There are many seeking to delete portions of the Bible which are not to their liking. This is true of Bible teaching on everlasting punishment for lost souls in hell. Rather than conform to God's teaching on obedience and righteousness, it is more fitting to them to make the Bible conform to the sinful pattern of their lives. Many completely ignore or else reject, the warnings God has given on the subject or eternal punishment. In 1932, a religious convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, approved and passed on vote: "RESOLVED: THERE IS NO HELL!" Of course, God's word reads the same after the convention.
It is easier to preach and teach on love and heaven than on hate and hell. But, God's servant must "declare...all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).
Paul declared, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting" (Gal. 6:7-8).
In Romans 2, Paul, in reference to those who unjustly judged another, states: "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds" (Rom. 2:5-6). That is a side of God that must be faced. Those who violate God's laws must face the penalty of their actions.
The Bible speaks plainly of hell. Hell is presented in the same literal language that speaks of heaven. It has been said that five and one-half times as much is said about divine punishment in God's word as is said about divine favor and reward. Jesus spoke often of the place of eternal punishment reserved for the wicked.
The scriptures declare: "God is love" (I John 4:8). They also state: "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). To teach on and on about the love of God without teaching the terrible vengeance of God, is not declaring "the whole counsel of God."
Hell will be everlasting. It will have the same duration as heaven. Jesus spoke of this, saying: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25:41-46).
John in Revelation 14:11 states: "And the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: they have no rest day nor night." Later he wrote that false prophets "shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10). There is no end to the torment and anguish the lost shall suffer.
There is a bright side to this matter. We do not have to go there. The Hebrew writer states, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY HIM" (Heb. 5:8-9). All of us should ask ourselves: "Where will I be eternally?"
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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