Is Hell Eternal?

Is Hell Eternal?
By: Kevin Deane
For full blog and website, see www.valleyofdrychurches.webs.com

Introduction:

The natural reaction of sinful man is to deny or soften the realities of Hell. Often men would rather cling to a false hope than listen to the truth. Jesus spoke more of Hell than He did of Heaven, yet judgement seems to be the subject that is mentioned least in the pulpits of the contemporary evangelical Church. Because of the unpleasantness of the realities of theological truth, man's immediate response is often denial. Yet Hell is a subject that is dangerous to be mistaken on.

Hell is the eternal wrath of God, who has removed His presence from the dark, painful, fiery chasm of Hell. We shall carefully examine the truth of the statement 'Hell is Eternal.' Biblical truth, a correct understanding of theology and the doctrine of sin show that Hell must be eternal.

1. Annihilationalism

Annihilationalism is the view that God will be merciful to those suffering in Hell and after they serve a just punishment they will simply cease to exist. Annihilationalists suggest that the Bible's most frequent descriptions of Hell, such as 'death,' 'destruction' and 'perishing' all suggest an end. They would argue that conscious sins committed in finite time do not merit an infinite punishment. The Bible demands a finite payment for a finite sin – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth – and they believe this method of payment will extend to Hell. Because God is a loving God, some view an endless torment in Hell an act easier to associate with Satan than with God. Annihilationalism argues that when Christ speaks of an eternal punishment, He is speaking of an eternal result of the punishment – annihilation – and not a literally eternal punishment.

2. Biblical Passages Verifying Hell is Eternal

The problem with annihilationalism is the clear testimony of Scripture. The Bible is quite clear the Hell lasts for eternity. To suggest that God's love prevents Him from sentencing men to endless torment is a result of restraining our understanding of theology to certain passages of our choosing. “Their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched” (Isaiah 66:24). On earth, fire goes out when it consumes its fuel, and maggots die when they consume their prey – but Isaiah describes an undying consumption.6 Jesus repeats this image in Mark 9:48, and warns His followers of the “eternal fire” (Matthew 18:8, 25:41). Even Daniel declares that some of the dead will go “to everlasting shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). In refuting Annihilationalism, the Bible speaks for itself, time and time again declaring that “They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). The Bible is as clear about the eternity of Hell as it is about the eternity of Heaven. “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). “Unless one is prepared to limit the bliss of the righteous, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the punishment of the lost is also without an end.” The conclusion that Hell is not eternal comes from philosophical reasoning, not exegetical truth and does not correspond with Scripture.

3. The Nature of Sin Verifying Hell is Eternal

The concept that Hell is not eternal comes from a poor understanding of the nature of sin. “The reason we find Hell so offensive is because of our insensitivity to sin.” The objection that a sin committed in a finite period of time cannot be an infinite evil implies that the punishment for a crime must be directly related to the amount of time the offence took. But even in the human justice system, we regard murder – which takes only an instant – greater than a theft that may have taken hours. For an annihilationalist to argue that infinite punishment for finite sin is unjust is a contradiction, since annihilation is infinite. The significance of a crime also needs to be determined by who the crime was committed against – torturing an animal is a crime, but torturing a human is a greater crime. Man's sin is an act of freewill primarily defying an infinite God. “If sin was committed against an infinite God and the obligation to obey Him was infinite, then the punishment must be infinite.” Understanding the true nature of sin confirms the truth of an infinite Hell.

4. Biblical Theology Verifying Hell is Eternal

To claim that God's love makes Him incompatible with endless punishment, would be to have developed a theology compatible with human desire but not with the Bible. Many moderns accept the statement that 'God is love' as an adequate theology within itself. This would be to conclude that God's mercy causes Him to be so moved and affected by a creature in misery that He cannot bear to see justice executed. To elevate the love of God to such a degree as to suggest that Hell is not infinite would be to ignore God's hatred of sin. “The boastful shall not stand before your eyes. You hate all evildoers” (Psalm 5:5). “Since the infinite hatred of sin is suitable to the divine character, then the expressions of that hatred are also suitable to His character...It is suitable He should execute infinite punishment on it.” Ultimately, because of God's infinite nature, and the corresponding infinite offence of sin, no amount of time in Hell would be sufficient to satisfy the justice of God. This is why the Bible's central problem – that a just God can forgive wicked men and remain just– was solved only when the infinite God became flesh to die in the place of man and satisfy His own infinite justice. If man chooses not to believe on Christ as the substitutionary sacrifice, they remain under the eternal condemnation of their own eternal sin. A biblical understanding of the nature of God testifies that Hell will be for an eternity.

Works Cited:

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Morgan, Christopher W., and Robert A. Peterson. What is Hell?. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2010.

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Shedd, William G. T. The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment. 2d ed. Minneapolis, MN: Klock & Klock Christian Publishers, 1980

Morgan, Christopher W., and Robert A. Peterson. Hell Under Fire. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.

Taylor, Justin. “Is Hell the Absence of God?” Sep. 28, 2007. Available from http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/is-hell-the-absence-of-god (accessed 30 Oct. 2011).

Crockett, William, ed. Four Views on Hell. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996.

Wilkerson, David. "Hell, What is it Like?" SermonIndex. Audio Recording. Accessed November 30, 2011.http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=8084.

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Chan, Francis, and Preston Sprinkle. Erasing Hell. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2011.