Francis Chan and Rob Bell say that hell is not eternal. That shouldn’t matter that much except they are both influential Christian leaders. What they believe matters, since they teach the Bible. It’s a great belief and fits the times well. But it’s a heresy that needs to be addressed.
Now, one opinion is no better than the next, and you’ll see lots of opinions (and claims) on the internet. There are even several cases of those waking up from a coma with tales from the other side. There are also religions and cults with visions of what hell looks like.
My intention isn’t to disparage those claims, but rather to focus on what the Bible specifically says about hell. Thus, this exercise is only relevant to Bible-believing Christians. (I shouldn’t have to prove that the Bible is authoritative and reliable – that’s covered in my other videos.)
Dreams and visions may be truth. I have no way of disproving them, but they have no way of proving their claims. However, the Bible is proven to be historically accurate and divinely inspired. I’ll stick to what the Bible says.
Let me start with what the Bible actually says about hell.
Hell is a literal place, not just a state of being. It’s a place where the wicked are punished. Deut 32:22, Ps 9:17, 55:15, Prov 15:11, 24 (Sheol)
Historically, Gehenna was a place of mass destruction due to God’s judgment in Jeremiah. Later, it became the city dump, and they would burn the trash there. This ever-burning fire came to symbolize the everlasting punishment of the wicked.
I’m not saying Dante was right. In his book Inferno, none of his imagery was Biblical. But he wasn’t wrong to depict a sense of eternal torment and torture, hopelessness. – which is better than a lot of movies today.
Let me describe hell by responding to an objection.
There have been some people who say that hell is not eternal, but that people burn up and then cease to exist, because the Bible teaches the “destruction” of the wicked.
I personally wish that was true. I like that idea better, but the Bible is clear in saying that it’s eternal.
The destruction which the Bible speaks is an everlasting destruction (2 Thes 1:9). They are tormented forever.
Another question people ask is if Satan rules hell. There’s a complete misconception that hell is an alternate universe where there’s constant sinful partying and Satan is the ruler. No, there’s no alternate life, with people walking around, talking with other people.
No, it’s an eternal jail where not Satan, but God is the ruler of hell. Heaven is heaven because God is present in his love. Hell is hell because God is there in his wrath (Rev 6:16). If you go to hell, Satan is a fellow prisoner. because hell was originally designed to punish satan and his demons. (Matt 25:41, Rev 20:10, 15)
Now, some people ask, “How can a God of love send people to hell?”
click here for the answer.
And the worst part about hell is finally knowing that you could’ve had a chance to know God, the chance of finding purpose for your life, the chance of finding the greatest fulfillment of your empty heart, but now you know you will never have that chance again. forever.
But for any of you watching this video, it’s not too late. The God who punishes is also the God who is love, and is willing to forgive even the worst sinner, if he repents and turns to him by faith. God loves you, and he offers forgiveness. Will you follow Jesus his Son?
I made this video because of false teachings about hell that’s making a comeback – saying that it’s not real or eternal. You know, I don’t like the idea of hell. I don’t like it. But the Bible teaches a real hell. Now, this video doesn’t go into God’s thinking, or his logic. So, I’m asking for your comments. Why do you think God invented hell?
Now, one opinion is no better than the next, and you’ll see lots of opinions (and claims) on the internet. There are even several cases of those waking up from a coma with tales from the other side. There are also religions and cults with visions of what hell looks like.
My intention isn’t to disparage those claims, but rather to focus on what the Bible specifically says about hell. Thus, this exercise is only relevant to Bible-believing Christians. (I shouldn’t have to prove that the Bible is authoritative and reliable – that’s covered in my other videos.)
Dreams and visions may be truth. I have no way of disproving them, but they have no way of proving their claims. However, the Bible is proven to be historically accurate and divinely inspired. I’ll stick to what the Bible says.
Let me start with what the Bible actually says about hell.
Hell is a literal place, not just a state of being. It’s a place where the wicked are punished. Deut 32:22, Ps 9:17, 55:15, Prov 15:11, 24 (Sheol)
Historically, Gehenna was a place of mass destruction due to God’s judgment in Jeremiah. Later, it became the city dump, and they would burn the trash there. This ever-burning fire came to symbolize the everlasting punishment of the wicked.
- place of fire is the language of Scripture (Isa 33:14, 66:24, Matt 3:12, 5:22, 13:40, 42, 50, 18:8-9, 25:41, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 3:17, 16:19-31, Jude 7, Rev 14:10, 19:20, 20:10-15, 21:8).
- This fire is unquenchable, devouring forever and ever.
- Passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke seem to indicate that there’s suffering of body and soul. (Matt 5:22, 5:29, 30, 18:9, and Mark 9:43-47, Matt 10:28, Luke 12:5, Matt 23:15, 33, James 3:6)
- Hades and Gehenna is the same place. Hades refers to souls of the wicked before the judgment day. Gehenna refers to place of the wicked, body and soul, after judgment.
I’m not saying Dante was right. In his book Inferno, none of his imagery was Biblical. But he wasn’t wrong to depict a sense of eternal torment and torture, hopelessness. – which is better than a lot of movies today.
Let me describe hell by responding to an objection.
There have been some people who say that hell is not eternal, but that people burn up and then cease to exist, because the Bible teaches the “destruction” of the wicked.
I personally wish that was true. I like that idea better, but the Bible is clear in saying that it’s eternal.
- “fire unquenchable” – (Matt 3:12, 18:8, Mark 9:43, Luke 3:17)
- the point is not just that there’s always a fire burning in Gehenna but that God burns the wicked with unquenchable fire, which has been prepared for them as well as for the devil and his angels (Matt 3:12, 25:41).
- Their worm never dies (Mark 9:48).
- Their shame is everlasting (Daniel 12:2),
- “punishment of eternal fire (Jude 1:6,7).
- They will be tormented with fire and brimstone…and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, so that they have no rest day or night (Rev 14:9-11).
- “day and night, forever and ever” (Rev 20:10, cf. 19:3).
The destruction which the Bible speaks is an everlasting destruction (2 Thes 1:9). They are tormented forever.
- Matthew 25:46 uses the same word to describe heaven and hell – heaven is everlasting bliss, and hell is just as long
- Bible emphasizes finality of the wicked – treated as the end of a story.
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Other descriptions of hell:
- shut out from the presence of the Lord (2 Thes 1:8-9, Matt 7:23, 25:41, Luke 13:27)
- bottomless pit (Rev 9:1, 2, 11, cf. 11:7, 17:8, 20:1-3)
- darkness (Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30, Jude 6, 13)
- no love in hell (Isa 14:9-11)
Another question people ask is if Satan rules hell. There’s a complete misconception that hell is an alternate universe where there’s constant sinful partying and Satan is the ruler. No, there’s no alternate life, with people walking around, talking with other people.
No, it’s an eternal jail where not Satan, but God is the ruler of hell. Heaven is heaven because God is present in his love. Hell is hell because God is there in his wrath (Rev 6:16). If you go to hell, Satan is a fellow prisoner. because hell was originally designed to punish satan and his demons. (Matt 25:41, Rev 20:10, 15)
Now, some people ask, “How can a God of love send people to hell?”
click here for the answer.
And the worst part about hell is finally knowing that you could’ve had a chance to know God, the chance of finding purpose for your life, the chance of finding the greatest fulfillment of your empty heart, but now you know you will never have that chance again. forever.
But for any of you watching this video, it’s not too late. The God who punishes is also the God who is love, and is willing to forgive even the worst sinner, if he repents and turns to him by faith. God loves you, and he offers forgiveness. Will you follow Jesus his Son?
I made this video because of false teachings about hell that’s making a comeback – saying that it’s not real or eternal. You know, I don’t like the idea of hell. I don’t like it. But the Bible teaches a real hell. Now, this video doesn’t go into God’s thinking, or his logic. So, I’m asking for your comments. Why do you think God invented hell?
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