Will Hell Last Forever?

Will Hell Last Forever?

2005052

Topic # 0299 (hell)

Introduction:

A. Cover article in major news magazine reports that 64% of Americans believe in reality of hell.

1. Yet it is rarely mentioned in many churches

2. Hell is invoked more in comedy than in pulpits

3. Many modern Americans are simply ashamed of hell.

B. We know that the first emphasis in Jesus’ preaching was on God’s goodness & love.

1. But He was not embarrassed to warn of the reality and dreadfulness of the final state of the lost.

2. In 11 texts, we find Jesus referring to hell – so we need to consider His teaching about divine justice.

3. Jesus taught that actions have consequences & that there will be a reckoning for every sin – Mt. 16:27

4. Mt. 7:13-14 – the road we choose through life will terminate in life or destruction.

C. But will hell last forever?

I. What is the doctrine of annihilation?

A. Annihilationism or conditionalism states that the sentence of hell will not be eternal.

1. After a period of time (that God determines) when fitting punishment is dealt out, the condemned soul will be utterly destroyed – i.e., wiped out of existence entirely.

B. Conditionalists rely heavily on OT passages – esp. those in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.

1. Often refer to passages that glorify the deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of the wicked.

2. Psa. 9; 21:4-10; 49:8-20; 58:7-8; Pro. 2:21-22; 10:25; 12:7

3. In many of these passages, the doom of the wicked is likened to ultimate destruction in which the judged are wiped out of remembrance.

C. Annihilationists also emphasize scriptures in the NT that refer to hell as the 2^nd death or eternal destruction.

1. These following passages are usually twisted in a way to support their conclusions:

2. Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14, 21:8; Rom. 6:23

3. Case for annihilationism can be convincing.

4. Let’s examine the following arguments:

II. Arguments made in favor of this doctrine:

A. Hell is inconsistent with the nature of God – it goes against His goodness, kindness, and mercy.

1. Titus 3:3-5 – God is good, kind, and merciful.

2. Deut. 32:4; Isa. 45:21; Hos. 14:9; 1 John 1:9 – God is also just.

3. In fact, without justice, there is no mercy!

4. We need to see both sides of the nature of God – Psa. 85:10

5. We must be impressed with the fact that a loving & compassionate Father will still thrust a rebellious sinner into hell!

6. How terrible and heinous sin must be!

B. The punishment of hell is disproportionate to the sin for which it is inflicted.

1. Says who?

2. Does the rebellious child determine what chastisement the Father will inflict?

a) Are lawbreakers lawmakers?

b) How can the sinner be so presumptuous as to question the penalty for sin?

C. Hell reflects on the wisdom of God, since it involves His whole creation in an awful failure.

1. There are those that will be saved – Mt. 25:31-46, Rev. 7:13-14.

2. We may not have all the answers in this life – Rom. 11:33; Psa. 145:3; 36:6; Deut 29:29

D. Hell is a place where men always die, yet never die, never live, but always live.

1. There is no hope to live.

2. It will never, never end.

III. Descriptions of hell indicating conscious torment.

A. What God says about hell brings anguish, sorrow, fear, and utter regret.

1. Mental torment will match the physical.

B. It is a place of outer darkness.

1. Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; 2 Pet. 2:17; Jude 13

2. Darkness is outer in that they are conscious of not being with God & His saints where there is joy & blessing.

3. They have been told to depart – Mt. 7:21-23; 25:41; Lk. 13:27

4. They exist, knowing the pain of rejection, and ostracism.

5. This darkness is a darkness of gloom & utter loneliness.

a) God who is light will not be with them – they are utterly devoid of His blessing.

C. There will be weeping & gnashing of teeth.

1. Mt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Lk. 13:28

2. This describes the intense mental anguish of utter sorrow and regret.

a) Note that the furnace of fire produces weeping & gnashing of teeth – not instantaneous extinction.

3. Part of the torment of hell is living w/the consequences of bad choices – remembering disbelief & sin.

4. Lk. 16:19-31 – Abraham reminded the rich man in hades of his “comfortable” life & not listening to Moses.

5. Eternity is designed for the wicked that they cannot forget their rejection of God.

D. It is eternal punishment – Mt. 25:41, 46

1. Place prepared for devil & his angels.

a) Rev. 20:10 – devil & angels tormented forever day & night.

2. Punishment is not annihilation but pits of darkness filled w/conscious, suffering beings.

E. Rom. 2:6-11 – indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish

1. The selfish ambitious and those disobedient to truth will find God’s indignation & wrath.

2. Distress and anguish will come on every soul who does evil.

3. How can this happen to unconscious, non-existent people?

a) There is no retribution to those who do not exist.

F. It is an unquenchable fire.

1. Mt. 13:42, 50 – Jesus called hell a furnace of fire.

2. Mk. 9:43-48 - an unquenchable fire.

a) What sense would it make to have everlasting flames w/o souls in them to experience the torment?

3. Mk. 9:43-48 – where the worm does not die…

a) Reference to Isa. 66:24 – referring to the corpses of those who have transgressed against God.

b) Worm – a maggot that feeds of on dead flesh.

c) The fact that the fire is not quenched & the word does not die shows that the spiritual body & soul are not literally consumed.

d) The fire & the eating worm never accomplish the annihilation of those who are in hell.

G. Rev. 14:9-11

1. If the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever – they must be suffering throughout eternity.

2. Contrast 14:11 w/14:13. The contrast is on “rest.”

a) Those who die in the Lord have rest from their labors.

b) The beast worshippers have no rest day or night.

3. This proves that the lost endure continual, unceasing, conscious torment.

a) There is no promise of rest for the lost.

Conclusion:

A. People are conscious after they die.

1. in heaven – 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; Rev. 6:9

2. in hell Rev. 14:9-11; 20:10

B. One cannot torment an unconscious, non-existent person.

C. Why would God resurrect unbelievers (John 5:28-29) to everlasting contempt and judgment only to cast them into an unconscious destruction?

1. Doctrine of conditional immortality is a wish.

2. When a wish becomes the father of a doctrine…

3. The truth gets “spinned” into error.

4. Let’s take Scripture for what it says.

D. Do what you must to get to heaven.

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Will Hell Last Forever? 2005052 Topic # 0299 (hell) Introduction: A. Cover article in major news magazine reports that 64% of Americans believe in reality of hell. 1. Yet it is rarely mentioned in many churches 2. Hell is invoked more in comedy than in pulpits 3. Many modern Americans are simply ashamed of hell. B. We know that the first emphasis in Jesus’ preaching was on God’s goodness & love. 1. But He was not embarrassed to warn of the reality and dreadfulness of the final state of the lost. 2. In 11 texts, we find Jesus referring to hell – so we need to consider His teaching about divine justice. 3. Jesus taught that actions have consequences & that there will be a reckoning for every sin – Mt. 16:27 4. Mt. 7:13-14 – the road we choose through life will terminate in life or destruction. C. But will hell last forever? I. What is the doctrine of annihilation? A. Annihilationism or conditionalism states that the sentence of hell will not be eternal. 1. After a period of time (that God determines) when fitting punishment is dealt out, the condemned soul will be utterly destroyed – i.e., wiped out of existence entirely. B. Conditionalists rely heavily on OT passages – esp. those in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. 1. Often refer to passages that glorify the deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of the wicked. 2. Psa. 9; 21:4-10; 49:8-20; 58:7-8; Pro. 2:21-22; 10:25; 12:7 3. In many of these passages, the doom of the wicked is likened to ultimate destruction in which the judged are wiped out of remembrance. C. Annihilationists also emphasize scriptures in the NT that refer to hell as the 2^nd death or eternal destruction. 1. These following passages are usually twisted in a way to support their conclusions: 2. Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14, 21:8; Rom. 6:23 3. Case for annihilationism can be convincing. 4. Let’s examine the following arguments: II. Arguments made in favor of this doctrine: A. Hell is inconsistent with the nature of God – it goes against His goodness, kindness, and mercy. 1. Titus 3:3-5 – God is good, kind, and merciful. 2. Deut. 32:4; Isa. 45:21; Hos. 14:9; 1 John 1:9 – God is also just. 3. In fact, without justice, there is no mercy! 4. We need to see both sides of the nature of God – Psa. 85:10 5. We must be impressed with the fact that a loving & compassionate Father will still thrust a rebellious sinner into hell! 6. How terrible and heinous sin must be! B. The punishment of hell is disproportionate to the sin for which it is inflicted. 1. Says who? 2. Does the rebellious child determine what chastisement the Father will inflict? a) Are lawbreakers lawmakers? b) How can the sinner be so presumptuous as to question the penalty for sin? C. Hell reflects on the wisdom of God, since it involves His whole creation in an awful failure. 1. There are those that will be saved – Mt. 25:31-46, Rev. 7:13-14. 2. We may not have all the answers in this life – Rom. 11:33; Psa. 145:3; 36:6; Deut 29:29 D. Hell is a place where men always die, yet never die, never live, but always live. 1. There is no hope to live. 2. It will never, never end. III. Descriptions of hell indicating conscious torment. A. What God says about hell brings anguish, sorrow, fear, and utter regret. 1. Mental torment will match the physical. B. It is a place of outer darkness. 1. Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; 2 Pet. 2:17; Jude 13 2. Darkness is outer in that they are conscious of not being with God & His saints where there is joy & blessing. 3. They have been told to depart – Mt. 7:21-23; 25:41; Lk. 13:27 4. They exist, knowing the pain of rejection, and ostracism. 5. This darkness is a darkness of gloom & utter loneliness. a) God who is light will not be with them – they are utterly devoid of His blessing. C. There will be weeping & gnashing of teeth. 1. Mt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Lk. 13:28 2. This describes the intense mental anguish of utter sorrow and regret. a) Note that the furnace of fire produces weeping & gnashing of teeth – not instantaneous extinction. 3. Part of the torment of hell is living w/the consequences of bad choices – remembering disbelief & sin. 4. Lk. 16:19-31 – Abraham reminded the rich man in hades of his “comfortable” life & not listening to Moses. 5. Eternity is designed for the wicked that they cannot forget their rejection of God. D. It is eternal punishment – Mt. 25:41, 46 1. Place prepared for devil & his angels. a) Rev. 20:10 – devil & angels tormented forever day & night. 2. Punishment is not annihilation but pits of darkness filled w/conscious, suffering beings. E. Rom. 2:6-11 – indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish 1. The selfish ambitious and those disobedient to truth will find God’s indignation & wrath. 2. Distress and anguish will come on every soul who does evil. 3. How can this happen to unconscious, non-existent people? a) There is no retribution to those who do not exist. F. It is an unquenchable fire. 1. Mt. 13:42, 50 – Jesus called hell a furnace of fire. 2. Mk. 9:43-48 - an unquenchable fire. a) What sense would it make to have everlasting flames w/o souls in them to experience the torment? 3. Mk. 9:43-48 – where the worm does not die… a) Reference to Isa. 66:24 – referring to the corpses of those who have transgressed against God. b) Worm – a maggot that feeds of on dead flesh. c) The fact that the fire is not quenched & the word does not die shows that the spiritual body & soul are not literally consumed. d) The fire & the eating worm never accomplish the annihilation of those who are in hell. G. Rev. 14:9-11 1. If the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever – they must be suffering throughout eternity. 2. Contrast 14:11 w/14:13. The contrast is on “rest.” a) Those who die in the Lord have rest from their labors. b) The beast worshippers have no rest day or night. 3. This proves that the lost endure continual, unceasing, conscious torment. a) There is no promise of rest for the lost. Conclusion: A. People are conscious after they die. 1. in heaven – 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; Rev. 6:9 2. in hell Rev. 14:9-11; 20:10 B. One cannot torment an unconscious, non-existent person. C. Why would God resurrect unbelievers (John 5:28-29) to everlasting contempt and judgment only to cast them into an unconscious destruction? 1. Doctrine of conditional immortality is a wish. 2. When a wish becomes the father of a doctrine… 3. The truth gets “spinned” into error. 4. Let’s take Scripture for what it says. D. Do what you must to get to heaven. E. I N V I T A T I O N