Why Would a Good God Send People to an Everlasting Hell?

The Concept of Death in Genesis

The question of eternal punishment and a good God often leads us back to the origins of sin and death in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:17 (UASV), Jehovah warns Adam, "but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die." This death was a direct consequence of disobedience, implying cessation of life rather than eternal torment. Satan, in Genesis 3:1-6, deceitfully tells Eve that they would not surely die, suggesting a lie about the true nature of death.

If God had withheld the notion of hellfire from Adam and Eve, it would imply that Satan was truthful, which contradicts John 8:44, where Jesus describes Satan as "the father of the lie." Thus, understanding the nature of hell is crucial to discerning the truth from deception.

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Pagan Concepts of Hell

Pagan religions have long depicted fiery hells. The ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Persians, Greeks, and Hindus, along with Buddhists, have variously portrayed hell as a place of blazing torment. However, the Bible's description of hell must be distinguished from these pagan ideas to understand its true nature.

Examining the Hebrew Scriptures

In the Hebrew Scriptures, there is no mention of a fiery underworld for tormenting the wicked. When God created the heavens and the earth, He did not create a compartment for eternal torment. The penalty for sin, as declared to Adam, was death, not eternal torture. Malachi 3:6 (AS) states, "For I, Jehovah, do not change," affirming that God's plan and purpose do not waver.

The term "hell" in the Hebrew Scriptures is translated from the word Sheol, which simply means "a hollow place" or "the grave." It signifies a place of silence and darkness rather than a fiery pit. Job 10:21 describes Sheol as "a land of darkness," and Psalm 115:17 calls it a place of "silence." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 confirms, "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, where you are going."

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The Testimonies of Jacob, Jonah, Job, and Jesus

Jacob, upon hearing of Joseph's supposed death, declared, "I will go down to my son into Sheol, mourning" (Genesis 37:35, AS). Jacob did not imagine a fiery place for his son or himself. Similarly, Jonah, from the belly of the fish, prayed, "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried" (Jonah 2:2, AS), signifying a place of death, not torment.

Job, in his suffering, prayed to be hidden in Sheol until Jehovah's wrath passed (Job 14:13). He did not expect fiery torment but rather a resting place in death. Amos 9:2 indicates that even those trying to escape God's judgment might dig into Sheol, yet it was not a place of torment but rather the grave.

Importantly, Jesus Himself was said to have gone to Sheol. Psalm 16:10 prophesies, "For you will not leave my soul in Sheol; neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption." This was fulfilled in Acts 2:31, where Peter confirms that Jesus was in Hades (the Greek equivalent of Sheol) but was resurrected, showing that it was not a place of eternal torment.

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God’s View on Fiery Torment

The notion of torturing humans with fire is repugnant to God. Jehovah's detestation of child sacrifice in fire, as seen in Jeremiah 7:31, emphasizes this: "They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded not, neither came it into my mind." God, who is love (1 John 4:8), abhors such cruelty.

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New Testament Teachings on Hell

In the New Testament, "hell" is translated from the Greek Hades, which, like Sheol, means "the unseen state" or "the grave." Revelation 20:13 states, "Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them," indicating that Hades is temporary and will give up its dead at the resurrection.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

One of the most cited texts for a fiery hell is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:22-24. In this parable, the rich man finds himself in Hades, in torment. However, interpreting this parable literally leads to absurdities, such as Abraham's bosom being a literal resting place for all the poor and a single drop of water providing relief in a blazing fire. Therefore, it is widely accepted among scholars that this parable is symbolic, illustrating the reversal of fortunes and the judgment against the self-righteous Jewish leaders.

Gehenna: The Symbol of Complete Destruction

The term "Gehenna," often translated as "hell-fire," occurs twelve times in the New Testament and refers to the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem. This valley was a place where refuse was burned, and it became a symbol of complete and utter destruction. Jesus used Gehenna to illustrate the finality of God's judgment, not eternal torment. Mark 9:47-48 states, "It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." This reflects the unending nature of the destruction, not eternal conscious torment.

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The Lake of Fire and Everlasting Punishment

Revelation 20:14 describes death and Hades being cast into the lake of fire, "This is the second death, the lake of fire." This lake of fire symbolizes eternal destruction, a complete cutting off from life with no hope of resurrection. Similarly, Matthew 25:46 speaks of "everlasting punishment,"[1] which is correctly understood as "everlasting cutting-off," rather than eternal torment.

[1] The Greek noun (κόλασις kolasis) refers to eternal cutting off, from life. Lit lopping off, pruning.

Revelation 20:10 mentions the Devil being "tormented day and night forever and ever" in the lake of fire. In ancient times, "tormenters" were jailers, implying that the Devil's eternal punishment is one of perpetual restraint and destruction, not eternal suffering.

Conclusion

The Bible consistently depicts hell (Sheol/Hades) as the grave, a place of silence and inactivity. The concept of fiery torment is more aligned with pagan beliefs than with biblical teachings. The ultimate judgment is eternal destruction in Gehenna or the lake of fire, symbolizing the final and irreversible end of the wicked, rather than eternal conscious torment. This understanding upholds the nature of a loving and just God, who does not delight in cruelty but administers righteous judgment.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).