Hell-Fire

One of the most theologically confused subjects in the Bible is

that of hell. It has been fumbled by the clergy and distorted

by the laity until the word has become best known as a common

vulgarism and expletive. Everywhere people are asking the same

questions: What and where is hell? What is the fate of the

wicked? Will a God of love torture people throughout eternity?

Will the fire of hell ever burn the wickedness out of sinners?

These are questions which deserve sound Bible answers, and the

controversy surrounding the subject should not discourage us

from exposing all the truth as it is in Christ. First of all,

we need to understand that there is a heaven to win and a hell

to shun. Jesus taught that every soul will be either saved or

lost. There is no neutral place, and there are no second

prizes. "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:

there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the

righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their

Father." Matthew 13:41-43.

In view of these two ultimate destinies for all who have ever

been born, how earnest we should be in seeking to find the right

way. Christ said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." The

only absolute safety for anyone is to take exactly what Jesus

taught about hell. His doctrine is the only one which is wholly

dependable and true. He said some will be cast into the fire,

and some will shine forth in the kingdom.

Strangely enough, Christ has been charged by many religious

leaders with teaching a falsehood on this subject. They have

accused Him of teaching that an immortal soul flies away from

the body at death to either heaven or hell. This is not what

Jesus taught at all. He never gave the least intimation that

some disembodied soul separates from the body at the time of

death. And surely He did not ever give the impression that the

wicked suffer an eternal torment as soon as they die.

Now let's get a sample of what Jesus really taught on the

subject of hell. "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it

is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two

hands to go into hell ..." Mark 9:43. These words of the Master

prove beyond any shadow of doubt that it is the body which goes

into the fire, and not some mystical soul. In Matthew 5:30 He

spoke of the "whole body" being cast into hell. That means

hands, feet, eyes, and all the other members of the physical

body.

In contrast to the doctrine of Christ, modern pulpits resound

with dramatic portrayals of imaginary souls leaving the body at

death--souls that have neither substance nor shape. This view,

popular though it may be, is totally contrary to what Jesus

taught. Mark it well, for the great Master Teacher spelled it

out repeatedly in the gospels--those who are cast into the fire

of hell will go there with hands, feet, eyes, and all the

physical features of the body. They will not go in some

ethereal state of formless spirit or soul.

Now we are prepared to examine four great facts from the Bible

which will illuminate most of the questions which have been

asked about the fate of the wicked.

Punishment After

The Judgment

The first important fact about hell is this: The unsaved do not

go to any place of punishment as soon as they die, but are

reserved in the grave until the day of judgment to be punished.

Christ explicitly taught this truth in the well-known parable of

the wheat and the tares. After the householder had sown the

wheat in the field, his servant came to report that tares were

growing among the grain. His question was whether he should

pull up the weeds while they were still very small. The

householder's answer was, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the

tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow

together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I

will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and

bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my

barn." Matthew 13:29, 30.

Now follow the words of Christ as He explains the meaning of the

parable: "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The

field is the world; the good seed are the children of the

kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The

enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of

the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the

tares are gathered and burned in the 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: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Matthew 13:37-43.

No one can simplify the parable by enlarging on what Jesus said.

It is so clear that a child can understand it. He said the

tares represented the wicked people, and that they would be cast

into the fire "at the end of the world." It was in the harvest

that the separation would take place, and He plainly stated,

"The harvest is the end of the world." How can anyone

misconstrue these words of Christ? The whole idea of the wicked

going into the fire at the time of death contradicts our Lord's

specific teaching that they would be cast into the fire at the

end of the world.

Since the judgment also takes place after Christ comes we can

see how impossible it would be for anyone to be punished before

that time. Justice demands that a person be brought into

judgment before being punished. Peter declared, "The Lord

knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to

reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." 2

Peter 2:9. That certainly makes sense, doesn't it? Suppose a

man should be brought into the court accused of stealing, and

the judge said, "Put him away for ten years; then we'll try his

case." Listen, even a human judge would not be that unfair! He

would be impeached for such an action. Surely God would not be

guilty of such a farce.

If we let the Bible mean what it says, there can be no doubt on

this point. The wicked are "reserved" until when? Until the

"day of judgment." To be what? "To be punished"! This means

they cannot be punished before that judgment day. Does the Bible

tell where they are reserved until then? Christ Himself said,

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in 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.

How plain! Jesus said that both good and bad will come forth

from their graves to receive either life or damnation. This

proves that from the time of death until they come forth in the

resurrection they are not receiving any recompense or

punishment. It all happens after they come forth. They are

reserved until that day just as Peter indicated, but Christ

spelled out where they will be reserved--"in the graves."

If plainer words are needed, listen to Jesus speaking in Luke

14:14, "Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the

just." Or hear Him again in Matthew 16:27, "For the Son of man

shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then

he shall reward every man according to his works." When is

"then"? When He comes with His angels. No reward or recompense

is handed out until the resurrection of the just, when He comes

with all the angels. These verses are beyond controversy.

Taken in their context, they contain no ambiguity or hidden

meaning.

Again Christ is quoted in the very last chapter of the Bible,

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give

every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12.

Here He reminds us that "every man"--every person--will receive

his just reward when Christ returns to this earth. Job declares

"that the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction. They

shall be brought forth to the day of wrath." Daniel wrote that

they which "sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to

everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

Daniel 12:2.

Can there be any doubt where the wicked are reserved before

facing resurrection, judgment, and punishment? We have the

testimony of Peter, Daniel, Job and the Master Himself. There is

no room to quibble. They are reserved in the grave.

Now we come to the second great fact about hell: None of the

unsaved will be cast into hell-fire until after the second

coming of Jesus at the end of the world. Although we have

already seen substantial evidence on this point, let's look even

more. Describing the punishment of the wicked, John wrote:

"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:

No Second Death

Before the Resurrection

Here the lost are pictured in the fires of hell, suffering the

punishment for their sins. And what is that punishment? "The

second death," says John. Do you realize what this proves about

the wicked? It proves they will not be cast into the lake of

fire until after the resurrection takes place. These people die

the second death in the fire, but they cannot suffer a second

death until they get a second life. They lived the first life in

this world and died the first death, going into the grave.

Before they can die a second death they must be resurrected--

they must be given a second life. This, of course, is what

happens at the end of the world. Jesus said, "All that are in

the graves shall come forth."

Now after getting that second life in the resurrection, the

wicked will be punished for their sins in hell-fire, "which is

the second death." By the way, that second death is the final,

eternal death from which there will be no resurrection. But the

point to be noted is the time of this hell-fire punishment--it

is after the resurrection at the end of the world. It does not

take place at the time of the first death as so many have been

led to believe.

Does the Bible tell us how the wicked will be cast into the lake

of fire? Yes, it does. John describes the dramatic events that

take place at the close of the millennium. "And when the

thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his

prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the

four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them

together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the

sea. And 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 20:7-9.

Here at the end of the millennium all the wicked people who have

ever lived will come forth in the second resurrection. After

describing how the righteous would come to life and reign with

Christ during the thousand years, John wrote, "But the rest of

the dead lived not again until the thousand years were

finished." Revelation 20:5.

The rest of the dead, of course, had to be the wicked, and their

resurrection will provide opportunity for Satan to take up his

continuing battle against God and the saints. He goes out to

gather the host of lost ones, who have been raised from the

dead. He has people to deceive once more, and he convinces them

that they can prevail against the New Jerusalem which has

descended from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:2). As they

march up and encompass the city, the wicked are suddenly cut

down by the devouring fire which rains upon them from heaven.

This is the hell-fire which is the final punishment for sin.

Location of Hell

The Bible clearly asserts that this fire devours the wicked

right here on "the breadth of the earth." Every Bible writer

who speaks on the subject of hell adds new insight on this

second death of the wicked. Peter states: "But the heavens and

the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store,

reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of

ungodly men." 2 Peter 3:7. Then he goes on to describe the

day of the Lord which will melt the very elements with fervent

heat.

The language of Peter is very explicit about the place of

punishment for the ungodly. He says this earth is reserved

for that fire which will bring judgment

and perdition to the wicked. Their punishment will be in this

earth. Isaiah declared, "For it is the day of the Lord's

vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of

Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into brimstone,

and the

land thereof shall become burning pitch." Isaiah 34:8, 9.

The prophet portrays the entire planet enveloped in the

destroying fire. Even the streams and dust are transformed into

an exploding combustion of pitch and brimstone. Isaiah says

this is God's vengeance and "recompense" at the end of the

controversy.

David adds to the testimony with these words, "Upon the wicked

he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and an horrible

tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup." Psalm 11:6.

Notice that he uses almost the same words as John and Peter in

describing the fate of the wicked. All agree as to the place of

the punishment (the earth) and the agent of punishment (fire).

This brings us to the third great fact about the subject of

hell. Hell as a place of punishment will be this earth turned

into a lake of fire at the Day of Judgment. But this also

raises some other very interesting questions about the fate of

the lost. One of the most intriguing and puzzling has to do with

the length of punishment. How long will the wicked continue to

live and suffer in that fire?

No one can answer that question precisely because the Bible says

they will be punished according to their works. This means there

will be degrees of punishment. Some will suffer longer than

others. But one thing we can say with certainty--the wicked

won't live in that fire throughout eternity.

Hell-Fire Not Endless

There are several reasons for being so sure on this point.

First of all, this earth is also declared to be the final home

for the righteous. Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek: For they

shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5. Peter, after describing

this earth exploding and burning with a great noise, saw a new

earth filled with righteousness. "Nevertheless we, according to

his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein

dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13.

The wicked cannot continue to live in this planet because it has

been specifically promised, in its entirety, to Abraham's

spiritual seed (Romans 4:13). After being purged of all the

curse of sin, it will revert to the first dominion, and to God's

original plan for it. It will be finally what God intended it

to be--a perfect home for a perfect people.

In the second place, the wicked cannot continue to live in this

earth because they have never trusted Christ for eternal life.

It is only the righteous who receive the gift of eternal life.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish. ..." John

3:16. But what about those who don't believe in him? They

surely will perish. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is

death." Romans 6:23. Please don't miss the pointed simplicity

of these verses. The wicked are never promised life. They are

promised death--eternal death. Only the righteous are promised

life--eternal life.

But there is only one way to get life without end, and that is

through faith in Jesus. John describes it this way: "And this

is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this

life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that

hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12. Let

me ask you a question: Do those wicked ones in the lake of fire

have the Son of God? Of course not. Then how could they have

life? John says, "Ye know that no murderer hath eternal life

abiding in him." 1 John 3:15. Will those murderers in hell-

fire continue to have life for eternity? Never.

It would be the rankest heresy to believe that eternal life

could be obtained from some other source than Jesus. Where

would the wicked get it? Paul declares that Jesus Christ "hath

brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2

Timothy 1:10. Inspiration reveals no other source of

immortality except through the gospel of Christ. Where is a

text in the Bible which describes the conferring of immortality

upon the wicked? You can read often about the righteous

receiving it, but never the unbeliever.

Paul said, "Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,

but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an

eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the

dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal

must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

This text speaks of a certain point in time when the righteous

will be instantly changed into immortal beings. That time is

still future. It occurs when Jesus returns, at the last trumpet

sound, when the resurrection takes place. Nowhere in the Bible

do we read of the wicked being changed in this manner. And it

is precisely because they never receive this gift of eternal

life that they are unable to keep living in the lake of fire.

It is inconceivable and unreasonable to fabricate such an event.

It is contrary to the Bible and repugnant to the senses.

Ezekiel declared, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Ezekiel 18:4. No matter what we understand a soul to be, let's

accept the simple Bible fact that it can die and will die as a

result of sin.

If the wicked live eternally in the fire, then they have the

same thing as the righteous except in a different place. Who

could give them eternal life but Christ? John 3:16 settles this

issue so clearly and simply. Those who do not believe in the

only begotten Son will perish. They will die. They will die

the second death--an eternal death from which they will never be

raised. That death will never end. It is an endless, eternal

punishment, because it is an endless, eternal death.

UNQUENCHABLE FIRE

Someone may raise this question: What about the unquenchable

fire that burns the wicked? Doesn't that mean it will never go

out? Of course, it doesn't. To quench means to extinguish or

put out. No one will be able to put out the fire of hell. That

is the strange fire of God. No one will be able to escape from

it by extinguishing it. Isaiah says of that fire, "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 a fire to sit before it." Isaiah

47:14. After it has accomplished its work of destruction, that

fire will go out. No one can deliver themselves from its flame

by putting it out, but finally not a coal will be left. So say

the Scriptures.

Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would burn with a fire that

could not be quenched (Jeremiah 17:27), but it burned down to

ashes (2 Chronicles 36:19-21). Read those verses and see how

the Bible uses the word "quench." It does not mean fire that

will never go out. It only means what it says, "unquenchable."

It can't be quenched.

And what can we say about the expressions "eternal" and

"everlasting" which are used to describe the fires of hell?

There is absolutely no confusion or contradiction when we allow

the Bible to supply its own definition of terms. Many make the

mistake of applying modern definitions to those biblical words

without reference to their ancient contextual usage. This

violates one of the most fundamental rules of interpretation.

The fact is that eternal fire does not mean a fire that will

never go out. The same expression is used in Jude 7 concerning

the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha. "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 as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal

fire."

It is quite obvious that Sodom is not still burning today. The

Dead Sea rolls over the place where those ancient cities once

stood. Yet they burned with "eternal fire," and we are told

that it was an example of something. What is it an example of?

"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." 2 Peter 2:6.

There it is! That eternal fire which brought Sodom to ashes is

an example of what will finally happen to the wicked. If this

text is true, the same kind of fire that destroyed Sodom and

Gomorrha will also burn the wicked in the lake of fire. It will

have to be eternal fire. Does that mean it will also burn the

wicked to ashes? The Bible says Yes. "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.

No words of any language could make it more forceful or clear.

This eternal fire burns up eternally. Even Satan, the root, is

finally consumed. How consistent the whole picture appears as

we let the Bible explain its own terms. What devious

manipulation of words would be required to evade the obvious

meaning of these words. Yet those who have been prejudiced by a

lifetime of tradition can read those words "burn them up ...

they shall be ashes" and still insist that the wicked are alive

and suffering.

Admittedly, there are some ambiguous verses on this subject, but

we are finding that they all harmonize when the context is

considered, and the Bible is allowed to be its own commentary.

Even Christ's words in Matthew 25:46 are not confusing when we

take the obvious meaning. "And these shall go away into

everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Many are troubled over the expression, "everlasting punishment,"

but notice that it does not say "everlasting punishing."

Whatever the punishment is, it will last eternally. Does the

Bible tell us what the punishment is? Of course. "The wages of

sin is death." Romans 6:23. So Jesus was simply saying that

the death would be everlasting. It would never end. It would

never be broken by a resurrection.

Paul simplifies it further with these words: "In flaming fire

taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not

the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished ...

" Now, listen, Paul is going to tell us what the punishment is.

"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the

presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2

Thessalonians 1:8, 9. So the punishment is everlasting

destruction -- a destruction that is everlasting. From it there

will be no resurrection or hope of life.

But what about that worm which dieth not? Many have read the

words of Jesus about hell, "Where their worm dieth not and the

fire is not quenched." Mark 9:45, 46. Some have interpreted

the worm to be the soul. Is that what Jesus meant? Nowhere in

the Bible is there any allusion to the soul as a worm.

In this instance Jesus used the word "Gehenna" for the word

"hell." It so happened that Gehenna was an actual place of

burning just outside the walls of Jerusalem. No doubt, Christ's

listeners could see the smoke curling up from the Valley of

Gehenna, where dead bodies and garbage were constantly being

burned. If anything fell outside the destructive flames, it was

quickly consumed by maggots or worms. With the vivid scenes of

utter extinction before their eyes, Jesus used the Gehenna fire

as an example of the complete destruction of hell-fire. The

fire was never quenched, and the worms were constantly at work

upon the bodies--a picture of total destruction.

Perhaps the most easily misconstrued text about hell is John's

allusion to the smoke ascending "for ever and ever." For those

who are unfamiliar with other uses of this phrase in the Bible,

it can be very confusing indeed. But a comparison of verses in

both Old and New Testaments reveal that the words "for ever" are

used 57 times in the Bible in reference to something that has

already come to an end. In other words, "for ever" does not

always mean "without end."

Many notable examples could be cited, but two or three are

noteworthy. In Exodus 21, the conditions are laid down

concerning the law of servitude. If a servant chose to continue

serving the master he loved rather than his freedom when it came

due, then his ear was to be pierced with an awl and the

Scripture declares, "He shall serve him for ever." Verse 6.

But how long would that servant serve his human master? Only as

long as he lived, of course. So the words "for ever" did not

mean without end.

Hannah took her son Samuel to God's temple, where he would

"there abide for ever." 1 Samuel 1:22. Yet in verse 28 we are

plainly told, "As long as he liveth he shall be lent to the

Lord." The original meaning of the term "for ever" indicates an

indefinite period of time. Generally it defines the period of

time in which something can continue to exist under the

circumstances prevailing. Even Jonah's stay in the whale's

belly is described by him as "for ever." Jonah 2:6.

Someone may object that this could also limit the life of the

righteous in heaven, because they are described as glorifying

God forever. The terms are the same for both the saved and the

lost. But there is one tremendous difference in the

circumstances involved. The saints have received the gift of

immortality. Their life now measures with the life of God.

Immortality means "not subject to death." The words "for ever"

used in reference to them could only mean "without end," because

they are immortal subjects already. But when "for ever" is used

to describe the wicked, we are talking about mortal creatures

who can die and must die. Their "for ever" is only as long as

their mortal nature can survive in the fire which punishes them

according to their works.

Soul and Body Destroyed

This brings us to the final fact concerning the fate of the

wicked. After the unsaved are punished according to their sins,

they will be wiped out of existence, both body and soul. Jesus

states it very simply, "And fear not them which kill the body

... but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and

body in hell." Matthew 10:28.

In the light of this statement, how can anyone continue to claim

immortality for the wicked? Jesus, the only One who can bestow

the gift of life, rejects the possibility that those in hell can

continue to live in any form whatsoever. The life will be

snuffed out for eternity, and the body will be annihilated in

the flames.

The psalmist wrote: "But the wicked shall perish, and the

enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall

consume; into smoke shall they consume away." Psalm 37:20. "For

yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou

shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be."

Verse 10.

The most powerful, definitive words in human language are used

to describe the destruction in hell, but people still insist

that the writers do not really mean what their words express.

"Destroy," "consume," "burn up," "devour," "death"--do these

words have some mysterious, opposite meaning in the Bible than

they have in other books? We have no reason to think so. The

fact is that theology has made an ogre out of our great God of

love. He has been portrayed as more cruel than Hitler. Even

though Hitler tortured people and experimented with them,

finally he allowed them to die. But God will keep these

deathless souls alive for the purpose of seeing them writhe and

scream throughout eternity, so the theologians claim.

God's Justice Vindicated

Not only is such a picture misrep-resentative of God's love, it

also distorts His justice. Think for a moment about the

implications of a doctrine that would consign every lost soul to

an immediate, never-ending hell at the time of death. Suppose a

man died 5,000 years ago with one cherished sin in his life.

His soul would go instantly into the fire to be tormented for

eternity. Then picture another death; that of Adolph Hitler,

who supervised the deaths of millions of people. According to

the popular doctrine, his soul also would immediately enter hell

to suffer eternally. But the man who was lost because of only

one sin, will burn 5,000 years longer than Hitler. How could

that be just? Would God deal in such a manner? It would

contradict the Bible statement that each one must be punished

according to his works.

There are two extreme views in current circulation concerning

the punishment of the wicked. One is Universalism, which

contends that God is too good to allow anyone to be lost. The

other is the awful doctrine of endless torment which would

perpetuate for all eternity a dark abyss of anguish and

suffering. Both are wrong. The truth lies in between. God

will punish the wicked according to their works, but He will not

immortalize evil in the process.

I truly believe that many honest souls have been turned away

from God because of their revulsion at this misrepresentation of

His character. They can't love someone who would arbitrarily

keep evil people in endless torment with no purpose in view. No

rehabilitation is possible. Only a vindictive spirit of revenge

could be served by such an unspeakable arrangement. Is God like

that? After hearing the Bible truth about hell, a bank

president threw his arms around my shoulders and said, "Joe, I'm

a believer again. For years I've been an agnostic because I had

been taught that God would torture the wicked eternally."

No More Pain Or Death

Someday soon God will have a clean universe. All the effects of

sin will be banished forever. There will be no sin, no sinners

and no devil to tempt. It will be just exactly like God planned

it in the beginning.

John described that future home in these words, "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

21:4.

Can you find any room in those precious words for any suffering

on the part of anybody in the whole recreated universe? God

said crying and pain would be no more. Do you believe His Word

or do you choose to believe man's surmising? Just four verses

before writing this promise, John described how the wicked would

be cast into the lake of fire. "And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. And

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the

first earth were passed away." Revelation 20:15; 21:1.

That lake of fire is right here on planet earth according to

Revelation 20:9. But please notice that this place where the

wicked burn will pass away, and God will re-create the new earth

in its stead. Then Revelation 21:2, 3 describe the New

Jerusalem descending, and verse four says there will be no more

sorrow, pain, crying, or death.

In order for no more pain to exist, there can be no eternal hell

existing either. The two things are mutually exclusive of each

other. We should thank God every day that His plan will finally

bring an end to suffering. Satan will not be here to cause

pain, and God promises that His new kingdom will not even

contain a shadow of a pain.

Hell Not Intended For Us

Finally, we should rejoice that hell was never intended for you

and me. Jesus said it was "prepared for the devil and his

angels." Matthew 25:41. If we stumble into that fire, it will

be the most colossal blunder we could ever make. You would have

to go there over the broken body of Jesus Christ and in spite of

the Father's love, the Holy Spirit's pleading, and the heavenly

influence of a million angels. The most unanswerable question

in the whole world is this: "How shall we escape if we neglect

so great a salvation?" There is no answer because there is no

escape except through Christ and His cross.

No one will be lost because he sinned, because everyone has

sinned. No one will be left out of heaven because he lied,

stole, or committed adultery. The only reason anyone will be

lost is because he refuses to turn away from his sin into the

arms of a loving Saviour who stands ready to pardon and cleanse

from all unrighteousness. "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." John 3:16.

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