IS HELL FOREVER?

Friday 25 July

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. Revelation 20:14-15 (NKJV)

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:11-12

Why do so many people in the church today believe in the eternal torment and suffering of unbelievers? For some, they are so indoctrinated by what they have been taught they seem unable to hold an objective opinion on the matter. I would guess that most people reading this right now hold this view to be the undeniable truth. But is this the case? Let’s find out.

The reason I want to address this subject is for us to have a greater appreciation for the character of God and take away the contradictory elements that hinder the way many view His nature.

The first thing we need to change is the definition we use to describe Hell. This is actually a mistranslation. Hades is the correct way to write it, not Hell. Sheol the equivalent in Hebrew. What is the difference you ask? To put it simply: One is a place and the other is an event that will happen in the future. Hades is the place and Hell is the event.

Hades is the place where those who have not accepted Christ go after the death of their bodies. The reason I say it this way is that they are never alive spiritually because they never received eternal life. They are living souls which possess a body.

1 Corinthians 15:45 says ‘the first Adam was made a living soul, the second Adam a life giving spirit.’

Those that never received this life giving spirit are dead spiritually which is why even after they died physically, they will be resurrected bodily to face destruction but they will never be spiritually alive. This is why Jesus said about Himself,

‘I AM the resurrection AND the life,’ not just the resurrection. ‘He who believes in me though he be dead, yet shall he live.’

So Hades is a waiting place. Jesus called it outer darkness. He said there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there. Why? One word. Regret. Sadly for those who die in their sin of not believing in Jesus as the Christ, there is an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. It is a place of immense sadness which is why they weep there.

It’s important to remember that God doesn’t put anyone in Hades. They put themselves there. One of the most frightening things about the love of God is that He will love you all the way to Hades if that is what you choose. He never tampers with our will even when it is diametrically opposed to His. A sobering thought.

So what about Hell? Jesus used a word ‘Gehenna’ which was a dumping ground outside Jerusalem where they would burn off the rubbish. He used this analogy to describe what the event of hell will be like. The good news is there is no eternal torment for unbelievers. Why do I say that? Because the body and soul can be destroyed but the spirit is eternal. Only those in Christ have an eternal spirit.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’

Destroy means to annihilate. To break down to nothing. Jesus never exaggerated. Neither did He support the concept of eternal suffering despite most Christians belief that He did. The Bible says ‘God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked’. It only stands to reason that He would not take pleasure in human suffering for eternity either. What kind of God do you think He is?

The truth is that NOBODY will be tormented eternally for their sins though they will have to pay the price for their own sins which is death. This in itself shows the mercy of God towards the most unrepentant of sinners. All these books about the 7 levels of Hell and the worst tortures that await the most evil sinners are frankly nonsense.

The SCRIPTURES do not agree at all with these notions. The book of Revelation is an angelic vision not to be taken literally when it comes to ideas on hell. For example, there is no, one False Prophet or one Antichrist. They are metaphors to represent teachings not individuals. The epistles talk about ‘men of sin’ and ‘many false prophets.’ The epistles and the words of Jesus are our doctrinal reference point.

The bad news is all those for whom Christ died will not get another opportunity to receive salvation. The eternity with the Lord they were meant to enjoy will not be realised and their very existence will be erased. How sad.

Luke 12:5 confirms this,

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!’

Death and Hades will be cast into the Lake of fire. This means everyone that abides in death and that has been waiting in Hades for final judgment will face swift judgment not horrific torment forever. This is the ‘hell fire’. The Bible refers to this event as the Day of the Lord. It will happen just before the end of the world.

‘But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.’

There will be an inferno like no other that will burn up everything that offends. Jesus alluded to this when He talked about Gehenna fire.

Let’s be clear here. God is not about making people suffer. He came to save us not destroy us! We are the ones who choose eternal life or self-destruction.

‘For the Son of man came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’

I don’t know about you but I’m sad that there are those waiting in Hades for the final event but also feel better that those who reject Christ will not have to suffer for all eternity. Even in eternal destiny we can see the heart of a loving God. His will for us has never changed He wants all of us to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth!

Is hell forever? Not according to Jesus. Are you going to disagree with Him?

APPLICATION

Have the consciousness that we must tell people the good news of Jesus Christ while they are still able to receive the message of God’s mercy and grace in salvation.