Question: Dear Dr. Roane, I struggle with the concept of Hell; how can a loving, merciful God send someone to a pit of fire to sizzle and burn for ever and ever without an end?
Answer: Well, that's a good question, and one we all wonder about. First of all, it should be said that any judiciary system must have consequences for breaking the law. A good and proper judiciary system is one that offers rehabilitation and remedial solutions. God, I would think, will do no less. So, we must consider on what basis our eternal destiny is decided.
Firstly, we should notice that according to the Bible: "He that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is a sin (James 4:17)." And, further, that: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.… (1 John 1:8-9).”
We also notice that we are judged on our sins, and our sins, alone. For: "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself (Ezekiel 18:20)."
Thus, we are can therefore rest assured that God does not punish us for anyone else's sins—including Adam's, except to say that we do inherit the consequences of such sins. (As for instance with Adam, our mortality, and propensity for sin—but Adam’s sin does not send us to The Lake of Fire, only ours can do that.)
And, in line with that, we also read that:
So, there is a way out. Even if sinners are punished in everlasting fire and are conscious throughout all eternity without end, God offers a solution.
Now, in regards to the sizzling and burning without end there are those who feel that no conscious human being could withstand that type of experience. To buttress that argument, they point out that the smoke of their torment (Revelation 14:11) ascends from the lake of fire for ever and ever refers not to the individuals existing for ever and ever (the ages of ages in the Greek) but that the smoke ascends for ever and ever, as a reminder, they say, of the awfulness of sin and God's judgment. Some who hold this position feel that the Lake of Fire is more like Purgatory (a place of cleansing); and others feel that the Lake of Fire is a place of total annihilation, which is elsewhere described as the second death in Scripture, which reads:
The “official” doctrine of the Assemblies of God (the denomination to which I belong) is found in article 15 of the Statement of Fundamental Truths, which reads:
Answer: Well, that's a good question, and one we all wonder about. First of all, it should be said that any judiciary system must have consequences for breaking the law. A good and proper judiciary system is one that offers rehabilitation and remedial solutions. God, I would think, will do no less. So, we must consider on what basis our eternal destiny is decided.
Firstly, we should notice that according to the Bible: "He that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is a sin (James 4:17)." And, further, that: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.… (1 John 1:8-9).”
We also notice that we are judged on our sins, and our sins, alone. For: "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself (Ezekiel 18:20)."
Thus, we are can therefore rest assured that God does not punish us for anyone else's sins—including Adam's, except to say that we do inherit the consequences of such sins. (As for instance with Adam, our mortality, and propensity for sin—but Adam’s sin does not send us to The Lake of Fire, only ours can do that.)
And, in line with that, we also read that:
[All] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … (Romans 3:23; cf. Ecclesiastes 7:20)Further, we read that Scripture says: And the “soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).” So, that’s the penalty.
In other words, all have sinned in one way or the other.
However, we also read that: Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered (Psalm 32:1; cf. John 3:16)”.
So, there is a way out. Even if sinners are punished in everlasting fire and are conscious throughout all eternity without end, God offers a solution.
Now, in regards to the sizzling and burning without end there are those who feel that no conscious human being could withstand that type of experience. To buttress that argument, they point out that the smoke of their torment (Revelation 14:11) ascends from the lake of fire for ever and ever refers not to the individuals existing for ever and ever (the ages of ages in the Greek) but that the smoke ascends for ever and ever, as a reminder, they say, of the awfulness of sin and God's judgment. Some who hold this position feel that the Lake of Fire is more like Purgatory (a place of cleansing); and others feel that the Lake of Fire is a place of total annihilation, which is elsewhere described as the second death in Scripture, which reads:
“The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 )The word "death" means just that "death!" they argue. The truth is that there has been no real consensus on the doctrine, except to say that for the most part it is portrayed in the most Dantean manner as a place filled with bad popes, murderers, thieves, adulterers, and a whole array of unsavory devilish characters, including Satan himself.
The “official” doctrine of the Assemblies of God (the denomination to which I belong) is found in article 15 of the Statement of Fundamental Truths, which reads:
The Final JudgmentTo conjecture beyond that is just simply that: conjecture. In any event it is a bad scene, and one that I would wish on no one. Fortunately, God will make that judgment.
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Trust this helps,
JimR_/
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