Hell is Endless

Some Christians believe, as I once did, that hell isn't forever. The cultic house church minister whom I followed taught that everybody would eventually repent and God would then let them out of hell. This doctrine is called Universalism. People like it because they can't handle the truth that most humans will suffer conscious torment for the rest of eternity.

What then does the Bible, our only sure source of truth, say about hell? Those who think their works will save them are in for a rude shock. Christ condemned the ultra-fastidious Pharisees in Matthew 23:33 (BBE) when he warned, "You snakes, offspring of snakes, how will you be kept from the punishment of hell?"

We also learn from Scripture that hell was originally meant for demons. Jude 1:6 (BBE) describes it this way. "And the angels who did not keep to their kingdom but went out from the place which was theirs, he has put in eternal chains and in dark night till the great day of the judging."

But disobedient sinners will also be there forever. Christ warned in Mark 9:43 (BBE) of the endless agonies unsaved people will suffer. "And if your hand is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off; it is better for you to go into life with one hand than to have two hands and go into hell, into the eternal fire."

And need I remind those who doubt the eternal nature of hell about Hebrews 9:27 and 28 (BBE), "And because by God's law death comes to men once, and after that they are judged; So Christ, having at his first coming taken on himself the sins of men, will be seen a second time, without sin, by those who are waiting for him, for their salvation."

The Devil and all those who don't obey the gospel won't ever escape the agony of hell. As Revelation 20:10 (BBE) reads, "And the Evil One who put them in error was sent down into the sea of ever-burning fire, where the beast and the false prophet are, and their punishment will go on day and night for ever and ever.

And as hell is eternal, so is heaven. Revelation 22:5 (BBE) encourages faithful folks, "And there will be no more night; and they have no need of a light or of the shining of the sun; for the Lord God will give them light: and they will be ruling for ever and ever."

On Thursday, if our Lord hasn't returned, I hope to post about how those we call decent will still face hell.

Is Satan the Boss of Hell?

This is another question which people, for the most part,  fail to answer correctly. To many, Satan comes and goes as he pleases from that place of punishment. But does the Bible say this?

Now Jude 1:6 (BBE) does say, "And the angels who did not keep to their kingdom but went out from the place which was theirs, he has put in eternal chains and in dark night till the great day of the judging."

Even so, we know that demons are working even today to sabotage God's plans. So not all of them are in chains.

But what of their leader? Scripture says that he testified against believers in heaven. Job 1:7 (BBE) speaks of a day when the Devil came in with the sons of God. "And the Lord said to the Satan, 'Where do you come from?' And the Satan said in answer, 'From wandering this way and that on the earth, and walking about on it.'"

We also read that the Devil was thrown out of heaven. When Christ's disciples came back from their first missionary trip and reported that even the demons were subject to them, Luke 10:18 (BBE) reports, "And he said, I was watching for Satan, falling from heaven like a star."

We also read of this fall in Revelation 12:7-9 (BBE). "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going out to the fight with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels made war, And they were overcome, and there was no more place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was forced down, the old snake, who is named the Evil One and Satan, by whom all the earth is turned from the right way; he was forced down to the earth, and his angels were forced down with him."

We also have the promise that Satan will be eternally incarcerated in the lake of fire with his followers. Revelation 20:10 (BBE) assures us, "And the Evil One who put them in error was sent down into the sea of ever-burning fire, where the beast and the false prophet are, and their punishment will go on day and night for ever and ever."

It's plain then that Satan doesn't have the ability to go into and out of hell as people think. Neither is hell his kingdom but his eternal prison. What a joyous day that will be for those who love God!

I'll point out Satan's weaknesses in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People tend to ascribe either too little or too much power to the Devil. I hope to set the record straight on that.

On Thursday, I'll blog about why there's no escape from hell.

Is Hell Really Forever?

Now that I've established what and where hell is, does it really last forever? Some Christians argue that a kind and compassionate God could never send people to hell for the rest of eternity.

One scripture verse they use to bolster their claim is 1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV), which says of God,  "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." What these people fail to understand is that this is only God's wish for humanity. Though he wants all people to be saved, he gave us a choice in the matter.

These proponents of hell being for a set time and not forever also twist what Christ said in John 3:16 (KJV) which reads, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." But they overlook what he said in the next three verses. People don't want to come to the light because their deeds are evil.

As the minister of the sick house church I once attended claimed, some people believe that the word "forever" doesn't mean for the rest of eternity. Even a casual search in a concordance would show that all uses of "forever" mean exactly that. In fact, repetitions such as in Revelation 20:10 (KJV) reinforce the eternal period's length. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

The truth is that nobody is good except God. As Paul wisely pointed out in Romans 3:10 (KJV), "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no,  not one:'" How then can anybody claim to be good on their own terms? The truth is that they can't.

And if "forever" doesn't mean forever but a period of time, what does that do to the biblical promises that say we'll be with God forever? Proponents of hell's limited time never seem to consider that aspect of their argument.

Because of heresies such as this, I feel compelled to write my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? The most important aspect of our lives is where we will end up after death. I want nobody to end up in hell because nobody warned them about this important matter. Sadly, many people either reject God or think they can please him with their own righteousness.