The Eternal Torments And Nature Of Hell

The Torments And Nature Of Hell

The most terrifying aspect of hell it’s length and duration. Hell is eternal and will last forever. Can you comprehend eternity? No mathematical equation or formula can explain it. Your mind cannot conceive of eternity, but it is none the less real. This aspect of hell alone should cause men to cry out in repentance.

It is not surprising that skeptics of all ages have attacked the eternal nature of hell, substituting doctrines like the annihilation of the wicked in its place. “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night Forever and Ever” (Revelation 20:10).

If the Spirit of God wanted to communicate the eternal nature of hell to men, what could communicate it better than the expression “Forever and Ever?” The Scripture has no higher expression which is used to denote eternity than “forever and ever” for it is the very phrase used to tell us of the eternal existence of God Himself.

Revelation 4:9 “To Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives Forever and Ever” Does anyone doubts that God will live to all eternity? How then can you doubt that hell will not last to all eternity when the same expression is used for both? “We can conceive but little of the matter; but to help your conception, imagine yourself to be cast into a fiery burning flames of oven, or a great furnace, where your pain would be as much greater than that occasioned by accidentally touching a coal of fire, as the heat is greater.

Imagine also that your body were to lie there for a quarter of an hour, full of fire, and all the while full of quick sense; what horror would you feel at the entrance of such a furnace. But what would be the effect on your soul, if you knew you must lie there enduring that torment to the full for 24 hours…for a whole year…for a thousand years!

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“Oh, then, how would your heart sink, if you knew, that you must bear it forever and ever. There would be no end, after millions of millions of ages, your torment would be no nearer to an end, and that you never, never should be delivered.” Jesus Christ, describing the great day of judgment, tells of the separation of the wicked and the righteous using these words: “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).

Eternity Is Real - "Heaven Or Hellfire"

Is there anyone who would deny that heaven exists eternally? Will the lives of the blessed in heaven be brought to an end one day? Of course not, But the same Greek word is used here in this verse to speak of the eternal life of the righteous and the everlasting punishment of the wicked. Hell will last as long as heaven does. In hell there will be different degrees of torment appointed to men as indicated by a number of Scriptures.

Luke 12:47-48 “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few.” Matthew 11:24 “Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment, than for you”

This indicates that the people in Capernaum will receive a greater punishment on judgment day than those who had lived in Sodom. The verses in Luke speak of a differentiation in judgment based on the amount of light received: some will receive many stripes and others will receive few. Those who commit greater sins will receive greater punishment in Hell (John 19:11).

Religious hypocrites, will be punished more severely than others (Matthew 23:14-15). The Lord said of Judas Iscariot,” It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24). Whenever, sinners continue to live and breathe here on earth without repenting from their sin, they are ignorantly adding more torments to their punishment in hell. Romans 2:5 “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”

The Lord is encouraging the righteous to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The wicked are increasing their future wrath and torment in hell every day by their continued sinning. They add to their punishment daily. In hell men will wish that they had never been born.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said: “In hell there is no hope. They have not even the hope of dying–the hope of being annihilated. They are forever–forever–forever lost. On every chain in hell, there is written “forever” In the fires there, blaze out the words, “forever” Above their heads, they read, “forever”.

Their eyes are galled and their hearts are pain with the thought that it is “forever”. Oh, if I could tell you tonight that Hell would one day be burned out, and that those who were lost might be saved, there would be a jubilee in hell at the very thought of it. But it cannot be–it is “forever” they are cast into the outer darkness.”

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Christopher Love uses an illustration to try and help us understand what Eternity means: “Suppose all the mountains of the earth were mountains of sand, and many more mountains still added thereto, till they reached up to heaven, and a little bird should once in every thousand years take one (grain of) sand of this mountain, there would be an innumerable company of years pass over before that mass of sand would be consumed and taken away.

Yet this time would have an end; but this is man’s misery in hell, he shall be in no more hope of coming out after he hath been there millions of years, than he was when he was first cast in there; for his torments shall be to eternity, without end, because the God that damns him is Eternal”

The God who damns men is an Eternal God. “Ultimately the eternity of hell is based upon the nature of God.” Is God’s Word eternal? Is God’s nature eternal? The Scripture tells us: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) “His righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 111:3). “The Word of the Lord abides forever” (I Peter 1:24).

If God’s Word is eternal, if God’s righteousness is eternal, if God Himself is eternal, then why shouldn’t his wrath be eternal as well? As eternally existent, all of God’s attributes are eternal and immutable; therefore, hell as an expression of God’s wrath must be eternal.

Don't live To End In Hell.

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Christ makes this clear when he speaks about settling with your accuser before you get to court, otherwise you shall be cast into prison and “I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite” (Luke 12:59). Man can do nothing to pay for his sins. No amount of punishment in hell, no matter how long, can ever atone for sins.

It is impossible; therefore, hell must be eternal. The Scriptures tell us that the worm which gnaws the conscience of men in hell never dies. “For their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched” (Isaiah 66:24). If the worm never dies, then those being tormented by the worm shall never die.

Lastly, hell will be eternal because men continue to sin in hell. They increase and compound their guilt there. Hell is a place where tormented men curse God, curse themselves, and scream and wail with blasphemous language at their fellow men around them. Wicked men will increase each other’s torments as they accuse, blame, and condemn one another. Men will not repent in hell because the character of sinners does not change. They remain sinners. Men will sin to eternity, therefore, God will punish them eternally.