THE idea that God will torment people in Hell-fire for all eternity has led millions to reject God as a monster who is unworthy of love and worship - how could anyone love and worship a God who would torment their unsaved family and friends in Hell-fire forever?
Christians have floundered trying to explain it, and few feel satisfied with the attempts. A Hell in which God’s lost children suffered eternally would be Hell for God Himself. God’s Word reveals that this teaching of eternal torment is actually a LIE of the Devil.
How many people are being punished in Hell today?
None. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” 2Peter 2:9. “The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction. They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.” Job 21:30.
Where are dead sinners?
“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.
What will the wicked be resurrected to?
“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. Note: The wicked will live a short time after the resurrection of damnation to confess that God is good, and that they are evil, before they die the second death.
When will sinners be cast into Hell-fire?
“So shall it be in the end of this 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.
What is the penalty for sin?
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23; James 1:15. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20. “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Psalms 37:10.
“Destruction” (Job 21:30) “Perish” (Psalms 37:20) “Burn up” (Malachi
4:1)
“Destroyed” (Psalms 37:38)
“Consume away” (Psalms 37:20; Psalms 145:20)
“Cut off” (Psalms 37:9) “Slain” (Psalms 62:3)
Devoured (Psalms 21:9).
Note: The wicked will not receive everlasting life in Hell-fire. The “everlasting punish - MENT” (Matthew
25:46) for sin is everlasting death, not everlasting punish - ING.
Where will Hell-fire be?
“And they [all the wicked] 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; Proverbs 11:31.
Note: As “the meek shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) the fire must burn itself out.
How long will the wicked suffer in the fire?
All will be rewarded “according to their works.” Matthew 16:27.
Note: In justice, the most wicked will suffer the longest; the least wicked a shorter time (Luke 12:47-48), but all will eventually cease to exist.
Will the fire finally go out?
“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.
“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” “And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 4:1, 3.
What example of Hell-fire do we have?
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 1:7. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” 2Peter 2:6.
What will be destroyed in Hell-fire?
“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.
Will the Devil be in charge of Hell-fire?
Never! “...the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” Revelation 20:10. Jesus came that “through death He might destroy might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil.” Hebrews 2:14. “I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee... And never shalt thou be any more.” Ezekiel 28:18-19. “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels:” Matt. 25:41.
Isn’t destroying sinners foreign to God’s nature?
“The Lord...is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 33:11). “...I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but 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.
Note: God has done everything He can to save us, but the choice to accept it is ours. The wicked would hate living with God so in mercy God will perform His “strange act,” Isaiah 28:21 and they will cease to exist after justice has seen to it that they are punished for the evil and suffering they have caused. This will break God’s heart but for the wicked there are no other options. Sin and evil will be no more.
What are God’s post-hell plans for the earth?
“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; Isaiah 65:17
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