, selfishness, and
pride of this man. He will God, the holy
understand the sense of moral Governor of
despair that was a factor in the universe, will
some of the wrongs done by
the tenants. All will receive dispense perfect
fair treatment. God, the justice to all
holy moral Governor of wrongdoers.
the universe, will dispense
perfect justice to all
wrongdoers. fair and right. It is at this
The awesome picture of time that everyone will
final judgment in Revelation recognize Him to be all He
20:11-15 led Thomas Carlyle claimed to be, fulfilling the
to exclaim: “What a words of Philippians 2:9-11.
magnificent conception is Therefore God also has
that of a final judgment! A highly exalted Him and
righting of all the wrongs of given Him the name
the ages.” The Lord Jesus which is above every
Christ will take into account name, that at the name of
every circumstance, Jesus every knee should
overlooking nothing. He will bow, of those in heaven,
be the Supreme Court of the and of those on earth,
14

and of those under the and will sentence him/her to
earth, and that every receive exactly what he/she
tongue should confess that deserves. Now we are ready
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the to develop the solemn fact
glory of God the Father. that hell is a place of lost
hope. We must take the
love-filled, tear-marked Jesus
seriously when He warned:
A Place Do not fear those who kill
of Lost the body but cannot kill
Hope the soul. But rather fear
Him who is able to
destroy both soul and
body in hell (Mt. 10:28).
We will consider the
final and irreversible nature
HELL IS A PLACE of this loss in three steps:
OF LOST HOPE First, we will examine the

W
e have seen that so-called “universalist” or
people choose “second chance” passages
hell by rejecting in the Bible. Second, we
the light they have received will consider the passages
from God. We have seen that speak of hell as a place
that everyone is a sinner of “destruction.” Third, we
whose selfishness and pride will study the implications
call for divine punishment— of the fact that the terms
even the nice non-Christian everlasting or eternal often
who has so many fine appear in reference to hell.
qualities. We have seen that The “Second
Jesus Christ is going to judge Chance” Passages. We
every person individually who believe on Jesus Christ
15

and therefore are confident 2:5-6 imply the hope
that we will go to heaven of another chance after
would like to see everyone death. They view Acts 3:21,
get there eventually. We 1 Corinthians 15:22,
would very much like to Philippians 2:9-1l, and
find evidence in the Bible Colossians 1:20 as verses
that the lost will get another which imply that almost all
chance to be saved after will eventually be among the
death. And there always redeemed. Let’s take a look
have been teachers who at these passages.
First Peter 3:18-20.
These verses declare that
It is extremely “Jesus preached to the
dangerous to use spirits in prison,” specifically
to contemporaries of Noah.
a few difficult Some Bible interpreters
passages to try believe that Peter was
to override many referring to the preaching
done by Noah while he was
clear ones. building the ark. Others
teach that between His
have held the viewpoint death and resurrection
of another opportunity Jesus went to the realm
after death. Some Bible of the unsaved dead and
students refer to themselves announced what He had
as universalists because done. Still others believe He
they believe that eventually went to the prison house for
everyone or almost everyone fallen angels and announced
will end up in heaven. They His redeeming work to them.
believe that 1 Peter 3:18-20 We may choose any of these
and 4:6, and 1 Timothy interpretations. It is a
16

difficult passage, to be sure. off than those who gained
Just as certain, however, is the praise of the world but
that we should not take a must face God’s judgment
difficult passage like this after death.
and use it to overrule other First Timothy 2:5-6.
passages like Hebrews 9:27, This passage is also quoted
which states, “. . . it is as a proof of a second
appointed for men to die chance after death. It tells us:
once, but after this the There is one God and one
judgment.” Mediator between God
First Peter 4:6. This and men, the Man Christ
is another verse often used Jesus, who gave Himself a
to prove that people will ransom for all, to be
receive another chance. testified in due time.
Peter wrote: Those who view this
For this reason the gospel passage as offering another
was preached to those chance for salvation after
who are dead, that death point out that the
they might be judged ransom price was paid
according to men in the for all, and that it will be
flesh, but live according “testified” to all “in due
to God in the spirit. time.” Some people in
This verse refers to the this world never receive
proclamation of the gospel an opportunity to hear
to living people who later the gospel, and many
died. The preaching was who do, hear it under very
done while these individuals unfavorable circumstances.
were alive. They were judged Therefore, “in due time,”
harshly by the world, but under conditions more
they now enjoy the bliss of favorable after death, the
heaven. They are far better gospel of salvation will be
17

offered to all. The context, restoration of the theocracy
however, eliminates such an under David’s Son, but they
interpretation. Paul made never predicted a day when
this statement in connection the unsaved dead would be
with his injunction that converted and translated to
God’s people pray for all heaven.
men (not just for a small First Corinthians 15:22.
select company), and with Paul’s words “For as in
his declaration that God Adam all die, even so in
desires all people to be Christ all shall be made
saved (not just Israelites). alive” are sometimes taken
He asserted that Christ’s to mean that all will
ransom was universal in eventually be saved. But
availability and that the that isn’t what Paul said.
gospel testimony is to go He declared the simple truth
out everywhere. There is no that just as every person
indication here of another dies because he is united
gospel offer after death. with Adam as a member of
Acts 3:21. Peter spoke of the sinful human race by
“the times of restoration of natural birth, so every
all things,” and this to some person who is united with
Bible scholars implies the Christ shall experience a
idea that in the end all will glorious resurrection. We
be saved. But a careful study did nothing to become a
of this verse makes it clear member of the human
that Peter was speaking race, but we must believe
about the restoration of on Christ and be born again
Israel as predicted by the to enter Christ’s family. We
Old Testament prophets. who have done this are now
They spoke of Israel’s return “in Christ” and therefore
to the land and the recipients of eternal life.
18

Colossians 1:20. Paul distinguish between
declared that God’s purpose a resurrection to
is “to reconcile all things to condemnation and a
Himself . . . through the resurrection to blessedness,
blood of His cross.” Standing we see Colossians 1:20 as
by itself, this seems to teach teaching that through the
that eventually every blood of the cross God
creature will be brought into provided for the restoration
of the whole universe to the
harmony He intended for
As much as we it—the harmony that was
would like to think broken through sin. The
that ultimately all day is coming when all
creatures will be brought into
will be saved, we subjection to God. They will
cannot honestly acknowledge the authority of
use the Bible to the triune God and submit to
Him. They will confess the
build a case for it. lordship of Christ to the glory
of the Father (Phil. 2:10-11).
a saving relationship with In the case of the evil spirits
God. William Hendriksen and unredeemed human
quotes a minister who used beings, this subjection will
this verse as the basis for the be imposed, not welcomed.
following statement: “In the On the other hand, the good
end everybody is going to be angels and redeemed people
saved. I have hope even for will submit joyfully and
the devil.” rejoice in the fact that
But when we interpret rebellion has ceased and
this verse in the light of the a new harmony exists in
many passages that clearly God’s universe.
19

No, as much as we declaration, “And do not
would like to think that fear those who kill the body
ultimately all will be saved, but cannot kill the soul. But
we cannot honestly use the rather fear Him who is able
Scriptures to build a case to destroy both soul and
for it. body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).
The “Destruction” The Greek word here for
Passages. Having pointed “destroy” is apollumi. It
out the solemn fact that occurs scores of times in the
the Bible does not give us New Testament. Jesus used
reason to look for a second this term when He said that
chance for salvation after new wine would “ruin” an
death, we are now ready to old wineskin (Lk. 5:37) and
consider the implications of when He referred to the
the word destruction when food we eat as “the food
used to describe the which perishes” (Jn. 6:27).
destiny of the wicked The fact that the Greek
and unbelieving. In terms sometimes rendered
2 Thessalonians 1:9, for “destroy” or “perish” can
example, we are told that mean “to bring to an end”
those who refuse to know or “cease to exist” has led
God and to obey the gospel some Bible students to say
“shall be punished with that the unsaved will
everlasting destruction be resurrected, judged,
from the presence of the punished according to their
Lord.” The word here is works, and then annihilated.
olethros, the same word They point out that the
used in 1 Corinthians 5:5, doctrine of human
1 Thessalonians 5:3, and immortality comes from
1 Timothy 6:9. Greek thought rather than
Jesus made the solemn the Hebrew or Greek
20

Scriptures. Paul declared not be quenched” until God
that God “alone has has vindicated His holiness
immortality, dwelling in in the punishment of all sin.
unapproachable light, whom However, they look forward
no man has seen or can see” to a point in eternity after
(1 Tim. 6:16). These Bible which nothing sinful or
scholars are well aware of painful will exist in the
our Lord’s statement that entire universe.
the unredeemed go into Most orthodox Bible
“everlasting punishment” scholars have not accepted
(Mt. 25:46). But they see this teaching. They have
eternal extinction as eternal difficulty equating “eternal
punishment, pointing out punishment” with “eternal
that Jesus didn’t say eternal nonexistence.” They also
conscious punishment. think of mankind in God’s
These teachers, image as created for an
however, are not simple eternal conscious destiny in
annihilationists. They either heaven or hell.
take seriously the Bible The “Forever and
verses that speak of the Ever” Passages. We
resurrection, judgment, and have shown that the Bible
appropriate punishment of does not promise or even
the lost. But they believe imply that the lost will have
that the eventual destiny another chance for salvation
of the unsaved will be after death. We have also
extinction. They view hell as observed that the Greek
a grim reality. They recognize words translated “perish” or
that the terms destroy and “destroy” in relation to hell
destruction can mean more can either denote eternal
than annihilation. They conscious ruin or eventual
declare that “the fire will extinction of being. So it’s
21

important for us to consider “forever” (Dt. 15:17). Paul
the Greek terms that are counseled Philemon to
usually translated receive Onesimus back as
“everlasting,” “eternal,” his slave “forever” (Phile.
or “forever and ever” in the 15). In all of these cases,
Bible. In relation to hell,
do they really denote
endlessness? And do
In relation to
they indicate that the hell, do the
lost will endure conscious terms translated
punishment throughout all
eternity?
“everlasting,”
In view is the Greek “eternal,” or
word aion (usually rendered “forever and ever”
“forever” or “eternal”) and
the Greek expression tous
really indicate an
aionas ton aionon (normally endless conscious
rendered “forever and punishment
ever”). In and by
themselves, they do not
throughout
necessarily denote eternity. all eternity?
When Jewish scholars
translated the Old Testament the word aion relates to this
from Hebrew to Greek, they world only, not to eternity.
used the term aion to denote But the same term was also
the “everlasting hills” of used to depict God as the
Genesis 49:26 and to depict eternal One, “from ever-
the servant who voluntarily lasting to everlasting” (Ps.
had his ear pierced to 41:13; 90:2; 106:48). It is
indicate that he wished obvious that the context
to remain with his master must determine when this
22

term denotes a span of or rebellion. Jesus declared
time and when it denotes that after His judgment of
absolute endlessness. the nations the lost will
Kittel’s Theological “go away into everlasting
Dictionary Of The New punishment, but the
Testament tells us that when righteous into eternal life”
aion is used in any of its (Mt. 25:46). Of the people
forms in relation to this who will worship the
world, it denotes the “time Antichrist and his image,
or duration of the world.” we read, “And the smoke
But when used of God or of their torment ascends
the world entered at death, forever and ever; and they
it denotes “timeless have no rest day or night”
eternity.” The Greek mind (Rev. 14:11). In addition,
basically thought in terms the beast, the false prophet,
of two ages—the present age and Satan will be cast into
that will end and the future the lake of fire, where “they
age that is timeless. The will be tormented day and
New Testament writers night forever and ever”
“borrowed” this usage. (Rev. 20:10).
Whenever they used the The Greek word
word aion in relation to God, translated “tormented”
spiritual realities, or life after in these last two verses is
death, they had absolute basanizo which, according
timelessness or never-ending to the lexicons, denotes
eternity in mind (see Vol.1, physical or mental distress,
pp.197-209). torture, or harassment. Only
The words aion and conscious beings can suffer
aionion are used several this way. Therefore, we must
times in relation to the fate conclude that eternal
of those who die in unbelief conscious suffering is
23

denoted in these passages. punishment. Jesus pointed
In summary, the future out that on the day of
of those who die as judgment the inhabitants
unbelievers or rebels is not of ancient Sodom would be
pleasant to contemplate. treated with more mercy
When Jesus talked about than the people in Judea
hell, He spoke of “weeping who had deliberately
and gnashing of teeth” (Mt. rejected Him and His
8:12), of “the fire that shall apostles (Mt. 10:15). He
never be quenched” (Mk. also spoke of the servant
9:43,45), and of a place who would be punished
“where their worm does
not die” (Mk. 9:44,46,48).
Even if many verses are
We are wise to
inconclusive regarding the assume no more—
eternal conscious suffering and no less—than
of the lost, Revelation 14:11
and 20:10 indicate that at
the Bible says
the very least, some of the about hell.
lost will suffer conscious
torment for all eternity. lightly because he had little
We must be careful that knowledge of God’s will (Lk.
we do not go beyond the 12:48).
Scriptures and portray hell C. S. Lewis, in his book
as a place where all the lost The Great Divorce, pictures
will scream in pain forever the lost as having to live
and ever. This picture gives with themselves and one
a wrong impression of God. another unchanged from
He is not only perfectly what they were on earth.
holy and just, but He He portrays them as moving
will be absolutely fair in slowly and inexorably
24

farther and farther from suffering of hell. We can’t
reality through eternity. He understand the concept of
admitted that his work was eternity. And we don’t know
not a theological treatise just what the bodies of the
and didn’t want it to be unredeemed in hell will be
interpreted as such. But he like. The biblical doctrine
wanted to make us realize of hell is designed to warn
that even if there were no sinners. It is designed to
extreme physical pain, hell motivate believers to do all
would be a terrible place. It they can to reach people
is a fact that actions form with the gospel. It is
habits and habits develop designed to show us how
character. Unless a person terrible sin is in the sight of
has been born again through an awesomely holy God.
faith in Christ, he will go Therefore, although we
into eternity with a nature cannot visualize either the
that has been fixed in this timelessness of eternity or
life. He dies a sinner and the exact nature of hell’s
will be a sinner forever, but suffering, we can be moved
he will be unable to carry to godly fear and proper
out his evil thoughts or action. And we can
inclinations. He will be in ultimately trust God to do
torment, but his nature will what is right by friends and
be so twisted by his evil relatives who for one reason
desires that he will prefer or another refuse the gospel.
the misery of hell to the kind With Abraham of old we
of activities that occupy the can ask the rhetorical
saints in heaven. question, “Shall not the
It is perhaps wise for Judge of all the earth do
us to avoid excessive right?” (Gen. 18:25), and
speculation about the leave the matter to Him.
25

WHAT’S THE But the Scriptures make it
FATE OF THOSE clear that those who haven’t
heard the gospel are lost just
WHO NEVER as surely as those who refuse
HEAR? to believe on Christ. Jesus

M
any people have declared that He Himself is
gone through this the only way to God (Jn.
life without even 14:6). Peter boldly told the
once hearing about Jesus Jewish rulers who had
Christ. Even among those arrested him, “Nor is there
who live in cultures where salvation in any other, for
Christian holidays like there is no other name under
Christmas and Easter
are observed, there are Can we assume
multitudes who never really
hear the gospel. And some that God will find
who have had contact with a way to open the
professing Christians never doors of heaven
give Jesus Christ serious
consideration because of to those who have
what they see in the lives never heard
of people who claim to be the gospel of
His followers.
What about such Jesus Christ?
people who will die without
ever having heard a clear heaven given among men
presentation of the gospel? by which we must be saved”
Can we assume that God will (Acts 4:12). Paul referred to
find some way to open the all who don’t know Jesus as
doors of heaven to them? We “those who are perishing”
would like to believe that. (2 Cor. 4:3) and described
26

the Gentile world before the situation as most of the Old
time of Christ as “having no Testament believers who
hope and without God in the were saved by God’s grace
world” (Eph. 2:12). The through faith even though
heartbreaking fact is that they had only a vague
people who have never heard concept of Christ. He writes,
the gospel are on their way to “The believing Jew was
a Christless eternity. accepted and blessed not
God will hold those because of the prescribed
who never heard the gospel animal sacrifices he offered,
responsible for what they nor even his repentance
did with the light that they and abandonment to God’s
had in this world. Paul said mercy, but because of
of the pagans that God had what God Himself was
revealed Himself to them in going to do in His only
nature (Rom. 1:18-21) and Son at the cross of Calvary”
in conscience (Rom. 2:12- (Christianity And World
16). They must give an Religions: The Challenge
account of what they did Of Pluralism, 1984, p.153).
with this light and will be It’s not imperative that
punished accordingly. we accept Anderson’s
Sir Norman Anderson, suggestion, because the
a respected evangelical, has Bible doesn’t tell us about
pointed out that some who the fate of these “noble”
never hear the gospel pagans. But we can be
become conscious of their certain about one thing: We
sinfulness, abandon all can trust God to do right by
efforts to earn God’s favor, all those who die without
and cry out for forgiveness. having heard the saving
He contends that they are to gospel of Jesus Christ. And
be viewed in the same that is all we need to know!
27

THE FIRE called Tophet (literally “fire
OF HELL place”). There is a strong
tradition that the valley

T
he term fire is often became a city dump where
used in connection refuse and the bodies of
with the punishment criminals were burned. The
of the lost. In Revelation terrible reputation of this
20, the expression “lake of valley plus its association
fire” occurs three times to with fire and judgment
denote the final destiny of made it an apt symbol
God’s enemies. for the place of final
Fire is also associated punishment for the wicked.
with hell because of the So should we portray
Greek word gehenna, the hell as a literal furnace of
term most often employed fire where all the lost will
to denote the place where scream in pain throughout
the lost will go after death all eternity? The Church
and judgment. It occurs Fathers, Luther, Calvin,
11 times in the gospels and all the classical theologians,
once in the rest of the New and present-day evangelical
Testament (Jas. 3:6). The leaders like Francis
word itself referred to “the Schaeffer and J. I. Packer
valley of Hinnom,” just say an emphatic no.
south of Jerusalem. It was They point out that God
there that the Israelites will lightly punish those
under Ahaz and Manasseh who did not know much
(2 Chr. 28:3; 33:6) placed about His expectations
children on a fiery altar (Lk. 12:48). A hell in which
dedicated to the god all burn in a literal fire does
Molech. The specific place not allow for significant
where this was done was degrees of punishment.
28

Then too, it’s important gospel. Such excesses
to remember that the Bible have also caused some
often uses fire as a symbol. true believers to ignore the
In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, biblical teaching about hell
our works (or doctrines) or to develop false doctrines
are portrayed as “wood,
hay, straw” that will be
consumed by the fire of
judgment or as “gold,
Should we portray
silver, precious stones” hell as a literal
that will endure the fire. furnace of fire
In James 3:5-6 the tongue
is a “fire,” causes “fire,”
where all the lost
and is itself “set on fire will scream in
by hell.” Hebrews 12:29 pain throughout
declares that “our God is
a consuming fire.” Jude 23
all eternity?
speaks of people who have
been doctrinally misled
and are in need of being like universalism. But
snatched “out of the fire.” a sensitive and accurate
In all of these references, treatment of this truth
the fire is symbolic. can be used by God to
The Bible presents a strengthen Christians
literal hell as the place of and to awaken sinners
eternal punishment for all to their need of Christ.
who die in unbelief or
rebellion. Unscriptural and
repulsive overstatements
about hell have turned
some people away from the
29

TRUST GOD be sure of one thing—
TO DO RIGHT God will do right by them.
Trust Him and do what He

T
he woman was says. Receive Jesus as your
convinced that she Savior.” She did, and today
was a sinner who she is a strong Christian
needed God’s forgiveness. woman.
She also believed the good We don’t like the idea
news that Jesus died on of eternal punishment. We
the cross for her sins may even find ourselves
and destroyed the power repulsed by the concept.
of death through His But we need to be careful.
resurrection. But she balked God sees and understands
when I suggested that she infinitely more than we do.
receive Jesus as her Savior. He has proven His love
She said she wasn’t sure in so many ways, especially
she wanted to go to providing salvation through
heaven if her parents Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16; Rom.
were in hell. They had been 5:8). He wants you to place
churchgoing, loving, honest your trust in His Son.
people. But she didn’t think Listen to Him, accept His
they had ever heard the salvation, and trust Him to
gospel clearly presented. do what is right to you and
Sensing her resistance, to all mankind. Accept His
I said, “Neither you nor I warning to escape “the
know for sure where your fire that shall never be
parents will spend eternity. quenched—where ‘their
It’s possible that they worm does not die, and
believed Jesus died for the fire is not quenched’ ”
their sins and trusted Him (Mk. 9:44,46,48).
to save them. But we can
30

DEFINING fallen angels and humans
OUR TERMS to rebellion and a destiny
of eternal punishment.
Annihilationism—the idea Evangelicals—a label
that people will not suffer describing those who accept
eternal conscious torment in the good news that Jesus is
hell but will eventually be the Christ, the only Son of
consumed or obliterated in God, who lived a perfect life,
judgment, ceasing to exist. died for our sins, was buried,
Beast—the violent and and rose again on the third
aggressive endtime person, day to offer eternal life to all
also known as the Antichrist, who would believe in Him.
who will deceive the nations Evil—the absence or opposite
before being sentenced by of good, love, and godliness;
God to everlasting torment. a condition of spiritual
Damned, condemned— independence that resists
the terrible state of those God’s plan for us.
sentenced to eternal False Prophet—the
separation from God. endtime person who will use
Destruction—to be ruined supernatural power to bring
or consumed. The word is honor to the Antichrist before
used repeatedly in the Bible to joining him in a place of
describe God’s plan to bring everlasting torment.
His enemies first to the grave Fear Of God—a healthy
and then ultimately to the dread of resisting or rebelling
fires and darkness of hell. against God, with the result of
Devil/Satan—the powerful moving toward God rather
personal spirit being who than away from Him. Properly
through pride and hatred has understood, it is reverential
become the chief adversary of awe that results in trust and
God and will lead countless love for God.
31

Gospel—the good news that Salvation—the rescue God
Christ died for our sins, that offers us. It may refer to
He was buried, and that He deliverance from temporary
rose from the grave to save all physical harm, but in the
who will trust Him. highest sense it speaks of
Hell—the place of final God’s loving offer to save us
judgment created for the devil, from the past, present, and
his angels, and all who die future effects of sin. It is
without making peace with available only in the name of
God. Described as the lake of Christ, who gave His life to
fire and a place of outer save all who trust Him to
darkness where the torment is deliver them from eternal
characterized by weeping and separation from God.
gnashing of teeth. Self-righteous—a term that
New Age—a current world- describes one who thinks he is
view that sees man as being good enough to merit heaven
one with the spiritual life-force by personal effort rather than
of the universe, capable of by believing that goodness is a
shaping his own destiny gift of God received through
through the development of faith in Christ.
mind and potential. Universalist—one who
Soul—the immaterial part believes that everyone will
of man that includes the eventually be saved and
intellect, emotion, and will. brought into a right
It exists with or without relationship with God.
the body. Wrath Of God—the
Pagan, Sinner, Wicked, perfect and patient anger of
Lost—terms describing those God that will consume all
who, for lack of faith in Christ, who persistently and finally
are outside the circle of His refuse to acknowledge His
forgiveness and life. rightful place in their lives.
32

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What the Bible Says About Hell

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