Definition
Hell — as the place where condemned sinners abide after the glorious second coming of Christ and the Last Judgment. It will no longer be possible to change this lot after the Last Judgment. Both the sufferings of the condemned and the blessedness of the righteous will last equally forever.
The Torments of Hell Have No End
“And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night” (Rev. 14:11)
“rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire — where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’” (Mark. 9:47-48)
“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10)
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:2)
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46)
“but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark. 3:29)
“on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thess. 1:8-9)
“These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (2 Pet. 2:17)
“of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Heb. 6:2)
“since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:6-9)
Even Those Who Did Not Know God’s Will Are Punished
“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke. 12:47-48)
Criticism
Does the Teaching on the Endless Torments of Hell Turn People Away from Christ?
This is not an argument. A sinner in general does not like to hear about punishment for sin. What then, should we promise him blessedness for sin? Likewise, a person who loves sin does not like to hear the teaching:
about repentance,
about forsaking sins,
about amending one’s life,
that Christ is the only Savior, and other paths do not lead to salvation (Act. 4:12),
about love for enemies, renouncing revenge, forgiving debts, doing good to those who hate us (Matt. 5:44; Luke. 6:27; Luke. 6:35)
about renouncing the pursuit of wealth (Matt. 19:24),
about monogamy (Matt. 19:10).
But this, of course, does not mean that all this should be given up. And why does it not mean that? Because it is the truth. If a person does not listen to these words, then the warning about punishment will indeed be fulfilled; they were not in vain. We warn him so that this does not happen to him. So too with eternal torments: if this is a true teaching, then why should the truth be corrected by removing what is inconvenient for a sinner to hear?
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers” (2 Tim. 4:3)
In teaching one should proceed from the truth, and not from what people like to hear:
“I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude. 1:3)