The Lighted Way
The Truth About Hell
Tradition tells us that God is in charge of Heaven and Satan is in charge of hell. But tradition and truth are
not necessarily one and the same. Lets consider the implications of this concept. If Satan is in charge of hell,
then, in a way he is either on God's payroll (so to speak), or at least a Co-worker with God. Wow! The implications
are pretty far reaching on this one. What's on the line? God's character and His reputation. Let's see what the
Bible says is the truth about hell.
Before we begin, please take the time to pray for the Holy Spirit to impress your mind with what is God's truth.
Ask for clarity of thought and for open-mindedness. You will likely learn some very shocking and strange ideas
in this study. May it be that you will be ready to believe the Word of God.
1. Are there many souls being punished in hell right now - today?
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to RESERVE the unjust unto the day of
judgement to be punished." 2 Peter 2:9
When you see a sign saying "reserved" on seats, you know that someone is coming later who will sit in them.
There is no need to put a "reserved" sign on occupied seats. The same reasoning adds clarity to the meaning
of this text. The unjust (unsaved) are reserved until a special day comes. It is called the Day of Judgement.
On this day, they will be punished.
2. When will sinners experience hellfire?
"So shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out
of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire."
Matthew 13:40-42
"The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48
Here we see that the "last day" is the day when the Lord will "judge him". And, by putting this text together with
the first, we see that the "furnace of fire" will be kindled at "the end of the world" - or the "last day". Even
on earth, punishments are not given until first a person is tried. Imagine the implications of thinking that our
God is not at least as fair, certainly more so, than the most just of humans! Also, does it seem right that our
God would burn someone who committed murder and died 4,000 years ago for 4,000 years longer than someone who commits
the same sin but happens to die today?
Such a teaching surely paints God in a horrid light. And it is not Biblicial! The Bible shows us that everyone
burns on the same day! Judgement Day! On that day, all the wicked will burn together. Until then, the wicked who
have died are being "reserved" or are in a waiting status until the last day.
3. Where are these "reserved" sinners today?
"The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And shall come forth; they
that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation." John 5:28-29
"The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction." "Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall REMAIN IN THE TOMB."
Job 21:30-32."
The Bible is clear. Both the wicked AND the righteous REMAIN in their graves until the resurrection day. For complete
studies (there are ten of them) on the subject of death and what happens to us, Biblically, when we die, please visit
our Death Studies Page. In these studies it is Biblically proven
that the dead are in an unconcious state of sleep. Here they remain, unaware of the passage of time, until the
day when our Lord's power will awaken them.
It is always hard to believe something when one has believed the opposite for all their lives. If you have believed
that the dead went to heaven or hell immediately upon dying, please consider what the Bible says. Scripture is there
to show us God's truth. And whether or not our traditional beliefs have agreed with Scripture, we must always submit
to what God's Word teaches, above what we have always believed. Please continue this study. Allow God's Word to
speak to you. Have an open mind and pray for His guidance into truth.
4. What did God say was the result of Sin?
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
"Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15
"God... gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
The punishment for sin is death. Satan's first lie to Eve was to tell her that she would not die if she sinned by
eating the fruit. Is it any wonder that he is still telling people the same lie? Even if your everlasting life
is one of eternal burning in hellfire, you still aren't dying! So, there is no death in payment for sin! Certainly,
if an idea doesn't come from Scripture and in fact goes against what Scripture teaches, we must agree that the idea
could only come from one source. The Bible tells us that Satan is the "Father of lies". (John 8:44)
5. What happens to the wicked when they are cast into hell?
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters,
and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Revelation 21:8
If the wicked were indestructable and could not be consumed in hell, they are obviously immortal. To claim that we
humans have immortality is not Biblical. The Bible clearly teaches that God is the only One Who has immortality
(1 Timothy 6:16). It was against everything God stood for that a sinner should become immortal and thus keep sin
in His pure universe forever. Sin was to have a permanent end. The main reason He made Adam and Eve leave the garden
of Eden was so that, after they sinned, they wouldn't be able to eat from the tree of Life. For if they ate from
that tree, they would live forever and thus their sinfulness would live eternally as well. (Genesis 3:22-24)
6. The Bible teaches that the wicked will be completely obliterated in hell
The Bible teaches in Scripture after Scripture that the wicked die in hell. They are not going to live forever in
torment and misery. The whole point of hell is really purification. God wants to purify our planet so that the
New Jerusalem can set down here. (See the study on heaven for more information on this).
Let's see how many ways the Bible says it:
A. The wicked suffer "death" - Romans 6:23
B. The wicked will suffer "destruction" - Job 21:30
C. The wicked "shall perish (cease to be)" - Psalm 37:20
D. The wicked will "burn" up (be consumed by fire until only ashes remain) - Malachi 4:1
E. The wicked "shall be slain" (die - not live to suffer) - Psalm 62:3
F. The wicked "shall be devoured by fire" (completely consumed) - Psalm 21:9
Please note, in every reference, the wicked are coming to a swift and violent end. It is no longer a process than it
was for Sodom and Gomorrah to be destroyed by the fire and brimstone.
7. If hell is not burning now, when will it start?
"So shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man... shall cast them into a furnace of fire." Matthew 13:40-42
"They went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and
fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Revelation 20:9
"The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner." Proverbs 11:31
God Himself will kindle hellfire. Satan has nothing to do with it. After all, he's going to burn in it too! It will
happen as the holy city of God, New Jerusalem, comes down from God out of heaven. The city will hover in the air, as
it were (Revelation 21:2) until the cleansing fire has consumed everything with the taint of sin. Oddly enough, the
wicked will look upon God's beautiful golden city and will attack in a vain attempt to take it by force. As this
onslaught begins, God will rain fire from heaven upon the earth. This fire will burn the wicked, the Devil, the
fallen angels, and the entire earth itself. In the end, only ashes will remain. God will remake the earth in its
original beauty. Then the holy city will set down and the universe will be forever free from sin.
8. What scale will hell have?
"The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (many will be very surprised and unprepared for His coming);
in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth
also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10
Hell is on a huge scale! It will cover the entire world, virtually turning this planet into another sun. So great will
be the heat of it, that even the "heavens" or things in our tainted solar system will be destroyed by the 25,000 mile
circumferenced inferno. So hot will the fire be, that it will melt the very elements. It will all pass away with
a great explosive noise.
9. How long will the wicked suffer?
"And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his works shall be." Revelation 22:12
"And then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27
"That servant, which knew his lord's will, and... neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes." Luke 12:47-48
We do not know exactly how long the wicked will suffer in the fires of hell. Since the Bible does not say, we must not
take liberties and make assumptions. We do know from Scripture that God believes in the principle of a man who knows
what he's done wrong suffering longer than an ignorant sinner. This means that some people will receive a greater
punishment than others, based upon their works and their knowledge of what was right.
10. How can we be certain that hell will go out at some point?
"Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the
flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it." Isaiah 47:14
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth." "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away." Revelation 21:1 & 4
Many theologians have tried to explain how a loving God could burn the wicked in twisting, writhing, agonizing torment
for all eternity. There is one simple explanation to this and even a child who reads the Bible can see it. A loving
God CANNOT burn the wicked in twisting, writhing, agonizing torment for all eternity. Our loving God loves even the
vilest sinner. He will destroy them for sin must come to an end. But He will not sustain their lives just so that they may suffer throughout
timeless ages. The righteous will be observing this horrible destruction. From inside the city of God, they will
see ones they have loved on the earth. As God consumes them, the righteous will naturally weep. This is no pretty
picture that any loving person or God can find pleasure in. After the wicked are consumed and have become ashes, God
will wipe away the tears of His people. There is to be no more crying, suffering, sadness, or torment. It is forever
ended.
Can you imagine what heaven would be like if the traditions were true? Why we'd be eternally miserable - not in eternal
bliss! For which of us can look with joy at our loved one's agony - even if its deserved. Yes, God's eternal bliss
simply would not be. I am thankful that the doctrine of immortal souls is not Biblical. Praise God, sinful humans can and do
die. Praise God, the wicked will be no more rather than suffer for endless millenia.
11. What part of the wicked is destroyed in hell?
"It is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
Matthew 5:30
"Rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:20
Here we learn for certain that real people in their flesh and bones will burn in hell. They will be consumed body and
soul until nothing of them remains. The sinner's soul dies.
12. Is the devil in any way in charge of hell?
"And the devil that deceiveth them was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:10
"I will bring thee (Satan) to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee... And never shall thou
be any more." Ezekiel 28:18-19
Satan is obviously not in control of hell. It is intended to bring HIM to ashes so that he will be completely
consumed. When the devil goes to hell, he will be kicking the screaming to get free. He will not enjoy it there. For
the same hell that consumes the wicked and destroys this planet will burn him to ashes also.
13. Since the Bible is so clear about hell, why is there such confusion in Christianity?
The word "HELL" appears 54 times in the Bible. Yet only 12 of these appearances is referring to a "place of burning".
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that the word "hell" was translated from several different words - and
different meanings.
In the Old Testament, the word "hell" is used 31 times. It is translated from the Hebrew word "Sheol" which
literally means "the grave".
In the New Testament, the word "hell" comes from three different words. 10 times, the word "Hell" comes from the Greek
word "Hades" which means "the grave". By using the same word "hell" in such an instance, "eternal burning" can be
confused with "eternal death"
12 times, in the New Testament, "hell" is translated from the word "Gehenna" which means "the place of burning".
1 time, in the New Testament, "hell" comes from the Greek word "Tartarus" meaning "a place of darkness."
14. What is God's ultimate reason for having hell?
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15
"For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be." "The enemies of the Lord... shall consume; into smoke
they consume away." Psalm 37:10 & 20
God's goal in hell is to cleanse the earth, the solar system, and ultimately the universe from the blight of sin. If
God could not achieve this cleansing, Satan would have proved to be stronger than God. If it is God's goal to blot
sin and those who cling to sin out eternally, God will have failed in this purpose if sinners and sin are still
existing in any part of His universe. The horrible theory of an eternally burning hell a terrible slander against
our loving and Holy God.
15. Alright! Destroying the wicked quickly is more merciful of God than letting them suffer forever. Still,
how can a loving God destroy them, even if its relatively quick?
"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but (rather it gives God pleasure
if instead) that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye
die?" Ezekiel 33:11
"For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Luke 9:56
"For the Lord shall rise up... that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange
act." Isaiah 28:21
Even though it is necessary to destroy sinners if they will not accept God's forgiveness and cleansing, the act is
one which brings great pain to God. So out of the usual pattern for Him, God's destruction of the wicked is
called His "strange act". Yet He will and must do it. For sin cannot be allowed to fester. Sin must be brought
to a swift and complete end. Only then can true eternal bliss begin.
16. After hell - then what?
"He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isaiah 65:17
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself
shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." Revelation 21:3-4
After the wicked are destroyed, it will be as if they never were. God's people will not remember them. The saints
will have no sadness or pain over anyone lost at this point. Only wondrous joy and great bliss await those who love
the Lord.
17. Some tough questions which seem, at first, to contradict this study:
A. Aren't the wicked supposed to be destroyed with "unquenchable fire"?
Yes. This means that the fire cannot be put out. But the fire goes out of its own accord when there is nothing
left to burn. In Jeremiah 17:27, we are told that Jerusalem was to be destroyed with unquenchable fire. Yet we
can all see that Jerusalem - which did burn with unquenchable fire (2 Chronicles 36:19-21) is not still burning
today. It merely meant that the fire could not be put out, while there was still something to burn.
B. What about "everlasting punishment"?
In Matthew 25:46, it says that the wicked will receive "everlasting punishment". It DOES NOT say that the wicked
receive everlasting punishing! Punishing goes on and on... But punishment is a one-time deal. The punishment of
the wicked (as we have seen in this study) is death. The death certainly is everlasting.
C. But in Matthew 25:41, the Bible talks about "everlasting fire"?
The Bible can explain itself here. But lets begin with a construct. The term everlasting fire refers to the effect
and not the fire itself. The fire burns and the death it brings is everlasting. Now lets see if this construct holds
up under the microscope of Scripture. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with "everlasting, or eternal" fire. (Jude 7).
That fire turned them "into ashes" as a warning to "those that after should live ungodly". 2 Peter 2:6. Certainly
these cities are not burning today! The fire went out when everything was burned up. The everlasting fire is
everlasting in its effect. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed that day and are now no more. They never will be again.
The same is true with the fires of hell. The effects of the fire are everlasting, but not the burning itself.
D. Certainly the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) is clear about an eternal hell!
This story was a parable. Parables were never intended to serve as a basis for doctrine. They are not to be
taken literally. They are a teaching which has a hidden meaning. Certainly we do not believe that trees can talk!
Yet there is a Bible parable which tells about a talking tree (Judges 9:8-15). Parables are a bit like Aesop's fables.
They teach a moral lesson, but are not to be taken literally. To demonstrate this, lets take the parable
of the rich man and Lazarus bit by bit to show that it cannot be intended for doctrine:
- Abraham's bosom is not heaven (Hebrews 11:8-10, 16)
- People in hell can't talk to people in heaven (Isaiah 65:17)
- The dead are in their graves (Job 17:13, John 5:28-29)
- Men receive their eternal rewards at Christ's second coming, not at death (Revelation 22:11-12)
- The lost are punished in hell at the end of the world, not when they die (Matthew 13:40-42)
E. But the Bible says the wicked will be tormented "forever"!
In the Bible, the words "for ever" do not mean the same thing as in modern English. It merely means a period of
time, limited or unlimited. Biblically, forever is simply as long as it takes to bring something to completion. "For ever"
appears in Scripture exactly 56 times discussing things that have already ended! Forever is a relative word, much
like tall is relative when used to describe men, or trees, or mountains. Each time, the word "tall" means something
a little different, relatively.
In Jonah 2:6, "forever" simply meant 3 days and nights. (Jonah 1:17) In Deuteronomy
10, forever meant 10 generations. Samuel was to serve as priest of the Lord forever. Certainly he cannot do so, for
he is dead! Therefore we see that forever here simply means as long as he lives (1 Samuel 1:22, 28; Exodus 21:6;
Psalm 48:14) As we have already seen, the length of burning time will vary depending upon the crime and knowledge
level of the criminal. Thus, a Biblically relative word, like forever is highly appropriate. The wicked will burn
as long as their burning must be. And in the end, they will be consumed and the fire will go out.
If seen in its true spiritual sense, our time on earth is nothing more than a probationary period. It is here
that our eternal fate will be sealed. Will we die? Will we live? God has provided a way so that no one needs to die.
It is my sincere hope and prayer that you will choose life!
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