AP

HELL

Why write an article on Hell? It certainly could be regarded as a party stopper. Yet hell is often referred to even by the secular media and so it is not a topic unknown to the vernacular of the world. The recent passing of Ozzie Osbourne is a prime example of such a reference when one of his band mates reportedly expressed his sorrow at Ozzie’s passing: “Don’t worry pal we’ll see you up there again soon.” Even in unbelievers there is an intrinsic interest in the after-life, as warped and uninformed as this so often appears to be.

However, one of the main motives for writing this article is the massive weight of biblical testimony regarding hell. Extensive sections of the word of God deal with this doctrine and we are given greater knowledge by God of this place than we are of heaven. Jesus preached about hell more than 70 times in the New Testament and for this reason alone it is worthy of our attention.

So as unpleasant as it is to do so we must face up to the horror of hell’s sufferings, for the Bible reveals them to us, vividly and at length. We also face the problem in understanding what is symbolic and what is actual. The Bible’s human authors are fond of similes, hyperboles and metaphors, so the careful reader must be wise to question whether a literary device is being used.

Edward Donnelly gives the example of the biblical account of the devil being thrown into flames. He states that the devil is a spirit and does not have a body, so the flames described cannot be literal.

So much of the language in the Bible is symbolic but, says Donnelly, a symbol is always less than the reality it represents. The reality behind the symbol is always more. This is true for the biblical descriptions of both heaven and hell. Our appreciation of the former is glorious whereas our appreciation of the latter fills us with horror.

Donnelly helpfully summarises the Bible’s teaching on hell under four headings, considering hell as: absolute poverty, agonising pain, an angry presence, and an appalling prospect.

Firstly, as absolute poverty, it is separation from God (2 Thess:1:9). Going to hell is described by Jesus as being thrown into darkness (Matt.8:12).

Secondly, the Bible describes hell as a place of agonising pain (Rev.21:8,Matt.18:8). Whether the fire is symbolic or actual, it certainly represents pain and Jesus again expresses this in Mark9:46, referring to hell as a place where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched”.

Thirdly, hell is a place where people will experience the angry presence of God (Rev. 14:10). God is present in hell, administering eternal punishment in the form of agonising pain on those who have been rebellious against Him. We could not imagine anything more terrible than this (Heb.10:31; 12:29).

Finally, hell is an appalling prospect – it will never end. The fire, punishment and destruction are described in the Bible as everlasting (Matt.18:8; 25:46; 2 Thess.1:9; Rev.14:11; 20:10).

How then are we to react to this information about hell God gives to us in His word? If we are believers it should make us very, very thankful that we are not going there. It should make us enormously thankful to Christ for saving us from such a place. It should motivate us to warn others, those we love, our friends and family about the consequences of their unbelief and rebellion against the God who created them and graciously gives them all they need for life and who commands them to repent and believe (Mark 1:15). It should strengthen our resolve to serve and glorify our God and Christ for delivering us from such a place as hell. Unbelievers need to be awakened to their great danger; they stand on the edge of a terrible abyss.

Christians join with the apostle Paul in Romans 7:25, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

AMEN

– Ron Norman