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3 Facts about Hell

  • Writer: Bible Brian
    Bible Brian
  • 12 minutes ago
  • 5 min read

For believers and unbelievers alike, the concept of Hell is, at best, a confusing one. For the unbeliever, it impugns the character of God, particularly His love, and His justice. Even for the believer, while we recognise the love and justice of God, these two attributes make us question our understanding of Hell.


Three important facts help us to reconcile the apparent contradiction. The first is that no one who goes to Hell is actually supposed to be there. The second is that no one who goes there can possibly suffer more (or less) than they actually deserve. The third is that this is all determined by God, a being with infinite wisdom, and unimpeachable authority.


To establish the first point, we need look no further than Matthew 25:41, which actually shows Jesus sentencing people to Hell. "“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:".


What we see here is that Hell was not designed for mankind, but for the devil and his angels. Humans may go there if we follow the devil and his angels, but it was never intended for us, nor were we ever intended for it.


God makes this abundantly clear on more than one occasion. In Ezekiel 18:32 and 33:11, He tells us He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, preferring repentance. In 2 Peter 3:9, He tells us that He isn't willing for any to perish, but wants all to come to repentance. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, He says He wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. The long and short of it is if anyone goes to Hell, it is not because God wants them there. Rather, it is because they deserve to be there, and did not repent.


But even though no one in Hell is supposed to be there, it's not as though God somehow failed. It is possible to go to Hell against God's will, but it is not possible to go beyond His control. Rather, Hell is a direct result of God's justice, and He is judge, jury, and executioner. This means He is completely sovereign over its Holy fires.


Speaking of the judgment, Scripture regularly implies that while the wicked all suffer "the second death" (Revelation 20:14; 21:8), this will not be an equal experience for all. Jesus, for example, warns that some unbelieving cities will receive a harsher judgment than others. For example, in Luke 10:13-14, we read "“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you."


So what's the logic here? First, God knows every possibility in every scenario, regardless of which scenario He brings about. So in the case of Tyre and Sidon, He says they would have repented under certain circumstances. It's just that they were never given the chance. As a result, they deserve punishment, and so will receive it. But Chorazin and Bethsaida were given the chance to repent, and refused. Therefore, their punishment is harsher, because they were more aware.


This ties in with what Jesus says 2 chapters later, in Luke 12:47-48. "And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."


Hell is described as a place apart from God's presence. Those who go there "depart" from Him, and have forfeited all of the blessings He brings. But while Hell is "away" from God, it is not independent of God. It is His realm. He has full and irrevocable dominion over it. This means those in Hell deserve to be in Hell, but they will get what they deserve to get in Hell. God doesn't just throw everyone in the same fire and leave them to burn.


It's worth noting, at this point, that Scripture isn't entirely clear on the nature of Hell. While it does describe it as a lake of fire, it's questionable how literal that is. Not that I'm saying it is a metaphor, but there are reasons to suggest it could be. The point does not change either way; no one can suffer more in Hell than they deserve.


So we have two possibilities. The first is that Hell is a literal place of fire, and God will only allow the wicked to burn as hot as their sins deserve. The second is that the punishment is severe enough to be described as a lake of fire, yet still not so harsh that Hell will be excessively cruel to even one person.


The best part about this, if you'll excuse those words, is that God is the one in control of all of it. This is the same God who, when His own people are thrown into scorching fire, does not even allow their clothes to smoke (see Daniel 3). Obviously, He isn't going to be walking around in the fires of Hell, saving the prisoners from their self-inflicted doom. But if He is able to prevent a fire from singeing the garments of His beloved, we need not imagine there will be anything going on in Hell that He cannot control.


If mankind were in charge of this, we would make a number of wrong calls. Some people would suffer worse than they deserve. Others would suffer less. But with God, there is a 100% chance that everyone in Hell will suffer the correct punishment.


Even statements like this grate against us. Hell is not a pleasant thought for us to consider. Nor should it be. What criminal wants to think on prison? But at the same time, what criminal believes he belongs there? On Earth, the answer is "a penitent one". You did the crime, you believe you deserve the time, so you turn yourself in and serve it. That's not an issue in Hell. Hell is for those who believe themselves to be more knowledgeable, or authoritative, than the Creator Himself.


But who truly is? The stars we cannot count, God knows by name. We think we know better? And this authority by which we judge Him... Where did we get it? Ultimately, when our idea of justice is different from God's idea of justice, we are intellectually and morally wrong.


So it's true. As human beings, we struggle with the concept of Hell. The only real comfort we can take here is in knowing that it is entirely within the control, wisdom, and jurisdiction of the Holy God.


But ultimately, this is not where we should settle. See, because Hell was not meant for us, yet we have merited a place in its depths, the Lord has made a way. Only one. You can't stage a prison break, you can't sign a petition, you can't fight for a regime change, but you can avoid everlasting contempt. See, Hell is an eternal realm for finite sinners. But the eternal God need suffer only once.


And He did.


Scripture tells us that He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The principle here is substitution. The righteous Jesus deserved no punishment, and yet He received it. You, who deserve punishment, may therefore receive everlasting life, free of blame. Therefore, follow the will of God: Repent, be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.


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