Beth-El Baptist Church

02/04/2012

Greg Tomlinson


Is there really a place of eternal torment (Hell)?


The issue of what happens after death is of great debate amongst many people. Some claim that everyone simply ceases to exist (annihilation). Some claim that everyone will come back to live life again (reincarnation). Some claim that everyone will eventually enter into a heavenly type realm (universalism). Some claim that some people will enter into a heavenly type realm while the reset will enter into a place of eternal torment.


  1. How long does a human being exist in some form?

Genesis 1:26-27 Genesis 21:33

Psalm 90:2; 103:17-18; 139:23-24 Genesis 3:22-24

Romans 9:22-23


Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. One attribute of God is His eternality. It makes sense that in some form we will likewise also be eternal.


  1. Are there one or two destinies for human beings?

Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 103:17-18

Proverbs 10:25 Isaiah 33:13; 45:16-17; 57:21

Matthew 25:46


There are two possible destinies or final dwelling places for every human being. One is referred to as a place of eternal punishment. The other is a place of eternal life. Both destinies are described as being “eternal” or “everlasting”.


  1. Couldn't the time of punishment be of short duration?

Psalm 119:142-144 Isaiah 45:18

Isaiah 57:15 Jeremiah 10:10; 20:11

Matthew 25:41 Mark 3:29

John 3:36 Jude 1:6-7

Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7 Revelation 20:10-15

Mark 9:43-48 Matthew 18:32-35


In order to understand the duration of the punishment, it is essential to understand the character of God. As we have seen, man was created in the “image and likeness” of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God is naturally Holy. This is a description of His perfect nature and character. Since He is perfect in all His ways, this includes being perfect in justice or judgment. It is a place to pour out His divine and perfect wrath. Since God is perfectly or infinitely Holy, any deviation from fulfilling our expected roll as living according to His “image and likeness” is an infinite violation of His nature and character. As a result, God must pour out his wrath upon the failing human being until our penalty against His nature and character could be paid up. Since this is an infinite penalty, the cost is infinite. Furthermore, wherever the time of punishment is discussed, it is discussed in terms of being eternal.


  1. Can't people be moved from the place of punishment to the place of bliss?

Isaiah 45:22-23 Matthew 18:8

Luke 16:22-26


It is impossible to move from the place of eternal punishment to the place of eternal life and bliss. The payment for the penalty for sin must be paid. As we have already seen, it will take an eternity to pay that penalty. In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man was told that the gulf between eternal punishment and eternal life (presence with Abraham and God) is too great a distance to be every crossed.